US 3,967,683 AGranted

Equine hoofwear

OwnerJuan Saavedra Ensinozoinventor

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Abstract

Equine footwear according to the invention comprises a split ring of a configuration corresponding to the peripheral outline of a hoof of an ungulate animal with the split disposed at the rear or heel portion thereof. The ring in cross section constitutes an acute angle with a lower flange disposed at a slight angle to the horizontal for fitting beneath the generally concave bottom of the hoof, and an upwardly extending flange for surrounding the outer wall of the hoof so that the device constitutes the equivalent of a slipper. The footwear is made of a material having some pliancy or flexibility such as a soft metal but preferably of a plastics material so that it can conform to the particular hoof to which it is applied and permit expansion and contraction of the hoof during movement of the animal. The opposed ends of the ring may be adjustably and releasably secured together to accommodate adjustment and replacement.

Claims8

Dependent claims

Equine footwear comprising a split ring of a configuration approximating the configuration of a hoof and having the split at the heel portion thereof, said ring having an acute angle cross-section including a lower flange for underlying the bottom of a hoof and an upper flange for overlying the outer sides and front of a hoof, said lower flange being inclined upwardly to conform to the normal concavity of the bottom of a hoof, and said upper flange being inclined inwardly to conform to the normal slope of the outer surfaces of the front and sides of a hoof, said ring constituting a resilient material enabling expansion and contraction thereof for mounting and dismounting said ring relative to a hoof and for enabling said hoof to expand and contract during movement of the animal, and means for adjustably and releasably securing the ring ends at the split to positively mount the ring on the hoof, said securing means comprising a strap extending at an angle upwardly and rearwardly from each side of said ring with the ends of said straps curved inwardly toward each other and overlying said ring ends, and releasable, adjustable fastener means joining said strap ends and said ring ends, said straps being integral with said ring.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.