Segmented Hoof Tap Device for Natural Expansion and Traction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Horseshoes interfere with the natural expansion of a horse's hoof when it hits the ground, restricting movement and causing excessive wear, while alternative horse boots are often cumbersome and difficult to use.

Innovation Solution

A hoof tap device with a tap bridge and transversely extending tap posts, featuring a triangular piercing tip and tap tooth, designed to protrude from the hoof wall, allowing natural expansion and providing traction without the rigidity of a full horseshoe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid horseshoe is used to protect the hoof, then protection against wear and injury is improved, but natural expansion and movement of the hoof is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against wear and injuryVSAvoidnatural expansion and movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The horseshoe is divided into multiple discrete tap posts rather than a continuous rigid structure. Each tap post is independently positioned along the tap bridge, allowing the hoof to expand and move naturally between the posts while still receiving protection at specific contact points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protection is applied locally at specific tap post locations rather than uniformly across the entire hoof surface. The tap posts provide concentrated protection at ground contact points while leaving other areas free for natural hoof movement and expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If a rigid horseshoe is used to provide protection, then traction is improved, but the hoof cannot flex and expand naturally

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetractionVSAvoidflexibility and expansion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous rigid structure is segmented into discrete tap posts, maintaining traction at contact points while allowing flexibility in the spaces between posts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic configuration where tap posts can independently interact with the ground, allowing the hoof to flex and expand while maintaining traction through the positioned posts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If alternative horse boots are used to allow natural movement, then ease of movement is improved, but the boots become loose and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenatural movementVSAvoidloose and cumbersome structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The boot-like structure is replaced with segmented tap posts that attach minimally to the hoof, eliminating the loose and cumbersome characteristics of full boots while preserving natural movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The essential protective and traction functions are extracted from the bulky boot structure and concentrated into minimal tap post elements, removing unnecessary complexity and bulk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10561134B2Hoof tap device

Publication Date: 2020.02.18 DE HOOF TAPS LTD

AI summary

A hoof tap device is provided. Each hoof tap device has a tap bridge from which a plurality of tap posts transversely extend. Each hoof tap device may be dimensioned and adapted so that a plurality of the hoof tap devices may be spaced apart along and just inward of the hoof wall of a horse hoof so that at least a portion of each back edge protrudes therefrom, enabling traction, preventing excessive wear, and improving the movement of the hoof by allowing it to flex and expand naturally during use.