Abstract: A thermally reflective membrane apparatus comprises a housing structure, and a thermally reflective membrane contained within the housing structure. The thermally reflective membrane comprises a semipermeable structure, and a porous, thermally reflective structure physically contacting the semipermeable structure. The porous, thermally reflective structure comprises discrete thermally reflective particles, and a binder material coupling the discrete thermally reflective particles to one another and the semipermeable structure. A fluid treatment system and method of treating a fluid are also described.

Abstract: An improved quick release skewer system consisting of a connecting rod with a cam-actuated cap on one end and an expandable retaining nut on the other end. The device is specifically designed for application in mounting quick-release-skewer-hub bicycle wheels on bicycle forks having safety flanges which are intended to prevent the wheel from falling off the fork if the cam-actuated cap is accidentally loosened. Prior to the invention, to remove the wheel from the fork, the retaining nut had to be unscrewed. With the invention, once the cam-actuated cap is loosened, the expandable retaining nut is collapsed to further loosen compression forces on the bicycle fork and permit the wheel to be removed from the fork without unscrewing the nut. The expandable retaining nut prevents mishap in the event the operator fails to screw the nut back to its original position.