Abstract:
An illuminated tool for cleaning hooves of hooved animals includes a prong having a tip adapted to engage and clean an animal&#39;s hoof and an illumination source configured to direct a light beam in the general direction of the tip of the prong.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/431,888, filed Jan. 12, 2011, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present disclosure is related to a tool for cleaning hooves of hooved animals, such as horses. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a tool, commonly known as a hoof pick, which is used to remove dirt, mud, stones, and like material from animal hooves. Further, the present disclosure includes an illumination source configured to direct a light beam in the direction of the working area of the tool. 
         [0003]    For example, hooved animals such as domesticated horses are frequently used for recreational riding or rock trips. Such recreational riding frequently occurs on surfaces of dirt, clay, mud, etc. or on paved or gravel roads. The surface material is impacted into the animal&#39;s hooves forming a hard dense concrete-like mass. Stones and/or gravel often become wedged in the grooves of the hoof or between the hoof and a protective shoe. If left for extended periods, this can result in injury to the animal, such as lameness. Before and after the animal has been ridden, it is good practice for the rider or other caretaker to groom the animal including removing the impacted material from the animal&#39;s hooves. A hoof pick is a tool having a prong or tip for breaking up and loosening the impacted material. Such grooming activities are commonly done in a barn and/or stall that is dimly lighted, making it difficult to see whether there remains any material in the animal&#39;s hooves. The present disclosure provides a hoof pick with an illumination source to facilitate use in dimly lighted areas. 
         [0004]    One aspect of the present disclosure includes a tool having a housing which is configured to have two substantially planar parallel faces and a sidewall disposed between and connecting the faces. The housing further includes a head section and handle section. The head section is formed at one end of the housing with the handle section extending from the head section generally linearly along a first axis. A prong extends from the housing at the head section. The prong includes a tip adapted to engage and clean an animal&#39;s hoof. The prong is secured within the housing, extending through the sidewall of the head section along the first axis for a distance, wherein the prong is bent at an angle relative to the first axis. The housing also includes an aperture formed within the sidewall of the head section adapted to receive an illumination source. The aperture is oriented along a second axis and configured such that the illumination source projects a light beam in the general direction of the tip of the prong. The tool also includes a switch mounted internal to the head section and connected to the illumination source. The switch having an actuator positioned to be operated from the outside of the housing and having an ON position and an OFF position. The tool also includes a power source positioned inside the housing and connected to the switch, wherein the power source provides electrical energy to the illumination source when the switch is in the ON position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as a non-limiting example only, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a illuminated hoof pick of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away side view of the tool of the present disclosure; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an illuminated hoof pick of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The present disclosure is directed to a tool  10  for cleaning hooves of hoofed animals, for example horses. The tool includes a housing  12 . In an exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  12  is configured to include two substantially planar parallel faces  14 ,  16  and a sidewall  18  disposed between and connecting faces  14 ,  16 . The housing  12  further includes a head section  20  formed at one end of the housing  12  and a handle section  22  extending from the head section  20  generally linearly along a first axis  24 . 
         [0010]    The tool  10  further includes a prong  26  extending from the housing  12  at the head section  20 . Prong  26  includes tip  28  adapted to engage and clean a hoof. In the exemplary embodiment, the prong  26  extends through the sidewall  18  of the housing generally along the first axis  24  for a distance and then is bent at an angle A from about 75 degrees to about 110 degrees relative to the first axis  24  and extends along a second axis  27 . In an exemplary embodiment, the prong  26  may be constructed from a wear-resistant metal such as stamped steel and bent at the desired angle. Prong  26  may be held in place in the housing  12  by methods commonly known in the art, such as by an epoxy, ultrasonic welding, press fit, or other suitable means. 
         [0011]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the prong  26  of the tool  10  includes a top surface  80 , a bottom surface  82 , and side edges  84 ,  86 . The side edges  84 ,  86  taper inwardly toward the tip  28  of the prong  26 . 
         [0012]    The housing  12  further includes an aperture  30  formed within the sidewall  18  of the head section  20 . Aperture  30  is adapted to receive an illumination source  32 , such as a light bulb, light emitting diode, and the like. Aperture  30  is oriented along a third axis  34 . Aperture  30  is configured such that the illumination source  32  disposed therein projects a light beam outward from the housing generally along third axis  34  in the direction of the tip  28  of prong  26 . The third axis  34  is generally disposed at an angle B from the first axis  24  from about 70 degrees to about 110 degrees. In addition, the second axis  27  and the third axis  34  are at an angle C from about 15 degrees to about 55 degrees from one another. 
         [0013]    A power source  36 , such as a battery, is provided to supply electrical energy to the illumination source  32 . A switch  38  may also be provided, mounted within the housing  12 , electrically connected between the illumination source  32  and the power source  36 . Switch  38  is configured with an ON position and an OFF position allowing a user to turn the illumination source  32  on and off. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a battery compartment  40  is provided within the handle section  22  configured to hold the power source  36  and the switch  38  is provided in the head section  20  of housing  12 . Switch  38  includes an actuator  42  adapted to make and break electrical contact between the power source  36  and the illumination source  32 , allowing the illumination source  32  to be turned on and off. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator  42  is configured as a pushbutton disposed within an aperture  44  located in one of the faces  14 ,  16  of the housing  12  in the head section  20 . Switch  38  is located so as to allow a user grasping the tool  10  of the present disclosure by the handle portion  20  to operate the switch  38  using his or her thumb. The actuator  42  of the switch  38  may be configured to lie flush with the face of the housing  12  to prevent inadvertent activation if carried in a pocket or jacket. 
         [0014]    The tool  10  of the present disclosure further includes a brush  46  mounted in the head section  20 . The brush  46  includes a plurality of bristles  48  embedded in a mounting block  50 . The mounting block  50  is adapted to be received and secured within the head section  20  of the housing  12  such that the bristles  48  extend outwardly from the sidewall  18 . Brush  46  may be held in place my methods known in the art, such as by an epoxy, ultrasonic welding, press fit or other suitable means. The brush  46  is configured to allow a user to clear sweep away dirt, mud, stones and other debris from an animal hoof after loosening the material with the tip  28  of prong  26 . 
         [0015]    In an exemplary embodiment, housing  12  may include a number of internal ribs  52  disposed within the interior of the housing  12  and adapted to provide strength to the housing  12 . Further, handle section  22  may include a suspension aperture  54  through faces  14 ,  16  of housing  12 . The suspension aperture  54  is adapted to allow the tool  10  to be suspended from a hanger, such as a nail, attached to an animal stall for storage when not in use. Additionally, suspension aperture  54  is adapted for attachment of a lanyard or strap to allow a user to carry and/or hang the tool  10 . 
         [0016]    The housing  12  for the tool of the present disclosure may be constructed from a high density polyethylene (HDPE) injection molded into the desired form. HDPE provides a desirable combination of impact toughness and tensile strength. HDPE has an opaque appearance and may be colored depending on aesthetic considerations. Further HDPE provides excellent resistance to chemicals and low temperature impact properties. HDPE is provided by way of non-limiting example only and other materials and plastics (such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) may be equally acceptable for constructing the housing  12  of the present disclosure. 
         [0017]    The housing  12  may be molded in two portions, each portion corresponding to a face  14 ,  16  and part of the sidewall  18 . The internal components such as the prong  26 , illumination source  32 , power source  36 , switch  38 , and brush  46 , may be positioned within one portion of the housing  12  and two portions of the housing may then be fitted together and ultrasonically welded together. Further, the interior of the housing  12  may include guide pins  56  protruding from one of the housing portions configured to mate with guide pin receptacles  58  formed in the other housing portion. The guide pins  56  and guide pin receptacles  58  are positioned to ensure proper alignment of the two portions of the housing when fitted together. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  depicts a second embodiment of a tool  10  for cleaning hooves of animals. 
         [0019]    The embodiment of  FIG. 3  is similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  except that the embodiment of  FIG. 3  further includes a gasket material  70  disposed between sections of the sidewall  18  associated with the faces  14 ,  16 . The gasket material  70  prevents water and/or other fluids from penetrating an entering the tool  10 , in particular, the electrical components of the tool  10 . In addition, a number of ribs  72  are disposed on internal sides of the faces  14 ,  16  to add strength and support to the tool  10 . 
         [0020]    Still referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the prong  26  includes a support piece  74  integral with the prong  26 . The support piece  74  adds a lever arm to the prong  26  to prevent withdrawal of the prong  26  from the tool  10  and allow the prong  26  and the tip  28  to withstand greater forces. The support piece  74  includes a first segment  75  extending at the angle A ( FIG. 2 ) and extending longitudinally away from the prong  26  and a second segment  76  extending generally perpendicular from the first segment  75  and extending laterally away from the prong  26 , wherein the first and second segments  75 ,  76  generally form an L-shape. The support piece  74  further includes a third segment  77  generally perpendicular to the second segment  76  and extending longitudinally away from the prong  26  and a lip  78  curving laterally away from the third segment  77  and the prong  26  to generally form an L-shape with the third segment  77 . In this embodiment, the tool  10  preferably includes an internal retaining structure(s) or channel(s) to maintain the first, second, and third segments  75 ,  76 ,  77  and lip  78  in position and retain the prong  26  within the tool  10 . For example, the structures  79  aid in retaining and preventing movement or extraction of the support piece  74  and prong  26 . Any number of retaining structures, channels, etc. may be utilized to support, position, and retain the support piece  74  and prong  26 . 
         [0021]    The illuminated hoof pick tool of the present disclosure allows a user to have an illuminated work area by holding the tool in one hand for normal use while allowing the other hand to be free to grasp the animal hoof. 
         [0022]    While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.