ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,330,034, issued on June 17.
"Breakaway attachment for hondo knot" was invented by J. R Myers (Felton, Pa.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A one-piece element shaped like a bow-legged bronco buster has an enlarged head that is received in a half hitch of a hondo knot of a lariat used in practice roping. When the target has been encircled by the loop of the lariat, applying force on the rope above the hondo knot causes the ankles of the two bowed legs to flex outwardly releasing the free end of the loop so that the hondo knot and the breakaway attachment secured thereto can be retrieved for the next practice throw."
The patent was filed on...