A hammer for attaching a horse shoe to the hoof of a horse and having a head member at one end for driving the nail through the shoe and a portion of the hoof and a claw member at the opposite end for wringing the projecting end of the nail cleanly at the outer periphery of the hoof and ejecting the severed portion of the nail from the claw.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to improvements in hammers and more particularly, 
but not by way of limitation, to a hammer for driving a nail through a 
horse shoe and hoof of a horse and cleanly wringing the projecting end of 
the nail. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In order to secure the usual horse shoe to the hoof of a horse, it is 
common procedure to drive a nail through the horse shoe and through the 
outer portion of the hoof. A farrier's hammer is normally utilized for 
driving the nail, and when the nail has been properly applied, the sharp 
or pointed outer end thereof normally projects from the hoof and must be 
removed in order to preclude interference with the walking or running of 
the horse. This projecting portion of the nail is often cut away through 
the use of side cutters or other well known cutting tools, but the cut is 
usually not a clean cut, and a small or rough portion of the nail usually 
remains on the outer periphery of the hoof. In addition, the outer end of 
the nail may be bent or otherwise damaged, which makes it difficult to 
remove the nail when it is necessary to remove the horse shoe for any 
reason. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention contemplates a novel hammer for attaching horse shoes 
to the hoof of a horse and has been particularly designed and constructed 
for overcoming the foregoing disadvantages. The novel hammer comprises a 
main body portion having a central aperture or bore extending 
longitudinally therethrough for securing the hammer head to the usual 
handle. A head member having a working surface on the outer end thereof is 
provided on one side of the body for driving the nail through the shoe and 
hoof in the usual or well known manner. The head member is preferably of 
an octagonal cross-sectional configuration for facilitating the use of the 
hammer in the entire shoeing operation, and the working surface is 
preferably corrugated or roughened to substantially preclude the working 
surface from slipping off the nail during a hammering operation. A claw 
member projects outwardly from the main body in an opposite direction from 
the head member and is of a particular hollow configuration for 
cooperating with the jaws of the claw to provide a clean and effective 
wringing of the projecting portion of the nail. In addition, if desired, 
for quickly and efficiently ejecting the severed portion of the nail from 
the claw. The novel hammer is simple and efficient in operation and 
economical and durable in construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly FIGS. 1 through 5, 
reference numeral 10 generally indicates a farrier's hammer comprising a 
main body portion 12 having a bore 14 extending longitudinally 
therethrough for receiving the usual handle (not shown) therein. A head 
member 16 extends substantially radially outwardly from one side of the 
body 12 and is preferably integral therewith, but not limited thereto. The 
outer surface 18 of the head member 16 is a working surface and is 
preferably provided with a roughened, corrugated, or double-scored surface 
for a purpose as will be hereinafter a set forth. In addition, the 
cross-sectional configuration of the head 16 is preferably octagonal, but 
not limited thereto. This octagonal configuration assists in clinching a 
horse with the hammer 10 and which is not possible with a head member 
having a round cross-sectional configuration. 
A claw member generally indicated at 20 extends substantially radially 
outwardly from the body member 12 in an opposite direction with respect to 
the head member 16. The claw 20 comprises a pair of diverging claw members 
22 and 24 having a substantially V-shaped hiatus 26 therebetween. The 
hiatus 26 is preferably provided with substantially sharp edges, and the 
width thereof is preferably carefully selected in accordance with the 
diametric size of the nails (not shown) with which the hammer 10 is to be 
used. In addition to extending radially outwardly from the body 12, the 
claws 22 and 24 are angularly and downwardly disposed with respect to the 
plane 27 of the top of the body 12 as viewed in FIG. 1. The 
cross-sectional configuration of the claws 22 and 24 is substantially 
arcuate, providing a recess or hollow area 28 on the underside of the 
claws. This configuration facilitates the operation of the claws, as will 
be hereinafter set forth, and provides clearance for installation or 
mounting of a suitable helical spring 30 therein, if desired. The spring 
30 preferably has one end suitably anchored against the outer periphery of 
the body 12, and the opposite end thereof freely disposed within the 
hollow or recess 28 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. 
In use, the hammer 10 is suitably secured to the usual handle (not shown) 
for facilitating manipulation thereof in the usual manner for driving 
suitable nails (not shown) through the usual horse shoe (not shown) for 
attaching the horse shoe to the hoof (not shown) of a horse (not shown). 
The working surface 18 of the head member 16 is impinged repeatedly 
against the nail head in the usual manner for driving the nail through the 
horse shoe and hoof. The roughened configuration of the working surface 18 
substantially precludes any slippage of the head 16 from the nail during 
the driving operation, thus greatly reducing the time required for 
attaching the shoe to the hoof, as well as facilitating the operation. 
When the shoe has been properly applied to the hoof, the sharp or pointed 
outer end of the nail normally protrudes beyond the outer periphery of the 
hoof, and must be removed. In order to wring the projecting portion of the 
nail, the claw portion 20 may be disposed against the outer periphery of 
the hoof with the hiatus 26 between the claws 22 and 24 positioned in such 
a manner that the projecting portion of the nail is tightly engaged 
between the walls or edges of the hiatus. The manner 10 may then be 
manually rotated for moving the sharpened walls or edges of the hiatus 26 
circumferentially around the outer periphery of the nail. Simultaneously 
with this movement, a twisting motion in a direction away from the hoof 
may be imparted to the claw portion 20. This results in a clean cutting of 
the nail substantially at the outer periphery of the hoof and removes the 
nail from the hoof. 
If the spring 30 is provided in the hollow or recess 28, the nail 
positioned in the hiatus 26 will engage the free outer end of the spring 
and depress it in a direction toward the body 12. As soon as the nail has 
been severed at the hoof line, the spring 30 will expand and eject the 
severed nail portion from the hollow or recess 28, thus removing the nail 
from engagement with the hiatus 26. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 10, reference numeral 32 generally 
indicates a modified ferrier's hammer which is similar to the hammer 10 
and comprises a main body portion 34 which may be of a slightly smaller 
outer configuration than the body 12, but otherwise generally similar 
thereto. A central bore 36 extends longitudinally through the body 34 for 
receiving the usual handle (not shown) therein as hereinbefore set forth. 
A head member 38 extends substantially radially outwardly from the body 34 
and is provided with a working surface 40 at the outer end thereof. The 
working surface 40 is preferably cross-scored or roughened in the same 
manner as the working surface 18 and for the same purpose. In addition, 
the cross-sectional configuration of the head 38 is preferably octagonal 
as is the head 16, in order that the hammer 32 may be utilized for 
assisting in clinching a horse, if desired. The length of the head member 
28 is preferably somewhat longer than the head 16, and the width of the 
head 38 is preferably somewhat smaller than the head 16, thus resulting in 
a relatively long, slim-line configuration for the head 38, as clearly 
shown in the drawings. 
A claw portion generally indicated at 42 extends substantially radially 
outwardly from the body 32 in an opposite direction with respect to the 
head member 38, and comprises a pair of spaced claw members 44 and 46 
having a substantially V-shaped hiatus 48 provided therebetween. The 
hiatus 48 is generally similar to the hiatus 26 and for the same purpose. 
However, the maximum width of the hiatus 48 is preferably somewhat less 
than the maximum width of the hiatus 26, and the overall configuration of 
the claws 44 and 46 is somewhat narrower and slimmer than the 
configuration of the claws 22 and 24. In addition, the claws 44 and 46 
extend downwardly from the plane 50 at the outer end of the body 34 at a 
greater angle than the claws 22 and 24 with respect to the plane 28. The 
edges of the hiatus 48 are preferably sharp, and the cross-sectional 
configuration of the claws 44 and 46 is substantially arcuate in the same 
manner as the claws 22 and 24 for providing a hollow or recess 52 on the 
under side of the claw portion 42. If desired, a suitable helical spring 
54 similar to the spring 30 may be installed within the hollow 54 in the 
same manner and for the same purpose as the spring 30. 
In use, the hammer 32 may be manipulated in the same manner as the hammer 
10. The overall differences in the configuration of the hammer 32 with 
respect to the hammer 10 may be selected in order to perform more 
efficiently with different size nails, horse shoes, and the like. For 
example, the hammer 10 may be considered an all purpose hammer whereas the 
hammer 32 may be considered a race track hammer. 
Referring now to FIG. 11, a modified working surface 40A is shown which may 
be utilized with the hammer 32 in lieu of the working surface 40 (or with 
the hammer 10 in lieu of the working surface 18). The outer periphery of 
the working surface 40A is provided with an inwardly directed bevel 56 
which extends in a direction toward the body 34. This beveled 
configuration may be found to produce a more efficient action during the 
driving of a nail through the horse shoe and hoof. 
From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides 
a novel farrier's hammer which is particularly designed for facilitating 
the driving of a nail through a horse shoe and horse hoof, and for 
wringing the protruding portion of the nail from the outer periphery of 
the hoof in a clean manner. The hammer head is provided with a roughened 
or cross-scored working surface which is substantially eliminates slippage 
of the working surface during a nail driving operation, and the claw 
portion is provided with a particularly configured hiatus which wrings the 
nail projection in a manner for producing a clean area surrounding the 
nail at the outer periphery of the hoof. In addition, a spring may be 
provided for quickly ejecting the severed portion of the nail from the 
claw portion, if desired. The novel ferrier's hammer quickly and 
efficiently drives the nail for attaching the shoe to the hoof and cleanly 
and rapidly wrings the projecting portion of the nail from the outer 
periphery of the hoof. 
Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to 
the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and 
further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be 
made within the spirit and scope of this invention.