Abstract: A beverage cooling apparatus includes a straw, a cooling unit, and a coolant material. A cooling receptacle of the cooling unit is filled with the coolant material, which is preferably a food-based organic coolant. The straw is positioned within the cooling receptacle such that a flow-restricting portion of the straw is surrounded by the coolant material. The thermal communication between the flow-restricting portion and the coolant material reduces the overall temperature of the beverage that is being consumed. An attachment panel of the cooling unit is used to establish a connection with varying beverage containers.

Abstract: The invention includes a reactor installation device comprising a flexible band, a first tab, a second tab, and a mechanical stop. The flexible band has a first end, a second end, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first tab is attached at or near the first end, the second tab is attached at or near the second end, and the both tabs are attached at or near the top edge of the flexible band. The mechanical stop is attached to the flexible band, the first tab, and/or the second tab, between the top edge and the bottom edge of the flexible band. The flexible band is capable of being bent into the shape of a circle by bringing the first and second tabs into contact. The invention also includes a method of inserting a skirt seal into a stackable structural reactor using the reactor installation device.

Abstract: The invention includes a reactor installation device comprising a flexible band, a first tab, a second tab, and a mechanical stop. The flexible band has a first end, a second end, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first tab is attached at or near the first end, the second tab is attached at or near the second end, and the both tabs are attached at or near the top edge of the flexible band. The mechanical stop is attached to the flexible band, the first tab, and/or the second tab, between the top edge and the bottom edge of the flexible band. The flexible band is capable of being bent into the shape of a circle by bringing the first and second tabs into contact. The invention also includes a method of inserting a skirt seal into a stackable structural reactor using the reactor installation device.

Abstract: A beverage cooling apparatus includes a straw, a cooling unit, and a coolant material. A cooling receptacle of the cooling unit is filled with the coolant material, which is preferably a food-based organic coolant. The straw is positioned within the cooling receptacle such that a flow-restricting portion of the straw is surrounded by the coolant material. The thermal communication between the flow-restricting portion and the coolant material reduces the overall temperature of the beverage that is being consumed. An attachment panel of the cooling unit is used to establish a connection with varying beverage containers.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing device of presenting an application menu on a touchscreen includes (a) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that a user has touched an MAE displayed on a screen of the application, (b) in response to receiving, displaying the menu on the touchscreen, (c) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that the user is sliding a cursor across the touchscreen in a first direction and, in response, moving a display position of a slider element of the menu correspondingly on the touchscreen, (d) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that the user has slid the cursor in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction past a selection threshold and, in response, selecting a menu item corresponding to a current location of the cursor, and (e) in response to selecting the menu item, performing an action corresponding to the menu item.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing device of presenting an application menu on a touchscreen includes (a) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that a user has touched an MAE displayed on a screen of the application, (b) in response to receiving, displaying the menu on the touchscreen, (c) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that the user is sliding a cursor across the touchscreen in a first direction and, in response, moving a display position of a slider element of the menu correspondingly on the touchscreen, (d) receiving a signal from the touchscreen indicating that the user has slid the cursor in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction past a selection threshold and, in response, selecting a menu item corresponding to a current location of the cursor, and (e) in response to selecting the menu item, performing an action corresponding to the menu item.

Abstract: A lens has an optical body member with a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, the outer surface being shaped to provide total internal reflection. The optical body member further has an interior open channel extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. The optical body member further has a plurality of refractive surface regions disposed in the second end thereof and around the second opening of the interior open channel. The optical body member also has a plurality of protrusions extending from the first end of the optical body member. The protrusions are disposed circumferentially around the first opening of the interior open channel and are arranged to center the optical body member and to maintain the optical body member at a predetermined position with respect to the light source. In a light apparatus having an LED emitter disposed on a substrate, the protrusions can fit into notches in the substrate.

Abstract: A lens assembly has a lens and a holder. The lens has an optical body member having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. The outer surface is shaped to provide total internal reflection. The optical body member also has an interior open channel extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. The second end includes a peripheral flange that is free of curved refractive surface regions and has one or more index regions and one or more notches formed therein. The holder is a substantially cylindrical support member having a hollow interior region shaped to accommodate the optical body member. The holder also has a top rim region having one or more slots for receiving the index regions of the optical body member and one or more snap clips for fitting to the notches of the peripheral flange region of the optical body member.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light source having a plurality of light-emitting-diodes and a lens assembly with a lens and a lens holder. The lens includes a body member having an outer surface shaped to provide total internal reflection and an interior open channel extending longitudinally through the body member. The body member has a first end region for accommodating the light source and a second end region that includes a plurality of refractive surface regions positioned around the open channel. The lens holder has a concave interior surface shaped to accommodate the optical body member of the lens and a convex exterior surface. The holder has multiple clips for securing the lens and three or more support members extending from the exterior surface toward the first end.

Abstract: A lens has an optical body member with a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, the outer surface being shaped to provide total internal reflection. The optical body member further has an interior open channel extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. The optical body member further has a plurality of refractive surface regions disposed in the second end thereof and around the second opening of the interior open channel. The optical body member also has a plurality of protrusions extending from the first end of the optical body member. The protrusions are disposed circumferentially around the first opening of the interior open channel and are arranged to center the optical body member and to maintain the optical body member at a predetermined position with respect to the light source. In a light apparatus having an LED emitter disposed on a substrate, the protrusions can fit into notches in the substrate.

Abstract: A lens assembly has a lens and a holder. The lens has an optical body member having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface. The outer surface is shaped to provide total internal reflection. The optical body member also has an interior open channel extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end thereof. The second end includes a peripheral flange that is free of curved refractive surface regions and has one or more index regions and one or more notches formed therein. The holder is a substantially cylindrical support member having a hollow interior region shaped to accommodate the optical body member. The holder also has a top rim region having one or more slots for receiving the index regions of the optical body member and one or more snap clips for fitting to the notches of the peripheral flange region of the optical body member.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light source having a plurality of light-emitting-diodes and a lens assembly with a lens and a lens holder. The lens includes a body member having an outer surface shaped to provide total internal reflection and an interior open channel extending longitudinally through the body member. The body member has a first end region for accommodating the light source and a second end region that includes a plurality of refractive surface regions positioned around the open channel. The lens holder has a concave interior surface shaped to accommodate the optical body member of the lens and a convex exterior surface. The holder has multiple clips for securing the lens and three or more support members extending from the exterior surface toward the first end.

Abstract: A lens assembly includes a total internal reflection lens and a lens holder. The lens includes a body member having an outer surface shaped to provide total internal reflection and an interior open channel extending longitudinally through the body member. The body member has a first end region for accommodating a light source and a second end region that includes a plurality of refractive surface regions positioned around the open channel. The lens holder has a concave interior surface shaped to accommodate the optical body member of the lens and a convex exterior surface. The holder has multiple clips for securing the lens. The holder also has three or more support members extending from the exterior surface toward the first end. The support members are adapted for centering the optical body member with respect to the light source and maintaining the light source in the specified position in relation to the optical body member.

Abstract: A lens assembly includes a total internal reflection lens and a lens holder. The lens includes a body member having an outer surface shaped to provide total internal reflection and an interior open channel extending longitudinally through the body member. The body member has a first end region for accommodating a light source and a second end region that includes a plurality of refractive surface regions positioned around the open channel. The lens holder has a concave interior surface shaped to accommodate the optical body member of the lens and a convex exterior surface. The holder has multiple clips for securing the lens. The holder also has three or more support members extending from the exterior surface toward the first end. The support members are adapted for centering the optical body member with respect to the light source and maintaining the light source in the specified position in relation to the optical body member.

Abstract: A modular reactor system comprises a backplane connected to a computer and a thermal control unit. The backplane includes a plurality of seats for releasably holding a plurality of modules. Each module holds a reactor vessel that may be used to conduct experiments. A plurality of laboratory instruments, such as motors, switches, sensors and pumps are included within the backplane and on the reactor modules. These laboratory instruments are utilized to perform work on the contents of the reactor vessels when the modules holding the reactor vessels are positioned in the backplane. A computer is connected to the backplane and controls the laboratory instruments within the backplane and on the reactor modules positioned within the backplane. A thermal control unit provides a thermal control fluid that is delivered to the reactors in the reactor modules when the modules are properly seated in the backplane.

Abstract: A modular reactor system comprises a backplane connected to a computer and a thermal control unit. The backplane includes a plurality of seats for releasably holding a plurality of modules. Each module holds a reactor vessel that may be used to conduct experiments. A plurality of laboratory instruments, such as motors, switches, sensors and pumps are included within the backplane and on the reactor modules. These laboratory instruments are utilized to perform work on the contents of the reactor vessels when the modules holding the reactor vessels are positioned in the backplane. A computer is connected to the backplane and controls the laboratory instruments within the backplane and on the reactor modules positioned within the backplane. A thermal control unit provides a thermal control fluid that is delivered to the reactors in the reactor modules when the modules are properly seated in the backplane.