SHOES, AND IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME."
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Vernon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1882.
JAMES VERNON of Newton Stewart, Scotland.
SHOES, AND IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE
These improvements relate to means whereby horses may be rapidly shod to suit
varying conditions of ground, such as ploughed fields, grasslands, frozen and snowy
roads and hard pavements and consist first, in constructing a shoe having deep
slots or sockets for the reception of removable plates or gripping surfaces furnished
with dowels which are secured in the sockets by transverse bolts or pins having
split or forked ends to prevent their working out. The wearing surfaces of these
removable pieces of iron or its equivalent are made flat for use on ploughed or soft
land, and ridge like or knife-edged for use on frozen or slippery ground. The
wearing pieces are exchangeable, so that a horse may be rough shod in a few
minutes by witlidrawing the bolts, removing the flat plates, and replacing them by
the knife edged pieces which are then locked in place by the bolts as before.
The Invention relates secondly to means for preventing the concussion of the
hoof on hard roads from injuriously affecting the horse, and consists in attaching
to a shoe plate formed with sockets as above described. a second or outer plate of
iron of a contour corresponding exactly to the plate attached to the hoof, a layer
of rubber, or equivalent elastic substance fitted with downwardly projecting pads
or cushions being previously interposed between the two metal portions of the
composite shoe.
The outer plate or "keeper" is slotted to allow the rubber or other elastic pads
to protrude, and it has studs or dowels which enter the sockets in the inner shoe
plate and in which they are secured by the transverse bolts above named. The
studs or dowels have elongated slots for the passage of the bolts, by which means
direct metallic contact of the two halves is obviated and the elasticity of the

page_text: composite shoe is ensured. The force with which the foot strikes the ground is
deadened by the projecting rubber pads, and when the metal touches the ground
the layer of rubber absorbs a great portion of the jarring.
The lower or outer metal part of this composite shoe may be provided in some
cases with the roughened surfaces in front and rear; or into sockets or chambers
formed therein short tufts of iron wire, or bristles may be inserted, and melting
pitch be used to firmly embed them: transverse bolts serving as before to secure
this durable semi-elastic gripping block in place.
For shoes of cheaper construction one piece of metal may be used and the rubber
other non slipping material may be fitted in sections within deep grooves or
channels formed in its underside, the said rubber being retained in place by metal
cross bars, and transverse bolts or pins. The bristle or its equivalent set on end
and embedded in pitch forms an elastic gripping surface of extraordinary
durability, especially applicable for use on asphalte and wooden pavements.
I would remark that I have found that jute, hemp, manilla and similar fibrous
materials preferably twisted or plaited and combined with pitch or its equivalent,
form an elastic block of great durability for use in my composite and other horse
shoes, but its gripping power is inferior to that of the bristles.
I have also found that cane and horn such as the horn derived from ox hoofs
form a cheap gripping block of great durability and efficiency.
When used for gripping blocks in my composite horse shoes the cane or horn
inny be secured in position by means of a keeper of metal, or by bars and trans-
verse split pins as above described, and the semi elastic properties of these
substances are of great value in such a combination.
The two metallic portions of the composite shoe may be united by means of
U-shaped spring staples, in lieu of split pins, their spring sides being formed with
slight projections to snap into corresponding depressions in the upper and lower
halves of the shoe.
The toe part of the composite shoe should be of iron, or steel, drilled or recessed
to receive anti-slipping blocks blocks, or fillings of one or more of the materials
above named.
The Invention relates thirdly to improved means for attaching the shoes, such as
those above described to horses hoofs, whether they have become diseased so that
nails cannot be used, or otherwise.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I take advantage of the conical shape
of the hoof to attach the shoe by means of a strap or band of ribbon steel, or its
equivalent, tightened upon the hoof by a screw, or equivalent device. The front of
the shoe is fitted with a raised sloping flange or toe piece, and the rear part has
side pieces hinged or otherwise secured, to which the ends of the steel ribbon are
attached by screws. On releasing the screws the chain or band may be loosened,
and the shoe withdrawn from the hoof. The side pieces may have their top edges
bent and serrated the better to grip the rear part of the hoof, and gripping studs
may be fitted to the rear part thereof to make the fastening secure. The steel band
or chain is held down in front and sides by one or more clips secured to the front
flanged portion, and sides of the shoe.
A guard plate at rear connecting the hinged side pieces may also be advisable to
prevent cutting.

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 the 6th July
1882.
JAMES VERNON of Newton Stewart Scotland
SHOES AND IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE
My improvements in horse shoes relate to means for preventing slipping and for
diminishing the injurious jarring produced by the concussion of the hoof on hard
roads and also to improved means for attaching these improved shoes to the hoof
without the use of nails when desired
In Fig 1 Sheet I of the accompanying Drawing I have shewn in inverted plan
view a composite horse shoe constructed according to my Invention and having an
elastic or semi elastic gripping surface of great durability
In this Figure A is a metal shoe intended to be attached to the horses hoof in
the usual manner by nails, holes for which are shewn at a
Fig; 2 shows the shoe in section on the line 1. 2 of Fig 2 The metal shoe it
will be seen is recessed on its underside to receive pads of rubber B B one of which
pads is shown in detached plan and side views at Figures 3. The ends of the
rubber pads B are shaped as at b to fit under projecting parts a² of the metal shoe
and having been sprung into their recesses are secured in place by transverse bars
or keepers of metal which are provided with studs or dowels fitting into sockets
in the metal shoe A, locking pins C passing transversely through both the shoe and
the studs or dowels on the bars a These pins C have preferably split spring
heads to prevent their working loose
The upper part of the rubber pad B or that which lies within she recessed metal
shoe is preferably of hard vulcanized rubber or is stiffened by a strip of steel
embedded therein during manufacture
I have found this is an effective means of preventing the rubber pads when once
sprung into place from working or being forced out of their recesses
The under or downward parts of the rubber pad B are of softer rubber and
project beyond the surface of the metal shoe A thereby greatly diminishing the
jarring effect of rough and hard roads and affording a good grip on smooth
pavements such as asphalte and wood when partially dry
In order however to give a better foothold or grip I further recess the under
side of the metal shoe in front and rear and fit therein gripping blocks D formed of
short tufts of iron wire or bristles but preferably the latter set on end and firmly
embedded in pitch
The downward surfaces of these gripping blocks D are on a level with the soft
rubber surfaces and possess valuable semi-elastic and non-slipping qualities suitable
for use on greasy snooth and hard pavements
These blocks of bristle or wire and pitch may be secured in place by transverse
bolts or locking pins similar to those shown at C or the recess may be undercut so
as to retain the mass of bristles securely when the pitch is firmly set
For shoes of a better class I make each shoe in two parts the upper part A¹ being
attached to the hoof in the ordinary manner by nails or screws as shown in the
inverted plan view Fig: 4 Sheet II and having sockets formed therein for attaching
to it a second or outer plate of iron of a contour corresponding exactly to the plate
attached to the hoof a layer of rubber leather or equivalent elastic or semi elastic
substance being interposed between the two plates of metal forming the shoe-The
outer plate of metal is recessed or slotted on its under side to receive the elastic
gripping blocks and these may consist as in the first described arrangement of
rubber pads projecting beyond the surface of the outer metal plate in which case

page_text: they will be formed in one with the layer of rubber situato between the two parts
of the shoe as will be well understood and will project through slots cut right
through the outer plate. The other parts of the outer plate in this double shoe
may be furnished with gripping blocks of pitch and bristles or wire set on end in
the manner and for the purpose already set forth.
In Figures 5 and 6 Sheet II I have shown in side elevation and inverted plan
view a composite double shoe the outer plate of which is however fitted with a semi-
elastic gripping surface of even superior quality to that above described as regards
durability and cheapness-As already explained the upper part of the shoe A¹ is
attached to the hoof by nails see Fig: 4 and the detachable lower or outer part A
is connected to it by sockets and dowels a³ and transverse locking pins C, a layer of
rubber B having been previously interposed between the two plates A' and A-
Instead however of downwardly projecting rubber pads or gripping blocks of bristles
and pitch I use blocks E of a dense horny substance such as that derived from ox
hoof fitting them in place and securing them by bars or keepers of metal with studs
or dowels and transverse locking pins C in the manner already explained with
reference to the rubber pads in Fig 1
And instead of the blocks of bristles and pitch I use roughened or serrated toe
and heel pieces of iron F F which overlap the ends of the blocks of horny
substance E and serve to retain them securely in place. This will be clearly seen
on reference to the inverted plan view Fig 6 and the detached views Figures 7,
8 and Sa Sb the former showing the shape of the block of horn and the latter three
being plan section and edge views of the serrated metal heel and toe pieces
respectively and their studs or dowels
I would remark that the blocks of ox-hoof or equivalent horny substance E
may be substituted for the rubber pads B of Fig: 1 and I do not confine myself to
the method described of fastening in place such blocks of horny substance.
It should also be observed that in the case of the double shoe the studs or dowels
such as a³ above referred to have elongated slots for the passage of the transverse
bolts or pins C thus utilizing the elasticity of the rubber placed between the two
halves or plates and preventing direct metallic contact
The semi-elastic properties and extremely close texture of the ox hoof are of
great value for the purposes above named and by the terms born and ox-hoof I
would explain that I do not mean the comparatively brittle fibrous outer portions
of the hoof but the close grained central portion af the oxhoof or horny substances
of this description
The two metallic portions of the composite shoe may be united by means of
U shaped spring stables their spring sides being formed with slight projections to
snap into corresponding depressions in the upper and lower halves of the composite
double shoe
My Invention also relates to improved means for attaching the shoes such as
these above described to horses hoofs without the use of nails whether the hoofs
are diseased or sound I am aware that many previous attempts have been made
to effect this purpose but hitherto they have met with little or no success
In Figures 9 10 11 and 12 Sheet III I have shown in plan side and front
elevation and inverted plan view respectively one of my improved shoes thus fitted
to be secured to the hoof without the use of nails
In these Figures A' is the upper plate of the shoe next to the hoof and A is the
lower plate fitted with semi elastic gripping surfaces of ox-hoof rivetted to the
metal or with pegs of horn inserted tightly into holes drilled therein The under
shoe A is connected with the upper part A¹ by dowels as secured in sockets by
transverse split pins C which cannot work loose, a layer of leather or rubber or
equivalent elastic substance being interposed between the two metal parts of the
shoc
The upper part of the shoe A¹ next the hoof is furnished with a raised sloping
flange or toe piece A2 and A3 A3 are side pieces to which the rear ends of the two
halves of the metal strap or band A' of ribbon steel are respectively hinged at A³

page_text: The forward ends of the two halves of the strap A are fitted with eyes one or
both of which are internally throaded to receive a screw bolt A having a square
head for a key to fit onto-The bolt A° also passes through an eye formed in a
partition in the middle of a socket A7 formed on the upper end of the toe piece A³
and when the forward ends of the strap A' are drawn together by turning the
screw bolt, they will closely abut against the partition one on either side thereof
and be protected from injury by the rounded surface of the socket A7. On releasing
the screw the band may be loosened and the shoe be withdrawn from the hoof-The
rear pieces A³ are fixed, as it has been found, that great firmness in this part of the
shoe is essential to bear the backward thrust given to the hoof by the tightening up
of the strap or band A' and by thus making these rear pieces fixed instead of
hinged the supplementary gripping studs which originally proposed to use for
this purpose are no longer necessary-The inside of these rear abutment pieces is
preferably buffed with leather or its equivalent and the inuer face of the metal
strap is similarly buffed
To still further diminish shock to the horse when on rough ground I fit pads of
rubber B into the upper surface of the upper metal plate A' as shown in Fig: 9 and
in order to reduce the strain on the strap A as much as possible I provide one or
nore side pieces as at As having hooked or projecting heads with which the strap A*
will engage These side pieces A³ I attach to the shoe A¹ by bent extensions which
fit into slots or recesses formed in the shoe A'
"
In some cases I propose to connect the rear pieces A³ by a guard plate not
shown in the Drawing to prevent "cutting It will be understood that the lower
surface of the lower shoe A may be fitted with elastic gripping surfaces of rubber
combined with blocks of bristles and pitch as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 or with the
gripping pieces of iron combined with tho semi-elastic blocks of ox-hoof described
with reference to Figures 5 and 6: or the iron gripping pieces may be combined
with the bristles and pitch or in some cases the blocks of bristles and pitch or wire
and pitch may be used alone to form the semi-clastic gripping surfaces being fitted
to the lower shoe and retained therein by the means previously described
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Horse
Shoes and in Means for Attaching the same" and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I claim
First A horse-shoe fitted with semi-elastic gripping blocks of bristles and pitch
or wire and pitch either alone or in combination with elastic pads of rubber as and
for the purpose herein above set forth
Secondly A horse-shoe fitted with seni elastic-gripping blocks or pegs of ox-hoof
or equivalent horny substance either alone or in combination with serrated metallic
gripping pieces, rubber pads or blocks of bristle and pitch substantially as and for
the purpose above set forth
Thirdly The use of the dense semi-elastic horny substance derived from ox hoofs
or an equivalent horny substance as a non-slipping facing for horse shoes
Fourthly The means above described with reference to the Drawings for securely
attaching horse shoes to hoofs
In witness whereof I the said James Vernon have hereunto set my hand and
seal the Third day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.