EQUINE SHOE WITH CONCAVE TOPSIDE

Abstract

An equine shoe structure and assembly that provides a cushioning effect on the equine hoof and legs, covers substantially all the underside of a hoof, and provides an upper concave surface shaped to mate with a rounded shaped equine hoof. An apparatus to convert a flat topped shoe to concave is also provided along with methods of use for the apparatus and shoe.

Claims

1. An equine polymer shoe having a top section attached to a bottom section wherein the top section has a concave shape formed into it that is designed to mate with a rounded bottom side of an equine hoof.

2. The equine shoe of claim 1, where the polymer is polyurethane.

3. The equine shoe of claim 1, where the bottom section is convex, providing a rocker shape.

4. An equine rocker shoe, said rocker shoe having a top polymeric layer of a harder durometer than a bottom polymeric layer, said top polymeric layer attached to said bottom polymeric layer, said top polymeric layer being concave and shaped to fit adjacent a rocker trimmed hoof, said bottom polymeric layer being convex to provide a rocker shape.

5. The rocker shoe of claim 4, said top polymeric layer being Shore A 85-95 and said bottom polymeric layer being Shore A 40-70.

6. The rocker shoe of claim 4, said top polymeric layer being Shore A 89-95 and said bottom polymeric layer being Shore A 45-65.

7. The rocker shoe of claim 4, said rocker shoe comprising polyurethane.

8. The rocker shoe of claim 5, said rocker shoe comprising polyurethane.

9. The rocker shoe of claim 6, said rocker shoe comprising polyurethane.

10. The rocker shoe of claim 4, said bottom polymeric layer having treads on a bottoms surface thereof.

11. A device having a base with a recessed section shaped to receive a heated equine shoe and a lever with a plunger constructed so that the plunger may be used to press a section of the topside of a heated polymeric equine shoe located in the recessed section to a desired depth and shape.

12. An apparatus for shaping an polymeric equine shoe, said apparatus having: a) a base; b) a platform attached to said base, said platform having an equine shoe shaped depression therein; c) a lever arm operably affixed to said base and configured to depress a plunger ending in a stop when activated, said plunger and stop positioned above and inside said depression when said lever arm is in a resting position, and said stop reaching a surface of said depression when said lever arm is activated.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said plunger is positioned in a slot in said lever arm and can be shifted back and forth along said lever arm, thereby adjusting a position of said plunger and said stop.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said stop comprises rubber or polyurethane.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said platform is reversibly attached to said base, and said apparatus includes a plurality of platforms, each platform having a different sized equine shoe depression.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said stop is reversibly attached to said plunger, and said apparatus includes a plurality of stops, each stop having a different size and/or shape.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said lever arm is operably connected to a motor, and activating said motor activates said lever arm.

18. A method of shaping the topside of an polymeric equine shoe having a topside and a bottom side, said method comprising: a) heating said equine shoe to a malleable point, without melting said equine shoe; b) pressing an area of the topside of said equine shoe to form a shaped equine shoe that has a concave top surface; c) rapidly cooling shaped equine shoe to fix its shape.

19. The method of claim 18, where said equine shoe comprises polyurethane.

20. The method of claim 18, where said bottom side of said equine shoe is convex.

21. The method of claim 18, said method including step b2), wherein said shoe is compared to rocker trimmed hoof and said concave-shaped shoe is adjusted if needed for better fit against said rocker trimmed hoof.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein steps a), b) and b2) are repeated as needed.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1A (prior art) is a drawing of the hoof structure as seen from the bottom.

[0052] FIG. 1B shows the structures in side view and FIG. 1C shows the correct alignment of the coffin bone in a healthy hoof structure.

[0053] FIG. 2 (prior art) is a front view of a polymer shoe with a flat normal upper side with an angle monitor. If the prior art shoes are made of resin, they can be modified as described herein to have a concave upper surface.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a side view of a polymer shoe of one embodiment of the invention with a concave upper side.

[0055] FIG. 4 is another side view of a polymer shoe of another embodiment of the invention with a deep concave upper side (left) and a shallower concave upper side (right).

[0056] FIG. 5 is side view of a polymer shoe of an embodiment of the invention that has been overheated.

[0057] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of a device to produce a concave top side in a polymer shoe of an embodiment of the invention.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a closeup view of a different embodiment of the device to produce a concave top side in a polymer shoe. This device has a larger stop that the device of FIG. 6, and the stop attachment means also differs.

[0059] FIG. 8 is a closeup view of yet another device, similar to that of FIG. 7, but the stop has been switched out for a much larger one, sized and shaped to fit a particular shoe. With this embodiment, a single press is needed since the stop is shaped to provide the exact contours needed for a given shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] Generally speaking the shoes of the invention are rocker shoes designed to fit on the rocker trimmed hoof—thus the bottom is rocker shaped, and the top is the negative image or the reverse of a rocker shape.

[0061] As used herein, “rocker” refers to a shape that is somewhat convex around the edges, allowing easier breakover of the shoe/hoof as the equine moves. The edges are typically rounded to be convex front to back, but can also have slight rounding side to side. A rounded toe is also sometimes referred to as a “mustang roll,” as wild horses self-trim in a mountainous environment to significantly round the front of the hoof.

[0062] The rocker shoes of this invention are composed of (at least) two components—an upper layer and a lower layer. The two portions are of different densities or hardness, the upper layer being in a hardness similar to a typical hoof wall, and the lower layer being less hard and thus able to flex to absorb impact and thus cushion the foot. The upper layer should be concave, so as to mate well with a rocker trimmed hoof, and the lower layer is convex, the same as any rocker trimmed hoof or rocker shoe or boot.

[0063] In use the shoe is typically glue to the sole, using adhesives known in the art, but this is not essential, and the shoe may also be nailed on or otherwise attached.

[0064] The top layer is polymeric, and may be of any suitable moldable material of sufficient hardness. The upper layer has at least Shore A 85-95, and preferably is 90-95. Polyurethane is preferred, as it is moldable, easily shaped with common farrier tools, such as rasps and knives, but other thermoplastic polymer materials can be used, such as polyvinyl chlorides or styrene butadiene styrene polymer are also usable.

[0065] Other polymers that can be used include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyacrylic acids (PAA), polyacrylic esters (PAc), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamides, polybenzimidazole (PBI), polycarbonate (PC), polyether sulfone (PES), polysulfone, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the like.

[0066] The hard upper layer is about one-sixteenth ( 1/16) to one-half (½) inch thick and should not be so hard as to be brittle and break in use, but very rigid compared to the remainder of the shoe. In embodiments that are glued to the hoof, it is preferred that the top section have a hardness similar to the hardness of the equine outside hoof wall, because similar hardness materials are more easily bonded by adhesive.

[0067] Copper, silver, or other solid medical components may be incorporated into the top side or coated onto the hoof-contacting topside, providing biocidal or other medical functionality when in use, but this is optional.

[0068] The lowermost layer has a Shore A hardness of about 45-70, with 45-65 preferred and about 60 being ideal. It too is polymeric, may be of any suitable moldable material, such as is described for the upper layer. It is thicker than the upper layer, being at least ¼ inches to as much as 1 inch, and is preferably about 0.5 inch. Or course, since the lower surface is rockered, the thickness will vary, as it will be thinner at the edges and even more so at the toe.

[0069] In the currently available commercial embodiments, the lower layer is not as large as the upper layer, the size reduction contributing further to the rocker surface, as well as providing a hard edge for nails. The lower layer can be similar in shape to the shoes described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/548,304, and the manufacture and materials are very similar too (although the upper layer herein is convex). Shoes such as those described in FIG. 1A, through 3A of U.S. Ser. No. 10/548,304 are especially useful, as are the shoes described in USD897052.

[0070] In some embodiments, there can also be a middle layer, but this is optional.

[0071] The position of the coffin bone is determined by x-ray to determine an optimum position of the coffin bone. Rounding the underside of the hoof, and attaching a polymer shoe with a concave upper side (positioned next to the underside of the rounded hoof) facilitates achieving a precise location of the coffin bone to provide both comfortable and healing relief for a laminitic equine hoof. Ideally, a second radiograph will confirm that the desired position has been achieved, and once confirmed, the shoe may be attached to the hoof.

[0072] In practice, the shoe may be shaped first and then the hoof, or the reverse, depending on whether this is a first shoeing or not. A contact paper that will transfer color (such as is employed by dentists) or any color applied to the hoof (or the shoe) may used to determine if there are any spots that fail to contact or spots that are too high. The hoof or the shoe can be further rasped, or otherwise adjusted as needed for the perfect fit.

[0073] Referring to the drawings and pictures, FIG. 2 is a picture of a polymer shoe of an with a normal generally flat top side 101, and convex bottom side 102. In practice, the top may not be completely flat as it may accommodate the slightly concave shape of the equine sole, however with respect to the outer circumference of the hoof, it is flat, and the current commercial available rocker shoes are completely flat.

[0074] Since the top is flat, this shoe could not be used with a rocker-trimmed hoof, as the rocker trimmed hoof sole will not mate correctly with a flat surface. However, as taught herein a resin shoe can be heated and shaped to form a concave top, convex bottom rocker shoe as herein described and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0075] FIGS. 3 and 4 are shoes showing a concave topside of varying depth at 104, 106, 108 and the same bottom side 102. 112 is just a flat edge for comparison. In FIG. 4, we see more clearly that the depth of the concave may be varied, having greater curvature in the embodiment on the left than on the right. Thus, the concave depth as well as its shape and location are flexible and the shoe may be shaped as desired.

[0076] In order to convert an existing polymeric rocker shoe to fit a rocker trimmed horse, the polymer is heated for reshaping. For example, for polyurethane shoes of a composition as described in U.S. Ser. No. 10/548,304 and available at SoftRideBoots.com, the shoe is heated to about 300° F. to soften the hard polymer top section of the shoe.

[0077] The shoe should not be heated to far as to cause melting, bubbling or slumping of the shape. FIG. 5 shows the result of overheating the shoe—in this case to 350° F.—and warping of the bottom layer 102 and bot warping and bubbling of the top layer 101 is seen. Thus, care should be taken to stay within the thermal limits of the polymers used.

[0078] The polyurethane shoe is correctly heated to about 300° F. to soften the hard polymer top section. This can be done with a hot oil bath or heat gun, but is preferably done with a temperature controlled small portable oven. The center section of the topside can then be pressed downward to form the desired concave shape. The shoe is then quickly cooled to set the shape, as by submerging it in a water bath (preferably a cooled water bath). The degree of heating of other polymer composition necessary to soften the topside for shaping can be easily determined by those skilled in the art, by prior knowledge or by trial and error.

[0079] FIG. 6 illustrates a device 600 that is useful for forming the desired concave shape in the topside of a polymeric shoe. The device consists of a base 604 with an optional platform 603 having a recessed area 602 of a shape to receive a polymer shoe—thus there will be a rocker-shaped concave depression to receive the rocker shoe. Where the platform is omitted, the depression 602 will be in the base 604, but an interchangeable platform 603 is preferred.

[0080] Preferably, a plurality of platforms 603 are provided, each with a depression 602 in a range of shoe sizes, since the variety of shoes sizes available is quite large and a single depression size will not suffice for both a pony and a horse. The platforms 603 can then be easily switched out as needed for different shoe sizes. The platforms 603 can be attached with any suitable means, such as bolts or clips, or preferably just fitted into a rectangular or other shaped depression provided for a platform 603 with the same shape.

[0081] There is an adjustable levered arm 601 with a section 614 containing a slidable plunger 608 ending in a stop 610, so that when the lever is activated, the plunger and stop press down on the topside of the heated shoe (not shown) that is positioned in the recessed area 602.

[0082] Section 614 is formed with two parallel bars that provide a slot 614b that allows plunger 608 to slide along section 614, such that the plunger 608 and stop 610 can be positioned in any desired part of the topside of the shoe by loosening nut 618 and can be fixed in place at the desired location. In such manner, depression can be made anywhere along the shoe and the negative-rocker shape made in the heated polymeric shoe. However, there are other mechanical means of adjusting the position of plunger 608 that could be used and provide the same functionality.

[0083] The device of FIG. 6 is a prototype, and so is somewhat simplistic, being assembled of readily available parts. Thus, plunger 608 is merely a threaded bar, and stop 610 a rubber foot, such as might be used on the bottom of a chair, merely screwed thereonto.

[0084] In the prototype, handle 601 connects with section 614 using pivoting plates or hinges 624 and rivets or pins 626 fitted through holes (not visible), such that lifting handle 601 will depress plunger 608. These parts are mounted on a vertical section 620 via bolts 622. However, these mechanical connections can easily be modified and any number of connections provide the same functionality.

[0085] In operation, a flat topped rocker shoe is heated to a desire temperature, placed in the recessed area of the device and the plunger activated to push the desired shape into the topside of the shoe. The shoe shape can be compared to the hoof shape by placing it thereon with color transfer paper and wiggled a bit. It may be useful to cool the shoe somewhat before fitting so as to not overheat the hoof. If there are high parts, they will be colored, and the farrier can reduce that section and test again. If this process takes too much time, it may be necessary to rewarm the shoe, but a nearby oven makes this quick and easy. Once the fit is sufficiently perfect, the entire device with the shoe or just the shoe alone is submerged in a cold water bath to quickly cool the shaped shoe and thus fix the concave shape in the topside of the shoe.

[0086] In yet another embodiment, the stop 710 is larger as seen in FIG. 7. This stop has a more robust attachment means including throughpin or rivet 711, that passes through a hole (not visible) in the plunger 708. However, this is exemplary and the attachment means can be any known in the art.

[0087] In still another embodiment, the stop itself is provided in a variety of sizes, one for each shoe size, as shown in FIG. 8 where stop 810 is much larger. This makes the shaping of the shoe much faster, since a single press can shape the entire shoe. In such instance, it may be useful to motorize the plunger so that less effort by the farrier is needed. However, the manually activated device will be less expensive, and may be preferred.

[0088] These devices can be provided in a kit, containing at least an entire device, but preferably including the base unit, platforms having an array of shoe shaped depression sizes, and a variety of stop shapes and sizes. Other kit materials may include instructions for use, lubricant for parts, replacement parts, a oven, a cold water bath, and the like.

[0089] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the appended claims.

[0090] Each of the following are incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

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