IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSESHOES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz Albert Groth, K.G.V., Civil Engineer and
Proprietor of the Scandinavian Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth
& Co., 97, Finsbury Pavement, and 20, Forhaabningsholms Allee, Copenhagen,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSESHOES." A communication
from abroad by Baron G. Lucbaire, of Keficon, Switzerland.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Albert Groth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1880.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, Civil Engineer and Proprietor of the Scandinavian
Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth & Co., 37, Finsbury Pavement,
London, E.C., and 20, Forhaabuingsholms Allee, Copenhagen. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN HORSESHOES." A communication from abroad by Baron G. Luchaire, of
Keficon, Switzerland.
The object of this Invention is the production of a horseshoe which will permit
of the free developement of the tender parts of the hoof, and also enable the horse
to touch the ground not only with the side, as was heretofore the case, but also
with the frog of the hoof, as this tends to lessen the jars which the foot receives in
striking the ground.
This horseshoe can be made in different varieties of form, and of any desired
shape, but still after the same principle.
The horseshoes made according to this Invention have a raised continuous outer
border or rim on its lower side, and is provided with holes passing through its
entire thickness. The shoes for the hind hoof are provided with two calkins at its
ends. There is also provided a raised continuous outer border or rim on the bottom
side of the shoe, and which, however, do not pass through the entire thickness of
the shoe. On the top side, along its edge, there is a level surface of sufficient
breadth to give a good support to the hoof to the whole extent of its edge. The
inner edge of the shoe, which is inclined towards the centre of the curve, serves to
keep the sole from touching the iron. This prevents the galling of the foot, which
happens so often in using the common shoe. A clip on the front part of the shoe
prevents the shifting of the hoof upon the same. On the side that is turned to the
ground a slanting surface prevents the accumulation of mud and snow under the
foot of the horse.

page_text: With the exception of the slanting surface, which in every form is the same, the
lower side of the shoe can be made in two different ways. The first is that the
border or rim outside of the row of nailholes is higher than the inside one, and,
consequently, touches alone the ground, thus forming the whole walking surface of
the shoe. This border, however, does not continue to the ends of the shoe, but
terminates a little behind the last nail holes.
On the fore shoe the two ends are level, while on the hind one, to prevent
slipping, they are provided with a point or calkin each.
A second way is to provide the lower side of the shoe with 3 or 5 points or
calkins. In both cases these points or calkins, besides preventing the rapid wearing
of the shoe, also protects the heads of the nails from coming in contact with the
ground, thus avoiding the vibrations of the nail blades, which, on account of their
close proximity to the tender parts of the hoof, are very painful to the animal.
The greatest attention must be paid to the punching of the holes in the shoe.
The holes are so arranged that,-
1st. The nail blades will enter that part of the hoof which they are intended to
occupy, and this can only be effected by making the holes very exact and in the
curve of the hoof, which is indicated by a groove.
2nd. They perfectly enclose the nail heads so that the latter will not come in
contact with the ground; this is effected by countersinking the holes on the bottom
side of the shoe to fit the heads.
3rd. That the position and number of nail holes permits the use of a sufficient
number of nails so as to fasten the shoe tightly to the hoof, even if the latter has
been injured in any way. The number of holes generally is eight, of which,
however, only so many may be used at a time as is consistent with the state of the
hoof to be shod. The best position for the holes is four on either side, between the
forward point and the point or calkin on the side, and none behind the latter.
In shoes with a continuous border or rim the holes should be as forward as
possible.
In some cases an arrangement of peculiar holes is employed. The shoe has 18
holes, 9 on each side, which number, of course, can be altered at will. These holes
do not quite pass through the iron, but enter the shoe from the lower side to a
certain depth, and are countersunk to fit the nail heads.
On the top side of the shoe, and corresponding to the nail holes on the bottom,
are indentations shallow enough to leave a thin partition between them and the
holes from the bottom. When the shoe is to be put on, those of the 18 holes
which appear best suited for the hoof are opened by driving a punch through the
partition, making the opening just large enough for the nail to enter, so that when
driven home it will have a firmer hold than the hoof nails generally have, and the
holes which are not punched through will keep out the wet and dirt which might
be injurious to the hoof.
The great number of holes is of special advantage in shoeing where the hoof has
been previously injured, as then always those holes may be used which offer the
soundest spots in the hoof for the introducing of the nails. This peculiar and
novel arrangement of holes forms the principal advantage of the new shoe. Another
important feature is that both ends of the shoe are not bent towards each other as
in the old shoe, but are rounded off to the outside. The new shape has to be of
best quality iron or steel so that it will stand hammering when cold, and for this
reason it can easily be fitted and put on anywhere. It is on an average one third
lighter than the common shoe, and so saves the horse a great deal of exertion in
lifting the feet.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Lorentz Albert Groth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
April 1881.
LORENTZ ALBERT GROTH, K.G.V., Civil Engineer and Proprietor of the
Scandinavian Patent Office, under the Firm of L. A. Groth & Co., 97, Finsbury
Pavement, and 20, Forhaabningsholms Allee, Copenhagen. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORSE SHOES." A communication from abroad by Baron G. Luchaire, of Keficon,
Switzerland.
The object of this Invention is the production of a horse shoe which will permit
of the free developement of the tender parts of the hoof, and also enable the horse
to touch the ground not only with the side, as was heretofore the case, but also
with the frog of the hoof, as this tends to lessen the jars which the foot receives in
striking the ground.
This horse shoe can be made in different varieties of form, and of any desired
shape, but still after the same principle. In the accompanying Drawings a few
samples are shewn; Figure 1 shows the top, Figure 2 the bottom, and Figure 3
the side view of a horse shoe having a raised continuous outer border or rim on its
lower side, and provided with eight holes passing through its entire thickness;
Figure 4 shows the bottom view of a similar shoe for the hind foot, provided with
two points or calkins at its ends; Figure 5 is a side view of the same; Figure 6 is
a cross section after line a, a; Figure 7, a cross section in direction b, b; Figure 8,
a section after line c, c, of the shoe; Figure 9 is a bottom, and Figure 10 a side
view of a shoe provided with five points or calkins; Figure 11 shows the top,
Figure 12 the bottom, and Figure 13 the side view of a horse shoe with a raised
continuous outer border or rim on the bottom side, and provided with eighteen
holes, which, however, do not pass through the entire thickness of the shoo;
Figure 14 is a cross section after line d, d; Figure 15, a cross section after line e, e ;
Figure 16, a cross section after line ff, and Figure 17 is a transverse section
after g, g, through the same.
of
This horse shoe has on its top side (Fig. 1-8) along its edge a level surface
sufficient breadth to give a good support to the hoof to the whole extent of its
edgo.
The inner edge of the shoe, which is inclined towards the centre of the curve,
serves to keep the sole from touching the iron. This prevents the galling of the
foot, which happens so often in useing the common shoe. A clip K on the front
On the side
part of the shoe prevents the shifting of the hoof upon the same.
(Fig. 2) that is turned to the ground the slanting surface / prevents the
accumulation of mud and snow under the foot of the horse. With the exception of
the slanting surface l, which in every form is the same, the lower side of the shoe
can be made in two different ways. The first is that the border or rim m outside
of the row of nailholes is higher than the inside one, and, consequently, touches
alone the ground, thus forming the whole walking surface of the shoe. This border
however does not continue to the ends of the shoe but terminates a little behind
the last nailholes. On the fore shoe the two ends are level (Fig. 2 and 12), while
on the hind one, to prevent slipping, they are provided with a point or calkin n
each (Fig. 4). A second way is to provide the lower side of the shoe with 3 or 5
points or calkins p. In both cases these points or calkins, besides preventing the
rapid wearing of the shoe, also protect the heads of the nails from coming in
contact with the ground, thus avoiding the vibrations of the nail blades, which, on
account of their close proximity to the tender parts of the hoof are very painful to
the animal.
The greatest attention must be paid to the punching of the holes in the shoe;
the holes are so arranged that, 1st, that the nail blades will enter that part of the
.

page_text: hoof which they are intended to occupy, and this can only be effected by making
the holes very exact and in the curve of the hoof, which is indicated by groove r.
2nd. They perfectly enclose the nail heads so that the latter will not come in
contact with the ground; this is effected by countersinking the holes on the bottom
side of the shoe to fit the heads.
3rd. That the position and number of nail holes permits the use of a sufficient
number of nails so as to fasten the shoe tightly to the hoof, even if the latter has
been injured in any way. The number of holes generally is eight, of which,
however, only so many may be used at a time as is consistent with the state of the
hoof to be shod. The best position for the holes is as shown in the Drawing, that
is, four on either side, between the forward point and the point or calkin on the
side, and none behind the latter. In shoes with a continuous border or rim the
holes should be as far forward as possible. Figures 11 to 17 shows a shoe with an
advantageous arrangement of peculiar holes. The shoe has eighteen holes, nine on
each side, which number, of course, can be altered at will. These holes do not
quite pass through the iron, but enter the shoe from the lower side to a certain
depth and are countersunk to fit the nail heads. On the top side of the shoe, and
corresponding to the nail holes on the bottom, are indentations shallow enough to
leave a thin partition between them and the holes from the bottom. When the shoe
is to be put on, those of the eighteen holes which appear best suited for the hoof
are opened by driving a punch through the partition, making the opening just
large enough for the nail to enter, so that when driven home it will have a firmer
hold than the hoof nails generally have, and the holes which are not punched
through will keep out the wet and dirt which might be injurious to the hoof. The
great number of holes is of special advantage in shoeing where the hoof has been
previously injured, as then always those holes may be used which offer the soundest
spots in the hoof for the introduction of the nails. This peculiar and novel
arrangement of holes forms the principal advantage of the new shoe. Another
important feature is that both ends of the shoe are not bent towards each other as
in the old shape, but are rounded off to the outside.
The new shoe, as above described, has to be of best quality iron or steel so that
it will stand hammering when cold, and for this reason it can easily be fitted and
put on anywhere. It is on an average one third lighter than the common shoe,
and thus saves the horse a great deal of exertion in lifting the feet.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what
I claim is,-
First. A horse shoe so constructed that the horse will touch the ground not only
with the sides of the hoof but also with the frog, substantially as herein described
and shewn.
Second. In horse shoes, the application of slanting surfaces (i, c) on the side of
the shoe turned to the hoof, substantially as herein described and shown.
Third. In horse shoes, the application of a raised edge or border, or of several
projections or calkins in combination with a sufficient number of holes piercing the
iron only part of its thickness, and countersunk to fit the nail heads, all substantially
for the purpose, and as herein described, shown, and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorentz Albert Groth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.