Abstract: A durable, resilient plastic horseshoe including a first plastic polymer having a first durometer, and a second plastic polymer having a second durometer higher than the first durometer is disclosed, wherein when the shoe is placed on a foot of a hoofed animal and the animal places weight on the foot and causes the shoe to come in contact with the ground, the first plastic polymer is simultaneously in contact with the second plastic polymer and the ground, and the second plastic polymer is in contact with the first plastic polymer and free of contact with the foot.

Abstract: A horseshoe (1) conformed substantially to the U-shaped sole of the hoof and having a reinforcing insert (16) of a flexible and, alternatively, partially curable material and a portion (17) which encloses the insert (16) and is made of an elastic friction material. The insert (16) is narrower than the width of the U-shaped sole such that thrust, shock and shear loads generated as the horse moves at a walking, trotting or galloping pace are elastically absorbed by the portion (17) enclosing the insert.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a horseshoe to a hoof by wrapping a curable resin coated sheet material around an applied horseshoe and at least a portion of the hoof after the cure has been initiated, such that the resin coated sheet material secures the horseshoe to the hoof. An apparatus is also provided for securing a horseshoe according to the method.

Abstract: This invention is to disclose and claim an open ended light weight molded plastic horseshoe having a core segment of 60% glass fiber reinforced polyurethane plastic molding compound, encapsulated in clear polyurethane having treads and caulks formed on the earth side of the horseshoe. The core segment provides the rigidity for the horseshoe while the encapsulating clear polyurethane provides cushioning and wear properties. The core segment has integrally molded button protrusions on the hoof side surface, the earth side surface, and on the inner and outer edges of the legs.

Abstract: A horseshoe molded of a new high impact, high temperature resistant polyphenylene sulfide resin that possesses the unique property of possessing a metallic sound indistinguishable from metal horeshoes. The metallic-sounding plastic horseshoes may be attached to a hoof either by nails or by means of a newer species of super-adhesives. The new metallic-sounding polymer horseshoes have a special advantages over regular metal horseshoes. The new horseshoes are about one-sixth the weight of equivalent size metal horseshoes. They can be adjusted in size and shape by means of heating at or about 450.degree. F. and adjusting of the size and shape to fit the hoof. They possess unique chemical, abrasion, and shock resistance. Their lightweight, metal appearance, and metallic sound make them most suitable for sportswear; also, children and the elderly may now enjoy this healthful sport.

Abstract: A method is provided for securing a horseshoe to a hoof by wrapping a curable resin coated sheet material around an applied horseshoe and at least a portion of the hoof after the cure has been initiated, such that the cured resin coated sheet material secures the horseshoe to the hoof. An apparatus is also provided for securing a horseshoe according to the method.

Abstract: A medium and a method for filling or replacing the horn wall or horny parts of the coffin of the hoof of an animal, particularly a horse, the medium consisting of a mixture of a plurality of components, of which one is a synthetic resin and another consists of filler particles such as wood, rubber, cork or a combination of filler particles, the mixture being adapted to be cured by the addition of a hardening catalyst and optionally an accelerator, and the method comprising first freeing the horse's hoof of the parts which are to be replaced, whereupon the shoe is placed under the hoof with the nails already in the correct desired positions, the whole area there being degreased, for example with acetone, thereupon all holes being liberally filled with a medium which hardens in the course of time, the outer surface then being finished after the filling medium has become touch-hard.

Abstract: A horseshoe including an arcuate elastomeric shoe body having an upper hoof engaging surface and a lower surface. The upper surface is generally flat and has an arcuate force-bearing recess along the internal periphery disposed to receive a trimmed ridge of the keratinous portion of a hoof. The shoe is thermofit to the animal hoof in order to conform the shoe to the irregularities of the hoof. Upwardly extending tabs from the shoe body contact the outer side wall of the hoof and a quick setting adhesive is applied to the tabs. A non-setting adhesive is applied to the force-bearing recess and the upper surface of the shoe body. The non-setting adhesive is also applied to a sole protective flange which extends inwardly from the shoe body. A tough wear member, resembling an iron horseshoe may be adhered to the elastomeric shoe body.

Abstract: A horseshoe for hooves of four legs of a trotting horse includes a thin plate member of a resiliently bendable plastic having two thickened areas, namely, an outer arched area along a front half of the shoe and a rear triangular area, with the two areas being connected through partial areas of the thin plate member. The arched area is provided with only partially through-going transverse grooves which provide for a good set off and leave longitudinal ribs which stiffen the shoe in a longitudinal direction. The triangular area which covers a hoof frog effects a blood-pumping relative movement and the collateral cartridge areas of the hoof will be covered by the thin plate material which will not exert any high permanent pressure against these areas. The shoe is shaped smooth so that it can not be braked at the impact.

Abstract: A horseshoe includes a resiliently flexible metal frame which is attached to the outer surface of the hoof by flaps adhered to the surface and is releasably connected by projections to an elastic sole member which is prefabricated in the peripheral shape of the hoof.

Abstract: A method of shoeing a hoofed animal is provided and includes the step of forming a mold (12) having a general configuration of a shoe for the hoof (80). The mold (12) is filled with a liquid acrylic material (64). The hoof (80) of the animal is placed within the mold (12). The acrylic material is cured utilizing ultraviolet light (50, 52), such that the liqid acrylic material solidifies and is integrally joined to the hoof (80) without any intervening adhesive or mechanical attachment. The hoof (80) is then removed from the mold (12).

Abstract: A nailless horse shoe comprising a resilient material is disclosed. The horse shoe comprises a curved body, an upwardly projecting tab and downwardly depending projections and gripper. Additional strength is provided by use of a curved member embedded in the body having a high strength to weight ratio.

Abstract: A light weight horseshoe is described which is composed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy reinforced by ceramic whiskers, particles or fibers, preferably silicon carbide whiskers. The whisker content is in the range of 1-40 volume percent. The shoes exhibit the wear and strength characteristics of prior art iron and steel shoes, with none of the undue decrease in wear and strength common to prior art light weight horseshoes.

Abstract: A screw-on horseshoe formed from a plastic material is disclosed. A flex joint is provided that allows the horseshoe to expand and contract as pressure is applied to the horse's hoof, thereby reducing friction between the hoof and the shoe. The horseshoe also provides a lip portion projecting upwardly from a horseshoe base portion to protect the horse hoof wall from obstacles encountered during the movement of the horse. A novel screw having a double helix thread pattern including a high thread pattern and a low thread pattern is used to fasten the horseshoe to the horse's hoof without piercing the hoof wall. The screw includes a keyed recessed self-holding head that is complementary to, and therefore readily driven by, a power drill. A lightweight, yet wear-resistant, horseshoe that is readily attached to a horse's hoof with a minimum amount of labor and a minimum amount of damage to the hoof that can be constructed in many styles and sizes to match a large variety of horse uses is thus described.

Abstract: Shoes for horses are fabricated from ultra-high molecular weight ethylene polymers having a molecular weight of at least 1 million. Such shoes are light weight, have good wear properties, and are much easier on the horse's feet than metal shoes.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a formable cast aluminum alloy horseshoe having an electroless ductile metal coating having a hardness greater than that of the aluminum alloy, such as a coating of phosphorus nickel. This coating increases the wearable life of the aluminum horseshoe for quarter horse racing horses from a few days to almost a month, and its formability without cracking of the coating permits better fitting to varying sizes of hoofs.

Abstract: A prosthetic horseshoe for use in the treatment of the affliction known as chronic laminitis in which the coffin bone in a horse's foot rotates from its normal position. The prosthetic horseshoe has an adjustable pin designed to rotate the coffin bone back to its normal position and hold it there during treatment of the affliction.

Abstract: A two part plastics material horseshoe has a relatively flexible plastics strip part of generally L-shaped cross-section, shaped so as to be suitable for adhering to the side wall of a hoof, and a relatively inflexible plastics shoe-part adapted for bonding to the strip-part once the latter has been adhered to the hoof. The two parts are pre-united in the toe region, to set the relative dispostion thereof prior to adhering the strip part to the hoof. Attachment of the strip-part to the hoof is enhanced by providing a liner having a rough texture within the strip-part, and the shoe-part may be affixed to the strip-part by a heat-welding technique.

Abstract: This invention relates to horseshoes that are adapted to fit snugly against the bottom of the hoof surface of a horse, which are made of an elastomeric material, such as a synthetic rubber, natural rubber, etc., and have a plurality of discrete or continuous recesses of an elongated shaped designed to accommodate nails on the surface facing the ground. Such elongated recesses may also be used to receive a metal plate or sheet on the bottom thereof, and a desired number of openings may be provided on the metal plate. Also the horseshoes may be formed with a plurality of projections extending upwardly from and around the opposite surface to the surface facing the ground for registering and positioning the horseshoes with respect to the bottom surface of the hoof. The extent of elasticity of the elastomeric material for the horseshoes may be selected at option from a range in terms of JIS A 45 to 98.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for shoeing horses using a plastics material horse shoe. A flexible L-shaped strip, preferably preformed from plastics to fit a hoof, is adhered to the front and side walls of the hoof as well as to the peripheral region of the sole. Then the plastics shoe is adhered to the underside of the strip. The provision of a separate strip allows a satisfactory indirect bond of the shoe to the hoof by using anaerobic, fast-setting adhesives. The strip should be relatively resilient, whereas the shoe should be relatively hard and rigid.

Abstract: A horse shoe is disclosed comprising on its underface intended for engagement with the ground a rib along at least part of its inner edge, made of a plastically deformable material, the rib being formed with an extra thickness extending substantially from the rear third of the horse shoe up to its medium portion.

Abstract: A horseshoe includes a horseshoe base which corresponds to the actual configuration of a horse's hoof. The base is mounted on the hoof so as to leave a space between a sole of the hoof and an upper surface of the base which faces the sole surface when the base is installed on the hoof. A filler material is filled in the space so as to support the hoof on the base when the latter is installed on the hoof.

Abstract: A hoof covering for horses comprises a horseshoe-shaped plastic body made integrally of wear-resistant plastic material and having a generally acute-angled cross section. The plastic body has a lower side with a substantially planar tread surface and a planar upper surface which serves as a support for a hoof of a horse, and an upwardly extending side in the form of a side wall capable of being bent into the desired shape for mounting the hoof covering on the hoof by adhesive means. The lower side of the plastic body defines a horseshoe-shaped groove opening into the substantially planar tread surface. A horseshoe-shaped steel yoke is retained in the groove and has a plurality of spaced-apart steel calks which project through the horseshoe-shaped groove and beyond the tread surface of the plastic body. This groove is in the cross-sectional region of its opening slightly narrower than the steel yoke. Screwable connection elements may be provided between the steel yoke and the calks.

Abstract: A horseshoe made from a titanium alloy which contains at least 84% titanium and at least 2% aluminium.

Abstract: An insert for use with a racehorse shoe having a front end calk, the insert being a plate able to be nailed to the horse's hoof between the shoe and the hoof, the plate having a forward curved edge to generally conform to the front edge of the hoof, area portions of the plate being able to receive the nails securing the shoe to the hoof, and a second rearward calk on the plate having a downwardly directed configuration similar to the front calk on the shoe. In the combination of a racehorse shoe on a racehorse hoof including, a shoe having a front first calk, the shoe being nailed to the hoof, and a second rearward calk secured to the shoe and to the hoof, the second calk being centrally positioned transversely within the shoe and being adjacent the forward half of the shoe.

Abstract: A hoof covering for horses comprises a horseshoe-shaped plastic body which has a generally acute-angled cross section so as to form a lower side with a flat upper surface and an upwardly extending side in the form of a conical side wall. The flat upper surface serves as a support for a hoof of a horse. The conical side wall is capable of being bent into the desired shape for mounting the hoof covering on the hoof by an adhesive.

Abstract: A horseshoe comprises a U-shaped body member made of resilient material and having an upstanding projection at each of its free ends for fitting into corresponding pockets in the hoof with the horseshoe being additionally secured to the hoof by nails.

Abstract: A horseshoe of molded composition having a sole and walls which substantially conform to the shape of a horse's hoof, the shoe is generally slipper-shaped with the front wall being high enough to cover a substantial area of the front wall of the hoof, and the rear wall is limited in height to avoid interference with the cartilage heel of the hoof, the top edge of the side walls slope downward from the upper edge of the front wall to upper edge of the rear wall, at least one reinforcing protuberance on each side wall for admitting self-threading screws for anchoring the horse boot to the side wall of the horse's hoof.

Abstract: A horseshoe includes a generally U-shaped body member having a planar upper surface and a pair of free ends. An upstanding projection is mounted on the upper surface at each free end for fitting in corresponding pockets in the horse's hoof. A band may also span the free ends of the horseshoe to restrain the outward spreading thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel horseshoes exhibiting outstanding wearability. The horseshoes of this invention are made from titanium alloy compositions which provide a desirable combination of mechanical properties (e.g., high strength, flexibility, resiliency, good wearing qualities, abrasion resistance, workability, lightness, moldability) that makes them particularly suitable for the production of horseshoes.The preferred titanium alloy composition for making the horseshoes of this invention is titanium alloy consisting essentially of titanium, aluminum in an amount of 6% by weight and vanadium in an amount of 4% by weight.

Abstract: A horseshoe is applied to the hoof by means of elongated strands or laces which are adhesively secured to the shoe after being threaded through holes in the hoof. The laces have a breaking strength less than that of the strength of the horse's hoof. The horseshoe itself includes a pad having a barrier sheet with loops on one side thereof integrally secured to the body member of the shoe, while loops on the other side provide means to facilitate adhesive securement to the hoof.

Abstract: Elongated strands are threaded through holes in a horse's hoof. The strands have substantial exposed air spaces into which adhesive may flow for facilitating securement of the shoe to the hoof by interaction with the adhesive upon the shoe. Additionally, or alternatively the strands may be used to assist in the medical treatment of cracks in the hoof.

Abstract: Devices for obtaining information with respect to the behavior of a hoof. A sensing device such as an accelerometer or load cell may be attached to the hoof to respond to forces such as impact of the hoof on the ground, and the information derived from the sensing device may be recorded.

Abstract: Equine footwear according to the invention comprises a split ring of a configuration corresponding to the peripheral outline of a hoof of an ungulate animal with the split disposed at the rear or heel portion thereof. The ring in cross section constitutes an acute angle with a lower flange disposed at a slight angle to the horizontal for fitting beneath the generally concave bottom of the hoof, and an upwardly extending flange for surrounding the outer wall of the hoof so that the device constitutes the equivalent of a slipper. The footwear is made of a material having some pliancy or flexibility such as a soft metal but preferably of a plastics material so that it can conform to the particular hoof to which it is applied and permit expansion and contraction of the hoof during movement of the animal. The opposed ends of the ring may be adjustably and releasably secured together to accommodate adjustment and replacement.

Abstract: A correctional pad for use on the hoof of an animal such as a horse or the like is disclosed comprising a resilient body member having a side wall with a bottom wall extending laterally therefrom. The body member is comprised of a material such as Neoprene or the like so that the side wall member may be adhesively secured to the side of the animal's hoof so that the bottom wall member will be selectively positioned beneath the hoof to alter the flight of the animal's foot. One of the embodiments is substantially straight and is L-shaped in cross-section. A further embodiment is also L-shaped in cross-section but it is curved along its length so as to conform to the curvature of the animal's hoof. The thickness of the bottom wall member may be increased by laminating additional thicknesses thereon.

Abstract: A metallic monoblock horseshoe comprising a thick, rectangular in cross-section, inner portion and a thinner peripheral outer portion, the sole of the hoof resting on the inner portion carrying the horse's weight and the outer portion being secured to the crust.