Farriery – Shoeing stands
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-12-04
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3643)
Farriery
Shoeing stands
C119S816000, C119S755000, C119S756000, C119S757000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325154
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to tools for farriers, veterinarians and horse owners. More particularly, this invention relates to a stand for supporting a horse's hoof for horseshoe removal, hoof trimming, horseshoe fitting, horseshoe installation and hoof maintenance.
2. Background
Most farriers physically support the horse's leg during shoeing operations by holding the horse's leg between their own legs, with the horse leg coming up from the farrier's backside. This is a precarious and sometimes dangerous position and always physically demanding. First, the farrier must remove the old horseshoe. Then the hoof must be trimmed and filed. Next, the new shoe must be fitted to the hoof profile and nailed in place. Finally, the nails are clinched and the anterior profile of the hoof is filed and shaped. All of these operations are best performed with the hoof supported at an elevation above ground level.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,216 for a Multiple Stand To Aid Shoeing Horses teaches two position tripod type stand having a pair of alternating upright members disposed at a right angle with respect to one another. A pair of opposing legs are connected to the vertex joint of the uprights, each at a slightly obtuse angle with respect to both uprights. In one position, one upright extends vertically upward while the second upright acts as the third leg of the tripod. In the second position, the second upright extends vertically upward while the first upright acts as the third leg of the tripod. A hard hoof cradle is attached to the distal end of one of the uprights and a flat plate is attached to the distal end of the other upright. The cradle holds the hoof in an elevated horizontal position to provide access to the bottom of the hoof, while the flat plate provides an elevated platform to support the bottom of the hoof to provide convenient access to the anterior of the hoof. An optional upright with an anvil attachment can be removably substituted for either of the other two uprights.
Unfortunately, this device suffers from some disadvantages. First, the length of the uprights are not adjustable to accommodate the necessary difference in working height between front and back hooves of a single horse, nor to accommodate different sized horses. Second, the hoof cradle construction does not provide any concussion absorption and is prone to the hoof dislodging from the cradle. Thirdly, the legs and horizontally extending upright (effectively a leg) pose a hazard both to the farrier and to the horse.
What is needed is an adjustable height and safer stand that more securely holds the hoof in the horizontal position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention includes a polyethylene base formed having a large generally flat base and a narrow truncated conical upright receiving portion centrally protruding from the base, a support upright configured to be slidably held within the upright receiving portion and an adjustable holding mechanism for securing the upright within the upright holder at a selected height. A first upright includes a diverging “U” shaped cradle attached to its upper distal end. A nylon strap is slung across the cradle and attached to the opposing ends of the cradle to form a hoof receiving sling. The cradle and strap are configured to securely hold the hoof and absorb concussion associated with nailing and hoof maintenance. A second upright member simply provides a flat surface or platform to receive the bottom of a hoof at an elevated position above the ground for anterior hoof work. Both uprights include upright supports which are sized and shaped to be closely and slidably received within the upright receiving portion and fixed along their respective lengths to adjust the working height by the adjustable holding mechanism.
The generally flat polyethylene base provides a safe and stable support for the stand and diminishes the chance of either the farrier or the horse from being injured by tripping over or stepping on a protruding leg. Additionally, the base provides for concussion absorption and distribution. It is formed having rounded edges and from a material which is much softer than the metal used in the prior art stand. Additionally, the edges of the cradle are rounded to reduce both the chance of injury as well as the wear on the sling. The combination of the flexible strap, such as nylon, and the plastic, or similar material base, provide a hoop support system which has been found to be much more acceptable to all horses tested.
Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 86455 (1869-02-01), Rogers et al.
patent: 89379 (1869-04-01), Blackburn
patent: 427012 (1890-04-01), Reed
patent: 569819 (1896-10-01), Davis et al.
patent: 1198467 (1916-09-01), Maltby
patent: 1278628 (1918-09-01), France et al.
patent: 1472527 (1923-10-01), Jones
patent: 4167216 (1979-09-01), Beaston
Abbott Yvonne R.
Jordan Charles T.
Pedersen Barbara S.
Pedersen Ken J.
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