GB2308285A

GB2308285A - Protective boot

Info

Publication number: GB2308285A
Application number: GB9526209A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Balfry; Barbara Ashby-Jones
Original assignee: ASHBY JONES BARBARA
Current assignee: ASHBY JONES BARBARA
Priority date: 1995-12-21
Filing date: 1995-12-21
Publication date: 1997-06-25
Also published as: GB9526209D0

Abstract

A protective boot 24 intended to be worn around the lower leg region of a horse to reduce the possibility of damage due to side-brushing comprises a sandwich construction made up of a tough external layer 27 glued and stitched around its periphery to an inner layer 28 of acrylic fleece. Between the inner and external layers is a layer of shock-absorbing foam 36 in use protecting an inner region of the horse's leg.

Description

PROTECTIVE COVERINGS FOR THE LOWER LEG REGIONS OF HORSES This invention relates to anatomical protective coverings for the lower leg regions of a horse, otherwise referred to herein as "boots".

This region of a horse is a vulnerable and delicate area which can easily be damaged: i.e. the lower leg tendon area of the front legs may be damaged by being struck by the rear foot of the hind leg, or any of the lower leg regions (front or hind) may be damaged by side-brushing with the opposite foot on the inside of the lower leg. In the first instance, if unprotected the horse may be rendered temporarily lame, or permanently lame, when the horse may have to be destroyed.

We have developed . advanced protective coverings or "boots" for the lower leg region of a horse which can quickly be fitted securely around the area, providing good and durable protection.

Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention provides a protective boot for the lower leg region of a horse, which comprises one or more layers of resilient material fashioned to be passed around the horse's lower leg, one or more straps for securing the boot in use, and a substantially rigid elongate U-shaped reinforcing element for protecting in use the rear or front of the lower leg region.

Preferably, the straps comprise a hooked/looped surface adapted releasably to engage a complementary looped/hooked surface on said boot. The straps and complementary surface may comprise "Velcro" (RTM) material or the like, comprising a woven "Nylon" (RTM) or the like material to provide a high tensile strength substrate, and hooked or looped material securely attached thereto.

The complementary surface preferably comprises one or more patches secured to said boot and defining a pocket for receiving said reinforcing element.

The boot preferably comprises an external layer of woven plastics or other synthetic fibre such as Nylon (RTM), stitched or otherwise secured to an internal cushion layer of foamed plastics material, such as EVAZOTE (RTM).

The reinforcing element is preferably made of a tough plastics material such as polypropylene.

The boot preferably also includes a reinforcing sheet disposed between the external and internal layers, disposed to protect a region below the horse's flexor and extensor tendons. The sheet is preferably webbing material.

The boot described above has been designed for competition use, where there is a significant risk of damage to the lower leg, but may be used in other instances.

Another instance where the lower leg region may be damaged is "side-brushing" where the foot of one leg collides with the inside of the opposite other leg. Here it is important to have protection on the inner side of the lower leg region.

Accordingly, in another aspect, this invention provides a protective boot for the inside lower leg region of a horse, comprising one or more layers of resilient material adapted to be passed around the horse's lower leg, one or more straps for securing the boot in use, and an element of shock-absorbing material located within said boot, for protecting the inner side region of the horse's lower leg.

Preferably, the straps are similar to those described above.

The boot preferably comprises a sandwich construction of three layers, a tough external layer of woven plastics or synthetic fibre such Nylon (RTM) stitched or otherwise secured to an inner layer e.g. of acrylic fleece or other suitable material which is capable of breathing, wicking, or transmitting water or water vapour away from the horse's skin (coat), with the third element of shock absorbing material sandwiched between the two outer layers.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various and, by way of example only, two specific embodiments thereof will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of a first embodiment of a protective boot with a protective reinforcing insert intended to protect against damage to the tendon area of the lower leg region; Figure 2 is a section through part of the boot of Figure 1, taken on line II - II showing the rigid insert; Figure 3 is a view of a second embodiment of protective boot intended principally to prevent damage to the inside leg as well as secondary protection to the remaining area, and Figure 4 is a section view showing the reinforcing element.

The protective boots described herein are intended to be fitted around the lower leg region of a horse to protect against damage. Each includes, adjacent the area at greatest risk, a protective insert.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 and 2, the first embodiment of boot 10 comprises a flexible shell or pad 12 made up principally of a tough outer woven layer 14 of Nylon (RTM) bonded to an inner, cushioning layer 15 made of Evazote (RTM) plastics foam material. Around the periphery of the flexible shell, the external and inner layers are stitched and glued as shown at 16.

Straps 18 are attached to one edge of the pad as viewed in Figure 1, by stitching. The straps 18 comprise one component of a Velcro (RTM) fastening system. The straps comprise a tough woven substrate to which is attached a looped material. On the back of the flexible shell 12 are stitched patches 20 forming the other component of the Velcro type fastening, comprising a tough substrate to which is attached a hooked material. The boot is passed around the lower leg region of a horse and strapped securely in place by engaging the straps 18 on the patches 20. The flexible shell 12 is shaped at its upper and lower regions to suit the physiology of the horse's lower leg region.The boot includes two types of reinforcement; firstly the patches 20 define a pocket which is accessible via the gaps between the patches and which receives an elongate reinforcing element 22 of polypropylene material. The bottom end of the boot includes a further reinforcing sheet element 24 of tough webbing material. In use, the boot is secured firmly around the horse's lower leg region, with the reinforcing element 22 protecting the tendon area on a front boot and the cannon bone area on the hind boot. The reinforcing sheet 24 provides protection against bruising or damage to the fetlock region.

Referring now to the second embodiment of boot 24 shown in Figures 3 and 4, this comprises a flexible shell or pad 26 made of a tough external layer 27 similar to that of the previous embodiment, but bonded to a layer of acrylic fleece 28 designed to allow the boot to be worn comfortably for a long period and to allow moisture, water vapour, etc, to be transmitted. The inner and outer layers are glued and stitched together around their periphery as shown at 30. As previously, the flexible shell includes Velcro straps 32 secured to one side of the pad and which are used to fasten the boot around the horses lower leg region by engaging patches 34 of Velcro type material. In the centre of the pad is an insert 36 of shock absorbing foam which here is Poron (RTM) 4000, sandwiched between the outer and inner layers. An important feature of this embodiment is that the reinforcing sheet is disposed within the flexible shell, leaving a continuous surface so that if a foot and lower leg region collide, they can brush readily over each other without damaging the fixing of the shock absorbing insert.

In use, the boot is located firmly around the lower leg region with the reinforcing insert 36 facing inwardly.

Claims

1. A protective boot for the inside lower leg region of a horse, comprising one or more layers of resilient material adapted to be passed around the horse's lower leg, one or more straps for securing the boot in use, and an element of shock-absorbing material located within said boot, for protecting the inner side region of the horse's lower leg.

2. A protective boot according to Claim 1, which comprises a sandwich construction including a tough external layer of woven plastics or synthetic fibre stitched or otherwise secured to an inner layer and a layer of shock absorbing material sandwiched between the external and inner layers.

3. A protective boot according to Claim 2, wherein said inner layer is capable in use of breathing, wicking or transmitting water or water vapour away from the horse's coat.

4. A protective boot according to Claim 3, wherein said inner layer is formed of acrylic fleece.

5. A protective boot according to any preceding Claim, wherein the or each strap comprises a woven tough synthetic plastics material.

6. A protective boot according to any preceding Claim, wherein the or each strap comprises a hooked/looped surface adapted releasably to engage a looped/hooked surface on a complementary element on said boot.

7. A protective boot for the lower leg region of a horse, which comprises one or more layers of resilient material fashioned to be passed around the horse's lower leg, one or more straps for securing the boot in use, and a substantially rigid elongate U-shaped reinforcing element for protecting in use the rear or front of the lower leg region.

8. A protective boot according to Claim 7, wherein the or each strap comprises a hooked/looped surface adapted releasably to engage a complementary looped/hooked element on said boot.

9. A protective boot according to Claims 7 or 8, wherein the or each strap comprises a woven tough synthetic plastics material.

10. A protective boot according to Claim 8 or any Claim dependent thereon, wherein the complementary surface comprises one or more patches secured to said boot and defining a pocket for receiving said reinforcing element.

11. A protective boot according to any of Claims 7 to 10, which comprises an external layer of woven plastics or other synthetic fibre, stitched or otherwise secured to an internal cushion layer of foamed plastics material.

12. A protective boot according to any of Claims 7 to 11, wherein the reinforcing element is made of a tough plastics material.

13. A protective boot according to Claim 12, wherein the reinforcing element is made of polypropylene.

14. A protective boot according to any of Claims 7 to 13, which further includes a reinforcing sheet disposed between the external and internal layers, in the lower region of the boot.

15. A protective boot according to Claim 14, wherein said reinforcing sheet is of webbing material.

16. A protective boot, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, either Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings