IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE SHOES OF HORSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Ingram, of Store Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Cabdriver, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
APPLICABLE TO THE SHOES OF HORSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert "Ingram at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st February 1881.
ROBERT INGRAM, of Store Street, in the County of Middlesex, Cabdriver.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE SHOES OF HORSES."
My Invention relates to improved means for the roughing of the shoes of horses
or mules to prevent slipping, and further to the adjustment in the rough of a
suitable substance to prevent such slipping on asphalte or other slippery surface.
My apparatus consists of a plate of any suitable material, which fits loosely into
the shoe or frog of the horse's hoof. This plate is fitted with any desired number
and shape of roughs at the top of the shoe and at the heel, and they are securely
fixed to the plate.
The heel edge of the plate is preferably turned down towards the ground to form
a holding jaw for the back rough or roughing substance, and is fitted with a stud
which passes through a hole in a loose plate forming the other jaw, and in a
similarly turned down edge of a tongue which slides on the upper surface of the
shoe in suitable guides.
When a nut which fits the before described stud is tightened up outside the edge
of the upper sliding plate and tongue, it brings the two turned down edges of the
roughing plate and sliding plate forcibly together, and thus pushes the sliding
tongue outwards beyond the toe of the roughing plate, so as to fix itself between
the shoe and the hoof.
Two studs or bosses are also firmly secured on the underside and towards the
heel of the roughing plate, and are fitted with set screws which havo their points
outward, and pointing on each side towards the rear of the hoof at about an angle
of 120° with the toe. By screwing up these set screws their points may be
firmly pressed on the inside of the shoe at an angle, as described.
D
31

page_text: The whole roughing plate is thus simply and securely fixed in the hoof of the
horse, and is a perfect preventive against slipping when provided with roughs.
The upper and inner surface of the roughing plate may be padded with gutta
percha or other suitable material to fit the under surface of the horse's hoof.
A bar of suitable material, such as gutta percha or steel, may be secured between
the two turned down edges of the roughing and sliding plates, as before described,
to give the hoof a sure footing on slippery surfaces, such as that of asphalte, or in
frosty weather.
The roughs are preferably screwed into the roughing plates, so that washers may
be put between them and the plate to raise any rough, as desired.
When the roughs are not required they may be removed from the roughing plate,
and a pad of gutta percha, leather, or other suitable substance may be fixed by
screws on to the lower surface of the roughing plate.
A single short wrench or spanner may be made to fit the different nuts and
set screws by jaws at each end, so as to be all that is required for adjustinent or
removal.
When the frog of the horse nearly touches the ground, I make my roughing
plate with a central opening in which the frog may fit. In such case I use two
sliding tongues on the upper or under surface of the roughing plate instead of ono
as before. These tongues can be forced between the hoof and the shoe by a similar
stud screwed in a turned down edge of the roughing plate, as before.
The side set screws in this case conveniently terminate in spikes, which may be
bent above the edge of the roughing plate so as to fix themselves between the hoof
and the shoe. These set screws now fit loosely in the holes of the studs fixed to
the roughing plate, and are forced into place by a nut on the screw between the
point and the fixed stud.
When the heel rough only is required, the plate roughs may be removed and
plain studs can be inserted to guard the holes and keep them free from dirt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Ingram in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th July
1881.
ROBERT INGRAM, of Store Street, in the County of Middlesex, Cabdriver.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE SHOES OF HORSES."
My Invention relates to improved means for the roughing of the shoes of horses
or mules to prevent slipping, and further to the adjustment of suitable substances
to prevent such slipping on wood pavements, asphalte, or other slippery surface.
My apparatus consists of a plate of any suitable material, by preference hollowed
out so as to form a bent bar of horse shoe shape which fits closely into the shoe or
frog of the horse's hoof. This plate is fitted with any desired number and shape of
roughs at the top of the shoe, and at the heel, and they are securely fixed to the
plate.
The heel edge of the plate is preferably turned down towards the ground to form
a holding jaw for the back rough or roughing substance, and is fitted with two
screws with nuts which pass through two holes in a loose plate of a rectangular
shape, forming the other jaw. This I find preferable to using an elongated tongue
attached to the back jaw, and sliding on the upper surface of the shoe in suitable
guides.
When the two nuts which fit the before described screws are tightened up
outside the edge of the rectangular heel jaw, the whole plate, after being placed
in the hoof, is securely fixed, and at the same time the heel roughing jaw is
tightened up so as to clench the loose roughing substance.
Instead of two studs or bosses, and the sliding tongue before referred to, for
fixing the roughing plate, I prefer to use three screwed studs with tongues, one at
the top and the others one on each sido towards the heel. These may be screwed
up by a spanner so as to drive in the tongue between the shoe and the hoof, and
thus firmly secure the roughing plate.
The whole roughing plate is thus simply and securely fixed in the hoof of the
horse, and is a perfect preventive against slipping when provided with roughs.
The upper and inner surface of the roughing plate may be padded with gutta
percha or other suitable material to fit the under surface of the horse's hoof.
A bar of suitable material, such as gutta percha, india rubber, steel, or any other
substance, may be secured between the two turned down edges of the roughing
plates forming the heel jaw before described, to give the hoof a sure footing on
slippery surfaces, forming a drag.
The roughs are preferably screwed into the roughing plate, or secured by little
bolts and nuts, and washers may be put between them and the plate to raise any
rough as desired. .
When the roughs are not required they may be removed from the roughing
plate, and a pad of gutta-percha, leather, or other suitable substance, may be fixed
by screws or clamps on to the lower surface of the roughing plate.
A single short wrench or spanner may be made to fit the different nuts and set
screws by jaws at each end, so as to do all that is required for adjustment or
removal.
When the frog of the horse or mule touches or approaches closely to the ground
the hollowing out or central open space in the roughing plate allows the frog to
project through, and the back rectangular heel plate may be dispensed with, so as
to leave no pressure on such a frog.
In this, as in all cases, I find it preferable in practice to use a tongue or spikes
for fixing the roughing plate attached to the end of each of the set screws, fitted
both to that at the toe and to those at the sides, so bent as to conveniently fix
themselves between the hoof and the shoe.

page_text: When the heel rough only is required the plato roughs may be removed, and
plain studs can be inserted to guard the holes and keep them free from dirt.
I so form the roughs that they project beyond the edge of the roughing plate,
and thus come underneath the shoo itself.
And in order that my Invention may be the better understood I now proceed
to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
Like letters refer to similar parts in each of the Figures.
Fig. 1 shows an under plan and side elevation of my improved roughing plate
with heel plate and toe roughs attached.
Fig. 2 shows it in under plan and side elevation with both toe and heel roughs
without a heel plate or drag; Fig. 3 shows details of the fixing studs, the rough,
and the heel plates.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A is the roughing plate which fits inside the iron shoe, the
centre of the roughing plate being left open to allow the frog to project through if
needful; B is the heel plate which is fastened to the turned down ends C of the
roughing plate by means of the screws D, D. Two drags of steel and india-
rubber E, E, may be placed between the jaws B, C, of the heel piece, all shown in
detail in Fig. 3, and securely held by the tightening of the screws D, D.
F, F, are the two toe roughs, shown in detail in Fig. 3, secured in place by the
bolts G, G. The roughing plate is fixed into the shoe L by the three set screws
and tongues or spikes H, H.
In Fig. 2, the heel plate is dispensed with, and heel roughs K, K, are fitted in its
place.
In Fig. 3, H is a detail of the set screw and tongue or spike for fixing the
roughing plate in place; F, F, are an clevation and plan of the rough; B, B, are
two views of the heel piece, and E shows the "drag" or packing piece to be placed
in the heel jaw.
And having now fully described and ascertained the nature and object of my
Invention, and the manner in which it is to be performed, be it known that
I do not wish to confine myself to the exact form or material of the roughs herein
described; but that what I consider novel and 'useful, and desire to protect by my
Letters Patent is,―
1st. A plate provided with roughs capable of being readily fixed into or detached
from the shoe of a horse or mule, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
2nd. The combination of set screws and tongues or spikes which may be forced
between the shoe and hoof with my improved roughing plate, substantially as
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
3rd. The combination of a heel piece or drag fitted with packing pieces suitable
to the weather or road, with my improved roughing plate, substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Ingram, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentyeth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In the presence of
SAM. P. WILDING,
23, Rood Lane, E.C.,
Patent Agent.
ROBERT INGRAM. (L.S.)