# US 5,704,857 A · Horseshoe for pitching

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- Number: US 5,704,857 A
- Document ID: US5704857A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/788,861
- Filed: 1997-01-23
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1997-01-23
- Inventors: Johnny W. Davenport
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704857A

## CPC

- A63B 67/06: Ring or disc tossing games {, e.g. quoits; Throwing or tossing games, e.g. using balls; Games for manually rolling balls, e.g. marbles}
- A63B 2067/063: {tossing, e.g. rings or horseshoes around or on, e.g. posts, hooks}
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A horseshoe for pitching for recreation and in National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America competition, wherein lugs or calks on top of a first horseshoe near the heel points can engage and shoulder against raised surfaces on the bottom of a second horseshoe positioned atop the first horseshoe. An alternate feature positions the transverse center of balance nearer the heel end of the horseshoe than prior art.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In the game of horseshoe pitching in which participants pitch horseshoes sequentially a predetermined distance toward a ground stake, a horseshoe comprising:
a U shaped body defining a toe, spaced apart heels at the distal ends of said body, and legs joining to each of said heels, said body having a top surface for remaining exposed when pitched and a bottom surface for facing the ground when pitched,
a calk located on the top surface of each leg and forming a shoulder at a first predetermined distance from the heel end and facing toward the heels, and
an offset surface on the bottom surface of each leg forming a shoulder at a second predetermined distance from the heels and facing away from the heels,
whereby a rebound encountered from a pitched horseshoe rebounding from striking the stake while overlaying a previously pitched horseshoe can effect an interfacing engagement between respective shoulders of each for minimizing the relative movement therebetween.

### Claim 2

In the game of horseshoe pitching in which participants pitch horseshoes sequentially over a predetermined interval toward a ground stake, a horseshoe comprising:
a U shaped body defining a toe, spaced apart heels at the distal ends of said body, and legs joining to each of said heels, said body having a top surface for remaining exposed when pitched and a bosom surface for facing the ground when pitched,
said horseshoe having a maximum width of 71/4 inches across the legs, a maximum length of 75/8 inches from heel to toe, a maximum weight of 2 pounds and 10 ounces, and having a transverse center of balance at a distance 46% to 50% of the length from each heel end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A horseshoe according to claim 2, wherein said distance is 47% to 49% of the length.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A horseshoe according to claim 2, wherein said distance is substantially 48%.