IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE-SHOES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE JOHN HARCOURT, of 30, West Mall, Clifton,. in the County of
Gloucester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HORSE-SHOES," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and the drawings therein referred to :—
This invention which relates to the construction of shoes for the fore feet of
hoises consists, according to one method of performing the same, in building up a
shoe as follows. The lower face consists of a plate of iron or steel shaped to
correspond with the conformation of a horse's hoof and divided into three members,
namely, a toepiece and two horns, which may be conveniently called the side
members, extending backwards to the heel. A second plate shaped to agree with
the conformation of the first is superposed upon the latter. It is divided at the
point corresponding to the front of the shoe into two members.
The last mentioned members are rivetted or otherwise rigidly secured to the side
members of the lower plate, and each is connected to the toe-piece thereof by a
hinged joint which may be formed by a rivet or pin. The combined side members
are free to be opened outwards on their hinges in obedience to the growth of the
hoof, or to be moved inwards for refitting. The shoe is secured to the hoof by nails
in the usual manner.
To assist in the further reduction of concussion transmitted
to the horse, which is effected by the construction of the shoe in two layers, a pad
or cushion of india-rubber, cloth or other suitable material may be inserted between
the metal layers.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and the
figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig: 1 on the accompanying sheet of drawings represents a plan of the upper
face of a shoe constructed in accordance with one method of carrying my said
invention into practical effect. Fig: 2, is a side elevation. The plate which lies
undermost in the shoe is divided to form three members, namely, the toe-piece A¹
and the side members A. The toepiece A' and the side members A are provided,
as ordinarily, with clips a¹. The upper plate B is divided above the toe-piece A¹
to form two members. The side members A of the lower face are rivetted at b to
the two members of the plate B, and the members A, A and B, B, thus bound
together, are pivotted or hinged by the rivets b to the toe piece A¹. The rivets are
countersunk and retain their hold as the heads are worn away,

page_text: The combined members A, A and B, B which are preferably made thicker
towards the heel, are free to opon outwards on the hinges & in obedience to the
growth of the horse's hoof, and while in place. Or they may bo moved inwards
for refitting, if desired. Extension of the shoe with the growth of the hoof onables
a horse to travel without the discomfort and liability to disease consequent upon
the use of rigid shoes.
A pad o of india rubber, cloth, or other suitable material is inserted between tho
two layers or plates A and B to assist in the further reduction of concussion
transmitted to the horse which is effected by the use of the double shoe. When
the shoe is not fitted with the pad c, the members A, A and B, B are preferably
simply welded together at the heel instead of being rivetted at that point. The
shoe is secured to the hoof by nails passed through the nail holes e the positions of
which differ in the right and left hand shoes to admit of interchange. If
constructed in steel, the shoo may be made lighter and more durable than if
of iron.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
=
Constructing horse shoes of the divided plates A and B bound together and
arranged one over the other, with or without the intervening pad c, and pivotted
on the toe-piece A', substantially as hereinbefore described and shown upon the
'accompanying sheet of drawings, and for the purposes specified.