Abstract: A pill container and dispenser includes pill dispenser cap having a rotatable carousel with a pill receiving chamber. The carousel is rotatable between a position in which the chamber receives pills from a storage component of the pill dispenser, and a position in which the pill can be dispensed from the chamber to a user. The pill dispenser includes systems for detecting the dispensing of the pill, and systems for recording and/or reporting pill dispensing events to a mobile device or remote server to allow compliance tacking.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein generate content that quickly cycles between different-colored frames at a rapid rate that may be imperceptible to human viewers. The human eye tends to blend nearby frames together, so that a human viewer will see a full color spectrum even though only a single color is displayed at any given time. The video display may repeatedly cycle between individual color frames, thus providing video content that appears normal to a human viewer. However, a video recording device may capture only some of the color frames. Therefore, the video recorded by video recording devices may include undesirable color flicker or other color artifacts, which may deter unauthorized copying.

Abstract: A helmet assembly includes an upper member, a lower member, and rigid or semi-rigid plates connected between the two members. The helmet may include a series of fluidly connected air compartments beneath the plates is disclosed. Embodiments of the helmet may dissipate impact energy in multiple ways including deformation of the plates, shifting of the plates, cushioning of the plates against a resilient compressible material present in the upper member, compression of air within the air compartments, movement of air within the air compartments, and/or expansion of air in non-impacted sections of the air compartments which causes the shifting of non-impacted plates. Springs with or without resilient, compressible inserts may be positioned between movable plates and a frame member. A spine including compressible material may extend along a top section of the helmet and connect plates on opposite sides of the helmet.

Abstract: A beverage preparation machine permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.

Abstract: A boat or recreational vehicle ladder apparatus is provided. One aspect of the present ladder apparatus includes an elongated extension handle including a slot adjacent a lower end thereof. Another aspect of a boat or recreational vehicle ladder apparatus provides a snap-on step tread which can be mounted to a dual-tubular ladder step structure. Another aspect of a boat or recreational vehicle ladder apparatus employs a laterally expandable ladder step which can be retrofit onto an existing ladder. A further aspect employs clasps or hooks to attach and retain a ladder step to generally vertical ladder rails in a tool-free and fastener-free manner.

Abstract: A seal for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a motor vehicle. The seal includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a hinge disposed intermediate the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The seal is configurable in an unfolded position, wherein the first sealing portion, second sealing portion, and hinge are substantially aligned, and a folded position, wherein the second sealing portion overlaps the first sealing portion.

Abstract: A weigh scale unit may be used in conjunction with a beverage preparation machine to prepare beverages efficiently. The weigh scale unit may provide the status of ingredient addition to a beverage receptacle. The weigh scale unit may send instructions and/or data to the beverage preparation machine. In some embodiments, the beverage preparation machine sends instructions and/or data to the weigh scale unit.

Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a housing having a base configured to support a blender cup, a dispensing chamber disposed above the blender cup and configured to support a frozen beverage container containing frozen ingredients suitable for preparing a frozen drink, at least one dispensing mechanism configured to move from a pre-dispense position to a dispense position in which the dispensing mechanism drives the frozen ingredients from the frozen beverage container into the blender cup, and a drive mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to drive the movement of the dispensing mechanism from the pre-dispense position to the dispense position. A method of preparing a frozen drink is further disclosed.

Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a housing having a base configured to support a blender cup, a pod support disposed above the blender cup and configured to support a pod containing frozen ingredients suitable for preparing a frozen drink, a dispense plunger coupled to the housing and configured to move from a pre-dispense position to a dispense position in which the dispense plunger pushes the frozen ingredients from the pod into the blender cup, and a drive mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to drive the movement of the dispense plunger from the pre-dispense position to the dispense position. A method of preparing a frozen drink is further disclosed.

Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a bottom shelf configured to support a blender cup. The bottom shelf has a blender drive to drive the operation of blades provided in the blender cup. The dispenser further includes a dispensing chamber including a cartridge receptacle configured to receive a frozen beverage cartridge, and a dispense plunger. The dispenser further includes a water reservoir having a water pump to drive the movement of water from the water reservoir to the dispense plunger of the dispensing chamber and into the blender cup. A controller coupled to the blender drive, the dispenser plunger, and the water pump controls the operation of the individual frozen drink dispenser. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing frozen drinks are further disclosed.

Abstract: A seal for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a motor vehicle. The seal includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a hinge disposed intermediate the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The seal is configurable in an unfolded position, wherein the first sealing portion, second sealing portion, and hinge are substantially aligned, and a folded position, wherein the second sealing portion overlaps the first sealing portion.

Abstract: A process for producing dispersible powders by spray-drying aqueous polymer dispersions and adding antiblocking agent, wherein antiblocking agents present in agglomerated form and having a particle size from 10 ?m to 250 ?m, or having a particle size from 5 mm to 5 cm in the case of agglomerates in the form of extrudates, are fed in whole or in part by a transport gas into the spray-drying device and are comminuted to a particle size from 0.01 ?m to 5 ?m, or, in the case of extrudates, to a particle size from 2 ?m to 60 ?m.

Abstract: A process for producing dispersion powders by spray drying of aqueous polymer dispersions and addition of antiblocking agents in a rotary atomization dryer, wherein the antiblocking agent is conveyed by delivery air, wholly or partly, into an annular gap which is formed by a moulding arranged concentrically around the housing of the rotary atomizer, and which ends at a distance above the upper edge of the atomizer plate of the rotary atomizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disc brake for a motor vehicle having a housing, a piston which is movable in the housing along a longitudinal axis and a nut-spindle arrangement which acts on the piston or can be brought into engagement with this, wherein the nut-spindle arrangement is arranged in the housing and is workingly supported via a bearing arrangement on a support surface of the housing. In order to increase the service life of the bearing arrangement, the support surface is formed by a defined contact surface which projects with respect to an adjacent housing region and against which the bearing arrangement bears.

Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a housing having a base configured to support a blender cup, a pod support disposed above the blender cup and configured to support a pod containing frozen ingredients suitable for preparing a frozen drink, a dispense plunger coupled to the housing and configured to move from a pre-dispense position to a dispense position in which the dispense plunger pushes the frozen ingredients from the pod into the blender cup, and a drive mechanism coupled to the housing and configured to drive the movement of the dispense plunger from the pre-dispense position to the dispense position. A method of preparing a frozen drink is further disclosed.

Abstract: An individual frozen drink dispenser includes a bottom shelf configured to support a blender cup. The bottom shelf has a blender drive to drive the operation of blades provided in the blender cup. The dispenser further includes a dispensing chamber including a cartridge receptacle configured to receive a frozen beverage cartridge, and a dispense plunger. The dispenser further includes a water reservoir having a water pump to drive the movement of water from the water reservoir to the dispense plunger of the dispensing chamber and into the blender cup. A controller coupled to the blender drive, the dispenser plunger, and the water pump controls the operation of the individual frozen drink dispenser. Other embodiments of the dispenser and methods of dispensing frozen drinks are further disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to addition of calcium citrate-malate in the feed of young animals and poultry. Growth in young animals and poultry is rapid. During the early stages of development, a highly soluble and bioavailable source of calcium is needed for healthy growth and bone development. In addition, this invention also relates to a source of calcium in the feed of laying hens. Laying hens require large quantity of calcium for eggshell formation. While the hens can mobilize calcium from bone to supplement the dietary calcium, the mobilization is slow and inefficient. The mobilization of bone calcium is also detrimental to health of hens. Laying hens often have bone defects and inferior eggshell. The addition of calcium citrate-malate to feeds and milk replacers of young animals enhances the bioavailability calcium for growth and bone development and improves health and eggshell quality of laying hens.

Abstract: A process for producing dispersion powders by means of spray drying of aqueous polymer dispersions and addition of antiblocking agents in a rotary atomization dryer, wherein the antiblocking agent is conveyed by means of delivery air, wholly or partly, into an annular gap which is formed by a moulding arranged concentrically around the housing of the rotary atomizer, and which ends at a distance above the upper edge of the atomizer plate of the rotary atomizer.

Abstract: A frozen drink dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing station supported by the housing and configured to dispense a precise quantity of a flavored fluid from a variety of flavored fluids into a blender cup. The dispensing station includes a first support configured to support the blender cup and weigh contents within the blender cup. The frozen drink dispenser further includes a shaved ice and blend station supported by the housing and configured to dispense a precise quantity of shaved ice within the blender cup and to mix the contents within the blender cup. The shaved ice and blend station includes a second support configured to support the blender cup. The frozen drink dispenser further includes a rinse station configured to rinse and clean the blender cup.