Improvements in Ice Creepers for Horse Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897--Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice Creepers for Horse Shoes.
I, GEORGE CONSIDER HALE, of No. 119 West 14th Street, in the City of Kansas,
County of Jackson, and State of Missouri, United States of America, fire depart-
ment chief, 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:-
A frequent cause of the injury and loss of horses when shod with ordinary
shoes is due to slipping and falling on icy streets and pavements, resulting in
breaking their legs or to sustaining such other serious injuries as to necessitate
killing the animals. A great many valuable animals are killed from this cause,
particularly in cold northern cities where the street pavements are heavily
coated with ice and sleet during the winter.
One object of my invention is to provide an ice creeper appliance of simple and
cheap construction which may be easily and quickly applied to horse shoes, to
prevent the shoes from slipping on sleety pavements and enable the animal to
obtain such a foot hold as to walk on such pavements with a certain degree of
safety.
A further object of my invention is to provide an improved, simplified means
for rapidly and securely fastening the calked shoe-plates on the shoe, and to so
construct the parts as to enable a given size of shoe-plates to be used on different
sized shoes within certain limits.
Another object of my present improvements is to render the creeper applicable
to horse shoes without respect to the width of the shoe from side to side, or to
the depth or thickness of the shoe, or to the position on the sides of the shoe which
the creeper plates may assume when they are applied or fitted to the shoe or when
the shoe is in service.
In applying an ice creeper to a horse shoe there are certain conditions which
must be observed, among which the most important consists in arranging the
elements of the creeper appliance to avoid interference and contact with the frog
of the horse's foot. As is well known, horse shoes vary a great deal in shape
and dimensions, and a creeper for use universally on shoes of different sizes and
thicknesses must be adjustable not only as to the width but also as to the thick-
ness of the shoe and without coming in contact with the frog in the hoof. It
is also important in the provision of an ice creeper appliance to overcome any
skuff" or slight sliding
tendency of the attachment from loosening owing to the
action of the shoe when the hoof strikes the ground; and a further requirement
is to make the fastening device accommodate itself to any position which the
side plates may assume on the shoe either in service or when applied initially
thereto but without straining or bending the fastening appliance.
66
These conditions I have sought to attain in my ice creeper appliance which,
generally speaking, consists of a pair of channeled plates provided at their central
portions with elongated tapering or bell shaped sockets, a single transverse bolt
fitted in said sockets to have long bearings therein and provided with means

page_text: for holding itself and said plates rigidly in position, and insertible calks fitted
in said side plates and having washers for building up the calks between the
creeper plates and the shoe to make the creeper applicable to shoes of different
thicknesses. The channeled plates are to be applied to opposite sides of a shoe
and the bell shaped or tapering sockets thereon enable the bolt to be canted or
tilted sidewise should the plates assume a position out of line with each other
on the shoe without straining or bending the bolt, the latter having long bearings
in the sockets to overcome any tendency of the bolt freeing itself from the plates.
The bolt and the sockets in the side plates are arranged on the creeper plates
to assume a position, when the creeper is applied to the shoe, well forward of
the frog in the horse's hoof.
My invention also consists in the improved construction of an ice creeping
appliance for horse shoes and in a novel means for rigidly fastening the same
to ordinary horse shoes, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated preferred
embodiments thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, and in which,-
Figure 1 is a top view of a horse shoe equipped with my ice creeper appliance.
Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the plane indicated by the
dotted
ne 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 are detail perspective views of the two shoe plates.
Figure 6 is an inverted, or bottom plan, view of another embodiment of my ice
creeper appliance in position on a horse shoe.
Figure 7 shows a similar view with the creeper plates thrown out of alignment,
illustrating the bearings of the bolt in the sockets in the plates.
Figure 8 is an edge view of a shoe with my creeper thereon.
Figure 9 is a transverse sectional elevation on the plane indicated by the dotted
line 9-9 of Figure 6.
Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the shoe and creeper on
the plane indicated by the dotted line 10-10 of Figure 6, showing the manner
of fastening one of the insertible calks and of "building up" the same to make
the creeper applicable to shoes of different thicknesses.
Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of one of the creeper plates.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings, referring to which,-
A, B designate the two plates to be applied to the shoe, C is the tightner bolt,
and D is the nut of my creeper appliance for ordinary horse shoes, one style of
which is indicated at E in the drawing.
The two plates A, B are each cast or wrought in a single piece of metal, pre- 4
ferably of cast metal and they are curved to fit to the right and left hand sides,
respectively, of a horse shoe. Each plate is curved for a portion of its length,
as at a and the ends of the plates are extended, at b, b, at an angle to the line
of general direction of the curved part a of the plate. Each plate is formed
with a rib constituting a channel or groove a¹, to enable the plate to be fitted 4
snugly to the shoe, whereby the plate is given a good broad bearing on the shoe
because the annular ends b, and the walls of the channel overlap the shoe
considerably, as shown by Figures
the series of calks f, f' which depend for a suitable distance and are sharpened,
to 3. The plates are further provided with
thus presenting good surfaces to penetrate ice and sleet and enable the animal 5
to retain its foot hold.
On the inner side of the plate A is formed an elongated arm g, which projects
centrally from the plate and on the line of the central calk f. On the end face
of this arm is formed a groove or key seat g', and through the lug g is formed
a longitudinal hole or passage which extends through the plate A, as shown 5.
by Figure 3. From the outer side of the plate A, on
channel a therein, extend the middle lugs h, h, which are adapted to rest upon
a plane above the

page_text: the lower side of the shoe and to brace the plate centrally on said shoe while the
angular ends b, b brace the ends of the plate.
The other plate B is likewise provided with a pair of middle lugs h¹, h',
adapted to bear on the under face of the shoe when the channeled edge of the
plate is fitted to the side of the shoe. This plate B is likewise formed with an
integral arm which projects from the central portion on the inner side of the
plate B, and this arm i is notched or forked to provide the fingers ', a longitudinal
hole or passage being provided through said arm and extending through the
plate B above the plane of the channel a¹ therein.
The bolt C is threaded, preferably, for a part of its length with a continuous
screw thread as at c, leaving the end c¹ smooth or plain. This bolt, at a point
between the threaded and smooth parts, is provided with a collar or nut c". If
a nut is used, it is screwed on the bolt as far as it will go to rest solidly against
the end thread and thus remain fixed and immovable on the bolt; if the collar,
it may be wrought as a part of the bolt or it may be rigidly applied thereto in
any suitable way.
The adjustable nut D is fitted on the bolt to work back and forth on the
threaded part c, and in one face of the nut is provided the channels or key
ways d, d, one of which is adapted to a line with the groove g¹ in the arm g of
the plate A, for the purpose of providing a seat to receive the key or pin H.
The two plates A, B, have the channels a' formed therein of such size as to
enable them to fit to horse shoes of different sizes within certain limits.
It is well known that in paring or trimming a horse's hoof preparatory to the
application of the shoe thereto, the hoof is so trimmed as to leave a concavity
at the centre thereof and allow the solid wall to bear upon the shoe, consequently
a space or opening from a sixteenth of an inch to one eighth of an inch is left
between the hoof and the inner edge of the shoe. In applying my shoe plates,
they are fitted to the right and left to have the ribs bear upon the space between
the hoof and the inner edge of the shoe, which leave ample spaces for the proper
bearing of the continuous ribs on the upper sides of the shoe. The other rib or
flange, forming the lower wall of the channel, and the angular ends b, band
lugs h, provide ample bearings against the lower side of the shoe. The
smooth end c of the bolt is fitted in the passage of the arm on the plate B
to have the nut or collar fit in the notch between the forked fingers, thus
holding the bolt against axial or rotary movement, and the threaded end of the
bolt fits in the passage g" in the arm g on plate A, the nut I) occupying a position
between the two arms g, i of the plates A, B. The nut 1 is now burned, by
a suitable wrench or implement, toward the army, against which it presses, and
the nut is turned so as to force back the bolt and the nut or collar thereon,
whereby the bolt and adjustable nut press the plates A, B apart and cause them
to bear firmly on the shoe. The plates are thus held rigidly and firmly on the
shoe, and when the parts have been secured, the nut itself is turned to bring one
of its grooves & in aliment with the groove g', to form a key seat into which is
firmly driven the key or pin H, whereby the nut is locked and the parts are
prevented from working loose.
In the embodiment of my invention shown by Figures 6 to 11, inclusive, I con-
struct the creeper plates for use with insertible calks, and on the lower face of the
plate is provided another series of calks 7 which are integral with the plate and
are spaced at suitable intervals thereon. The ends of the plates are bent outward
at an angle to the general curvature thereof as at 6, and these angular ends have
vertical openings 9 formed therein, the upper ends of which openings are enlarged
to form the cavities 10 for a purpose to be explained. The plate is further pro-
vided, at about midway its length, with the enlarged boss 11 that projects on
the inner edge of the plate, and through the plate and its boss is formed the
socket 12, the length of which is equal to the length of the boss and the width
of the creeper plate, whereby the socket is adapted to form an elongated bearing
for, one end of the bolt C. The depth of the socket is slightly longer than the

page_text: diameter of the bolt, but the socket is not of uniform width throughout its length
because it is made tapering longitudinally, the smaller end of the socket opening
through the boss 11 while the wide or flared end of the socket onens through
the outer face or edge of the plate, as shown by Figure 8. The boss 11 on the
plate A has a notch 14 cut therein to accommodate a shoulder or fixed nut D
on the bolt C, which shoulder or nut is capable of a limited play in the notched
seat 14 to permit the bolt C to assume the tilted or canted position in the flared
and tapered sockets of the plates when the latter assume positions on the shoe
where the two sockets of said plates do not exactly coincide or register with each
other, but the shoulder or nut is engaged with said notched seat to such an
extent as to hold the bolt against axial rotation. The boss 11 on the other plate B
of the creeper has a groove or channel 15' provided in its end face and the
adjustable nut D likewise has one or more grooves produced in its face that abuts
against said channeled end of the boss or plate B, whereby a locking pin or key
is adapted for insertion into said grooves when they register in order to hold the
adjustable nut in a positive fixed position.
Each plate of the creeper and its integral calks are to be made of cast steel
in a single piece, and the integral calks are hardened and tempered to render
them strong and durable in service.
In connection with the creeper plates having the integral calks and the vertical
openings 9 in the side of said plates, I use the insertible steel calks 19, 20, a
pair of insertible calks being provided for each creeper plate. The insertible
calk consists of a cylindrical steel pin having a pointed lower end and the integral,
enlarged, disk-like head at its upper end, such pin and head being smooth and
unformed with screw threads or other rough surfaces. The calks 19, 20 are passed
through the openings 9 in each plate and the heads thereof rest within the
cavities 10 in the upper sides of the plates, thus making the heads of the calks
hear against the lower face of the shoe. In case the plates are applied to a shoe
the thickness of which is less than the depth of the channels in the plates, and
the plates fit loosely on the shoes to have a limited vertical play thereon, I employ
the washers 21, one or a series of which is fitted on the calk pin below the head
of the calk, to lie on the cavity 10 of the plate, thus raising the nead of the pin
to bear against the shoe and building up the insertible calk to provide firm
bearings for the plate and the insertible calks against the shoe.
To apply my creeper to a shoe, the side plates have their channeled edges fitted
against the inner side of a shoe, the bolt is placed in the sockets for the fixed
shoulder or nut thereon to engage the notched seat 14, the adjustable nut D is
screwed against the boss 11 of plate B to force the plates away from each other
and press them tightly against the shoe, and the key or pin engaged with the
boss 11 and the nut 1). In case the shoe is a light or thin one, the washers 21
are fitted to the insertible calks and the space between the plates and shoe is
built up by the washers to provide firm hearings and enable the plates to be
held rigidly on the shoe.
It frequently happens that the side plates when fitted to a shoe cannot assume
positions where the sockets are in alignment with each other, owing to differences
in the shape and sizes of various shoes, but in my creeper it is not necessary that
the sockets of said plates shall be in exact coincidence because the flared elongated
sockets enable the bolt to be fitted in, and connected to, the plates by long
bearings irrespective of the positions of the plates relative to each other.
My improved construction provides for the use of ice creepers on horse shoes
of different sizes and thicknesses without changing the construction of the creeper
appliance or necessitating the bending of the bolt. The creeper appliance may
be easily and quickly applied to a shoe and held rigidly thereon; and it is simple
and durable in construction and cheap of manufacture.
The calks on the creeper plates may be sharpened if desired, but this may not
be necessary in view of the employment of the insertible calks which when worn
may be replaced at a trifling expense with new calks to provide an efficient holding

page_text: urface for the creeper on the horse shoe. I am aware that minor changes in the
orm and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by
skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages
of my invention and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as
fairly fall within the scope of the invention.
Having now particular lescribed and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manne the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An ice creeper appliance for horse shoes comprising a pair of channeled
plates having calks on the lower sides thereof, one plate provided with a forked
hollow arm and the other plate having a grooved or notched hollow arm, a non-
rotatable bolt having a collar or nut to fit the forked arm of one plate, an
adjustable nut with a grooved face arranged next to the arm with the notch or
groove therein on the other plate, and a key or pin to fit in said notches or grooves
of the adjustable nut and the arm of the last inentioned plate, as set forth.
2. The combination with a horse shoe, of the channeled plates A, B, shaped
to fit the respective sides of said shoe and having the angular ends, the
middle lugs, and the hollow grooved arm g and the hollow forked arm i, respec-
tively, a non-rotatable bolt fitted in said hollow arms and provided with a nut
or collar which lies within the forked arm of one plate, a grooved nut fitted on
the bolt and bearing against the grooved face of the arm on the other plate, and
a key, substantially as described.
3. An ice creeper appliance for horse shoes comprising a pair of plates to fit
the respective sides of the horse shoe, one plate provided with an inwardly ex-
tending forked arm, and the other plate having an inwardly extending arm
the end face of which has a groove or grooves, the non-rotatable bolt having an
enlargement fitted in the forked arm of one plate, and adjustable grooved nut
threaded on the bolt and adapted to abut against the grooved face of the arm
on the other plate, and a key or pin fitted in coincident grooves of the abutting
faces of said arm and the adjustable nut, as and for the purposes described.
4. As a new article of manufacture, an ice creeper appliance consisting of
plates having integral calks at intervals along their length and sockets at the
ends of said plates, and insertible calks adapted to be fitted in said sockets of the
plates, as and for the purposes described.
5. As a new article of manufacture, an ice creeper appliance consisting of cast
steel plates provided at their ends with sockets and at intervals along their
lengths with integral hardened and tempered calks between said sockets, and
insertible steel calks fitted in said sockets, for the purposes described, substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination of creeper plates provided with elongated flared sockets,
a single bolt havingn-ts ends fitted in said sockets to have long bearings therein,
and means for holding the bolt rigidly connected to said plates, as and for the
purposes described.
7. The combination with creeper plates, of a single transverse bolt connected
to, both plates by long bearings which permit the plates to lie one slightly in
advance of the other, and means for connecting said bolt rigidly to both plates,
as set forth.
8. The combination of a creeper plate having a calk socket, an insertible headed
calk fitted in said socket, and washers fitted on the calk below its head and
arranged in the socket of the plate, as and for the purposes described.
9. The combination of creeper plates each having at its end the calk openings
and the cavities in the upper face of said plates, the headed calks fitted in said
openings, the washers fitted on the calks and in the cavities of said plates, and
a bolt connected rigidly to the plates, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
10. The creeper plates having calk openings at their ends, the integral calks

page_text: between said openings, and the transverse flared sockets, and the insertible calks
and washers fitted in said openings in the ends of said plates, combined with a
single fitted at its ends in the flared sockets of said plates and connected
rigidly, but detachably, to one plate, and an adjustable nut fitted on the bolt
and adapted to be fastened to the other plate, as and for the purposes described.
Pated this 20th day of May 1897
GEORGE CONSIDER HALE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.