IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC HOSE STOCKINGS FOR HORSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of 9, Southampton Buildings,
London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC HOSE STOCKINGS
FOR HORSES."-A communication from abroad by William Lewis and
David Tier Way, of Astona, in the County of Queens, and State of
New York, North America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Benson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 27th April 1872, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARTIN
BENSON, of 9, Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ELASTIC HOSE STOCKINGS FOR HORSES," and have-petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that
the same is a communication to me from abroad by William Lewis and

page_text: David Tier Way, of Astoná, in the County of Queens, and State of New
York, North America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Martin Benson, do hereby
declare that the following Completo Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and |
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement:-
-
This Invention relates to elastic perforated stockings applied to the
ankles and legs of horses, especially trotting and racing horses or to all
horses liable to be put to excessive strains of the muscles of the legs, to
support and confine the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and prevent
them from being overstrained or sprained, and it consists of an elastic
india-rubber stocking moulded to fit the part of the leg of a horse to
which it is to be applied, and ribbed and stiffened by pads to prevent
sagging and slipping down at the top and perforated to permit the
escape of perspiration.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved stocking fitted as an
anklet, and Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same taken on the line x x
of Fig. 1. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A is a stocking or anklet of strong elastic vulcanized india-rubber or
other suitable substances shaped suitably to fit the leg from the top of
the hoof to a point about half way to the knee joint. The said stocking
is provided with holes for a lacet B to draw and secure it more or less
snugly as may be required, or it may have straps or buckles, or be
secured by some other suitable device. It is provided with numerous
perforations C to allow the matters exuding from the pores of the skin
to pass off and escape. The outer surface of the stocking is provided
with several ribs D, running from the upper to the lower end to stiffen
it longitudinally, and prevent it from working down at the top as it
would otherwise do under the violent action of the horse when trotting
or running. It is also desirable to produce extra support to the tendons
of the leg at the point of their attachment above the ankle, and the
reinforce pads E are therefore place on the side of the stocking over
said tendons, and extending from the ankle to the top of the stocking as
shewn. These pads also serve to stiffen the stocking, and aid the ribs D
in preventing it from sagging or wrinkling down at the top. The
reinforce pads E are to be located at such points as may be necessary to

page_text: accomplish their purpose, when the stocking is fitted for any other part
of the leg than that described. They should be of thickness and strength.
adapted to the condition or power of the animal to which they are
applied.
I am aware that stockings for horses have heretofore been made
of elastic material perforated and laced up in front; such stockings
have been made uniform in thickness and elasticity throughout, and
under the violent action of fast trotting or running they always wrinkle
and sag down from the top. Being uniformly elastic, the pressure
would be either too great for those parts not liable to be overstrained,
or too little to be beneficial to those parts liable to injury from over-
straining. I am not aware that either of these defects have been
obviated by placing ribs up and down the stocking to prevent wrinkling
and sugging, nor with stiffening or reinforcing by pads to produce extra
pressure at certain points as required.