Title: Nail-less horseshoe

Do you think this is a good invention? Vote now:

Votes so far: For:(0) Against:(0)
Claims: I claim:

1. A nail-less horseshoe comprising, in combination:

(a) a flexible material defining an enclosure having an upper rim, said enclosure being of general hollow ungulate shape for engaging about and under a horse's hoof and including a generally horizontal forwardly directed rear lip across the rear upper perimeter portion of said rim and a front V-shaped opening extending from the upper front of said rim of the enclosure and terminating in a vertex portion at the lower front of the enclosure to permit the enclosure to be expanded and placed over the hoof, said enclosure including integrally formed exterior enlargements having generally vertical slots, said enlargements being positioned at circumferentially spaced exterior locations about the enclosure;

(b) a flexible belt of textile material passing about the exterior of the enclosure below said rim through said slots with opposite end portions of the belt extending forwardly adjacent to said V-shaped opening; and

(c) buckle means coupled to said opposite end portions of said belt for cinching the end portions together in overlapping relationship whereby said enclosure may be readily disposed over a horse's hoof and thereafter said end portions of the opposite ends of said belt cinched to circumferentially contract the enclosure about the hoof, said rear lip engaging over the rear heel portion of the horse's hoof, the opposite sides of said V-shaped opening coming together as said enclosure is contracted to thereby cause said enclosure to snugly engage the horse's hoof.

2. A nail-less horseshoe according to claim 1, in which said flexible belt of textile material is twice folded at rear side portions of said enclosure so that the belt can effect essentially full surface contact over its width circumferentially around the entire enclosure to thereby essentially lock the enclosure to the horse's hoof.

3. A nail-less horseshoe according to claim 1, including a pad in the interior floor of said enclosure to cushion the frog area of the horse's hoof.

4. A nail-less horseshoe according to claim 1, in which the material forming the bottom exterior of said enclosure has transverse ribs to provide traction for the horseshoe.

5. A nail-less horseshoe according to claim 1, in which the material of said enclosure comprises rubber molded into said ungulate shape to define said enclosure.

Other info:

Inventors: Battle, Jno R. (Pacific Palisades, CA, US)

Application Number: 972917
Filing Date: 1978-12-26
Publication_date: 1980-07-15
Assignee:
Primary Class(es): 168/18
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

164174	Jun, 1875	Jacobs	168/18.
759636	May, 1904	Ryan	168/18.
797895	Aug, 1905	Johnson	168/18.

Other Refs: 683409963091

Jun, 1930	FR
Jun, 1950	FR

Primary Examiner: Chamblee, Hugh R.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Pastoriza; Ralph B.