Abstract
A shoe is for a hoof of an animal. The shoe has a sole for being mounted to an underside of the hoof of the animal. The shoe comprises at least two fixation areas for fixing the shoe to the hoof in operational use, wherein the fixation areas are located on opposite sides of the hoof, each fixation area comprising at least one protruding element, which penetrates, in operational use, into the hoof for fixing a position of the fixation area relative to the hoof. Each fixation area is connected with the sole by at least one elastic connection. The shoe can comprise an elastic clipping element for applying by an internal pretension force in the elastic clipping element, in operational use, an inwardly-directed pressure on the fixation areas for pressing the protruding elements into the hoof. A mounting tool is configured for applying the elastic clipping element to the shoe.
Claims
1. A shoe for a hoof of an animal, the shoe comprising a sole for being mounted to an underside of the hoof of said animal, wherein the shoe comprises at least two fixation areas for fixing the shoe to the hoof in operational use, wherein the fixation areas are located on opposite sides of the hoof, wherein each fixation area comprises at least one protruding element provided on an inner side thereof, wherein the inner side is defined as the side facing the hoof of the animal when the shoe has been applied to the hoof, the at least one protruding element penetrating, in operational use, into the hoof for fixing a position of the fixation area relative to the hoof, wherein each fixation area is connected with the sole by at least one elastic connection for allowing a certain degree of movement between the fixation areas and the sole in operational use.
2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein each fixation area is connected to the sole by at least two elastic connections per fixation area.
3. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a sidewall connected to the sole (10).
4. The shoe according to claim 3, wherein the elastic connections are connected with the sidewall for establishing the connections between the fixation areas and the sole.
5. The shoe according to claim 3, wherein the elastic connections are integrated into the sidewall.
6. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the sidewall comprises a peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall comprises openings on opposite sides for defining the elastic members at a rim side of the sidewall.
7. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the sidewall covers at least part of a frontside of the hoof, in operational use.
8. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein each fixation area comprises at least two protruding elements placed side-by-side.
9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a flexible and/or elastic material.
10. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe comprises an elastic clipping element extending from a front side of the shoe covering the fixation areas for applying by an internal pretension force in the elastic clipping element, in operational use, an inwardly-directed pressure on the fixation areas for pressing the protruding elements into the hoof.
11. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the elastic clipping element is U-formed having a first leg and a second leg connected to the first leg via a connecting part, wherein ends of the legs are spaced apart with a predefined distance.
12. The shoe according to claim 11, wherein the connecting part comprises a joint for allowing pivoting of the legs.
13. The shoe according to claim 12, wherein the predefined distance between the legs of the elastic clipping element is adjustable by setting a pivot angle between the legs for allowing easy placement and removal as well as setting the inwardly-directed pressure on the friction areas.
14. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe is completely free of tightening bands or other tightening mechanisms.
15. A mounting tool configured for applying the elastic clipping element used in claims 11, wherein the mounting tool is configured for receiving and holding the elastic clipping element for i) temporarily stretching said elastic clipping element for temporarily reducing the internal pretension force and for ii) temporarily squeezing the elastic clipping element for temporarily applying an extra inwardly-directed pressure on the fixation areas.
16. A shoe for a hoof of an animal, the shoe comprising a sole for being mounted to an underside of the hoof of said animal, the shoe comprising at least two fixation areas for fixing the shoe to the hoof in operational use, wherein the fixation areas are located on opposite sides of the hoof, wherein each fixation area comprises at least one protruding element provided on an inner side thereof, wherein the inner side is defined as the side facing the hoof of the animal when the shoe has been applied to the hoof, the at least one protruding element penetrating, in operational use, into the hoof for fixing a position of the fixation area relative to the hoof, wherein each fixation area is connected with the sole by at least one elastic connection for allowing a certain degree of movement between the fixation areas and the sole in operational use, wherein the shoe comprises an elastic clipping element extending from a front side of the shoe covering the fixation areas for applying by an internal pretension force in the elastic clipping element, in operational use, an inwardly-directed pressure on the fixation areas for pressing the protruding elements into the hoof.
17. The shoe according to claim 16, wherein each fixation area is connected to the sole by at least two elastic connections per fixation area.
18. The shoe according to claim 16, further comprising a sidewall connected to the sole.
19. The shoe according to claim 18, wherein the elastic connections are connected with the sidewall for establishing the connections between the fixation areas and the sole.
20. The shoe according to claim 18, wherein the elastic connections are integrated into the sidewall.
21. The shoe according to claim 20, wherein the sidewall comprises a peripheral wall, wherein the peripheral wall comprises openings on opposite sides for defining the elastic members at a rim side of the sidewall.
22. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the sidewall comprises a material having an elongation at yield of more than 5%.
23. The shoe according to claim 22, wherein the sidewall is made of plastic.
Description
BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shoe for a hoof of an animal in accordance with the invention, wherein the shoe comprises a mounting part and a clipping element;
[0041] FIG. 2 shows the mounting part of the shoe of FIG. 1 and illustrates an important aspect of the invention;
[0042] FIG. 3 shows the clipping element of the shoe of FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates how the clipping element is applied to the mounting part seen from a first viewpoint;
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates how the clipping element is applied to the mounting part seen from a second viewpoint, wherein the shoe has been mounted on a hoof of an animal;
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates the shoe of FIG. 5, wherein the clipping element has been fully mounted on the hoof, and illustrates further important aspects of the invention;
[0046] FIG. 7 shows a mounting tool in accordance with the invention;
[0047] FIG. 8 shows the mounting tool of FIG. 7 holding a clipping element in accordance with the invention;
[0048] FIG. 9 shows a final stage of a method of mounting the clipping element to the mounting part of the shoe using the mounting tool;
[0049] FIG. 10 shows an early stage of the method of mounting the clipping element to the mounting part of the shoe using the mounting tool;
[0050] FIG. 11 shows a further stage of the method of mounting the clipping element to the mounting part of the shoe using the mounting tool;
[0051] FIG. 12 shows yet a further stage of the method of mounting the clipping element to the mounting part of the shoe using the mounting tool, yet still being a stage before the stage of FIG. 9;
[0052] FIG. 13 shows a second embodiment of a shoe for a hoof of an animal in accordance with the invention, and
[0053] FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment of a shoe for a hoof of an animal in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0054] Various illustrative embodiments of the present subject matter are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0055] The present subject matter will now be described with reference to the attached figures. Various systems, structures and devices are schematically depicted in the drawings for purposes of explanation only and so as to not obscure the present disclosure with details that are well known to those skilled in the art. Nevertheless, the attached drawings are included to describe and explain illustrative examples of the present disclosure. The words and phrases used herein should be understood and interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the understanding of those words and phrases by those skilled in the relevant art. No special definition of a term or phrase, i.e., a definition that is different from the ordinary and customary meaning as understood by those skilled in the art, is intended to be implied by consistent usage of the term or phrase herein. To the extent that a term or phrase is intended to have a special meaning, i.e., a meaning other than that understood by skilled artisans, such a special definition will be expressly set forth in the specification in a definitional manner that directly and unequivocally provides the special definition for the term or phrase.
[0056] The purpose of the invention is to combine the benefits of existing horseshoes and to further improve the shoe, where possible.
[0057] The earlier-mentioned five Degrees-of-Freedom are technical freedoms that are important for a horse. The first four Degrees-of-Freedom concern directions of movement (force vectors) and the fifth is about providing the rider freedom to decide when and how to minimize the load on the horse. The first four freedoms are related to how the horse feels the ground ensuring balance and stability. This is important for the safety for both the horse and the rider (connect with your horse from the ground and up). All the five freedoms are about the horse's welfare and soundness.
[0058] Ideally horses should be barefoot as nature intended, but sometimes the hoof needs to be protected depending on how the horse is used and on the condition of the hoof. A hoof boot or horseshoe (anything that is installed on a hoof) should allow the hoof to work as nature intended by impeding the biomechanical functioning of the hoof as little as possible.
[0059] The five Degrees-of-Freedom for (horse)shoes for animals are defined as follows:
[0060] 1. Downwards—the need for dampening (sink into the contact surface/use entire hoof area).
[0061] 2. Forward—the need for slide/strike movement (just the right amount of grip).
[0062] 3. Sideways (outwards both sides at the heel)—the need to secure natural blood flow and dampening.
[0063] 4. Torsion—the need for the hoof to twist freely at contact with the ground.
[0064] 5. Take Jogging Shoe on/off—to ability to use the horseshoe only when needed and the ability to select a specific tailor-made solution for each application.
[0065] The invention may provide a convenient solution meeting all five Degrees of Freedom and will be discussed in more detail with reference to the figures.
[0066] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shoe 100 for a hoof of an animal in accordance with the invention, wherein the shoe 100 comprises a mounting part 110 and a clipping element 60.The mounting part 110 comprises a sole 10 having a sidewall 20 for defining a space for receiving the hoof (not shown) of the animal. The figure further shows a protruding element 50 provided on an inside of the sidewall 20, that is on a side that face the hoof of the animal. On the opposite side of the sidewall 20 there is another protruding element 50, which is not visible in the drawing. The protruding element 50 in this provided comprises four protruding needles/pins 51, one at each corner. This may be typically a few mm length. The sole 10 may comprise flexible and/or materials such as rubber, but other flexible materials are also possible. Any resilience in the material will contribute to the comfort of the animal, when wearing the shoes. The sole 10 comprises a bottom part 12 comprising a profile at an underside thereof. The profile defines studs 12a as illustrated, which increases traction on various surfaces.
[0067] FIG. 2 shows the mounting part of the shoe 100 of FIG. 1 and illustrates an important aspect of the invention. The earlier-mentioned elastic clipping element 60 has been taken away from the shoe 100. The figure illustrates how the earlier-mentioned protruding elements 50 are effectively part of a fixation area 21, which has been schematically illustrated by means of dashed enclosures 21 in the drawing. A core element of the invention is that these fixation areas 21 are connected to the sole 10 via elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 as illustrated the dashed lines from the fixation areas 21 to the sole 10. This elasticity of the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 allows for movement of the fixation areas 21 relative to the sole as illustrated by the thick black arrows. Another important aspect is that the fixation areas 21 are fixed in position in operational relative to the hoof (not shown) of the animal (not shown). The latter is enabled by the use of the protruding needles/pins 51 as discussed in FIG. 1, but also by a so-called elastic clipping element as will be discussed with reference to FIG. 3. The invention provides for some further significant advantages. The first advantage is that the combination of the fixation areas 21 and the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 and the elastic clipping element 60 enables the shoe to adjust itself to various hoof sizes and hoof forms. The reason for this is that the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 allow for the fixation areas 21 to be pressed against the hoof by the elastic clipping element 60 even if the hoof size and shape is a bit different (i.e. larger or smaller). A second advantage is that the forces applied by fixation areas 21 to the hoof are reduced due to the flexibility of the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2. These forces can be quite large during the lifting up of the shoe and pressing down of the shoe (during walking).
[0068] It may be understood that there are many ways to implement the elastic connecting 22-1, 22-2 between the fixation areas 21 and the sole. In the current embodiment the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 are made in the sidewall 20 of the shoe 100, wherein the sidewall 20 is made of elastic material also, such as rubber. The sole 10 and the sidewall 20 may even be made of one-piece as in the current embodiment. Nevertheless, in accordance with the invention the sole 10 is defined as the part that extends horizontally when the shoe 100 stands on a horizontal surface and the sidewall 20 is defined as the vertically extending part that is connected to the sole 10. In FIG. 2, the interface between these two parts has been schematically illustrated by the dashed line 11 at the frontside of the shoe 100. When the sidewall 20 is made of elastic material as in the current embodiment the necessary elasticity of the elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 is obtained by making opening 25 in the sidewall 20 as illustrated.
[0069] FIG. 3 shows the clipping element 60 of the shoe 100 of FIG. 1. The clipping element 60 in accordance with the current embodiment comprises a first leg 61 and a second leg 62 connected to the first leg 62 via a connecting part 63 as illustrated. The shape of the clipping 60 is designed to match with the shape of the shoe of FIG. 2, which on its turn is designed to substantially match with the shape of the hoof of the animal that is to wear the shoe 100. Ends 60e of the respective legs 61, 62 are designed such that there is a predefined distance D1 between them. The clipping element 60 is designed with a certain level of elasticity. This predefined distance D1 is chosen to be smaller than the dimension of the shoe 100 such that, when applied to the shoe 100 with the hoof placed in it in operational use, the elasticity of the clipping element 60 applies an inwardly-directed pressure (a pretension) on the shoe 100 and on the protruding elements 50. Some embodiments of the elastic clipping element 60 comprise a joint 65, for instance in the connecting part 63 as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. This joint 65 may be used to allow for temporarily widening the legs 61, 62 such facilitates application of the clipping element 60 on the shoe 100.
[0070] FIG. 4 illustrates how the clipping element 60 is applied to the mounting part 110 seen from a first viewpoint. It illustrates that the sidewall 20 comprises a peripheral wall 24 having a predefined receiving recess which matches the size and shape of the clipping element 60, i.e., the clipping element 60 can be provided from a front side S1 of the shoe 100 as illustrated. The figure further illustrates some design aspects of the peripheral wall 24, which has a front height hf at the front side S1 which is larger than a rear height hr on the rear side S2 as illustrated. In fact, the peripheral wall at the rear side S2 in this embodiment is only a few millimetre height, which turns the shoe 100 into something which resembles the sandal for humans. It must be stressed that such design is rendered possible by the current invention only, as the conventional shoes for animals all require tightening mechanisms, which require the peripheral wall 24 at rear side of the shoe 100 to be high as well. FIG. 4 further illustrates what is meant with an inner side S0 and the rim side S5 of the shoe 100 as referred to in the claims.
[0071] FIG. 5 illustrates how the clipping element 60 is applied to the mounting part 110 seen from a second viewpoint, wherein the shoe 100 has been mounted on a hoof 200 of an animal. This figure illustrates what is meant with the opposite sides S3, S4 of the hoof as referred to in the claims.
[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates the shoe 100 of FIG. 5, wherein the clipping element 60 has been fully mounted on the hoof 200 and illustrates further important aspects of the invention. With reference to the description of FIG. 2, it is mentioned here that when the shoe 100 has been provided on the hoof 200 and the clipping element 60 has been applied to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100, the clipping element 60 ensure that the fixation areas 21 by the protruding elements (not visible in the drawing) are kept fixed relative to the hoof 200. This means that the earlier arrows in FIG. 2, which are repeated in this drawing, effectively illustrate the movement freedom of the hoof 200 relative to the shoe 100, which provides the earlier described required Degrees-Of-Freedom for a shoe 100 for an animal. And this is made possible by the earlier-described elastic connections 22-1, 22-2 between the fixation areas 21 and the sole 10.
[0073] FIG. 7 shows a mounting tool 150 in accordance with the invention. Even though the shoe 100 in accordance with the invention may be applied manually without requiring any tools the inventors, nevertheless, developed such mounting tool 150 to facilitate the mounting of the elastic clipping element 60 to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100. This may be convenient in those cases that the elastic clipping element 60 is designed for large pretension forces requiring a lower elasticity and thus also requiring larger forces to bend the legs 61, 62 of the clipping element 60 outwardly. This is particularly important when removing the shoe because the clipping element 60 is then less accessible for human hands. The mounting tool 150 has a shape which complies with the shape of the clipping element 60 in that it may receive this clipping element 60 on an inside thereof. The mounting tool 150 has a first leg 151 and a second leg 152 that are connected by a joint 153 as illustrated. A pivot angle of the joint 153 is controlled by an angle adjustment mechanism 154, which may be a bolt-and-nut configuration as shown. Rotation of the nut relative to the bolt will cause the pivot angle to be modified, i.e., the legs 151, 152 to be pivot outwardly as illustrated by the thick black arrows. The nut may be connected with an adjustment knob 155 for facilitating rotation by a human hand (not shown).
[0074] Ends 150e1, 150e2 of the legs 151, 152 may be configured for being mounted to the legs 61, 62 of the clipping element.
[0075] FIG. 8 shows the mounting tool 150 of FIG. 7 holding a clipping element 60 in accordance with the invention. The earlier mentioned ends 150e1, 150e2 of the legs 151, 152 of the mounting tool 150 may grip and hold or may be temporarily attached to the legs of the clipping element 60). Either way, when the adjustment knob 155 of the mounting tool 150 is rotated as illustrated by the arrow the legs of the mounting tool 150 move outwardly pulling the legs of the clipping element 60 outwardly as well
[0076] FIG. 9 shows a final stage of a method of mounting the clipping element 60 to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100 using the mounting tool 150. The mounting part 110 has already been provided on the hoof 200 as illustrated. The mounting tool 150 is pulled in the direction of the black arrow and the clipping element 60 remains on the shoe 100.
[0077] FIG. 10 shows an early stage of the method of mounting the clipping element 60 to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100 using the mounting tool 150. The clipping element 60 is held by the mounting tool 150 while the legs are pulled outwardly to create space for application on the mounting part 110. The combination of the mounting tool 150 and the clipping element 60 is moved in the direction of the shoe 100 as illustrated by the black arrow.
[0078] FIG. 11 shows a further stage of the method of mounting the clipping element 60 to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100 using the mounting tool 150. This drawing serves to illustrate that the mounting tool 150 may be used to apply an extra inwardly-directed pressure on the fixation areas (not shown) during mounting of the shoe 100. The adjustment knob 155 may be rotated to pressing the legs of the mounting tool 150 more inwardly applying an extra inwardly-directed pressure (as illustrated by the dashed-arrows) on the legs of the clipping element 60, which on their turn press the protruding elements of the fixation areas into the hoof 200 of the animal.
[0079] FIG. 12 shows yet a further stage of the method of mounting the clipping element 60 to the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100 using the mounting tool 150, yet still being a stage before the stage of FIG. 9. The legs of the mounting tool 150 have been released from the legs of the clipping element 60 and the mounting tool 150 is pulled away from the shoe in the direction of the black arrow in the drawing.
[0080] FIG. 13 shows a second embodiment of a shoe 100b for a hoof 200 of an animal in accordance with the invention. This figure will be only discussed in as far as it differs from FIG. 2. The main difference between the two embodiments is that the fixation areas 21 have been enlarged by the provision of two protruding elements 50 per fixation area 21. Alternatively, a larger protruding element 50 instead of two protruding elements 50 may be used. Either way, the fixation areas 21 are enlarged and the elastic connection 22-2 directed towards the front of the shoe 100 is shortened. This embodiment show options for building in force between the hoof and protruding elements 50. This force may be adjusted according to hoof shape, hoof type and use of horse. Further can the angle of protruding needles/pins 51 be changed and the shape of the protruding pins 51 can be changed to optimize the contact force between protruding elements and the hoof.
[0081] FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment of a shoe 100c for a hoof 200 of an animal in accordance with the invention. In this embodiment the shoe 100c is provided with a gaiter 70 as illustrated. The gaiter 70 is typically connected with the mounting part 110 of the shoe 100c and may have the function of tightening mechanism and/or locking mechanism to keep the shoe in place. In FIG. 14 the elastic clipping element 60 is shown. However, it is explicitly mentioned here that the principle of the fixation areas with the elastic connections may also be applied together with a tightening mechanism or locking mechanism only (without the elastic clipping element), which may very well have the form of the gaiter 70 in FIG. 14. It is exactly because of this embodiment that the clipping element is not part of the invention.
[0082] The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. For example, variations are possible in the way parts are connected or coupled. The person skilled in the art may easily find alternative solutions for tightening, tensioning and mounting parts. The shoe may be provided with a sidewall comprising a hard material, such as plastic, for example. In such embodiment the elastic connections may be connected to the hard sidewall instead of to the sole, for example. Many variations are possible in the design of the protruding elements. The depth of the protruding pins/needles may be adapted, as well as the angle these pins/needles are making with the surface of the hoof. Also, the number of pins/needles may be varied. All these design parameters enable the design of the protruding element to be adapted to hoof type, hoof shape, hoof size as well as the application areas of the shoes.
[0083] The invention covers all these variants. No limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope of the invention.
[0084] It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb “comprise” and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. In the device claims enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware.
