IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ERNST OTTO SCHUBARTH, late Landrath, of 73 Potsdamer-Strasse at Berlin
Kingdom of Prussia, Germany do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
'IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to horse shoes.
Heretofore horse->hoes have generally been provided upon the bottom side with
a fullering or crease for the reception of the nail heads. This construction possesses
the defect that when the said crease is prolonged (as is sometimes the case) into the
toe portion of the shoe, and is deep and broad, it is prejudicial to the strength of
the horse-shoe, as by a crease of such a shape, the horse-shoe is formed of two.
ribs which are only connected with each other by a thin layer of metal which is
further weakened by the nail holes. Such horse shoes are very liable to break or
bend, which are causes of great danger.
The crease in the horse-shoe possesses the advantage of holding sand and earth
in order that the shoe which otherwise would be comparatively smooth shall have
a rough surface for preventing the slipping of the horse.
According to the present invention the disadvantages of the crease are obviated
without at the same time losing its advantages.
Upon the bottom side of the horse-shoe from the toe portion towards the heel
are formed holes which however do not extend through the thickness of the shoe
but leave a thin piece of metal against the hoof.
Into some of these holes, after the thin layer of metal has been pierced, are
inserted the nails. Plugs of wood, cork, india rubber or the like or iron calks may
be inserted in the other holes. Or, if desired, the holes which are not occupied by
nails can be left empty so that earth or sand will fill the same when in use. In
this manner the surface of the horse shoe is provided with numerous rough places
and thus the slipping of a horse upon smooth roads is, to a certain extent obviated.
With this construction the full thickness of the shoe which remains between the
holes considerably increases the strength of the horse shoe and forms a strong
connection between the outer and inner edges of the same. Also all shocks, which
are caused by the horse's feet striking the ground are distributed over the entire
surface of the hoof in contact with the shoe and not upon the portions in contact
with its outer and inner edges alone as is the case with the horse-shoes provided
with deep and broad creases. Such an uneven strain upon the hoof causes the
breaking of the latter and is the cause of many foot diseases,

page_text: The improved shoe the portion of which in contact with the hoof is level
without depressions and the inner edge at the bottom is bevelled gradually becomes
narrower from the toe part, which has the greatest breadth, towards the heel.
The presence of depressions possesses a double disadvantage, viz:—that on the one
hand they enable the settling of moisture and dirt, whereby putrefaction is
occasioned, which produces loose hoofs; and on the other hand, they prevent the
complete support of the hoof throughout and in fact effect a displacement of the
same, and thereby cause the splitting of the hoof.
The bevelled edge of the bottom of the shoe terminates in a point which affords
the horse a hold upon smooth ground.
By the above-described arrangement it is impossible to make the horse-shoe
lighter than horse-shoes as heretofore employed, for the improved shoe possesses
not only a greater strength against bending, but is, on account of its construction
which is adapted to the formation of the hoof, subjected to less wear; this decrease
in the weight of the horse-shoe combined with its qualities of preserving the
health of the hoof increases the amount of work which can be obtained from a horse
to a considerable extent.
The horse-shoes made according to this invention are preferably of malleable
cast iron of the best quality which can be hammered so as to permit the fitting and
shoeing of a horse without preparation.

page_text: I, ERNST OTTO SCHUBARTH, of 73 Potsdamerstr., Berlin W 57, do hereby declare
the nature of the invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to horse-shoes.
Heretofore horse-shoes have generally been provided upon the bottom side with
a fullering or crease for the reception of the nail heads. This construction posseses
the defect that the said crease, when it is broad and long, and is prolonged (as is
sometimes the case) into the toe portion of the shoe, is prejudicial to the strength
of the horse-shoe, as in such case the latter is mainly composed of two ribs which
are only connected with each other by a thin layer of metal which is frequently
very thin and which is weakened by the nail holes. Such horse-shoes are very
liable to break or bend, and these accidents are the most dangerous which can
happen to a horse-shoe.
The crease however in the horse-shoe possesses the advantage of holding Band
and earth, so that the shoe, which otherwise would be comparatively smooth, has
a rough surface for preventing the slipping of the horse.
According to the present invention the disadvantages of the crease are obviated
without at the same time losing its advantages.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a horse-shoe constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same and,
Figure 3 is a vertical section.
Upon the bottom side of the horse-shoe from the toe portion towards the heel
are formed holes a Figure 2, which are partly cylindrical and partly conical.
These holes however do not extend through the thickness of the shoe but leave
a thin piece of metal against the hoof (figure 3).
Into these holes, after the thin layer of metal has been pierced, the nails are
inserted. Plugs of wood, cork, india-rubber or the like or iron calks may be
inserted in the other holes. Or if desired, the holes which are not occupied by
nails can be left empty so that earth or sand will fill the same when the shoe is in
use. In this manner the surface of the horse-shoe is provided with numerous
rough places, and thus the slipping of a horse upon smooth roads is to a certain
extent obviated.
With this construction the full thickness of the shoe remains between the holes,
thereby considerably increasing the strength of the horse-shoe, and forming a
strong connection between the outer and inner edges of the same. Also all shocks
which are caused by the horse's feet striking upon the ground are distributed over
the entire surface of the hoof in contact with the shoes, and not upon the portions
in contact with its outer and inner edges alone, as is the case with horse-shoes
provided with deep and broad creases. Such an uneven strain upon the hoof
causes the breaking of the latter and is the cause of many hoof diseases.

page_text: "
The bearing surfaces of the shoe upon both the bottom and top sides are made
gradually narrower from the toe part, which has the greatest breadth, towards the
heel, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, according to the formation of the hoof to which
the shoe is to be applied; and the bearing surface upon the hoof side is quite level
and without depressions. The latter possess double disadvantage viz;—that on the
one hand they enable the settling of moisture and dirt, whereby putrifaction is
easily occasioned, which produces loose hoofs and on the other hand they prevent
the complete support of the hoof throughout, and in fact effect a displacement of
the same, and thereby cause the splitting of the hoof.
The broad rear ends b¹ of the bottom bearing surface b terminate in the direction
of the toe in small cuneiform surfaces c which afford the horse a hold upon smooth
ground to prevent slipping.
By the above described arrangement it is possible to make the horse-shoe lighter
than horse-shoes as heretofore employed. For the improved shoe possesses, not
only a greater strength against bending, but is, on account of its construction,
which is adapted to the formation of the hoof, subjected to less wear. This
decrease in the weight of the horse-shoe, combined with its qualities of preserving
the health of the hoof, increases the amount of work which can be obtained from
a horse to a considerable extent.
The horse-shoes made according to this invention are preferably of malleable cast
iron of the best quality, which can be hammered so as to permit the instantaneous
fitting and shoeing of a horse without preparation.
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:
A horse-shoe having a supporting surface b which is level on the hoof side, and
which is broad at the toe and becomes gradually narrower towards the heel, the
supporting surface of the bottom side of the said shoe being provided, from the toe
to the heel, with holes a, and descreasing in breadth from the toe to the heel where
it is provided with surfaces c inclined towards the toe of the shoe.