Year: 1886

page_text: I, JOHN ERNEST BINGHAM, residing at Walla Walla, in the County of Walla
Walla, and Territory of Washington, in the United States of America, gentleman,
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 :-
The invention consists in substantially the following, to wit: interchangeable,
conformable 'blank-sections of which to constitute sectional horse shoes, said
sections, severally, being of varying dimensions and curvatures adaptable to hoofs
of different sizes and shapes, and furnished to the public and to the trade in the
varieties named as a new manufacture. The object of the invention is to enable
shoes to be procured from the factory or dealer ready made and finished, of iron or
steel and tempered if desired, that can be applied in a very short space of time and
with perfect accuracy of fit without having to re-heat the same or bend them to
conform to the shape of the hoof. All that is required is to ascertain and combinė
the pieces of the proper size and shape to fit the foot to be shod, and note the
numbering or other marks designating the sizes and curves of the pieces so
used, and when subsequent or additional fitting is desired to simply procure by
reference to said numbering or other marks of designation the same sizes and
curves first employed.
In the practice of the invention I prefer to construct the pieces in a series of
different sizes and curves, designating each size and curve by some appropriate
mark thereon, and to form the shoe of at least three pieces, although it is evident
that a greater number could be resorted to, the said pieces consisting of a toe piece
forming about one-third of the whole shoe and two side pieces forming each
another third, the three being joined together in any suitable manner, but
preferably as indicated in the accompanying drawings.
Heretofore it has been customary to make a shoe of any of the different styles,
about the right size and general shape of the foot to be shod (this being done
usually at the factory where the shoes are made in large quantities and with the
aid of machinery,) which, being selected by the farrier, is by him re-heated and
re-shaped to exactly conform to the shape of the hoof. This requires the tools
and skill of a blacksmith and consumes the time of the smith and the animal
being shod.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures, 1, 2, 3, and, 4, represent views of shoes and portions of shoes embodying
my invention, the corresponding parts constituting the several shoes being of

page_text: :
the sides from one shoe and combining the same with the remaining portion or
portions of another, a shoe of a different size and contour is formed. In these
figures, A, represents the toe pieces of the shoe, B, B, the two side pieces, and, C,
indicates one manner of joinder of the said side pieces with the toe piece.
I am aware that shoes have been heretofore constructed in three or more pieces
with a view to allowing the heel parts of the foot to expand and contract more
freely than is possible with the old style of shoe formed in one piece, but in such
former instances the shoes had to be specially shaped to fit each foot to which they
were applied, it being impracticable to keep on hand a stock and assortment of
shoes ready made of all the various sizes and shapes necessary to properly fit many
different feet. It is evident that from the many combinations that may be formed
with a comparatively small stock of pieces manufactured in accordance with my
invention a great number and variety of different shaped feet can be fitted.
In the practice of my invention on horses, about five different sizes of toe pieces
are required for the front feet, and about the same number of toe pieces are
required for the hind feet. The toe of the front foot of a horse as a rule is nearly
circular in outline, while the hind foot slightly pointed. The curves of these
five toe pieces should correspond with the ordinary outlines of the feet. In`
exceptional cases a toe piece designed for the hind foot will be required to fit a
front foot, and sometimes a toe piece designed for a front foot will be required to
fit a peculiarly shaped hind foot.
Of the side pieces, about four different curves of each pair will suffice, but each
curve will need be made of about four different lengths. Thus there will be
sixteen right and sixteen left side pieces, and ten toe pieces. The side pieces are
used on the front or hind feet alike. Frequently the opposite sides of the same
foot do not correspond in either length or curve; in such cases suitable side pieces
should be used so as to exactly fit the peculiarities of each side.
Any of the ten toe pieces can be arranged in combination with any of the right
or left side pieces, so as to fit a very great number of differently shaped feet.
Several hundred different shapes can thus be readily fitted, without other tools
or appliances than the ordinary rasp, shoeing hammer and nails and without
reheating or bending the pieces. While I have herein shown certain forms of
joining the parts of the shoes together, it is evident that in the practice of my
method I am not limited to any particular form of joinder thereof, for in some
instances it may be desirable to employ such manner of connection as to give the
shoe an approximate rigidity throughout its length; and it is further evident that
variations could be made in the number of parts contributing to make up the
entire shoe without departing from the principles intended.
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
Interchangeable, comformable blank-sections of which, to constitute sectional
horse shoes, said sections, severally, being of varying dimensions and curvatures
adaptable to hoofs of different sizes and shapes and furnished to the public and to
the trade in the varieties named as a new manufacture.