Patent ID: 7717186
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: A01L

Abstract:
1. A removable horseshoe clip adapted for temporary placement on a horseshoe having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner peripheral surface, and an outer peripheral surface, during fitment and attachment of the horseshoe to an equine hoof, comprising: a planar base including a central portion having an inner peripheral edge adapted to align with an inner peripheral edge of the horseshoe, and an outer peripheral edge adapted to align with an outer peripheral edge of the horseshoe, and a pair of rigid lateral bracing segments perpendicular to the inner and outer peripheral edges of the central portion, each extended laterally from opposite sides of said central portion; at least one inner retaining clip segment having a rest configuration which extends generally vertically upward from said inner peripheral edge with an inward inclination towards said central portion, having a height which does not exceed to the vertical thickness of the horseshoe; at least one outer retaining clip segment having a rest configuration extending vertically upward from said outer peripheral edge, said outer retaining clip having a lower portion perpendicular to said base and having a height which is substantially equal to the vertical thickness of the horseshoe, and an upper portion extending vertically from inclined inwardly from said lower portion towards said central portion, said upper portion adapted for abutting engagement with a outer surface of an equine hoof during a fitment and attachment procedure to facilitate maintaining said horseshoe position during said fitment and attachment procedure; and wherein at least one of said inner and outer retaining clip segments resiliently deflect from said rest configurations under tension during temporary placement on said horseshoe, exerting a retaining clamping force on said inner and outer peripheral surfaces of said horseshoe to retain said removable horseshoe clip there on without the use of an additional fastener, and wherein each of said inner and outer retaining clips resiliently revert to said associated rest configurations upon removal from said horseshoe and release of said tension.