AN IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington Street,
"
Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
AN IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE." A communication from abroad by Messrs.
Dewey & Co., of San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Sealed the 23rd April 1880, and dated the 30th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1879.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED HORSE-SHOE." A com-
munication from abroad by Messrs. Dewey & Co., of San Francisco, California,
United States of America.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in horse-shoes which are intended
to relieve the foot of the animal by giving it an elastic bearing, thus preventing
shocks by severe strokes upon the pavement, and relieving strain which might
occur from various causes.
It consists in the formation of a double plate or plates which are so placed with
reference to each other as to form a spring or elastic bearing for the foot, while they
will at the same time by their construction be free from clogging.
Within the curve
The body of the shoe is fitted to the foot in the usual manner.
of this shoe and formed with it is an elastic plate. This plate is preferably formed
of the same piece of metal as the body by simply cutting or slitting the two parts
so as to separate them from the heel forward to the toe, where they remain united
for a sufficient length to give firmness and support to the spring plate. At the heel
these plates may be separated so that the body of the shoe projects over the spring-
plate, and when the weight upon the latter is sufficient to bring the two plates
together they will then act as one with greater strength and supporting surface. In
some cases these plates may be divided at an angle, so that when the spring plate
is forced up by the weight upon it it will strike the angle within the rear ends of
the body, and by its tendency to spread the body will add to its own resistance,
and also prevent contraction of the foot of the animal. In some cases this elastic
plate may be formed by uniting its outer edge and that of the body, the spring
being formed by the inwardly projecting free edge. This however will be liable to
become clogged with dirt, and it is therefore preferred to form the two plates with
a vertical, or nearly vertical, division line between them from the rear ends of the
shoe to the point near the toe where the two are united.
The spring part has its rear ends thrown downward below the plane of the body,
so that it will first receive the pressure and by its elasticity relieve the blow of the
foot. If the weight brings it down to a full bearing, it acts in conjunction with
the body to support the foot.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Edward Gedge in the. Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th April 1880.
WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED HORSE SHOE." A com-
munication from abroad by Messrs. Dewey & Co., of San Francisco, California,
United States of America,
This Invention relates to certain improvements in horse shoes which are intended
to relieve the foot of the animal by giving it an elastic bearing, thus preventing
shocks by severe strokes upon the pavement, and relieving strain which might occur
from various causes.
It consists in the formation of a double plate or plates which are so placed with
reference to each other as to form a spring or elastic bearing for the foot, while they
will at the same time by their construction be free from clogging.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings for a more complete explanation of
this Invention, Figure 1 is a view of this improved shoe, and Figure 2 shows a
modification thereof.
A is the body of the shoe, which is fitted to the foot in the usual manner. Within
the curve of this shoe and formed with it is the elastic plate B. This plate is
preferably formed of the same piece of metal as the body A by simply cutting or
slitting the two parts so as to separate them from the heel forward to the toe, where
they remain united for a sufficient length to give firmness and support to the spring
plate. At the heel these plates may be separated, as shewn in cin Figure 2, so that
the body of the shoe projects over the spring plate, and when the weight upon the
latter is sufficient to bring the two plates together they will then act as one with
greater strength and supporting surface. In some cases these plates may be divided
at an angle, as shown in Figure 1, so that when the spring plate is forced up by the
weight upon it it will strike the angle within the rear ends of the part A, and by
its tendency to spread the part A will add to its own resistance, and also prevent
contraction of the foot of the animal.. In some cases this elastic plate may be
formed by uniting its outer edge and that of the plate A, the spring being formed
by the inwardly projecting free edge. This, however, will be liable to become
clogged with dirt, and I therefore prefer forming the two plates with a vertical, or
nearly vertical, division line between them from the rear ends of the shoe to the
point near the toe where the two are united.
The part B has its rear ends thrown downward below the plane of the part A,
so that it will first receive the pressure, and by its elasticity relieve the blow of
the foot.
L
If the weight brings it down to a full bearing it acts in conjunction with the part
A to support the foot.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, com-
municated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is or may be performed,
what
I claim as new and as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is,
Firstly. A shoe for animals consisting of the parts A and B united at the front
and separated towards the rear so that one part will strike the ground before the
other and form an elastic support, substantially as herein described.
Secondly. The shoe consisting of the parts A and B, one of which is secured to the

page_text: foot, while the other has its free ends projecting below so as to form an elastic
bearing, said plates having their rear ends overlapping or formed with an inclined
slot between them, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)