Improvements in Boots for Horses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Improvements in Boots for Horses.
I, FREDERICK H. WOOD, of 402 Cedar Avenue, in the City of Cleveland, in
the County of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, United States of America, Inventor,
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:-
•
1S
My invention has reference to boots for horses, and the object of the invention is
to furnish a boot which will thoroughly protect the ankle of the horse from injury
through what is known as "interference," and at the same time not in any way
obstruct his natural movements nor disfigure his appearance, and which
serviceable in use and can be worn continually for an indefinite period without
becoming materially impaired or in any way working injury to the leg. To these
ends the invention consists in the construction substantially as shown and described
and particularly pointed out in the claims.
2
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved
horse boot, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of a sectional part thereof
and enlarged so as to more clearly disclose the construction and shape.
The boot here shown is made wholly of india rubber except that there is
embedded therein a sheet or piece of textile material 2 of duck or canvas, or other
like firm and durable fabric, or a fibrous binding of some kind, which gives strength
and serviceability to the article. This also leaves the entire boot in a springy or
flexible condition and yet makes it firm enough to retain its original shape at all
times and to serve every useful purpose.
But the form and features of the construction of the boot constitute its real
merit and patentable novelty rather than the fact of its organic character out of
rubber and fabric. Then, we have, first of all, the shape of the body which is
spherical in cross section at any and all points horizontally from top to bottom, but
materially enlarged at its bottom edge 4 as compared with its narrowest part or
neck 5. Above the point 5 is a narrow band or collar 6 which is just wide enough
to afford a suspensory support for the boot on the leg, and which will effectually
suspend the boot and not injure the horse. For this purpose the said band or
collar engages just closely enough about the leg to prevent its slipping down lower
than required. The body 8 from the neck 5 to the lower edge 4 is designed to be
sufficiently larger than the ankle it encloses to leave a free air space all around
about the ankle. Then by making the bottom 4 somewhat larger than the leg at
that point the boot becomes self-cleaning and no dirt will settle or lodge on its
inside.
The collar 6 not only fits snugly about the leg as before described, but is tapered
inwardly about the top to form a thin edge 9. This taper of the top of the collar
and boot I have found to be very important because it serves to shed any mud or
dirt or the like that may be splashed or otherwise deposited at that point, or which
may come onto the horse's leg higher up and work down to this point.
Suitable straps and buckles 10 serve to fasten the boot on the horse and in this
case the straps are secured by rivets through the boot. In use these straps are
worn on the outside of the leg. The boot is free to turn on the leg and yet it does
not turn of its own accord, but remains as it is placed.
The lower portion of the boot likewise is tapered downward on the outside to

page_text: the edge 4, and the heavier part of the stock comes at the middle where is also the
wear. The swell of the material at the middle is such as to afford a gradual taper
in both directions.
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. As a new article of manufacture, a boot for horses consisting of flexible
material having a substantially spherical body and a narrow cellar about its top
tapered to an edge, and straps to fasten the boot on the leg, as set forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a horse boot of india rubber having a fibrous
binding material embedded therein and a narrow collar about its top and tapered
toward both top and bottom edges, and straps to fasten the boot on the leg,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this Ninth day of November 1894.