Abstract: Example vehicle restraints with a barrier having rotational and translational motion are described. An example vehicle restraint includes a carriage frame movable vertically relative to the dock. A drive shaft is supported by the carriage frame. A drive unit is to rotate the drive shaft about a shaft axis and relative to the carriage frame. A hub is connected to rotate with the drive shaft about the shaft axis, the hub having an outer diameter surface that is radially off center relative to the shaft axis. A barrier defines a bore that encircles the outer diameter surface of the hub. The barrier is movable selectively to an extended position and a retracted position. The barrier being connected to move selectively to the extended position and the retracted position in response to relative rotation between the outer diameter surface of the hub and the bore of the barrier.

Abstract: Example vehicle restraints with a barrier having rotational and translational motion are described. An example vehicle restraint includes a carriage frame movable vertically relative to the dock. A drive shaft is supported by the carriage frame. A drive unit is to rotate the drive shaft about a shaft axis and relative to the carriage frame. A hub is connected to rotate with the drive shaft about the shaft axis, the hub having an outer diameter surface that is radially off center relative to the shaft axis. A barrier defines a bore that encircles the outer diameter surface of the hub. The barrier is movable selectively to an extended position and a retracted position. The barrier being connected to move selectively to the extended position and the retracted position in response to relative rotation between the outer diameter surface of the hub and the bore of the barrier.

Abstract: A chest drainage container for withdrawing and collecting certain body fluids from within a patient's chest cavity includes means for tolerating the container being accidentally tipped over. To provide such means, some example containers disclosed in this patent merely involve modifying the plastic injection mold of an existing chest drainage container. In some examples, certain partitions and vents are integrally formed in the container's main body. In the event of a tip-over occurrence, the partitions trap collected fluid within their appropriate collection chambers to help prevent inter-chamber mixing of fluid. During normal operation, the vents enable a pocket of otherwise trapped air to escape from within the enclosed collection chambers as incoming body fluid displaces the air. In some examples, under certain conditions, the vent releases gaseous fluid at a volumetric flow that is about 30 times greater than what the vent releases of liquid fluid during a tip-over event.

Abstract: A tape dispenser includes a plastic injection molded frame with a resiliently flexible finger that helps prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly sticking to the coiled portion of the tape. To avoid this problem, a distal end of the finger presses against the inner diameter of a cardboard or plastic spool about which the tape is wrapped. Friction between the finger's distal end and the spool's inner diameter inhibits reverse rotation of the spool. To avoid breaking the finger while forcefully loading the roll of tape into the dispenser during assembly, a lateral backstop surface on the dispenser prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a laterally outward direction. To avoid breaking the finger during subsequent rough use, another backstop surface prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a radially downward direction.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a flexible vinyl suction tube that connects a milk collection device to a vacuum pump. If a milk droplet accidentally backflows into the suction tube, a supplementary opening injects tiny volumes of air sequentially into the vacuum pump or into the suction tube near the pump. As the vacuum pump operates in a cyclical manner, the injected air returns the droplet in sequential steps back to the milk collection device.

Abstract: A tape dispenser includes a plastic injection molded frame with a resiliently flexible finger that helps prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly sticking to the coiled portion of the tape. To avoid this problem, a distal end of the finger presses against the inner diameter of a cardboard or plastic spool about which the tape is wrapped. Friction between the finger's distal end and the spool's inner diameter inhibits reverse rotation of the spool. To avoid breaking the finger while forcefully loading the roll of tape into the dispenser during assembly, a lateral backstop surface on the dispenser prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a laterally outward direction. To avoid breaking the finger during subsequent rough use, another backstop surface prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a radially downward direction.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a duckbill-style check valve that intermittently releases breast milk from a charging chamber to a storage chamber. Various examples of rotational interlocks ensure that the valve is properly installed to avoid interference between the valve's discharge end and the inner surface of an outer shell that contains the valve. In some examples, the outer shell includes a concavity or other feature configured to accommodate multiple rotational positions of the valve.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A tape dispenser system includes a monolithic plastic injection molded frame with an integral anti-reverse rotation pawl. To help prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly bonding onto the coiled portion of the tape, the pawl engages the inner diameter of a cardboard spool that holds the roll of tape. Strategically located mold parting lines and certain air gaps allow injection molding of a dispenser frame that has two spool-supporting sidewalls plus the integral pawl.

Abstract: A breast pump system includes a vacuum break backflow preventer for preventing breast milk from accidentally backflowing into a suction tube leading to a vacuum pump. The backflow preventer is a vacuum passageway with two spaced apart suction openings. The two openings convey air to cyclically pressurize and depressurize a small milk charging chamber. If milk accidentally covers one of the openings, air at the other opening minimizes the pressure differential that might otherwise draw the milk deep into the suction tube and toward the vacuum pump. For ease of cleaning and sanitizing, the system avoids or minimizes the use of baffles, permanently enclosed passageways, moving parts, and tight inside corners. Some passageways can be split open for access during cleaning. To make the breast milk collection device less protruding under a brassier, the vacuum passageway curves around the side of a nipple receptacle rather than in front of it.

Abstract: A tape dispenser includes a plastic injection molded frame with a resiliently flexible finger that helps prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly sticking to the coiled portion of the tape. To avoid this problem, a distal end of the finger presses against the inner diameter of a cardboard or plastic spool about which the tape is wrapped. Friction between the finger's distal end and the spool's inner diameter inhibits reverse rotation of the spool. To avoid breaking the finger while forcefully loading the roll of tape into the dispenser during assembly, a lateral backstop surface on the dispenser prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a laterally outward direction. To avoid breaking the finger during subsequent rough use, another backstop surface prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a radially downward direction.

Abstract: A tape dispenser system includes a monolithic plastic injection molded frame with an integral anti-reverse rotation pawl. To help prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly bonding onto the coiled portion of the tape, the pawl engages the inner diameter of a cardboard spool that holds the roll of tape. Strategically located mold parting lines and certain air gaps allow injection molding of a dispenser frame that has two spool-supporting sidewalls plus the integral pawl.

Abstract: A tape dispenser system includes a monolithic plastic injection molded frame with an integral anti-reverse rotation pawl. To help prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly bonding onto the coiled portion of the tape, the pawl engages the inner diameter of a cardboard spool that holds the roll of tape. Strategically located mold parting lines and certain air gaps allow injection molding of a dispenser frame that has two spool-supporting sidewalls plus the integral pawl.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A tape dispenser includes a plastic injection molded frame with a resiliently flexible finger that helps prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly sticking to the coiled portion of the tape. To avoid this problem, a distal end of the finger presses against the inner diameter of a cardboard or plastic spool about which the tape is wrapped. Friction between the finger's distal end and the spool's inner diameter inhibits reverse rotation of the spool. To avoid breaking the finger while forcefully loading the roll of tape into the dispenser during assembly, a lateral backstop surface on the dispenser prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a laterally outward direction. To avoid breaking the finger during subsequent rough use, another backstop surface prevents the spool from bending the finger too far in a radially downward direction.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: An example carwash method involves a customer using a smartphone with an app for finding participating carwash locations, making online payments for select carwash options, and then using the smartphone app to start the washing process when the customer arrives at the carwash. Various means can be used for determining when the vehicle is at the carwash entrance. Examples of such means include, but are not limited to, reading the GPS coordinates of the smartphone in the vehicle; establishing Bluetooth, WiFi or some other limited-range wireless communication link between the smartphone and the local carwash controller; displaying and manually entering a code or password at the carwash; and scanning a QR code displayed on the smartphone. During the carwash operation, in some examples, the smartphone app provides the customer with an emergency stop option.

Abstract: A tape dispenser system includes a monolithic plastic injection molded frame with an integral anti-reverse rotation pawl. To help prevent the free end of a roll of tape from accidentally retracting, falling back, and frustratingly bonding onto the coiled portion of the tape, the pawl engages the inner diameter of a cardboard spool that holds the roll of tape. Strategically located mold parting lines and certain air gaps allow injection molding of a dispenser frame that has two spool-supporting sidewalls plus the integral pawl.

Abstract: A hybrid manual/programmable thermostat for a furnace or air conditioner offers the simplicity of a manual thermostat while providing the convenience and versatility of a programmable one. Initially, the hybrid thermostat appears to function as an ordinary manual thermostat; however, it privately observes and learns a user's manual temperature setting habits and eventually programs itself accordingly. If users begin changing their preferred temperature settings due to seasonal changes or other reasons, the thermostat continues learning and will adapt to those changes as well. For ease of use, the thermostat does not require an onscreen menu as a user interface. In some embodiments, the thermostat can effectively program itself for temperature settings that are set to occur at particular times daily or just on weekends, yet the user is not required to enter the time of day or the day of the week.