US568961A - Horse s-hoof projector - Google Patents

Description

UNIT-D STATES fPATENTI OFFICE.

WILLIAM OI-IARLS SHERMAN, OF SIDNEY, NEW YORK.

HoRsEs-HooF PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,961 dated October 6,1896. Application flied November 29,1895. aratro. 570,518. (No motti.)

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CHARLES SHERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sidney, in the county of Delaware and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Horses-Hoof Protector, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in devices for protecting horses7 hoofs, and has for its object to provide a practical and efiicient construction of protector which is adapted to be quickly and easily applied to and removed from a hoof, and which, when in position, will effectually exclude snow and ice and prevent the horses feet from balling with snow, dto., thus preventing injury to the animal and enabling him to better perform his work.

A further object of the invention is to construct such protector in a manner that will adapt it to be self-retaining, and to provide in connection therewith a spring-supported heel-cushion which willprevent the horse from injuring himself by overreaching and at the same time assist in holding the other portion which covers the frog against displacement.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

In order to accomplish the objects above mentioned, the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodied in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an improved hoof-protector constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a horses hoof, showing the protecting device applied thereto, the latter also being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device applied. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, l designates the main body of the protector, which consists of a vulcanized rubber pad of a thickness about equal to or slightly less than the thickness of an ordinary horseshoe.

The surrounding edge of this rubber pad is beveled or chamfered off to correspond with the beveled inner edge of a horseshoe, and said pad is made to correspond in contour to the inside of the shoe to which said pad is to befitted. j

2 designates a toe-plate,which is preferably formed from Sheetsteel, made substantially in semicircular or crescent shape and riveted or otherwise secured to the inner face of the pad, adjacent to and projecting slightly beyond the toe portion thereof, said plate being adapted to rest above the toe of the shoe and between the upper surface thereof and the sole of the hoof, as illustrated in the sectional view'in the drawings, thereby serving to effectually prevent the downward escape of the pad 1. e

vThe rear or heel portion of the pad l is eX- tended, as indicated Vat 3, to receive a heelcushion 4. This heel-cushion consists of a crescent-shaped piece' of sheet-steel bent into substantially semicircular shape and riveted or otherwise secured to the extension 3 ofthe main pad. This steel plate is embedded in rubber for the purpose of preventing the same from rusting7 the rubber also serving above and engage the heel ends of the horseshoe when in position, thereby serving to uphold the device at its heel portion and prevent displacement at this point. Thus the protecting-partis upheld both at its heel and toe portions. v

In order to insure the retention of the device upon the horses foot, and to prevent any possibility of the same becoming disengaged and slipping therefrom, a pair of steel bands 5 are secured, one to each end of the heel-cushion, as illustrated in the drawings, said plates being of sufficient length to eX- tend forwardly over and around the horses hoof. v One of said bands is provided atvits forward end with a perforated plate, and the end of the other band carries a clip provided with a swinging catch-finger, which is adapted IOO to be passed through any one of the perforations in the opposing plate and to be folded upon the saine, whereby the ends of the bands are engaged and held with relation to each other. This band effectually prevents the heel-cushion from yielding backwardly and causes the same to press snugly beneath the fetloclr. By reason of the presence of this heel-cushion all danger of the horse injuring himself by overreaching is obviated.

6 designates what may be termed an insole/which may be made from cork or any other light waterproof material,said insole being provided with a V-shaped notch or recess which is adapted to receive the frog, said insole being designed to fill the cavities upon either side of said frog and between the same and the inner edges of the shoe. This insole also serves as an effective means for holding the pad l in position and may be secured to the latter by means of screws, rivets, or other suitable fastening devices. The toeplate 2 is interposed between the insole 6 and the main body l of the pad, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

The protecting-pad above described is very simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, and effective in operation. It edectually excludes snow and ice from a horses foot and prevents the same from accumulating around the frog and interfering with the work of the animal.

In applying the device the toe-plate is' introduced above the toe of the shoe and the heel-cushion deiiected rearwardly sufficiently to enable the forward]y-projecting ends of the spring-steel plate thereof to pass by the heel ends of the shoe, after which the heelcushion is pressed snugly against the ankle and beneath the fetlock and the steel bands hooked around the hoof in the manner indicated in the drawings.

It will be apparent that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. A hoof pad or protector, adapted to be detachably applied to a horses hoof when shod, the same having a contour corresponding substantially to the interior curvature of the shoe, an insole secured to the inner surface thereof and formed to accommodate the frog of the foot, a forwardly-projecting toeplate interposed between the -tnain body of the pad and the'insole and adapted to be removably inserted above the toe of the shoe, and means for supporting the heel ofthe pad with relation to the hoof, substantially as specified.

2. A hoof pad or protector adapted to be detachably secured to a horses hoof when shod, the same comprising a main body portion having a contour corresponding substantially to the interior curvature of the shoe, a. toe-plate secured to the inner surface thereof and adapted to engage over the toe of the shoe, and an elastic heel-cushion bent to embrace the rear portion of the hoof and constituting a heel extension of the pad, the said heel-cushion being provided with forwardlyprojecting end portions which are adapted to` rest above and engage the heel ends of the horseshoe, substantially as described.

3. In a hoof pad or protector, the pad proper adapted to be arranged beneath the sole of the foot and conforming in contour to the inside dimensions of the horseshoe to which the same is applied, in combination with a toe-plate secured to the inner face of said pad and projecting slightly beyond the toe of the pad and adapted to engage above the toe of the shoe, a heel-cushion riveted or otherwise secured to a heel extension of said pad and provided with a backing or reinforcing plate of sheet metal bent into substantially semicircular form and having its opposite edges projecting forward and adapted to engage above the heel extremities of the shoe, and a clamping-band having its ends secured to said heel-cushion and passing around the hoof, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. A pad or protector adapted to be detachably fitted to a horses hoof, when shod, the said pad or protector comprising a forwardly-proj ecting toe-plate adapted to en gage over the toe of the shoe, and the elastic heel portion having the forwardly-projecting ends which embrace the hoof on opposite sides and are adapted to engage over the heel ends of the shoe, substantially as described.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM CHARLES SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

ScoTT G. FALLS, FLOYD GUY MARTIN.

ICO

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