AN IMPROVED FITTING FOR HORSE SHOES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Vernon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June 1882.
JAMES VERNON of Newton Stewart, Scotland. "AN IMPROVED FITTING FOR
HORSE SHOES."
The object of the present invention is to provide suitable means for keeping
moist the horny part of the hoof and preserving its natural elasticity, and consists
in the use of a strip or layer of natural sponge secured to a suitable foundation
and applied in such a manner as to protect the said sponge from the destructive
effects of the tread of the animal by disposing it close up in the angle formed by
the inner wall of the shoe and the central horny portion of the hoof.
The sponge is attached to leather or other suitable material but I have found
perforated zinc and leather with a layer of pitch between answer well as a
foundation. The leather is placed uppermost and when the two parts are com-
pressed together the sponge may be attached by sowing or otherwise to the inuer
edge of the composite layer.
In the case of a single borse shoe the leather is recessed into the upper face of
the shoe and rivetted or otherwise secured thereto.
In the case of a double shoe with a renewable wearing surface the leather is
gripped between the two parts of the shoe, the leather, or other material, between
the said parts serving to lessen the concussion, in the manner fully described in the
Specification of my Patent dated 6th January 1882, No. 73.
•
This natural sponge I propose to fit to my double and single shoes, and also to
the shoes attached by straps.
The sponge once moistened will keep so for many hours and it allows free
ventilation to the foot at the same time. It also prevents grit from working
between the parts of the double shoe,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Vernon in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
27th December 1882.
JAMES VERNON of Newton Stewart Scotland "AN IMPROVED FITTING FOR
HORSE SHOES "
The object of the present Invention is to provide suitable means for keeping
moist the horny part of the hoof, and preserving its natural elasticity, and consists
in the use of a strip or layer of sponge as an absorbent for liquid, secured to a
suitable foundation and applied in such a manner as to protect the said spongo
from the destructive effects of the tread of the animal, by disposing it close up in
the angle formed by the inner wall of the shoe and the contral horny portion of
the hoof.
The sponge is attached to a foundation of leather, perforated zinc, or other
suitable material, and I have found perforated zinc and leather, with a layer of
pitch between answer well as a foundation. The leather in this case is placed
uppermost, and when the two parts are compressed together the sponge may be
attached by sewing or otherwise to the inner edge of the composite foundation
In the case of a single horse shoe tho leather is recessed into the upper face of
the shoe and rivetted or otherwise secured thereto, or it may be secured to a wire
of suitable thickness and sprung into a recess in the inner wall of the shoe.
In the case of a double shoe with a renewable wearing surface, the leather is
gripped between the two parts of the shoe, the leather or other material between
the said parts serving to lessen the concussion in the manner fully described in the
Specification of my Patent dated Sixth January One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two, No. 73.
This spongy or liquid absorbing fitting I propose to fit to my double and single
shoes, and also to the shoes attached by straps. The sponge once moistened, will
keep so for many hours, while allowing free ventilation to the foot at the same
time. It also prevents grit from working between the parts of the double shoe
and the hoof.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is an inverted plan view, and Fig: 2 is a
section, on the line 1. 2 of Fig: 1, of a double shoe constructed according to the
Specification of my Patent above referred to, and having my improved sponge
fitting applied thereto. Fig: 3 is a detached view of the sponge fitting and its
foundation or supporting piece.
1
1
In these Figures A A¹ are the metallic portions of the double shoo, gripping
between them the foundation or supporting piece, B, of leather or other suitable
material to the inner edge of which is attached, by sewing or rivetting the sponge
fitting C. As will be seen from Fig: 2 this absorbent fitting is so disposed as to
lio snugly in the angle formed by the inner wall of the shoe A A' and the central 4
horny portion of the hoof, being thus secured against the destructive effects of the
tread of the animal, aud serving when moistened to keep soft and elastic the
horny part of the hoof, and exclude grit from between the parts of the double shoe
and the hoof.
Fig: 4 is a plan view of the upper side of a single shoe to which the strip or 4
layer of spongo, C is intended to be attached by means of a wire, B, which in this
caso takes the place of the supporting piece of leather or other material described
with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3.
:
In Fig 4 the sponge is detached from the supporting wire B for the sake of
clearness. Fig: 5 is a section of a single shoe thus fitted, taken on the line 3. 4. of
Fig: 4, and Fig: 6 is a detached view of the sponge fitting, C, and its supporting
wire B.

page_text: It will be seen on reference to Fig: 5 that the wire B is sprung into place in a
recess formed in and around the inner wall of the single shoe A, and that the
sponge attached thereto by sewing or wire lacing, fills, as before, the angle formed
by the inner wall of the shoe A and the horny central portion of the animal's
hoof.
The ends of the wire B are split to form spring attachments adapted to enter
and snap into sockets formed in the shoe (see Figures 4 and 6).
:
The sponge fitting may also be applied to a single shoe by securing it to a strip
or foundation of leather, or other suitable material as described with reference to
Fig: 3, and fitting the said strip or foundation within a recess formed in the upper
face of the single shoe.
I would remark that I do not limit myself to the precise mode of securing my
improved absorbent fitting in place, so long as it holds the same in its proper
position with reference to the hoof.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "An improved
fitting for Horse Shoes" and having explained in what manner the same may be
carried into practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim :—
First: The use of sponge as a liquid absorbing fitting for horse shoes whereby
the hoof may be kept moist and grit be excluded substantially as set forth.
Secondly: The improved fitting for horse shoes described with reference to the
drawing and consisting essentially of a strip or layer of sponge, as a liquid
absorbent, suitably supported and secured to the shoe as and for the purpose set
forth.
In witness whereof I the said James Vernon have hereunto set my hand and