IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES AND. OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Biers, the younger, of No. 54, Tottenham Court
Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
"
Sealed the 28th November 1862, and dated the 3rd June 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Biers at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd June
1862.
1, JOHN BIERS the younger, of No. 5, Tottenham Court Road, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR HORSES AND. OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in shoes for horses and
other animals. For these purposes. in making shoes the under surfaces are
formed with projections at intervals apart, there being spaces between the
neighbouring projections. This part of the construction does not materially
differ from what has before been done in the making of some kinds of shoes;
but according to my Invention, in place of the upper surfaces of shoes being
as heretofore when they have been made with projections or roughings on
their under sides, they are according to my improvements made with indents
or cavities opposite where the projections are produced on the under sides, so
that the projections are hollow on the upper surfaces of the shoes, thus forming
undulations or corrugations, by which means shoes are made extremely strong.

page_text: and at the same time comparatively light. In order to fasten such shoes to
the feet of horses and other animals the outer edges of the upper surface of
a shoe are made to fit as heretofore against the under surface of the outer
edges of the hoof, for which purpose the undulations or corrugations of the
metal do not proceed to the outer edges of a shoe, but stop short so as to
leave a sufficient width to fit against a hoof and to receive the nails.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Biers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
December 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN BIERS
the younger, of No. 54, Tottenham Court Road, in the County of Middlesex,
sund greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give' and grant unto me, the said.
John Biers, Her special licence that I, the said John Biers, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Biers, my
executors, administrators, and, assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHOES FOR, HORSES AND OTHER
ANIMALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the. said John Biers,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should. particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and. in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause, the same to be filed: in. the Great, Seal
Patent Office within six. calendar months: next and immediately after; the
date of the said. Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that. I, the said John. Biers, do. hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention,, and .in. what manner the same is to, be, per..
formed, to be particularly described and. ascertained. in and.by. the following:
statement thereof; that is to say:.
This: Invention has for its object improvements in shoes for. horses and.
other animals. For these purposes in making shoes the under surfaces are

page_text: formed with projections at intervals apart, there being spaces between the
neighbouring projections. This part of the construction does not materially
differ from what has before been done in the making of some kinds of shoes;.
but according to my Invention, in place of the upper surfaces of shoes being
as heretofore when they have been made with projections or roughings on
their under sides, they are, according to my improvements, made with indentsi
or cavities opposite where the projections are produced on the under sides, so
that the projections are hollow on the upper surfaces of the shoes, thus
forming undulations or corrugations, by which means shoes are made
extremely strong, and at the same time comparatively light. In order to
fasten such shoes to the feet of horses and other animals, the outer edges of
the upper surface of a shoe are made to fit as heretofore against the under
surface of the outer edges of the hoof, for which purpose the undulations or..
corrugations of the metal do not. proceed to the outer edges of a shoe, but
stop short.so as to leave a sufficient width to fit against a hoof and to receive
the nails.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 show an under surface view, a section showing an inner edge
view, and an upper surface view of a horse-shoe made according to my
Invention. The under surface of the shoe has numerous projections a, a, a,
which rest on the ground, whilst on the upper surface there are hollow
cavities corresponding in their positions with the projections on the under side
or surface of the shoe. In the arrangement of the projections a, a, Figures 1,
it will be seen that the projections do not extend to the outer edge of the
shoe, thus leaving a plain or flat margin on the upper surface to fit against
the hoof, and for the nail holes b, b, whilst on the under surface a groove or
channel is formed to receive the heads of the nails.
In Figures 2, an under surface, an edge view, and an upper surface of a
shoe are shown, in which, although the projections a, a, are shown to extend
to the outer edge of the shoe on the under surface, they do not do so on the
upper surface, which is plain where it comes against the hoof; the cavities in
other respects correspond with the projections a, a, so that the projections in
each case are hollow towards the foot or hoof of the animal, and the nail
holes are made in grooves c, in the spaces between the projections a, a. I
would state that it is not essential that there should be any groove or channel
on the under surface to receive the heads of the nails.

page_text: Figure 3 shows the under surface of a shoe for a smaller hoof or foot, and
in such manner may metal shoes or tips be made for the under surface of
the toes or heels of boots or shoes. In all cases the projections a which come
to the ground are made hollow on their upper surfaces, by which great stiffness
and strength will be obtained, accompanied with lightness. These shoes may
be made of wrought iron or steel by pressing such metals between suitable
dies, or of malleable cast iron and annealed, or of any suitable metal.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Biers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN BIERS, JUN. (L.S.)