Elastomeric horseshoe and method of making same

Abstract

A horseshoe for attaching a non-metallic horseshoe to a horse's hoof using an adhesive is described. In one example, the horseshoe includes a first layer composed of an elastomeric material, which forms a body of the horseshoe. The first layer may extend longitudinally from a ground-facing surface of the horseshoe to a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. A second layer is embedded at least partially in and on the first layer. The second layer forms at least a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. The second layer may include an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, and/or an aluminum powder. Also described is a method of making the elastomeric horseshoe.

Claims

1. A horseshoe, comprising: a first layer composed of a thermoset urethane material, wherein the first layer forms a U-shaped body of the horseshoe and includes a peripheral sidewall forming an outwardly-curved outer edge, an inwardly-curved inner edge, and a toe of the horseshoe, wherein the peripheral sidewall extends longitudinally from a ground-facing surface of the horseshoe to a hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe, the ground-facing and hoof-facing surfaces forming outermost surfaces of the horseshoe and the peripheral sidewall forms a first portion of the hoof-facing surface along portions of the outwardly-curved outer edge and the inwardly-curved inner edge; and a second layer forming a second portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe that is a central area of the hoof-facing surface surrounded by the outwardly-curved outer edge and the inwardly-curved inner edge, wherein the second layer is embedded at least partially in and on the first layer at an interface, wherein the second layer consists of a plurality of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) pellets, the ABS pellets having shapes collectively forming an uneven line at the interface.

2. The horseshoe of claim 1, wherein a central portion of the first layer is located between the outer edge and the inner edge of the shoe, and is substantially covered by the second layer along the hoof-facing surface.

3. The horseshoe of claim 1, wherein the second layer encompasses between about 5% and 30% of the overall height of the horseshoe measured longitudinally from a central area of the ground-facing surface to the central area of the hoof-facing surface.

4. The horseshoe of claim 1, wherein the ABS material consists of a plurality of ABS pellets, in which each ABS pellet is generally between an eighth of an inch and sixteenth of an inch thick.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components. The figures are not necessarily drawing to scale, and for illustration purposes only.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a top view (hoof-facing view) of an example elastomeric horseshoe.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a left-side view of example horseshoe shown in FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the same left-sided view of example horseshoe shown in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of a horseshoe before sanding hoof-facing surface, and trimming.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a top view of a horseshoe after sanding hoof-facing surface (including second layer of material), and trimming.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a top view (hoof-facing view) of an example elastomeric horseshoe 100. Horseshoe 100 may include an outer edge 102, an inner edge 104, a toe 106, and a heel portion 108. The outer edge 102, inner edge 104, and toe 106 (at the periphery) collectively form a peripheral sidewall 110 of horseshoe 100 that is coextensive along the periphery of horseshoe 100. In other words, peripheral sidewall 110 traces the outline boundaries of, in this example, a U-shaped horseshoe 100.

(8) Also, depicted in FIG. 1, a hoof-facing surface 112 is configured to bonds with a horse's hoof (not shown). Potential layer(s) of material for use with hoof-facing surface 112, and placement of these materials will be described in more detail below.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a left-side view of example horseshoe 100 shown in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIG. 2, a first layer 204 of elastomeric material extends longitudinally from a ground-facing surface 202 of horseshoe 100 to hoof-facing surface 112 including encompassing peripheral sidewall 110. That is, ground-facing surface 202 and peripheral sidewall 110 are constructed of a first layer 204 of material such as rugged thermoset-urethane material. However, as appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art, the elastomeric material may include any suitable urethane or polyurethane material capable of being cast in a desired-horseshoe shape and size.

(10) Put differently, first layer 204 of material extends externally along peripheral sidewall 110, from ground-facing surface 202 to a portion 206 of hoof-facing surface 112 that runs substantially along a top portion of each outer edge 102 (see also FIG. 1) and inner edge 104 (see also FIG. 1) of horseshoe 100. Thus, first layer 204 of material forms an external encasement of horseshoe 100, including ground-facing surface 202, and extends along externally along peripheral sidewall 110 to a portion 206 of hoof-facing surface 112. In other words, first layer 204 encases the bottom (ground-facing surface 202) and peripheral sidewalls 110 of horseshoe 100 with a rugged thermoset urethane material.

(11) In another aspect, first layer 204 also serves as the foundation or internal body of horseshoe 100. For instance, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the same left-sided view of example horseshoe 100 shown in FIG. 2.

(12) As depicted in FIG. 3, first layer 204 of material viewed centrally inside horseshoe 100, serves as foundation for a second layer 302 of material to reside. That is, second layer 302 of material is embedded at least partially in, and/or secured on top of first layer 204 of material. Second layer 302 of material forms at least a portion of hoof-facing surface 112 (see also FIG. 1).

(13) Second layer 302 may encompasses between about 5% and 30% of the overall height of horseshoe 100 measured longitudinally inside (central area) horseshoe from ground-facing surface 202 to hoof-facing surface 112. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the exact percentage of overall height of that second layer 302 may occupy in horseshoe 100 may be greater than 30% or less than 5%.

(14) In addition, second layer 302 may encompass between about 5% and 25% of a total quantity of materials comprising horseshoe 100. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the exact percentage of the quantity of material that second layer 302 may occupy in horseshoe 100 may be greater than 25% or less than 5%.

(15) In one aspect, second layer 302 of material is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material. For instance, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, second layer 302 may include a plurality of ABS pellets 304 approximately 1/16 to of inch thick. Of course, the size of pellets 304 may be slightly bigger or smaller. In addition, the shape of pellets 304 may vary.

(16) In another aspect, second layer 302 of material is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. For instance, second layer 302 may include a plurality of PVC pellets (not shown, but generally the same shape as ABS pellets 304) approximately 1/16 of inch thick. Of course, the size of the pellets may be slightly bigger or smaller.

(17) In still another aspect, second layer 302 of material is an aluminum powder or dust. In addition, second layer 302 may also include aluminum grindings or pellets of various sizes and shapes.

(18) In still another aspect, second layer 302 may include any combination of ABS, PVC and Aluminum dust.

(19) As an alternative to using a plurality of pellets, second layer 302 may also include a solid plate or sheet of material of an suitable shape and dimensions (not shown) made of ABS, PVC and/or Aluminum to serve as a hoof-facing surface 112. Similar to pellets or dust, a solid plate may be embedded or otherwise integrated with first layer 204.

(20) If second layer 302 is primarily a plurality of ABS pellets 304, hoof-facing surface 112 will increase the bond strength a factor of four or five times over simply attempting to bond directly to an elastomeric material such as a urethane or polyurethane horseshoe.

(21) If second layer 302 is primarily a plurality of PVC pellets, hoof-facing surface 112 will increase the bond strength a factor of seven times over simply attempting to bond directly to an elastomeric material such as a urethane or polyurethane horseshoe.

(22) If second layer 302 is primarily aluminum dust, hoof-facing surface 110 will increase the bond strength a factor of greater than seven times over simply attempting to bond directly to an elastomeric material such as a urethane or polyurethane horseshoe.

(23) Referring back to FIG. 1, second layer 302 is shown as a plurality of PVC pellets integrated on and in first layer 204 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, as depicted in FIG. 1, second layer 302 spans a majority of a coplanar area of hoof-facing surface 112 between inner edge 104 and outer edge 102 of horseshoe 100. Some portions of second layer may also extend to perimeter edges of horseshoe 100, and overlap with first layer 204 along these perimeter edges (i.e. inner edge 104 and outer edge 102).

(24) As appreciated by those skilled in the art, second layer 302 may not encompass all planar areas of hoof-facing surface 112. That is second layer 302 may not be disposed on all portions of hoof-facing surface 112, such as heel 108.

(25) Horseshoe 100 may be made different ways. For instance, in one aspect, a first layer 204 of material is poured into an open cast mold (not shown) of a horseshoe. Then second layer 302 of material is deposited on to the first layer of material, and then allowing curing of first layer 204.

(26) For example, ABS pellets, PVC pellets, and/or aluminum dust (or solid plates of these materials) may be deposited on a pre-cured (recently poured) first layer 204 of urethane material. These ABS pellets, PVC pellets, and/or aluminum dust (second layer 302) are then embedded in first layer 204, and also occupy a strata (or layer) on top of horseshoe 100 that is depicted as hoof-facing surface 110 (shown as second layer 302) in FIG. 1 viewed from the top.

(27) After the second layer 302 is added to first layer 204, and permitted to cure at approximately 16 hours and heated at approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit, horseshoe 100 is trimmed, and hoof-facing surface 112 may be sanded. FIG. 4 shows a top view of horseshoe 100 before sanding, and trimming FIG. 5 shows a top view of horseshoe 100 after sanding and trimming.

(28) Sanding the hoof-facing surface 112 (see FIG. 5) also further exposes second layer 302 for better adhesion-bonding strength when adhered to a hoof using an adhesive, such as a methacrylate adhesive. Put differently, sanding hoof-facing surface 112 (see FIG. 5), and in particular second layer 302, levels hoof-facing surface 112 of horseshoe 100, controls dimensions, and exposes a maximum surface area of the added bonding material (i.e., second layer 302). Also, the heating and curing process further embeds (i.e. anchors) at least a portion, or more of the second layer 302 of material into, or on first layer 204 of material.

(29) Alternatively, horseshoe 100 may also be three-dimensionally printed.

(30) Still further, as appreciated by those skilled in the art, other materials may be added to the urethane during the manufacturing process, such as a shaping wire or plate as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,462,797 to Kirkpatrick incorporated herein by reference. In addition, wear material may be added in stratified formation also as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,462,797.

(31) Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or operations described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.