US3425493A

US3425493A - Horseshoe

Info

Publication number: US3425493A
Application number: US614689A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Kulak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-02-08
Filing date: 1967-02-08
Publication date: 1969-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 1986-02-04

Description

Feb. 4, 1969 J. KULAK 3,425,493

HORSESHO'E Filed Feb; 8. 1967 INVENTOR. JOSEPH KULAK ATTORNE Y5 United States Patent Oflice 3,425,493 Patented Feb. 4, 1969 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The horseshoe of this invention includes an axially spaced series of S-shaped recesses formed on a bottom face of the arms of the shoe and defining an interrupted series of built-up tread portions, and a plurality of lateral air passages are formed therethrough in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

This invention generally relates to horseshoes and specifically concerns racing plates.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved horseshoe which provides significantly improved traction and ease of running irrespective of the type of racing surface.

Another object of this invention is to provide a horseshoe of the above described type which is particularly suited for synthetic all weather racing surfaces and which effectively avoids the so-called suction problem which has been encountered on some types of artificial racing surfaces.

A further object of this invention is to provide a horseshoe of the above described type having an improved construction which facilitates quick and easy fitting and which effects a self cleaning action during use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved horseshoe nail.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan View showing a tread of a horseshoe constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the horseshoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof, partly broken away and partly in section;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a preferred embodiment of a horseshoe nail according to this invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the top of the horseshoe nail of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein a preferred embodiment of this invention is shown, a horseshoe 10 is illustrated having a generally U-shaped body which is preferably forged of aluminum alloy, although it can be cast or forged of any suitable lightweight material exhibiting the requisite durability, strength and stiffness. A calk 12 is shown firmly secured in accordance with well known techniques in a toe portion 14 of the shoe 10 to project downwardly from a bottom face thereof forming a tread 15, the calk 12 being formed of material having notable wear resisting qualities such as hard steel. A pair of

arcuate arms

16 and 18 are integrally formed in continuation with the toe portion 14 which is of suitable thickness for withstanding heavy wear.

For providing optimum footing irrespective of the type of racing surface, each

arm

16, 18 is shown having gen-- erally S-shaped recesses defined in part by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 20 axially spaced apart in a central portion of the tread 15, with each of the individual channels 20 defining inner and

outer ridges

22, 24 on opposite side edges of the tread 15 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. The inner and

outer ridges

22, 24 are provided with

notches

26, 28 respectively formed at opposite longitudinal ends of their corresponding channel 20 in alternating relation along the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. The

notches

26, 28 thus cooperate with the channels 20 in defining the S-shaped recesses and a series of built-up tread portions 30 which are interrupted thereby on opposite sides of the tread 15 along the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. In addition, heel portions or free ends of the

arms

16, 18 are preferably channeled for easier cutting if need be in fitting the shoe to the horse.

To avoid a suction problem which has been encountered on some types of synthetic all weather racing surfaces as well as to provide greater traction on all types of racing surfaces, a plurality of lateral air passages 32 are shown extended through the built-up tread portions 30 in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10. In addition, the toe portion 14 is shown having a frontal opening 34 which extends therethrough along a medial plane XX of the shoe 10 and which is of enlarged size relative to the air passages 32 in the

arms

16, 18.

The above described horseshoe structure effects an excellent grip on any type of racing surface such that the escape of any pocket of trapped air is permitted as the weight of the horse compresses the area underfoot to reduce slippage and significantly improve traction. These improved results occur precisely when the effort is made by the horse to drive his weight forwardly whereby an increased grab is effected in all directions for reducing any tendency toward cupping out, or breaking out from under, and accordingly, there is less slipping and sliding on turns. In addition, any vacuum created, e.=g., when the foot engages an artificial racing surface, would be relieved, thereby to minimize any lift resistance and to effectively improve the ease of running. Moreover, the reduction in thickness provided by the frontal opening 34 along the medial plane XX of the shoe 10 permits it to be bent cold to facilitate fitting when minor changes in size are required.

By virtue of the above described S-shaped recesses formed in the tread 15 of the shoe 10, each

arm

16, 18 is also of suflicient thickness continuously throughout its length to provide the necessary strength and durability while yet ensuring a lightweight racing plate. If desired, the tread 15 can be provided with a smoothly finished coating as indicated at 36 of durable material such as chrome, Teflon or nylon to effect a self cleaning racing tread.

In accordance with another aspect of this invention, an improved horseshoe nail 38 is provided having a head portion 40 with a major axis Y-Y which, in contrast to the usual horseshoe nail, is oriented in perpendicular relation to a major axial plane ZZ of the nail extending along a shank portion 42 of the horseshoe nail 38 whereby nail holes 44 may be formed in the aforementioned builtup tread portions 30 and yet be spaced a sufiicient distance from the lateral air passages 32 formed therein. Accordingly, each nail hole 44 can be formed in the tread 15 with an enlarged countersunk opening 46 of a generally rectangular shape having its longer dimension extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the shoe 10 as illustrated for protectively receiving the head portion 40 of the nail 38 in tight wedging contact to minimize any play tending to loosen the shoe on the foot of a horse. It is to be noted that the head portion 40' of the nail 38 is integrally formed with the shank portion 42 in eccentric relation thereto whereby the nail 38 may be directed upwardly through the countersunk nail holes 44 and the hoof from a point adjacent its outer wall, and then driven home upwardly and gradually outwardly through the wall until the piercing end of the shank portion 42 emerges through the hoof in position to be turned down in a clinch.

The horseshoe of this invention is of durable construction and has the added advantage of being quick and easy to fit. While the shoe is particularly suited for artificial racing surfaces, improved traction is ensured by the disclosed construction irrespective of the racing surface.

I claim:

1. In a horseshoe having a generally U-shaped body and a substantially arcuate longitudinal axis extending along the same, the improvement wherein the body of the horseshoe is provided with lateral air passage means in generally transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe and extending therethrough in an intermediate plane of the horseshoe.

2. The horseshoe of claim '1 wherein the body includes a pair of opposed arms and a toe portion integrally joining the same, and wherein said lateral air passage means includes a frontal opening extending through the toe portion along a medial plane of the horseshoe.

3. A horseshoe comprising a generally U-shaped body having a toe portion and a pair of opposed arms integrally formed in continuation therewith, said body having a bottom face forming a tread, and said arms each having a plurality of generally S-shaped recesses formed in axially spaced relation in said tread defining a series of tread portions of increased thickness which are interrupted at axially spaced intervals in alternating relation along opposite side edges of said tread.

4. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein said S-shaped recesses in said arms are defined by a plurality of longitudinally extending channels centrally formed in spaced relation in said tread with each of said channels defining inner and outer ridges extending axially of the horseshoe on opposite side edges of said tread, and said inner and outer ridges having longitudinally spaced notches formed therein at opposite longitudinal ends of their corresponding channels in alternating relation along the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe.

5. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein said body is provided with lateral air passage means generally extending therethrough in an intermediate plane of the horseshoe in transverse relation to its longitudinal axis.

6. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein a smoothly finished coating of durable material is bonded to said bottom face of the horseshoe to provide a self cleaning racing tread.

7. The horseshoe of claim 3 wherein each of said tread portions between adjoining recesses 'has a nail hole formed in perpendicular relation to said bottom face, each said nail hole having a generally rectangular countersunk head portion formed in said bottom face with the longer dimension of said head portion extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe, and wherein each of said trwd portions between adjoining recesses has a lateral air passage generally extending therethrough normal to said nail hole in an intermediate plane of the horseshoe in transverse relation to its longitudinal axis.

8. The horseshoe of claim 7 wherein said toe portion is of increased thickness relative to said arms and includes a frontal opening extending in transverse relation to the longitudinal axis of the horseshoe and along a medial plane thereof, said frontal opening being of enlarged size relative to said air passages formed in said tread portions of said arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 159,026 1/1875 French 168-5 609,132 8/1898 Wisenfeld 168ll 707,417 8/1902 Howell 1681l 732,998 7/1903 Brand 1685 876,265 1/1908 Campbell 1684 2,466,074 4/ 1949 Bell 1684 X ALDRICH F. MEDBERY, Primary Examiner.