Improvements in Hrose Shoes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899-Accepted; 16th Sept. 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hrose Shoes.
I, JOHN FOXFORD RADFORD, of Westbury on Trym, near Bristol, Farrier; do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
5 My invention relates to improvements in horse shoes, and has for its object the
provision and attachment of cushioned non slipping appliances and of shoes
specially prepared to receive the same, the said appliances consisting of a pad or
tread of rubber, gutta percha, or a composition of these or similar material,
which is cast, moulded, or otherwise fastened around a strong steel spring, with
lugs thereon, by which the pad is attached to the shoe, apertures being provided in
the shoe for their reception.
My invention, and the means employed for putting the same into operation,
will be fully described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings,
in which Figure 1 shows a steel spring (in dotted lines) in its normal or expanded
state, covered with the material to form the pad, lugs or
on the spring for attaching the pad to the shoe; Fig. 2 is an end view and section
hooking claws are formed
of the pad, showing the spring inside, and the lugs projecting through the pad,
and Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of the lower or ground side
of a shoe specially prepared. to receive the pad and spring, and Fig. 5 is a
transverse section of the same; Fig. 6 shows the shoe with the spring and pad
adjusted thereon, and Fig. 7 a side view thereof.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
A is a bar or rod of steel or other suitable metal, bent partly to the shape of a
shoe, to form a spring, as shown in Fig. 1; this figure shows the spring in its
normal or expanded state, ready to be compressed and fitted on the shoe;
ugs a, a, a, are formed on the spring to engage in corresponding suitably
haped holes in the shoe, the metal spring is preferably made round in section, and
s covered with a coating B of suitable material, such as gutta percha or rubber, the
hole of the spring being covered therewith except the projecting lugs; C is a shoe
nade to fit the horse's foot, but of thinner metal than usual, as the shoe when in
se, does not get any appreciable wear; the inner edge of the shoe is slightly
anged down at D to form an inner bearing for the pad, and holes c¹, c, and c³,
re made in the shoe to receive the lugs on the pad, projections E are also made
ta suitable distance from the toe clip on the underside of the shoe to assist in
king the strain on the pads when the horse is climbing hills.
The shoes and pads being provided as described, the shoes are fastened to the
orse's feet by nails through the usual holes, as shown in Fig. 4; the pad with
e spring inside is placed on the shoe, and the lug al is placed in the hole c' in
e toe of the shoe, and one of the heel lugs, say a³ is sprung into the hole 2, and
en by considerable pressure, the spring is pushed inwards until the lug a³
gages in the hole 3, the resistance of the spring A will keep the lugs in the
les, and the pad B will be firmly held in position on the shoe
Dio77
30

page_text: Figs. 6 and 7, the flange D and the projections E also assisting to keep the pad in
position.
With shoes made and fitted to a horse's feet as described, the pads B, which
bear on the ground, will serve as partially resilient cushions and prevent the
shock and jarring to which the feet and legs are liable with ordinary iron shoes
on hard roads; the pads will also prevent slipping on greasy roads; as the pads
are detachable, they can easily be removed and replaced when worn, without the
assistance of a smith or farrier, and there will be no need for shocing the horse
more frequently than is required by the natural growth of the hoof; and as the
pads are kept in position by the stout springs and special formation of the shoes,
no bolts and screws, which are liable to get loose, are required to secure them to
the shoes.
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 :-
1. In the construction of improved horse shoes, detachable pads or cushions
of rubber, gutta percha, or other suitable material, surrounding strong springs
of steel or the like, with lugs on the toes and heels for attaching them to the shoes,
and securely fixing them thereto, the resistance of the springs keeping the lugs
in their respective apertures in the shoes, substantially as herein described.
2. In the construction of horse shoes with detachable cushioned pads or treads
as described, making the shoes with special apertures in the toes and heels to
receive the lugs on the springs, and shaping the shoes to form suitable bearings
for the pads, substantially as described and shown.
3. In horse shoes with cushioned spring pads or treads, making the pads to
enclose bent steel springs and attaching them by lugs to the shoes specially
prepared for their reception, the pads being detachable for removal when
necessary, the shoes and pads forming cushions to prevent shock or injury to
the horse's feet or legs, and procuring a surer footing for the horse, substantially
as and for the purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of August 1899.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, -2, John Street, Bristol.