Improvements in Horse Shoes and Racing Plates.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1394-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Horse Shoes and Racing Plates.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH KENT, of Number 94 Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, and doing business at No. 70 Wall
Street, in the City, 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 :-
This invention relates to horse shoes and racing plates, and is particularly
applicable to articles of this character which are constructed of two metals.
In racing plates it is most desirable that the plate shall be extremely light, afford
a good hold or grip on the track in running, have sufficient lateral stability to resist
the tendency of the hoof to spread, and enough durability at its striking edge to
resist undue wear at this point.
In attempts prior to my invention to construct a racing plate or horse shoe
having these advantages, a plate having an aluminium body and a steel bottom face
has been employed.
My present invention' aims to provide an improved horse shoe or racing plate
having a body of aluminium or other relatively light, soft or cheap metal as
circumstances render desirable, and a working or gripping edge of steel or other
relatively hard, durable or rigid metal, in which plate shall be combined strength
durability and lightness, with the necessary gripping or holding power and lateral
rigidity.
To this end in carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention, I pro-
vide a shoe or plate having a body of aluminium constructed with a continuous
wide, flat top bearing furnishing the seat of the shoe, a downwardly and outwardly
inclining bottom face descending from the inner edge of the seat in a long and
slightly concave slope, and a downwardly and inwardly inclining front face
extending from the outer edge of the bearing preferably with a slight vertical,
convexity to and meeting the bottom face, and I provide a steel edge at the point
of junction of these two faces, which edge constitutes the gripping or wearing edge
of the shoe or plate, and is preferably the lower edge of a narrow steel strip, the
remainder of which is embedded within the aluminium body of the shoe, traversing
the latter longitudinally near its outer edge or front face and between this face and
the nail holes, which strip is preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly from
a point near the seat of the body to said angle or edge in substantially the direction
of the thrust of the strain when the shoe or plate strikes the ground in use.
Preferably the steel strip is broader on its inner edge than at its exposed edge,
and the face of its inner edge is substantially parallel with the bearing of the body.
The steel strip receives the strains of the shoe and transmits them through the
body to the horses hoof. Its inclination relatively to the body assists in preserving
it in position, and permits the use of a sufficient quantity of the soft metal at the
front side of the strip and between it and the front wall of the body.
disposition of the nail holes at the inner side of the strip enables the nails to
strengthen the retention of the strip in place in the body of the soft metal, and
permits the strip to transmit a portion of the strains to which it is subjected almost
directly to the naila
The

page_text: according to the preferred form of this invention,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the bottom or working face of a front plate or shoe for
the fore foot of a horse ;
Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the top or bearing face of the plate;
Fig. 3 is a cross-section cut on the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the
arrow;
Fig. 4 is a cross-section cut on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, and looking in the direction
of the arrow, the view being on a larger scale;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the steel strip alone on the same scale as shown in
Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a small diagrammatic view showing the position of the shoe as it strikes
the ground in use..
Referring to the drawings, A represents the shoe or plate as a whole, Ka horse's
hoof to which it is applied, and L the ground or track.
The shoe or plate A consists of a body a of aluminium or other suitable metal,
which may be variously formed according to the particular requirements for use,
and will be adapted in curvature to the shape of the hoof to which it is to be
applied. According to one feature of this invention, the body a has a wide flat top
bearing face F for engaging the hoof, a front face E extending from the outer edge
of the bearing downwardly and inwardly with a slight convexity, and an inclined
and preferably slightly concave bottom face D extending from the inner edge d'of
the bearing downwardly and outwardly and meeting the front face E at a point
near the outer side of the shoe. The face and bottom D where they meet, form a
ridge or point C constituting the wearing or gripping edge of the shoe, which edge
strikes the ground in use.
With a shoe of this improved shape, there is but one edge in contact with the
ground, and this is near the outer part of the shoe, while there is a broad top
bearing for the hoof, and between the edge and the inner side of the bearing there
is a wide inclined bottom between which and the bearing the body is very thin.
The extensive inclination of the bottom prevents the accumulation of mud or lumps
beneath the hoof within the shoe, and the thinness of the body between the gripping
edge and bearing renders the shoe very light, while maintaining sufficient cross-
sectional width to produce the desired rigidity against spreading.
According to a further feature of any invention, I provide a wearing strip of
steel or other hard or suitable metal, exposed at the point where the shoe contacts
with the ground, inclined relatively to the body of the shoe for receiving con-
cussion and strains in use, and transmitting them through the body of the shoe to
the hoof. Preferably this piece consists of a steel strip I applied in the manner
shown in the drawings, wherein it has less cross-sectional width than height,
has a wide base, a tapering body, and a narrow wearing edge, and traverses
the shoe longitudinally throughout the entire length thereof. The strip is
shown as embedded in the metal of the body, which for this purpose has a longi-
tudinal groove b extending from its gripping edge inwardly towards its bearing,
and the strip has a wide flat base c, a downwardly and outwardly inclined front
face h, a downwardly and outwardly inclined inner face, an exposed edge e, and a
longitudinal groove g in its inner face. The base is preferably parallel with the
bearing F of the body, and disposed near the latter when the strip is in place. The
outer face his embraced by the metal of the body constituting the trout wall E,
the inner face is embraced by the metal of the body above the bottom D, a portion
of which metal lettered J flows into the groove g, and the edge è is exposed at the
point or gripping edge C of the shoe. The thickness and inclination of the strip
is such that the metal at its respective sides gradually increases in thickness from
the gripping edge of the shoe upwardly.
Four or other suitable number of nail holes are provided, the front holes being
lettered G and the rear holes H. These holes traverse the body a preferably
immediately at the inner side of the strip I, and through these the nails are driven

page_text: for fastening the shoe or plate to the hoof of a horse. The holes are countersunk
as usual to receive the heads of the nails.
In using my improved shoe or plate, the bearing F presents a broad surface to
the hoof, while the edge C of the working face B of the shoe, presents a sharp
longitudinal gripping edge for contact with the ground. The steel strip I exposed
at this edge receives all the shocks and strains as the shoe strikes the ground and
prevents wear of the softer metal of the body The strip transmits these strains.
within the body of the shoe, and the body distributes them over a large area of the
hoof through its bearing face. A portion of the strains is transmitted by the strip
to the nails, and through the nails to the hoof.
4.
In a shoe constructed according to my invention, the inclination of the wearing
strip I so that it corresponds to the direction of the thrust when the shoe strikes
the ground, renders the strip best adapted to retain its position in the body and to
resist the force of a concussion, and the tendency to wear away. In racing shoes
or plates particularly, the wear is at the toe which receives the force as the foot
strikes the ground and gives the propelling force as the horse leaps. When desired,
a comparatively slender or thin strip may be used, since it is embraced on both
sides by the softer metal to a continually increasing extent as the upper part of
the shoe is approached. The cross-sectional thickness of the strip being at sub-
stantially right angles in its greater width to the greater cross-sectional width of
the body, gives a desirable vertical rigidity preventing distortion of the body
vertically, and the disposition of the metal in the body prevents its lateral distortion,.
while the combined shape of the two metals disposed as shown, tends to prevent
any spreading under pressure on the hoof. This rigidity of the shoe reinforces the
horse's foot and resists expansion at the heels when the ground is struck, thus.
preventing bursting of the horse's heels. The wide bearing at top helps the sole
of the foot to resist the pressure of the coffin-joint when the horse is in violent
action, thus preventing disease of the foot liable to be caused when such pressure
is not properly resisted over a sufficient portion of the area of the foot.
It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular character
of shoe shown, nor to the use of aluminium and steel as the respective metals.
Any desired modification in the shoe or plate can be made, and any suitable metals.
having any desired differences in quality, density, weight or rigidity may be
employed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
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 horse shoe or racing plate having a wide top bearing F, a downwardly and
slightly inwardly inclined front face E extending from the outer edge of said
bearing, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined bottom D extending from the
inner edge of said bearing outwardly and downwardly and meeting said front face
near the outer edge of the shoe, said face and bottom constituting a point or
gripping edge at their junction extending longitudinally around the shoe from heel.
to heel near the outer edge thereof, substantially as set forth.
2. A horse shoe or racing plate having a body of relatively soft metal and a
wearing strip of relatively hard metal carried by the body, which strip when in
position in the shoe inclines downwardly and outwardly and is exposed at the
bottom face of the shoe where it constitutes the wearing portion thereof, whereby
the strain due to the toe of the shoe striking the ground is received in the direction
of the inclination of said strip, substantially as set forth.
3. A horse shoe or racing plate having a body of relatively soft metal, and a
wearing strip of relatively hard metal carried by said body near the front edge
thereof, and when in position exposed at the bottom face of the shoe constituting
the wearing face thereof, whereby the strain when the shoe strikes the ground is
received by said strip, said body having nail holes through its soft metal portion
at the inner side of said strip, whereby the nails when driven in said holes

page_text: strengthen the retention of the wearing strip in place in the body of the shoe,
substantially as set forth.
4. A horse shoe or racing plate having a body of relatively soft or light metal
furnishing the bearing of the shoe, and a wearing strip of relatively hard metal
constituting the wearing portion of the shoe, projecting on its lower edge at the
bottom face of the shoe, there receiving the concussion of the shoe when in use,
and of greater width at its upper edge, enclosed at its wide edge in the metal of
the body, and transmitting said strains to the body through its wide edge,
whereby said strains are distributed over an extensive portion of said body by said
strip, substantially as set forth.
5. A horse shoe or racing plate baving a body of relatively soft metal, and an
outwardly inclined bottom face and inwardly inclining front face meeting said
bottom face at an angle at the sole of the shoe, and a hard metal wearing strip
exposed at the angle formed by said bottom and front faces, and enclosed in the
soft metal of the body, said strip receiving the concussion due to the shoe striking
the ground and transmitting it to said body, substantially as set forth.
6. A horse shoe or racing plate having an aluminium body a, having a bearing F
at top, a downwardly inclining bottom face D, a front face E, and a hard steel
wearing strip I traversing the body throughout substantially its entire length,
said strip exposed at its lower edge substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 29th day of November 1894.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.