HOOF REPAIR MATERIAL

[0001] Related Applications

[0002] This application claims benefit to U.S. Serial No. 60/707,885 filed

August 12, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all useful purposes.

[0003] Background of the Invention

[0004] The three U. S Patents that mention hoof material were found

6,761,223, 6,505,686, and 6,497,292. All three deal with a two part system (A and B) for creating hoof protecting shoes that take the place of metal horse shoes. Part A contains a diisocyanate and a Part B contains an alcohol. When mixed immediately before application of the dough on a hoof, these two chemicals react to create a urethane-based polymer.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] I have found a one-step system for hoof repair material that cures upon exposure to light. This system provides for a liquid urethane solution that contains polymerization initiators so that exposure to visible light induces the cure.

[0007] The invention also relates to a thickened urethane liquid solution that is light curable and has a viscosity about 500 to about 100,000 cps. The solution also must be surface-active on the hoof.

[0008] A Detailed Description of the Invention

[0009] I have found the following formulation is preferable for applying to a hoof of an animal especially a horse or cow:

[00010] a liquid urethane, such as but not limited to a Urethane

Dimethacrylate (UDMA) or a urethane formed by reacting diisocyanate, preferably, 2,2,4-trimethyl hexane diisocyanate or 3,3,5 hexane diisocyanate, with an alcohol or polyol. The liquid urethane is present in an amount from 10 to about 100 weight %,

[00011] and a visible light-absorbing initiator (photoinitiator) which absorbs light in the visible light region from about 400-600 nm. Any number of commercially sold photoinitiators are employable, including photo-polymerization initiators which have hitherto been used for dental compositions, such as α- diketone compounds, ketal compounds, anthraquinone-based compounds, thioxanthone-based compounds, benzoin alkyl ether-based compounds, acyl phosphine oxide-based compounds, and α-aminoketone-based compounds. Specific examples include camphorquinone, benzil, diacetyl, benzyl dimethyl ketal, benzyl diethyl ketal, benzyl di(2-methoxyethyl) ketal, 4,4'-dimethylbenzyl- dimethyl ketal, anthraquinone, 1-chloroanthraquinone, 2-chloroanthraquinone, 1,2-benzanthraquinone, 1-hydroxyanthraquinone, 1-methylanthraquinone, 2- ethylanthraquinone, 1-bromoanthraquinone, thioxanthone, 2- isopropylthioxanthone, 2-nitrothioxanthone, 2-methylthioxanthone, 2,4- dimethylthioxanthone, 2,4-diisopropylthioxanthone, 2-chloro-7-

trifluoromethylthioxanthone, thioxanthone-10, 10-dioxide, thioxanthone-10-oxide, benzion methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, benzoin isobutyl ether, benzophenone, bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)ketone, 4,4'- bisdiethylaminobenzophenone, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, 2,6-dimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide, and 2-methyl-1 -[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1 -one. The photo- polymerization initiators may be used either singly or in admixture of two or more thereof.

[00012] Of these, benzyl dimethyl ketal (absorbs light at about 420 nm), camphorquinone (CQ) (absorbs light at about 470 nm), or 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (absorbs light at about 350-400 nm) are particularly preferred. The initiator would preferably be in an amount from about 0.01 to about 5 weight %.

[00013] In addition, if desired, a photo-polymerization accelerator can be used in combination. For the photo-polymerization accelerator, an aromatic tertiary amine, an aliphatic tertiary amine, and the like are effective. Specific examples of the photo-polymerization accelerator that can be used include N ₁ N- dimethyl-p-toluidine, N,N-diethyl-p-toluidine, N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-bis(2- hydroxyethyl)-p-toluidine, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, triethanolamine, methyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, ethyl 4-dimethylaminobenzoate, isoamyl 4- dimethylaminobenzoate, triethylamine, N-ethyldiethanolamine, and

triethanolamine. As a matter of course, these photo-polymerization accelerators may be used either singly or in admixture of two or more thereof.

[00014] The formulation may additionally contain a polymerizable monomer of a methacrylate or an acrylate containing at least one unsaturated double bond in a molecule thereof, such as but not limited to methyl (meth)acrylate (MMA), ethyl (meth)acrylate, isopropyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, glycidyl (meth)acrylate, 2- methoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, 2,2-bis[(meth)acryloxyphenyl]propane, 2,2-bis[4- (meth)acryloxydiethoxyphenyl]propane, 2,2-bis[4-

(meth)acryloxypolyethoxyphenyl]propane, ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycoldi(meth)acrylate, butylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1 ,3-butanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1 ,4-butanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1 ,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolmethane tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-1 ,3-di(meth)acryloxypropane, 1 ,2-dihydroxy-3-(meth)- acryloxypropane, and 2,2~bis[4-{2-hydroxy-3-(meth)- acryloxypropoxy}phenyl]propane, preferably in an amount from about 3 to about 55 weight %. Acid group-free polymerizable monomers having a urethane bond in the molecule thereof may also be included, for example di-2- (meth)acryloxyethyl-2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylene dicarbamate. (see U.S.

Patent No. 6,916,858 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all useful purposes), preferably in an amount from about 3 to about 55 weight %.

[00015] The formulation may additionally contain a viscosity thickening agent. A number of suitable viscosity thickening agents are commercially available, including but not limited to inorganic thickening agents such as DiBenzyl Sorbitol (DBS), finely divided or colloidal silicas, fumed silicas, and silicates, which includes montmorillonite clays and hydrophobically treated montmorillonites, e.g., bentonites, hectorites and colloidal magnesium silicates, and also including but not limited to organic thickening agents such as hydrogenated butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer, polyethylene, oxidized polyethylene, polyamides, acrylic acid polymers, ethylene acrylate copolymers, and other organic polymeric gelling agents. Preferably, the thickening agent used is DBS. Thickening agents are preferably present in an amount up to about 5 weight %.

[00016] The formulation may additionally contain BisPhenol diglycidylmethacrylate (BisGMA). When used in this application, BisGMA thickens the viscosity of the polymer, and imparts additional beneficial properties to the polymer, making the polymer hard, glassy, and tough. BisGMA is preferably present in an amount from about 15 to about 75 weight %.

[00017] The formulation may additionally contain polar molecules to generate bonding influence on the surface. The polar molecules change the polarity of the polymer on the hoof. A number of suitable polar molecules are

commercially available, such as 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methacruloxyethyl phthalate, the addition product of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and succinic anhydride, the addition product of 1 ,3-glycerol dimethacrylate and maleic anhydride, the addition product of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and pyromelletic anhydride, the addition product of 1 ,3-glycerol dimethacrylate and pyromelletic anhydride, and acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate. Compounds that would be useful would be 1,3-Glycerol dimethacrylate (GDMA) and HEMA Phosphate (Hema-P).

[00018] GDMA would preferably be in an amount up to about 65 weight %.

Most preferably, GDMA would be present in an amount up to about 51 weight %.

[00019] HEMA-P would preferably be in an amount from 0 to about 10 weight %.

[00020] The formulation may additionally contain amine photoreductant, for example Ethyl 4-Dimethylamino Benzoate (4EDMAB), present in an amount from 0 to about 4%.

[00021] Viscosity modifiers can also be used according to the invention. A number of suitable viscosity modifiers are commercially available, including but not limited to ultra fine inorganic fillers such as aerosil silica, aluminum oxide, and titanium dioxide. If desired, a silica glass powder, a barium glass powder, and the like may be used.

[00022] All the percentages are on a dry weight basis unless otherwise stated.

[00023] Example I [00024] A formula was made with the following recipe:

Item Measured

UDMA 35.94%

CQ 0.66%

BisGMA 57.27%

GDMA 3.35%

Hema-P 1.13%

4EDMAB 1.12%

DBS 0.53%

[00025] This formula produced a very thick hoof material with a viscosity greater than 100,000 cps.

[00026] Example Il

[00027] A formula was made with the following recipe:

Item Measured

UDMA 76.18%

CQ 0.55%

BisGMA 21.71%

GDMA 0%

Hema-P 0.9%

4EDMAB 0.65%

DBS 0%

[00028] This formula produced a thick hoof material with a viscosity between 20,000 and 100,000 cps.

[00029] Example III

[00030] A formula was made with the following recipe:

Item Measured

UDMA 30.0%

CQ 2.0%

BisGMA 30.0%

GDMA 31.0%

Hema-P 5.0%

4EDMAB 2.0%

DBS 0%

[00031] This formula produced a thin hoof material with a viscosity lower than 20,000 cps.

[00032] For application to the hoof, an outline of a use protocol would be the following:

[00033] 1. Select the appropriate material. A thicker material would be beneficial for horses or cows with bad hooves, while the thin material may be all that is necessary for hoofs in a lesser state of disrepair.

[00034] 2. Paint the material on over the nails and/or in the cracks of the hoof in a dark area (such as the isle to a barn). The area need not be completely devoid of light, but should be dark enough to prevent the hardening of the material.

[00035] 3. Walk the animal such as the cow or horse out into the sun and the material will instantly harden. (A thin greasy film will remain on the hoof, but this will wear off over time). For thick cracks or holes in the hoof, the application of more than one layer may be required to completely fill the hole.

[00036] 4. Upon next shoeing (4-6 weeks) the material will be filed off and new material should then be applied.

[00037] This material prevents horses from throwing their shoes off with ease, where the material is applied after the shoes have been nailed to the hoof.

[00038] All the references described above are incorporated by reference in its entirety for all useful purposes.

[00039] While there is shown and described certain specific structures embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described.