Abstract: A modular lighting system for providing light in various areas includes one or more canopies, a set of bars, a set of hangers for supporting the bars from canopies and, optionally other supports, a set of pendants with light emitting elements and a set of hangers for supporting the pendants from the bars. The bars include two segments with conductive rails disposed or imbedded in their inner surfaces. The hangers have one or two rods and bases shaped and sized for mounting on the bars with the rods contacting the conductive rails. A canopy with ferrules is used to attach the system to the ceiling or other structural surface. The canopy includes a cup and ferrules extending through the cup wall and supporting hangers attached thereto. The ferrules further provide electric power to the hangers.

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: The present invention comprises a weighted lariat that improves ropers' chances of catching animals by the head, horns, or feet, particularly in competitive roping events. Weight is added to the tip of the loop by covering a portion of the loop with shrink-wrap tubing. Additionally, an adhesive lining may be applied to allow for a weighted embodiment of minimum thickness thus and maximum flexibility. Additionally, elongated, malleable metal wires of variable length can be laid in the groove between the strands of the lariat thereby adding still more weight.

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 method for and apparatus for determining the loop size of a rodeo rope comprising determining a circumference C, determining a spoke S length, providing a chart having loop sizes corresponding to a range of circumference measurements and spoke measurements, and finding a loop size based upon the measured circumference and measured spoke. The loop size refers to a set of parameters that characterize the rope. The method can be implemented by a computer and associated software.

Abstract: A quick-release lasso eye has a spring-memory eye line (1) with at least one eye-line flange (2, 13) positioned releasably in a flange receptacle (3, 15) of a quick-release channel (4) positioned opposite and parallel to a line-anchor aperture (5) in an eye base (6). The eye base is made of suitably hard, lightweight and strong material having a rope-attachment aperture (7) intermediate and parallel to the quick-release channel and the line-anchor aperture. The spring-memory eye line can be made of spring-resilient plastic or metal which can be covered with desired material (11, 21, 22) for functional, feel and aesthetic objectives optionally and selectively.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a weighted lariat that improves ropers' chances of catching animals by the head, horns, or feet, particularly in competitive roping events. Weight is added to the tip of the loop by covering a portion of the loop with shrink-wrap tubing. Additionally, an adhesive lining may be applied to allow for a weighted embodiment of minimum thickness thus and maximum flexibility. Additionally, elongated, malleable metal wires of variable length can be laid in the groove between the strands of the lariat thereby adding still more weight.

Abstract: A honda device for separating a honda to allow easy retrieval of a rope includes a rope having a honda positioned adjacent a lariat end of the rope. The honda has a break therein to define a first end and a second end of the honda. A female coupler is coupled to the first end of the honda. The female coupler has a receiving bore extending into a free end of the female coupler. A male coupler is coupled to the second end of the honda. The male coupler includes an insertion end being inserted into the receiving bore of the female coupler to releasably secure the male coupler to the female coupler. The male coupler is selectively removed from the female coupler to break the honda.

Abstract: A method for and apparatus for determining the loop size of a rodeo rope comprising determining a circumference C, determining a spoke S length, providing a chart having loop sizes corresponding to a range of circumference measurements and spoke measurements, and finding a loop size based upon the measured circumference and measured spoke. The loop size refers to a set of parameters that characterize the rope. The method can be implemented by a computer and associated software.

Abstract: An improved lariat comprising a honda arm sock around each honda arm adjacent the honda knot. The honda arm socks are manufactured of low-friction material. When the lariat loop closes, its tail slides against the honda arm socks. Due to the low-friction characteristics of the honda arm socks, closure rate of the lariat loop is increased, and heat and friction are reduced. Consequently, a roped animal has less chance to shake off the lariat, and rope breakdown is decreased in the rope from which the improved lariat is made, thus increasing lariat life. Optimized honda arm sock weight and dimensions and materials are disclosed. An additional improved lariat embodiment incorporates a tail sock disposed around the improved lariat tail adjacent the honda knot. The tail sock helps maintain rope stiffness in the tail in the vicinity of the honda knot, thus favorably affecting the handling characteristics of the improved lariat.

Abstract: A novel and superior lariat and lariat rope body for calf and steer roping having a core of monofilaments in the center around which three or more strands of twisted monofilament yarns are wound tightly to form the rope. A novel method of making lariat rope bodies and apparatus used are also disclosed. The rope body has a core in at least about 68 percent of the length of the rope body beginning with the honda end.

Abstract: A heeler rope having a shortened length such that dallying is not required to remove slack from the heeler rope after roping a steer's hind legs. The heeler rope also has a braided portion that facilitates attaching the heeler rope to a hector on a roper's saddle.

Abstract: A novel and superior lariat and lariat rope body for calf and steer roping having a core of monofilaments in the center around which three or more strands of twisted monofilament yarns are wound tightly to form the rope. A novel method of making lariat rope bodies and apparatus used are also disclosed. The rope body has a core in at least about 68 percent of the length of the rope body beginning with the honda end.

Abstract: A releasable honda for a lariat comprises: a heel which includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a throat having a longitudinal axis and extending along such axis between the proximal end and distal end, wherein the throat has at least a portion thereof adjacent to the proximal end that peripherally varies in radius so as to have at least three equiangularly spaced maximum radii and a corresponding number of equiangularly spaced minimum radii between the maximum radii, such maximum and minimum radii being substantially constant along the length of the throat portion; and a pair of resilient arms having respective distal ends and extending from the proximal end of the heel on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis to such distal ends, which are closely adjacent to or contacting one another so that the arms form an eye. A lariat incorporating the releasable honda includes a rope having a knotted end seated in the throat portion and extending through the throat and then through the eye so as to form a loop.

Abstract: A heeler rope having a shortened length such that dallying is not required to remove slack from the heeler rope after roping a steer's hind legs. The heeler rope also has a braided portion that facilitates attaching the heeler rope to a hector on a roper's saddle.

Abstract: A cattle roping lariat rope body for making competitive cattle roping lariats, the rope body having a core of monofilaments in the center around which three or more strands of twisted monofilament yarns are wound tightly to form the rope body. The rope body also contains a wax.

Abstract: A novel and superior lariat and lariat rope body have a core of monofilaments in the center around which three or more strands of twisted monofilament yarns are wound tightly to form the rope. A novel method of making lariat rope bodies is also disclosed. The rope body has a core in at least about 68 percent of the length of the rope body beginning with the honda end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for capturing an aquatic animal such as a fish. The device is particularly useful for ensnaring the tail or the body of a fish. More particularly, the invention relates to a device which places a rope around the body or tail of any fish. The device comprises a pole having a circular tube attached at one end of the pole. A rope is removably attached to the inside of the tube such that when the rope is pulled on it is removed from the attachments of the tube and ensnares the body or tail of the fish. The rope has an open end on one end and a noose at the other end.

Abstract: A lasso release mechanism including a lasso having a free first end and a second end having a eyelet formed therein. The eyelet is adapted for slidably receiving a remaining portion of the lasso thereby affording a loop. The lasso is slit to define a pair of terminations. Also included is a locking mechanism connected between the terminations of the lasso for releasing the same upon the receipt of a signal via free space.

Abstract: A novel and superior lariat and lariat rope has a core of strands in the center around which three or more strands of twisted monofilament yarns are wound tightly to form the rope. A novel method of making lariat rope and novel apparatus for making the novel lariat rope are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is of a training rope for use in teaching and learning roping. The training rope eliminates from the traditional roping rope the spanning and coiled segments, allowing the user to avoid entanglement with and of these segments and thereby to concentrate on the more difficult aspects of roping--twirling, loop orientation, and proper release. The mode of attachment between the spoke segment and the adjacent portion of the loop segment (an elastic hobble) causes the training rope to perform in all aspects of roping practice in virtually an identical manner to that of a traditional roping rope, without the distracting effects of spanning and coiled segment entanglement or management.

Abstract: A releasable honda for lariat ropes has a heel with a throat through which the rope passes, with a tapered throat end forming a cavity for containing a knot in the rope; teeth and/or ridged projections inside the throat retain the rope in position. An axis of the throat is at an angle to a centerline through the heel. Resilient arms extend from the heel at angle to the centerline axis of the heel, and curve toward each other so that the distal ends of the arms almost meet, defining a slit between the arms. Tapered surfaces on the end of each resilient arm cooperate to form a shallow V-shaped indentation on an inner surface of the eye to guide rope into the slit so that a strong pull will force the rope through the slit, releasing the loop; a similar indentation on the outer perimeter of the eye facilitates slipping the rope back into the eye to reform a lasso.

Abstract: A fish rodeo game (10) enables a game participant to catch fish (52) floating within a water body (12) utilizing a lasso apparatus (50). The water body (12) is confined within an enclosure (14). A plurality of containers or baskets (48) are disposed around the periphery of the enclosure (14). Fish (52) are captured utilizing the lasso apparatus (50) and are released within the baskets (48) during a prescribed time period. The lasso apparatus (50) has a fishing line (54) with a closable noose (58). The noose (58) has a noose cord (63) which is of sufficient resiliency so that the noose (58) is maintained in an open position when substantially no pulling tension is exerted on the noose cord (63). Further, a weight (74) may be disposed to urge the noose (58) to a closed position when pulling tension is exerted on the fishing line (54) and thus the noose cord (63).