SE542843C2 - Horseshoe - Google Patents

Abstract

A horseshoe (1, 12) made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material, with a metal insert (18) placed inside the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material. The insert (18) has the same general form as the horseshoe (1, 12). The insert (18) is made of a forged metal, such as forged steel of forged aluminum. A number of grooves (4, 5) and slots (6) are arranged on the side to be facing the ground in use.

Description

HORSESHOE Technical Field The present invention concerns a horseshoe, namely a horseshoe made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material and which horseshoe has a metal insert.

Background Traditionally horseshoes have been made of metal, such as steel or aluminum, but it is also known to make horseshoes of a rubber or other polymer materials. Some horseshoes are completely made of a rubber or other polymeric material and others have a stiffening insert of metal. The metal of the insert in horseshoes of the prior art is normally cut steel. Rubber shoes generally have longer lifetimes than regular metal shoes.

Horseshoes made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material have higher friction than horseshoe entirely made of metal and are close to that of the naked hoof in some cases. Thereby, it is less risk of slipping on hard surfaces with horseshoes of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material than with horseshoes of metal. If a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material having too high friction is chosen, it would interfere with the normal walking motion and therefore increase the risk of injuries. The rubber, plastic or other elastomer material gives damping when walking on hard surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt. Due to the damping effect of the rubber or plastic there will be less vibration in the horseshoe. Less vibration will give better blood flow in the hoof, decreasing the risk of injuries and illness. A horseshoe made of rubber, plastic or other elastomer material could also reduce the risk of laminitis due to dampening behavior.

Horseshoes are normally supplied in different sizes. When a horse is to be shoed, horseshoes of a size suitable for the hooves of that particular horse is chosen. The farrier will often adjust the form of the horseshoe somewhat to adapt it to the form of the particular hoof.

SE 508 583 C2 shows one earlier example of a horseshoe having a central insert surrounded by a rubber or plastic material. One problem with the previous shoe is that the insert is made of a cut metal, making it difficult for a farrier to make fine adjustment of the horseshoe depending on the size and form of the hoof of the horse.

Another important feature of a horseshoe is to get a good grip also on softer ground such as grass, mud or snow. It is also of advantage if snow or mud do not stick to the horseshoe or the hoof.

Summary One object of the present invention is to have a horseshoe of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material with a metal insert, where the horseshoe is relatively easy for a farrier to adapt to the size and form of the actual hoof.

It is beneficial if the horseshoe will give a good grip on soft surfaces, such as grass, mud or snow. It is also beneficial if mud, snow or the like is not sticking to the horseshoe.

According to one aspect of the present invention a horseshoe is provided made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material. A metal insert is placed inside the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material. The insert has the same general form as the horseshoe and is made of a forged metal.

By using forged metal it is easier for the farrier to make fine adjustment of each horseshoe in view of the shape and size of the hoof to receive the horseshoe.

Forged metal will also have a longer life time than cut metal. Further, a forged metal will allow the horseshoe to move together with the hoof under the pressure of the horse. This will reduce the risk of the nails moving within the hoof causing wear and possible pain.

According to another aspect of the present invention grooves are provided on opposite sides of nail holes of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material. The grooves are placed on the side of the horseshoe to be facing the ground in use. Said grooves are an inner groove arranged between the nail hole and an inner edge of the horseshoe and an outer groove arranged between the nail hole and an outer edge of the horseshoe.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there are skewed surfaces at the inner and outer edges of the horseshoe. Said surfaces are skewed toward the side of the horseshoe to be facing the ground at use.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art when reading the detailed description below of embodiments of the invention Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be described further below by way of example and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one example of a horseshoe according to the present invention, intended for the hoof of a front leg of a horse; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the horseshoe of Fig. 1, showing the upper side, which is the side to be facing the hoof; Fig. 3 is a side view of the horseshoe of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a part plan view of the horseshoe of Figs. 1-3, showing the side to be facing the ground at use; Fig. 5 is a section view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one example of a horseshoe according to the present invention, intended for the hoof of a rear leg of a horse; Fig. 7 is an end view of the horseshoe of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view of an insert forming a part of a horseshoe according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a plan view from the opposite side of the insert of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side view of the insert of Figs. 8 and 9; Fig. 11 is a section view taken along the line B-B in Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail view of the insert of Figs. 8-11.

Detailed Description of Embodiments As used in this description the expression “upper” in view of the horseshoe, refers to the side to be facing a hoof and similarly the expression “lower” refers to the side of the horseshoe to be facing the ground when applied to a hoof. The general form of a horseshoe could be said to be two branches with a common central part.

Horseshoes of different sizes and forms are provided to suit horses of different sizes and different hoof shapes. Even though the present description is mainly directed to one exemplary horseshoe, it is to be understood to apply for any size or form of the horseshoe. At present the intention is to have eight different sizes of horseshoes of the present invention.

In Figs. 1-5 a horseshoe 1 intended for a front hoof of a horse is shown. The horseshoe 1 has a number of through nail holes 2 and a toe clip 3, as is common for horseshoes. The toe clip 3 projects upwards from the horseshoe 1 and is placed in the center of an outer edge of the horseshoe 1. On the side of the horseshoe 1 to be directed towards the ground at use, i.e. directed away from the hoof, a number of grooves 4, 5 and slots 6 are arranged. An inner groove 4 and an outer groove 5 are arranged on opposite sides of each nail hole 2 of the horseshoe 1. A slot 6 is arranged between each free end of the horseshoe 1 and the nail hole 2 closest to said free end. One purpose of the grooves 4, 5 and the slots 6 is to give a good grip in all weather conditions. Further purposes of the slots 6 are to lead away snow and mud and to give a good grip in wet grass conditions. The grooves 4, 5 and the slots 6 should be relatively deep.

Seen in plan view the nail hole 2 has an oblong form with semi-circular ends. The wall of the nail hole 2 inclines inwards towards the lower side of the horseshoe 1.

A wall separates the nail hole 2 from the inner groove 4 and the outer groove 5, respectively. A semi-circular recess 7 is formed at the lower end of each wall separating the nail hole 2 from the inner groove 4 and the outer groove 5, respectively. In addition to the wall at the side facing the nail hole 2, the outer and inner grooves 4, 5 each have two opposite walls extending perpendicular from the ends of the wall at the side facing the nail hole 2. Each inner groove 4 is open inwards and goes a distance up from the lower side of the horseshoe 1. In a similar way each outer groove 5 is open outwards and goes a distance up from the lower side of the horseshoe 1. The circumferential length of the inner groove 4 is larger than the circumferential length of the outer groove 5. The circumferential length is taken along the inner and outer edge of the horseshoe 1. The inner and outer grooves 4, 5 are open at the lower side and at the inner and outer edges, respectively, of the horseshoe 1.

Each of said slots 6 has a zig-zag-like form and goes across the branch of the horseshoe 1. The zig-zag-form of each slot 6 has a straight part 6a open at the inner edge of the horseshoe 1 and a straight part 6b open at the outer edge of the horseshoe 1. Each of the straight parts 6a, 6b is about perpendicular to the inner and outer edge, respectively. A diagonal part 6c connects the straight parts 6a, 6b of the slot 6 with each other.

Each of the grooves 4, 5 and the slots 6 are relatively deep. For not worn horseshoes 1 the grooves 4, 5 and slots 6 will normally have a depth of about 5-7 mm. The grooves 4, 5 and slots 6 should have a depth of at least 1 mm in order for the horseshoe 1 to work as intended.

Both an inner surface 8 and an outer surface 9 of the horseshoe 1 are skewed in a direction towards the lower side of the horseshoe 1. The skewed inner and outer surfaces 8, 9 extend along all of the inner and outer edges, respectively, of the horseshoe 1. Thus, at the skewed surfaces 8, 9 each branch and the center of the horseshoe is less wide at the lower side than at the upper side of the horseshoe 1. A lower surface 10 at each end of the branches of the horseshoe 1 is skewed towards the ends of the branches of the horseshoe 1. A surface 11 at the center of the horseshoe 1 is skewed outwards toward the upper side of the horseshoe 1. The skewed surfaces 8-11 assist in leading away snow, mud etc. By means of the skewed surfaces 8, 9 the surface in contact with the hoof is larger than the surface in contact with the ground and snow will not stick.

The skewed lower surfaces 10 at each end of the branches of the horseshoe 1 and the skewed surface 11 at the center of the horseshoe 1, assist in giving the horse a natural step.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a horseshoe 12 intended for a rear hoof of a horse is shown. The horseshoe 12 intended for a rear hoof has the same general design and construction as the horseshoe 1 intended for a front hoof, except that it has two toe clips 13 instead of one toe clip. Even though the description here is basically directed to the horseshoe 1 for a front hoof, it also applies for a horseshoe 9 for a rear hoof.

In the same way as for the horseshoe 1 for a front hoof, the horseshoe 12 for a rear hoof has a skewed inner surface 14 and a skewed outer surface 15. Said inner and outer skewed surfaces 14, 15 are skewed toward the lower side of the horseshoe 12. Also for the horseshoe 12 for a rear hoof a lower surface 16 at each end of the branches of the horseshoe 12 is skewed towards the end of the branches of the horseshoe 12. A surface 17 at the center of the horseshoe 12 is skewed outwards toward the upper side of the horseshoe 12. The horseshoe 12 for a rear hoof has similar nail holes 2, grooves 4, 5 and slots 6 as the horseshoe 1 for a front hoof.

The horseshoes 1, 12 for both the front and rear hooves are made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material surrounding an insert 18 made of a forged metal. The forged metal is normally steel or aluminum.

In Figs. 8-12 one embodiment of an insert 18 for a horseshoe 1 for a front hoof is shown. The insert 18 has a toe clip 19 and a number of through nail holes 20. The nail holes 20 are placed closer to the outer edge than to the inner edge of the insert 18. All nail holes 20 are placed at one and the same distance from the inner edge of the insert 18. In a similar way all nail holes 20 are placed at one and the same distance from the outer edge of the insert 18. An insert for the horseshoe 12 for a rear hoof has the same general design as the shown insert 18, except that it has two toe clips. The nail holes 20 of the insert 18 will form a part of the nail holes 2 of the horseshoe 1 as a whole.

Inserts 18 of different sizes are provided for horseshoes of different sizes. The insert 18 has the same general shape as the horseshoe 1, inside of which it is to be placed. The insert 18 is placed totally surrounded by the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material. The insert 18 extends basically along all of the horseshoe 1. In the horseshoe 1 there is a relatively thin layer of rubber, plastic or other elastomer material on the outer and inner edges and the upper side of the insert 18, while there is a relatively thick layer of rubber, plastic or other elastomer material on the lower side of the insert 18. The inner and outer grooves 4, 5 ends at a distance below the insert 18 inside the horseshoe 1.

The rubber, plastic or other elastomer material used is preferably such that the horseshoe 1, 12 will have a friction which is close to the friction of a naked hoof.

On the lower side of the insert 18 a recess 21 is formed. The nail holes 20 of the insert 18 are placed in the recess 21. In the shown embodiment there are eight nail holes 20, four in each branch of the insert 18. The recess 21 extends over the center of the insert 18 and a part of each branch of the insert 18.

Each nail hole 20 of the insert has an oblong shape, with semi-circular ends 22. By means of the semi-circular ends of the nail holes 20, there are no fixed or sharp comers locking the nails having a rectangular shape. This will allow for some twisting motion of the horseshoe 1, 12 without any movement of nail holes in the hoof.

Claims (9)

1. A horseshoe (1, 12) made of a rubber, plastic or other elastomer material, with a metal insert (18) placed inside the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material, which insert (18) has the same general form as the horseshoe (1, 12), wherein the insert (18) is made of a forged metal, wherein the insert (18) has one toe clip (3) if the horseshoe (1) is intended for a front hoof and wherein the insert has two toe clips (19) if the horseshoe (12) is intended for a rear hoof, characterized in that through nail holes (20) are provided inside a recess (21) of the insert (18), which recess is provided on a side of the insert (18) to be directed towards the ground in use, that through nail holes (2) are provided in the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material of the horseshoe (1, 12), which nail holes (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material are in line with the nail holes (20) of the insert (18), that each nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material is placed closer to an outer edge of the horseshoe (1, 12) than to an inner edge of the horseshoe (1, 12), that grooves (4, 5) are provided on opposite sides of each nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material on the side of the horseshoe (1, 12) to be facing the ground in use, and wherein the grooves (4, 5) are an inner groove (4) arranged between the nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastic material and the inner edge of the horseshoe (1, 12) and an outer groove (5) arranged between the nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastic material and the outer edge of the horseshoe (1, 12), that a wall separates each nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material from the inner groove (4) and the outer groove (5), respectively, that each of the inner and outer grooves (4, 5) has two opposite walls extending perpendicular from the ends of the wall separating the nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastic material from the inner and outer grooves (4, 5), respectively, that the inner groove (4) is open at the inner edge of the horseshoe (1, 12) and at the side to be facing the ground at use, that the outer groove (5) is open at the outer edge of the horseshoe (1, 12) and the side to be facing the ground at use, that the circumferential length of the inner groove (4) is greater than the circumferential length of the outer groove (5), that the inner and outer grooves (4, 5) end at a distance from the insert (18), whereby there will be rubber, plastic or elastomer material between the insert (18) and the inner and outer grooves (4, 5), respectively, and that each wall between the nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material and the inner and outer grooves (4, 5), respectively, has a semi-circular recess (7) on the side to be facing the ground at use.

2. The horseshoe (1, 12) of claim 1, wherein the metal of the insert (18) is forged steel or forged aluminum.

3. The horseshoe (1, 12) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material is placed in a thinner layer on inner and outer edges and an upper side of the insert (18) than on an lower side of the insert (18).

4. The horseshoe (1, 12) of any of the previous claims, wherein a slot (6) is arranged between each end of branches of the horseshoe (1, 12) and the nail hole (2) of the rubber, plastic or other elastic material closest to said ends of the branches.

5. The horseshoe (1, 12) of claim 4, wherein each slot (6) has a zig-zag-form with a straight part (6a) open at the inner edge of the horseshoe (1, 12) and a straight part (6b) open at the outer edge of the horseshoe (1, 12), wherein each said straight part (6a, 6b) of the slot (6) is perpendicular to the inner edge and outer edge, respectively, of the horseshoe (1, 12), and wherein each slot (6) further comprises a diagonal part (6c) connecting the straight parts (6a, 6b) of the slot (6) with each other.

6. The horseshoe (1, 12) of claim 4, wherein each of the grooves (4, 5) and each of the slots (6) has a depth of at least 1 mm.

7. The horseshoe (1, 12) of any of the previous claims, wherein it has skewed surfaces (8, 9, 14, 15) at the inner and outer edges of the horseshoe (1, 12), which surfaces (8, 9, 14, 15) are skewed toward the side of the horseshoe (1, 12) to be facing the ground at use.

8. The horseshoe (1, 12) of any of the previous claims, wherein it has a skewed surface (10, 16) at the free end of each branch of the horseshoe (1, 12), which skewed surfaces (10, 16) are placed on the side of the horseshoe (1, 12) to be facing the ground at use and inclines towards the free ends of the horseshoe (1,12) and wherein it has a skewed surface (11, 17) at the center of the horseshoe (1, 12), which skewed surface (11, 17) is skewed outwards toward the side of the horseshoe (1, 12) to be facing a hoof in use.

9. The horseshoe (1, 12) of any of the previous claims, wherein the rubber, plastic or other elastomer material has a friction close to the friction of a naked hoof.