IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Kimber, of West Dulwich, in the County of
"
Surrey, Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES."
A communication from abroad by Luther Hart Bellamy, of Brockville,
Ontario, Canada.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Kimber at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd November 1881.
EDWARD KIMBER, of West Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES." [A communication from abroad by Luther
Hart Bellamy, of Brockville, Ontario, Canada.]
My Invention relates to horse-shoes constructed in a novel and peculiar manner,
as hereinafter described, whereby many of the evils arising from the ordinary
shoeing of horses are prevented.
The said Invention consists in the combination with a horse-shoe (which may
be of the usual form) of a spring bar or spring sole, which is welded or otherwise
securely fixed to the front or toe of the shoe and extends under the frog to the
heel. The rear or heel end of this spring bar is free and lies between the two sides
of the heel of the shoe, and it is so formed and arranged that when not subjected
to pressure, that is to say, when the horse raises his foot from the ground, its lower
surface is below that of the shoe, so that when the horse puts his foot to the
ground the said end of this spring bar meets the same before the other part of the
shoe and is pressed upward toward the frog, thus giving to the horse a very elastic
and easy tread.
I prefer that the said spring-sole, and in some cases the entire shoe, should be
formed of steel, and that at the heel end the said spring sole should be wider than
at its other portions. The said shoe may be provided with blunt or sharp points
if desired to prevent slipping, and may be secured on the hoof in the ordinary
manner with nails or by other suitable means.
By this Invention I provide a horse-shoe which ensures that every part of the
foot shall bear its due share of the animal's weight. The natural action of the
foot is preserved, the frog is rendered pliable, and is completely protected by
the said spring sole, and at each step receives the required pressure to maintain
the proper form of the foot. The action of the said spring-sole prevents over-
reaching; it also prevents balling and slipping.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Kimber in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1882.
EDWARD KIMBER, of West Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES." A communication from abroad by Luther
Hart Bellamy, of Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
My Invention relates to horse shoes constructed in a novel and peculiar manner,
as hereinafter described.
It is well known that the effect of the ordinary shoeing of horses is to change
the natural action of the foot by elevating the frog from the ground, thereby
producing a narrow elongated foot and causing the horse to travel with a short
cramped step.
But according to this Invention I produce horse-shoes which afford complete
protection of the weight-bearing portion of the foot against the effects of undue
wear and concussion on hard surfaces, and which ensure the proper distribution
of the weight on the different parts of the foot, the maintenance of the natural
form, position, and action of the latter, and the prevention of the serious evils
arising from the ordinary shoeing of horses.
The said Invention consists in a horse-shoe (which may be of the usual form)
provided with a central spring-bar or spring frog-protector, which is welded or
otherwise securely fixed at the front or toe of the shoe, preferably to an inwardly
projecting flange or lip thereon, and extends therefrom to the heel in such a
position that when placed on the horse's foot it will lie under the frog thereof. The
rear or heel end of this spring-bar or frog-protector is free and lies between
projections on the two sides of the heel of the shoe, and it is so formed and
arranged that when not subjected to pressure, that is to say, when raised from the
ground, its lower surface is below that of the body of the shoe, so that when the
horse puts his foot down the said end of this spring-bar comes in contact with the
ground before the other parts of the shoe, and its yielding resistance as it is
pressed upward toward the frog thus gives to the horse a very elastic and easy
tread.
Moreover, as the said spring bar is so arranged as to protect the frog from undue
wear, and at the same time subject it to the required pressure to enable it to keep
the foot in proper form and condition, it permits the same action of the foot on an
artificial road as it would have if unshod on natural ground, and I avoid the
necessity for excessive and injudicious paring or cutting of any part of the foot.
The construction and effect of my improved horse shoe will be clearly understood
by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a plan or top view.
Figure 2, a longitudinal section on the line x, x, Figure 1 ; and
Figure 3, an elevation of the rear or heel of the shoe.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The shoe proper or body a may be constructed in any convenient manner either
with or without the lip or flange b, and preferably with the heel projections c
formed thereon, as shown. The frog-protector or spring-sole d is secured to the
said lip or flange or otherwise, and extends therefrom to and between the said
projections.
"
I prefer that the said spring-sole d, and in some cases the entire shoe, should be
formed of steel, and that at the heel end the said spring-sole should be wider than
at its other portions, as shown in Figure 1. The said shoe may be provided with
studs or points if desired to prevent slipping.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I do not claim or limit myself to any particular
shape or dimensions of the various parts of my improved horse-shoe nor any special
method of manufacture of the same, but I claim,-
A horse-shoe, consisting of the shoe proper or body a with or without the lip
or flange b and the projections c, and provided with the spring or elastic bar or
frog-protector d, constructed and arranged substantially as set forth and for the
purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Kimber, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
EDWARD KIMBER. (L.S.)