Hoof Boot

Abstract

A hoof boot for use on a horse that provides enhanced impact shock absorption and dissipation is disclosed. The hoof boot is comprised of two polymers of different hardness wherein the tread and insole of the hoof boot is softer to provide cushion to the impact of the hoof on the ground, and the skeleton of the hoof boot is of a harder polymer to provide strength and shape to the hoof boot.

Claims

1. A hoof boot comprising: a hoof boot shell wherein the hoof boot shell further comprises a skeleton including an upper and a core, the core having a tread side and an insole side; and a casing, the casing including a tread and an insole; wherein the skeleton is constructed of a first polymer with a first hardness and the casing is constructed of a second polymer with a second hardness wherein the second hardness is less than the first hardness and wherein the casing absorbs and dissipates energy from impact related shock of the hoof boot striking the ground; wherein when the hoof boot is placed on the animal, the casing is in contact with the bottom of the hoof and the ground and substantially encapsulates the core.

2. The hoof boot of claim 1 wherein the core has a thickness between 1/32 inch (0.08 cm) and inch (0.64 cm).

3. The hoof boot of claim 2 wherein the core comprises holes wherein the holes allow a mechanical coupling of the first and second polymers.

4. The hoof boot of claim 3 wherein the holes create a range of open space on the core of between 50%-70%.

5. The hoof boot of claim 4 wherein the first polymer of the skeleton has a hardness of 50-70 Shore D, and wherein the second polymer of the casing has a hardness of 40-90 Shore A.

6. The hoof boot of claim 5 wherein the insole is no more than inch (0.95 cm) compressible polymer material.

7. The hoof boot of claim 6 wherein the tread has a thickness greater than inch (0.64 cm).

8. The hoof boot of claim 7 wherein the core includes a slot to allow lateral flexibility of the hoof boot.

9. The hoof boot of claim 8 wherein the hoof boot is selected from the group consisting of: a. a strap on boot; and b. a glue on boot.

10. The hoof boot of claim 9 wherein the casing further extends to encapsulate the upper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the hoof boot of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the following hoof boot components: skeleton and the tread and insole of the casing.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the hoof boot with the core and the casing. The insole portion of the hoof boot is shown.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a cross section front view of the hoof boot.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a cross section side view of the hoof boot.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a back perspective view of the hoof boot of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The present invention relates to a hoof boot 100 for protecting the hooves of animals such as horses and improving shock impact and absorption caused by the hoof of the animal coming into contact with the ground while walking or running. More specifically, the hoof boot 100 includes a hoof boot shell 200 alone or in combination with other components. The hoof boot shell 200 includes a skeleton 300 and a casing 400. As shown in the cross section FIGS. 4 and 5, the skeleton 300 further includes an upper 350 and a core 355 that is a horizontal section with an insole side 360 and a tread side 370. The casing 400 further includes a tread 450 and an insole 470 that encapsulates the core 355 portion of the skeleton 300 forming a one-piece hoof boot 100 in a one-piece mechanically attached device. In particular, the casing 400 is the combination of the tread 450 and insole 470 that encapsulates the core 355 of the skeleton 300. The hoof boot 100 in this invention can be a strap on type of hoof boot, a glue on type of hoof boot, or a hoof boot with a heel captivator.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the skeleton 300 is constructed of a first polymer with a first hardness and the casing 400 is constructed of a second polymer with a second hardness that is less than the hardness of the first polymer. The casing 400 made of the second polymer absorbs and dissipates energy from impact related shock of the hoof boot 100 striking the ground while the hoof boot 100 is on the hoof of the horse. Preferably, the second polymer substantially dissipates the energy absorbed from the impact. More preferably, the second polymer dissipates all of the energy absorbed from the impact. Most preferably, the second polymer absorbs and dissipates the energy of the impact related shock without the first polymer dissipating the energy of the impact related shock. The skeleton 300 serves to provide structural support and attachment and retention of the hoof boot 100 to the hoof. The hoof boot 100 could be constructed either as a strap on boot or a glue on boot where the upper 350 portion of the skeleton 300 is bonded to the hoof.

[0029] The purpose of the skeleton 300 of the present invention is to provide a means of fastening a separately created upper 350 and core 355 to the tread 450 and insole 470 without using unreliable, feature compromising, and potentially dangerous conventional adhesives and fastening means. The skeleton 300 serves to provide a means of manufacturing a composite hoof boot shell 200 with greater structural reliability than is possible with conventionally assembled composite hoof boot shells. This results in a more reliable and lower cost composite hoof boot shell 200 with advantages over conventional integrally molded mono material hoof boot shells being less bulk and mass, enhanced retention and stability upon the hoof, a greater ability to absorb shock and concussion to the hoof during use providing greater comfort to the horse, a higher level of performance traversing firm, hard, and rugged terrain, and potentially lower incidence of injury to the hoof, lower leg, and shoulder of the horse.

[0030] In one preferred embodiment, when the hoof boot 100 is placed on the horse, the shell 200 fits around the hoof, and the upper 350 is in contact with the walls of the hoof, while the casing 400 is in contact with the bottom of the hoof on the insole 470 and the ground on the tread 450 and encapsulates the core 355. In this embodiment, it is believed that the core 355 does not absorb or dissipate energy. Rather, the core 355 is used to strengthen the device and hold the shape of the hoof boot 100 while on the hoof. If the entire hoof boot shell 200 were made of the softer polymer, it would not be structurally strong enough to hold its shape and stay on the animal. In another embodiment, the casing 400 can extend to encapsulate a portion of the upper 350 and core 355. In an additional alternate embodiment, the casing 400 can extend to encapsulate the entire upper 350 and core 355.

[0031] This preferred configuration begins with the hoof boot shell 200 being constructed of a pre-molded, one-piece skeleton 300 that is formed from a durable, first polymer with a preferable hardness of 50-70 Shore D. In the most preferred embodiment, the hardness of the first polymer for the skeleton 300 is 60 Shore D. The skeleton 300 includes an upper 350 and a core 355. The upper 350 is the part of the skeleton 300 that covers the walls of the hoof, and the core 355 is the horizontal section where the insole 470 and tread 450 made of the second polymer are coupled to the hoof boot shell 200. In the preferred embodiment, the insole 470 and tread 450 are made of a softer polymer material in the range of 40-90 Shore A hardness. In the most preferred embodiment, the insole 470 and tread 450 are made of a polymer of 50 Shore A hardness.

[0032] The core 355 that includes a tread side 360 and insole side 370 have a horizontal surface thickness of preferably 1/32 in. to in. (0.08 cm-0.64 cm) located at the horizontal transition plane where the tread 450 and the insole 470 meet in the completed hoof boot 100. The tread side 360 and the insole side 370 of the core 355 are made to a slight thickness so that the second polymer can be coupled to the tread side 360 and insole side 370 forming the tread 450 and the insole 470 without adding too much weight or bulk to the hoof boot 100. In the preferred embodiment, the insole 470 consists of no more than inch (0.95 cm) compressible material and is preferably inch (0.32 cm). The remaining thickness of the compressible material is found on the tread 450 of the hoof boot 100. In the preferred embodiment, the tread thickness is preferably greater than inch (0.64 cm), and more preferably inch to inch (0.64 cm-1.27 cm).

[0033] In the preferred embodiment, the core 355 features a plurality of holes 380. These holes 380 can be of any shape or configuration. It is preferred that the percentage of the range of open space made up by the holes 380 in the core 355 is in the range of approximately 50%70%. These holes 380 create the space where the first and second polymers are mechanically attached creating the hoof boot 100 with the harder skeleton 300 and the softer casing 400. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the core 355 can have an opening such as a slot that goes down the length of the core 355 beginning at the rear of the hoof boot shell 200. This embodiment improves lateral flexibility and expansion at the back of the boot 100.

[0034] In order to create the one-piece shell 200, the pre-molded skeleton 300 is placed within an empty cavity of the mold used to create the tread 450 and insole 470 and the liquid form of the second polymer is added to the mold. This liquid form of the second polymer flows through the holes or slots 380 featured in the core 355 of the pre-molded skeleton 300, simultaneously forming the tread 450 and the insole 470. When the liquid form of the second polymer hardens/solidifies/polymerizes to its finished state, the one-piece hoof boot 100 is created with an integrally made skeleton 300 for structure and a casing 400 with an insole 470 and tread 450 that absorb and dissipate the shock impact of the hoof and hoof boot 100 combination bearing upon on the ground. This method of mechanical attachment of the skeleton 300 to the completed insole 470 and tread 450 combination results in a completed hoof boot 100 without the use of a separate, conventional adhesive or conventional, mechanical fastening process. This prevents errors when using adhesives and potential hazards created when using other attachment mechanisms. Polyurethane is an example of the type of polymer used in this invention.