IMPROVE- MENTS IN HORSE SHOES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Vanderkerken, Blacksmith and Joseph Mans
of Brussels Belgium, Veterinary Surgeon for an invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HORSE SHOES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Vanderkerken
& Joseph Mans at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May
1882.
AUGUSTUS VANDERKERKEN, Blacksmith, and JOSEPH MANS of Brussels, Belgium,
Veterinary Surgeon 'IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES."
"
The object of this Invention is to provide shoes for horses and other draught
animals, by the use of which the slipping on the pavements and the consequent
straining of the muscles, abrasions, and other inconveniences attendant upon falling
will be avoided.
To this end we so construct our improved horse shoes that the greater portion
of the wearing surface may be of india rubber or other suitable elastic material.
In carrying out our Invention we prefer to cast the shoe leaving on its under
face two grooves, a narrow one half round the shoe and near the outer edge
thereof to receive the nails, and a wider one following the contour of the shoe to
receive the india rubber.
The walls of the narrow groove are splayed to allow space for the heads of the
nails, but the walls of the wider groove incline inwards the groove being dove tail
shaped in cross section, so that when the india rubber is pressed therein it will be
securely held.
The india rubber we employ will be vulcanized, but other elastic compounds
capable of being vulcanized may be employed.
By the use of horse shoes constructed as above described not only the danger of
the animal slipping is avoided, but an elastic tread is provided which will greatly
relieve the animal when at work,

page_text: י
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Augustus Vanderkerken & Joseph Mans in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th November 1882.
AUGUSTUS VANDERKERKEN Blacksmith and JOSEPH MANS of Brussels Belgium
Veterinary Surgeon "IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES"
Our Invention consists in the application of a cord or thick strip of india-rubber
or caoutchouc, gutta percha or equivalent elastic material in a groove or channel
formed around the entire under face of the shoe.
The india-rubber gutta percha or its equivalent is held fast in the said groove or
channel in such a manner that it forms a pad or swelling which projects beyond
the edges of the groove in the under face of the shoe. This elastic pad or cushion
prevents the animal from slipping upon any surface whatever during any exercises
through which it may be put.
This novel system of shoeing is practical and advantageous and offers no more
difficulty in attaching the shoe to the foot of the animal than shoes of the ordinary
construction, that is to say, the nail holes and the grooves for the reception of the
heads of the nails are arranged in such a manner that the nails can be correctly
driven through the desired thickness of the walls of the hoof without penetrating
the sole of the foot and can moreover be well clinched.
Besides this the shoe is fitted with the india-rubber or caoutchouc before it is
fixed to the animal's foot, and the india-rubber is so firmly secured in the groove
that it can never be forced out of the groove by any efforts made by the animal.
In order to attain all these ends, we arrange and manufacture our shoe as
indicated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig: 1 represents the under-
surface of the shoe, and Fig: 2 a transverse vertical section of the same.
B is the groove or channel which receives the nail holes and the nails As is
seen in the sectional view, the said groove or channel is of a conical shape or
splayed in cross section to receive the heads of the nails and is situated at the
outer edge of the shoe, which permits of the shoe being nailed to the foot of the
horse or other animal under quite as favourable conditions as an ordinary shoe.
The inner groove or channel A is situated just inside the channel B so that the
rib or wall b is common to both channels, and the innermost wall a of the shoe
forms the boundary of the channel A on the other side. It is this channel or
groove A. which receives the filling of india-rubber.
The shoe of malleable metal is cast in such a manner that the walls a. and b. are
perpendicular to the lower surface of the shoe, and the channel A. is consequently
of rectangular section as shewn at the left hand of Fig: 2. The band or cord of
india-rubber is then inserted into this channel so as to completely fill it with the
elastic substance. Then by means of a stamp or die or other suitable apparatus
the side walls a and b of the channel A are forced inwards so that this channel
will take the dove-tail or trapeziform section shewn at the right hand of Fig: 2.
By this compression the india-rubber is slightly bulged out on the underside of
the shoe and forms a pad; at the same time it is so securely held in the channel of
the shoe that no effort will be able to remove it from the channel.
By this arrangement we obtain the following results viz:
a. The firm or solid application of a cord or band of vulcanized india-rubber or
equivalent elastic medium forming a pad or cushion all round the entire underside
of the shoe.
b. The ready application or removal of the shoe thus furnished with india-rubber
to or from the foot of the animal.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Horse
Shoes" and explained the manner of carrying it into effect We claim.
First; Constructing non-slipping shoes for horses and other animals in the
manner and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
Secondly; In a shoe for horses or other animals the channel, A, filled with india-
rubber, in combination, with the splayed or dovetail groove, B, for the nail holes
and nails, as and for the purpose described.
Thirdly The shoe as and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof We the said Augustus Vanderkerken and Joseph Mans
have hereunto set our hands and seals the twenty first day of September
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
AUGUSTUS VANDERKERKEN. (L.S.)
JOSEPH MANS.
(L.S.)