Abstract: Provided is a container including a rigid wall portion having an opening, a flexible wall portion having a corresponding opening coupled to the opening of the rigid wall portion; and a support member coupled to the rigid wall portion configured for providing the container with stability. The rigid wall portion and the flexible wall portion form together a structure configured for holding fluids.

Abstract: A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).

Abstract: A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can he fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).

Abstract: A beverage cooler (10, 100, 200) includes a heat pump (12) having a cooling element thermally coupled to a negative-heat-energy accumulator (14). The accumulator (14) includes a heat-energy dispersion arrangement (16) formed from thermally conductive material which is in thermal contact with a quantity of phase-change material (18) having a phase-change temperature above zero Celsius. A conduit (20) for the beverage defines a circuitous path thermally coupled to accumulator (14). The heat pump (12) draws heat energy predominantly from the phase-change material (18) so as to ensure that a temperature of the phase-change material is reduced by at least as much as the temperature of the beverage within conduit (20), even under zero-flow conditions. This ensures that the accumulator (14) can be fully charged during periods of low beverage dispensing demand without risk of freezing the beverage within conduit (20).

Abstract: Provided is a container including a rigid wall portion having an opening, a flexible wall portion having a corresponding opening coupled to the opening of the rigid wall portion; and a support member coupled to the rigid wall portion configured for providing the container with stability. The rigid wall portion and the flexible wall portion form together a structure configured for holding fluids.

Abstract: A cable dispensing system is disclosed which includes multiple parallel coils of flexible non-insulated cables separated by multiple parallel insulating discs. The insulating discs have hubs to which the inner portions of the coils are fixedly coupled. The insulating discs and coils are disposed within a housing, which is rotatably coupled to the multiple parallel insulating discs and fixedly coupled to each outer portion of the multiple coils. The cables comprising the coils are routed from the inner portions through tunnels, which extend through the insulating discs in paths parallel to the axis of the parallel insulating discs. When cords attached to the housing are extended, the coils become wound, creating an electrical short between adjacent loops of the spiral coil. The shorter conductive path reduces the amount of energy that is lost as heat.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to deploy electrical charge spots in stages according to demand. During a first stage a plurality of infrastructure adapters are installed. This may involve demolishing and rebuilding portions of the infrastructure and laying down power cables from the electrical power supply to the charge spot locations. The infrastructure adapters are then coupled to an electrical power supply. Many if not all of the infrastructure adapters are covered with a temporary housing protecting them from vandalism and weather. During a second stage, in response to a demand for charge stations, the charge stations are completed. During the second stage, at least one external unit is attached to an infrastructure adapter by making an infrastructure adapter quick connect interface with an external unit quick connect interface. As such, a charge spot is completed quickly in response to demand.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to deploy electrical charge spots in stages according to demand. During a first stage a plurality of infrastructure adapters are installed. This may involve demolishing and rebuilding portions of the infrastructure and laying down power cables from the electrical power supply to the charge spot locations. The infrastructure adapters are then coupled to an electrical power supply. Many if not all of the infrastructure adapters are covered with a temporary housing protecting them from vandalism and weather. During a second stage, in response to a demand for charge stations, the charge stations are completed. During the second stage, at least one external unit is attached to an infrastructure adapter by making an infrastructure adapter quick connect interface with an external unit quick connect interface. As such, a charge spot is completed quickly in response to demand.

Abstract: A method and system is provided to deploy electrical charge spots in stages according to demand. During a first stage a plurality of infrastructure adapters are installed. This may involve demolishing and rebuilding portions of the infrastructure and laying down power cables from the electrical power supply to the charge spot locations. The infrastructure adapters are then coupled to an electrical power supply. Many if not all of the infrastructure adapters are covered with a temporary housing protecting them from vandalism and weather. During a second stage, in response to a demand for charge stations, the charge stations are completed. During the second stage, at least one external unit is attached to an infrastructure adapter by making an infrastructure adapter quick connect interface with an external unit quick connect interface. As such, a charge spot is completed quickly in response to demand.