HORSESHOE

Abstract: A horseshoe (1) conformed substantially to the U-shaped sole of the hoof and having a reinforcing insert (16) of a flexible and, alternatively, partially curable material and a portion (17) which encloses said insert (16) and is made of an elastic friction material. The insert (16) is narrower than the width of the U-shaped sole such that thrust, shock and shear loads generated as the horse moves at a walking, trotting or galloping pace are elastically absorbed by the portion (17) enclosing said insert. The insert (16) comprises four surfaces extending along the entire shoe, at least three of which, the lower, the outer and the inner one (9), are provided with longitudinal grooves (10, 11, 18), the lower groove (18) preferably having a tapering cross-section to receive and guide the tapered nails for attaching the shoe, and the grooves (10, 11) in the outer and inner surfaces (9) serving on the one hand to increase the total surface area of the insert and make the vulcanisation surface thereof larger and, on the other hand, to make the finished shoe more easily adjustable.

Description: HORSESHOE The present invention relates to a horseshoe conformed substantially to the U-shaped sole of the hoof and having a reinforcing insert of a flexible material and a portion which encloses the insert and is made of an elastic friction material. Prior art horseshoes mainly aim at providing better friction to various substrates and making the shoe lighter. It has also been endeavoured to provide a non-skid shoe, see for example DE Offenlegungsschrift 3,219,091 or DE Offenlegungsschrift 2,604,607. The main problem is, however, the fixation of the nails for attaching the shoe. When the horse is moving, the nails waggle con¬ currently with the deformation of the elastic material and eventually break owing to fatigue. Also various types of metal insert have been tried but, because of the shape of the insert, the hammer used for adjusting and attaching the shoes has created fissures in the material surrounding the insert. The main object of the horseshoe according to the invention is to reduce the risk of injuries to the horse as a consequence of its slipping in stables or on hard roadways and to provide the horse with a permanent soft support which resembles the natural sole. Since slipping on hard concrete or asphalt substrates frequently causes sprained muscles or fractures which heal very slowly or, perhaps, never at all, such a shoe has long been keenly desired, especially by turf people. A further object of the horseshoe according to the invention is to reduce the risk of fire in stables with concrete floors, where conventional metal horseshoes easily generate spaiks when the horse paws the floor. Another object of the horseshoe according to the invention is to reduce the risk of self-inflicted injuries to the horse, such as when the horse is galloping or trotting and strikes one foot against the other. Also the risk of injuries which grazing horses cause each other by kicking, can be reduced by means of this shoe. A still further object is to provide a horseshoe which is easily formable by hand and which comprises an insert which, when the nails for fixing the shoe are driven into the hoof, safely guides and fixes the nails in the shoe. This is achieved in that the nail guides taper, and in that the shoe surface engaging the hoof is also covered by an elastic material to prevent _ the shoe from sliding on the hoof. Furthermore, the shoe can be more easily attached as compared with present- day shoes and may in special cases, e.g. for cross¬ country racing, also be glued to the rear parts of the hoof, the so-called quarters. To achieve these objects, the horseshoe according to the invention is characterised in that the insert is. narrower than the width of the U-shaped sole of the hoof such that thrust, * shock and shear loads are elasticai¬ iy absorbed by "the portion enclosing the insert. The shoe according to the invention reduces the risk of slipping in stables and on concrete or asphalt type substrates, and at the same time the horse is given a permanent soft support which resembles the natural sole and is easy on the joints. The reduced risk of slipping .also means less risk of sprained muscles and other injuries. The fact that the shoe according to the invention is much softer than conventional shoes also reduces the risk of injuries due to trampling. The shoe can also be more easily attached to the hoof than conventional metal shoes, mainly because it is easier to adjust. The invention will be described in greater detail below, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view of the shoe as seen from underneath. Figs. 2a and 2b are sections along line II-II in Fig. 1, with and without an attachment member as described below, Fig. 3 is a section along line III-III in Fig. 1, and shows an alternative to the embodiment shown in Figs. 2a, b. Fig. 4 is a lateral view of the insert and shows two alternative embodiments. Fig. 5 is a lateral view of a heel calk attached to the shoe, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI in Fig. 1 and shows an alternative embodiment of the insert. Fig. 1 shows that the lower side of a substantially U-shaped horseshoe 1 comprises two sets of six rectangular holes 2, 3 which may all be used for driving in con¬ ventional horseshoe nails. The outermost holes 3 of each set are, however, primarily intended to receive different attachment members 4, 5 to adapt the shoe to different substrates. Such attachment members 4, 5 are mouifrted by inserting pins arranged on the attachment members 4, 5 'into corresponding rectangular nail holes 3 and by gluing- to the wearing surface 6 of the shoe. The wearing surface 6 may be provided with sipes 7 or other pattern to increase the grip on slippery substrates. To this end, the wearing surface may further be provided with studs 8 between the nail holes. Figs. 2a and 2b are cross-sectional views of the shoe with a plastically ductile insert 16 and one embodi¬ ment of a toe calk 4 attached to the shoe 1, and show the provision of grooves 10, 11 in the lateral surfaces 9 of the insert 16. It also appears that the grooves impart to the cross-section of the insert the approximate form of, on the one hand, an X-beam and, on the other hand, a U-beam, the two forms being superimposed such that a slightly deformed X is created. In Fig. 2a, a dashed line indicates a further groove 12 which is pro- vided in the upper side of the insert 16 and which is intended for e.g. training shoes. Shoes for ordinary use are normally also provided with at least one toe o rt Ω ts Ul et cn to cn et SO rt o toCS tX et to- Ul et Ul S sx TJ t ^^ Ω 3 S to*- to¬ to 1-fι p- P toi to P P P o P 0 tx to*- to P u. P P- n % TJ to*- ti J to to t-i P tr P ts So to o 0 to to toi to to- to- A to- to toi et 0 so et to*- to*- 0 O to*- φ Ul Ul T ft P < et toh to¬ rt PJ rt *< Ul 0 Ul toh P 4 to tr < P TJ a cn et tot to to P to*- P to t - to*- to*- ^1 So es P to*- Ul P • > _s cn 0 so PJ toil to to*S to o TJ Φ to α> toi toi p to P to ex 0 P to*- to Ul So P Ct to o c to PJ to* to*" ex to* to*- P PJ cn PJ H et et rt Ul Ul to- eo P Ut to p- ct Ul t to*- x A o*- tv_ TJ H P ) to rt A A P to*- toi to- rt rt to*- to e to P • * to P tot- toi PJ 0 ι-tι cn ex Φ • toh A • to*- x et to rt to*- p- B to- Φ J P ti Ul PJ ti A toi A P P • * to* PJ to-* J toi toi Ul P to t - 0 t to P P cn Ul et O s3 cn ct σ> B H ct cn tx et Ω rt *>. ω t _- es bJ to to to l S to Ul et to • to*- to TJ to to tx tx to t ¬ Φ 0 tr o B tx < ts to*- rt • P et to*- to¬ cn toi to et tr 3 ω • 0 A to- O toi to es o 1 rt H- t to*- to to to A P 0 P es P et *U >_ tr to tr P toi to σ\ P rt toi P ) ts J to*- toh & to*- cn et SO to* Ul P ex Ul to toi tx t o P ft toh to t - 0 to rt toi P • P P P 0 < P to- to t - • rt Ul to et S3 P toi to SO 0 to _3 tx to t ¬ ex to*- to et ex to- to ft rt to pi to P ex to 1 - a 0 to tr to*" ts p ) et P ft toi P 4 cn Ul es to- Ul to cn *< ~-l to*- H P x Ul t P 0 to P rt T to l cn P ex to 0 P to rt to*- TJ u> toi to to to- to to- et et toi i et tr tr 0 P- to to*- l-> ^ pr PJ toi Ul TJ to*- P to to toi eo to*- B fO it toi rt P to- to to J ω to- tr P tx toi P en to tx to- Ul H to to to- t to Ul -- ts ex et 0 < SO P to * to toi cn to*- PJ to to 3 A SO to toi toh -vl 0 P to to Ul to A to P to 0 to to*- et to < ω NJ toh et rt toi to>S to 0 Ul X to p rt • * 0 < to- to¬ P Ul ex toi to- N to TJ t toi P to t - Φ to to*- P toi to*- et 0 toi P toh to t - to- to*- PJ 3 es to- et to to*- PJ PJ • Ul i et 0 to 0 O CS toi A i P to P et to t ex oi Ct cn PJ Ul PJ P tot B to- rt P 0 t S3 to- P t so 0 Ul Ul - * 0 T so tr *< S3 to rt rt ex to*- toi to et * P to Φ ft -3 ex to*- to- et ill to to- J • to- rt P ft Ul to to- P ex *3 to*- o to ts ts H tr t et rt to*- rt to ex to- P- et P to toi to tx to to Ul 3 A Ul ut to¬ ft et to*- J to P> to tr t tr et O P (X to- to- 4__ A tr 0) rt Ul to to toi S to Φ o P P ut P Ul to to- rt rt to A P toh Ul so to*- Φ P to 0 P P PJ x to*- to P- P B toi toh et J toi to s3 to- to- to- So to to¬ toi o- ex fO ct t TJ to tx to- P rt O •% p TJ toh P- Ul rt P to*- tr • < to*- ts et es to ts to- ex to to et Ul et to*- A ft P et cn to to φ SO Ul o 0 0 P P J P o A P 0 t to et ex • a> P P rt to P P P rt 53 to- to et P Hi toi to cn to toi Ul • o to Hi A et es Ul A to*- 01 H so to et to tr t to*- 1-tι to TJ P 4 to toh • Ul to*- ct to t - _- B to*- to*- 0 et P t et et P to*- to*- Ul p 0 toi to ft PJ to*- cr to P O tr Hi et to et • 0 A et toi et > P rt to¬ to to B to et l H SO O toi o tr Ω P φ to et P P tr to-* o Φ O P P to*- to t - et to PJ es TJ tr to t - to to * < Hi to Φ Ul φ to*- to _» P 0 Φ to to to*- x to Ul SO to*- O (0 Ut P> o to toi rt to to t - to cn to P toh to H to- 0 toh 0 to*- to¬ to-t ex P 4 ex so cn toi P 4 et tr PJ ex B S3 to*- toi to*- o ^ to*- to- Hi P es Ul to- t to t - Hi to to to to*- rt ft to B to to t tr ts *_ et Ul et rt P toi P to* ■ 0 to PJ n B • < ut ex to*- x o PJ Ul to to¬ rt ex o to*- Ul o PJ tr ex to rt A t rt n ex rt to-* to S to ct Ul 3 3 et ns. toi P to to to*- to*- to s3 o tr -> * to P • P- tr ex to* et 3 ct to*- to rt tx to φ to -t to*- P toi 0 Ul ex 0 rt toi to*- to ex rt to to- pr r TJ 0 PJ ts toi to toi P> PJ toi to*- B ft Hi P P P Ul et to*- P- M to*- to to to 0 0 TJ ex rt to to*- ω cn to rt to to*- *» to to*- to to- to 0 P ts Ul 0 toh toh toi so toi ex cn so TJ as to o P P> 0 0 tr P Ul ft A P to*- x toh to- to tr ts toi eo < ut to*- n P to- P P to* Ul P toh rt PJ P P to- to*- to*- et 0 et to a to*- SO SO 3 to*- to*- et tx o < •. tr Ul to*- ^ B 3 to to t - to Ul to t et t Ul tr to 0 P P et et P 3 to tx to*- to to σ P 0 P> P to Oi ex 0 (0 Ul tr to O to • rh to ct to t ¬ • ex to ts to- toi ex rt rt rt to- TJ _S to*- P ex rt toi Ul to*- t P to φ 1 e et (t) toi «% to t ¬ P PJ to toi t P ex ai tr r~T cn P Ul t to Ul toi to Ω P ι-3 ct to to P 0 to*- to to es to P- so to t ex P to Φ pr 0 et to toi to et P X J 0 tr oi Ul *- tr tr P t toi 0 -3 A ft P P P toh p- o A et Qi to to PJ o*- to n to 0 rt to- t 0 to to ex to 0 O toh to P P Ul to*- t P n to*- PJ to¬ tξ • P et P ) B 0 Φ to- toh P toh Ul * to* to P n toi PJ < rt es Ut et to*- Ω P Hi P to 1 Ul • P» to¬ ut to 1 rt to to t ¬ to- o P Ul ex ex 1 ι-t ut to ex Φ es at *< P et rt Ul toi ts toi to et Ul nel 30 is open, it opens toward the hoof, and in the area of the opening the material enclosing the insert is transmissive to, for example, ultraviolet light. If the channel is closed, and if it is not transmissive to ultraviolet light, use is made of e.g. microwave radiation to achieve the same purpose, viz. curing (see below) . A curable composite type material is applied to the channel. A reinforcement comprising, for example, aramide fibres, glass fibres, carbon fibres or acrylic fibres is part of the composite material. The material enclosing the reinforcement comprises, for example, an acrylic compound, epoxy resin, acrylic gel or urethane resin and may have components which, for example, make it thermosetting or curable by ultraviolet light. Curing can also be carried out in some other manner, for example by adding some type of hardener to the material in the channel. The hardener can be distributed in different ways. Already in connection with the manufacture of the insert, e.g. thin hardener capsules can be posi- tioned in the resin and, on adjustment of the shoe, be deformed, burst, collapse, and be emptied. It is also possible to introduce, by means of a syringe, a suitable hardener via a perforated tube which extends along the entire shoe and which has been inserted pre- viously or is inserted only temporarily. By such a design of the insert, the shoe may first be readily adjusted and then, after curing, become rigid such that the desired shape is preserved. The horseshoe according to the invention is intended for use both on very hard asphalt and cement substrates and on soft, perhaps even muddy tracks. To this end, the shoe is furnished with facilities to receive different attachment members, such as the toe calk 4 shown in Fig. 2b, which is intended mainly for gallopers, but also heel calks 5 of the type as shown in Fig. 5. These attachment members are adapted to be glued to the wearing surface 6 of the shoe 1 and, as mentioned above, to be mounted also in one or more of the nail holes 3. Attachment members 4, 5 of this type are intended to be worn down fairly quickly, which means that if, for example, a horse is reshod just before a race and if, at the same time, one or more of the attachment members here shown are mounted alone or in combination, the horse need not be reshod after the race but can continue on the same shoes. This is advantageous in several aspects, especially from the economic point of view. A fact which should also be mentioned is that the horseshoe according to the invention weighs much less than the shoes now available (up to 50-60 g less), which also contributes to reduce the risk of injuries to the horse's joints and tendons.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A horseshoe (1) conformed substantially to the U-shaped sole of the hoof and having a reinforcing insert (16) of a flexible material and a portion (17) which encloses said insert (16) and is made of an elastic friction material, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said insert (16) is narrower than the width of the U- shaped sole such that thrust, shock and shear loads are elasticaiiy absorbed by the portion (17) enclosing said insert. 2. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that the insert is made wholly or partly of a pure or alloyed soft metal. 3. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said reinforcing insert (16) is made of a plastics material which -has been integrated with an inner portion of another and more rigid material, such as a thick steel wire or a plastics material which is rigid at the temperature of use (-30°C to +70°C) but ductile at higher temperatures (above 70 C). 4. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said insert is made of an elasticaiiy deformable plastics material which has been integrated with a slightly more rigid, plastically ductile part of metal extending in the longitudinal direction of the insert. 5. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 4, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said insert comprises at least one channel (30) which extends in the longitudinal direction of the insert and is open toward the hoof and to which a curable composite material is applicable, said composite material being caused to cure only after said insert has been given its final shape. 6. A horseshoe as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that said portion enclosing the insert (16) is made of a rubber material. 7. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 6, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said portion of rubber ma- terial enclosing the insert is vulcanised to the insert. 8. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 7, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that said insert (16) has four surfaces extending along the entire shoe, at least three of which, the lower, the outer and the inner surface, being provided with longitudinal grooves (18, 10, 11), of which the groove (18) in the lower surface has a preferably tapering cross-section to receive and guide tapering nails for attaching the shoe, and of which the grooves (10, 11) in the outer and inner surfaces (9) serve to increase the total surface area of the insert, thereby to obtain a larger vulcanising surface and make the finished shoe more easily adjustable. • » 9. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 8, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i s e d in that a longitudinal groove (12) in the upper surface of said insert (16) is adapted to be filled, on vulcanisation, by an elastomer to provide a shoe which is soft to the hoof. 10. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 9, c h a r - a c t e-r i s e d in that the lower surface (14, 20) of the insert is provided with indentations (15) facing the wearing surface (6) of the shoe, said indentations serving to further increase the vulcanising surface area of the shoe and to make the loads exerted on the vulcanisation joint between the insert and the enclosing material constitute a combination of thrust, shock and shear loads. 11. A horseshoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the wearing surface (6) of the finished shoe (1) comprises sipes (7) and/or a pattern to further increase the grip on slippery substrates. 12. A horseshoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that it comprises preferably six rectangular nail holes (2, 3) in each shoe-half, the middle four (2) in each half being intended f» for conventional nails and the remaining ones (3) being 5 adapted to receive toe calks (4) or special heel calks (5) for e.g. gallopers or trotters, attachable to the wearing surface (6) of the shoe. 13. A horseshoe as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the cross- 10 section of the shoe (1) is stepped, the highest step adjoining the outer side of the hoof.

Inventors: TUUNANEN ARNE, TUUNANEN, ARNE
Applicants: TUUNANEN ARNE, TUUNANEN, ARNE
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A01L5
IPC codes: A01L1