Patent ID: 7624811
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: A01L

Abstract:
1. A horseshoe adapted to be fitted to the hoof of a horse by an attachment nail of the type including a tapered head at one end of an elongated blade and opposite sides with one side being generally planar and the head defined by a nail locking height and an angled nail locking surface extending between the blade and the end of the nail, comprising: an open ended ring formed of substantially solid material and defined by inner and outer side walls of U-shaped configuration with a substantially planar hoof surface and a ground surface extending between the side walls, said hoof and ground surfaces and said side walls jointly defining an arcuate toe section disposed between two elongated side sections, said ground surface molded into a traction modifying pattern characterized by an outwardly open downwardly narrowing truncated V-shaped swedge sized to receive, position, and form a three point locking engagement with the head and blade of the attachment nail and allow dirt to enter and pack into the narrowed part of the swedge to enhance traction, said swedge being defined by a substantially planar surface substantially parallel to the planar hoof surface and two swedge sidewalls, the planar surface extending between the two swedge side walls, one of the swedge sidewalls extending angularly upwardly and outwardly from the planar surface and towards the outer sidewall to form with the outer sidewall an outer rim having an outside height from the planar hoof surface, and the other of said swedge sidewalls being two-part and extending angularly upwardly and outwardly from the planar surface and towards the inner sidewall to form with the inner sidewall an inner rim having an inside height from the planar hoof surface greater than the outside height of said outer rim, the upper part of the two-part sidewall being distal to the planar surface and extending angularly away from the lower part of the two part sidewall proximal to the planar surface and towards the inner sidewall; and at least one passageway extending between the planar hoof surface and the planar surface, the swedge and passageway being sized, respectively, to receive the head and blade of said nail, said three point lock with the nail being formed by the cooperative seated engagement of said one swedge wall against the other side of said nail head, said other swedge wall engaging the angled nail locking surface of said nail head, and the passageway engaging the blade received therein.