AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING HORSES, OR PROTECTING THEIR FEET
Year: 1884

page_text: THOMAS NUGENT, Albert Villa Pembroke Road Walthamstow Essex I do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING HORSES,
OR PROTECTING THEIR FEET to be as follows:-
Instead of the present style of horseshoes I make use of a piece of Gun-metal or
of Brass, the shape of a horseshoe to be fitted on to the foot and nailed on as a
horseshoe is now nailed on, and should remain nailed on to the hoof as long as
possible. It should be flat and even, about 1/2 an inch or a inch thick. All
round, near the edge of this disk holes are made, either by boring or casting, and
these holes are tapped or wormed, so as to admit of screws being turned and
screwed into them. These screws have large round heads, say about one inch in
diameter (ad lib) and actually take the place of the present ordinary horseshoe, and
are the only parts of the whole contrivance which come in contact with, or which
touch the ground, or that can wear away.
When the screws become worn they may be very easily unscrewed and taken
out, and new screws may then be screwed in, in their places, of any thickness, or
shape as to their being flat, round, or pointed, heads &c, without in the least
interfering with the solidity or position of the underlaying disk or groundwork.
Or the said groundwork pieco may have an entire shoe screwed onto it; in one
piece; or in three pieces, (viz) a front or toe piece, and two side pieces to form the
entire horseshoe.
If it should be desired to make the disk or ground work piece very thin, say one
eighth of an inch thick, and yet the screwholes therein a quarter of an inch deep,
then the disk must be so made in the casting, by raising the screwholes one eighth
of an inch higher on the side next to the hoof; and then corresponding holes must
be made in the hoof, at least one eighth of an inch deep, so as to admit of those
projecting screwholes.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, THOMAS NUGENT, of Albert Villa, Pembroke Road, Walthamstow, in the
County of Essex, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for AN IMPROVED METHOD OF SHOEING HORSES, OR PROTECTING THEIR FEET, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The objects of my invention are to simplify the shoeing or protection of horses'
feet and to secure a surer foothold for the horse especially in drawing heavy loads.
For the first object I in one case provide first a metal plate or disc shaped to the
hoof and bored, to take the screws hereafter referred to, which said metal plate
is fastened to the hoof by means of nails I then screw into this plate cheese-
head screws the head being of a suitable shape and thickness any one or more of
which said screws on wearing down can be removed separately, and replaced by
new ones. When one side of a screw head is worn much more than the opposite
side I turn the screw half round and screw up after placing a thin washer of tin,
iron or leather under the head of the said screw-in the heads of tho screws
I cut two slots, in which to place a screw driver to tightly screw them up to the
plate. In the second method I make a shoe in three separate pieces vizt two side
pieces and a toe piece so that any or either of these pieces may, when necessary,
be removed and replaced by a new corresponding piece. or For light draught
purposes in this separate toe piece adhere to the curve of the hoof I will
now refer to the accompanying drawings in order to more particularly explain
my Invention.
Figure 1 shews a metal disc with cheesehead screws screwed in shewing-in-one-
place. the screw hole only for illustration-Figure 2 shews a shoe made in three
pieces Figure 4 shews a screw driver adapted to these screws.
In Figuro A is the metal plate or disc the opening at a being provided to
accommodate the "frog" of the horses foot B shews the cheesehead screws screwed
into the holes b prepared for their reception c. c. being the slots in lead of the
screw in which the prongs d d of the screw driver (Figure 4) are placed when
screwing up.
In Figure 2. A is the metal plate or disc E E beingt he two side pieces screwed
into their position and F the toe piece.
In Figure 4. h is the handle and d. d. the prongs fitting the slots c. c in the screw
heads.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
"
1st The node or system of protecting horses feet by means of a metal disc or
plate which receives a certain or suitable number of cheesehead or other suitably
headed screws substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2ndly The detachable screw with a suitable head in conjunction with a metal disc
or plate for receiving the same as and for the purpose of a protection to the hoof
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3rdly The making of a horse shoe in three pieces namely two side pieces and a
toe piece substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of December 188.1