FR2752506A1 - Horse shoe shock absorber and protector - Google Patents

Abstract

The horse shoe shock absorber and protector (1), for use e.g. on stony ground or metalled roads, is in the form of a one-piece component moulded from rubber, plastics, thermoplastic elastomer or polyurethane. It can be made from one material or a combination of different materials to resist premature wear. The protector is flexible to allow it to be fastened over an existing shoe. It is held in place by pins inserted through holes (4) in tongues (2,3) on each side of the protector and passing between the shoe and the hoof, the pins being made, for example, from plastics, steel or an alloy.

Description

 The present invention relates to an insert for damping, wear and protection for equine hooves.

Since the use of horseshoes, efforts have been made to improve the protection of hooves, in particular to provide shock absorption. At the end of the last century, patents concerned devices similar to shoe soles adaptable to hooves (USA-A-646029, 660788 610804, 602837 ...)
The very numerous works undertaken since that time have focused on the irons themselves and their replacement by non-ferrous and deformable structures (USA -A-3494422 and 4122900), and on damping fittings combined with metallic parts (USA- A-2024265, FR-A-2340045 FR
A-2620595)
For example, patent FR-A-2340045 proposes a protection device comprising a plastic part in one piece with a metal or plastic reinforcement embedded in the plastic. This device has significant drawbacks which have not made it successful.

One of the drawbacks is that the shaping of the device causes tears and separations of the plastic, which make the device unusable or dangerous. On the other hand, the presence of plastic does not allow hot forging of the device
The present invention resides in the fact that the damping and wear lining is completely independent of the iron.

 This damping and wear insert is characterized in that it is molded in one piece elastically deformable to adapt to the shape of the iron, and that it is fixed by means of inserts or past links between the hoof and the iron.

 This insert may for example be made of rubber, plastic, thermoplastic elastomer or polyurethane. It may be made of a single material or of a combination of several different materials to resist premature wear, allow cushioning and allow it to be fixed to the horse's hooves in the best conditions. It will be perfectly suited for horses making journeys on stony ground in contact with which the simple iron wears very quickly; or on bituminous roads for which the use of simple iron is unsuitable, or even dangerous for sliding reasons. On this occasion, the invention may have hollows and bumps to allow adaptation to the terrain and prevent slipping. This insert therefore constitutes both a damping and wear part.

 This damping part is therefore completely dissociable from the much more rigid iron. One of the significant advantages lies in the fact that this insert is now compatible with a cold or hot forged iron by the farrier. In addition, the use of the invention simplifies the work of the farrier since the iron is reusable, since it is not worn.

 To this end, the subject of the invention is an added protective part for equine hooves in the general shape of a horseshoe, characterized in that, being made of an elastically deformable material, it will take on the shape of the iron as the marshal shoeing will have kindly given to adapt it to the foot of the horse. The invention is characterized in that its attachment to the foot of the horse can only be achieved thanks to the presence of the iron already fixed on the horse's hoof. The invention can likewise be removed without having to remove the iron.

 According to variants of the invention: - the fixing tab can be unique.

- the fixing tabs can be multiple.

- The fixing tab (s) can be of different shapes.

- the fixing holes can be made during manufacturing, or on site by the farrier.

- the inserts may be of different shapes and of different materials: plastic, steel, alloys, etc.

- The invention may be composed of a single material or of a combination of several different materials.

- The invention may have hollows and bumps to allow adaptation to the terrain and prevent slipping.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the invention (1) in perspective from different angles. We can distinguish the outer face (2) drilled in different locations of holes (4), 4 internal tabs (3) themselves pierced with holes (5).

 Figure 3 shows in section the hoof of a horse (8) provided with a horseshoe (7) and the invention (1) fixed to the foot of the horse by means of inserts or links (6) connecting the tongues (3) of the outer face (2) previously pierced with orifices (5) and (4) respectively. The fixing holes (4) and (5) can be made during the manufacture of the invention or by the farrier just before installation.

 Figure 4 is a section of the invention at the tabs (3). With reference to this drawing, we can see the location of the inserts (6) connecting the tongue (3) to the outer face (2) previously drilled with holes (5) and (4) respectively.

 FIG. 5 represents a section of the invention (1) in a place devoid of tongue (3).

 Figure 6 shows in perspective a variant of the invention having only a single tongue (3), and whose shape is different from the previous one.

 Figure 7 shows in perspective another variant of the invention having tongue (3) and whose shape is different from those seen previously.

Claims (1)

 1) Wear and protection damping insert, characterized in that it is molded in one piece, elastically deformable and that it is fixed by means of inserts or links (6) passed between the shoe (8) and iron (7).