ALL-IN-ONE PACKING, PAD AND SHOE FOR HOOF PROTECTION

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a method for forming an all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute for a hoof having a hoof side wall and bottom wall forming an interior recess, where the method comprises adding a resin formulation to the interior recess of the hoof to form a resin plug that substantially fills an entirety of the interior recess and extends a predetermined amount beyond the bottom wall of the hoof for ground contact. The resin formulation is configured to freely flow throughout the interior recess of the hoof when added thereto and cure at a predetermined rate to form the resin plug without spillage of the resin formulation from the hoof. The formed resin plug is not attached to an external shoe. Embodiments are also directed to the all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitutes for a hoof formed via such method.

Claims

1. A method for forming an all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute for a hoof having a hoof side wall and bottom wall forming an interior recess, the method comprising: adding a resin formulation to the interior recess of the hoof to form a resin plug that substantially fills an entirety of the interior recess and extends a predetermined amount beyond the bottom wall of the hoof for ground contact, wherein the resin formulation is configured to freely flow throughout the interior recess of the hoof when added thereto and cure at a predetermined rate to form the resin plug without spillage of the resin formulation from the hoof, and wherein the formed resin plug is not attached to an external shoe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hoof is present in a first orientation in which the bottom wall is oriented at about 90 to the ground during the adding of the resin formulation to the interior recess of the hoof, wherein the predetermined rate at which the resin formulation cures prevents spillage of the resin formulation from the hoof in the first orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hoof is present in a second orientation in which the bottom wall is oriented substantially parallel to the ground during the adding of the resin formulation to the interior recess of the hoof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the formed resin plug comprises a viscosity of about 100,000 centipoises.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the resin formulation comprises at least two sets of reactive components.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a first set of reactive components comprises at least two isocyanate components, a polyol, and a silane coupling agent.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least two isocyanate components are present in a combined amount greater than 35 wt. %.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the combined amount of the at least two isocyanate components is less than 45 wt. %.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set of reactive components further comprises a silane coupling agent and a polyol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of reactive components further comprises a black pigment in an amount greater than 1 wt. %.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the first set of reactive components consists of the at least two isocyanate compounds, the polyol, the silane coupling agent, and the black pigment.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein a second set of reactive components comprises a polyol, an amine, and a bismuth compound.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bismuth compound is present in an amount greater than 1 wt. % and less than 15 wt. %.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the polyol of the first set of reactive components and the polyol of the second set of reactive components have a same molecular formula and a same molecular weight.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second set of reactive components consists of the polyol, the amine, and the bismuth compound.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the resin formulation comprises: a first set of reactive components comprising: 23.4 wt. % of methylene-bis-dicyclohexane diisocyanate, 59.8 wt. % of polyoxy propylene oxide ether polyol, triol, 1.0 wt. % of isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane, 2.2 wt. % of a black pigment, and 13.6 wt. % of methylene-bis-diphenyl diisocyanate; and a second set of reactive components comprising: 78.0 wt. % of polyoxy propylene oxide ether polyol, triol, 18.0 wt. % of diethylmethylbenzenediamine, and 4.0 wt. % of bismuth naphthenate.

17. An all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute for a hoof having a hoof side wall and bottom wall forming an interior recess, the all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute comprising a solid, void-free resin plug that substantially fills an entirety of the interior recess and extends a predetermined amount beyond the bottom wall of the hoof for ground contact, wherein the resin plug is not attached to an external shoe, and wherein the resin plug is formed from a resin formulation comprising: a first set of reactive components comprising at least two isocyanate components, a polyol, and a silane coupling agent; and a second set of reactive components comprising a polyol, an amine, and a bismuth compound.

18. The all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute of claim 17, wherein the resin plug is formed in situ in the interior recess of the hoof.

19. The all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute of claim 17, wherein the resin formulation is configured to freely flow throughout the interior recess of the hoof when added thereto and cure at a predetermined rate to prevent spillage of the resin formulation from the hoof.

20. The all-in-one packing, pad, and shoe substitute of claim 17, wherein the first set of reactive components consists of the at least two isocyanate components, the polyol, and the silane coupling agent; and the second set of reactive components consists of the polyol, the amine, and the bismuth compound.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a hoof side wall face view of the invention all-in-one hoof protection in place on a hoof;

[0034] FIG. 2A is a view taken on line 2A-2A in FIG. 1; and

[0035] FIG. 2B is a view like FIG. 2A-2A with the hoof being inverted to its normal position with the all-in-one packing, pad and shoe in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Horse hoofs are conventionally shod by nailing a horseshoe to the horny side wall face exteriorly forming the outer portion of the hoof. Within the side wall and surrounded substantially by the interior part of the hoof side wall are the sole of the hoof and the sensitive frog portion of the hoof, i.e., portions comprising the bottom aspect of the hoof, sometimes referred to as the solar, and generally referred to herein jointly as the hoof bottom wall. These portions of the hoof are not protected from damage from contact with moisture or other forms of debris and harmful objects unless one adds a pad, a web across the hoof sole, usually supported by the horseshoe or horseshoe nails to protect the sole of the hoof. Debris can enter the open recess defined by the hoof bottom wall and surrounding side wall, even under the web unless the recess is filled with a suitable material called packing. Suitable materials will fill all spaces in the volume and prevent voids and interstices from occurring. In the past, foam resins have been employed, but they do not hold up against the stresses imposed in use and allow incursions of debris, moisture and contamination. Other materials are stiff and difficult to work with and like the foam systems do not adhere to the hoof bottom wall and thus allow, especially after wearing for a time, the incursion of debris which is uncomfortable and even harmful to the horse. Other materials initially adherent to the hoof sole and frog are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,952 and described to be placed under a pad or not but to extend to less than the full vertical height of the hoof side wall whereby they form a packing, but not a pad substitute and not a shoe substitute, and do not adequately adhere to the side wall full extent such that packing breakdown can occur over a shorter period than is useful for a shoe product as opposed to a packing product.

[0037] The present invention provides a solid, typically noncellular and void-free plug to not only fill the recess as a packing, but due to the dimensions of the plug relative to the hoof recess to extend in persistent adhering relation a selected, e.g., full, vertical height of the side wall. The plug thus extends through the recess up to (and beyond in a proper case) the hoof side wall face (i.e., the part that contacts the ground in the absence of a shoe). The plug while acting as a packing also takes the place of a pad and being dimensioned as described functions as a shoe substitute. Being fixed e.g., adhered to the hoof bottom wall the plug acts against incursive attacks from debris and moisture for weeks of use. The preferred urethane resins herein are broadly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,400, are thixotropic, and are known to be injectable using dual cartridge dispensers which direct reactive components of low viscosity through a static mixer into the hoof recess where their initially low viscosity enables flow throughout the recess and into the nooks, crannies, interstices and voids of the recess. The resin mixture thixotropes, cures, and adheres to the walls, void-free and more resilient than the surrounding hoof to cushion the steps of the horse while protecting from debris incursions.

[0038] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B, the all-in-one shoeless hoof protection plug is shown at 10 within recess 12 of hoof 26 formed by hoof side wall 14. No shoe nails are used, no webs are used and there is no horseshoe or horseshoe-like covering of the hoof side wall face 16. The hoof recess 12 is further defined by the hoof bottom wall 18, comprising the hoof sole portion 22 and the hoof frog portion 24, all in hidden lines to show their location under plug 10.

[0039] In the invention method, the recess 12 is thoroughly cleaned of debris, old packing material and other extraneous material, ensured to be quite dry, and then filled with plug 10 in fixed relation using an injectable, e.g., liquid resin having the compositions described herein or a preform thereof, dimensioned for ground contact from within the hoof 26. Because of the thixotropy and rapid cure of the resin, e.g., in from 15 to 20 seconds, 5-40 seconds or other cure time selected, the resin reactants can be injected into the recess 12 held sideways, that is as the hoof side wall face 16 is disposed normal to the ground, i.e., at substantially 90 degrees to the ground, with no loss of resin, and with no need to support the resin in place pending cure although holding the hoof flat with the frog portion turned upward is to be preferred. The plug 10 is preferably formed in situ and thus adhered, or adhered with an additional adhesive such as a urethane resin, or mechanical fasteners in a suitable case to be hoof-interior, i.e., hoof recess 12 adherent and fixed in place, to ensure full contact with substantially all the voids, crevices and interstices of the hoof sole portion 22 including areas surrounding and covering the frog portion 24 of the hoof, and to filling the recess 12 so that incursions of debris including moisture into the recess 12 are blocked.

[0040] Thus, in one embodiment the invention method for extended protection of a shoe-less hoof 26 having a hoof side wall 14 and bottom wall 18 forming an interior recess 12 from environmental hazards with a resin plug 10, includes cleaning and filling the recess to substantially the full vertical extent of the hoof side wall sufficient for ground contact with the resin plug 10 suitably comprised of urethane resin and adhered to the hoof bottom wall and hoof side wall and freely of an external shoe beyond the plug.

[0041] In a further method embodiment the invention method for extended protection of a shoe-less hoof 26 having a hoof side wall 14 and bottom wall 18 forming an interior recess 12 from environmental hazards with a resin plug 10, includes cleaning and filling the recess to substantially the full vertical extent of the hoof side wall sufficient for ground contact in the absence of a shoe with a resin reactant mixture that flows freely into the recess in adhering relation while simultaneously reacting the mixture at a rate precluding spillage of the resin from the recess. This and like invention methods include disposing the hoof side wall face 16 to receive the resin, and smoothing the exposed portion of the plug mass 28 with a plastic film 32 that is not adherent to the uncured or cured resin to contour to a desired shape conducive to the horse's comfort.

[0042] The invention thus provides the combination of a horseshoe-free horse hoof 26 and a plug 10 and the further combination of a shoeless horse hoof 26 having a hoof side wall 14 and a bottom wall 18 forming an interior recess 12 and a resin plug 10 adhered to and filling the recess, e.g., to the plane P-P of the hoof wall face, after being formed outside of or in situ in the recess.

[0043] A further aspect of the invention is the provision of an all-in-one packing, pad and shoe substitute for barefoot horse hoof protection, comprising a plug 10 of resin in adherent contact with the hoof bottom wall 18 and a vertical extent of the interior hoof side wall 14 sufficient for ground contact adjacent the hoof wall face 16, the hoof side wall face being free of an external horseshoe. The resin plug 10 is preferably formed in situ employing preferably a urethane resin formed from reactive components typically jointly introduced into the hoof recess 12 in admixed relation.

[0044] Preferably, the all-in-one packing, pad and shoe for full barefoot horse hoof protection comprises a plug 10 of solid, void-free resin formed in situ and in adherent contact with the hoof bottom wall 18 and sufficient vertical extent of the interior hoof side wall 14 against debris and moisture incursions and sized for ground contact adjacent the hoof side wall face 16, the hoof 26 being free of an external horse shoe. Again, the resin plug 10 is formed in situ, the resin is formed from reactive components jointly introduced into the hoof, the resin plug reactive components comprise urethane reactants reacting to a resin having a non-flowing condition in less than about 15-20 seconds and having a resistance to deterioration through loss of sidewall or other adhesion or otherwise requiring replacement for at least about 15-20 days, and the resin plug reactive urethane components comprise reactants solidifying sufficiently rapidly as to flow, preferably, into but not out of a horse hoof 26 whose side wall face 16 is held normal to the ground.

[0045] Resin reactants, are typically synthetic organic resins, such as those taught in the '400 patent cited herein, comprise, e.g., a Side A isocyanate containing reactant and a Side B polyol containing reactant to produce a urethane resin, and are preferably separately packaged in piston and cylinder dual cartridges of the there illustrated, well-known dispenser. The two reagent Sides A and B are expressed from their respective cartridges with hand pressure on a piston pair and upon such expression are intensively mixed in cartridge-attached static mix tip and injected into recess 12.

[0046] A typical resin formulation (parts by weight per 100 parts) includes:

[0047] Resin reactants, such as those taught in the '400 patent cited herein, comprise, e.g., a Side A isocyanate containing reactant and a Side B polyol containing reactant to produce a urethane resin, and are preferably separately packaged in piston and cylinder dual cartridges of the there illustrated, well-known dispenser. The two reagent Sides A and B are expressed from their respective cartridges with hand pressure on a piston pair and upon such expression are intensively mixed in cartridge-attached static mix tip and injected into recess 12.

[0048] A typical resin formulation (parts by weight per 100 parts) includes:

TABLE-US-00001 Parts (Wt.) Side A Methylene-bis-dicyclohexane diisocyanate (Desmodur W) 23.4 (Methylene bis-(4-cyclohexylisocyanate) Polyoxy propylene oxide ether polyol, triol 59.8 (6000 MW) (Multranol 3901) Isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane (Silquest A1310) 1.0 Black pigment 2.2 Methylene-bis-diphenyl diisocyanate (Isonate 2143L) 13.6 (Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate) Total, Part A 100 Side B Multranol 3901 (Polyoxy propylene oxide ether 78.0 polyol, triol (6000 MW)) Diethylmethylbenzenediamine (DETDA) 18.0 Bismuth naphthenate (Coscat 83) 4.0 (Neodecanoic acid, bismuth (3+) salt) Total, Part B 100

[0049] Properties of this formulation include:

TABLE-US-00002 Work time 15-20 seconds Tack free time <7 minutes Hardness >65 (Shore A)

[0050] The resultant urethane resin plug mass 28 is solid and being free of foam-formers will be free of voids and pockets of air or gas when cured, unlike foam systems which deliberately create voids. The plug mass 28 cures in place, i.e., in situ. Viscosities of the fluid form of the plug 10 are selected such that the incorporation of the incipient plug into the recess 12 is quickly accomplished, in a matter of seconds. The resin plug 10 can be of any of the various known thermoplastic resins or thermosetting resins meeting the invention criteria of low viscosity upon introduction into the recess 12 such as by injection, and rapid gelling or cure to a substantially solid viscosity, e.g., 100,000 centipoises. A rapidly high viscosity gives the resin plug mass 28 the ability to not flow from the recess 12 although the hoof is not held with the recess 12 facing upward. This increased viscosity preferably happens in seconds such as 15-20 seconds or less, but other longer times, where conditions permit, and where the foregoing handling criteria are met can be used. Resin compositions are usefully packaged in dual cartridge packages from which they may be discharged through a static mixer tip to combine into a reactive mixture which is injectable into the recess 12. For rapid cure to a sufficiently gelled state, the amount of catalyst should be selected in concert with desired cure time, e.g., 4% by weight of a urethane reaction catalyst for a <20 second cure to the adequately gelled state.

[0051] While resins, such as the preferred urethane resins herein may be initially tacky, this tackiness is quickly lost, typically in under 7 minutes. The preferred application method of incorporation by injection mentioned above makes tackiness or not unimportant since the resins can be injected directly and no hand or spatula contact is required, only a smoothing a plastic film is if further smoothness, e.g., of a particular contour is desired.

[0052] A useful resin herein is a urethane resin prepared from one or more isocyanates, catalysts, and various polyols, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,869,400; 6,009,952; 6,131,665 and 6,412,566, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety. Epoxies, polyesters, vinyl resins and other resins meeting the invention criteria can also be used. The term curing herein refers to polymerization, whether of the thermosetting or thermoplastic type, between resin components, or other processes including thixotropy by which a resin or resins change from a liquid to a solid state, including by loss of a diluent or solvent.

[0053] The invention accordingly provides products and methods for improving the health of hoofed animals particularly barefoot horses by combining the packing, pad and shoe into a single application that is simple enough for the nonprofessional skilled owner to practice, using a hoof recess-filling plug from reactive resin mixtures filled into the hoof recess from a dual cartridge dispenser containing separate, reactive precursor components of the hoof packing and plug-shoe-forming material that sets up quickly to a firm, somewhat resilient plug mass that adheres to and yet moves with the hoof wall, frog and sole portions as they move under the forces of ground impacts, plug adhesion militating against loss of the plug from the recess and plug deterioration even over weeks of use, and preventing incursions of environmental hazards such as trail debris and moisture between the plug and the hoof portions.