US690482A - Hoof-pad. - Google Patents

Description

No. 690,482. Patentedlan. 7, I902.

A.v G. TAPPE.

HOOF PAD.

A lication filed Feb. 23, 1901.

(No Model.)

Figs].

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST O. TAPPE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

HOOF-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,482, dated January '7, 1902. Application filed February 23, 1901. Serial No. 48,485. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that 1, AUGUST 0. TAPPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State ofv having holding and non-slipping qualities and which will relieve the horse from jams and jars as it brings its weight down on the ground or hard pavement.

My invention consists in a hoof-pad adapted to fit between the shoe and foot of a horse, the upper portion serving as a cover for the foot and being composed of fibrous material, preferably leather, perforated to admit air to the foot, the lower portion serving as a cushion or bufier and being composed of flexible material, preferably rubber, adapted to register with and fit the cover and provided with a depending lower portion fitting the inner edge of the shoe and depending below the tread portion thereof, said cushion being provided with a central external opening leading by means of a narrow passage to an internal channel, whereby an air-cushion is formed and a suction created toprevent slip ping.

. My invention also consists in certain novel features of the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the improved pad,whereby important advantages are secured and thepad is rendered more economical and eifective and better adapted for the purpose intended.

The novel features of the invention will be defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which serve to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the lower side of my pad and horseshoe in place thereon. Fig. 2 isa transverse section on'the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a plan of the upper side of the fiber cover, showing one means of fastening the rubber cushion thereto and showing air-holes for admitting air to the horses foot by the pressure of its weight upon the pad. Fig. 5 is a modified View of my invention, showing the heel portion extended entirely across to be used in connection with a three-quarter shoe. I

I prefer to construct and arrange my improved pad substantially as follows: Out a piece of leather or other fibrous material A in shape to fit the surface of a horses foot and perforate the leather, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit the air to come in contact with the foot. Construct a piece of rubber or other flexible material B of similar shape having itssurface made to correspond with the shape of the piece of leather A, above described, the outer surface I) being formed thin to furnish a bearing for the horseshoe O and the inner portion being formed, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5, of an elastic pneumatic cushion b, shaped to fit the interior edge of the horseshoe and projectingbelow the surface thereof, said cushion being produced by an undercut in therubber to form an interior channel or chamber 6 similar in shape to a small horseshoe and having a central external opening b separated from said chamber by overlapping edges or walls b composing the inner wall of the undercut. The cushion being left open in the center provides effective means whereby slipping is prevented and afiords means for furnishing a constant supply of fresh air to the horses foot. A narrow passage biis left between the overlapping edges and leather cover to provide for the circulation of air between the exterior opening 12 and internal channel I) and to allow of some play between the overlapping edges and the cover to furnish additional cushioning efiect by adding to the free movement of the overlapping edges or walls before coming in contact with the leather cover. These overlapping edges as soon as the weight of the horse is brought down upon the cushion close upon the leather cover and prevent dirt and other extraneous substances from entering the interior chamber. These overlapping edges or walls serve to relieve the shock and to strengthen the cushion,while at the same time reduce the amount of material necessary to secure the proper cushioning eflect. As the horse brings its weight to bear on the cushion the overlapping edges press against the cover and prevent the cushion from collapsing.

I The heel b of the pad is made of solid rubber or similar material and may extend, as shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 5, as desired, depending upon whether a full-sized or three-quarter shoe is used. The rubber cushion and leather cover are secured together in anysuitable way, preferably by sewing. After they are secured together place in position and nail the shoe and pad upon the foot. As clearly seen in Fig. 3, the outer tread-surface of the cushion extends slightly below the tread-surface of the shoe at its outer edge and gradually tapers downwardly toward the center to the edge of the central opening, the greater depth or thicknessof the cushion being around the central opening,so that as the weight of the horse comes upon the pad the force thereof is first upon the inner surface and then gradually reaches the shoe after most of the force of the stroke has been spent upon the cushion. As the horses foot is brought down upon the cushion the air is drawn into the central opening by suction,which has a tendency to hold the foot from slipping. In addition to the peculiar shape of the rubber, which is especially adapted and designed to prevent lateral or sidewise slipping,and to augment this feature of non-slipping I provide a series of corrugations running parallel with the shoe and intermediate between said corrugations and shoe a series of transverse grooves. As above stated, the overlapping edges of the cushion are a short distance away from the leather coverto permit of the free passage of air by the impact of the foot upon the ground, and as the weight of the horse fully descends upon the cushion these overlapping edges are brought into close contact with the leather cover, whereby the entire chamber is closed and dirt and other substances are prevented from entering. The overlapping edges serve to brace and strengthen the cushion-pad and produce a bellows action of forcing air in and out as the horses foot descends and ascends. The weight of the animal when brought to bear upon the ground crushes the elastic rubber cushion inward to the level of the shoe and compresses the air imprisoned within the chamber formed by the undercut and overlappingedges,thus makingthe pad pneumatic, and as the foot is lifted the pad will resume its original positionviz., stand out in advance of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2.

If desired, the elastic cushion may be applied to the foot without the fibrous cover; but I prefer to use the cover, since it protects the sensitive solo from coming in contact with the ground and prevents anyilleffects of the rubber upon the foot.

It will be seen that the air is compressed through the funnel-shaped opening into the interior chamber each time the pad is brought into action and the air also released each time the foot is raised.

From the above description it will be obvious that my pad is capable of some modification without material departure from the scope and spirit of my invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the several parts as herein set forth.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A hoof-pad comprising a perforated fibrous cover and an elastic cushion having a depending portion adapted to fit the inner edge of the shoe and having a central opening leading, by means of a narrow passage,

to an internal channel formed around said AUGUST C. TAPPE.

Witnesses:

A. G. GREEN, JAMES N. RAMSEY.

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