Improvements in Hoor Pads and Horse Shoes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
Improvements in Hoor Pads and Horse Shoes.
1, LUTHER HALL BELLAMY, residing at No. 5 East 115th Street, New York,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention, is to provide an improved pad or cushion for the
feet of horses, which is adapted to be used in connection with a specially constructed
shoe, and which is designed to assist and maintain the natural action of the foot,
and the invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a bottom plan view of my improved pad or cushion, showing the shoe
connected therewith ;
Fig. 2, a side view thereof; and,
Fig. 3, a longitudinal central section.
The evils resulting from the use of the present forms of shoes for horses are
apparent, it being a rare thing to find a horse with feet in perfect form and
condition, after having been shod for any length of time, and this is especially
true of horses which are compelled to travel over hard, macadamized, stone and
similar pavements, in large cities and towns, and as a matter of fact, horses
suffer more from feet troubles thus occasioned, thau from all other sources
combined; and the special object of my invention is to remedy this evil, and
this object I accomplish by providing an improved foot covering or pad 5, for use
in connection with a shoe 6, which is also of special construction, and the pad 5, is
preferably composed of rubber, aud canvas or similar material, and is so shaped as
to conform to the shape of the foot, and is provided centrally of the heel thereof,
with a spring bearing 8, which is downwardly curved or convex on its lower side,
and concave on its upper side, and designed to lessen the concussion, and also to
act as a lifting force for the foot.
The pad 5, is thicker at the heel 9, than at the toe 10, and the thickness thereof,
gradually decreases from the heel to the toe, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and
I also provide side bearings 11, which are preferably arranged at about the center
of the sides of the pad, and just inside of the sides of the shoe, and said bearings
consist of downwardly directed shoulders or projections which are substantially
of the form shown in the drawing, and are designed to form rocking or pivotal
points for the foot.
The spring bearing 8, at the heel first comes in contact with the ground, and
receives the force of the impact of the foot, and breaks the shock of concussion,
and when the foot is lifted, the full benefit of the spring will be secured, and the
side bearings 11, being projected downwardly below the level or plane of the toe 12,
of the shoe, will enable the horse to make the forward movement with greater ease
and safety, and when used in connection with the specially prepared shoe 6, will
afford all the relief it is possible to secure for the feet.
The shoe is also provided with downwardly directed side bearings 13, arranged
adjacent to each of the bearings 11, on the pad 5, but which do not project as low
as said bearing 11, and said shoe or the sides thereof, terminate at predetermined
distance in front of the heel, as shown at 14, and by reason of this arrangement,
D
07

page_text: the heel of the pad, and the spring cushion of the downwardly directed portion 8,
thereof, first comes in contact with the ground as hereinbefore stated.
It will be understood that the shoe and pad are to be connected with the hoof or
foot of the horse in the usual manner, and by reason of my improved pad, I
provide for the even distribution of the pressure over all the weight hearing
surfaces of the foot, and as will be understood, the same may be applied to any
form or size of hoof or foot, and by means thereof, injury to the horse or to the
horse's feet is prevented.
The bearing surface of this appliance is also admirably adapted to give secure
footing for the horse, on any kind of roadway, and the rocking feature which it
embraces in connection with a spring bearing at the heel enables the horse to more
with great ease and safety on hard, and smooth pavements thus affords the desired
relief, and one which is well adapted to maintain the natural form and condition
thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pad or cushiou for the feet of a horse, said pad or cushion being composed
of rubber and canvas, or similar material, and being thicker at the heel than at
the toe, and being provided centrally of the heel with a downwardly curved spring
bearing, and at each side with downwardly directed bearings, in combination with a
shoe which is secured thereto, and which is also provided with downwardly directed
bearings about midway of its side, and with the usual toe, substantially as shown
and described.
2. A pad or cushion for the feet of a horse, said pad or cushion being composed
of rubber and canvas, or similar material, and being thicker at the heel than at the
toe, and being provided centrally of the heel with a downwardly curved spring
bearing, and at each side with downwardly directed bearings, in combination with
a shoe which is secured thereto, and which is also provided with downwardly
directed bearings about midway of its side, and with the usual toe, the arrangement
of the shoe and pad being such, that the sides of the shoe do not extend entirely
back to the heel of the pad, substantially as shown and described.
3. A pad or cushion for horses' feet, composed of rubber and canvas or similar
material, said pad or cushion being thicker at the heel than at the toe, and being
conformed to the shape of the feet, and being also provided centrally of the heel
with a downwardly directed spring bearing, and at each side with downwardly
directed bearings, and being adapted to be secured to a shoe, substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 8th day of March 1807.