WO2001054493A1

WO2001054493A1 - Horseshoe and method of horseshoeing

Info

Publication number: WO2001054493A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Daniel Boyd; John Taylor Karooz
Original assignee: Christian Daniel Boyd; John Taylor Karooz
Priority date: 2000-01-25
Filing date: 2001-01-25
Publication date: 2001-08-02
Also published as: AU731067B3

Abstract

Horseshoe (26) includes a resiliently flexible U-shaped one-piece base member (27) adapted to abut the bearing surface of the horse's hoof. Resiliently flexible flange (28) is formed integral with and extending from U-shaped base member (27) proximate to toe (29) and jaws (30, 31), and is adapted to engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse's hoof. Flange (28) is inclined to base member (27) at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse's hoof to the ground. Pinching means in the form of a bolt (not shown) is adapted to pinch jaws (30, 31) whereby in use the wall of the horse's hoof is clamped between base member (27) and flange (28) solely by the pinching of the pinching means.

Description

HORSESHOE AND METHOD OF HORSESHOEING

Technical Field

This invention relates to a horseshoe and to a method of shoeing a horse.

Background of Invention

It is known to shoe horses by various means including inter alia the conventional nailing of the horseshoe to the hoof and also by glueing, binding by straps and wire, and by using a boot-like fastener.

Summary of Invention

The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known horseshoes and known methods of shoeing a horse.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a horseshoe for fixing to a horse hoof, the horseshoe including:- a resiliently flexible substantially U-shaped one-piece base member adapted in use to substantially abut the bearing surface of the horse hoof; engagement means integral with and extending from the U-shaped base member proximate at least the toe and jaws thereof and adapted in use to engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof, the engagement means being resiliently flexible relative to the base member and at least proximate the jaws thereof being inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground, and pinching means adapted to pinch the jaws of the base member; whereby in use the wall of the horse hoof is clampable between the base member and the engagement means solely by the pinching of the pinching means.

As used herein the expressions "pinching" and "pinch" are to be understood to include functions such as clamping, cramping, compressing and squeezing or other actions which describe the jaws of a horseshoe being forced towards each other.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method of shoeing a horse including:- locating a resiliently flexible substantially U-shaped one-piece base member beneath the bearing surface of the horse hoof, the base member having engagement means integral therewith and extending therefrom proximate at least the toe and jaws thereof and being resiliently flexible relative to the base member and at least proximate the jaws thereof being inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground, and pinching the jaws of the base member whereby the engagement means engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof, the horse hoof being clamped between the base member and the engagement means solely by the pinching.

It is preferred that the engagement means is higher at the rearmost portions than at the front thereof.

In one embodiment the engagement means is a circumferentially extending flange. In another embodiment the engagement means is a plurality of tabs.

It is preferred that the pinching means is a bolt. Alternatively the pinching means may be a clamp, screw, cam lock etc.

Description of Drawings In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:-

FIG 1 is a plan view of a horseshoe in accordance with the present invention; FIGS 2 and 3 respectively are side and end elevations of a horseshoe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG 4 is a side view showing a horseshoe of the present invention fitted to a hoof;

FIG 5 is a perspective view of the horseshoe in FIGS 1 to 4; FIGS 1A to 5A are corresponding illustrations to those of FIGS 1 to 5 as outlined above, of an alternative embodiment of a horseshoe in accordance with the present invention with corresponding features referenced similarly, and

FIGS 6 AND 6A are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a horseshoe in accordance with the present invention. Description of Preferred Embodiment of Invention

As can be seen in FIGS 1 to 5 and 1 A to 5A, the horseshoe has a resilient substantially U-shaped base member 10 consisting of a toe portion 11 , branches or jaws 12 and heel portions 13 and is adapted in use to substantially abut the bearing surface of the horse hoof in conventional manner.

Engagement means in the form of tabs or wings 15 extend from base member 12 and are adapted in use to engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof. Toe clip 14 engages the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof at the toe in conventional manner. As seen in FIGS 1 A to 5A, tabs 15A may extend towards toe 11A to be continuous with toe clip 14A.

Pinching means are provided in the form of a bolt 18 which screws into a threaded bore in post 21 which is loosely received in socket 19 in one heel portion 13. Bolt 18 passes through a bore in post 22 which is loosely received in another socket 19 in the other heel portion 13 with the head 23 of bolt 18 bearing against post 22. Bolt 18 when turned is thus adapted to pinch the jaws 12 of base member 10 to clamp the wall of the horse hoof between the base member 10 and the tabs 15.

The loose retention of the posts within the sockets allows for the retention of alignment of bolt 18 when tightened. If bolt 18 were screwed directly into a threaded bore of one heel when bearing against a surface in the other heel, bolt

18 would tend to bow as the bores in the heels which receive the bolt become misaligned when the bolt is tightened.

However if the horse shoe is relatively stiff, the degree of flexure of the jaws and consequential tendency to bowing of the bolt will be relatively minimal and the arrangement described above with vertical posts can be replaced by a pair of horizontally aligned bores in the jaws, as is seen in FIGS 1 A to 5A and in

FIGS 6 AND 6A.

Alternatively in a manner not illustrated, the pinching mechanism could comprise an overcentre clamp.

As is seen best in FIG 2, tabs 15, which are resiliently flexible relative to base member 10, are inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground. Tabs 15 are contoured to fit about the outer surface of the wall of the hoof at the quarter. The horseshoe is preferably made from a suitable hard wearing plastic material such as Nylon or the like which provides the resiliency to enable the jaws to be pinched, and consequent on this pinching action, the wall of the hoof to be clamped between the upper surface of the base member and the inner surface of the tabs. The clamping action is thus effective to impart forces inwardly against the outer surface of the wall of the hoof and upwardly against the lower surface of the wall of the hoof.

Thus as seen in FIG 3, tabs 15 are shown in an "unsprung" position before shoeing. When shoed, the tabs will flex to assume an inclination similar to that of the outer surface of the wall of the hoof.

FIGS 6 AND 6A illustrate another embodiment similar to that seen in FIGS 1A to 5A. Thus horseshoe 26 has a resiliently flexible substantially U- shaped one-piece base member 27 which is adapted in use to substantially abut the bearing surface of the horse hoof. Engagement means in the form of a circumferentially extending flange 28 is integral with and extends from base member 27 proximate toe 29 and jaws 30 and 31.

Flange 28 is inclined to base member 27 proximate jaws 30 and 31 at an included angle of between 50 and 55 degrees which is an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground. However the angle can vary depending on the material selected and the thickness of the flange. The height of flange 28 tapers gradually from high points at wings 32,33 proximate jaws 30,31 to a low point at toe 34. The angle of inclination of flange 28 to base member 27 correspondingly lessens from a maximum at wings 32,33 where, as indicated above the inclination is more acute than the inclination of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground, to a minimum at toe 34 where the inclination of flange 28 to base member 27 approximates the inclination of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground.

Thus in use, when pinching means (not shown in FIGS 6A and 6B, but corresponding to bolt 18A seen in FIGS 1A to 5A) pinch jaws 30,31 the wall of the horse hoof is clamped between base member 27 and flange 28 solely by the pinching action.

As seen in FIGS 1 to 5, the toe portion of the horseshoe is seated out as seen at 16. The upper surface of the horseshoe has raised stipples 17 or the like to assist engagement with the lower surface of the wall of the hoof, and a ridge pattern 20 on the lower surface to enhance traction. A pair of flap-like covers 24,25 extend inwardly from heels 13 and overlap when bolt 18 is tightened to cover the bolt when the horseshoe is in place. As seen in FIGS 6 AND 6A, the underside of base member 27 "breaks over" proximate toe 29 as referenced at 35. In use in the embodiment of FIGS 1 to 5, a horseshoe is placed against the lower surface of the wall of the hoof with toe clip 14 and side tabs 15 positioned loosely about the outer surface of the wall of the hoof. Posts 21 and 22 are positioned in the sockets in heels 13, bolt 18 is then passed through the bore in post 21 , screwed into the threaded bore in post 22, and tightened. The horseshoe becomes firmly affixed by the wedging/clamping action on the wall of the hoof by tabs 15 and base 10 as described above.

In use in the embodiment of FIGS 6 AND 6A (and FIGS 1 A to 5A but with reference^' in the following to FIGS 6 AND 6A), a horse is shoed by locating resiliently flexible substantially U-shaped one-piece base member 27 beneath the bearing surface of the horse hoof, base member 27 having engagement means in the form of flange 28 integral therewith and extending therefrom proximate toe 34 and jaws 30,31. Flange 28 is resiliently flexible relative to base member 27 and proximate jaws 30,31 is inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground. Jaws 30,31 are pinched by pinching means (not shown, but corresponding to bolt 18A seen in FIGS 1A to 5A), and flange 28 engages the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof which is clamped between base member 27 and flange 28 solely by the pinching.

It will be appreciated that the horseshoe and horse shoeing method of the present invention is different to and has a number of advantages over known horseshoes and horse shoeing methods.

In particular the need for nails, wire or straps is avoided. Faster hoof growth is stimulated due to less trauma to the animals foot. The horseshoe of the present invention substantially eliminates damage to the wall of the hoof caused by the traditional nailing of shoes. There is also no need to shape the shoe by hitting with a hammer because the shoe shapes to the hoof as the bolt is tightened. Being preferably of plastic construction, the shoes are light weight and moreover shock is absorbed far better than in traditional shoes and concussion injuries are reduced. The shoes are low cost being easy to manufacture and are quick and simple to fit without any trauma to the animal. They can be fitted by non- professionals without causing damage to the animal, are sized to fit all horses and have a wide variety of therapeutic and veterinary applications. The ease of shoeing significantly reduces stress in the animal and thus the safety of the person shoeing the horse is enhanced.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Claims

1. A horseshoe for fixing to a horse hoof, said horseshoe including:- a resiliently flexible substantially U-shaped one-piece base member adapted in use to substantially abut the bearing surface of the horse hoof; engagement means integral with and extending from said U-shaped base member proximate at least the toe and jaws thereof and adapted in use to engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof, said engagement means being resiliently flexible relative to said base member and at least proximate the jaws thereof being inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground, and pinching means adapted to pinch the jaws of said base member; whereby in use the wall of the horse hoof is clampable between said base member and said engagement means solely by the pinching of the pinching means.

2. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said engagement means is higher at the rearmost portions than at the front thereof.

3. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said engagement means is a circumferentially extending flange.

4. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said engagement means is a plurality of tabs.

5. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pinching means is a bolt.

6. A horseshoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pinching means is a clamp.

9. A method of shoeing a horse including:- locating a resiliently flexible substantially U-shaped one-piece base member beneath the bearing surface of the horse hoof, said base member having engagement means integral therewith and extending therefrom proximate at least the toe and jaws thereof and being resiliently flexible relative to said base member and at least proximate the jaws thereof being inclined thereto at an angle more acute than that of the wall of the horse hoof to the ground, and pinching the jaws of said base member whereby said engagement means engage the exterior surface of the wall of the horse hoof, the horse hoof being clamped between said base member and said engagement means solely by the pinching.