Equine Ice Removal Tool

Abstract

A hand tool directed to the practice of the efficient removal of snow, ice, and debris buildup from a horse's hoof is provided. The hand tool includes an elongated handle with a t-section tool head comprised of a first striking surface at one end to effectuate removal of ice buildup and a second striking surface with a beveled edge at the opposing end of the tool head, to assist in the scooping removal of debris built up. On an opposing section of the elongated handle located away from that of the tool head is provided a hoof pick to assist in the precision removal of small debris particles.

Claims

1. An ice removal tool comprising: an elongated handle having a first end and a second end, said elongated handle adapted to be removably received by a human user; a tool head with a substantially linear central body having a first distal end and a second distal end, said tool head connected to the first end of said elongated handle; a hoof pick having a contact surface, an exterior edge, and an upper edge, said hoof pick being connected to the second end of said elongated handle; and wherein said tool head further includes a striking surface at the first distal end thereon.

2. The ice removal tool of claim 1 wherein the striking surface additionally comprises a plurality of tapered edges that disperse towards the substantially linear central body of the tool head.

3. The ice removal tool of claim 1 wherein said tool head additionally includes a second striking surface on the substantially linear central body of the tool head at the second distal end thereon.

4. The ice removal tool of claim 3, wherein the exterior edge of the hoof pick additionally comprises a brush.

5. The ice removal tool of claim 4, wherein the elongated handle additionally comprises an ergonomic handle.

6. The ice removal tool of claim 3, wherein the second striking surface additionally comprises a hoof knife.

7. An ice removal tool comprising: a tool head including a first strike surface and a second strike surface, and a substantially linear central body space being defined between the first strike surface and the second strike surface, said central body space extending along a generally linear axis; an elongated handle having a top end and a bottom end, said top end attached to the central body space of the tool head; a hoof knife, having an exterior edge and a shepherd's crook tip, said hoof knife attached to the bottom end of the elongated handle; and wherein the elongated handle is a generally cylindrical shape.

8. The ice removal tool of claim 7, wherein the central body space of the tool head at the first strike portion contains a generally downward slope relative to the linear axis of the second strike portion.

9. The ice removal tool of claim 8, wherein the central body space of the tool head additionally comprises tapered edges that converge towards the first strike portion.

10. The ice removal tool of claim 9, wherein the hoof knife exterior edge additionally comprises a brush.

11. The ice removal tool of claim 10, wherein the elongated handle additionally comprises an ergonomic handle.

12. The ice removal tool of claim 11, wherein the second strike portion additionally comprises a beveled edge.

13. The ice removal tool of claim 12, wherein the hoof pick additionally comprises one of: ring, loop, shackle, gate, and carabiner.

14. The ice removal tool of claim 12, wherein the central body space of the tool head additionally comprises one of: ring, loop, shackle, gate, and carabiner.

15. A foldable ice removal tool comprising: an elongated handle having a top end and a bottom end; a tool head with a substantially linear central body having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotably connected to the top end of the elongated handle at a first hinge, and the second end pivotably connected to the top end of said elongated handle at a second hinge; wherein said tool head further includes a first strike surface and a second strike surface disposed generally at opposite positions on the first end and the second end of said tool head substantially linear central body; and wherein an instrument is pivotably connected with the bottom end of the elongated handle at a third hinge.

16. The foldable ice removal tool of claim 15, wherein the instrument further comprises a hoof knife having an exterior edge and a shepherd's crook tip.

17. The foldable ice removal tool of claim 15, wherein the instrument further comprises a hoof pick.

18. The ice removal tool of claim 17, wherein the hoof pick exterior edge additionally comprises a brush.

19. The ice removal tool of claim 18, wherein the elongated central body additionally comprises tapered edges that converge towards the front strike surface.

20. The ice removal tool of claim 19, wherein the second strike surface additionally comprises a beveled edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] One or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, including an elongate handle element and first and second striking members, also including a hoof pick.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure highlighting an embodiment of the first striking surface.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure highlighting an embodiment of the tool head.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the Ice Removal Tool highlighting an embodiment of the tool head.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, including a hoof knife at the end of the elongate handle element.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, wherein a brush is included on the exterior of a hoof pick, and a hoof knife is utilized as the second striking surface of the tool head.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, highlighting the foldability features of one embodiment of the present disclosure by way of the presence of multiple hinges.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the Ice Removal Tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, illustrating an ergonomic handle.

[0030] Before explaining one or more embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components as set forth in the following description or as illustrated in any appended drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and appearances, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, an ice removal tool 10 is shown according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The ice removal tool 10 includes a generally cylindrical elongated handle 20 with a first end 30 and a second end 40. The elongated handle 20 as shown is generally cylindrical, and may additionally have an ergonomic wrapping 280 (as shown in FIG. 8) around the elongated handle circumference 25. Integral with the first end 30 is a substantially linear central body 50 having a first striking surface 130 and a second striking surface 100. The location nearest the elongated handle first end 30 and the first striking surface 130 is known as the first connection point 70, and the location nearest the elongated handle first end 30 and the second striking surface 100 is known as the second connection point 60.

[0032] The substantially linear central body 50 may additionally contain a downward slope 75 near the first striking surface 130. This downward slope 75 is known to be relative to the perpendicular nature of the substantially linear central body 50 with the axis created from the elongated handle 20 of the present disclosure. Further, the first striking surface 130 may contained tapered edges 110a, 110b, which generally converge away from the substantially linear central body 50 and towards a first contact surface 120.

[0033] The second striking surface 100 in the present figure is shown here to have a beveled edge 80, which allows for the ability of a human user to scrape or pry with said implement. The beveled edge 80 meets at a second contact surface 90.

[0034] The elongated handle second end 40, which is located opposite that of the elongated handle first end 30 in this embodiment utilizes a hoof pick 140. The hoof pick 140 contains an exterior edge 150 with ability for additional features (such as shown in FIGS. 5-6). Additionally, the hoof pick 140 has an upper edge 160, and a contact surface 170.

[0035] Turning now to FIG. 2, the ice removal tool 10 is shown with a partial perspective view, from the underside of a first striking surface 130. The first connection point 70 is highlighted, where the substantially linear central body 50 abuts, or touches, the elongated handle 20. As is clear in this figure, the tapered edges 110a, 110b converge towards the first contact surface 120 of the tool head.

[0036] In FIGS. 3-4, the ice removal tool 10 is shown with partial perspective views, and may be used as a juxtaposition of the substantially linear central body 50 as it relates to an embodiment such as in FIG. 3 wherein a first striking surface downward slope 75 is utilized, opposed to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 wherein no downward slope 75 is present.

[0037] Looking at FIG. 3, the second striking surface 100 highlights the beveled edge 80. The second contact surface 90 is the end of the substantially linear central body 50 on the second distal end. Opposing this distal end is the first distal end shown in FIG. 4, where a first contact surface 120 is present.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, the adaptability of the ice removal tool 10 is highlighted, where a hoof knife 180 is located at a position near the elongated handle second end 40. The embodiment as shown is similar to that disclosed in FIG. 1, with the replacement of a hoof knife 180 for the presence of a hoof pick 140. The hoof knife 180 features an exterior edge 190, and a curved tip similar to a shepherd's crook 200. The elongated handle 20 as shown herein is generally cylindrical, and may additionally comprise an ergonomic handle 280 (as shown in FIG. 8) around the elongated handle circumference 25.

[0039] Further, it is shown in this FIG. 5 that a carabiner 270 is affixed at a location near the hoof pick exterior edge 190, for ease of storage. This carabiner 270 is shown by way of example, and as disclosed previously, may be an alternative storage device such as a ring, a loop, or other device. It is also contemplated that the carabiner 270, or similar storage device, may be affixed or attached at a different location such as on the upper surface of the substantially linear central body 50.

[0040] Turning now to FIG. 6, an embodiment of the present invention has a variety of alternative farrier uses, and thus may feature a variety of implements formed or connected to the first striking surface 130 or the second striking surface 100, as shown here in this figure. As discussed earlier, in this image a hoof knife 180 is present at the location of the second striking surface 100, while the aforementioned hoof pick 140 is at the located at a position near the elongated handle second end 40. The hoof knife 180 contains an exterior edge 190 and a shepherd's crook tip 200. The first striking surface 130 contains tapered edges 110a, 110b, converging towards a first contact surface 120 on the distal end as opposed to the hook knife 180. In this embodiment the hoof pick 140 as shown here utilizes the additional feature of a brush 210 located on the hoof pick exterior surface 150 so as to allow for the sweeping out of debris from a hoof or crevice.

[0041] FIG. 7 highlights the ability of one embodiment of the present disclosure to allow for the foldability of one or more of the ends of the ice removal tool 10. In this figure, the previously mentioned first connection point 70 and the second connection point 60 are the location of a hinge or bearing or bore or the like, which turns the said connection points into a first hinge 220 and a second hinge 230 respectively. The first hinge 220 allows for the 90-degree movement of the first striking surface 130 from an opened position as shown in FIGS. 1-6, into the first striking surface closed position 240 as shown here. Similarly, the second hinge 230 allows for the second striking surface 100 to move into the second striking surface closed position 250 as depicted in the present figure. Further, in this image the ability of the hoof pick 140 to rotate from an extended position by way of a third hinge 235 to this second end closed position 260 is shown. In so doing, should all three instruments of the ice removal tool 10 be folded to their respective closed positions, the ice removal tool 10 itself will be a compact device, which may fit in a hammer loop of a tool belt, a pouch of a horse saddle, or possibly even in a human user's pants pocket.

[0042] Now viewing FIG. 8, it is shown the ergonomic handle 280 as may be utilized in some embodiments of the ice removal tool 10. As is now clear, the ergonomic handle substantially covers the entirety of the ergonomic handle circumference 25. The elongated handle 20 as shown has a substantially linear central body 50 comprising a first striking surface 130 and a second striking surface 100, all together collectively known as the tool head, connected to the elongated handle first end 30. On the opposing end of the elongated handle 20 is the elongated handle second end 40, which additionally comprises a hoof pick 140. On the hoof pick exterior edge 150 is a brush 210. As is noticeable here, the first striking surface 130 comprises tapered edges 110a, 110b, that disperse, or widen out, towards the substantially linear central body. In such a fashion, the first striking surface 130 contains a slot-head first contact surface 120, with a generally downward slope as relative to the tool head itself. This results in a mild scoop formation on this embodiment of the first striking surface 130, as contrasted from the generally linear axis of the second striking surface 100.

[0043] Understandably, the present invention has been described above in terms of one or more preferred embodiments and methods. It is recognized that various alternatives and modifications may be made to these embodiments and methods that are within the scope of the present invention. It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art of hand tools, hand tool accessories, ice and debris removal, or in any other art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions, as well as widely differing embodiments, applications and methods without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.