Hoof block and related usage method

Abstract

A hoof block is provided that is connected to the hoof of a livestock animal by an adhesive. The block can include a body defined by an inner edge and a curvilinear outer edge approximating the outer edge of the hoof, and a plurality of polygonal shear holes extending through the body. Each of the shear holes can have a tip and can be arranged along a reference line that can be set at an angle of, for example, 30 - 60 degrees (inclusive) relative to the inner edge. The holes can be connected by bridges that cut through the body to effect shearing when the hoof block is detached from the hoof and encounters a pump impeller in a livestock facility. The block can break into pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller, but can still support the standing and walking loads of the livestock animal when on the hoof. Related methods of use are provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the agricultural industry and, more particularly, to hoof blocks for livestock. Background Art

[0002] On agricultural farms, it is not uncommon for the hooves of bovine animals to become injured and thus lame, despite the best care provided by farmers. This causes pain, stress, and discomfort to the cows. To alleviate this discomfort, farmers typically trim the injured part of the hoof and treat that part to relieve any internal pressure. Usually, a block or horseshoe is applied to the healthy side of the hoof such that the injured part of the hoof is lifted off the ground. With this lift, the injured part of the cow's hoof does not bear weight while the wound heals.

[0003] Typically, a hoofblock can lift the injured part of the hoof about one inch off the ground. The hoofblock helps this lift for a long enough time for the injured part of the hoof to heal so that it can bear weight again. Depending on the degree of injury, this can range from one week to several months. For a long time, hoofblocks were made of wood and applied to the bottom of the healthy hoof part with an adhesive. Although this is effective, the wood wears out quickly. This causes the hoofblock to fall off the hoof prematurely and makes the cow uncomfortable, especially the injured part of the hoof. In addition, many dairy farms have become larger, and cows have to travel longer distances on hard concrete roads to and from the milking station, which makes wooden hoofblocks even more unsatisfactory.

[0004] To address the drawbacks of wooden hoofblocks, some manufacturers have started making hoofblocks from more durable plastic materials or rubber compounds. These materials also provide better cushioning for the cows. However, the problem is that they are also applied to the cow's hoof with an adhesive. The adhesive sometimes does not bond well to the smoother surface of the plastic or rubber hoofblock. Another problem relates to the stiffness of the hoofblock constructed from such harder plastic or rubber materials. After the hoofblock falls off the hoof, it often enters the manure pump system of the farm or facility. The pump system typically has a large pump with an impeller that rotates at a high speed to transport liquid manure to a pit or other location. The hard hoofblock has a tendency to enter the pump and / or jam the pump or impeller, which in turn can damage or shut down the manure pump system. Sometimes, the impeller can become severely jammed and require expensive maintenance or repair to resume operation after being jammed by a more modern hoofblock.

[0005] Therefore, there is still room for improvement in the field of hoofblocks, particularly for those hoofblocks that will not impair the operation of the manure pump system on the farm where the hoofblocks are used but will still adequately support the hoof. Summary of the Invention

[0006] A hoof block is provided that attaches to the hoof of a livestock animal, optionally via an adhesive. The hoof block may include a body defined by an inner edge and an outer edge approximating the outer edge of the hoof, and a plurality of shear holes extending through the body.

[0007] In one embodiment, each of the shear holes may have a pointed or polygonal end and may be arranged along a reference line that may be set at an angle, for example, between 30 and 60 degrees (inclusive), relative to the inner edge.

[0008] In another embodiment, the shear holes may be connected by bridges that are severed through the body when the hoof block detaches from the hoof and encounters a pump impeller in a barn, farm, or other facility. The block may break into multiple pieces that generally do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller, but can still support the standing and walking loads of the livestock while on the hoof.

[0009] In yet another embodiment, when viewed from the lower surface of the body, the plurality of shear holes may be in the form of polygonal shear holes. The polygonal holes may include a first tip formed by a first wall intersecting a second wall at a first angle between 60 and 120 degrees (inclusive), and may include a second tip formed by a third wall intersecting a fourth wall at a second angle between 60 and 120 degrees (inclusive). Optionally, in some cases, these first and second angles may be approximately right angles.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, the first tip of one hole may extend towards the third tip of an adjacent hole arranged along a first reference line. The first and third tips may be spaced apart by a bridge. After the hoof block leaves the bovine hoof, when the hoof block engages a pump impeller in a manure handling system of a facility using the hoof block, the integrity of the bridge may be compromised by the tips of the holes extending towards each other, thereby creating a natural or predefined rupture that propagates through the bridge from one hole to the next.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, the hoof block may define shear holes of various sizes, shapes, and orientations. For example, the hoof block may include a second set of shear holes extending through the body, each second shear hole being arranged along a second reference line at a fourth angle between 30 and 60 degrees (inclusive) relative to the inner edge, but offset from and away from the first reference line. In some cases, the first reference line and the second reference line may be parallel to each other.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the hoof block may include a third set of shear holes extending through the body, each third shear hole being arranged along a third reference line transverse to the first and second reference lines. The hoof block may be cut into multiple pieces across a plurality of third shear holes along the third reference line, optionally also through the bridges between adjacent shear holes.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, one or more of the individual shear holes in the above group may be configured to include converging sidewalls that converge with each other as the hole extends from the lower surface to the upper surface, and vice versa. For example, some shear holes may extend upward from the lower surface of the hoof block and may terminate at a first upper vertex defined by a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are set at an apex angle, which may optionally be an acute angle. In some cases, the apex angle may be between 2 degrees and 20 degrees (inclusive), or other angles. The acute angle may be such that when the hoof block encounters the impeller pump, the first sidewall and the second sidewall move away from each other, and cause the hoof block material above the apex angle to break, tear, rip, deform, or cut, so that the first sidewall and the second sidewall can be separated from each other to propagate the breakage and tearing of the hoof block.

[0014] In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a hoof block is provided. The method may include: forming a body bounded by a perimeter, the inner edge of the perimeter transitioning to at least one outer edge that approximates the outer hoof edge of a livestock hoof; defining a first shear hole in the body, each first shear hole having a first tip and an opposing second tip, the first shear holes being arranged along a first reference line that forms a third angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees (inclusive) relative to the inner edge; and creating one or more bridges adjacent to at least one of the first tip and the second tip. The bridge may be configured to cut through part or all of the thickness of the body when the hoof block encounters the pump impeller, and cause the hoof block to break into multiple pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the method may include molding, 3D printing, machining, or otherwise forming the hoof block and the shear holes therein to facilitate breakage propagation, such that when the hoof block encounters a pump device (such as an impeller) in a facility after leaving its previously fixed hoof, the hoof block can break into smaller pieces than a complete hoof block.

[0016] The present embodiment provides a shoe block that is capable of withstanding compressive standing and walking loads and lateral loads imposed by an animal wearing the shoe block, but quickly and effectively breaks into fragments after the shoe block is dislodged from the hoof and encounters a pump within a manure management system at a facility where the animal is located. Where the shoe block includes adjacent shear holes with tips separated by corresponding bridges, the tips facilitate cracks and cracks to propagate across the bridges. Where the shoe block includes shear holes along multiple reference lines, some of which are optionally parallel and some of which are optionally transverse to each other, the shear holes and associated bridges between the holes facilitate tearing and breaking the shoe block across multiple planes and in different areas so that the shoe block breaks into multiple small pieces when encountering a pump impeller or other moving part of the manure management equipment. Where the shear hole includes a top angle and / or a side wall of a top bridge portion that transitions upward to the location, wherein the top angle is optionally an acute angle, the top bridge portion can be configured to quickly and abruptly break, tear, rip, deform or shear when encountering a pump impeller so that the shoe block in that area breaks into fragments. On the other hand, the top angle is sufficient to withstand the compression and lateral loads of the animal standing or walking without separation when the shoe block is on the animal.

[0017] These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated with reference to the description of the current embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Before explaining the embodiments of the present invention in detail, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to operational details, nor to the construction and arrangement details of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following figures. The present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments, and can be practiced or performed in an alternative manner that is not explicitly disclosed herein. In addition, it will be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be considered as restrictive. The use of "comprising" and "including" and its variants is intended to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents and additional items and their equivalents. In addition, enumeration can be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be interpreted as limiting the present invention to any number of components or specific order. The use of enumeration should also not be interpreted as excluding any additional steps or components that may be combined with or combined into the enumerated steps or components from the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a hoof block applied to a hoof of a livestock according to the present embodiment;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a top view of the hoof block;

[0021] Figure 3 is a lower perspective view of a shoe block showing a plurality of shear holes along a plurality of reference lines;

[0022] Figure 4 is a bottom view of the hoof block;

[0023] Figure 5 is a side view of the hoof block;

[0024] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the hoof block taken along Figure 4 line 6-6 in

[0025] Figure 7 is a sectional view of the hoof block taken along Figure 4 line 7-7 in

[0026] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the hoof block after encountering a pump in a livestock facility and being separated into different pieces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The current embodiment of the hoof block is shown in Figures 1 to 8 and is generally labeled "10". The hoof block is installed in the bovine hoof 100 of a bovine animal as Figure 1 shown, but of course can be installed on any other hoofed livestock depending on the application. As shown, the bovine hoof 100 has a left claw 101 and a right claw 102, and each of the left claw 101 and the right claw 102 can have a front or toe portion of the claw, outer front regions 101F and 102F, outer regions 101O and 102O, and heel regions 101H and 102H. For the general discussion here, the right claw 102 can be considered the healthy claw, while the left claw 101 can be considered the injured, diseased, or unhealthy claw. In this application, the hoof block 10 can be a right-claw support hoof block and can be placed under the healthy claw 102, which in turn supports the unhealthy claw at a height H1 above the ground GS. In the case where the right claw is unhealthy, the left-claw support hoof block can be used to support the left claw, and the left-claw support hoof block can be Figure 1 a mirror image of the hoof block 10 as

[0028] shown. Optionally, the hoof blocks can be sold in sets or sold as left and right hoof blocks to fit the left or right claw, depending on which claw is injured. 1 / 2 inches (inclusive), 3 / 4 inch to 1 1 / 4 inches (inclusive) or about 1 inch, depending on the application and the specific livestock to which the block is attached. The body can also include a length L1, which can optionally be 4 inches to 7 inches (inclusive), 5 inches to 6 inches (inclusive) or about 6 inches. The body can include a width W1, which can optionally be 2 inches to 4 inches (inclusive), 2 inches to 3 inches (inclusive) or about 2.5 inches.

[0029] The thickness Tl of the body can extend between the upper surface 20U and the lower surface 20L. The body and the surface can be defined by a perimeter P, and the inner edge LE of the perimeter P transitions towards the outer side of the hoof block to the front outer edge FE and the rear outer edge RE. The inner edge LE can generally be linear or straight. The front edge FE and the rear edge RE can be circular, inclined, and / or curved. These edges FE and RE can be connected by an outer edge or outer rim EE, and all three of them can approximate the outer hoof rim of a livestock hoof. Optionally, the outer rim EE can be curved, or can be linear and parallel to the inner edge LE. In some cases, the front edge FE and the rear edge RE can include a radius R1, which can optionally be equal. The radius R1 can optionally be from 1 inch to 3 inches (inclusive), from 1.5 inches to 2 inches (inclusive), or about 1.75 inches. In other cases, the radius can vary from the front to the rear of the block.

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The upper surface 20U of the block 10 is shown. The upper surface 20U can include a plurality of adhesive holes 20UA. These adhesive holes 20UA can be shallow recesses that are not continuous with any of the shear holes described below. These adhesive holes can be configured to receive an adhesive therein and bond the hoof block 10 to the hoof or claw of a bovine. These holes can provide an increased or enhanced surface area to which the adhesive can bond, and can be partially or fully filled with the adhesive to facilitate bonding of the block to the hoof. The adhesive holes can extend downward from the upper surface by a depth less than 0.25 inches or less than 0.2 inches, or by other depths depending on the application. Optionally, the adhesive holes do not extend to the lower surface, and in many cases are not connected to any of the shear holes described below and are not in liquid or fluid communication with the shear holes. Thus, the adhesive applied to the adhesive holes does not leak from the hoof block via those shear holes. Further optionally, the block and the body can define a lanyard hole LH that extends through its thickness T1, such that a rope or other lanyard can be connected to the hoof block or a plurality of hoof blocks to hold the hoof block in place.

[0031] As described above, the hoof block 10 can include one or more sets of shear holes that extend through the body. These shear holes can have various shapes, sizes, and dimensions, and can be aligned with each other in groups along one or more reference lines, or even be generally randomly disposed throughout the body and the hoof block. The shear holes can be connected by bridges adjacent to the holes, and can be configured to include tips to facilitate, enhance, or effect the shearing of the bridges through the body when the hoof block encounters a pump impeller or other moving part of a facility for applying the hoof block to a bovine. Through such shear holes, the hoof block can break into smaller fragments, each fragment having a volume and surface area smaller than the entire hoof block 10 itself, such that the block and the fragments generally do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller, pump, or other equipment, all of which are generally referred to as the pump or impeller.

[0032] As Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 shown, the shear holes may include a plurality of first shear holes 30 extending upwardly from the lower surface 20L. Each of these first shear holes is shown as a polygon shape, but of course other shapes or dimensions may be employed to facilitate effective fracture, tearing, ripping, deformation, and / or shearing (all of which are collectively referred to herein as "shearing") of the body, bridge, or other portions of the block 10. Each of the first shear holes 30 may include a first end 31 and a second end 32. Each of these first ends 31 and second ends 32 may be pointed and may terminate in a corner, an end with a small radius, and / or a terminal wall. For example, the first end 31 may be formed by the intersection of a first wall 31A and a second wall 31B at a first angle A1. The first angle A1 may optionally be between 60 degrees and 120 degrees (inclusive), between 75 degrees and 100 degrees (inclusive), between 80 degrees and 100 degrees (inclusive), or about 90 degrees or a right angle. Unexpectedly and surprisingly, it has been found that these angles facilitate the severing of adjacent bridges adjacent to the ends of the shear holes, such as the bridge 31B1 adjacent to the first tip 31, but are still large enough such that the body, bridge, and other portions of the hoof block do not sever under a compressive load of at least 200 pounds, at least 300 pounds, at least 375 pounds, or at least 400 pounds, optionally applied by a cow to the block, and also do not sever under a walking or running load of at least 500 pounds, at least 750 pounds, at least 1000 pounds, or at least 1250 pounds.

[0033] Optionally, the second end 32 of the first shear hole 30 may be symmetric with the first end 31. For example, the second end may be formed by the intersection of a third wall 32A and a fourth wall 32B at a second angle A2. The second angle A2 may optionally be between 60 degrees and 120 degrees (inclusive), between 75 degrees and 100 degrees (inclusive), between 80 degrees and 100 degrees (inclusive), or about 90 degrees or a right angle. Further optionally, the shear holes may be hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or other shapes having a corresponding number of sides when viewed from a top view angle, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0034] Referring to Figures 3 to 4, the first shear holes 30 may be arranged along a first reference line R1 that forms a third angle A3 with respect to the linear inner edge LE. The third angle A3 may optionally be between 30 degrees and 60 degrees (inclusive), between 30 and 45 degrees (inclusive), or approximately 30 degrees. Each of the first shear holes may also be defined at its ends by a bridge portion between the holes. For example, holes 30A may be separated from holes 30B by a bridge portion 31B2 at their corresponding tips. Similarly, holes 30B may be separated from holes 30C by a bridge portion 31B3. All of the holes and bridge portions in the first set of shear holes may also be arranged along a common reference line R1 and may be parallel to each other therealong. Generally, the first shear holes may be connected by bridge portions adjacent to at least one of the first tip and the second tip, and as described above, the bridge portions may be configured to cut through the body when the shoe encounters the pump impeller and cause the shoe to break into multiple pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller.

[0035] As Figure 7 shown, the shear holes may extend upward from the lower surface 20L of the body toward the upper surface 20U through part or all of the thickness T1 of the body. Exemplary shear holes 30 may include and terminate at a first upper vertex defined by a first sidewall 36 and a second sidewall 37 arranged at an apex angle AA. The apex angle AA may be an acute angle such that the sidewalls may optionally be between 2 degrees and 20 degrees (inclusive), between 2 degrees and 10 degrees (inclusive), between 5 degrees and 10 degrees (inclusive), approximately 2 degrees, approximately 3 degrees, or approximately 4 degrees. With these angles, the material of the block 10 can be easily molded and the parts of the mold can be pulled out of the holes after molding. Further optionally, the apex angle is acute, and when the shoe encounters the impeller pump, the first sidewall 36 and the second sidewall 37 can move away from each other and cause the material of the shoe above the apex angle AA (also referred to as the top bridge portion 38) to be cut off, so that the first sidewall and the second sidewall can be separated from each other to propagate the rupture, tear, and / or deformation of the shoe. Other shear holes described herein may include such sidewalls, apex angles, and top bridge portions above the corresponding shear holes, sometimes located in the upper half or upper third of the body thickness T1.

[0036] As Figures 3 to 4 shown, the shoe 10 may define a second set of shear holes 40 that extend through the body 20. Each of the second shear holes 40 may be arranged along a second reference line R2 that forms a fourth angle A4 with respect to the linear inner edge LE. The fourth angle A4 may optionally be between 30 degrees and 60 degrees (inclusive), between 30 degrees and 45 degrees (inclusive), or approximately 30 degrees. Further optionally, these shear holes may be hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or other shapes having a corresponding number of sides when viewed from a top view angle, such as Figure 4As shown. The second shear hole 40 may have the same or different length as the above-mentioned first shear hole 30. Similar to the first hole, the second shear hole 40 may also include a tip and corresponding bridge portions between adjacent holes.

[0037] To facilitate cutting along multiple lines and propagation planes, the second reference line R2 with its second shear hole 40 and the first reference line R1 with its first shear hole 30 may be offset from each other and arranged away from each other. For example, as Figure 4 shown, the first reference line R1 may be offset from the second reference line R2 by a distance D1. This distance may be less than the width W1 of the body, less than the length L1, and less than the thickness T1. Optionally, the first reference line and the second reference line may be parallel to each other, which may include an orientation where the lines deviate from each other by less than 5 degrees.

[0038] As Figures 3 to 4 shown, the shoe 10 may define a third set of shear holes 50 extending through the body 20. Each of the third shear holes 50 may be arranged along a third reference line R3 at a fifth angle A5 relative to the inner edge LE of the shoe. The fifth angle A5 may be different from the third angle A3 and the fourth angle A4. Optionally, the fifth angle A5 may be between 60 degrees and 150 degrees (inclusive), between 75 degrees and 120 degrees (inclusive), between 100 degrees and 120 degrees (inclusive), or approximately 120 degrees. Further optionally, these shear holes may be hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, or other shapes, having a corresponding number of sides when viewed from a top view, for example Figure 4 shown. The third shear holes 50 may have the same shape as the first shear holes 30 and the second shear holes 40 described above, but optionally have different lengths and widths. For example, the third shear holes may be wider and shorter than most of the first shear holes 30 and the second shear holes 40. The third shear holes 50 may also, like the first and second holes, include a tip and corresponding bridge portions between adjacent holes.

[0039] To increase further cutting along multiple lines and propagation planes, the third reference line R3 with its third shear holes 50 may be arranged along a third reference line R3 transverse to the first reference line R1 and the second reference line R2. Optionally, the third reference line R3 may be offset from the reference line R1 and the reference line R2 by at least 50 degrees, at least 60 degrees, at least 70 degrees, at least 80 degrees, at least 90 degrees, or approximately 90 degrees.

[0040] Further optionally, the first shear holes 30, the second shear holes 40, and the third shear holes 50 may include different widths to facilitate manufacturing and the propagation of a cut across and through the body when the shoe 10 encounters a pump or impeller. For example, the plurality of first shear holes 30 each have a first width W3 perpendicular to the first reference line R1. The plurality of second shear holes 40 each have a second width W4 perpendicular to the second reference line R2. The plurality of third polygonal shear holes 50 each have a third width W5 perpendicular to the third reference line R3. The third width W5 may be greater than the first width W3 and the second width W4.

[0041] In some applications, the first shear holes and the second shear holes may be replicated and mirrored about an axis MA that is approximately midway between the front FE and the rear RE of the shoe 10. For example, there may be a fourth set of shear holes 60 and a fifth set of shear holes 70 that extend through the body 20 on opposite sides of the axis MA and opposite the first holes 30 and the second holes 40. The fourth shear holes 60 may be arranged along a fourth reference line R4 that is transverse to the first reference line R1 and the second reference line R2. The fifth shear holes 70 may be arranged along a fifth reference line R5 that is transverse to the first reference line R1 and the second reference line R2. As shown, the fourth reference line and the fifth reference line may be parallel to each other and are each offset at an angle with respect to the first reference line and the second reference line. Optionally, the fourth reference line and the fifth reference line intersect the first reference line and the second reference line at, along, or near the axis MA. The fourth shear holes and the fifth shear holes may also include tips and corresponding bridges between adjacent holes, as with the first holes and the second holes, and may be similar in shape, size, and dimensions to the first shear holes and the second shear holes. With the additional shear holes, the shoe can additionally be cut into multiple pieces along the fourth reference line and the fifth reference line through the fourth shear holes and the fifth shear holes and the bridges.

[0042] The fourth reference line R4 and the fifth reference line R5 and their shear holes 60 and 70 may be offset from and away from each other. For example, as Figure 4 shown, the reference line R4 may be offset from the reference line R5 by a distance D2. This distance may be less than the width W1 of the body, less than the length L1, and less than the thickness T1. The fourth reference line and the fifth reference line may optionally be parallel to each other, which may include an orientation where the lines are offset from each other by less than 5 degrees.

[0043] As described above, the hoof piece can include various first shear holes, second shear holes, third shear holes, fourth shear holes, and other shear holes connected by corresponding bridge portions. The bridge portions form part of the main body and extend through part of the main body. The shear holes can also include a top bridge portion 38 between the sidewall of the hole and the upper surface of the main body 20. The bridge portions between the shear holes can be configured to be cut through the thickness of the bridge portions and / or the thickness of the main body when the hoof piece encounters the pump impeller. In these cases, tips having corresponding angles at those ends propagate, enhance, or increase the cutting of these bridge portions, causing them to break quickly and rapidly. As a result, the hoof piece breaks into multiple pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8 FIG. 5 is a view of the hoof piece 10 after separating from the cow hoof and entering the pump and / or encountering the impeller. Here, the hoof piece 10 has broken and been cut into multiple fragments 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, and 10E. Each of these fragments has a smaller volume and surface area than the hoof piece 10 from which it was produced. Depending on the impeller speed and the impact of the hoof piece on the impeller, more or fewer fragments can be produced. As shown, the first shear holes 40 can be used to cause the shear to propagate through the main body, particularly the bridge portions 31B1, 31B2, 31B3, and 31B4. Through this shear, the fragment 10D can split or separate from the component 10E, optionally along the reference line R1. Of course, due to the other shear holes and the exact forces exerted on the hoof piece by the pump or impeller, the block can be cut along other lines, across other bridge portions, and through other shear holes.

[0045] The hoof piece of the present embodiment can be constructed of a variety of materials, such as polyurethane, polymers, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyethylene, biodegradable polymers, and / or natural or synthetic substances. The size, shape, and profile of the hoof piece can also be designed into various aesthetic shapes, which may or may not contribute to the specific function or operation of the hoof piece.

[0046] This embodiment of the hoof block 10 can be manufactured using a variety of techniques. For example, the block 10 can be made by forming a body 20 bounded by a perimeter P. The perimeter can include an inner edge LE that transitions to at least one outer edge FE, RE, and / or EE that approximates the outer hoof rim of a livestock hoof. The method can include defining shear holes 30, 40, 50, and / or 50 in the body, each shear hole having one or more tips, as described above. The holes can be defined by portions of a die that project into the cavity that forms the block. In some cases, as described above, the shear holes can be arranged along reference lines that are parallel to each other and / or transverse to each other as described above. In the die, a plurality of bridges as described herein can be made near the ends of the shear holes. These bridges can be configured to be cut and fail when the hoof block encounters a pump impeller and cause the hoof block to break into multiple pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller, as described above.

[0047] Directional terms such as "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "upper," "lower," "inner," "inward," "outer," and "outward" are used to assist in describing the present invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the figures. The use of directional terms should not be construed as limiting the present invention to any specific orientation(s).

[0048] Additionally, when a component, part, or layer is referred to as being "connected to," "lying on," "engaged to," "adhered to," "fixed to," or "coupled to" another component, part, or layer, it can be directly connected to, lying on, engaged to, adhered to, fixed to, or coupled to the other component, part, or layer, or any number of intermediate components, parts, or layers can be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected to," "directly lying on," "directly engaged to," "directly adhered to," "directly fixed to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, no intermediate element or layer may be present. Other words used to describe the relationship between components, layers, and parts should be interpreted in a similar manner, such as "adjacent" versus "immediately adjacent" and similar words. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0049] The foregoing description is of the current embodiments of the present invention. Various changes and alterations can be made without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, and these will be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. The present disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the present invention, nor should the scope of the claims be limited to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example and without limitation, any individual element of the present invention can be replaced by a replacement element that provides substantially similar functionality or otherwise provides proper operation. This includes, for example, currently known replacement elements such as those that may currently be known to those skilled in the art, and replacement elements that may be developed in the future such as those that may be recognized as replacement elements by those skilled in the art after development. Additionally, the disclosed embodiments include a co-described plurality of features that can cooperate to provide a series of benefits. The present invention is not limited to those embodiments that include all of these features or provide all of the stated benefits, unless expressly stated otherwise in the issued claims. Any reference to a claim element in the singular, for example, using the articles "a", "an", "the", or "said", should not be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to a claim element such as "at least one of X, Y, and Z" is meant to include: any one of X, Y, or Z individually, any combination of X, Y, and Z (e.g., X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z; Y, Z), and / or any other possible combination, whether together or individually, of the stated elements, and note that this is open-ended and can include other elements.

Claims

1. A hoof block configured to be attached to a livestock hoof by an adhesive, the hoof block comprising: A body having a thickness extending between an upper surface and a lower surface, the thickness being at least 1 / 2 inch, the body being bounded by a perimeter having a linear inner edge that transitions to at least one curvilinear outer edge approximating the outer hoof edge of a livestock hoof; A plurality of first polygonal shear holes extending upward from the lower surface, each of the first polygonal shear holes having a first tip and a second tip, the first tip being formed by the intersection of a first wall and a second wall at a first angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, the second tip being formed by the intersection of a third wall and a fourth wall at a second angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, the plurality of first polygonal shear holes being arranged along a first reference line that is at a third angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the linear inner edge; And A plurality of second polygonal shear holes extending upward from the lower surface, each of the second polygonal shear holes being arranged along a second reference line that is at a fourth angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the linear inner edge but offset from and away from the first reference line; Wherein the plurality of first polygonal shear holes and the plurality of second polygonal shear holes are connected by a plurality of bridges configured to be cut through the thickness of the bridges and / or the thickness of the body when the hoof block encounters a pump impeller, wherein the first tip having the first angle and the second tip having the second angle propagate, enhance, or increase the cutting of the plurality of bridges such that the body breaks apart and substantially does not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller.

2. The hoof block according to claim 1, Among them, The first reference line and the second reference line are parallel to each other.

3. The hoof block according to claim 2, Among them, The third angle and the fourth angle are between 30 degrees and 45 degrees relative to the linear inner edge.

4. The hoof block according to claim 1, comprising: A plurality of third polygonal shear holes extending upward from the lower surface, each of the third polygonal shear holes being arranged along a third reference line that is transverse to the first reference line and the second reference line, Whereby the hoof block can be cut into multiple pieces across the plurality of third polygonal shear holes along the third reference line.

5. The hoof block according to claim 4, Among them, Each of the plurality of first polygonal shear holes has a first width perpendicular to the first reference line, Wherein each of the plurality of second polygonal shear holes has a second width perpendicular to the second reference line, Wherein each of the plurality of third polygonal shear holes has a third width perpendicular to the third reference line, Wherein the third width is greater than the first width and the second width.

6. The hoof block according to claim 1, Among them, Each of the plurality of first polygonal shear holes extends upward from the lower surface and terminates at a first upper vertex defined by a first side wall and a second side wall disposed at a vertex angle between 2 degrees and 20 degrees.

7. The shoe according to claim 1, Among them, The first tip formed by the intersection of the first wall and the second wall includes the first angle of approximately 90 degrees, wherein the first wall transitions to a first side wall extending toward the second tip, wherein the second wall transitions to a second side wall that extends parallel to the first side wall toward the second tip, wherein the second tip formed by the intersection of the third wall and the fourth wall includes the second angle of approximately 90 degrees.

8. The shoe according to claim 7, Among them, The first side wall is joined to the third wall at the second tip, wherein the second side wall is joined to the fourth wall at the second tip.

9. The shoe according to claim 8, Among them, The upper surface includes a plurality of adhesive holes that are not continuous with any of the polygonal shear holes of the plurality of first polygonal shear holes and the plurality of second polygonal shear holes, wherein the plurality of adhesive holes do not extend to the lower surface, whereby the adhesive in the plurality of adhesive holes does not leak from the shoe through the plurality of first polygonal shear holes and the plurality of second polygonal shear holes.

10. The shoe according to claim 1, comprising: A plurality of fourth polygonal shear holes extending upward from the lower surface, each of the fourth polygonal shear holes being arranged along a fourth reference line that is transverse to the first reference line and the second reference line, wherein the fourth reference line intersects the first reference line and the second reference line.

11. A shoe configured to be attached to an animal's hoof by an adhesive, the shoe comprising: A body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the body being bounded by a perimeter having an inner edge that transitions to an outer edge approximating the outer hoof edge of an animal's hoof; and A plurality of first shear holes extending through the body, each of the first shear holes having a first tip and an opposite second tip, the plurality of first shear holes being arranged along a first reference line at a third angle relative to the inner edge, the third angle being between 30 degrees and 60 degrees, wherein the plurality of first shear holes are joined by a plurality of bridges adjacent to at least one of the first tip and the second tip, and the at least one of the first tip and the second tip propagates, enhances, or increases the severance of the plurality of bridges such that when the shoe encounters a pump impeller, the body breaks apart and the shoe fractures into multiple pieces that substantially do not impair the continued operation of the pump impeller.

12. The shoe according to claim 11, Among them, The first tip is formed by the intersection of a first wall and a second wall at a first angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees, Wherein, the second tip is formed by the intersection of a third wall and a fourth wall at a second angle, and the second angle is between 60 degrees and 120 degrees.

13. The shoe block according to claim 12, comprising: A plurality of second shear holes extending through the body, each of the second shear holes being arranged along a second reference line at a fourth angle relative to the inner edge, but offset from and away from the first reference line, and the fourth angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

14. The shoe block according to claim 13, Among them, The first reference line and the second reference line are parallel to each other.

15. The shoe block according to claim 11, Among them, Each of the plurality of first shear holes extends upward from the lower surface and terminates at a first upper vertex defined by a first side wall and a second side wall provided with a vertex angle, and the vertex angle is between 2 degrees and 20 degrees.

16. The shoe block according to claim 13, comprising: A plurality of third shear holes extending through the body, each of the third shear holes being arranged along a third reference line, and the third reference line is transverse to the first reference line and the second reference line, Thereby, the shoe block can be cut into multiple pieces along the third reference line across the plurality of third shear holes.

17. The shoe block according to claim 16, comprising: A plurality of fourth shear holes extending through the body, each of the fourth shear holes being arranged along a fourth reference line, and the fourth reference line is transverse to the first reference line and the second reference line, Wherein, the fourth reference line intersects the first reference line and the second reference line.

18. A method of manufacturing a shoe block, the method comprising: Forming a body defined by a perimeter having an inner edge that transitions to at least one outer edge approximating the outer hoof edge of a livestock hoof; Defining a plurality of first shear holes in the body, each of the first shear holes having a first tip and an opposite second tip, and the plurality of first shear holes are arranged along a first reference line at a third angle relative to the inner edge, and the third angle is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees; And Generating a plurality of bridges adjacent to at least one of the first tip and the second tip, Wherein, at least one of the first tip and the second tip propagates, enhances or increases the cutting of the plurality of bridges so that when the shoe block encounters a pump impeller, the body breaks, and the shoe block breaks into multiple pieces that substantially do not damage the continuous operation of the pump impeller.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising: Defining a plurality of second shear holes in the body, each of the second shear holes being arranged along a second reference line parallel to the first reference line, Thereby, the shoe block can be cut into multiple pieces along the second reference line across the plurality of second shear holes.

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising: Defining a plurality of fourth shear holes in the body, each of the fourth shear holes being arranged along a fourth reference line, and the fourth reference line is transverse to the first reference line and the second reference line, Among them, the fourth reference line intersects the first reference line and the second reference line.

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