Patent ID: 11864545
Assignee: BARTEK EQUINE LLC
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 8:
9. A horseshoe configured to be attached to a hoof, comprising:
a shoe forward end defined at a forward half of the horseshoe;
a shoe rearward end that is opposite the shoe forward end with the shoe rearward end defined at a rearward half of the horseshoe;
a ground-facing surface that faces downwardly toward the ground when the horseshoe is attached to the hoof;
a support surface that faces upwardly away from the ground when the horseshoe is attached to the hoof;
a first leg arranged at a first side of the horseshoe, wherein the first leg:
extends along a first curved path from the shoe forward end to the shoe rearward end; and
defines a first apex area corresponding to a portion of the first leg in which a first apex position is defined, wherein the first apex position is spaced transversely furthest from a longitudinal centerline of the horseshoe in a first direction;

a second leg arranged at a second side of the horseshoe, wherein the second leg:
extends along a second curved path from the shoe forward end to the shoe rearward end; and
defines a second apex area corresponding to a portion of the second leg in which a second apex position is defined, wherein the second apex position is spaced transversely furthest from the longitudinal centerline of the horseshoe in a second direction that is opposite the first direction;

wherein a maximum shoe width location of the horseshoe is defined between the first and second apex positions of the first and second legs;
a bridge having a thickness and arranged between and connected to respective forward ends of the first and second legs, wherein the bridge defines:
a support groove extending into the support surface from the support surface to a bottom surface of the support;
a ground groove extending into the ground-facing surface from the ground-facing surface to a bottom surface of the ground groove; and
a segment of maintaining material between the respective bottom surfaces of the support groove and of the ground groove, wherein the segment of maintaining material extending from the bottom surface of the support groove to the bottom surface of the ground groove defines a thickness of the maintaining material;

a first set of nail holes defined by at least four nail holes arranged at the first leg; and
a second set of nail holes defined by at least four nail holes arranged at the second leg;
wherein the first and second sets of nail holes provide securing positions for securing the horseshoe to the hoof, and
each of the support groove and the ground groove forming a respective physical marker running as a straight line between an outer circumference and an inner circumference of the horseshoe, wherein the thickness of the maintaining material is at least 25% of the thickness of the bridge.