US121880A

US121880A - Improvement in stockings for horses

Info

Publication number: US121880A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1871-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1888-12-12

Description

12.) f wILLIAM LEWIS.

Stockingrfor Horses.

No, 121,330l mama IJIICIIzgIIsvI` lwitmsw;

@Wim UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LEWIS, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND DAVID TQWAY, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKINGS FOR HORSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,880, dated December 12, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LEWIS, of Asto ria, Long Island City, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Stocking for Horses, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to elastic perforated stockings or anklets, applied to the ankles and legs of horses, especially trotting a-nd racing horses, but to others as well, in fact, to all horses subject to being put to excessive strains of the muscles of the legs, to support and coniine the muscles, tendons, cords, 'tc., and prevent them from overstraining, spraining, and the like; the said stocking or anklet being fitted snugly to the ankle-joint and the leg above, as far as may be preferred, as a kind of re-enforcement of the natural power ofthe leg; to be worn when racing, or otherwise required to exert the members of the legs to any great extent; and it consists in an elastic Indiarubber stocking, molded to iit the leg of a horse; ribbed and re-enforced to prevent sagging and slipping down at the top; perforated, to permit the escape of the perspiration; and made open in front, with laces or other means of fastening, so as to be easily applied and secured.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved anklet or stocking, and Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken on the line w aof Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a stocking or anklet, of strong elastic vulcanized India rubber, or other suitable substance, shaped suitably to fit the leg from the top of the hoof, about half way to the kneejoint, when wrapped around it or in any other preferred way. The said stocking is provided with holes for a lacet, B, to draw and secure it more or less snugly, as may be required; or it may have straps with buckles, or be secured by a cord wound around it. It is provided with numerous perforations O to allow the matters exuding from the pores of the skin to pass off, and thus not obstruct the necessary escape of such matters and the natural action of this character. The outer surface of the stocking is provided with several ribs, D, ruiming from the up- .per to the lower end to stiifen it longitudinally and prevent it from working down at the top, as

it would otherwise do under the violent action of the horse when trotting or running. It is also desirable to produce extra support to the tendons of the leg at the point of their attachment above the ankle, and the reenforce pads E are therefore placed on the side of the stocking over said tendons, and extending from the ankle to the top of the stocking, as shown. These pads also serve to stiffen the top of the stocking, so th at it will not wrinkle and work down at the top.

I am aware that stockings for horses have heretofore been made of elastic material, perforated and laced up in front; but I am not aware that any such stockings have been made with lon gitudinal ribs to prevent sagging at the top, nor with re-enforce pads to protect and strengthen the tendons from their points of attachment upward, as described.

The said stockings are to be of sufficient strength and consistency to resist the misplacement or throwing out of any of the cords, muscles, or other parts subjected to great tension; also to arrest the turning, over-bending, or over-straining of the ankles or knee-joints, which sometimes happens, by slipping', stumbling, stepping upon stones or in holes, or the like, all of which the horses are so liable to when running or drawing to the extent of their powers, and thus prevent, in many cases, the injury that would occur without the use of said stocking. In general the said stockings will be about the length indicated by the drawing; but they may extend the whole length of the leg, if preferred, or any part of it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent- 1. In combination with a laced elastic horsestocking, the tendon pads E, extending up the sides of said stocking from the ankle to the top, substantially as set forth.

2. The stocking A, of soft vulcanized India rubber, molded to iit the ankle and leg of a horse, and constructed to lace up in front, and with perforations C, longitudinal ribs D, and tendon pads E, as set forth, and for the purpose described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 21st day of August, 1871.

Witnesses: WILLIAM LEWIS.

GEO. W. MABEE,

DAVID T. WAY. (144.)