Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HOOF PAD
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is
subject to
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copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
reproduction by
anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright
rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hoof pad, and in particular to a hoof pad
which may be
attached to a shoe, such as a horseshoe, in order to protect the bottom of an
animal's hoof.
A horseshoe or shoes and like apparatus for other animals is regularly
attached to the
bottom of a horse's hoof using nails. Hoof pads are known in the prior art,
such as the hoof pad
shown in FIG. I . The hoof pad 1 of the prior art is a plate-shaped object
having a partially
elliptical shape and flexibility with the outer edge 1 a substantially
matching the outer edge 3a of
the shoe, such as a horseshoe 3. The hoof pad 1 of the prior art is situated
between the top
surface 3b of the horseshoe 3 and the bottom of the hoof; i.e., the bottom
surface Sa of the hoof
5. The horseshoe 3 is then attached to the hoof S using nails 7 that pass
through both the
2 0 horseshoe 3 and the hoof pad 1.
However, the following problems are associated with the hoof pad of the prior
art. First,
the hoof pad cannot be removed alone when the horseshoe is attached to the
hoof with nails
because the hoof pad of the prior art is attached to the hoof along with the
horseshoe using nails.
In other words, the nails attaching the horseshoe and the hoof pad to the hoof
have to be
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removed and the horseshoe taken off along with the hoof pad when the hoof pad
is to be
removed. When a hoof pad is attached to a hoof, moreover, it has to be
attached to the hoof
along with the horseshoe using nails. Therefore, not anybody can attach and
remove the hoof
pad. This has to be done by a farrier or blacksmith.
In addition, the hoof pad is not easy to attach and remove, so hoof oil cannot
be applied
to the bottom of the hoof, and debris caught between the hoof pad and the
bottom of the hoof
such as sand and sawdust cannot be removed without taking off the hoof pad.
Furthermore, because the bottom of the hoof comes into contact with the hoof
pad, the
hoof tends to become soft because of the cushioning effect of the hoof pad and
tends to then
require a hoof pad.
Moreover, because the weight of the horse is brought to bear on the hoof pad
and the hoof
pad has a cushioning effect, the nails holding the horseshoe and the hoof pad
to the bottom of the
hoof tend to become loose.
In addition, because the hoof pad is situated between the bottom of the hoof
and the
horseshoe and has a fixed thickness, hoof pads have to be attached to a left
and right pair of
hooves at the same time so that the bottom of the hooves are a fixed height
from the ground. In
other words, if the hoof pad has to be replaced on the left hoof or the right
hoof in a pair of
hooves, the hoof pad on the other hoof in the pair also has to be replaced.
2 0 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A hoof pad is disclosed which is attachable to a shoe, such as a horseshoe, in
order to
protect the bottom of an animal's hoof. The disclosed hoof pad solves the
problems associated
with hoof pads of the prior art, by providing a hoof pad that can be easily
attached and removed
while the horseshoe is attached to the hoof with nails. In the disclosed hoof
pad, a plurality of
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catches is formed on top of a plate-shaped object having a partially
elliptical shape and flexibility
with the outer edge substantially matching the inner edge of the horseshoe,
and the catches
extend outward from the plate-shaped object, while the plate-shaped object is
supported on the
inside of the horseshoe by fastening the catches on the plate-shaped object to
the top of the
horseshoe so that the top of the plate-shaped object has substantially the
same height as the top of
the horseshoe, and with the plate-shaped object capable of being freely
attached and removed
from the bottom of the horseshoe.
In the disclosed hoof pad, notches are formed in the top surface of the
horseshoe in the
sections corresponding to the catches in the hoof pad so as to receive the
catches. In addition, the
hoof pad has notches formed continuously on top of a horseshoe along the inner
edge of the
horseshoe, with a plate-shaped object having a partially elliptical shape and
flexibility with the
outer edge engaging the notches, and the plate-shaped object is supported on
the inside of the
horseshoe by fastening the outer edge of the plate-shaped object to the
notches so that the top of
the plate-shaped object has substantially the same height as the top of the
horseshoe, and with the
plate-shaped object being freely attached and removed from the bottom of the
horseshoe.
The hoof itself is nailed and fixed to the bottom of horseshoe in the same way
as the prior
art. The hoof pad, which is nailed with the horseshoe, can be freely attached
and removed from
f the bottom of the horseshoe. Therefore, when hoof pad is attached with the
horseshoe which is
nailed with hoof, the plate-shaped object is supported on the inside of the
horseshoe by fastening
2 0 the catches on the plate-shaped object to the top of the horseshoe when
the horse's leg is above
the ground. When the hoof pad is removed from the horseshoe which is nailed
with hoof, the
plate-shaped object of the hoof pad which is inside of the horseshoe is pulled
toward the ground
when horse leg is above the ground. The plate-shaped object has flexibility,
and it can be freely
attached and removed from the bottom of the horseshoe.
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The notches are formed in the top surface of the horseshoe in the sections
corresponding
to the catches so as to receive the catches, so the notches and the catches
can be easily received
and removed. The notches are formed on top of a horseshoe along the inner edge
of the
horseshoe, with the plate-shaped object supported on the inside of the
horseshoe by fastening the
outer edge of the plate-shaped object to the notches.
The disclosed hoof pad provides the following functions and advantages:
1. protects the bottom of the hoof;
2. prevents pressure on the bottom of the hoof by sawdust or manure.
3. prevents the hoof from drying out;
, , 4. protects the hoof hygienically from manure;
5. protects the bottom of the hoof from crushed stone;
6. protects the bottom of the hoof from excessive wear;
7. protects the bottom of the hoof during outdoor horse riding;
8. holds medication in place on the bottom of the hoof in case of hoof
disease; and
9. prevents snow from becoming packed in the bottom of the hoof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an attached hoof pad of the prior
art;
FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the disclosed hoof pad attached to a
hoof;
2 0 FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the hoof and hoof pad of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the attached hoof pad of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the attached hoof pad of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the
attached hoof pad;
FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of the hoof pad of FIG. 6;
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and
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FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of an
attached hoof pad;
FIG. 9 illustrates a plan view of the attached hoof pad of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 2-9, a pad or apparatus is disclosed for use on the
extremity of an
animal, such as the hoof of an animal. The animal may be a horse, and the pad
or apparatus may
be used in conjunction with a horseshoe. However, the animal may be any animal
which may
wear a shoe or comparable apparatus on the extremity of the animal. As
described in the
example embodiments herein, the examples of a horse and shoes for use on
horses' hooves are
used to illustrate the disclosed pad or apparatus. Accordingly, it is
understood that the
description of horses and horseshoes does not limit the application of the
disclosed pad or
apparatus.
As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the horseshoe 11 may be the same as in the prior art. A
plurality
of holes 13 pass through the horseshoe 11 from top to bottom. Nails 15 are
passed through the
holes 13 in the horseshoe 11 from the bottom when the horseshoe 11 is on the
bottom of the
horse's hoof 17a, and the horseshoe 11 is fastened to the bottom of the hoof
17a by hammering
the nails 15 into the hoof 17.
In the example embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, a plate-shaped hoof pad 21 is
flexible
2 0 and partially elliptical with the outer edge 21 a substantially matching
the inner edge 11 a of the
horseshoe and a notch in the rear 21b. The plate-shaped object 21 is made, for
example, from a
synthetic resin, such as urethane resin. A plurality of catches 23 extend
outward from the plate-
shaped object 21 on the top 21c of the plate-shaped object 21. The number and
position of these
catches 23 are optional. A pin-like element 25 is used to attach the catches
23 to the plate-
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shaped object 21. The plate-shaped object 21 is supported on the inside of the
horseshoe 11 by
fastening the catches 23 on the plate-shaped object 21 to the top 1 lb of the
horseshoe 11 so that
the top 21 c of the plate-shaped object 21 has substantially the same height
as the top 11 b of the
horseshoe 1 l, and the plate-shaped object 21 can be freely attached and
removed from the
bottom of the horseshoe 11.
In another example embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-7, notches 27 are formed in the
top
surface 11 b of the horseshoe 11 in the sections corresponding to the catches
23 so as to receive
the catches 23.
In a further example embodiment shown in FIGS. 8-9, notch stages 29 are formed
continuously on top 1 lb of a horseshoe 11 along the inner edge 1 la of the
horseshoe 11, which
acts as a shelf or ridge upon which the outer edge 31a is disposed. A plate-
shaped object 31 is
provided and is flexible, for example, being made from a synthetic resin such
as a urethane resin.
The plate-shaped object 31 is partially elliptical and notched in the rear 31b
with the outer edge
31a engaging the notches 29. The plate-shaped object 31 is supported on the
inside of the
horseshoe 11 by fastening the outer edge 31a of the plate-shaped object 31 to
the notches 29 so
that the top 31c of the plate-shaped object 31 is substantially the same
height as the top 1 lb of
the horseshoe 11, and the plate-shaped object 31 can be freely attached and
removed from the
bottom of the horseshoe 11. A protrusion 33 extends upwards from the head of
the horseshoe 11.
The hoof pads and apparatus described in conjunction with FIGS. 2-9 have the
following
2 0 superior effects and advantages, compared to the prior art hoof pad shown
in FIG. 1:
1. Because the hoof pad is not interposed between the horseshoe and the bottom
of the
hoof, the hoof pad can be easily attached and removed while the horseshoe is
attached to the hoof
with nails. In other words, the horseshoe does not have to be removed.
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2. Because the nails do not have to be removed and replaced when a hoof pad is
attached
or removed, there is less chance of damage to the walls of the hoof.
3. Because the hoof pad is not interposed between the horseshoe and the bottom
of the
hoof, the hoof pad does not bear the weight of the horse. As a result, the
hoof pad lasts longer.
4. Because the hoof pad is so easily attached and removed, it can be used when
needed
and removed when not needed.
5. Because the hoof pad is easy to attach and remove, hoof oil can be applied
to the
bottom of the hoof and debris caught between the hoof pad and the bottom of
the hoof such as
sand and sawdust can be removed when necessary.
6. Because the hoof pad is supported in the inside of the horseshoe so that
the top of the
plate-shaped object is substantially the same as the height of the top of the
horseshoe and the
height of the bottom of the hoof from the ground is unaffected, a hoof pad
only has to be attached
to the hoof that needs a hoof pad. In other words, a hoof pad can be attached
safely to either the
left or right hoof when needed without having to replace the hoof pad on the
other hoof in the
pair.
The effects and advantages of the disclosed pad or apparatus may be increased
even more
when a known anti-bacterial agent and/or antiseptic agent is added/deposited
onto the hoof pad
adjacent to the hoof 17. Furthermore, the hoof pad may be composed of known
materials such as
rubber, plastic, urethane, and other substances. In addition, the hoof pad may
be provided in a kit
2 0 with the shoe and/or the anti-bacterial/antiseptic agent.
The disclosed hoof pad has been described by way of the preferred embodiment.
However, numerous modifications and substitutions may be made without
departing from the
spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention has been described by way
of illustration
rather than limitation.
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REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 Hoof Pad
1 a Outer Edge
3 Horseshoe
3a Outer Edge
3b Top Surface
5 Hoof
Sa Bottom Surface
11 Horseshoe
11 Inner Edge
a
11 b Top Surface
13 Nail Hole
Nail
17 Hoof
15 17a Bottom of Hoof
21 Plate-Shaped
Object
21 a Outer Edge
21 b Rear
21 c Top Surface
2 0 23 Catch
Pin-Like Element
27 Notch
29 Notch Stage
31 Plate-Shaped
Object
_g_
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31 Outer
a Edge
31 Rear
b
31 Top Surface
c
33 Protrusion
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