Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a water filter mount for a beverage dispenser. The water filter mount releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools. Aspects of the present disclosure also include a gas cylinder mount for a beverage dispenser. The gas cylinder mount releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools. Aspects of the present disclosure also include a concentrate vial mount for a beverage dispenser. The concentrate vial releasably mounts a water filter to the beverage dispenser using a rotating motion that does not require any tools.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rack, or carrier, mountable to a vehicle and components for a rack. The rack in a preferred embodiment of the invention is a bike rack. In other preferred embodiments, the rack may be a utility rack for carrying other items, tools, or equipment. The rack includes a carrier portion on which one or more items can be loaded, a vehicle-coupling portion pivotably coupled to the carrier portion, the vehicle-coupling portion being couplable to a vehicle, and a linkage for connecting the carrier portion to the vehicle-coupling portion. The linkage is configured to bias the carrier portion to a substantially upright position relative to the vehicle-coupling portion when the vehicle-coupling portion is coupled to the vehicle, and to support the carrier portion relative to the vehicle-coupling portion when the carrier portion is in a lowered position and loaded with one or more items.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a shock assembly is described. The valve assembly includes a first valve disposed along a compression bypass flow path extending between a compression side and a rebound side of the damping housing, the first valve configured to control flow of fluid from at least one bypass valve of the compression side of the damping housing into the rebound side of the damping housing.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a connector that interfaces a beverage dispenser with an external water supply. The connector includes a backflow preventer that only allows water to flow from the external water supply to the beverage dispenser. Some aspects of the connector also include a pressure regulator configured to reduce incoming water pressure to a desired pressure. The connector is configured to be mounted to a suitable surface, such as the rear of the beverage dispenser.

Abstract: A system for powering a vehicle is provided. The system can include an engine or power generation system to be powered by a fuel and a housing. The housing can be configured to couple to one or more frame rails of the vehicle, receive and protect a cylinder configured to store the fuel to be used by the engine or power generation system. The housing can have one or more access panels allowing access to an interior of the housing. The cylinder can include a first end portion, a second end portion, a central body forming an enclosed cavity for storing pressurized gas, a reinforcement structure disposed over the central body, and a metal foil interposed between the reinforcement structure and central body. The metal foil can be configured to reduce permeation of contents of the cylinder.

Abstract: A breakaway mitigation system is provided for addressing breakaway between a tractor and a trailer unit of a truck. The breakaway mitigation system can include a spool assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The spool assembly has a spool body configured to deploy a length of a tether coupled with the spool body and configured to couple with an energy source supply conduit and to retract the length of the tether. The energy source supply conduit is configured to convey a source of energy for use by a motor or by a fuel cell. The sensor is configured to detect the length of the tether that has been deployed. The controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to the detected length and to implement a countermeasure when the detected amount exceeds a threshold value. Mitigation can be provided by a coupler that decouples under a load over a threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shoulder brace for immobilization of the arm and shoulder joint in neutral abduction/adduction. Methods of using the brace and methods of treating shoulder injuries are similarly provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for measuring and identifying real-world tremors in order to calculate and display an anti-tremor in a virtual reality world. A system may identify a tremor in a body part, such as hands, and measure the tremor movement from, e.g., body sensors, to calculate an opposite movement and animate virtual hands performing the reverse tremor motion. Depicting inverse motions, such as an anti-tremor, may be used in a few ways to therapeutically train and exercise patients to better control their tremors. Providing a visual cue may help a patient interrupt the movement, as well as provide possibilities for therapy or training muscle memory and stimulating nerve and neuron recovery. By displaying an anti-tremor with virtual hands, a VR system may be used to help train or exercise body parts experiencing tremors.

Abstract: An ice protection system adapted to protect at least one ice-susceptible flight surface of an aircraft includes a mechanical ice protection device attached to the flight surface. A controller controls a power source that causes the mechanical ice protection device to change in shape and, thereby, change an aerodynamic characteristic of the flight surface. This change in shape happens only when the current thickness of ice on the surface exceeds a minimum thickness and the minimum thickness is based on attitude of the aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP (guanosine monophosphate) and IMP (inosine monophosphate), a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet food-stuff or supplement comprising one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP and IMP, a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol, and also to a method of increasing the palatability of a food-stuff to a companion animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more thereof and one or more furanones for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal.

Abstract: A vibrato mechanism for a string instrument. Embodiments include a bar with a plurality of segments, each respective segment of the plurality of segments being configured to connect to a respective string of a plurality of strings of a string instrument. In some embodiments, a first segment of the plurality of segments has a first size and is configured to connect to a first string of the plurality of strings having a first tension, and a second segment of the plurality of segments has a second size that is different than the first size and is configured to connect to a second string of the plurality of strings having a second tension that is different than the first tension. Embodiments include an actuator arm that is operatively connected to the bar such that the actuator arm, when engaged, causes the bar to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A system includes a mandrel contoured to define a tapering tubular shape of a workpiece cured on the mandrel and a demolding tool. The demolding tool is configured to remove the workpiece from the mandrel after the workpiece is cured on the mandrel and cut longitudinally. The demolding tool is configured to remove the workpiece from the mandrel by deforming a first end of the workpiece to at least partially disengage the first end of the workpiece from a first end of the mandrel, and subsequently, deforming a second end of the workpiece to at least partially disengage the second end of the workpiece from a second end of the mandrel. The first end of the workpiece may have a first cross-sectional area that is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the second end of the workpiece.

Abstract: A fluid drain system for pressurized fuel systems includes a fluid drain tool that includes: an enclosure including a collection cavity; a fitting configured for removable coupling to a fluid filter drain valve to fluidly couple the fluid drain tool to the fluid filter drain valve; a tube that fluidly couples the fitting to the enclosure, such that fluid collected from the fluid filter drain valve can be transferred through the tube to the collection cavity of the enclosure; and a selectively openable valve having a first end in fluid communication with the collection cavity of the enclosure, and a second end in fluid communication with an atmosphere.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip (die) may include a force mitigation system for reducing or mitigating under-pad stresses typically caused by wire bonding. The IC die may include wire bond pads and a force mitigation system formed below each wire bond pad. The force mitigation system may include a “shock plate” (e.g., metal region), a sealing layer located above the shock plate, and a force mitigation layer including an array of sealed voids between the metal region and the sealing layer. The sealed voids in the force mitigation layer may be defined by forming openings in an oxide dielectric layer and forming a non-conformal sealing layer over the openings to define an array of sealed voids. The force mitigation system may mitigate stresses caused by a wire bond on each wire bond pad, which may reduce or eliminate wire-bond-related damage to semiconductor devices located in the under-pad regions of the die.

Abstract: A fire-stopping material in a panel for an interior building wall is provided. The fire-stopping material includes a resilient, porous material at least partially impregnated with an intumescent agent.

Abstract: A wearable birthing simulator and method of operating thereof are disclosed. The simulator includes a housing that is securable to a subject and the housing defines an opening. Positioned within the housing is a uterus simulator and a removable fetal model contained therein. Coupled to the uterus simulator is a birth canal simulator. A birthing device comprises an actuator assembly in communication with the controller for automatically moving the fetal model towards the birth canal simulator. One or more sensors are mounted to the housing and are electrically connected to the controller for detecting movement of the fetal model by the birthing device. The feedback device is configured to provide the haptic feedback to the subject in response the movement of the fetal model toward the birth canal simulator. The disclosed simulator may be used to simulate a variety of childbirth scenarios.

Abstract: In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A computing system causes presentation of first and second types of contact records that are available for a user-selected geographic area, along with indications of quantities of the types of contact records. User input is received that specifies amounts of the first and second types of contact records. The computing system provides contact information for the user-specified amounts of the first and second types of contact records.

Abstract: A system for heating an aircraft surface having a thermally disadvantaged zone includes a carbon nano-tube (CNT) sheet heating element having a power inlet configured to receive power from an external electrical power source and provide it to the CNT sheet heating element that extends across the thermally disadvantaged zone. The CNT sheet heating element is configured and arranged such upon application of power from the external electrical power source to the CNT sheet heating element, the CNT sheet heating element produces a first heat output in a first zone and a second heat output in the thermally disadvantaged zone with the second heat output being greater than the first heat output.

Abstract: A fire-stopping material for use in sandwich panels is provided, wherein the fire-stopping material comprises a resilient, porous material at least partially impregnated with an intumescent agent. A panel for an internal wall and an internal wall are also provided, comprising the fire-stopping material disposed between two substantially parallel boards, such as plaster boards. A method of providing a service penetration through an internal wall is also provided.