Abstract: A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder.

Abstract: A carton includes primary panels (12, 14, 16, 18) hingedly interconnected to form a tubular structure and an end closure structure (1). The primary panels include a first wall panel (12) and a second wall panel (14). The end closure structure includes a first end flap (22b) connected to the first wall panel and a second end flap (24b) connected to the second wall panel. The first end flap includes two arm portions (52, 54) each hingedly connected to the first wall panel, and a bridging portion (50) extending between the arm portions. The two arm portions are spaced apart from each other such that a display window (56) is defined between the two arm portions and that one or more containers (A) in the carton are exposed to view through the display window.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery having over-discharge protection includes an anode comprising at least an electrochemically active anode material, said anode having an anode irreversible capacity loss during a first charge of the lithium-ion battery; and a cathode comprising at least an electrochemically active cathode material characterized by the formula: xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMnaNibCocO2, where 0<x<1 and a+b+c=1, and x, a, b, and c are selected to provide a cathode irreversible capacity loss during a first charge of the lithium-ion battery that is greater than or equal to the anode irreversible capacity loss, and wherein the cathode possesses a voltage step less than about 2 V versus Li.

Abstract: A chemical injector for use with a pool system can include an assembly having a disposable chemical container (214) and a pump (106,216). The disposable chemical container can fluidly seal a chemical in an inner volume of the disposable chemical container. The pump can be coupled to the disposable chemical container for injecting the chemical into the fluid flow of the pool system.

Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure relate to methods and systems for extracting oil from plant material. A system may comprise a gas moving device, an extraction chamber, and a condensation surface. Oil of the plant material may be volatized in the extraction chamber and then propelled by the gas moving device to the condensation surface to be collected. In various embodiments, the systems and methods allow the extraction of oil from plant material with little or no solvent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a general-purpose wireless mobile device having a touch-sensitive screen and executing a remote control application is used to remotely control a vehicle (e.g., a marine vessel). The general-purpose wireless mobile device communicates via a wireless network with an interface (e.g., a server) that is coupled to an electronic control system of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel). In operation, environmental information and/or system status information is collected through the electronic control system, propagated to the interface (e.g., server), and then sent over the wireless network to the wireless mobile device. Similarly, control input is sent over the wireless network to the interface (e.g., server), which passes the information to the electronic control system, which in turn issues appropriate control signals to the vehicle subsystems (e.g., marine subsystems) to control the motion of the vehicle (e.g., the vessel).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for adjusting the transmission power of satellite transceivers based on estimated interference. In some implementations, a satellite transceiver receives a data structure that specifies an interference compensation value for at least one frequency channel on which the satellite transceiver can transmit. The interference compensation value for the frequency channel is based on estimated interference imposed on satellite transmissions transmitted by the transceiver on the frequency channel. The transceiver receives data specifying a second transmit frequency channel to use for a second satellite transmission. A first interference compensation value for a first frequency channel and a second interference compensation value for the second frequency channel are identified from the data structure.

Abstract: A one-piece molded lens member for use with a plurality of LEDs in a luminaire includes a generally planar base portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a plurality of optical structures arranged in rows and columns on the base portion, each optical structure having a hemispheroidal section extending upwardly from the upper surface of the base portion and a first hemicylindrical section extending upwardly from the lower surface of the base portion and from a side of the hemispheroidal section, the optical structure having upper surfaces contiguous with the upper surfaces of the base portion.

Abstract: An aircraft is disclosed, the aircraft having a fuselage having a centerline, and a wing extending from the fuselage and having a leading edge and a trailing edge. Additionally, the aircraft includes an engine mounted to the wing and having a rotating output shaft, and a propeller operably coupled to the output shaft and generating a rotating flow field to define a propeller wake when the propeller is rotated by the rotating output shaft. The propeller is located forward of the leading edge of the wing, so the propeller wake flows over the wing forming localized areas of effectively increased angle of attack generating a corresponding increased wing loading, with the wing having corresponding localized areas of reduced chord length to neutralize the otherwise increased wing loading. A method of countering the aerodynamic effects of propeller wake acting on a wing is also disclosed.

Abstract: A projectile has a front portion and a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion comprises a cylindrical sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface. The projectile also has a plurality of depressions in the cylindrical sidewall. The depressions have an outlet adjacent the second end, an inlet toward the first end and a neck area between the inlet and the outlet. A width of the inlet is smaller than a width of the outlet. The depressions at the neck area have a curved sidewall, but a generally straight sidewall between the neck area and the outlet. The surface of the depression extends at a ramp angle from the outer surface of the sidewall at the inlet of the depression toward the inner surface of the sidewall at the outlet.

Abstract: Vascular access devices, systems, and methods of their use are provided. In one embodiment, a vascular access device includes a catheter, a balloon, and an inflation lumen. The catheter includes an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a primary lumen therethrough. The balloon is disposed about the distal end of the catheter. The inflation lumen is in fluid communication with the balloon and extends toward the proximal end of the shaft of the catheter. The balloon is inflatable into a shape having a first open end, a second open end, a sidewall between the first and second open ends, and a passageway therethrough, which, when the balloon is deployed and inflated within a vessel, permits blood flowing in the vessel to flow through the passageway.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle includes a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a rechargeable power source. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes an interface between the transmission and the prime mover for coupling to an electric motor. The electric motor can be in direct or indirect mechanical communication with a hydraulic pump. The electric motor can receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the interface.

Abstract: A shipping riser is provided and includes an engineered structure. The engineered structure includes a central laminated structure, a pair of middle laminated structures positioned on and secured to opposite sides of the central laminated structure, and a pair of outer laminated structures positioned on and secured to opposite sides of the pair of middle laminated structures.

Abstract: A system for laterally supporting a vertical shoring post is provided. The system includes a head and a jaw assembly, the jaw assembly movably mounted to the head, the head configured for selective engagement with a shoring post, and the jaw assembly configured for engagement with a beam that provides lateral support to the shoring post. The head comprises first and second arms that extend in the same general direction and when engaging the shoring post the first and second arms are disposed upon opposite sides of the shoring post. The jaw assembly includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the moving member pivotably connected to the fixed jaw, wherein the fixed jaw and movable jaws are configured to receive an end of the beam therebetween.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus is provided. The exercise apparatus includes a substantially round, hollow element having an exterior surface and an interior cavity, with the round, hollow element having a U-shaped cross-section, the U-shape including two distal ends. The exercise apparatus also includes at least two rims, each rim positioned about a portion of the round, hollow element at each distal end of the U-shape. A spacer member is located between each distal end of the U-shape and between the rims and at least two fasteners extend between both of the at least two rims, the fasteners providing a clamping force to the at least two rims so that the spacer member and both distal ends of the round, hollow element are fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: Additional approaches for the reduction of particulate emissions in gasoline engines using optimized port+direct injection are described. These embodiments include control of the amount of directly injected fuel so as to avoid a threshold increase in particulates due to piston wetting and reduction of cold start emissions by use of air preheating using variable valve timing.

Abstract: A flood barrier system includes vertical elements and panels extending between such vertical elements, the foregoing components having various features for inhibiting passage of flood water therethrough. One or more vertical elements may have a multi-layer base plate which forms a watertight seal with vertical gaskets disposed on the vertical elements. One of the vertical elements of the system may comprise a stanchion post which may be formed of extruded aluminum. Another vertical element which may find potential use in certain applications may be secured to a store front mullion. The panels in such system may include specially adapted gaskets to reduce instances of leakage. The vertical elements and panels allow the present flood barrier system to be flexible and readily deployable as a barrier to flood or flood risk.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power generation for an aircraft are provided. In one example embodiment, a power generation system for an aircraft includes a thermionic generator arranged to receive heat from at least one heat source. The thermionic generator is configured to generate electrical power for one or more aircraft systems based at least in part on the heat received from the at least one heat source. The power generation system further includes a thermoelectric generator arranged to receive waste heat from the thermionic generator. The thermoelectric generator is configured to generate electrical power for one or more aircraft systems based at least in part on the waste heat received from the thermionic generator.

Abstract: A transducer includes a composite waveguide including a composite wire having an internal core of low electrical resistance material and an outer layer of magnetostrictive material.

Abstract: Electrocoagulation (EC) reactors having pellet flow circuits are disclosed. In one embodiment, the EC reactor includes a reactor vessel having a first inlet and an outlet through which a contaminated feed stream is received and discharged, respectively. An EC reaction chamber is located within the reactor vessel, fluidly coupled between the first inlet and the outlet, and configured to be loaded with consumable EC pellets. The EC reactor further includes an EC pellet flow circuit around which the consumable EC pellets circulate as the contaminated feed stream flows through the EC reaction chamber. First and second electrodes are coupled to the reactor vessel and positioned to generate an electrical field. The consumable EC pellets are exposed to (e.g., pass through or circulate within) the electrical field to induce coagulation of contaminants within the contaminated feed stream as the feed stream flows through the EC reaction chamber.