NL2020112B1 - Horseshoe, assembly of a horseshoe and a nail, and such a nail - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a horseshoe, comprising: - two branch sections, at least one branch section having a groove with multiple nail holes; and - wherein the nail holes have one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction of the branch section. The invention further relates to an assembly, comprising such a horseshoe and one or more than one nail, as well as to such a nail.

Description

Patent center

Θ 2020112

(2?) Application number: 2020112 (22) Application submitted: December 18, 2017

Int. Cl .:

A01L 1/02 (2018.01) A01L 7/10 (2018.01)

0 Application registered: 0 Patent holder (s): June 25, 2019 Mustad Hoofcare SA at BULLE, Switzerland, CH. 0 Request published: 0 Inventor (s): 0 Patent granted: Scott Allan Lampert June 25, 2019 at Stillwater, Minnesota (US). 0 Patent issued: June 26, 2019 0 Authorized representative: ir. P.J. Hylarides et al. In The Hague.

54) Horseshoe, assembly of a horseshoe and a nail, and such a nail

Present) The present invention relates to a horseshoe, including:

- two branch sections, at least one branch section having a groove with multiple nail holes; and

- the nail holes have one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction of the branch section.

The invention further relates to an assembly, including such a horseshoe and one or more than one nail, as well as to such a nail.

NL B1 2020112

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Horseshoe, assembly of a horseshoe and a nail, and such a nail

The present invention relates to a horseshoe, an assembly of a horseshoe and a nail, as well as to such a nail.

More in particular, the present invention relates to a horse shoe, including two branch sections, at least one branch section having a groove with multiple nail holes.

The groove in the least one branch section is also known as "crease" or "fuller", and is an identification or trough cut in or stamped on a respective branch or a horseshoe. The main purpose of the groove is to secure a head and / or a neck of a horseshoe nail to have an inset or countersink position inside the horseshoe.

The main purpose of the nail is to secure the horseshoe relative to the hoof of an animal, e.g., a horse. The design of a horseshoe nail has a single command to the tip. When applied correctly, this command forces the nail to turn outward to exit the hoof. The degree of exit is based on several conditions, main quality, wall depth and hammer power.

It is an object of the invention to provide a horseshoe that provides an improved and secure attachment to a hoof.

Said object is achieved with the horse shoe according to the present invention, including:

- two branch sections, at least one branch section having a groove with multiple nail holes; and

- the nail holes have one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction of the branch section.

In prior art horseshoes, the groove has either a "V" or a "U" type shape. The orientation of the inner side wall and outer side wall of said groove traditionally remain constant throughout the entire usable length, i.e. the section of the groove where nail holes are or could be intended for practical use, or the specific groove. Outside the usable length of said groove, the side walls of may taper.

According to the invention, the holes have one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction of the branch section. This feature allows and facilitates a farrier to drive a horseshoe nail using a correct anatomic orientation. Driving at a correct anatomical orientation results in the nail being able to be driven safely to a higher exit point, A higher exit point to a higher main wall material relationship with the nail and would provide a stronger and more secured shoe attachment.

A further advantage of the feature that the holes have an orientation that varies along a length direction of the branch section is that this feature also keeps the nail in a natural direction of the head growth which may reduce the opportunity for the nail to pinch sensitive structures initially or throughout the shoeing cycle.

The one or more than one wall of each nail hole of the horseshoe according to the invention provides more play / clearance for the farrier to drive the nail in a desired orientation than a conventional horseshoe would allow. Moreover, the nail holes having one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction of the branch section, also provides the additional clearance to be available in a relevant range for the corresponding specific position of the hoof. In this way, the present invention provides a ability to drive the nails in an optimal direction relative to the hoof. The invention provides the farrier with significant options when starting and initial driving or the nail. The shape of the nail (eg a nail with a socalled “City head” or a so-called “E head”) will determine how long that respective pitched nail can maintain a straight line before making contact with an outside of the nail face on the outside wall of the groove. A face angle of the nail head will also affect how much it changes the initial orientation.

It is recognized that an anatomically correct orientation is preferably parallel to the outer wall angle of the head at a specific nail location. This angle may vary dramatically more in the toe and decreases towards the whole section. In addition to specific anatomical locations, wall angles or a head may also vary considerably with regard to the shape of the feet (e.g. normal, club, low, boxy). Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment, the orientation of the nail holes varies in correspondence with an outer shape or a hoof.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes is more upright relative to the length direction of the branch section in a whole nail section than in a nail section of the horseshoe. Thus, the orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes is more oblique relative to the length direction of the branch section in the toe section than in the entire nail section of the horseshoe. This variation in orientation conforms to a general shape of a hoof.

The invention further relates to an assembly of a horseshoe and a nail according to independent claim 11, and the nail according to independent claim 16. Preferred are the subject of the dependent claims.

In the following description preferred out of the present invention are further elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1A is a cross sectional view of a hoof with a traditional horseshoe;

Figure IB is a cross sectional view of a hoof with a horseshoe according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hoof with a horseshoe;

Figure 3 is a top view of the horseshoe according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4-7 are successive cross sectional views of the horseshoe or Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a nail section of a horseshoe and corresponding anatomical preferred orientation of the nail;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of a quarter nail section or a horseshoe and corresponding anatomical preferred orientation of the nail;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of a whole nail section of a horseshoe and corresponding anatomical preferred orientation of the nail;

Figure 11 is a top view of a horseshoe according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a nail according to the second embodiment;

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view of the nail or Figure 12 arranged in a nail hole of the horseshoe or Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an assembly or a horseshoe and nails; and

Figure 15 A and 15B show alternative execution or one or more than one head face engaging a side wall of the nail hole.

The invention relates to a horseshoe 1, including two branch sections 2. At least one branch section 2 has a groove 3 with multiple nail holes 4. Such a groove 3 is also known as "crease" or "fuller". The nail holes 4 comprise one or more than one wall that defines an orientation which varies along a length direction L of the branch section 2. This feature allows and facilitates a farrier to drive a horseshoe nail 9 using a correct anatomic orientation (Figure IB) , instead of merely straight into the head according to traditional horseshoes (Figure 1 A). Driving at a correct anatomical orientation results in the nail being able to be driven safely to a higher exit point. A higher exit point conforms to an increased main wall material relationship with the nail and would provide a stronger and more secured shoe attachment.

The orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes varies in correspondence with an outer shape of a hoof 5 (Figures 8-10). The orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes 4 is more upright relative to the length direction L of the branch section 2 in a whole nail section 6 (Figure 10) than in a toe nail section 8 (Figure 8) of the horseshoe

1. Thus, the orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes 4 is more oblique relative to the length direction L of the branch section 2 in the toe section 8 than in the whole nail section 7 of the horseshoe 1 This variation in orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes 4 corresponds to a general shape of a hoof 5 (Figure 2).

The orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes 4 preferably varies gradually in the length direction L of said groove 3. In the first edition, each branch section 2 comprises four nail holes 4. A first nail hole 4, 4 -1 is arranged in the whole nail section 6. Successfully, a second nail hole 4, 4-2 and a third nail hole 4, 4-3 are arranged in a quarter nail section 7. Finally, a fourth nail hole 4, 4 -4 is arranged in the toe nail section 8 of the horseshoe 1.

The inner shape of the nail hole 4 defines the orientation of the nail 4 when inserted therein. More specifically, the one or more than one wall of the nail hole defines the orientation of the nail 4. The whole nail section 6, the quarter nail section 7 and the toe section 8 are shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, respectively , and also show the corresponding orientation of the nail 9 in said sections 6, 7, 8 indicated in Figure 3. In Figure 14, nails 9-1 to 9-4 correspond to nail holes 4-1 to 4-4 respectively.

Figures 8-10 also show the preferred driving line 22, i.e. the so-called "white line" which is a visible line that indicates a change in main material. Preferably, a farrier drives a nail 9 substantially along this preferred driving line 22 into the hoof 5, as indicated in the Figures. The distance between the preferred driving line 22 and the outer wall 23 of the hoof 5 is known as the wall thickness 24. As can be seen in Figures 8-10, this wall thickness 24 varies for different positions of the hoof 5.

The present invention provides the farrier with sufficient play. On the one hand, the nail holes 4 provide a clearance per nail hole 4 that allows a farrier to drive the nail 9 according to the respective hoof 5. After all, hoof shapes may vary. On the other hand, the orientation of the nail holes 4 varies along a length direction of the branch section 2, providing the clearance to be available to the farrier in a range that is relevant for the corresponding position in the head 5.

In the shown, the inner shape of the nail hole 4 is bound by at least an outer side wall 10 or said groove 3. As can be seen in Figures 4-7, the orientation of said outer side wall 10 varies along the length direction L or said branch section 2.

The branch sections 2 define an imaginary plane 11, and said outer side wall 10 encloses an angle to a relative transverse to said imaginary plane 11, said said angle to an increase along the length direction L extending from a whole section 12 towards a section 13 of said horse shoe.

In a preferred embodiment, said angle varies within the range of 1 ° -20 °, more preferably within the range 2 ° -19 °, and most preferably within the range 4 ° -17 °. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, for example, the first nail hole 4-1 has an angle of about 6 ° (agreed to a position between the cross sections of Figure 7 (a = 5 °) and Figure 6 (a = 7 °)). The second nail hole 4-2 has an angle of about 9 ° (corresponds to a position between the cross sections of Figure 6 (a = 7 °) and Figure 5 (a ~ ^: 12 °)). The, the third nail hole 4-3 has an angle of about 13 °, and, finally, the fourth nail hole 4-4 has an angle of about 15 °. Both the third and fourth nail holes 4-3, 4-4 correspond to a position between the cross sections of Figure 5 (a = 12 °) and Figure 4 (a = 16 °)).

An inner side wall 14 and the outer side wall 10 together and close to an angle β that is substantially constant along said groove 3. Said angle β is preferably in the range 17 ° -25 °, more preferably in the range 19 ° -23 °. Figures 4-7 show the most preferred angle β or about 21 °.

Figure 14 shows an assembly 15 or a horseshoe 1 as described above and a number of nails 9, 9-1 to 9-4. The nails 9 comprise a shaft 16 with a head 17 at one end of the shaft 16 and with a point 18 at an opposite end of the shaft 16, while the head 17 is arranged via a neck 19 on the shaft 16 (Figure 12) . The head 17 and / or the neck 19 of the nail 9 have a shape corresponding to a shape of the nail hole 4. As described in relation to the horseshoe 1, the nail holes 4 have an orientation which varies along the length direction L of the branch section 2. The inner shape of the nail holes 4 defines the orientation of the nail 9 when inserted therein. The nail holes 4 are configured to guide the nails 9.

In Figure 12, the head 17 or said nail 9 has a diverging shape in correspondence to the inner shape of the nail hole 4.

In a further preferred embodiment (also shown in Figure 12), the head 17 or said nail 9 comprises a protrusion 20 that is configured to engage the nail hole 4. This protrusion 20 extends outward from a nail face or the head 17, and may provide two beneficial technical effects due to interference with groove 3.

The first and most important technical effect of interference between the protrusion 20 and the groove 3 is a securing action to the nail head 17 as it is driven into a nail hole 4. In a preferred embodiment, the nail 9 is at least partially more easily deformable than the horseshoe 1, more in particular than the groove 3 in the branch section 2. Preferably, at least the protrusion 20 of the nail 9 is more easily deformable than the horseshoe 1. In practice, this relative deformability may be satisfied if the horseshoe 1 and the nails 9 may be made of different materials, whether an elastic modulus of the material of the nail 9 is lower than an elastic modulus of the material of the horseshoe 1. If the nail 9 is more deformable than the horseshoe 1, the nail 9 will deform while the horseshoe 1 may or almost not deform, resulting in a securing action. However, a nail 9 is easy to replace, and the horseshoe 1 may be used again with a new set of nails 9. Alternatively, if the horseshoe 1 is at least be partially more easily deformable than the nail 9, a secure fit may still be obtained due to the horseshoe 1 deforming relative to the nail 9.

The protrusion 20 is configured to deform under pressure. In this way, the protrusion 20 will plastically deform and provide a secure fit within the nail hole 4. It is prevented that play occurs if there is a slight non-conformity between the shape of the nail hole 4 and the shape of the nail head 17 arranged in said nail hole 4. The nail hole 4 may have a corresponding shape (Figure 11), and include an identification 21 configured to receive the protrusion 20 in an engaging manner, as shown in Figure 13. The indentation 21 may also provide extra clearance for the farrier for driving the nail in a desired orientation.

The second technical effect of interference between the protrusion 20 and the groove 3 is that the protrusion 20 may assist in maintaining an initial pitch angle of the nail 9 as the neck 19 and head 17 make contact with one of the side walls 10, 14 or the nail hole 4. A head face 25 or the nail head 17 may push or straighten a pitched nail 9 when the respective side wall of the groove 3 or nail hole 4 pushes against that corresponding head face 25 (Figure 15A). An alternative embodiment comprises a further head face 26, opposite head face 25 (Figure 15B). This further head face 26 may facilitate maintaining the desired pitch to the nail 9 as the head 17 of the nail 9 enters the shoe 1. The further head face 26 avoiding the nail 9 to re-orientate more vertically from the abutting edge of the nail hole 4.

However, it is explicitly mentioned that the nail hole 4 does not need a shape with an indentation 21 corresponding to the protrusion 20: a nail 9 with a protrusion 20 may also be applied in a traditional nail hole 4. In that case, protrusion 20 may deform relative to the horseshoe 1 if the nail 9 is at least partially more easily deformable than the horseshoe 1. In this way, a secure fit may also be obtained by applying a nail 9 with protrusion 20 in a regular nail hole 4. Thus, a protrusion 20 may also provide some advantages when it is not combined with a corresponding identification 21.

Figure 14 may correspond to both the first embodiment of Figures 1-10 and the second embodiment of Figure 11-13.

The above described are only intended to illustrate the invention and not to limit in any way the scope of the invention. For example, a horseshoe is not limited to horses, but may also be applied to other animals, such as donkeys, zebras or the like. The protrusion 20 and corresponding indentation 21 in the nail hole 4 shown in the second embodiment, may also be applied to the first edition. Furthermore, although the identification 21 is arranged in the inner side wall 14, the skilled person will understand that the arrangement of the identification 21 in the outer side wall 10 may provide similar advantageous effects.

It should be understood that where features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, such signs are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting on the scope of the claims. The scope of the invention is defined solely by the following claims.

Claims (17)

CONCLUSIONS A horseshoe comprising: - two side branch portions, wherein at least one side branch portion comprises a groove with a plurality of nail holes; and - wherein the nail holes comprise one or more wall, which defines an orientation which varies along a longitudinal direction of the side branch portion. The horseshoe of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes varies in accordance with an outer shape of a hoof. The horseshoe of claim 1 or 2, wherein the orientation of the one or more wall of the nail holes in a heel-nail portion of the horseshoe is more upright relative to the longitudinal direction of the side branch portion than in a toe-nail portion of the horseshoe. The horseshoe of claim 3, wherein the orientation of the one or more than one wall of the nail holes varies gradually in the longitudinal direction of the groove. A horseshoe according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner shape of the nail hole defines the orientation of the nail when it is inserted therein. The horseshoe of claim 5, wherein the inner shape of the nail hole is bounded by at least one shower unless wall of the groove. The horseshoe of claim 6, wherein the orientation of the outer side wall varies along the longitudinal direction of the side branch portion. A horseshoe according to at least one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the side branch portions define an imaginary plane, and the outer side wall encloses an angle (a) with respect to a direction transverse to the imaginary plane, the angle (a) increasing along the longitudinal direction, which extends from a heel portion to a toe portion of the horseshoe. The horseshoe of claim 8, wherein said angle (a) varies within the range of 1 ° -20 °, more preferably within the range 2 ° -19 °, and most preferably within the range 4 ° 17 °. A horseshoe according to at least one of claims 6-9, wherein an inner side wall and the outer side wall enclose an angle (β) that is substantially constant along the groove, and wherein the angle (β) is in the range of 17 ° -25 °, more preferably within the range of 19 ° -23 °, and most preferably approximately 21 °. 11. Assembly comprising: - a horseshoe according to at least one of claims 1-10; and - one or more than one nail, the nail comprising a shaft with a head at one end of the shaft and with a point at an opposite end of the shaft, the head being arranged on the shaft via a neck; and - wherein the head and / or the neck of the nail comprise a shape corresponding to a shape of the nail hole. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the head of the nail comprises a diverging shape corresponding to the inner shape of the nail hole. An assembly according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the head of said nail comprises a protruding part that is configured to engage with the side wall of the nail hole. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the nail is at least partially easier to deform than the horseshoe. Assembly according to claims 13 and 14, wherein at least the protruding part of the nail is easier to deform than the horseshoe. A nail comprising a shaft with a head at one end of the shaft and with a point at an opposite end of the shaft, wherein the head is arranged on the shaft via a neck, and wherein the shape of the head corresponds to the shape of a horseshoe nail hole. 17. Nail as claimed in claim 16, wherein the head is provided with a protruding part. 1/6 FIG. 1B 2/6 3/6 (X 5/6 /