Improved Appliances for Attachment to the Shoes of Horses and other Animals to Prevent their Slipping in Frosty or Snowy Weather.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliances for Attachment to the Shoes of Horses and
other Animals to Prevent their Slipping in Frosty or Snowy
Weather.
?
I, JOHN RADFORD, of Westbury on Trym, near Bristol, Farrier, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved appliances to be attached to the shoes of
horses and other animals in frosty or snowy weather to prevent their slipping, also
to arrangements whereby a level bearing is obtained for the animal's foot, and an
elastic pad covers the whole of the foot between the ordinary shoe, which prevents
an accumulation of snow or other material around the frog of the foot.
Most of the contrivances for preventing the slipping of horses consist of the
insertion of studs or spikes in the shoes at some distance from each other; these
are liable to be broken off, and when in use form an uneven bearing for the
animal's foot, while the frog or sole of the foot quickly gets clogged with snow and
the like.
My invention consists in providing a metal curved plate with notched or serrated
edges, to be attached to an ordinary shoe, the plate being easily put on and
removed as required, a piece of leather, forming a sole, is put right over the shoe,
and that part of the foot enclosed by the shoe is packed with tow or similar elastic
material, the leather sole thus forms with the tow an elastic pad, which prevents
snow and slush from accumulating on the foot. The leather is placed over the
whole of the shoe, and serves as a cushion, on which the metal plate is laid, affording
a firm packing between the shoe and plate.
To carry my invention into effect, I first provide an ordinary horse shoe, in
which three or more holes are made in addition to the usual nail-boles; for
convenience of fastening the plate, a hole at each end of the shoe is screw-threaded,
and another hole is made in the toe of the shoe, oblong in shape, to receive a
similarly shaped stud; a plate of steel or other suitable metal is bent to correspond
with the shoc, this plate is made with a series of notches or serrated edges and
points, and a flat base to rest firmly on the shoe, an eye is made vertically at each
end of the plate, through which screws are passed to engage in the holes already
described; on the base of the plate, at the toe, an oblong stud is made, which fits
in the socket made in the toe of the shoe, and when turned round, forms a dovetail
fastening for the plate; a piece of leather the size of the shoe is also provided,
having holes through which the screws and stud of the plate engage in the shoe; a
quantity of tow or similar elastic material is provided to be made into pads or
cushions and placed around the frog of the foot.
The various appliances being "provided as described, the operation of my
invention is as follows:-On the approach of frosty or slippery weather, the shoes
with holes in them as described are put on the horses or animals ready for the
attachments when required; when the ground appears to be slippery, the plates
are put on the shoes, first laying a cushion or pad of tow at each side of the frog,
between it and the shoe, and then covering it with the leather sole, the stud on the
plate is inserted in the socket at the toe of the shoe and turned round, and screws
at the ends of the plate are inserted in the corresponding holes of the shoe, which,
when tightened, will keep the plate firmly on the shoe, the leather between them
forming an effective packing; the result being that the animal will step firmly on
the ground, and obtain a firm foot-hold in every direction, having a bearing all
round the shoe, and the tow under the leather sole forms an elastic pad, to which

page_text: snow and similar material will, not adhere,.consequently there is no danger of the
feet becoming clogged with slippery substances.
Dated. 4th day of August. 1893.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
11, Sydenham Hill, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Appliances for Attachment to the Shoes of Horses and
other Animals to Prevent their Slipping in Frosty or Snowy
Weather.
I, JOHN RADFORD, of Westbury on Trym, near. Bristol Farrier, 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:-
My invention relates to improved appliances to be attached to the shoes of horses
and other animals in frosty or snowy weather to prevent their slipping, and to an
elastic pad or covering for the animal's feet, which will prevent an accumulation of
snow or similar material around the frog of the foot.
My invention consists in providing a metal curved plate with notched or serrated
edges formed thereon, to be attached by bolts, screws, or similar fastenings to an
ordinary shoe, a piece of leather being placed between the shoe and plate to form
an even bearing for the latter and also a pad or covering for the sole of the foot;
the space between the leather and sole being filled with tow or similar material,
which makes an elastic cushion, and as the animal treads in the snow or slush, the
elasticity of the pad will prevent any accumulation in the foot.
My invention, and a suitable means for carrying the same into effect, will be
more particularly described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 shows an ordinary shoe attached by nails to the horse's foot, with holes
prepared for the reception of the appliances when required;
Fig. 2 represents a plate of steel or other suitable metal, curved to fit the shoe;
Fig. 3 shows the plate attached to the shoe, a piece of leather being placed
between the shoe and plate; and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of part of a horse's hoof with the shoe and appliances.
All the figures show the parts upside down, or the reverse of how they will
appear when in actual use.
A is an ordinary shoe, in which two or more holes a are made and threaded to
receive screws; b is a slotted hole made in the toe of the shoe, in which an
elongated sturt in the plate engages; B is the plate, curved to correspond with
the shoe on which it is to be placed, the plate is made tapering, and on its lower
edge a number of notches are cut as shown; the toe of the plate is conveniently
left with a wide bearing to enable the animal to get a firmer foot-bold when
climbing a hill; and over the toe of the plate an elongated dovetailed sturt is
formed to engage in the slotted hole in the shoe; the ends C of the plated are
curled to form apertures or eyelets by which the back part is secured to the shoe
by means of headed screws E; D is a solid piece of leather, rubber, or other
suitable material, covering the whole of the shoe, with holes for the screws and
sturt to pass through; F represents the frog of the foot, between which and the
leather covering, pieces of tow or similar material G are inserted to form a cushion
or pad.
The various parts being provided as described, their operation is as follows: At
the approach of winter, when frosty weather and slippery roads may be expected,
the animals are fitted with-shoes in which the necessary holes have been made to
receive the notched plates, and when the roads are slippery, the tow and leather

page_text: covering are placed between and on the shoe and the plate attached, which is
readily done by putting the plate at right angles to its proper position on the
shoe, and turning the dovetailed sturt in the slot, then when the plate is in position,
inserting the screws in the holes and tightening them with a spanner which will
keep the plate and leather firmly on the shoe, and give the horse a firm grip:
On the cessation of frost, when the plates will be no longer required, by taking
out the screws, the whole of the appliances will be quickly removed, and the shoes
be worn in the ordinary manner.
As my invention consists essentially in the removable plate and the leather
covering to prevent the accumulation of snow, I do not confine myself to the
exact means described for attaching the plate to the shoe, but the method shown
appears to be most suitable for the
purpose.
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. The construction of shoes for horses and other animals with appliances to
prevent slipping, which may be quickly attached or removed, substantially as
and for the purpose herein set forth and described, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In appliances for preventing the slipping of horses and other animals in frosty
weather, the insertion of a piece of leather or similar flexible material over the
frog of the foot, and filling the space enclosed with tow or the like to form an
elastic cushion or pad which will prevent the accumulation of snow or slush in the
shoe, substantially as described and shown.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent.