Improvements in the Construction and Mode of Fixing Sharpened Pieces to Horse Shoes for Use in Frosty Weather.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
Improvements in the Construction and Mode of Fixing Sharpened
Pieces to Horse Shoes for Use in Frosty Weather.
I, ISAAC RATCLIFFE, of Scotby, Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, England,
Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction and mode of
fixing sharpened pieces to horse shoes, has for its object to enable the sharpened pieces,
commonly called sharps, for frosty weather, to be affixed to and detached from the
shoes without unshodding and to enable the said operations to be done more rapidly
and the affixing of the pieces to be effected very rigidly.
In carrying out my improvements I employ two sharps only, the one sharp extends
across from the one heel of the shoe to the other and the other sharp extends across
the foe of the shoe. Both sharps are preferably constructed of Angle Iron, the flat
sides of which bear against the flat of the shoe, being secured thereto by set screws
passed through the said flat sides of the angle irons and into screwed holes made near
the heels and the toc, respectively, of the shoe. The upright side which forms the
sharp for the heels abuts against the inner side of the heels proper, being rigidly
secured in position there against by the studs.
The sharp for the toe, abuts against the ordinary bar with which shoes for dray
horses and other heavy shoes are provided, the flat side of the sharp being bound to
the flat of the shoe and against the inner side of the said bar by similar set screws to
those provided for the heels.
The holes in the flats for the set screws to pass through, both in the toe and heel
pieces, are preferably formed slotted in order to accommodate the ready-made sharps
to various breadths of shoes.
Spanners are provided for readily screwing the sharps off and on and to more
readily effect the operation I prefer to form the heads of the screws hexagonal.
In order to effect an equal wear of the heel sharps, I prefer to hollow out the
upright side, forming the sharp, at the space between the two heels.

page_text: In applying the toe sharp to the shoes of Hackenys, Carriage horses and the like
where the wear is not so severe and when there is no toc bar, as in the case of heavy
shoes, I prefer to secure the flat side of the said sharp by a single screwed stud, screwed
through a central part of the toe portion, and in this case, in order to lock the sharp
and prevent it from shifting, I forge both ends of the sharp with catch pieces so
arranged as to grip against the outer edge of the shoe at either side of the toe portion
of the shoe in this mode of using the toe sharp, in lieu of forming the sharp of
Angle" Iron, I may form it of "T" iron, to more readily allow of the forging of
the said Catches.
When the sharps are not wanted the screwed holes are preferably plugged with
screwed plugs or screwing picces to prevent the threads of the holes getting clogged
or worn.
I may also employ the system of affixing the toe sharp by one central stud, to heavy
shoes and when a toe bar is formed on the shoe, I may also employ the side catches
as hereinbefore described as a check upon any liability of the angle iron shifting either
to the one side or the other.
In some cases, especially for light shoes, I may dispense with the toe sharp and use
the heel's sharp only.

page_text: Pieces to Horse Shoes for Use in Frosty Weather.
I, ISAAC RATCLIFFE of Scotby, Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, England,
Blacksmith, 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 :-
My Invention which relates to improvements in the construction and mode of fixing
sharpened pieces to horse shoes, has for its object to enable the sharpened pieces, com-
monly called sharps, for frosty weather, to be affixed to and detached from the shoes
in an improved manner.
In accordance with my Invention I provide the heel of the shoe with a sharp
which extends right across from the one side to the other in lieu of the ordinary
construction of employing disconnected right and left sharps for the heel.
For the toe of the shoe I use a sharp which also extends right across the toe
portion.
Both sharps are preferably constructed of angle steel, the one flat side of which lies
against the flat of the shoe, the other side of the angle steel for the heel abutting
against the turned up extremities of the heel and for the toe the same side of the angle
steel may abut against the ordinary bar of dray horse shoes, but for shoes, which are
without this bar, I employ catches for the toe sharp as hereinafter more particularly
described.
Both sharps are secured by screwed studs.
And in order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the underside of the shoe showing my improvements
applied.
Figure 2, is a perspective side view.
The holes in the flat of the sharps may be formed slotted for the purpose of fitting
ready made sharps to ordinary shoes.
In order to effect an equal wear of the heel sharp, and also to lighten the same I
prefer to hollow out the central part of it as shewn in the Drawings.
As regards the toe sharp which consists of an angle iron or steel across the toe, the
illustration shows the employment of two screwed studs and three catches for rigidly
securing the sharp; the catch at the inner side of the toe is preferably an indent made
in the flat of the sharp, the two catches at the outside of the toe are in the form of
angular forgings.
For further rigidity of the heel sharp I may also forge catch portions at the ends
of the sharp as shown in the Drawings with regard to the onc extremity of the said
sharp.
In some cases, especially for light shoes, one central stud for the toe sharp may be
sufficient.

page_text: - Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
.
1. The improved sharp for the heels of horse shoes consisting of an angle steel
extending across from the one side to the other of the shoe.
2. In combination with the said construction of heel sharp, the method of securing
the same to the flat of the shoe by set screws and with or without end catches.
3. In combination with the said construction of heel sharp, the hollowed formations
for the purpose described.
4. In toe sharps for horse shoes the angle iron or steel mounted across the toe and
secured by studs and steadied by side catches, as described and shown in the Drawings
or by the equivalent of the same.
JOHNSONS,
Applicant's Agents.