Abstract:
A protective device  104  for hoofed animals fabricated of a durable and flexible material. The protective device  104  includes a base  106  and a wall  108,  with the wall designed to enclose a hoof  100  of an animal such as a horse or cow. The protective device  104  includes a size adjustment  216  mechanism such as a sizing opening  214  in combination with a plurality of tread grooves  304,  which assists in the adjustment of the size and shape of the hoof to fit a variety of hoofs. The protective device  104  preferably includes a shear-relief portion  302  formed such that the front of a hoof has minimal contact with the device  104.  The protective device  104  is held in place by an attachment mechanism such as a strap with holes and corresponding pegs positioned roughly circumferentially around the device. Ease of installation, decreased impact, and improved traction are all benefits provided by the protective device  104  disclosed. Additionally, the protective device  104  may be used as a simple and convenient way for attaching medical packs to the bottom of a hoof  100.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to hoof protection, and more particularly to shoes for hoofed animals such as horses, ponies, mules, cattle, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Horses have been shod with metal shoes held in place by nails since the advent of the Iron Age. Horse shoeing was necessary to protect and support the hoof while horses engaged in activities beyond their natural ability due to the softness of their feet. Since horses hooves are uniquely shaped, iron offered several advantages. Iron is easily shaped, and may be affixed to the hoof with metal nails to accommodate a horse&#39;s individual needs. Also, iron protects the hoof from chipping and increases the sole&#39;s distance from the ground. In addition to these advantages, the shape of the horseshoe effectively increases the weight bearing surface area of the hoof, which, in turn, increases a horse&#39;s stability. 
     Today&#39;s domestic horse is faced with very different challenges than those encountered in nature, such as the presence of slippery road surfaces and the need to engage in high-performance sports. While steel shoes offer a horse a high degree of protection and support, they have many shortcomings. First, steel shoes generally lack traction on hard surfaces, and are poor shock absorbers. Second, steel shoes are too heavy for certain horses and may cause problems such as interference with limb motion. Third, steel shoes generally require installation by a person possessing specialized skills such as a professional farrier. Fourth, nails present an inherent risk of injury due to misplacement in the hoof. Fifth, horseshoes may be shaped incorrectly and may alter the horse&#39;s natural movement and cause damage over time. Sixth, use of the wrong size of shoe may lead to a host of hoof and leg ailments. Finally, all shoes affixed with nails run the risk of being thrown with devastating results if the shoe is ripped from the hoof, injuring both the hoof wall and the limb. Over time, attempts have been made to address these problems with varying degrees of success. 
     Aluminum horseshoes help to solve the issues of traction, shock absorption, weight, and, to a lesser extent, support. Aluminum shoes are made in three basic varieties, racehorse shoes, orthopedic shoes, and therapeutic shoes. However, aluminum shoes have several shortcomings, including short useful life and high cost. 
     Equine boots, such as those provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,692,569; 5,588,288; 5,528,885; 4,174,754; 3,732,929; and 3,703,209 provide various examples of alternative devices that address the issues of traction and shock absorption without the use of traditional horseshoes. Some of the general characteristics common to these devices are as follows. They are designed to provide for easy installation, and are primarily utilized to provide a temporary solution for a missing or thrown shoe. They fit over the hoof, and are generally made from solid rubber, or other synthetic material with tread on the sole portion. While useful temporarily, these devices are typically heavy and clumsy, and substantially detract from a horse&#39;s performance. In some cases, the added weight of these devices causes interference between the horse&#39;s limbs. Additionally, the typically awkward shape of these devices makes them difficult for riders to carry, despite the fact that carrying them as a field-based horseshoe replacement is one of principle reasons they are purchased. Equine boots also tighten around the hoof with closures that can be clogged, damaged or broken by rocks, debris, or rugged terrain. In addition to excessive weight and clumsy design, these devices also tend to rub the bulbs of the hoof heels. This may cause sensitivity, bleeding and lameness in the heel area, rendering the horse unusable. Equine boots come in a variety of sizes but in only one standard shape, making them extremely difficult to install and to properly conform to hooves that differ from the standard design. To address this flaw, silicone inserts and adhesives are used to keep some of these devices affixed to the hoof making them extremely difficult to remove. The materials typically used in equine boots make it difficult for horse owners to modify them. 
     To avoid the need for nails, glue-on shoes have also been developed, which attach to the hoof through the use of tabs that are affixed to the hoof wall. There are generally two varieties of glue-on shoes. The first variety includes shoes fabricated from plastic, polyurethane, or other synthetic material that cannot be shaped to accommodate the unique shape of a horse&#39;s hoof. Some glue-on shoes of this variety, however, are made from softer materials that bend against the wall of the hoof, but which fail to conform to the wall&#39;s shape. This design absorbs impact, provides some traction, and eliminates the issues surrounding nailed shoes. However, the tabs of these devices are easily scraped from the wall when the horse negotiates uneven terrain or encounters deep footing. Additionally, soft glue-on shoes typically lack adequate support, as they fail to conform properly to the hoof wall. Another drawback of glue-on shoes is that they must be installed by a person having special skills such as a farrier, and are thus costly and inconvenient to install. The second type of glue-on shoe is similar to the first, except that it contains a soft metal core, typically aluminum. This addition was intended to allow unique shaping on an anvil or other bending apparatus. This customization is difficult because the hammer tends to bounce off the outer material during the shaping process, with little or no change to the core. As a result, a shaper must strike harder, resulting in an increased chance of damaging the outer material during the shaping process. Because of the design, sharp bends are difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish. 
     Polyurethane or synthetic shoes are affixed to the hoof with nails. They address issues related to shock absorption, traction and support. These devices have a standard shape and cannot be adequately fashioned to accommodate unique hoof shapes. This results in shoe material extending beyond a horse&#39;s normal support surface, increasing the risk of horseshoe loss resulting from snagging. Polyurethane or synthetic shoe varieties sometimes include a metal core help to solve this problem by allowing for size alteration via grinding. However, if the metal core becomes exposed, the shoe&#39;s effective life decreases substantially. Synthetic shoes come in a variety of styles (including bar shoes, bar shoes with clips, open shoes, and open shoes with clips) and sizes, but are not easily adaptable to the unique shape and size of an individual horse&#39;s hoofs. These devices also have the disadvantages associated with nails such as lameness due to nail misplacement, tearing of the hoof wall when the shoe is thrown, and the necessity of professional installation. 
     Hard facing and screw-in caulks were developed as further attempts to adapt steel shoes to situations where horses require traction. Hard facing is a method by which a farrier or skilled professional spreads expensive high carbon metal chips (typically borium or titanium) contained in an adhesive flux over a horseshoe&#39;s impact points. This extends the life of the shoe and increases traction on hard surfaces. The primary problem with hard facing is localized shock. Over time the areas hoof that are beneath the hard facing begin to delaminate. This increases the chance of abscesses, seedy toe, white line disease, and Laminitis. Screw-in caulks have been employed for centuries, as a method wherein a farrier taps a desired numbered of holes in a shaped horseshoe depending on the activity the horse is performing. The shoes are then nailed to the hoof and the threaded holes are sealed with cotton, beeswax rubber, or other closure. When necessary, the owner may remove the closure and screw the caulk into the shoe with a caulk wrench or other tool. Problems exist with sealing the threaded holes as closures fall out or wear out, and are not replaced. Furthermore, debris tends to fill the holes, making caulks difficult to install. Cross threading and caulk selection are problems, as horse owners may choose inappropriate devices for their horse&#39;s activity. While this device, when functioning properly, is effective for achieving traction, it may cause injury to an animal&#39;s joints, tendons, and ligaments. 
     Horseshoe pads as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,498; rim pads as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,250; and therapeutic pads as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,011 are used to reduce shock, prevent bruising and address therapeutic issues such as ring bone, side bone, Laminitis, navicular disease, tendon and ligament sprains, coffin bone and navicular bone fractures, splints, as well as other hoof and limb injuries or aliments. Horseshoe pads are affixed between the hoof and shoe and are available in many varieties, which generally fit into the three categories mentioned above: full pads, rim pads, and therapeutic pads. Full pads cover the plantar surface of a horse&#39;s hoof completely. Rim pads cover only the area of the hoof that comes in contact with the shoe. This open center allows the bottom of the hoof to grab in deep footing and soft surfaces. The open center also makes cleaning of the hoof easier. Therapeutic pads come in many shapes and cover the entire hoof or portions of it. Design choices may result in redirected or reduced pressure, changed balance, and protection for certain structures. Current horseshoe pads suffer from several drawbacks. The thickness of the pad weakens the connection between the shoe and the hoof by placing stress on the thinner portion of the nails used to affix shoe and pad to the hoof. Also, full pads tend to cause the hoof to harbor bacteria. Hoof packing is used to combat this effect. However, eventually the packing gets pushed out, and bacteria incubate causing problems such as abscesses, thrush, seedy toe, and white line disease. Furthermore, full pads can cause an anvil-like effect against the sole of the hoof, mitigating the intended effect when the sole is not properly prepared or when the wrong packing is used. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems just discussed, and to provide a protective device for hoofed animals which is preferably fabricated from a resilient and elastic material, and which is adaptable to a variety of hoof sizes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A protective device for hoofed animals is presented including a body portion  105  having, a base portion  106  formed in an approximately ring-like fashion around a central opening  212 ; a wall portion  108  formed on the base portion  106  and extending upward and inward at an angle toward the central opening  212 ; a sole portion  210  extending inward toward the central opening  212 , such that it forms a support surface for the hoof upon application of the device, said sole portion  210  including a ground surface  118  on the bottom of the base portion  106  to provide a walking surface when the device is applied; and a means for size adjustment  216  formed in the body in order to allow for adjustment to varying hoof sizes; and a means for detachably attaching the body portion  105  to a hoof, whereby a hoof may be placed in the body portion  105  and held in place by a combination of the base portion  106 , the wall portion  108 , and the means for detachably attaching the body portion  105 , and whereby this combination creates a hold via significantly conform to the circumference of a hoof. Furthermore, the base portion  106  may be designed to include a rolled edge  120  formed circumferentially around at least a portion of the base portion  106 , and adjoining the ground surface  118  of the sole portion  210  in order to prevent the device from catching against the ground as steps are taken. Additionally, the means for detachably attaching the body portion  105  to a hoof may provide a circumferential closure causing the device to conform to a hoof. In another embodiment, the means for detachably attaching the body portion  105  to a hoof may include a strap  112  having a plurality of holes  114 , a plurality of pegs  116  formed on the wall  108  of the body portion  105 , and a sizing opening  214  in the body  105 , whereby the device may be placed on a hoof, and the sizing opening  214  adjusted through use of the strap  112 , and held fixed on the hoof by the plurality of holes  114  and pegs  116 . Furthermore, the sole portion  210  may include a tread bevel  306 , formed in the ground surface  118  and extending inwardly and upwardly toward the central opening  212  of the device in order to prevent debris accumulation between the sole portion  118  and an animal&#39;s hoof as well as in the central opening  212 . In another embodiment, the ground surface  118  of the sole portion  210  may include a plurality of tread grooves  304  in communication with the central opening  212 , and extending radially from the central opening  212 , with the tread grooves  304  formed to allow for adjustment of the device around a hoof. The device may be, fabricated by the process of injection molding. In another embodiment, the base portion  106  of the device  104  may include a vertical thickness, which may be variable for different sections of the base portion  106  to assist in correcting for an animal&#39;s particular needs. In another embodiment, the body portion  105  may include a shear-relief portion  302  at the intersection of the wall portion  108  and the base portion  106 , said shear-relief portion  302  opening roughly toward the central opening  212 . The device may further be custom-fitted to a particular horse in order to ensure optimal fit. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference materials refer to like parts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 presents a side view of the present invention as applied to a horse&#39;s hoof; 
     FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, unapplied; 
     FIG. 3 presents a cross-sectional view of the an embodiment of the present invention, unapplied; 
     FIG. 4 presents a top view of an embodiment of the present invention, unapplied; 
     FIG. 5 presents a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the tread and sizing grooves in detail; 
     FIG. 6 presents a back view of an embodiment of the present invention, detailing an example closure and sizing means; 
     FIG. 7 presents a close-up view of a peg/hole closure/attachment means for the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 presents an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention used with a flat pad and medication. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is useful to provide a protective device for hoofed animals that may be tailored to a variety of applications. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it in the context of particular applications. Various modifications, as well as a variety of uses in different applications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Specifically, although the embodiments described herein are discussed relative to horse hoofs, other embodiments may readily be fabricated for use with other hoofed animals without varying from the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention presents a novel and useful protective device for hoofed animals. An embodiment of the device of the present invention is presented in FIG. 1, as applied to a horse&#39;s hoof  100 . The hoof  100  and pastern  102  of the horse are shown, along with the device  104  of the present invention. As shown, the device  104  includes a body portion  105  having a base  106  and a wall  108  which enclose the hoof  100 , fitting around and beneath. The device  104  is fabricated of a flexible, resilient, and durable material such as certain plastics or rubbers, assist in shape and size adjustment to accommodate a variety of hoofs  100  with only minor adjustments. As shown in FIG. 1, the device  104  includes a means for attachment  110  attached to, and extending from, the wall  108  and comprising a strap  112  with a plurality of holes  114 , and a plurality of pegs  116  formed on the wall  108 , with the holes  114  and pegs  116  sized such that the pegs  116  may be received in the holes  114  to secure the strap  112  on the base  106 . The strap  112  is provided as part of the means for attachment  110  in order to help secure the device  104  on the hoof  100 . Although pegs  116  and a strap  112  with holes  114  are provided for the means for attachment  110  in FIG. 1, many other attachment means may be utilized such as straps with buckles, straps with Velcro-type fasteners, clips, among others. It is important primarily that the means for attachment  110  help to retain the device  104  on the hoof  100 , preferably in an adjustable manner. An optional keeper peg  116  is also shown in FIG. 1, whose purpose is to provide a backup to the pegs  116  in order to ensure the device  104  is not thrown from the hoof  104 . The base  106  of the device  104 , as shown, further includes a ground surface  118 , which may be designed to include a means for providing traction for the hoof  100 , e.g. cleats or tread, to provide better footing for the animal. A rolled toe  120  is also shown on the base  106 , to ensure that the device  104  does not catch against the ground as steps are taken. 
     A perspective view of the device  104  of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, unapplied. The embodiment of the device  104  shown has a means for attachment  110  as was described for FIG. 1, which includes a plurality of pegs  116  formed on the wall  108 , and a strap  112  with holes  114  attached to, and extending from the wall  108 . As can be seen in FIG. 2, the wall  108  is defined by a posterior section  202 , an anterior section  204 , an inside  206 , and an outside  208 . Additionally, it can be seen that the base  106  includes a sole portion  210 , which covers a portion of the bottom of an animal&#39;s hoof. The sole portion  210 , as shown in FIG. 2, preferably has a central opening  212  and a sizing opening  214 , which comprise a means for size adjustment  216  in order assist in allowing the device  104  to be fitted to hoofs of varying sizes. In operation, the device  104  is fitted around the hoof  100  of an animal, and is held in place by the friction between the inside portion  206  of the wall  200  and the hoof  100 , the means for attachment  110 , and the sole portion  210 . Thus, the means for attachment  110  preferably comprises a means to hold the device  104  on a hoof  100  through pressures caused by circumferential tightening around the hoof  100 . 
     A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the device  104  of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, unapplied. As shown, the means for attachment  110  further includes a strap guide  300  which is provided to help hold the strap  112  against the wall  108  to prevent inadvertent release and to keep debris from gathering therebetween during use. In the posterior section  202  of the wall  108  at the base  106 , a shear-relief portion  302  is formed to prevent the front of the hoof from cutting into the material of the device  104 . The shear-relief portion  302  also helps to ensure that the pressures developed during walking are distributed across the bottom of the hoof, rather than concentrated at the front tip. Additionally, the shear-relief portion  302  creates a suction in the front of the device  104 , which also helps to keep it in place. Relief can also be used to direct pressure in certain cases to prevent or treat contracture. By providing a beneficial pressure distribution across the bottom of the hoof, the device  104  causes an animal to travel in a more balanced fashion, which when combined with its shock-absorbing ability and improved traction, may help to prevent or to minimize stride disorders and ankle/limb damage/bone damage. The base  106  of the device  104  is shown with tread grooves  304 , which are preferably formed as angled cavities formed radially from the central opening is  212 , and which assist in providing the means for size adjustment  216  by enhancing the circumferential flexibility of the base  106  in fitting around the hoof  100 . The tread grooves  304  are preferably formed such that they narrow toward the central opening  212 , and are open toward the ground surface  118  of the base  106 . A base bevel  306  is also shown, the angular nature of which causes a tight seal against the bottom of the hoof to help prevent debris from gathering between the hoof  100  and the ground surface  118 . The angular nature of the base bevel  306  causes it to form a tight, lip-like seal against the bottom of the hoof. 
     A top view and a bottom view of an unapplied embodiment of the present invention are shown in FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, respectively, with all numbered portions corresponding to those previously described. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4, the shear-relief portion  302  is formed in the area where the front of the hoof resides during operation. All other parts are as shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3 . A bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the tread and sizing grooves in detail is shown in FIG.  5 . The tread grooves  304 , the central opening  212 , and the sizing opening  214  are all chosen to assist in allowing the device  104  to be fitted to hoofs  100  of varying sizes. In FIG. 5, the tread grooves  304  are shown having an inner separation  400  and an outer separation  402 , with the thread grooves  304  having an adjustment angle  404  chosen such that the inner separation  400  is greater than the outer separation  402 , and such that the tread grooves  304  adjust in size to assist in allowing the device  104  to be easily fitted to varying sizes of hoofs. In operation, the device  104  is placed onto a hoof  100  of an animal, and is fitted by the means for adjustment  110 . The base bevel  306  may be seen more clearly as an angled portion, which is designed to provide a snug fit against the bottom of the hoof  100  in order to help prevent debris from accumulating between the sole portion  210  and the bottom of the hoof  100  as well as in the central opening  212 . It is important to note that the inside  206  of the wall  108  is angled inward toward the central opening  212  in order to properly fit against the sides of a hoof  100 . The actual angle also varies around the circumference of a hoof  100  to provide a proper fit, and may be specifically tailored to a particular size range or type of animal. The variation in the angle may be seen in FIG. 3 between the anterior section  204  and the posterior section  202  of the wall  108 . The flexibility of the material that forms the device  104  enables a single device  104  to be used for a variety of hoofs  100 . The means for adjustment  110  provides a way to make the wall  108  fit snugly on the hoof  100 . 
     A back-view of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.  6 . All of the labeled elements are as presented with regard to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  and are shown in the back-view of FIG. 6 for further clarity. 
     A close-up view illustrating the relationship of a hole  114  of the strap  112  and a peg  116 , along with the strap guide  300  formed on the wall  108  are presented in FIG.  7 . The strap guide  300  is shown specifically formed to receive the strap  112  and to hold it in place during use. All other elements are as presented with regard to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 . 
     The device  104  of the present invention may be used as an alternative to a horseshoe, as a temporary replacement for a thrown horseshoe, or as a means for securing a medical pack or device. Furthermore, it may be used in conjunction with horseshoes in order to provide padding in situations where the hard impact of horseshoes is undesirable, such as in the case of a police horse operating on sidewalks and streets. Various modifications may be made, such as the provision of cleats, base  106  with a smaller ground surface  118  to tailor the device  104  for use in high-performance sporting events. Also, the size of the sole portion  210  may be selected for optimized medical use. Furthermore, the device  104  may be fabricated with cutting guides, to allow tailoring by the user to provide an improved fit for a particular animal. This feature may be particularly important for veterinarians, who work with many animals of varying sizes and who do not want to maintain the inventory required to provide for all. It may also be important for use in the field, where pack weight is important, and where a group of riders may wish to carry only a few shoe replacements that are adjustable to a wide group of animals. Because of the flexible and tailorable nature of the device  104 , specific embodiments may be developed to fulfill user needs. 
     In addition to use with medical boots, the device  104  may be used in many other applications and in combination with various medical devices. For example, it may be applied to the hind feet of a mare during breeding to prevent the stallion from being kicked. Also, it may be applied in confined spaces so horses cannot step on, or hit themselves while being transported or confined for medical purposes. Furthermore, the device  104  may be used with many other leg devices such as bell boots, leg wraps, and various pads. 
     An exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention used with a flat pad and medication is presented in FIG.  8 . As shown, a flat pad  800 , along with a dosage of medication  802  may be placed between the device  104  and an animal&#39;s hoof  100 . 
     Finally, it is important to note that although the embodiments discussed above include tread grooves  304  to assist in size and shape adjustment in order to accommodate hoofs  100  of varying sizes, customized embodiments may be created through the use of custom molds suited for use with a particular horse. Customization allows the device to be specifically tailored for different horses, and may be used to produce embodiments designed to provide an optimal fit or designed to treat specific ailments.