IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lancaster, of Vine House, Canning Town,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE-SHOES."
Sealed the 2nd April 1874, and dated the 3rd January 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Lancaster at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1874.
I, JOHN LANCASTER, of Vine House, Canning Town, London, do.
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORSE-SHOES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
The outline of the shoe is similar to that now in use, but in order to
prevent slipping or gliding I propose to form the ground face of the
shoe with a groove running nearly round the whole face. I prefer this
groove to be square, but it may have a conical section, the shorter diameter
on the face. The groove instead of being continuous may have walls
or divisions left solid in the shoe so as to divide it into compartments,
and when countersunk to form the substance for holding the shoe nail.

page_text: Into this groove and the several compartments of it I force small blocks
of wood into which is driven iron nails or stubs leaving the heads or ends
projecting; these stub heads form a rough surface and thus prevent the
foot from slipping. When worn out. they can be replaced by fresh
blocks having new stubs.
Instead of the blocks with stubs, blocks with projecting strips of iron
or steel may be used, more especially in the circular portion of the
shoe.
My next improvement consists in attaching to the shoe an artificial
frog, which not only performs the functions of the natural frog, but which
also serves as a medium to prevent slipping. To effect this the ends of
the shoe are formed with a projecting web or seat, preferably trian-
gular in form; the frog is shaped in its posterior portion similar to the
open end of the shoe and is splayed or grooved so as to fit and grasp
the web or flange before described to which it may be loosely fitted.
The frog may be either wholly of wood, or it may be of wood with a
leather under surface, or of wood and india-rubber under surface, or com-
bination of any other materials.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Lancaster in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd July 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
LANCASTER, of Vine House, Canning Town, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Lancaster, Her special
licence that I, the said John Lancaster, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Lancaster, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
HORSE-SHOES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Lancaster, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say:-
The great object of my Invention is by forming the shoe in such a
manner, and by so disposing the materials composing it, as to give a
much greater foothold than at present, and to prevent as much as possible
slipping or gliding upon roadway.
I propose also in some cases by the introduction of an artificial "frog"
attached to the shoe to assist the natural action of the animal in
obtaining foothold where that action has been diminished by the paring
down and partial removal of the natural frog. To carry out these I form
my shoe so as to have an outline similar generally to those now made,
having the ground face of the shoe formed with a groove running round
the greater part of it. This groove may either be rectangular, or on the
sides slightly tapering of a wedge shape, the shorter diameter on the
face. I prefer also that the groove should be divided by walls or divisions
transversely so as to separate it into chambers. Into these divisions I
place small blocks of wood which are secured and prevented from falling
out by having the inner side of the chamber, which is of slighter
material than the outer, hammered or doubled against the wood%;B into
the wood are inserted studs or nails of iron, the heads projecting; these
projecting studs or stubs form a rough surface and prevent the foot from
slipping. When the studs are worn down they are easily replaced by
driving in fresh ones, or by inserting fresh blocks having the studs
already fixed. The studs may in like manner be replaced by transverse
ribs or strips of iron or steel which leave the outer edges projecting.

page_text: :
In the toe of the shoe, that is, in the circular portion, I prefer to use
the blocks with the ribs or strips inserted; the ribs being always fixed
transversely to the foot, so that a series of projecting edges of iron are
as it were placed across the toe, adding greatly to the gripping and
holding power of the foot. When the projecting edges are worn down
they can be replaced by new blocks having the iron ribs inserted.
For the purpose of preventing gliding or slipping on hard smooth
surfaces like asphalt, I propose that some of the blocks of wood should
be replaced by similar blocks of hard india-rubber which shall project
slightly beyond the face of the surface of the shoe. As the projecting
part wears down it can easily be bulged out beyond the iron edge by
wedging it up tighter in the groove.
The next part of my Invention consists in attaching either to shoes
formed as before described, or to any other kind of shoe, an artificial
frog to assist in performing the function of the natural frog where such
has been removed or is prevented from acting by the construction of the
shoe. To effect this the ends of the shoe are formed with a projecting
web or seat which is wedge shape to receive the artificial frog, so that
when in use the slight forward motion of the foot tends to lighten it in
its place; the frog being slipped into this seat is further secured there
by a pin passing through the seat and the face of the frog. I make it of
wood with a leather under surface, or of wood or of a combination of any
other materials.
Having now described my Invention and the way in which it is carried
into effect, I wish it understood that what I claim and desire secured to
me by the before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. The use of blocks of wood or similar material inserted or wedged
within the groove formed either wholly or in part round the face of the
shoe; such said blocks being for the purpose of receiving and holding
nails, studs, or strips of iron or steel, so as to increase the holding or
gripping power of the foot, substantially as herewithin described and set
forth. And also so as to effect the aforesaid purpose and to prevent
slipping or gliding, I claim the insertion within the said groove and in
combination with the said blocks other blocks or pieces of india-rubber,
which by the arrangement specially described can by wedging in
the said groove be made to project or bulge in the outer surface beyond
the surface of the shoe.

page_text: 2. I claim also the use and application of an artificial frog for the
purpose herewithin described where the arrangement by which the said
frog is affixed to the shoe and retained in its place by the natural action
of the foot.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lancaster, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.