An Improved Horse Shoe.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Horse Shoe.
I, HARRY DANIEL. SHAIFFER, of 923, Green Street, in the City of Philadelphia,
County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mining Engineer, 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:—
My invention relates to horse-shoes and has for its object to provide a new and
improved form of horse-shoe which may be secured to the hoof without the use of
nails, and which may be readily removed when desired.
To particularize, the main object of my invention is to provide a nailless horse-
shoe which is constructed upon a new principle, so as to prevent the shoe slipping
forward and thus becoming loose or sliding off the hoof. To this end the shoe is
constructed in two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly extending
flange adapted to engage the outer surface of the hoof, and an inwardly-
extending flange adapted to rest against the under surface of the hoof; the two
parts or halves are pivotally connected at the rear; a suitable locking device is
provided for detachably securing the front ends of said parts or halves together;
and means are provided to bring the rear ends of the parts or halves together, the
pivotal connection at the rear being of such a character that the two parts or
halves may move towards or slide upon each other, without necessarily severing
the pivotal connection.
The pivotal connection at the rear enables the shoe to be first fit loosely upon
the hoof and then clamped upon the hoof by interlocking the front ends, and then
bringing the rear ends together, until the shoe is tightly clamped upon the hoof.
By this means the front ends of the halves are first clamped upon the hoof with a
moderate pressure, while the rear ends are still loose upon the hoof, and then the
whole shoe is firmly and uniformly clamped upon the hoof by bringing together
the rear ends, the pivotal connection being shifted to the front, with a fixed
pivotal connection at the rear, and a clamping and interlocking device only at the
front, it is difficult to obtain an absolutely uniform pressure of the shoe upon the
hoof, and the tight clamping at the front tends to throw or force the hoof back-
wardly and upwardly, thus really decreasing the grip of the shoe upon the hoof,
and resulting occasionally, in the shoe slipping forwardly off the hoof. My pre-
sent invention, it is believed, entirely obviates these objections, as the pressure
upon both the front and rear parts of the hoof can be accurately adjusted and
made absolutely uniform, while the clamping of the shoe upon the hoof by
bringing together the rear ends, forces the hoof forwardly, transversely and
downwardly, instead of backwardly (as would be the case if the clamping were
effected by bringing together the front ends) making accidental disengagement
practically impossible.
My invention also consists in details of construction constituting what I believe
to be the best embodiment of my invention. The invention will he more fully
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shoe on the hoof; Fig. 2, a plan on section
line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an inverted plan view of the shoe; Fig. 4 is an inverted
plan view of the lower flange of the shoe, the sections being swung apart on the
rear pivot; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the two sections swung toward each
other on the rear pivot and the interlocking devices at the front in position to be
engaged; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 3, showing the interlocking
device performing the function of a toe-calk; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6,
showing the interlocking device, the toe-calk being dispensed with; Fig. 8 is a
section on the line 8-8 Fig. 3; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modification
of locking device.
AA designate the two parts or halves, a the base of the shoe, which is of suitable
shape and size to fit the hoof. Each of the parts or halves A is provided with an
upwardly and inwardly extending flange B, arranged so as to rest against the
outer surface of the hoof, and a flange C extending inwardly and somewhat
upwardly from the inner edge of each of the parts or halves A, said flange being
suitably shaped to fit the concave under surface of the hoof. Extensions D are
provided, preferably extending from the rear flanges C and base a, which exten-
sions are prolonged inwardly and adjustably pivoted by means of a pin d on one
extension engaging a slot in the other extension. If desired, both extensions
may be slotted, and a pin passed through both slots. The upper flanges B are
shown prolonged rearwardly until they nearly or quite contact at their rear
extremities, when the shoe is in position on the hoof, but are preferably cut away
underneath at their rear ends. At or near the closely approximating rear ends of
the flanges B, are lugs b, which project rearwardly therefrom. One of these lugs
is provided with a threaded orifice adapted to be engaged by a bolt or screw b¹
which also passes through a plain orifice in the other lug. For this means of
bringing together the flanges B may be substituted a right and left screw or any
other suitable device.
The base a of the shoe, at the front ends of each section of the shoe, is recessed
at a', as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the said recess having inclined side walls, and
being narrower at its mouth than at its base. These two recesses are in alignment
with each other, and are adapted to receive an interlocking device E shown in
section in Figure 6. This interlocking device consists of a base e, forming a toe-
calk, and a projection el shaped in cross-section like the recesses a¹, and adapted
to slide longitudinally into either of the said recesses. The base e is wider than
the projection e', forming the shoulder e adapted to abut against the base of the
shoe. If it is not desired to provide the shoe with toe-calks, the base e is cut off,
or the interlocking device and recesses may be formed as shown in Figure 7,
wherein the recess is shown sunk to a certain depth and inset still further to form
a groove similar in shape to the recess of Figure 6. The interlocking device f is
similar in size and shape to this recess, so that, when the front ends of the sections
are brought together, the base presents a smooth under surface.
If it is desired to provide the shoe with heel-calks, this may be done by form-
ing in the rear ends of the base recesses similar in cross-section to the recesses a¹
in the front ends of the base, and heel calks g¹, similar in shape to the interlocking
toe-calk, E, are slid into these recesses from the rear, and are held in place by
means of the screw g², shown in Figure S.
Lugs project forwardly from the front ends of the flanges B, and these lugs
are adapted to be approximated or brought toward each other by means of a screw
or bolt h', in the same manner that the lugs b are approximated. Any other
suitable device may be substituted.
In practice, the shoe is placed on the horse's hoof, preferably in the following
manner: The overgrowth of the horny substance at the edge of the base of the
hoof is pared or trimmed off level and the shoe is then placed loosely on the hoof
by swinging the sections toward each other, from the position shown in Figure 4
to that shown in Figure 5, the center of oscillation being the pin d. The inter-

page_text: locking toe-calk E is previously placed in one of the recesses a¹. If necessary the
upper flanges are then hammered down against or toward the side of the hoof,
so that, when the shoe is clamped upon the hoof, only the upper edges of the upper
flanges will engage the hoof, and a slight space will be left between the shoe and
the hoof to provide for the slight expansion in the hoof which occurs when the
horse rests his weight upon it. A slight space will also be left beneath the outer
edge of the hoof to provide for the horny growth which is constantly taking place
at that point. The bolt h¹ is then turned to bring the front ends of the sections
together, clamping the front parts of the sections with a moderate pressure upon
the hoof, while the back parts of the sections fit comparatively loosely on the
hoof. The screw b¹ is then turned to bring the rear ends of the sections toward
each other, thus exerting a clamping pressure upon the whole hoof, but a greater
pressure upon the back part thereof, and at the same time exerting a forward
pressure upon the hoof, or, rather, causing a backward, upward and lateral
pressure of the shoe upon the hoof. The bolts h¹ and bi may be alternately turned,
if desired, until the shoe is clamped, with the desired firmness, upon the hoof.
A shoe constructed according to my present invention need not exactly fit the
hoof to which it is applied, as, if slightly smaller, the front and rear ends, or the
rear ends alone, will be brought together, but will only be brought toward each
other until the desired clamping pressure is obtained.
As the
A strip of rubber j may be placed within the shoe, along the flanges B, C, and
in the angle formed by them, upon which the edge of the hoof will rest.
outer edge of the hoof grows more rapidly than any other part, this strip of rubber
will permit this growth to take place without the necessity of loosening the shoe,
the rubber being compressed or displaced upwardly and inwardly, as the growth
proceeds.
The adjustable pivotal connection between the two parts or halves of the shoe,
at the rear of the hoof, may be made entirely separable, as shown in the modifica-
tion, Fig. 9, wherein one of the extensions D is shouldered above and below to
form the projection J in which is formed the slot or recess j¹. The other extension
is grooved, as at J', thus forming a dove-tail joint between the two extensions. A
pin in the last named extension extends through the groove thereof and engages
the slot when the two extensions are brought into engagement. The shoe may
be applied to the hoof by inserting the pin, part way into the slot, and then swing-
ing the two parts towards each other on their pivot, as before described, and then
clamping the shoe on the hoof, as before described; or the preliminary application
of the shoe may be effected by bringing the two parts toward each other laterally,
and then clamping, as before described.
It will be understood that the two parts need not be halves, in the sense that
they must be equal in length; although I prefer to have the interlocking devices
directly at the front and rear respectively. It will also be understood that I do
not limit myself to any details of construction, as the same may be varied without
departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
:-
1. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, an adjustable pivotal connection
between the rear ends thereof, in combination with a suitable locking device for
detachably securing the front ends of said parts or halves together, and a device
for approximating the rear ends of said parts or halves.
2. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface of
the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under
surface of the hoof, in combination with an adjustable pivotal connection between
the rear ends thereof, and a suitable locking device for detachably securing the

page_text: front ends of said parts or halves together, and a device for approximating the
rear ends of said parts or halves.
3. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, in combination with an adjust-
able pivotal connection between the rear ends thereof, and a device for
approximating the rear ends thereof.
4. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface
of the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under
surface of the hoof, in combination with an adjustable pivotal connection between
the rear ends thereof, and a device for approximating the rear ends thereof.
5. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface
of the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under
surface of the hoof, extensions on the rear ends of said parts or halves connected
together by a pin and slot connection so as to be free to move toward and from
each other laterally, and a suitable locking device for detachably securing the
front ends of said parts or halves together.
6. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface of
the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under
surface of the hoof, extensions on the rear ends of said parts or halves connected
together by a pin and slot connection so as to be free to move toward and from
each other laterally, a suitable locking device for detachably securing the front
ends of said parts or halves together, and a device for approximating the rear ends
of said parts or halves.
7. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface of
the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under surface
of the hoof, extensions on the rear ends of said parts or halves connected together
by a pin and slot connection so as to be free to move toward and from each other
laterally, and a device for approximating the rear ends of said parts or halves.
8. A horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, in combination with an adjust-
able pivotal connection between the rear ends thereof, a device for approximating
the rear ends thereof, and a device for approximating the front ends thereof.
9. A. horse-shoe comprising two parts or halves, each provided with an upwardly
and inwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface of
the hoof, and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under
surface of the hoof, in combination with an adjustable pivotal connection between
the rear ends thereof, a device for approximating the rear ends thereof, and a
device for approximating the front ends thereof.
10. A horse-shoe provided with, an inwardly and upwardly extending flange
adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the hoof, and an inwardly and
upwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under surface of the hoof,
in combination with a strip of rubber resting against the inner surface of both of
said flanges having its greatest thickness at the inner angle between the two
flanges.
11. A horse-shoe provided with an inwardly and upwardly extending flange
adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the hoof, and an inwardly and
upwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under surface of the hoof,
in combination with a strip of rubber resting against the upper surface of the lower
flange and having its greatest thickness at the inner angle between the two flanges
and tapering transversely toward the inner edge of said lower flange.
12. A horse-shoe comprising two parts, each part having an inwardly and
upwardly extending flange adapted for engagement with the outer surface of the
hoof and an inwardly extending flange adapted to rest against the under surface of
the hoof, the two parts being hinged or pivoted together at their rear ends so that

page_text: they may be swung upon the hoof, the two parts being so constructed at their
front ends that they may be secured together at that point, and, being so con-
structed at their rear ends that the rear ends may be secured together and brought
toward each other so as to bind the shoe upon the hoof without severing the hinged
or pivotal connection.
HARRY DANIEL: SHAIFFER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.