Patent ID: 8777285

Claim:
A towed cable-capture-and-pass-through device, comprising: a housing defining a tow point, said housing adapted to be towed through water via said tow point; a cable capture/release (CCR) device defining a radially extending and open-ended slot, and further defining a substantially annular channel formed therein, said CCR device disposed partially in said housing and pivotally coupled thereto at a first pivot point wherein said slot is maintained outside of said housing; a sliding coupler defining a portion of an annular flange for sliding engagement in said substantially annular channel of said CCR device, said sliding coupler extending from said CCR device to an attachment point that is external to said housing, said attachment point adapted to be coupled to a mount, wherein said tow point and said attachment point are aligned along a line of force when said housing is towed through the water via said tow point, and wherein said first pivot point is out of alignment with said line of force; a trigger pivotally coupled to said housing at a second pivot point and extending into said CCR device; and a latch pivotally coupled to said housing at a third pivot point, said latch defining a first latch element and a second latch element wherein, when said trigger extends across said slot of said CCR device, said first latch element engages a perimeter of said CCR device and said second latch element simultaneously engages said trigger.