GB2561670A

GB2561670A - Horseshoe stud

Info

Publication number: GB2561670A
Application number: GB1802424.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Turner Nigel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-02-16
Filing date: 2018-02-14
Publication date: 2018-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-14
Also published as: GB201802424D0; GB2561670B; GB2559755A; GB201702523D0

Abstract

A horseshoe stud 1 including a ground-engaging part 3, and a horseshoe-engaging part 5, arranged for insertion into and engagement with a worn threaded stud hole or a horse shoe, the horseshoe-engaging part having an external thread which is tapered along the longitudinal axis. The thread may include crests and roots to engage with corresponding crests and roots of an internally threaded stud hole. The thread may be tapered at an angle of between 0.1 and 10 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. The stud may be stainless steel. The stud may include means for facilitation rotation, such as a groove 9 in the ground engaging part. The ground engaging part may be tapered, flat, rounded or crenelated. Also disclosed is a method of forming the horseshoe stud, and a method of providing a studded horseshoe.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Horseshoe stud

Abstract Title: Horseshoe stud with a tapered external thread (57) A horseshoe stud 1 including a ground-engaging part 3, and a horseshoe-engaging part 5, arranged for insertion into and engagement with a worn threaded stud hole or a horse shoe, the horseshoe-engaging part having an external thread which is tapered along the longitudinal axis. The thread may include crests and roots to engage with corresponding crests and roots of an internally threaded stud hole. The thread may be tapered at an angle of between 0.1 and 10 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. The stud may be stainless steel. The stud may include means for facilitation rotation, such as a groove 9 in the ground engaging part. The ground engaging part may be tapered, flat, rounded or crenelated. Also disclosed is a method of forming the horseshoe stud, and a method of providing a studded horseshoe.

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Horseshoe Stud

This invention relates to horseshoe studs. In particular, it relates to horseshoe studs which are especially suitable for short-term or emergency insertion into horseshoes but which may also be suitable for longer-term insertion into horseshoes.

Background of the Invention

Horseshoes are sometimes provided with horseshoe studs. Such studs may change how a horse’s hoof contacts the ground. A stud or plurality of studs inserted into a horseshoe may for example provide increased traction or stability for a horse when its hoof contacts the ground, by penetrating and/or deforming the ground. Alternatively or additionally, a stud or plurality of studs may prevent contact between the ground and the horseshoe or part of the horseshoe. This may help minimise wear to the horseshoe itself and/or provide an additional layer of protection for the horse’s hoof, e.g. if the ground is cold, hard or likely to scratch or pierce the horse’s hoof.

In this document, the term “stud hole” is used to refer to a hole in a horseshoe that is intended to receive part of a horseshoe stud. A stud hole is typically tapped, drilled or otherwise formed in a horseshoe to enable a stud to be inserted into the stud hole. A stud hole may have a threaded wall, such that a stud with a correspondingly threaded part can be screwed into the stud hole.

As they are used, horseshoe studs and in particular stud holes become worn. The forces applied to a stud and its stud hole as a horse moves can result in damage to the stud and the stud hole. Furthermore, water, mud, grit or other substances can sometimes enter a stud hole and abrade the walls or thread of the stud hole. As a result, it may become impossible to securely fix a stud in the stud hole, because the thread of the stud cannot properly engage the thread of the stud hole. This could mean that the stud is able to rotate or pivot in the stud hole, or even that the stud falls out of the stud hole. This can be dangerous for the horse and its rider. It is also environmentally undesirable for horseshoe studs to be left behind after coming loose from their stud holes.

One solution to this problem is to make a new stud hole in the horseshoe, with a new and intact thread in the stud hole wall, so that the existing stud (if it is not too worn) or a new stud can be screwed into the new stud hole. However, this would generally require removal of the horseshoe and may require the presence of a farrier. This can be problematic because frequent removal and re-application of horseshoes can cause damage to a horse’s hoof. Furthermore, such stud hole wear can occur when the horse and rider are out riding, e.g. at an event or race. On such occasions, there may not be time, space or equipment to make a new stud hole, and/or a farrier may not be available quickly enough to carry out the necessary work before the horse and rider have to ride again. The rider may therefore be forced to ride with a loose or missing stud.

Another solution is to line a worn stud hole with a deformable material, e.g. with plastic tape or wadding, so that the effective diameter of the stud hole is reduced. A stud can then be screwed into the reduced-diameter stud hole, the thread of the stud engaging with the deformable material to hold the stud in the stud hole. However, the deformable material may come loose from the stud hole, and/or the deformable material may not be able to hold the stud rigidly in place, meaning that the stud may still be able to rotate or pivot in the stud hole, or may even come free from the deformable material or the stud hole, so again the rider may be forced to ride with a loose or missing stud.

The invention aims to go at least some way towards ameliorating or solving the above problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided a horseshoe stud for use with a horseshoe having a worn threaded stud hole, including: aground-engaging part arranged to be brought into contact with the ground; and a horseshoe-engaging part arranged for insertion into and engagement with a stud hole in a horseshoe, wherein the horseshoe-engaging part includes an external thread which is tapered such that the major diameter of the external thread changes along the longitudinal axis of the external thread.

Advantageously, such a horseshoe stud with a tapered external thread may be able to engage with a worn stud hole in a horseshoe. Such a stud may be especially suitable for temporary or emergency insertion into a horseshoe, e.g. while a rider is out riding and the rider realises that a conventional stud is loose or has dropped out of a horseshoe. Additionally or alternatively, such a stud may be easier to insert into a stud hole than conventional horseshoe studs, since a user may be able to more easily insert a tapered external thread into a stud hole than a non-tapered external thread.

Preferably, the tapered external thread includes thread crests and thread roots arranged to engage with corresponding thread roots and thread crests of an internally threaded stud hole. This may facilitate engagement of the horseshoe stud to with a worn threaded stud hole. This may be particularly advantageous in allowing the horseshoe stud to engage with a horseshoe which has been tapped (i.e. provided with one or more threaded stud holes) for use with threaded studs but whose stud holes have become worn such that standard studs with horseshoe-engaging parts having constant major diameters cannot any longer engage with the worn walls of the stud hole.

Preferably, the tapered external thread may be tapered at an angle of between 0.1 ° and 10° relative to the longitudinal axis of the thread (also referred to as the thread axis). More preferably, the tapered external thread may be tapered at angle of between 0.5° and 5°. More preferably still, the external thread 7 may be tapered at an angle of between 1 ° and 3°, e.g. 1.96°. An angle of taper within one or more of these ranges may advantageously help ensure that the tapered external thread will engage a worn stud hole and that an appropriate length of the horseshoe-engaging part of the horseshoe stud enters the stud hole before the tapered external thread engages with the stud hole.

Optionally, the horseshoe stud may be made of stainless steel or another suitable material. Stainless steel may provide a suitable level of strength, hardness and/or ease of formation.

Preferably, the horseshoe stud includes means for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud. This may help ensure that a user can turn the horseshoe stud relative to a stud hole, to cause the tapered external thread to engage with or disengage from the stud hole. In some embodiments, the means for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud includes a groove provided in the ground-engaging part. Advantageously, this may enable a user to insert a coin, a blade of a flat-head screwdriver, or another object with a substantially planar portion into the groove and turn the object to apply a torque to the stud.

Optionally, the ground-engaging part has a tapered, flat, rounded or crenellated form. This may advantageously make the horseshoe stud suitable for use in a particular type or particular types of horse riding, e.g. particular races or events.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of forming a horseshoe stud, comprising the steps of: forming a ground-engaging part of the horseshoe stud, the ground-engaging part being arranged to be brought into contact with the ground; and forming a horseshoe-engaging part of the horseshoe stud, the horseshoeengaging part being arranged to be inserted into a horseshoe and the horseshoe-engaging part including a tapered external thread.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a studded horseshoe, comprising: inserting into a worn threaded stud hole in a horseshoe a horseshoe stud including a ground-engaging part arranged to be brought into contact with the ground and a horseshoe-engaging part arranged for insertion into and engagement with a stud hole in a horseshoe, the horseshoe-engaging part including an external thread which is tapered such that the major diameter of the external thread changes along the longitudinal axis of the external thread, and screwing the horseshoe stud into the worn threaded stud hole.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described in detail by reference to examples, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate in side view examples of horseshoe studs according to the present invention;

Figures 3 to 6 schematically illustrate examples of horseshoe studs according to the present invention which have been inserted into stud holes in horseshoes, the horseshoe studs being shown in side view and the horseshoes being shown in cross section;

Figure 7 schematically illustrates in plan view an example of a horseshoe stud with sides arranged in a hexagonal formation;

Figure 8 schematically illustrates in side view an example of a horseshoe stud according to the present invention; and

Figure 9 schematically illustrates in elevation view a horseshoe stud according to the present invention which has been inserted into a stud hole in a horseshoe.

Detailed Description

The present embodiments represent the best ways currently known to the applicant of putting the invention into practice, but they are not the only ways in which this can be achieved. They are illustrated, and they will now be described, by way of example only.

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a horseshoe stud 1 including a ground-engaging part 3 and a horseshoe-engaging part 5. The ground-engaging part 3 is designed to be brought into contact with the ground, e.g. when the horseshoe stud 1 has been inserted into a horse’s horseshoe and the horse is standing or moving on its hooves.

In the illustrated example, the ground-engaging part 3 has a tapered form. This may mean that the ground-engaging part 3 is able to penetrate and/or deform the ground more easily than a non-tapered ground-engaging part can. This may help ensure high stability/traction for a horse and may be particularly suitable for certain types of event or race. A tapered ground-engaging part 3 may for example have an angle φ of 40°.

Alternative forms of ground-engaging part, such as ground-engaging parts which are more or less tapered, flat, rounded, crenellated or otherwise differently formed, may also be provided and may be more suitable for other types of event or race. Examples of some alternative forms of ground-engaging part are illustrated in Figures 4 to 6.

The horseshoe-engaging part 5 illustrated in Figure 1 extends from a surface 11 of the stud 1. The horseshoe-engaging part 5 is arranged to occupy a stud hole in a horseshoe. The horseshoe-engaging part 5 includes an external thread 7. The external thread 7 includes a series of thread crests separated by thread roots. The thread crests of the external thread 7 are arranged to be received in corresponding thread roots of a threaded stud hole in a horseshoe. The thread roots of the external thread 7 are analogously arranged to receive corresponding thread crests of the threaded stud hole in the horseshoe. This interlocking or engaging of the thread crests and thread roots of the external thread 7 with the corresponding thread roots and thread crests of the threaded stud hole in the horseshoe constrains relative axial movement of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 and the stud hole.

In the illustrated example, the external thread 7 is a single thread which extends helically around the exterior of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 from at or near the surface 11 of the stud 1 (the proximal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5) to at or near the top of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 (the distal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5). In other examples, the external thread 7 may comprise a plurality of separate threads, and/or may extend only part way along the length of the horseshoe-engaging part 5. In the illustrated examples, the leading and trailing edge of each crest are substantially similar or identical in profile. The leading and trailing edge of each crest may for example be similarly curved to one another or similarly straight to one another.

The external thread 7 of horseshoe-engaging part 5 is tapered, as indicated by the longdashed lines B in Figure 1. The external thread 7 is tapered in the sense that the major radius or major diameter of the external thread 7 (relative to the longitudinal axis of the thread 7, also referred to as the thread axis) is smallest (i.e. the thread 7 is narrowest) at the distal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 (the end farthest from the groundengaging part 3 of the stud 1) and biggest (i.e. widest) at the proximal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 (the end nearest the ground-engaging part 3 of the stud 1). The major radius or major diameter of the external thread 7 gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal end. Similarly, in the illustrated example, the minor radius or minor diameter of the external thread 7 (relative to the thread axis) is smallest (i.e. narrowest) at the distal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 (the end farthest from the ground-engaging part 3 of the stud 1) and biggest (i.e. widest) at the proximal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 (the end nearest the ground-engaging part 3 of the stud 1). In the illustrated example, the minor radius or minor diameter of the external thread 7 gradually increases from the distal end to the proximal. In the illustrated example, the major radius/diameter and the minor radius/diameter increase correspondingly along the longitudinal length of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 such that the height of the thread crests or the depth of thread roots is substantially constant along the length of the horseshoe-engaging part 5. In other examples, the minor radius or minor diameter may remain substantially constant along the longitudinal length of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 while the major radius or major diameter changes along the longitudinal length of the horseshoe-engaging part 5.

The taper of the illustrated external thread 7 has been exaggerated for the purposes of illustrating the invention. The external thread 7 may be tapered at an angle Θ of between 0.1 ° and 10°, relative to a line projecting orthogonally from the surface 11, such as those indicated by the short-dashed lines A in Figure 1, or an alternative and/or equivalent line, such as the longitudinal axis of the external thread 7 (the thread axis), the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe-engaging part 5, or the longitudinal axis of the studl. A further alternative is shown in Figure 6. In the example illustrated in Figure 6, the angle Θ is measured relative to a line A extending collinearly from the end of the side wall of the ground-engaging part 3 of the stud 1. Preferably, the external thread 7 is tapered at an angle θ of between 0.5° and 5°. More preferably, the external thread 7 is tapered at an angle of between 1 °and 3°, e.g. 1.96°.

The horseshoe-engaging part 5 has an overall length L corresponding to but slightly shorter than depths of typical stud holes in horseshoes. For example, the horseshoeengaging part 5 may have an overall length L of between % in (3.175 mm) and Hin (12.7 mm), but these are only examples - other lengths are possible. In specific examples, the horseshoe-engaging part 5 may have an overall length L of 0.23622 in (6 mm). The horseshoe-engaging part 5 may have an overall width k of, for example, between % in (3.175 mm) and 1 in (25.4 mm). In specific examples, the horseshoe-engaging part 5 may have an overall width k of % in (9.525 mm).

The ground-engaging part 3 illustrated in Figure 1 includes means 9 for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud 1. In the illustrated example, the means 9 for facilitating rotating comprise a single groove in the distal end of the ground-engaging part 3, i.e. the end of the ground-engaging part 3 that will come into contact with the ground first when the horse moves its hoof towards the ground. A user may insert a coin, a flat-head screwdriver or another object with a substantially planar portion into the groove 9 and apply a torque to the stud 1 by turning the object, to tighten the stud 1 into a stud hole or loosen the stud from the stud hole. This may be particularly useful in circumstances where a stud needs to be inserted at short notice, e.g. when a first stud has fallen out of its stud hole during riding and the horse and its rider need to start riding again imminently.

The means 9 for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud 1 may have any suitable dimensions. As an example, a groove 9 as illustrated in Figure 1 may have a depth d of between 0.0393701 in (1 mm) and 0.19685 in (5 mm). In some specific examples, the groove 9 may have a depth d of 0.0787402 in (2 mm). As a further example, a groove 9 as illustrated in Figure 1 may have a width w of between 0.0393701 in (1 mm) and 0.19685 in (5 mm). In some specific examples, the groove 9 may have a width w of 0.0787402 in (2 mm). As another example, a groove 9 as illustrated in Figure 1 may have a length i (see Figure 7) of between 0.0787402 in (2 mm) and 0.393701 in (10 mm). In some specific examples, the groove 9 may have a length i of 0.19685 in (5 mm).

Although in the illustrated example the means for facilitating rotating includes a single groove, in other examples, the means for rotating may include a plurality of grooves (e.g. arranged in across formation), a threaded hole, or another formation for transferring torque from one object to the stud 1. Other examples may not include such a means for facilitating rotating.

Alternatively or additionally, part of the stud 1 may have a triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal, etc. cross section such that a spanner or other device for transferring torque can be applied to that part of the stud 1 to facilitate rotating the stud 1, to tighten it into or loosen it out of a stud hole. Figure 7 illustrates an example of such a stud 1 with a part 17 having a hexagonal cross section, shown in a plan view with the (further) means 9 for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud and the ground-engaging part 3 visible on top.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the external thread 7 may be arranged such that anticlockwise rotation of the stud 1 causes tightening of the stud 1 into a stud hole, or such that clockwise rotation of the stud 1 causes tightening of the stud 1 into a stud hole.

Figures 3 to 6 show different examples of horseshoe studs 1 inserted into stud holes 15 in horseshoes 13. A stud hole 15 in a horseshoe 13 may be a through hole (i.e. extending all the way through the horseshoe), such as those illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, or may be a closed hole (i.e. extending only part way into the horseshoe), such as those illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The stud holes 15 may have become worn and damaged such that conventional studs will not be retained in the damaged threads of the stud holes or will turn or pivot in the holes. In this context, “worn” may mean that the thread is no longer complete. For example, the thread may have been rubbed smooth or may have been damaged such that there is a discontinuity in the thread.

The tapered nature of the external thread 7 means that, as a user screws the stud 1 in the appropriate direction, the external thread 7 will engage the wall of the stud hole 15 and be held in place by the walls when the part of the external thread 7 with the appropriate external diameter enters the stud hole 15 and is rotated, causing that part of the external thread 7 to engage and possibly deform the wall of the stud hole 15.

Although the tapered external thread 7 makes studs 1 according to the invention suitable for secure insertion into heavily worn stud holes, the studs 1 are also suitable for secure insertion into new or only slightly worn stud holes. In the example illustrated in Figure 5, the narrowest diameter of the external thread 7 of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 of the stud 1 is similar to the diameter of the stud hole 15, meaning that relatively little of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 is inside the stud hole 15 when the external thread 7 securely engages the wall of the stud hole 15. This could for example correspond to a situation in which the stud hole 15 is in good condition and relatively unworn. In the examples illustrated in Figures 3,4 and 6, a wider diameter of the external thread 7 of the horseshoeengaging part 5 of the stud 1 is similar to the diameter of the stud hole 15, meaning that a greater proportion of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 is inside the stud hole 15 when the external thread 7 securely engages the wall of the stud hole 15. This could for example correspond to a situation in which the stud hole 15 is more worn.

If a rider discovers, while he or she is out riding, that a conventional stud has come loose or dropped out and the corresponding stud hole is worn such that the original or a new stud cannot be tightly secured in place, the rider can replace the loose stud with a stud 1 as described and claimed. The tapered nature of the external thread 7 ensures that the external thread 7 will engage with the wall of even a worn stud hole, since a wider part of the tapered external thread 7 can engage the wall of the stud hole to cause secure engagement of the stud 1 with the stud hole.

Some horseshoe studs 1 (such as the horseshoe stud 1 illustrated in Figure 1) include a central part 17 between the ground-engaging part 3 and the horseshoe-engaging part 5. In embodiments of the stud 1 which include a part that has a triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal, etc. cross section it may be the central part 17 that is arranged in that shape. For example, the studs 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 have a central part 17 which is hexagonal in cross section. Other horseshoe studs 1 (such as the horseshoe stud 1 illustrated in Figure 8) do not include a central part between the ground-engaging part 3 and the horseshoe-engaging part 5. Instead the ground-engaging and horseshoeengaging parts 3 and 5 may be directly connected to one another, as illustrated in the example of Figure 8.

The described and claimed horseshoe stud 1 may therefore be especially suitable as a temporary or emergency stud to replace an existing (e.g. semi-permanent or permanent) conventional stud whose stud hole has become worn or damaged, allowing the existing stud freedom to rotate, pivot or drop out. The described and claimed horseshoe stud 1 can engage a worn or damaged hole without requiring removal of the horseshoe and without the services of the farrier. When the rider has finished riding with the temporary/emergency horseshoe stud 1, the stud 1 can be removed, and either the stud hole can be repaired or replaced with a new stud hole or a new shoe can be attached to the horse’s hoof, when a farrier is available, etc.

Although in some of the illustrated examples (such as the example illustrated in Figure 1) the proximal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 is noticeably narrower than the adjacent part of the stud 1 (in the example illustrated in Figure 1, the base of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 is noticeably narrower than the central part 17) such that a surface 11 is formed, in other examples (such as the example illustrated in Figure 6) the proximal end of the horseshoe-engaging part 5 has approximately the same diameter as the adjacent part of the stud 1, such that minimal or no surface 11 is formed.

Some embodiments (such as the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3) may include a neck 19 that separates the external thread 7 from the adjacent part of the stud 1 (such as the central part 17 or the ground-engaging part 3). Other embodiments (such as the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6) may include minimal or no such neck.

Horseshoe studs 1 according to embodiments of the invention may be made of any appropriate material. For example, a grade 303 stainless steel may be used for a horseshoe stud 1.

Horseshoe studs 1 according to embodiments of the invention may have any suitable overall length S (see Figure 1). For example, a horseshoe stud 1 may have an overall length S of 0.866142 in (22 mm). Similarly, horseshoe studs 1 according to embodiments of the invention may have any suitable greatest width n (see Figure 7). horseshoe stud 1 may have a greatest width n of A in (12.7 mm).

For example, a

Claims

1. A horseshoe stud for use with a horseshoe having a worn threaded stud hole, the horseshoe stud including:

a ground-engaging part arranged to be brought into contact with the ground; and a horseshoe-engaging part arranged for insertion into and engagement with a stud hole in a horseshoe, wherein the horseshoe-engaging part includes an external thread which is tapered such that the major diameter of the external thread changes along the longitudinal axis of the external thread.

2. A horseshoe stud as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered external thread includes thread crests and thread roots arranged to engage with corresponding thread roots and thread crests of an internally threaded stud hole.

3. A horseshoe stud as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tapered external thread is tapered at an angle of between 0.1 ° and 10° relative to the longitudinal axis of the external thread.

4. A horseshoe stud as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, made of stainless steel.

5. A horseshoe stud as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud.

6. A horseshoe stud as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for facilitating rotating of the horseshoe stud includes a groove provided in the ground-engaging part.

7. A horseshoe stud as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the ground-engaging part has a tapered, flat, rounded or crenellated form.

8. A method of forming a horseshoe stud for use with a horseshoe having a worn threaded stud hole, the method comprising:

forming a ground-engaging part of the horseshoe stud, the ground-engaging part being arranged to be brought into contact with the ground; and forming a horseshoe-engaging part of the horseshoe stud, the horseshoeengaging part being arranged for insertion into and engagement with a stud hole in a horseshoe, the horseshoe-engaging part including an external thread which is tapered such that the major diameter of the external thread changes along the

5 longitudinal axis of the external thread.

9. A method of providing a studded horseshoe, the method comprising:

inserting a horseshoe stud into a worn threaded stud hole in a horseshoe, the horseshoe stud including a ground-engaging part arranged to be brought into

10 contact with the ground and a horseshoe-engaging part arranged for insertion into and engagement with a stud hole in a horseshoe, the horseshoe-engaging part including an external thread which is tapered such that the major diameter of the external thread changes along the longitudinal axis of the external thread; and screwing the horseshoe stud into the worn threaded stud hole.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1802424.0 Examiner: Ms Rachel Evans