GB2120072A - A horseshoe - Google Patents

Abstract

A horseshoe consists of several parts (5, 6, 7) of metal or wood which are bent in accordance with the hoof and are spaced relative to one another and have been vulcanised in a wear-resistant, resilient, horseshoe-shaped plastics material ring (3). In the parts, there are provided bores or weak points, which allow the horseshoe to be nailed or screwed to the hoof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A horseshoe The invention relates to a horseshoe for protecting the hooves of riding and working horses, in particular, which shoe corresponds to the shape of the respective hoof and, wrthlthe external carrying rim, supports the horny rim ofthe hoof and is detachably connected to the latterthrough nails.

Such a horseshoe is associated with the hoof of working animals, which includes riding horses, so as to prevent the excessive wearthereof on relatively hard soil. Over and above this, the object of flitting the hooves with shoes is to compensate for defective hoof positions and to help cure diseased hooves, to the extent that this is possible. In addition to the simple horseshoe, the so-called smooth shoe, there are used many special horseshoes, for example, for racehorses. The horseshoes are mainly fastened to the toe, as a rule with the aid of six to eight horseshoe nails, the horny rim ofthe hoof resting on the carrying rim of the horseshoe.Inordertoincreasetheengagementofthe hoof, such horseshoes are provided with so-called grips, that is to say an upwardly disposed rim on the front edge, as well as caulks which are screwed in in a distributed manner over the horseshoe or form part of the horseshoe. One has also already attempted to use rubber or cork inserts so as to reduce the slipping of the horses on smooth soil.

What is disadvantageous in connection with the known horseshoes is the expensive fitting or shoeing.

It is necessaryto preparethe hoof priorto shoeing by trimming the horny parts. Over and above this, the horseshoe is applied while it is red-hot, in orderthus to compensate for any last unevennesses and to ensure thatthe hoof rests accurately flatly on the horseshoe.

The nails are then driven obliquely into the toe and as a rule bent outwardly, which not infrequently leads to pain being experienced. However, what is particularly disadvantageous is the fact that such horseshoes, particularly those of heavy-duty riding horses, are worn fourtofive weeks atthe outside.Thereafter, it is necessaryto remove the horseshoes and to re-align them or even to replace them by new horseshoes. The reason forthis is, in particular, the rapid growth of the horny rim of the hoof. If the horseshoe were not modified or changed in time, this would lead to the horse becoming lame and, in the final analysis, to hoof diseases.

Thetaskunderlying the invention isto provide a horseshoewhich can be fitted without a great deal of preparation, particularly without any burning work, andwhich is convenient to wear and has a long life.

According to the invention, the problem is solved in that the horseshoe consists of several parts.

A horseshoe designed in this way is given a certain movability, which allows it to bend up in its shape in accordance with the pushing-forward of the horny rim. It is therefore impossibleforany painful changes to occur within the short period offourto five weeks.

On the contrary, it is possible to use such a horseshoe for a considerably longer period oftime, particularly if the individual partial pieces of the horseshoe are so arranged on the hoof that they are movable relative to one another, although they are interconnected.

A particularly expedient design of the horseshoe is to be seen, according to the invention, in that the horseshoe consists of several partial pieces which are bentaccordingtothe hoof and are capable of providing support and which are spaced relative to one another and have been vulcanised into wearresistant, resilient horseshoe-shaped plastics material ring. Like the conventional, hitherto used horseshoe, this plastics material ring is open atthe rear and can thus be exactly adapted to the hoof of the horse or other animal. The resilient, wear-resistant plastics material securely accommodates the partial pieces as insertsandthus renders possible an association of the partial pieces with the hoof, on the one hand, and in relation to one another, on the other hand, precisely in the optimum arrangement.The two, three or more partial pieces are spaced so that they can be moved in the plastics material both vertically to the hoof and horizontally thereto. By this means, the horseshoe, once connected to the hoof, can exactlyfollowthe movements of the hoof and the changes occurring during the growth thereof without any painful impairment being possible. Forthe rest, the plastics material ensuresthatthe horseshoe is in abutting contact with the hoof so that the burning and other preparatory work that was hitherto necessary can be completely dispensed with. The horseshoe nestles against the hoof in a certain manner and is thus considerabiy more convenient to wear than the hitherto used horseshoes which are rigid in bending.The plastics material is so wear-resistant that it does not wear at all on normal soil and wears only slightly on hard soil as time goes on. By this means, it is ensured that the partial pieces stay reliably embedded in the plastics material while the horseshoe is in use.

According to the invention, a construction of the partial pieces that is particularly favourable, because it does not wear out quickly, is possible if these pieces are made of quenched and tempered steel and have rounded corners and edges. The relativeiy thin steel sheets made of quenched and tempered steel can be reliably embedded in the plastics material,the rounded corners and edges reliably preventing these parts from emerging from the plastics material even if unfavourable loading occurs.

Since the partial pieces have substantially only stabilising tasks, it may be advantageous to produce the partial pieces in hard wood,which can be advantageously processed and embedded orvulcanised into the plastics material.

According to one development of the invention, provision is madeforthe partial pieces to be embedded in neoprene having a Shore hardness of 40 to 75. Preferably, a neoprene having a Shore hardness of 60 to 65 is used, since such a material is highly wear-resistant, but is nevertheless sufficiently resilient. Such a material ensuresthatthe horseshoe will have a long life, apartfrom ensuring the already mentioned advantageous adaptability ofthe plastics material to the respective hoof.

In order to improve the grip of the horseshoe in the soil, and consequently to increase the effectiveness of the horseshoe altogether, provision has been made according to the invention forthe partial pieces to have raised rims on the outsides. These rims are formed on the side ofthe partial pieces that is directed away from the hoof.

The fitting of the horseshoe can be brought about in a particularly expedient manner, since the partial pieces have, in the zone ofthe nails, a groove-like zone which extends in parallel with the outside and has predetermined weak points. These weak points, as a rule bores, facilitate the fitting ofthe horseshoe and, if necessary, renderpossiblethe use of partial pieces which are stronger and have a high supporting capacity. The zone provided with the weak points or bores may be made identifiable in the plastics material by appropriate marks and possibly by an appropriate colouring.

According to the invention, a considerable improvement ofthe service value ofthe horseshoe is brought about in that the plastics material is directly connected to the hoof, preferably the tow, via screws and with the inclusion ofthe partial pieces. Such a screw connection is naturally easier to release ifdamageto the horseshoe has occurred or if an overhaul or exchange becomes necessaryfor other reasons. Particularly suitableforsuch a screw connection are screws where the thread has an inclination that is flattowardsthe screw head. Such screws are particularly distinguished in thatthey provide a securing in place after a short distance.It is precisely this which is of particularly great advantage in the present case because this reliably prevents any injury to the hoof and the surrounding foot parts.

The invention is particularly distinguished in that there is provided a horseshoe which is convenientto wear and easyto handle and which, over and above this, can stay substantially longer on the hoof because it is capable of following the hoof or horny rim change caused by the growth thereof, without any painful stress being exerted on the riding animal or other animal.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter ofthe invention will emerge from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred exemplified embodiment is illustrated with the necessary details and individual parts and in which: FIGURE 1 shows a bottom view of a horseshoe, FIGURE 2 shows a top view of the horseshoe, and FIGURE 3 shows a section through a partial zone of the horseshoe.

On the horseshoe shown in Fig. 1,the part supporting the horny rim isformed bytheplastics ring 3 and the partial pieces 5,6 which have been vulcanised thereinto. In the representation of Fig. 2, another partial piece 7 is provided in the zone of the grip 10, the horseshoe 1 being movable in both cases.

The horseshoe can adaptto the movements of the hoof both by the plastics material ring 3, which is open atthe rear, being widened and in the vertical direction thereto.

As with conventional horseshoes, there may be provided in the zone ofthe grip 10 bulges or reinforcements so as to give the foot of the horse a better grasp. Over and above this, there may be fitted at the rear end of the horseshoe 7 caulks 11, which also improve the engagement of the horseshoe in the soiL As can be seen in Figs. 1 to 3,the corners8 and the edges 9 of the partial pieces 5,6,7,which have been vulcanised in, are rounded so as to preventthe surrounding plastics material ring from being damaged by the sharp edges.

Extending centrally and approximately in parallel with the outside 16 is a groove-like zone 12, in which spaced bores i3forthe nails 14 are provided. These points are also marked onthe outside so thatthere do not exist any problemsforthesmith when the horseshoe is fitted. Depending on the design, it may also be expedient, as is indicated in Fig. 2, to provide spaced or groove-like weak points 15, thus allowing, in consideration ofthe material of the plastics material ring, screws 19 to be used forfitting the horseshoe.

The screws 19 are so designed thatthey provide a considerable holding power after having been screwed in a short distance.

In Fig. 2, there is clearly illustrated that, in addition to the weak points 15,15', 15"', there may also be provided such weaker points 15" in the plastics material zone proper, since, if the described screws 19 are used, such a plastics material can also be directly screwed together with the hoof. In parallel with the weak points 15, 15', 15"', there extend on the outside 16 raised rims 17, 17'. These rims 17, too, increase, if required,the engagement of the horseshoe in the soil orthe running surface.

On account ofthe design ofthe plastics material ring 3 and the arrangement of the partial pieces 5,6,7 and the distribution thereof inside the plastics material ring 3, it is possibleto fitthe horseshoe 1 without any burning work, in particular, but also otherwise with little preparatorywork. Consequently, the adaptation ofthe horseshoe to the respective hoof is consider ably facilitated, the ease ofwearing horseshoe, in particular, being increased. Over and above this, itis advantageous that the noise nuisance caused bythe horseshoe can be reduced approximatelyto zero.

On account of its design,the horseshoe not only acts as a protection againstwear but is also a kind of running aid,that is to say running is more pleasantfor the animal than without a horseshoe. This action is still increased in that the plastics material ring 3 consists oftwo layers, the layer 20, which is directed towardsthe hoof, being softerthanthe layer 21, which is directed towards the ground. Advantageously, in the two-layer design, the lower layer 21 may even be extremely hard or abrasion-resistant. The plastics material ring 3 simultaneously acts as a protection against injury because the dangerous iron has been rendered safe, that is to say has been enveloped in plastics material. The horses are no longer a dangerto themselves and to others.

The horseshoe 1 can be designed so as to conform to the respective conditions of use. For example, for racehorses there is chosen a particularly flat and light design with the inserts or partial pieces 5, 6, 7 consisting ofwood or sheet-metal. For jumping horses there is chosen a thick grip 1Q and a thick caulk 11 or a horseshoe 1 which has been raised atthe rear.

By providing a grooveapproximately in the centre of the plastics material ring 3 it is also possible to increasethe effectiveness ofthe horseshoe 1.

Claims (12)

1. A horseshoe for protecting the hooves of riding and working horses, in particular, which shoe corres pondstotheshapeofthe respective hoof and, with the external carrying rim, supports the horny rim ofthe hoof and is detachably connected to the latter through nails, characterised in thatthe horseshoe (1) consists of several parts.

2. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in thatthe horseshoe (1) consists of several partial pieces (5,6,7) which are bent in accordance with the hoof and are capable of providing support and which are spaced relative to one another and have been vulcanised into a wear-resistant, resilient, horseshoe-shaped plastics material ring (3).

3. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the partial pieces (5,6,7) are made of quenched and tempered steel and have rounded corners and edges (8,9).

4. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the partial pieces (5,6,7) are made of hard wood.

5. A horseshoe as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterised in thatthe partial pieces (5,6,7) are embedded in neoprene having a Shore hardness of40 to 75.

6. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 5, characterised inthatthe neoprene has a Shore hardness of 60 to 65.

7. A horseshoe as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the partial pieces (5,6,7) have rims (17) which are raised on the outsides (16).

8. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in thatthe partial pieces (5,6,7) have, in the zone ofthe nails (14), a groove-like zone (12) which extends in parallel with the outside (16) and is provided with predetermined weak points (15).

9. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in thatthe plastics material ring (3) is directly connected to the hoof, preferably the toe, via screws 19 and with the inclusion of the partial pieces (5,6,7).

10. Ahorseshoeasclaimed inlaimsl and 9, characterised inthatthethread of the screws (19) has an inclination that is flat towards the screw head.

11. A horseshoe as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material ring (3) receiving the partial pieces (5,6,7) is in two layers (20,21), of which the layerthat bears against the hoof has a lower Shore hardness than the one that is directed towards the ground.

12. A horseshoe for protecting the hooves of riding and working horses, substantialiy as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.