HOOF BOOT, METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HOOF BOOT AND USE OF A HOOF BOOT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hoof boot including at least the following components: a base plate, at least two side parts, and at least one heel strap. Known hoof boots are assembled from standardized components, given that a good fit can only be achieved via strong and potentially painful tightening or a complex method when putting on the hoof boot. To solve this problem, at least one of the components is produced by an additive manufacturing method, by which a precise fit of the hoof boot is enabled. In addition, the disclosure relates to a method for producing such a hoof boot and its use.

Claims

1. A hoof boot comprising: at least one of: a base plate, at least two side parts, and at least one heel strap, wherein at least one of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap is produced by an additive manufacturing method.

2. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap are integrally produced with one another by the additive manufacturing method.

3. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least the base plate and the at least two side parts are integrally produced with one another by the additive manufacturing method.

4. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one front belt configured to connect the at least two side parts.

5. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least two tension straps configured to connect the at least two side parts to a gaiter fastened on the at least one heel strap.

6. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a pad provided on an inside of the gaiter.

7. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: at least two tension straps configured to connect the at least two side parts to a gaiter fastened on the at least one heel strap.

8. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a pad provided on an inside of the gaiter.

9. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hoof boot is produced precisely fitted for a specific hoof of an equine animal.

10. A method for producing a hoof boot, the hoof boot including at least one of a base plate, at least two side parts, and at least one heel strap, the method comprising: receiving a data set having geometric information of a hoof; calculating a hoof boot geometry based on the data set; creating three-dimensional models of the individual components; selecting the at least one of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap from standard parts or manufacturing the at least one of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap based on the three dimensional models, wherein the base plate is produced by an additive manufacturing method; and (pre-)assembling the at least one of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap to form the hoof boot.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least two side parts and the at least one heel strap are produced by an additive manufacturing method.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least two of the base plate, the at least two side parts, and the at least one heel strap are integrally produced by an additive manufacturing method.

13. The hoof boot as claimed in claim 9, wherein the equine animal is a horse.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a hoof boot according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic rear view of the hoof boot shown in FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the hoof boot shown in FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic front view of a hoof boot according to a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a schematic rear view of the hoof boot shown in FIG. 4; and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a schematic side view of the hoof boot shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0036] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a hoof boot 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure in front view (FIG. 1), rear view (FIG. 2), and side view (FIG. 3), attached to a schematically shown hoof of an animal, for example a horse. The hoof boot 10 includes a base plate 12, which is provided between the hoof and an underlying surface. Furthermore, the hoof boot 10 includes two side parts 14, which are arranged essentially on the sides of the hoof when viewed in the direction of movement of the animal. The side parts 14 are joined to the base plate 12, for example via screws, nails, or an adhesive bond. In addition, other suitable joining methods can be considered. At the front side of the hoof, the two side parts 14 are connected with at least one front strap 18; in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, two front straps 18 are used. These exert a force directed towards one another on the two side parts, due to which they fit tightly to the hoof and prevent the hoof boot 10 from being lost.

[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 2, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a heel strap 16 is arranged on the back side of the hoof, the heel. Exemplary embodiments having two or more heel straps 16 are also conceivable. The at least one heel strap 16, in conjunction with the side parts 14, ensures that the hoof is almost completely enclosed by the components of the hoof boot 10. The heel strap 16 is joined to the side parts 14 and/or the base plate 12, for example via riveting, adhesive bonding, or other suitable joining methods.

[0038] Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows a gaiter 22 which is arranged centrally on the heel strap 16 and branches off on both sides of the hoof. It extends in the area above the frog cushion. Such a construction represents a further safeguard against the hoof inadvertently slipping out of the hoof boot 10. For this purpose, a tension strap 20 is provided at each end of the gaiter 22. For optimal clamping of the hoof in the hoof boot 10, the two tension straps 20 are each connected to one of the side parts 14.

[0039] According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the hoof boot 10 described above is characterized in that at least one of the components base plate 12, side parts 14, and heel strap 16 is produced with an additive manufacturing method. This allows for optimal individualization to the respective hoof, thereby achieving a health-enhancing and performance-enhancing effect in the respective animal. Of course, it is also possible to produce two or all three of the components base plate 12, side parts 14, and heel straps 16 with an additive manufacturing method. This can contribute to a further improvement of the fit of the hoof boot 10.

[0040] A second exemplary embodiment of the hoof boot 10 according to the disclosure is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. This is essentially similar to the first exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The difference is that in the second exemplary embodiment the components base plate, side parts, and heel straps are integrally embodied as a 3D shell 24. There is therefore no joining between the individual components, but an integral component is created during the primary shaping process, which combines the functions of the base plate, side parts, and heel straps. Such a construction has the advantage that the design-related weak points at the joints between the individual components can be avoided.

[0041] The other elements front strap 18, tension strap 20, and gaiter 22 are also present in the second exemplary embodiment in the same way, and their function remains the same. The only difference is that they are no longer arranged on the side parts 14/the heel strap 16, but on the corresponding geometries of the 3D shell 24.

[0042] Should it appear sensible in individual cases for economic or technical reasons, it would of course also be possible to integrally produce two of the three components base plate 12, side parts 14, and heel straps 16 with an additive manufacturing method and to join the remaining components with the geometry thus created.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0043] 10 hoof boot [0044] 12 base plate [0045] 14 side part [0046] 16 heel strap [0047] 18 front strap [0048] 20 tension strap [0049] 22 gaiter [0050] 24 3D-Shell