Abstract: A method is provided for forming a thermoplastic structure. During this formation method, a first layer of thermoplastic material is deposited on a first thermoplastic object using a material deposition device. The first layer of thermoplastic material is tacked to the first thermoplastic object during the depositing of the first layer of thermoplastic material. The first layer of thermoplastic material is consolidated with the first thermoplastic object using a material consolidation device to provide a second thermoplastic object. A second layer of thermoplastic material is deposited on the second thermoplastic object using the material deposition device. The second layer of thermoplastic material is tacked to the second thermoplastic object during the depositing of the second layer of thermoplastic material. The second layer of thermoplastic material is consolidated with the second thermoplastic object using the material consolidation device to provide a third thermoplastic object.

Abstract: A cleaning valve for cleaning a beverage dispensing device is provided. The cleaning valve may include a valve body having a valve opening, a valve lever coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispense position and a sanitize position, a product port configured to alternatively output a beverage product and a sanitizer based on a position of the valve lever, and a sanitizer port configured to receive the sanitizer from a sanitizer reservoir. The valve opening may be configured to create a first fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the product dispense position to allow the beverage product to output from the product port, and may be configured to create a second fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the sanitize position to allow the sanitizer to output from the product port.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite propulsion system case includes providing a liner, bonding a thermoplastic film layer to the liner using an adhesive, and, subsequent to bonding the thermoplastic film layer to the liner, depositing a thermoplastic composite material onto the thermoplastic film layer to form an outer shell of the composite propulsion system case. The outer shell extends circumferentially about an axial centerline of the composite propulsion system case. The outer shell forms an outer radial surface of the composite propulsion system case.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a thermoplastic structure. During this formation method, a first layer of thermoplastic material is deposited on a first thermoplastic object using a material deposition device. The first layer of thermoplastic material is tacked to the first thermoplastic object during the depositing of the first layer of thermoplastic material. The first layer of thermoplastic material is consolidated with the first thermoplastic object using a material consolidation device to provide a second thermoplastic object. A second layer of thermoplastic material is deposited on the second thermoplastic object using the material deposition device. The second layer of thermoplastic material is tacked to the second thermoplastic object during the depositing of the second layer of thermoplastic material. The second layer of thermoplastic material is consolidated with the second thermoplastic object using the material consolidation device to provide a third thermoplastic object.

Abstract: A modular uniplanar pedicle screw assembly for use with a polyaxial bone fastener. The modular assembly comprises a uniplanar tulip assembly adapted to be coupled to a head of the polyaxial bone fastener, wherein the uniplanar tulip assembly includes a longitudinal slot. The modular assembly further includes an adapter having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is sized and shaped to be received in a recess of the bone fastener head. The upper portion extends from the lower portion and is adapted to slide along the longitudinal slot of the uniplanar tulip assembly to allow movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a first plane along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot preventing movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a second plane lateral to the first plane relative to the bone fastener.

Abstract: Attachment systems, components, and methods are described herein that use a combination of attachment, anchor, or retention mechanisms to secure components to one another. By one approach, a combination of flap, swing clip, and notch features incorporated into one or more devices to provide the ability to attach or combine devices of multiple formats. In some configurations, the attachment systems include a device with at least one panel having a flap and a swing clip on a free edge thereof. The attachment systems also may include at least one attachable device having at least one panel with a notch formed on a free edge thereof. The attachable devices may be attached to each other in a configuration where the notch is aligned with the flap and the swing clip is in a closed position such that the notch and the flap are nested within the swing clip.

Abstract: A modular uniplanar pedicle screw assembly for use with a polyaxial bone fastener. The modular assembly comprises a uniplanar tulip assembly adapted to be coupled to a head of the polyaxial bone fastener, wherein the uniplanar tulip assembly includes a longitudinal slot. The modular assembly further includes an adapter having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is sized and shaped to be received in a recess of the bone fastener head. The upper portion extends from the lower portion and is adapted to slide along the longitudinal slot of the uniplanar tulip assembly to allow movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a first plane along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot preventing movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a second plane lateral to the first plane relative to the bone fastener.

Abstract: A cleaning valve for cleaning a beverage dispensing device is provided. The cleaning valve may include a valve body having a valve opening, a valve lever coupled to the valve body and configured to move the valve body between a product dispense position and a sanitize position, a product port configured to alternatively output a beverage product and a sanitizer based on a position of the valve lever, and a sanitizer port configured to receive the sanitizer from a sanitizer reservoir. The valve opening may be configured to create a first fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the product dispense position to allow the beverage product to output from the product port, and may be configured to create a second fluid communication path when the valve lever is in the sanitize position to allow the sanitizer to output from the product port.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer latch comprises a skewer engaging surface that is desirably at least in part spherical, such as hemispherical. When engaging a bicycle skewer at the rear wheel of a bicycle, the spherical engagement surface allows more freedom of movement of the bicycle trailer relative to the skewer during towing. This enhances the trailers ability to track the movement of the bicycle. The latch can comprise a housing with a housing opening sized to receive the end portion of the bicycle wheel skewer. A stop inside the housing is pivotal to stop closed and stop open positions. In the stop closed position, the housing opening is sufficiently to block the decoupling of the latch from bicycle skewer. In the stop open position, the stop opens the housing opening sufficiently to permit passage of the end portion of the skewer through the housing opening.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer pivot assembly can comprise first and second yoke arms with respective first and second end portions and a pivot coupling the first end portion of each yoke arm to a bicycle trailer frame. The first end portions the yoke arms comprise respective first and second hinge portions that interfit and that receive a hinge pin that couples the first end portions together and to the bicycle trailer frame for pivoting about an upright axis. The first and second hinge portion comprise respective stops positioned to engage one another to limit the maximum distance to which the second end portions of the first and second yoke arms can be spread apart. The first and second hinge portions can comprise respective stops that limit both the maximum and minimum spread apart positions of the second end portions of the yoke arms.

Abstract: A modular uniplanar pedicle screw assembly for use with a polyaxial bone fastener. The modular assembly comprises a uniplanar tulip assembly adapted to be coupled to a head of the polyaxial bone fastener, wherein the uniplanar tulip assembly includes a longitudinal slot. The modular assembly further includes an adapter having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is sized and shaped to be received in a recess of the bone fastener head. The upper portion extends from the lower portion and is adapted to slide along the longitudinal slot of the uniplanar tulip assembly to allow movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a first plane along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot preventing movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a second plane lateral to the first plane relative to the bone fastener.

Abstract: A modular uniplanar pedicle screw assembly for use with a polyaxial bone fastener. The modular assembly comprises a uniplanar tulip assembly adapted to be coupled to a head of the polyaxial bone fastener, wherein the uniplanar tulip assembly includes a longitudinal slot. The modular assembly further includes an adapter having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is sized and shaped to be received in a recess of the bone fastener head. The upper portion extends from the lower portion and is adapted to slide along the longitudinal slot of the uniplanar tulip assembly to allow movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a first plane along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot preventing movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a second plane lateral to the first plane relative to the bone fastener.

Abstract: A bicycle trailer has a frame with a hitch portion that comprises first and second yoke arms with respective first end and second end portions. Skewer engagement latches can be coupled to the second end portions of the yoke arms. The skewer engagement latches can have stops that pivot between stop open and closed positions. In the stop open positions, respective end portions of a bicycle skewer can inserted into or separated from the latches. In the stop closed positions, respective end portions of the bicycle skewer, if positioned in respective latches, are retained coupled to the yoke arms by the latches. The stops are moved between open and closed positions by an actuator, such as by respective cable portions attached to the stop portions. Desirably the actuator simultaneously moves the stops between the open and closed positions. The latches can have skewer engagement surfaces that are least in part spherical.

Abstract: A storage device including a storage device body configured to store items therein, and a pocket. The pocket includes a piece of pocket material coupled to the body and at least partially defining a pocket cavity. The pocket further includes a first fastener configured to releasably attach the piece of pocket material to the body, and a second fastener configured to releasably attach the piece of pocket material to the body. The first fastener, when uncoupled, allows access to the pocket cavity via a first direction, and the second fastener, when uncoupled, allows access to the pocket cavity via a second direction that is different from the first direction.

Abstract: Traditional configuration of infrastructure equipment relates to the adjustment of horizontal tilt for antennas. Given the potential overlap of infrastructure equipment, varying tilt angles can result in either interference with nearby equipment (“over-tilt”) or reduced coverage areas within a specific infrastructure equipment (“under-tilt”). A tool for determining appropriate tilt angles for infrastructure antennas across a mobile network is provided. The tool automatically determines a range of tilt angles between a selected source antenna and adjacent antennas and optimizes based on a threshold intersecting point. Additionally, the tool can update calculated tilt angles based on network congestion information.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to orthopedic fixation devices that comprise a coupling element and a bone fastener, whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element. The orthopedic fixation devices described herein can include modular locking clamp assemblies that can be fixed onto fasteners that are already implanted in bone. The modular locking clamp assemblies can include polyaxial locking clamp assemblies, as well as monoaxial locking clamp assemblies.

Abstract: An office desktop organizer system including a rigid, tubular section with a triangular cross-section joinable with more sections in series via a connector joint in between sections and end caps covering the opposite ends of the tubular sections. The connector joints may be straight or have a bend. Add on office implements, such as a storage shelf, a drawer, a pencil box, a tape dispenser, a bin, a phone dock, a note pad stand, a USB port, or an AC outlet power center, each having an overarching arm, are connectable to the tubular section by engaging the overarching arm thereto. Eyelets in the end caps and connector joints allow the tubular section to be mounted to a wall using a screw, push pins, tape, etc. where the screw or pin head fits into the eyelet.