Abstract: A rope tie for an animal or other movable object comprising a helical coil fixedly or removably attached to a support. A free end of a rope is inserted through a first loop of the coil toward a second loop of the coil, then under, around, and through the second loop of the coil. When the animal or movable object pulls on an opposite end of the rope, the rope moves out of the coil until it tightens around the second loop and ceases moving, thus restricting or stopping the movement of the animal or movable object. The free end of the rope may be placed on a hook to reduce the movement of the rope through the coil. Slack in the portion of rope extending from the coil to the animal or movable object may be removed or reduced by pulling on the free end of the rope.

Abstract: A harness racing quick hitch comprises a pair of swivel joints in the hitch. The pair of swivel joints permit the harness saddle to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the sulky arm. This rotation provides a degree of freedom not otherwise present in the connection of the sulky arm to the harness saddle. Thus, the swivel joints in the quick hitch separate further the flexing movement of the horse flanks from the rigidity of the sulky arms. Modifications to the swivel joints provide further freedom of movement to the horse and therefore comprise alternative embodiments of the new swivel joint quick hitch.

Abstract: Mixtures of bitumen and thermoplastic polymer stable to storage are prepared by a process comprising:(i) mixing a bituminous product having a content of total asphaltenes, resins, saturated and aromatic products which satisfies the condition that the I.sub.c value is between 0.200 and 0.270 in the expression:I.sub.c =(C7+C5+S)/(A+R)with a thermoplastic polymer, the reaction being carried out at a temperature of between 160.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. and for a time of between 15 and 120 minutes and(ii) diluting the bituminous composition obtained in (i) with a bitumen or bituminous component having an I.sub.c defined as specified above in (i) of between 0.270 and 0.700 in such a quantity that the final concentration of the polymer is between 2.5 and 15% by weight, and heating to a temperature of between 160.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. for a time of between 30 and 90 minutes.