This invention relates to a type of enclosed foot-bandage or protective boot for use principally in conjunction with animals such as horses, sheep, and cows.

Animals such as horses or cows periodically suffer foot disease often initially as a result of unintentional contact with, and perhaps penetration by objects lying on or partially embedded within the ground. The existence of a horse shoe is no protection. Some forms of damage may result in bruising of the underlying tissues and some may result in the introduction of infection, leading to purulent abscesses, tetanus, or other sequels.

Subclinical losses in milk production particularly in younger cows in New Zealand is commonly caused by the effects of stone bruises. The younger cows are pushed around by bossy lead cows while walking along a stony race to reach the cowshed.

Furthermore, there are a number of foot conditions which are believed to arise independently of actual contact trauma, including laminitis. One cause of laminitis in the horse is poisoning with wood shavings from the black walnut Juglans niger. Footrot in sheep can comprises a serious cause of lameness and treatment is often by paring back the affected hoof. There is a need to protect trimmed hooves particularly of valuable sheep.

A number of foot-bandages or enclosed boots exist for use with animals such as horses and cows; either for applying medication to a hoof, or for protecting the hoof from further damage, or to serve both functions together are known, but none appear to to provide a satisfactory solution to the problem. Some of the most relevant prior art documents are US-A-5209048, DE-A-3311383 and US 5174382 to Wright, for a pressurisable foot bandage and pump to reduce laminitis. Like many others, eg Glass et al, US 5661958 "Size-adjustable composition horseboot" and Glass, US 4174754 "Adjustable boot-type composition horseshoe" it depends on a metal clasp like those used in ski bindings to tighten up laces to hold the boot in place. Origgi et al EP 0 651 943, teach a hoof-enclosing boot having adaptations for an existing horse shoe which is held in place by resilience plus engagement about the protruding rear parts of the horse shoe. Rice US 5600940 "Apparatus for applying lotion to a hoof" teaches a conical absorbent bandage, capable of being impregnated with some lotion, which fits over the hoof up to about as far as the coronary band and is held in place with "hook and eye" (Velcro) fasteners in the form of circumferential straps. Nothing goes under the hoof and it is not easy to appreciate how the device would stay in place. Lightner US-A-5224549 "Shoe for horses" describes a device similar to that of the present application wherein the entire rear wall 34 of the shoe folds out from the base and comprises an incomplete closable wall to be held in place about the hoof by forward-directed straps employing synthetic clasp material ("Velcro" TM). The boot does not form a closed container; it has a gap down to the base (40). This device is likely to fall off in use, in part because removable wall 34 is large as compared to fixed wall 32 so that minor looseness of 34 has a relatively large effect, because the free ends of the straps are directed forwardly and can be knocked away or pulled off by the animal's teeth, and because the straps have little attachable surface.

The problem to be solved could be stated as "how can a durable, retainable enclosed boot for use on a hoofed animal be provided, so that medication can be applied to a diseased hoof or so that the hoof can be protected for a period".

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved foot-bandage or enclosed boot for protection of a hoof of an animal, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

In a first broad aspect the invention provides a flexible boot for use with livestock according to claim 1, wherein the boot provides means to substantially enclose a hoof of an animal; the boot being made of a substantially resilient material; the boot having a flat base made of a relatively harder material adapted to bear the weight of the animal; the boot having a relatively resilient and extendible wall having a shape of a truncated cone; the wall being produced upward from an outer periphery of the base and inwardly, the wall further including fastening means comprising (a) an outer fastenable surface and (b) one or more flexible non-extendible strips each attached at one end to the wall and each having a reversible attachment means capable of forming a reversible attachment along their length to the wall (and if necessary on to a second flexible strip) by means of compatible fastenable surface, so that in use the boot may be fitted over a hoof, and the flexible strips may then be tensed and attached to the wall over the hoof, thereby in effect converting the resilient wall into a non-extendible flexible wall so that the boot cannot separate from the hoof and forms a substantially sealed cavity around the hoof. Preferably the set of one or more flexible non-extendible strips comprises two major strips and one minor strip.

Preferably the third, minor strip has at one end an attachment point high at the rear of the wall, and the strip is orientated horizontally, and the free end is capable of attachment to the wall about the rear of the hoof so that the hoof may be initially held in place.

Preferably the permanent attachment of the two major strips is low on the anterior surface of the boot, and each attached end of each major strip is attached to the other, each major strip extends in a direction opposite to that of the other, and the free end of each strip is orientated towards the rear of the boot so that the major strips, if reversibly attached to the wall, are orientated along the lines of stresses caused within the boot during use.

Preferably the reversible attachment means comprises the use of a hook-and-eye set of complementary materials.

Optionally a hard material may be included within the base of the boot and preferably this inclusion has the shape of a horse shoe, so that if a cow having one infected claw bears weight, the hard material transfers a proportion of the weight on to the unaffected claw.

In a second broad aspect the invention provides a method for use of a boot as described previously in this section for applying a medication to a diseased hoof over a period, the method including the steps of first treating, paring, drilling, opening, and cleaning up as appropriate for the current disease, selecfing a boot having suitable dimensions, optionally applying an appropriate medication, placing the boot over the hoof, tightening the minor strap at the rear bu pulling and pressing the minor strap over the wall, then tightening and pressing the major straps firmly about the wall on each side thereby enclosing the hoof in an enclosed boot together with medication.

In a third broad aspect the invention provides a method for use wherein the method includes the steps of moulding a base from a resilient material and moulding a wall on to the base, then of attaching one or more strips to the wall.

In a fourth broad aspect this invention provides a substantially enclosed boot for an animal; the boot being made of a resilient material; the base being made of a material having a lower "give" and adapted to bear the weight of the animal and having a side wall, produced upward from the base and inwardly, the side wall being made of a relatively more resilient material and having a shape adapted when in use to form a substantially sealed cavity above the base and around the hoof; the sides further including fastening means.

Preferably the fastening means comprises at least one strap made of a resilient material; the strap being provided with fastening means capable of forming a reversible attachment on to the outer surface of the side wall.

Preferably the outer surface of the side wall is equipped with complementary fastening means.

Preferably the position and dimensions of the strap is such that it is capable of forming an adequate attachment about the majority of the side wall.

Preferably the strap comprises a pair of free ends each being capable fo temporary attachment, and a central, permanently attachable portion, preferably the central portion is attached to a rearwards facing portion of the side wall.

A preferred reversible attachment comprises the use of a hook-and-eye set of complementary materials (for example: "Velcro (TM)).

Optionally a hard material may be included within the base of the boot and preferably this inclusion has the shape of a horse shoe, so that if a cow having one infected claw bears weight, the hard material transfers a proportion of the weight on to the unaffected claw.

A preferred base material is a moulded rubber.

A preferred wall material is a foam "Neoprene" rubber.

Optionally the base may be coated with a coating of urethane.

Optionally the side wall may be moulded to the base in a single operation.

Optionally the strap or straps may be sewn to the side wall in a selected position.

In a method for use of a boot or foot bandage according to the invention, the hoof of the animal is first treated and cleaned up as required in order to expose tissues requiring medication as appropriate for the current condition, a boot having suitable dimensions is selected and is placed beside the hoof, then any medication considered appropriate for the current condition is placed inside the boot, then the hoof is lifted into the boot and the straps are done up firmly about the side walls and pressed down so that the boot will stay in place under most circumstances.

After use, the boot may optionally be washed, disinfected, and dried out for re-use.

The description of the invention to be provided herein is given purely by way of example and is not to be taken in any way as limiting the scope or extent of the invention.

Fig 1: A perspective view of a stock boot according to the invention.

Fig 2: A plan view of the stock boot.

Fig 3: A front view of the stock boot.

Fig 4: A side view of the stock boot.

This invention relates to a substantially enclosed boot - including a sole and an upper - according to this invention. The boot is intended to encompass a hoof of an animal, reaching up to the coronet and to protect the hoof while optionally exposing the hoof to some sort of medication, in liquid or semiliquid form.

While most trials to date have been in relation to race horses, it may be used on other kinds of horse, on cattle, on sheep, deer, goats and pigs, or any other animal having a foot of similar proportions and an " asymmetric truncated cone" shape. Elephants will require a large boot, goats will require a small one. For those animals of "lower individual intrinsic value" the device is still relevant in the case of stud animals for example. It should be remembered that the boot has significant flexibility and one size fits a range of hoof sizes.

The boot is made of a resilient material throughout, although the base is made of a more wear-resistant material having a lower modulus of elasticity and adapted to bear the weight of the animal in use. The base may include a raised wall in order to assist in forming a bond with the side wall material. The base may include an either totally included or partially exteriorised hard wearing/support device such as a horse shoe.

The side wall is composed of a softer material such as that used for diving wet suits - a "Neoprene" foam rubber, preferably with an outer surface capable of acting as the "eyes" of a hook-and-eye set of complementary materials (for example: "Velcro (TM)). The wall is produced upward from the base and inwardly so as to approximately conform with the shape of the hoof; adapted when in use to form a substantially sealed cavity above the base and around the hoof

The wall of a non-attached boot is incomplete. The act of strapping the boot to the hoof completes the sealing operation.

The fastening means comprises at least one strap made of a resilient material; the strap being provided with surface fastening means capable of forming a reversible attachment on to the outer surface of the side wall.

We have found that a symmetrical arrangement of straps (see Fig 2: 14 and 15) makes the boot more easily attachable to a hoof The straps cause a fairly even pressure to be applied over a whole hoof - whereas prior art boots tended to apply local pressure which may cause significant pain such as in a hoof being treated for laminitis or an infection.

Each strap has been given an optimised placement and dimensions such that it is capable of forming an adequate attachment about the majority of the side wall.

Both straps are anchored at a forwards location; a central, permanent, anchor portion (17 - see Figs 1 and 3)

Optionally a hard material may be included within the base of the boot and preferably this inclusion covers most or all of the sole. This has addition uses; for example so that if a cow having one infected claw bears weight on that claw, the hard material transfers a proportion of the weight on to the unaffected claw.

Optionally the base may be coated with a coating of urethane.

Optionally the side wall may be moulded to the base in a single operation.

Optionally the strap or straps may be sewn to the side wall in a selected position.

See the horse example illustrated in Figs 1 to 4 The boot 10 is made of a bonded sole 13 and upper 11, the upper being made of a "Neoprene" rubber having a "Velcro" finish. The straps (14, 15) that hold the boot onto the hoof are made of a double sided Velcro finish. The sole may also be moulded as a part of the neoprene upper. The flexibility of the Neoprene allows for comfort but is bound firmly in place by the configuration of the Velcro straps (herein also called the "major strips") and the tag 16 at the rear of the boot (herein also called the "minor strip"). The bonded sole 13 is preferably made of a wear resistant material (and preferably good enough to last for a couple of days if used as an emergency shoe in pony trekking) whereas the upper, which is designed to conform closely to the hoof when in use, is generally made of a flexible, absorbent material. The outer surface 11 has the Velcro finish over substantially the whole surface. A typical thickness is 5 mm. The inner surface, bounding the cavity 19, has a cloth layer, giving the upper greater resistance to possibly quite significant stresses. The circumferential zone 12 above the sole 13 is preferably provided with a smooth coating for better resistance to dirt and for some waterproofing which might dilute any intemally added treatment.. Urethane is a preferred coating for the underneath of the sole and also to cover the zone 12.

The Velcro straps provide for ease of use, in that the boot can easily be attached or removed. The position of the straps and rear opening allow for the boot to fit many different animals. Trials have resulted in satisfactory reports in all cases.

"Velcro" is a trade mark for a type of fastener in which one possibly flexible surface carrying hooks can reversibly be attached to a second surface bearing compatible eyes.

Other types of surface-to-surface fastener, whether based on the hook-and-eye model or on some other form, such as self-amalgamating tape, may be used.

Similarly the "Neoprene" rubber of the walls may be substituted with other materials.

The rubber sole may include metal gripping elements like studs.

The boot is light and flexible, so can be folded and packed in a saddle roll and carried with a pack for a journey.

The boot is easy to apply, holds firmly, and stays on for an extended period. It is reusable. Velcro straps can be applied with one hand, useful when a person is holding the animal's hoof on his/her knees without assistance from others.

The boot is absorbent (the preferred material being a spongy rubber) and a dose of medication can be released over a period.

One size of boot, being largely resilient, suits a variety of hoof sizes.

Although several preferred examples as described above have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.