DESCRIPTION
"LAMINATED HORSESHOE WITHOUT METALLIC LAYERS"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to horseshoes, in particular laminated horseshoes without metallic layers, namely horseshoes comprising layers of cork composites or other materials and basalt fibre layers. The horseshoe of the invention can be used, for example, in equestrian competitions or horse racing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the main aspects of horse-riding relates to the choice of horseshoes to be used in the horse. This aspect is even more important when it comes to horse racing or other similar competitions, where any advantage can be crucial .
The main issues addressed in the development of new horseshoes relate to the lightness of the horseshoe, shock absorption capacity, comfort provided to the horse, among others, where a bad performance of the horseshoe in any of these aspects can compromise, for example, the horse speed, which is a key factor in horse racing, namely in flat racing, harness racing and jump racing.
The durability of the horseshoes is important in these races, as usually the horseshoes have to be replaced after the race, given the wearing out level due to the competition, which adds a problem related with the effect of the horseshoe nails in the animal's hooves. As it will" be understood, during competition season (training and racing), die need to put and remove different horseshoes in few days involves practical problems of lack of space for new horseshoe nails, due to time constraints for hoof recovery. There is also the issue of discomfort to the animal .
On the other hand, there is the problem of vibration transmission of the horseshoe nails to the horse's feet. This issue affects the comfort and consequently the animal's performance. For all these reasons, it is important that the horseshoes dispense the use of horseshoe nails.
The characteristics that determine the performance of a horseshoe in the above- mentioned aspects include the level of rigidity/flexibility of the horseshoe, the adhesion to the horse's hoof, the friction between the horseshoe and the ground, etc.
Accordingly, there is a need for horseshoes that improve die horse's performance in a race. United States Patent US 2,705,536 discloses a horseshoe comprising a horseshoe body, preferably metallic, similar to a conventional metallic horseshoe, and a cushion placed between said horseshoe body and the horse's hoof, acting as shock absorber. Said cushion comprises: two resilient layers, each made of a rubber and cork composite obtained by vulcanization; at least one reinforcing fabric layer impregnated with a solidifying cement arranged between said resilient layers, with the purpose of assuring the binding of these layers and to provide a rigid layer; and at least a fourth rigid layer arranged above the upper resilient layer, preferably made of a fibre glass fabric impregnated with a solidifying resinous plastic material, wherein the fourth layer is in contact with the horse's hoof and the lower resilient layer is in contact with the horseshoe body. To assure the binding between the different layers of the cushion and between the cushion and the horseshoe body binding cements are used. This solution has disadvantages related to the weight of the horseshoe and its flexibility. French Patent FR 2,973,644 B l discloses a horseshoe comprising multiple deformable layers, without the addition of a horseshoe body as previously mentioned for US Patent 2,705,536. The horseshoe of French Patent comprises: a first layer of composite material, in contact with the horse's hoof and having a non-slipping face; a second metallic or composite layer; and a third layer, in contact with the ground, wherein the layers are successive and interdependent. This patent does not address the actual composition of the layers, nor even the interconnections between those layers. However, these are key factors in the horseshoe performance and stability, especially when this is for use in such a severe application as horse racing.
Therefore, there is a need for a horseshoe which has a good ratio of weight, stability, resistance and comfort level for the animal in especially severe applications, as in horse racing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laminated horseshoe without metallic layers, the laminated horseshoe comprising: a first equine hoof connection layer (1) which, in use, is intended to be in contact with an equine hoof, a fifth traction material layer (5) which, in use, is intended to be in contact with the ground; characterised by further comprising between said first and fifth layers (1 , 5): a second basalt fibre layer (2) arranged on said first layer (1), a third agglomerated cork layer (3) arranged on said second layer (2) and a fourth basalt fibre layer (4) arranged between said third and fifth layers (3, 5). in one aspect of the invention, said equine hoof connection layer (1) and said fifth traction material layer (5) are made of a cork and rubber composite.
In another aspect of the invention, said equine hoof connection layer ( 1) is made only of rubber
In still another aspect of the invention, the horseshoe is characterised by the fifth traction material layer (5) being made only of rubber.
In one embodiment of the invention, the horseshoe is characterised by the first equine hoof connection layer (1) having a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.8 to 4 mm; second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) having each a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.5 to 2 mm; and the fifth traction material layer (5) having a thickness comprised in the range of about 2 to 8 mm.
Preferably, the first layer ( 1 ) has a thickness in the range of about 1.5 to 3 mm; second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.8 to 1.5 mm; and the fifth layer (5) has a thickness comprised in the range of about 3 to 6 mm.
More preferably, the first layer ( 1) has a thickness of about 2 mm; second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness of about 1 mm; and the fifth layer (5) has a thickness of about 4 mm.
In another embodiment, the horseshoe of the invention has a weight ratio of cork to rubber, in the first layer (1), of about 1.5/1 , and a weight ratio of cork to rubber, in the fifth layer (5), of about 0.25/1 .
Most preferably, the second (2), third (3) and fourth (4) layers are connected to each other by means of a resin comprising epoxy resin. The present invention further relates to the attachment of the horseshoe on an equine hoof by means of glue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a horseshoe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a laminated horseshoe (made of several overlapping layers of different materials or composites) without metallic layers. The horseshoe of the invention has different layers of cork composites or other materials and basalt fibre layers and is mainly intended for use in horse racing. However, is equally intended for use in other circumstances, as equestrian competitions or any other less demanding activities. The invention solves the mentioned prior art problems and can be attached to the animal by means of horseshoe nails or only glue, and shows an excellent ratio between resistance to wearing and shock absorption that provides an increase of the animal's performance. Note that although the invention is herein described with reference to horses, it can be equally applied to any equine.
The term "cork material" or simply "cork" denotes natural cork, colmated natural cork, agglomerated cork, micro-agglomerated cork or the like and combinations thereof. The term "agglomerated cork" denotes, according to ISO Standard 2190, cork material that comprises at least 51 % (by weight) of granulated cork having minimum granulometry of 0.5 mm and water content equal or less than 8 % . In the context of the present specification, the term "comprising" should be understood as "including, among others" . As such, said term should not be interpreted as "consisting only of" .
Note that independently of the explicit presentation of the quantitative expression "about X" , any X value herein should be interpreted as an approximate value of the actual X value, as such approximation to the actual value would be reasonably expected by a skilled person due to experimental and/or measuring conditions that add shifts to the actual value. All values mentioned in the present specification must be interpreted as approximate values, for example, reference to " 1.0" means "about 1 .0" .
The horseshoe of the invention has the shape usually used for prior art horseshoes, i.e. , similar to a "U" . Therefore, the horseshoe is intended to essentially cover the peripheral area of the horse's hoof. For the sake of clarity of the present specification, it is assumed that each layer of the horseshoe of the invention has two faces. When referring that an X layer is arranged on another Y layer, it means that one face of X layer is arranged on a face of the other Y layer. When referring that a layer is in contact with the ground or the hoof, it means that one face of this layer is in contact with the ground or the hoof, as appropriate.
The attachment of the horseshoe to a hoof is usually done manually using horseshoe nails, which practice is well known by the skilled person for attachment of conventional metallic horseshoes. The horseshoe of the present invention can also be attached to a hoof by gluing only, without the use of horseshoe nails. It was surprisingly found that the horseshoe of the present invention combines several key characteristics for a good performance in competition, making up a harmonious whole in terms of shock absorption, flexibility, resistance and comfort to the animal .
With reference to Fig. 1 , the laminated horseshoe without metallic layers of the present invention comprises, successively: a first equine hoof connection layer (1); a second basalt fibre layer (2); a third agglomerated cork and resin layer (3); a fourth basalt fibre layer (4); and a fifth traction material layer (5), wherein the first layer (1) is intended to be in contact with the hoof of the equine and the fifth layer (5) in contact with the ground, the latter should combine characteristics of resistance to wearing and high traction capacity.
The equine hoof connection layer (1), which is directly connected to the hoof of the animal, must have anti-vibration characteristics.
The equine hoof connection layer (1) can be made of any material that assures said anti-vibration characteristics. In case of gluing to the hoof, this layer (1) must add adhesion characteristics that make possible its gluing to the hoof of the animal.
In an embodiment of the invention, the equine hoof connection layer (1 ) is a cork and rubber composite. In another' embodiment, the equine hoof connection layer ( 1) is made only of rubber.
In operation, the traction material layer (5) is in contact with the ground during the normal movement of the animal. In this regard, this layer (5) is subject to wearing by abrasion due to its function. On the other hand, in competition, the grip of the horse to the ground can be decisive for the final result, whereby this traction material layer (5) must combine the characteristics of high traction capacity and resistance to wearing. In an embodiment, said equine hoof connection layer (1) and traction material layer (5) are a cork and rubber composite.
In an alternative embodiment, said traction material layer (5) is made only of rubber.
The layers (1 , 5) further provide the desired comfort and shock absorption during the use of the horseshoe, and particularly the rubber helps in keeping the integrity of each layer. The horseshoe of the present invention has a remarkable balance between the desirable mechanical characteristics for a high performance, namely its flexibility, since a too flexible horseshoe would make difficult the attachment thereof to the hoof and it would not provide the suitable support to the horse during a race. To strongly connect the layers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) of the horseshoe of the present invention, at least one suitable resin is used. By way of example, an epoxy resin or a combination of resins including epoxy resin can be used.
Said resin helps in assuring the integrity of the whole horseshoe, as it was shown that it creates a solid assembly, namely the basalt fibre layers with an agglomerated cork layer therebetween, wherein this assembly allows to advantageously substitute the metallic or composite bodies of the prior art horseshoes, namely by promoting the reduction of weight and increasing the flexibility without compromising the mechanical strength of the horseshoe, thus providing greater performance in severe use in addition to better comfort to the animal.
Accordingly, the layers are impregnated with said resin. In particular, the impregnation of die third agglomerated cork layer (3) with resin is achieved by a mechanical process, which via an exothermic reaction does the curing of the resin that can be sped up with heat, followed by a post-cure.
To achieve an excellent performance, the horseshoe of the invention must be configured with layers having the following thicknesses:
• the first equine hoof connection layer (1) has a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.8 to 4 mm;
• the second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.5 to 2 mm; and
• the fifth traction material layer (5) has a thickness comprised in the range of about 2 to 8 mm.
In one embodiment, the first layer (1) has a thickness in the range of about 1.5 to 3 mm; the second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness comprised in the range of about 0.8 to 1 .5 mm; and the fifth layer (5) has a thickness comprised in the range of about 3 to 6 mm. in a preferred embodiment, the first layer (1) has a thickness of about 1 ,8 mm; the second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness of about 0.8 mm; and the fifth layer (5) has a thickness of about 3 mm.
In a more preferred embodiment, the first layer ( I) has a thickness of about 2 mm; the second, third and fourth layers (2, 3, 4) have each a thickness of about 1 mm; and the fifth layer (5) has a thickness of about 4 mm. In still a preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of cork to rubber of the first layer (1 ) of the horseshoe is about 1.5/1 , and the weight ratio of cork to rubber of the fifth layer (5) is about 0.25/1. In another embodiment, the fifth layer (5) could be made only of rubber.
The present description is intended to be illustrative and not limitative to the scope of the present invention, which is defined in appended claims.