IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hay Downie, of Corstorphine, in the County of
Mid Lothian, Saddler, and Isaac Blue Harris, of Edinburgh, in the
same County, Superintendent of Castle Mills, for the Invention of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hay Downie and Isaac
Blue Harris at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th June 1869.
We, HAY DOWNIE, of Corstorphine, in the County of Mid Lothian,
Saddler, and ISAAC BLUE HARRIS, of Edinburgh, in the same County,
Superintendent of Castle Mills, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to further novel combinations of metal and
india-rubber or other flexible or elastic material in the manufacture of
shoes for horses. The metal portion of each shoe is made in one piece or
jointed, preferably the former, and the india-rubber or other flexible or

page_text: elastic material, hereafter for brevity called rubber, is so fitted thereto or
therewith that it projects on the treading surface beyond the metal,
and so when in use deadens the concussion which ordinarily and without
it the legs and frames of horses are subjected to when travelling on
hard roads, but the rubber projects only to such an extent that when
the weight of the horse comes to bear on it it will be compressed or
flattened, and hence shoes having bearing surfaces composed of hard and
elastic substances are provided. The importance of a treading surface of
the above description and the advantages derived therefrom are now
generally acknowledged and indeed are obvious.
Our said improvements consist,―
First. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe adapted to be
attached to the hoof by nails, or in any other convenient manner, of any
ordinary or convenient shape as aforesaid, and in combining rubber
therewith in such manner that a thick anti-concussion pad or ridge
thereof passes all round or partly around within the inner edge of the
metal shoe and projects downwards beyond the metal. The said rubber is
also carried outwards between the metal portion of the shoe and the
hoof, so as to serve as a bedding for these parts. If desired sole protector
pieces formed with the anti-concussion pad, and adjusted to fit close to
the base of the frog can be used.
Second. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe formed for
attachment to the hoof by nails or in any other convenient manner of
any ordinary or convenient shape as aforesaid and in combining two
side pieces of rubber therewith. These side pieces rest against the sole
of the hoof, just inside the inner edge of the metal portion they project
downwards beyond the said metal portion, and are secured in position by
a bedding flange or two flanges which pass between the metal and the
hoof.
Third. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe as aforesaid
adapted to be secured in position for use by nails or otherwise, with
one or more openings therethrough, and in fitting rubber therein. In
this case the rubber bears directly against the sole of the foot and pro-
jects on the treading surface beyond the metal. Flanges formed on the
rubber are led between the metal and the hoof.
Fourth. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe suitable for
being attached to the hoof by nails or otherwise with thin horizontal
webs at both sides, and a thick middle or toe piece, and in fitting both

page_text: of the flat sides and the inner edge of the said horizontal webs, or the
whole of the said horizontal webs, in or with rubber to a thickness by
preference a little more than the thickness of the toe piece.
Fifth. In constructing the metallio portion of a shoe formed so as to
be capable of attachment by nails or otherwise, of any convenient shape
as aforesaid, and in combining rubber therewith which while it fits
the hoof and projects beyond the surface of the metal, is also formed
with a transverse heel bar. This tends to protect the heel of the
hoof, the pastern, and fetlock. A useful modification under this head
consists in making the whole shoe with the exception of a metallic toe
cap of rubber.
And sixth. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe capable of
attachment by nails or otherwise of any convenient shape as aforesaid,
and in employing rubber to fill up the whole of the space within the
shoe. The said rubber is so formed that it fits close to the frog and sole
of the foot, and on the treading surface it projects beyond the metal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue Harris in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 4th December 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HAY
DOWNDE, of Corstorphine, in the County of Mid Lothian, Saddler, and
ISAAC BLUE HARRIS, of Edinburgh, in the same County, Superintendent
of Castle Mills, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give.
and grant unto us, the said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue Harris, Her
special license, that we, the said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue Harris,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the.
said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue Harris, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and, no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within. the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel. Islands,

page_text: "
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Hay Downie and
Isaac Blue Harris, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of our ar their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent,
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue
Harris, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon, that is to say:―
Our Invention relates to further novel combinations of metal and
india-rubber or other flexible or elastic material in the manufacture of
shoes for horses. The metal portion of each shoe is made in one piece
or jointed, preferably the former, and the india-rubber or other flexible
or elastic material, hereafter for brevity called rubber, is so fitted thereto
or therewith that it projects on the treading surface beyond the metal,
and so when in use deadens the concussion which ordinarily and without
it the legs and frames of horses are subjected to when travelling on hard
roads, but the rubber projects only to such an extent that when the
weight of the horse comes to bear on it it will be compressed or
flattened, and hence shoes having bearing surfaces composed of hard
and elastic substances are provided. The importance of a treading
surface of the above description and the advantages derived therefrom
are now generally acknowledged and indeed are obvious,
Our said improvements consists,―
First. In construoting the metallic portion of a shoe adapted to be
attached to the hoof by nails, or in any other convenient manner, of
any ordinary or convenient shape as aforesaid, and in combining rubber
therewith in such manner that a thick anti-concussion pad or ridge
thereof passes all round or partly around within the inner edge of the
metal shoe, and projects downwards beyond the metal. The said
rubber is also carried outwards between the metal portion of the
slive and the hoof, so as to serve as a bedding for these parts. If desired

page_text: sole protector pieces formed with the anti-concussion pad, and adjusted
to fit close to the base of the frog can be used.
Second. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe formed for
attachment to the hoof by nails, or in any other convenient manner, of
any ordinary or convenient shape as aforesaid, and in combining two side
pieces of rubber therewith. These side pieces rest against the sole of
the hoof just inside the inner edge of the metal portion, they project
downwards beyond the edge of the said metal portion, and are secured
in position by a bedding flange, or two flanges, which pass between the
metal and the hoof.
Third. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe, as aforesaid,
adapted to be secured in position for use by nails or otherwise, with
one or more openings therethrough, and in fitting rubber therein. In
this case the rubber bears directly against the sole of the foot and pro-
jects on the treading surface beyond the metal. Flanges formed on the
rubber are led between the metal and the hoof.
Fourth. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe suitable
for being attached to the hoof or otherwise with thin horizontal
webs at both sides and a thick middle or toe piece, and in fitting
both of the flat sides and the inner edge of the said horizontal webs,
or the whole of the said horizontal webs, in or with rubber to a
thickness, by preference, a little more than the thickness of the toe
piece.
Fifth. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe, formed so as
to be capable of attachment by nails or otherwise, of any convenient
shape as aforesaid, and in combining rubber therewith, which, while
it fits the hoof and projects beyond the surface of the metal is also
formed with a transverse heel bar. This tends to protect the heel of the
hoof, the pastern, and the fetlock. A useful modification under this
head consists in making the whole shoe, with the exception of a metallic
toe cap, of rubber,
Sixth. In constructing the metallic portion of a shoe capable of
attachment by nails or otherwise, of any convenient shape, as aforesaid,
and in employing rubber to fill up the whole of the space within
the shoe. The said rubber is so formed that it fits close to the frog
and sole of the foot, and on the treading surface it projects beyond the
metal.

page_text: One modification under the first part of our Invention is illustrated
by Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a view of the
treading surface; and Fig. 3, a transverse section at the line A, B.
a is
the metal portion with countersunk spaces for the nail heads; b, bedding
flange; c, anti-concussion pad, passing all round; d, sole shield. This
may be dispensed with if desired.
Another modification under the said first part of our Invention is
illustrated by Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Fig. 4 is a side elevation; Fig. 5, a
view of the treading surface; and Fig. 6, a transvers section at the
line C, D. e, metal portion; f, anti-concussion crescent-shaped pad;
9, bedding flange; h, sole shield.
The second part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 7, 8, and 9.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation; Fig. 8, a view of the treading surface; and
Fig. 9, a transverse section at the line E, F. i, metal portion shewn
widened near the toe; j, side pieces or anti-concussion pads. These are
shewn constructed with separate bedding flanges at k, the fore edges of
which are chamfered off, but they may be connected by one continuous
bedding flange.
The third part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 10, 11, and 12. S
Fig. 10 is a side elevation; Fig. 11, a view of the treading surface;
and Fig. 12, a transverse section at the line G, H. 1, the metal
portion, with openings therethrough for the anti-concussion pads m.
n, bedding flange; o, packing piece. The parts m, n, o, are preferably
constructed in one piece.
The fourth part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 13, 14, and 15.
Fig 13 is a side elevation; Fig. 14, a view of the treading surface;
and Fig. 15, a transverse section at the line I, J. Of the metal
portion p are the horizontal webs, and q the toe piece; ", rubber; this
surrounds the webs p on three sides; if desired it could be made to cover
in the outer edges, and in such cases it would further " cutting."
The fifth part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 16, 17, and 18.
Fig. 16 is a side elevation; Fig. 17, a view of the treading surface; and
Fig. 18, a transverse section at the line K, L.
8, metal toe cap;
t, bedding flange; u, anti-concussion pad and protector support; v, heel
bar of rubber.

page_text: The sixth part of our Invention is illustrated by Figs. 19, 20, and 21.
Fig. 19 is a side elevation; Fig. 20, a view of the treading surface;
and Fig. 21, a transverse section at the line M, N. wo, metal portion;
x, bedding flange; y, filling of india-rubber, shewn as an anti-concussion
pad and sole protector.
Having described the nature of our said Invention, and particularized
the same is such manner that others will be enabled to carry our
improvements into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise forms described herein and delineated
on the Drawings, as many modifications may be made without departing
from the several leading features, for instance, we may mention that we
have shewn the rubber projecting only a short distance beyond the
metal, but this it will be obvious would be varied in practice to suit
the weight of the horse, the object in all cases being to allow both the
metal and rubber to bear when the weight of the horse is thrown on
the shoe; neither do we confine ourselves to making the parts, which
for brevity we have called rubber, of rubber only, as gutta percha and
other elastic or flexible gum, or other elastic or flexible substance, such
as felt, closely compacted woven fabrics, and other substances could be
used. We, however, prefer vulcanized india-rubber for the anti-con-
cussion pads and sole shields, and for the bedding flanges closely woven
fabric compacted with india-rubber, and made sufficiently firm to
prevent working and loosening of the shoe.
Under the first head or part we claim,―
I. The combination of the metal portion a, bedding flange b, and anti-
opncussion pad c, with or without the sole shield d, substantially as
herein described and delineated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings,
for the purpose set forth.
II. The combination of the metal portion e, anti-concussion crescent-
shaped pad f, and bedding flange g, with or without the sole shield h,
substantially as herein described and delineated by Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of
the Drawings, for the purpose set forth.
Under the second head or part we claim the combination with the
metal portion i, of two side pieces or anti-concussion pads j, and bedding
flanges or one flange k, substantially as herein described and delineated
by Figs. 7, 8, and 9 of the Drawings, for the purpose set forth.
Under the third head or part we claim the combination of the metal
portion, with the anti-concussion pads m, and bedding flange n, or its

page_text: equivalent, for keeping m in their places, either with or without the
packing piece o, substantially as herein described and delineated by
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 of the Drawings, for the purpose set forth.
Under the fourth head or part we claim the combination of the webs p,
and toe piece q, with the enclosing rubber r, substantially as herein
described and delineated by Figs. 13, 14, and 15 of the Drawings, for the
purpose set forth.
Under the fifth head or part we claim,―
(1.) The combination of the metal toe piece 8, or of a metal shoe
of ordinary shape, with the anti-concussion pad u, bedding flange t,
and heel barv, substantially as herein described and delineated by
Figs. 16, 17, and 18 of the Drawings, for the purposes set forth.
(2.) The rubber heel bar applied to any or all of the modifications
herein described, or to any horse-shoe constructed or composed of metal
and rubber.
And under the sixth head or part we claim the combination of the
metal portion to, bedding flange x, and filling y, substantially as herein
described and delineated by Figs. 19, 20, and 21 of the Drawings, for
the purpose set forth..
In witness whereof, we, the said Hay Downie and Isaac Blue
Harris, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
WILLIAM STEELE.
JOHN FORD, witness.
ALEX. LAWSON, witness.
WILLIAM STEELE, witness.
HAY DOWNIE.
ISAAC BLUE HARRIS.
(L.S.)
(L.s.) *