Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a ride request from a user computing device associated with a user, wherein the ride request requests a user pick-up at a geographic location, determining one or more preferred items of the user, identifying, from a group of vehicles located in the geographic location, a vehicle that comprises an in-vehicle vending apparatus with an inventory that includes one or more of the preferred items of the user, and sending an instruction to a computing device of the vehicle for traveling to the geographic location for the user pick-up.

Abstract: A device for collecting urine comprises a permeable core assembly, an exterior housing and a suction tube assembly. The core assembly has a tubular fluid permeable core with a fluid permeable wicking cover. The exterior housing is capsular-shaped and has a reservoir at a lower end, an outlet port at an upper end, and an elongated window opening. The core assembly is received within the housing with the core assembly extending across the elongated window. The suction tube assembly extends through an interior of the core assembly and has a first end disposed in the reservoir and a second end exiting the outlet port. The suction tube assembly comprises an elongated shape retention element and a suction tube body having a suction lumen providing a suction path from a first end thereof to a second end thereof, and a second shape retention lumen receiving the elongated shape retention element.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user computing device associated with a user for one or more items from an in-vehicle vending apparatus during a ride. The method also includes sending information associated with the user to start a vending session using the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes receiving an indication that the user associated with the user computer device accessed the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes determining that the user associated with the user computing device is the only user associated with the ride, determining that the user associated with the user computing device is one of a plurality of users associated with the ride, or determining that the user associated with the user computing device is associated with the in-vehicle vending apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a segmented rotary floor stripping pad having a plurality of symmetrical, polygonal pad segments secured together in partially overlapping relation to form an annular pad. The segments are preferably formed from non-woven polyester fibers and are secured radially along the overlapping, adjacent side edges by hot melt glue, ultrasonic welding or by stitching. There is no backing pad, and since the segments are symmetrical, the pad is reversible so that both sides can be used. The plurality of pad segments are secured together in an overlapping manner such that each pad segment presents an angled leading cutting edge and each pair of adjacent pad segments forms a radial fluid channel. Depending on the degree of overlap and the thickness of the pad segment, the presentation angle of the cutting edge can be varied.

Abstract: An all-wire weft-knit tubular sleeve can be knit from a plurality of electrically conductive wire filaments. Further, an electrically conductive bus wire can be interlaced in the weft knit pattern of the tubular sleeve to provide improved electrical contact along the entire length of the gasket. The exemplary weft-knit sleeve can allow for at least a 15% axial stretch without breaking the bus wire. The conductive wire filaments can be a copper/nickel alloy having a wire diameter of between about 0.075 mm and about 0.1 mm, a tensile strength of between about 70-125 KSI and an elongation of at least 12%.

Abstract: A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes initiating a vending session using an in-vehicle vending apparatus to provide a user access to one or more items, the vending session being initiated by determining that the user is associated with a ride. The method also includes determining that the vending session has ended, which may be determined by determining that the in-vehicle vending apparatus is closed, and determining the one or more items that were taken by the user. The method also includes identifying one or more items taken from the in-vehicle vending apparatus during the vending session based on sensor data from the in-vehicle apparatus. The method also includes sending a confirmation of the one or more items taken to the user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for intelligently and dynamically managing a vehicle service center. For example, a vehicle service system analyzes information associated with vehicles scheduled for service at a vehicle service center comprising a set of sequential stations. Based on the analyzed information, the vehicle service system can determine an allocation of tasks and an allocation of resources for each station. In turn, the disclosed systems can customize, for display on display devices within the vehicle service center, task allocation user interfaces in accordance with a task allocation. Further, the vehicle service system can monitor a completion progress for the task allocation and, based on the completion progress, generate an adjusted task allocation for the given stage of progression.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for intelligently dispatching vehicles to a vehicle service center to progress vehicles at a predefined rate through sequential stations of the vehicle service center. The disclosed systems can analyze services associated with vehicles. Based on the services, the disclosed systems can determine how to order, within a virtual queue, vehicles corresponding to the services. For example, the disclosed systems can predict a complexity associated with a service for a vehicle, and in turn, determine whether adding the vehicle to the service queue will allow the vehicle to move through a set of sequential stations in accordance with the predefined progression rate. In response, the disclosed systems can dispatch the vehicle, refrain from dispatching the vehicle, or otherwise dynamically respond to enable the vehicle to move through the set of sequential stations in accordance with the predefined progression rate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user computing device associated with a user for one or more items from an in-vehicle vending apparatus during a ride. The method also includes sending information associated with the user to start a vending session using the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes receiving an indication that the user associated with the user computer device accessed the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes determining that the user associated with the user computing device is the only user associated with the ride, determining that the user associated with the user computing device is one of a plurality of users associated with the ride, or determining that the user associated with the user computing device is associated with the in-vehicle vending apparatus.

Abstract: Expanded metal sheets are used to produce tubular filters. The expanded metal sheet has a multiplicity of rows of openings arranged to reduce nesting when the sheet is rolled on itself. In particular, the pitch between the rows of openings, the sizes of the openings, or both the pitch between the rows of openings and the sizes of the openings are varied to reduce nesting when the expanded metal sheet is rolled on itself. The filters can include external circumferential grooves, rounded corners produced by a point loading process, textured surfaces between openings, and/or torturous internal paths produced by non-perforated areas of an expanded metal sheet. The expanded metal sheet can be composed of carbon steel coated with a material having a higher heat conductivity, e.g., tin. Among other things, the filters can be used in automobile airbag inflators to capture slag and absorb heat produced by the inflator's explosive charge.

Abstract: A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure.

Abstract: Expanded metal sheets are used to produce tubular filters. The expanded metal sheet has a multiplicity of rows of openings arranged to reduce nesting when the sheet is rolled on itself. In particular, the pitch between the rows of openings, the sizes of the openings, or both the pitch between the rows of openings and the sizes of the openings are varied to reduce nesting when the expanded metal sheet is rolled on itself. The filters can include external circumferential grooves, rounded corners produced by a point loading process, textured surfaces between openings, and/or torturous internal paths produced by non-perforated areas of an expanded metal sheet. The expanded metal sheet can be composed of carbon steel coated with a material having a higher heat conductivity, e.g., tin. Among other things, the filters can be used in automobile airbag inflators to capture slag and absorb heat produced by the inflator's explosive charge.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user computing device associated with a user for one or more items from an in-vehicle vending apparatus during a ride. The method also includes sending information associated with the user to start a vending session using the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes receiving an indication that the user associated with the user computer device accessed the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes determining that the user associated with the user computing device is the only user associated with the ride, determining that the user associated with the user computing device is one of a plurality of users associated with the ride, or determining that the user associated with the user computing device is associated with the in-vehicle vending apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes initiating a vending session using an in-vehicle vending apparatus to provide a user access to one or more items, the vending session being initiated by determining that the user is associated with a ride. The method also includes determining that the vending session has ended, which may be determined by determining that the in-vehicle vending apparatus is closed, and determining the one or more items that were taken by the user. The method also includes identifying one or more items taken from the in-vehicle vending apparatus during the vending session based on sensor data from the in-vehicle apparatus. The method also includes sending a confirmation of the one or more items taken to the user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from a user computing device associated with a user for one or more items from an in-vehicle vending apparatus during a ride. The method also includes sending information associated with the user to start a vending session using the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes receiving an indication that the user associated with the user computer device accessed the in-vehicle vending apparatus. The method also includes determining that the user associated with the user computing device is the only user associated with the ride, determining that the user associated with the user computing device is one of a plurality of users associated with the ride, or determining that the user associated with the user computing device is associated with the in-vehicle vending apparatus.

Abstract: An all-wire weft-knit tubular sleeve can be knit from a plurality of electrically conductive wire filaments. Further, an electrically conductive bus wire can be interlaced in the weft knit pattern of the tubular sleeve to provide improved electrical contact along the entire length of the gasket. The exemplary weft-knit sleeve can allow for at least a 15% axial stretch without breaking the bus wire. The conductive wire filaments can be a copper/nickel alloy having a wire diameter of between about 0.075 mm and about 0.1 mm, a tensile strength of between about 70-125 KSI and an elongation of at least 12%.

Abstract: Expanded metal sheets are used to produce tubular filters. The expanded metal sheet has a multiplicity of rows of openings arranged to reduce nesting when the sheet is rolled on itself. In particular, the pitch between the rows of openings, the sizes of the openings, or both the pitch between the rows of openings and the sizes of the openings are varied to reduce nesting when the expanded metal sheet is rolled on itself. The filters can include external circumferential grooves, rounded corners produced by a point loading process, textured surfaces between openings, and/or torturous internal paths produced by non-perforated areas of an expanded metal sheet. The expanded metal sheet can be composed of carbon steel coated with a material having a higher heat conductivity, e.g., tin. Among other things, the filters can be used in automobile airbag inflators to capture slag and absorb heat produced by the inflator's explosive charge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a segmented rotary floor stripping pad having a plurality of symmetrical, polygonal pad segments secured together in partially overlapping relation to form an annular pad. The segments are preferably formed from non-woven polyester fibers and are secured radially along the overlapping, adjacent side edges by hot melt glue, ultrasonic welding or by stitching. There is no backing pad, and since the segments are symmetrical, the pad is reversible so that both sides can be used. The plurality of pad segments are secured together in an overlapping manner such that each pad segment presents an angled leading cutting edge and each pair of adjacent pad segments forms a radial fluid channel. Depending on the degree of overlap and the thickness of the pad segment, the presentation angle of the cutting edge can be varied.

Abstract: A wire mesh rivet (13) is provided which is used to produce a wire mesh isolator (11) in a bore (9) of a substrate such as a heat shield (7) for a vehicle exhaust system. The rivet (13) comprises a unitary wire mesh structure (19) which has a collar (15) and a shank (17). The collar (15) has a higher density than the shank (17), e.g., the collar (15) has the density of the finished isolator (11). The rivet (13) is formed into the finished isolator (11) by compressing the shank (17) to form a second collar, while restraining the original collar (15) from substantially changing its shape. The rivet (13) can include a metal insert (23) which prevents the wire mesh of the finished isolator (11) from experiencing high levels of compression when the substrate is fastened to its supporting structure.