IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES
Year: 1885

page_text: We ROBERT DICK and JAMES DICK both of Greenhead Glasgow Lanarkshire
Gutta Percha Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES" to be as follows:-
In order to lessen the liability of injury to horses hoofs and to prevent slipping
on paved roadways it has been proposed to substitute for the ordinary iron horse
shoe, shoes of softer and more elastic material such as rubber either alone or in
combination with metal. Such shoes have not been successfully employed owing
partly we believe to the fact that the rubber or other yielding and non-slipping
material employed has been of too elastic a nature and has not been properly
attached and gripped by the metal so that unequal wear resulted, the rubber gave
way and the broad surfaces of the metal part of the shoe permitted of slipping
as usual.
According to our invention we form a metallic horse shoe of inverted channel
cross section and we fill the channel in the lower side of the shoe with gutta-percha
or a compound of gutta-percha with rubber or other substance which is partially
vulcanised in the preparation of the compound. Through the horizontal web of
the channel iron we form openings through which the gutta percha or compound
passes to the upper face of the shoe upon which we fit a sheet of leather rubber,
cloth or other soft material to form a padding between the metallic shoe and the
horse's hoof. This sheet we attach to the shoe and to the gutta percha passing
through the web by gutta-percha solution or other adhesive substance. We make
the vertical ribs of the metallic shoe as thin as practicable in order that while they
ensure a good hold of the gutta percha they expose only a small surface for wear
by slipping and when made of cast steel, as is preferred, they may be tempered at
the toe part. Steel strips may be fitted vertically into the gutta percha to provide
for gripping the roadway and steel sprigs may be driven in to provide against
wear of the gutta percha. We form the metal shoe in some cases of shorter length
than the length of the hoof and we form a whole part or extension of the gutta
percha or compound to complete the shoe and cover the hoof and the frog of
the hoof.

page_text: Improvements in Horse Shoes.
We ROBERT DICK, and JAMES DICK, both of Greenhead, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Gutta Percha Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing reference being had to
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon
that is to say:-
In order to lessen the liability of injury to horses hoofs, and to prevent slipping
on paved roadways it has been proposed to substitute for the ordinary iron horse
shoe, shoes of softer and more elastic material (such as of rubber or of a hard
rubbery nature) either alone or in combination with metal. Such shoes have not
heretofore been successfully employed owing partly we believe to the fact that the
rubber or other yielding and non-slipping material employed has been of too
elastic a nature and has not been properly attached and gripped by the metal, so
that unequal wear resulted, the rubber gave way and the broad surfaces of the
metal part of the shoe permitted of slipping as usual.
In order that the nature and novelty of our invention and the mode and means
of putting the same into effect or practice may be properly understood we shall
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the Sheet of Drawings which
we have hereunto appended for that purpose, the same reference letters being used
as much as possible to indicate the same or like parts in all the figures where
shown.
Figures 1 and 2 show an under face view, and transverse section respectively, of
the steel or metal part A, A³, of one modification of our improved construction
of horse shoe; and Figures 3 and 4 show corresponding views of the same modifi-
cation of the horse shoe A, B, C, complete, with our improved rubbery gutta-percha
plantar mixture B embedded in the hollows A* of the metal A and secured to the
thick layer of canvas C preferably cotton canvas, next the hoof of the horse.
Figures 5 and 6 show a horse shoe A, B, C, the same as shown in Figures 3 and 4,
except that the thick canvas layer C is formed over the whole hoof above the metal
shoe, with a heel bar B¹, B', and frog of my gutta-percha mixture formed over it
the same depth as the plantar face of the shoe B, all shown somewhat deeper than
the metal when the shoe is new. In these Figures 1 to 6, the nail holes a for
securing the shoe to the hoof, are formed in a groove a¹ round the outer edge of
the rim of the metal as usual. Figures 7 and 8 show in face and edge section,
another modification of the improved steel or iron part A, A1, of our improved
horse shoe, from that shown in Figures 1 to 6, in which a thin segmental web all
is formed round the inner upper surface of the metal for forming the nail holes a
in, for securing the shoe; while Figure 9, shows a face view and section of the
shoe complete with the metal part A, A¹, embedded and secured between the plantar

page_text: gutta-percha mixture B and the thick canvas layer C. Figures 10 and 11 are
corresponding views of the same shoe shewn in Figures 7 to 9, with the layer C
across the whole shoe, and having the heel bar B₁, B₁, and frog B³ formed over it
the same depth as the plantar surface B. Figures 12 and 13 show a face and edge
section respectively, substantially the same as that shown in Figures 10 and 11,
except that the metal part of the shoe A, A¹, is only shown as a three-quarter shoe
round the front part, embedded and secured at its back ends at A" under the back
or heel parts B¹ of the gutta-percha mixture. And Figures 14 and 15 show a front
and edge section of a similar construction of shoe to that shown in Figures 12
and 13, but with the metal parts A, A¹ in front as a segmental balf shoe with its
back ends A embedded and secured under the plantar mixture B at the sides of
the shoe.
Figures 12 A and 14 A show a detached face and edge view respectively of the
steel or metal part A, A¹, of the three-quarter and half-segmental shoes just described
in reference to Figures 12 and 14. Figures 16 and 17 show a face view and edge
section respectively of the steel or metal part A, A¹ of our improved horse shoes
slightly modified from that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 7 and 8, in which there
are no nail holes shown in the metal part, this shoe being held on by the nails
driven through the gutta-percha mixture B and canvas layer C filled in between
the outer and inner walls A, A¹, of the metal shoe, all as indicated at a in the
complete shoe shown in face and edge section in Figures 18 and 19. Figures 20
and 21 show a plantar face and edge section respectively, of a horse shoe complete
in accordance with our improvements, with only a deep double ribbed segmental
steel part A, A, in front, secured by being embedded in the plantar gutta-percha
mixture B through it to the deep thick layer of canvas C, intended for dray and
heavy draught horses, having nearly the whole plantar surface B of the shoe and
heel bar B¹, B¹, and frog B' covering the whole back part of the shoe level with the
plantar surface B While Figures 22 and 23 are a plantar face view and edge
section respectively of a shoe similar to that shown in Figures 20 and 21 except
that the plantar surface B is left deeper, or project above the metal part A, A¹,
than shown in Figures 20 and 21, and further with a hollow part C¹ left in the
upper part of the canvas layer C under the centre of the plantar heel bar B¹ to
save, or allow room for the natural frog of the horses hoof when that is left pro-
jecting. These horse shoes Figures 20 to 23 are also shown as secured to the
horses hoof either by nails passed through holes a in thin flanges all, or through
the gutta-percha plantar mixture and canvas B and C, as indicated by dotted lines
at a. Figures 20 A and 21 A are a face view, and transverse section respectively,
of the steel segmental toe piece A, A¹, shown as embedded in the gutta-percha
plantar surface material B and thick canvas C of the improved horse shoes shown
in Figures 20 to 23. Figure 24 is a face view of the mould F, made of cast iron,
brass or other material, which we use for compressing and shaping these com-
posite horse shoes in, and made suitable for forming the shoes shown in Figures 5
and 6; and Figure 25 is a transverse section on the line f-- -f in Figure 24
showing the shoe as formed in it.
Referring to these Drawings our invention consists all as follows:-in forming a
steel or metallic part A, A¹, of the horse shoe of inverted channel or cross section
the outer and inner vertical side A, A¹, of the channe! A being connected at the
ends of the segments or heels A" and by intermediate light cross parts A, and
we fill the channel A' in from the lower side of the shoe quite solid with gutta-
percha, or a compound of gutta-percha with rubber B or other qualities of gutta
percha which give hardness and toughness and which we partially vulcanise in the
preparation of the compound and press into the hollow channel A² of the metal
part A, A, of the shoe, in a heated and plastic state to form the plantar surface.
Through between the channel A' of the horizontal or cross web parts All of the
5 channel iron A, A¹, we form openings A', through which the said gutta-percha
compound B passes to the upper face of the shoe, upon which we fit a thick sheet

page_text: or layer of several thicknesses of cotton canvas cloth united by gutta-percha or
other soft rubbery material, to form a padding C (or this might be formed of
leather although we do not prefer this as it absorbs water) between the metallic
shoe A, A¹, and its filled in gutta percha compound B and the horse's hoof, and 80
as to secure and form the whole into a solid shoe A, B, C. This sheet C we attach
to the metal part A, A¹, and to the gutta-percha compound C of the shoe while
pressing the latter C into the channel part A by gutta-percha solution or other
adhesive substance previously placed on its surface C. By these improvements
we make the vertical ribs A, A1, A¹¹, A¹11, of the metallic shoe, as thin as
practicable, especially at the under wearing part, for lightness and strength in
order that while they ensure a good hold of the gutta percha compound plantar
part B they expose only a very small slipping surface of the metal part A, A¹, for
wear, and this with the plantar gutta percha part B gives a most efficient gripping
surface to the shoe. When these sharp channel ribs A, A¹, are made of cast steel,
as is preferred, they may be tempered at the front or toe part A*, and steel
vertical strips in the form of toe segments as at A³, may be fitted into the gutta-
percha compound B as shown in Figures 20 to 23 which in this case would form
the greater part of the plantar surface C of the shoe, the steel parts A, A', giving
a greater gripping action on causeyed roadways, as well as supporting the gutta
percha B at the toe A*. Steel sprigs or sparables, as shown at e, may be driven
into the toe. parts of the gutta-percha B to provide against its wear, and these
parts of the gutta compound B most subject to wear would be made of a harder
vulcanised mixture than at the heel and frog parts B¹, B³. We also form these
improved channel metal parta A, A¹, of the shoes A, B, C, in some cases of shorter
lengths or segments than the length of the hoof in the form of half or quarter
shoes, as shown in Figures 12 to 15 and Figures 12 A and 14 A. And in some
cases as for large dray and Clydesdale horses we form a whole part or extension of
the gutta-percha compound B across, the hind part over the heel B¹ and frog B2, or
it might completely cover the whole plantar surface of the shoe and hoof.
The new channel steel or metal parts. A, A', (of these improved composite horse
shoes A, B, C,) would have their walls deep and thin, and sharp on the under
edges to catch the causeyed roadway, and formed with the usual toe clips A* for
bending up over the front of the hoof; and they would be secured between the
elastic plantar surface gutta-percha material B filled into them, and a thick layer
of canvas and gutta-percha C, or other equivalent, all forming the complete portable
shoe ready for securing to the feet of the horse. These improved composite shoes
would be manufactured in all sizes to suit the different sizes of horses hoofs;. and
be secured thereto by nails of the usual construction, either inserted through
holes a in the metal parts A, A¹, round the outer rim a¹ in a usual manner as
indicated in figures 1 to 6; or in a shallow web at a made for them within the
channel spaces A², through which the nails would bold the shoe both by the metal
and the gutta-percha and canvas material B, C, as indicated in Figures 8 to 15 and
20 to 23. Or otherwise the nails might only be inserted through the gutta
percha B and canvas part C of the shoe to secure it to the hoof as indicated in
dotted lines-at as in Figures 18 and 19, and which would show by the marks
at a³, in the iron A and gutta percha B where the nails should be inserted.
Referring to Figures 24 and 25 and the, forming or compressing of these com-
posite horse shoes in the mould F, the steel or metal part A, A¹, of the shoe is first
inserted into the hollow part F of the mould, as shown dotted-in, in Figure 24,
having a loose projecting part b fitted in the internal part A¹ of the metal shoe and
mould to form the frog part B. The mould F is now ready for the insertion by
hand of the gutta percha rubbery mixture B in a hot plastic state, within the
channel spaces A³ of the shoe, and the hollows of the mould F left for forming the
plantar surface B, B¹, and frog B', which would all be filled a little distance above
the level surface F' of the mould, when a piece of the thick layer of canvas C,
..(previously prepared of various thicknesses of canvas) is heated and laid over this

page_text: hot plastic mixture filled into the mould, as indicated in dotted lines at C¹ in
Figure 24, and the level plate F³ of the mould is then placed over it and
compressed in a hydraulic or other press to press down the layer C to the face F
of the mould F and level of the upper surface of the metal part A A¹ of the shoe,
compressing all the superfluous plastic gutta percha mixture out at the surface F
of the mould F and at the back part F left a little lower as a free gate for the
escape of the superfluous material, leaving only as thin a layer of the gutta percha
between the metal part A, A¹, and the canvas layer C as may be desired to give
depth and tenacity to the whole, as indicated at b¹ in the several figures.
The thick canvas material C is previously prepared in large webs through
rollers, first saturating the sides of the canvas with gutta percha solution and then
while in a heated state rolling them together in various thicknesses of two, three
or more plies of canvas and gutta percha according to the thickness of the
compound layer desired for the various sizes of shoes.
In reference to Figures 22 A and 23 A which are a modification of the improved
construction of horse shoes shown in Figures 20 to 23 for heavy draught horses,
instead of making the steel or metal part A³, at the point, of the skeleton or
channeled shape shown in these latter Figures, it may be made as a short
segmental part of the same shape and depth as an ordinary metal shoe with
holes a in it, to be secured by nails as usual, but through the thick layer of plies
of canvas C or leather below it, to which the whole back rubbery gutta percha
part B B B is secured, substantially as shown in the face view and edge section
respectively in Figures 22 A and 23 A.
The gutta percha rubbery compounds which we prefer to use to form the plantar
surfaces B, B1, B³, of these improved horse shoes A, B, C, all as herein before
described, and which we have found to suit best, is that of the new or improved
vulcanised hard tough homogeneous compounds, for which we have made appli-
cation for patent No 7524 June 4, 1886; making the front plantar parts B
preferably of the harder mixtures, and the heel parts B¹ and pads B of the softer
rubbery mixtures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
First. The construction of horse shoes in the new or improved manner, with the
cast steel or metal parts of a strong deep channel shape right through, with light
feathers or walls sharp on under edges, for giving a gripping action, having their
channels filled or the whole embedded in a hard tough mixture of rubbery gutta-
percha on the under plantar side, secured to a thick layer of several plies of canvas
and gutta-percha, or of leather, on the under side next the hoof, all substantially as,
and in the manner herein described, and distinguished under the several modifi-
cations, in reference to and shown in the relative Figures of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The construction of the steel or metal parts of horse shoes of a channel
shape right through, with deep thin walls on under plantar edge, either segmentally
round the whole front and sides of the shoe or as shorter segments in the form of
three-quarter shoes, half shoes, or toe segments, and either with or without nail
holes in them, substantially as herein described, and distinguished, under the several
modifications, in reference to and shown in the relative Figures of the accompanying
Drawings.
Third. In horse shoes, the filling of the channels of the metal parts right through
with a hard tough mixture of rubbery gutta-percha or the embedding of the metal
parts therein, and attaching or cementing over the same a thick layer of several
plies of canvas and gutta-percha, or of leather, all substantially as and in the
manner herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.

page_text: Fourth. The moulding or making of horse shoes with their under plantar part or
surface of a deep layer of a hard tough mixture of rubbery gutta-percha combined
with an under thick layer of several plies of canvas and gutta-percha, or of leather
cemented thereto, all substantially as and in the manner herein described in
reference to Figures 24 and 25 of the accompanying Drawings.