IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, Baron BELLIER DE VILLIERS, a resident of Paris, 20 Rue Royale in the
Republic of France, gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my 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:-
My improved horse-shoe has been denominated by me a curvilinear shoe, because;
as a general rule, all its lines emanate from surfaces either convex or concave; its
construction is based upon the principal that to an identical and repeated friction
of a flat and fixed surface (the ground) every round and movable surface (shoe or
hoof of a horse) loses its convexity and forms a plane, the development of which is
directly proportionate to the friction and the edges of which are incessantly
renewed; thus is accomplished the wear of all the lower surfaces of my curvilinear
shoe, that is to say such of these surfaces as are directly in contact with the
ground, the result being that on whatever soil it may be, the progression of the
horse is rendered powerful, sure and easy, for the shoe, not only by its shape
proper, gives the hoof bearing points and means of prehension similar to those with
which nature supplied the animal, but also by the peculiar manner in which wear
and tear successively modifies its different parts, it maintains the same advantages
to the said hoof.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to describe
it conjointly with the four figures of the accompanying drawing in which':
Fig. 1 is an underview of a shoe for one of the fore feet.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of its two branches, on the line Z Z fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section of the shoe, taken through the toe on the line X X. fig. 1.
The lower face of my curvilinear shoe is distinguished by the eight following
points:
First point the convexity of its outer edge, formed by the arcs B & C, as well as
the convexity of its inner edge formed by the arcs B₁ & C¹, these four ares being
connected at the top of the shoe by the toe P and at their opposite ends by the
sponges E El see fig. 1 & 3.
Second point the convexity of the ribs b-b¹ & c, c¹ of the said arcs BC & B! C¹
which are parallel but different in volume, those b¹ & c¹ being about one third
less in height than those b & c, which establishes their difference in level and
consequently regulates their wear and tear.
Third point the depressions or cavities d eight in number, formed on the
ribs b&c of the arcs B & C and situated at an equal distance apart between the
recesses or depressions e and serving the purpose of steadying the motion of a
newly shod horse.
Fourth point the convexity of the toe P with the cavity or depression O formed
in the middle of the toe.

page_text: Fifth point the concavity of its channels H & K which are of a certain depth in
order that earth may not set therein permanently and therefore not annul the
hold of the animal upon the ground and being rounded off with the ribs b, b' & c, c¹
of the arcs B, B' & C, C¹, and each channel has four equidistant depressions e.
Sixth point the special nature of the depressions e forming at the top a curved
cavity for receiving the head of the nail and a square opening for the passage of
its shank.
Seventh point the convex and truncated arrangement of the sponges E E' into
which the ribs bb¹ & c c¹ meet.
Eight point that branch C C¹ of the shoe which is drawn on a larger circle than
that B B¹ in accordance with the natural shape of the horse's fore foot.
The upper face of my curvilinear shoe fig. 2 is distinguished by the four following
points.
First point its outer edge formed by the arcs B & C which constitutes a
projecting band of metal beyond the line of the perpendicular bearing of the
hoof, in such a manner that in clay or in thick soil, the shoe having displaced
more than the volume of the hoof, the horse has every facility for disengaging it
from the soil into which it has entered.
Second point its toe ends in a clip or welt P¹ having the shape of a segment of a
circle.
Third point the upper surface of each of the branches is inclined towards the
axial line of the shoe, so as to form an obtuse angle with the ground, as clearly
shown in fig. 3.
Fourth point each sponge E E¹ is rounded off and is slightly truncated as shown
in the drawing.
I make ten sizes of curvilinear shoes different from each other as regards weight,
length & thickness of metal, in order to fit any horse. Each size has four pieces
corresponding to the two fore and two hind hoofs. The shoes can be made to
suit the styles of shoes known under the name of "fer à griffes," "à planches,"
"à la turque," and all other varieties of shoes now in use. Finally, I will remark
that the single clip or welt P' of the shoes for the fore feet fig. 2 & 4 is replaced,
in the case of shoes for the hind feet, by two similar clips or welts projecting from
their toes P.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is the horse-shoe characterized by the curvilinear arrangement, i.e. the
convex or concave arrangement of all its parts and more especially by the general
points hereinafter mentioned.
1. The convexity of its outer and inner edge.
2. The rounded ribs 6 b¹ & c c upon its outer face, and connected by the
channels H & K, the ribs b & c being higher than those b¹ & c¹.
3. The convexity of the toe P having a cavity O.
4. The semi-spherical cavities of the depressions e for the reception of the heads
of the nails, with square openings for the shanks of the same.
5. The convex and truncated sponges E E¹ into which come and meet the
ribs b, b¹ & c c¹ and,
6. The single clip or welt P¹ in the shape of a segment, for the front shoes and
two similar clips or welts for the hind shoes.
Dated this 17th day of July 1885.
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