Abstract: A safety release for water skiing tow lines comprising a U-shaped body having a rearwardly facing slot therein, a mounting bracket for securing the device to a ski pylon, a bolt arm pivotally secured to the body which extends across the slot when the arm is in a vertical position so as to engage the terminal loop of the ski rope. The loop retaining bolt arm is pivotally mounted on the body and is pivotable rearwardly from a first position substantially normal to the plane of the slot opening to a second position substantially free of the slot opening. A manually operable extension is affixed to the bolt arm to move the arm in a forward direction from the second position to the first position. A lever is pivotally mounted on the body to engage the bolt arm to form a bar-like assembly which extends transversely of said opening.

Abstract: A safety release for water skiing tow lines comprising a U-shaped body having a rearwardly facing slot therein, a mounting bracket for securing the device to a ski pylon, a release arm pivotally secured to the body and including a bolt which extends across the slot when the arm is in a vertical position so as to engage the terminal loop of the ski rope. When the arm is pulled forwardly by means of a trip line operated from within the boat, the bolt is retracted out of the slot thereby releasing the tow line. Adjustable spring biased detents are provided for locking the release handle in the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A hitch for coupling a towing and a towed vehicle is disclosed having a swing-out and pivot feature which allows the vehicle to be approximately positioned for coupling whereupon a gravity operated latch may be raised, a slide portion of the hitch extended from the frame portion thereof and pivoted in a horizontal plane to perfect the alignment of the vehicle coupling mechanism. When the towing vehicle is subsequently moved toward the towed vehicle, the latch drops back into a position where it engages both the slide and frame portions to transmit the towing forces therebetween. The slide itself may comprise first and second members relatively movable between rigid stop positions and including means for cushioning end thrust shocks having a resilient member which mechanically engages the two slide members urging them toward a relative position intermediate the rigid stop positions.

Abstract: A shock absorbing trailer hitch for cushioning end thrust shocks between towing and towed vehicles is disclosed having a base member rigidly attached to one vehicle with a pair of upstanding slide guides thereon and a second member slidably supported within the slide guides by a pair of generally parallel extending slide members. The second member provides one connector for coupling the vehicles together and tongue weight between the vehicles is borne by the slide members. Movement of the second member relative to the first is limited between rigid stop positions and cushioning of end thrust shocks is provided by a resilient plug which mechanically engages the first and second members and urges the second member toward a position intermediate the rigid stop positions.