Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1897-Accepted, 21st Aug., 1897
I CHARLES EDWARD SHELDON, of Akron, Summit County, Ohio, United States
of America, General Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and'in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings.
My invention relates to elastic tread or cushioned horse shoes and its object is
to form a shoe with pads adapted to prevent slipping and to allow the horse to
stand upon so much of his frog as he would stand upon in a natural unshod state,
while allowing perfect ventilation for the sole and keeping it accessible. The frog of
the hoof is a natural elastic pad tending to prevent slipping, but the ordinary
method of shoeing raises the frog from the ground and thus tends to nullify its
action. My invention restores this action, giving the horse a more natural tread,
with more security against slipping or straining, and by preserving the normal
function of the frog and giving it proper exercise obviates evils which frequently
cause lameness.
My invention consists of a shoe having at the heel thereof elastic pads extending
from the frog of the hoof and affording an elastic support thereto.
Heretofore elastic tread horse shoes have been made, but they have not, so far as
I am aware, had pads adapted either to effectually prevent slipping or to allow
the horse to stand upon a portion of his frog. I am also aware that pads covering
the under surface of the hoof and having elastic material on their under side ex-
tending across the frog have been applied independently of the shoe. These pads
are objectionable in various ways. Among the disadvantages, it may be mentioned
that they are inaccessible for the purpose of cleaning, liable to accumulate gravel
and filth within the sole and cause irritation or to prevent free circulation of the
air and induce thrush. They also have the disadvantage that a different sized pad
is required for each different size of hoof.
The drawing shows my invention having my improved manner of constructing and
applying the pads. Figure 1 is a bottom view of my improved horse shoe, com-
plete; Figure 2 is a top view of the same, partially in section; Figure 3 is an
elevation of the same; and Figure 4 is a top view of the metallic frame on which
the shoe is formed. Similar letters of reference designate similar parts in each
figure
To the upper and lower surfaces of a metallic frame A, preferably of steel, are
secured by vulcanizing or in other proper manner, cushions of caoutchouc, or
other elastic material. The frame is provided with recesses B on its top and
bottom which aid in retaining the elastic material in place. Holes C may be made
in the frame to allow the upper and lower cushions to be bound together by their
material passing through the holes. These holes may be omitted, if preferred;
and while I prefer to have both the upper and lower surfaces of the frame sub-
stantially covered by the elastic cushions, some portions of these cushions may be
omitted while retaining material parts of my invention. At the heel of the frame,
on the upper side, are preferably placed thin plates D of steel or other suitable

page_text: the
material. These plates have holes through them, as shown, and are firmly held in
place by the elastic material which is forced through those holes in the process of
manufacture. At the heel of the shoe extend the cushion inward to form the
pads G. These pads are preferably made integral with the rest of the cushions,
being of caoutchouc or other suitable material, and are reinforced by these plates D.
The pads extend inward sufficiently to cover and support the bulb of the heel,
that is, the portion of the bar and frog upon which the horse would naturally stand,
but do not extend inward far, enough to close the middle crevice or media lacuna
of the frog. They extend vertically somewhat more than the thickness of the
Irame, so as to afford an elastic, tread. The shoe may be shaped cold to fit hoofs
of different contour, and is nailed to wall of the hoof in the usual manner.
To prevent the hoof from cutting the elastic material which is applied on the
upper portion of the frame to cushion the shoe, I provide thin metallic plates E
and at the outer edge of the heel, where the, hoof has the greatest tendency to
cut. These plates are imbedded into the elastic covering sufficiently to have their
top surfaces flush with the covering. The plates D, E and F, or some of them,
might be omitted and the shoe retain many of the advantages of my invention.
I regard it desirable, however, to retain them, as they have material advantages.
In case, however, where the quarter of the hoof is particularly sensitive, it may be
preferable to omit them or cut away the frame somewhat so as to increase the thick-
ness of the cushion at that point. Over the top of the shoe I prefer to attach a piece
of canvas H, but this may also be omitted, if desired!
'
As the horse strikes his toe first and then brings. down the rest of the hoof, it is
evident that there will be much wear upon the toe of the shoe. I therefore cause
the frame to form a steel toe, as shown, and make the amount of extension of the
elastic cushion below the frame of the shoe increase gradually from the steel toe
to the pads. The elastic material is thus distributed according to the wear and is
greatest at that part of the shoe where the wear is least. The durability of the
shoe is thus very materially increased, the steel in the front part of the shoe
reducing the wear to the lowest limit while the pads at the rear continue to serve
until the frame is substantially worn out. This construction also elevates the
heel of the shoe somewhat, which is desirable.
My invention having the pads secured to the heel of the shoe and not extending
continuously from one side to the other, allows the change of shape of the shoe to
fit different sized hoofs, allow the free circulation of the air at all times and
provides for the horse using his foot in the normal way. An unyielding support to
the frog of the hoof is disadvantageous, but the elastic support which my improved
shoe gives restores the natural manner of tread of the foot, strengthens the muscles
of the frog which are apt to otherwise atrophy, and prevents lameness of the horse
resulting from carrying his weight on an unnatural area of the hoof.
My invention is capable of modification from the form shown in the drawing and
hereinbefore specifically. described, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting
myself to the specific features of construction shown except in those claims where
these features are specified."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
- ¦-
...
'
12. An open horse shoe composed of a cushioned metallic frame adapted to support
adapted to bear upon the frogs of the foot and to extend vertically from said frogs
to approximately the plane of the tread of the shoe and afford a direct, elastic
support 'between said frogs and the ground' or floor, for the purposes described.
2. An open horse shoe composed of a cushioned metalic frame adapted to support
the walls of the hoof and having elastic heel pads projecting inward sufficiently to
engage the frogs of the foot, said pads extending vertically beneath said frogs from
approximately the plane of the upper surface of the shoe to approximately 'the
plane of the tread of the shoe, whereby the frogs of the foot are afforded elastic

page_text: vertical support upon the ground through the medium of said pads, for the purposes
described.
3. A horse slioe composed of a metallic frame, thin reinforcing plates extending
inward from the heel thereof and an elastic pad also extending inward from the
heel enveloping said plates and supporting the frog, for the purpose set forth.
4. An open horse shoe having a metallic frame adapted to be nailed to the hoof,
and having imbedded in said frame, so as to form the tread thereof, a body of elastic
material increasing in thickness toward the heel, and flaring inward at the heel
sufficiently to project under the frogs of the foot and afford them elastic vertical
support, for the purposes set forth.
6. A horse shoe composed of a metallic frame and an elastic cushion upon the
upper surface thereof and one or more plates secured to the upper surface of the
cushion and adapted to prevent the hoof from cutting the same, for the purpose
specified.
0. A horse shoe having in combination the frame A, the elastic cushion above
and below said frame and the plates D and E imbedded in said cushions the said
plate D operating to reinforce an extension of said cushions forming an elastic pad,
substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of June 1897.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Nanchester, Chartered Patent Agents.