US217547A - Improvement in toe-weights for horseshoes - Google Patents

Description

A. J. PACKARD 8u C. P. HARRIS. Toe-Weight for Horseshoes.

No. 217,547. Patented luly15, 1879.

FIG.;

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEToEc y ADONIRAM J. PACKARD AND CHARLES P. HARRIS, OF HILLS FERRY, CAL.

IMPROVEMENT INI'IV'OE-WEIGHTSv FOR` HORSESHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,547, dated July 15, 1879; application tiled May 20, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, ADONIRAM J. PACK- ARD and CHARLES l?. HARRIS, of Hills Ferry, county of Stanislaus, and State of California, have invented an Improved Toe-Weight; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to an improved toeweight for horses, such as are used to reduce their gait to a measured pace.

Our improvements consist in providing a weight of such a shape as to adapt itself to any form ofhoof, to be used in combination with arelnovable clamp, of peculiar shape, so that the weightand clamp are,when combined,selfbind ing, and no supplementary strap is necessary to keep it in place, nor is it necessary to injure the hoof by cutting to fix the clamp and weight to the hoof. In going from place to place, or when it is not desired to use the weight, not only the weight, but the clamp also, may be removed, and the foot left free, with nothin g but an ordinary recessed shoe upon it. Thus the shoes used with this clamp and weight are not obstructed by fixed attachments, which are in the way when the weight is not in use, but the whole can be removed without taking oft the shoe.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a hoof with the toeweight attached. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 shows the parts in detail.

Let A represent the hoof of a horse, and B the shoe, said shoe having a slot, a, cut at its center, as shown, on the upper side, so as to be between the shoe and hoof.

The clam p C is formed in a peculiar shape, with its upper front portion curved and its lower horizontal portion beveled oli', as shown, and provided with a lip, b.

On the lower end of the frontpart is formed a toe or shoulder, c, which is curved, as shown, so as to t down over the front ot' theshoe, for the purpose hereinafter described.

The weight D is made perfectly circular in form, and has its back hollowed or rounded, so as to correspond to the shape of the hoof. In front is formed a curved slot, c, with its face beveled or curved, as shown, to correspond with' the shape of the front part of the clamp, which lits into said slot.

A threaded hole, d, is formed in the clamp, and a corresponding socket, d', is madein the weight, at the upper end of the slot, so that a bolt, s, may be screwed in to hold the weight and clamp together.

The slot at the toe of the shoe is cut through its upper portion, while at the rear the iron is separated, as shown, so as to form a socket by the band a coming over the top of the slot. This band is on the upper side of the shoe, and fits up into the hollow of the-hoof.

In the circular depression at the back of the weight is placed a piece of rubber, g, so as to protect the foot from jar and the hoof from contact with solid substances.

The screw that passes through thc clamp and enters the socket in the weight does not pass through the weight, but only goes far enough to hold the weight in position.

To secure the weight in position, the beveled lipped portion ofthe clamp is inserted through the slot until the lip comes out of the rear end of the socket. The weight is then dropped down between the upward-projecting portion of the clamp and the hoof, and the clamp fits into the beveled curved slot c. The weight is thus made self-binding, no matter at what angle the horses foot may be, as the rubber on the back will be more or less compressed, according to the shape of the foot. When the weight is dropped in behind the clamp the upper part of the clamp is thrown forward, and this throws the lip b up behind the offset or band a', so that one part binds the other. The bolt is then screwed in, and a turn more or less will compress the rubber properly so as to accommodate the weight to the shape of the horses foot, and it cannot get free of the clamp. Being self-binding, there will be no rattle or jar to the weight, which is firmly held in place by the peculiarly-shaped clamp and the screw. The weight is solid, safe, and strong, and not readilydisplaced,while no supplemental straps are necessary to hold it in position.

The weight may be instantly removed without disturbing the shoe, thus enabling the driver to use the same Weight for several horses. The shape and construction of the weight is specially designed for this, as it ac commodates itself to any shaped hoof, as herein described. As the end ofthe clamp passes through a hole punched in the shoe, there is less cutting or burning of the hoof necessary than with common toe-weights, and no possible chance to in jure the foot in slioeing. As the kweight and clamp are readily removed they are not worn out in traveling, but can be put in place in a moment when necessary.

Weights of different sizes may be vused with the saine clamps, if desired. Weights Weighing more or less, but with the saine beveled curve in front, will lit to any clamp. Being secured in the manner described, the weight cannot fly off the foot.

'It will be noticed that the clamp has a bearingI nearly the entire length of the weight and holds it firmly, the weight not being merely secured at one point alonea feature which would be objectionable in such devices.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The Weight D, having the hollowed back, provided with the rubber facing g and the curved slot 0,'in combination with the clamp 5 C, having a curved upper portion, corresponding to the slot in the weight, and the horizoni'y tal portion, with its lip b, whereby the weight is made adjustable and self-binding, substantially as herein described.

2. The removable clamp C, turned at right angles, with a lip, b, toe e, and bolt or nut s, fitted to hold the selwedging weight l), in combination with the slotted shoe B, with its band a', whereby the clamp is joined to the slice and foot, but made removable, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

3. The weight D, with its hollowed back and rubber facing g. curved slot c, and socket d', in combination with the clamp C, with its hole d, bolt s, toe e, and having' the lip b, to engage with the band a in the slotted shoe, whereby the weight and clamp are secured t0 the foot of the horse, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

ADONIRAM JUDsoN PACKARD. V oHAnLEs PARsoNs HARRIs.

`Witnesses:

J. W. RoBIsoN, j

J. GORHAM.

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