Abstract: A rope connecting device has a breakaway feature enabling a user to practice roping and to retrieve the rope without having to walk to a lassoed object. The device includes a stem with a first hook formed at one end, and a second hook formed at the other end. The hooks each have a small gap separating respective free ends of the hooks from the stem. During use, a portion of the rope is passed through the first hook, and another portion of the rope is passed the through the second hook. With sufficient force applied to the rope, the rope breaks free from the device. in which one of the hooks opens allowing the rope to separate from the device, thereby releasing the rope from the lassoed object. The device can be reused by reattaching the portion of the rope to the hook that was released.

Abstract: A rope connecting device and method are provided especially for use in calf roping as a rope breakaway. The device includes a stem with a first hook formed at one end, and a second hook formed at the other end. The hooks each have a small gap separating respective free ends of the hooks from the stem. During use, a portion of the rope is passed through the first hook, and another portion of the rope is passed the through the second hook. With sufficient force applied to the rope, the force causes one of the hooks to open to a degree allowing the rope to pass through, thereby releasing the rope from an object that was lassoed. The device remains attached to the rope at the other hook. The rope is configured for the next use by reattaching the portion of the rope to the hook that was released.

Abstract: A body support assembly comprising a first layer comprising a visco-elastic foam (e.g., a non-reticulated foam), a second layer supporting the first layer and comprising a non-visco-elastic foam (e.g., a latex foam), and a third layer supporting the second layer and comprising a visco-elastic foam (e.g., a non-reticulated foam). In one embodiment, a thickness of the first layer is less than 20% (preferably less than 10%) of a total thickness of the body support assembly, and a combined thickness of all visco-elastic layers is less than 50% of the total thickness. Preferably, the thickness of the first layer is less than 3 centimeters. The body support assembly includes a first layer comprising non-reticulated, visco-elastic foam, a second layer comprising a material different than non-reticulated, visco-elastic foam, a third layer comprising visco-elastic foam, a fourth layer comprising a material different than non-reticulated, visco-elastic foam, and a fifth layer comprising visco-elastic foam.