Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a large surface area solar energy generation apparatus and method that protects the solar system from meteorological or any other ambient threat and restores the solar system to operating condition once the threat has passed. The system is sufficiently large to cover parking lots and other large ground surface structures and offers double the conventional solar exposure surface area per supporting post. The apparatus generates more electricity with single axis and dual axis tracking. The apparatus is pre-assembled in a central production facility to avoid costly onsite construction and installed at the utilization site with minimal effort.

Abstract: In a method of facilitating flight operations, a payload is coupled to a spacecraft via a payload interface. The relative alignment of the payload and the spacecraft is dynamically adjusted (e.g., for thrust alignment) while the payload remains coupled to the spacecraft.

Abstract: In a method of facilitating flight operations, a payload is coupled to a spacecraft via a payload interface. The relative alignment of the payload and the spacecraft is dynamically adjusted (e.g., for thrust alignment) while the payload remains coupled to the spacecraft.

Abstract: A method of assembling a unibody vehicle includes securing a cab back panel of a cab back panel directly to an upturned flange of a cargo box floor. A unibody vehicle assembly according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cab back panel, a cargo box floor, and a passenger compartment floor. The cab back panel is secured directly to the cargo box floor. The cab back panel provides a back wall of a passenger cab and a front wall of a cargo area.

Abstract: A spacecraft structure for transporting propellant to be consumed by a thruster includes storing the propellant in the spacecraft in a solid state during at least a portion of a take-off procedure and supplying the propellant to the thruster in a liquid or vaporous state when the spacecraft is in space.

Abstract: A method of assembling a unibody vehicle includes securing a cab back panel of a cab back panel directly to an upturned flange of a cargo box floor. A unibody vehicle assembly according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cab back panel, a cargo box floor, and a passenger compartment floor. The cab back panel is secured directly to the cargo box floor. The cab back panel provides a back wall of a passenger cab and a front wall of a cargo area.

Abstract: A method in a spacecraft for transporting propellant to be consumed by a thruster includes storing the propellant in the spacecraft in a solid state during at least a portion of a take-off procedure and supplying the propellant to the thruster in a liquid or vaporous state when the spacecraft is in space.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: A method for sealing and cutting of a flexible material for forming a flexible container comprising a product volume and at least one structural support volume can include feeding at least two flexible material into a sealing apparatus comprising a sealing surface and an opposed anvil surface; contacting a seam region of the at least two flexible material with the sealing surface to form a seal in the seam region and cut the seal to form a seam in a single unit operation. The seal defines one or both of at least a portion of a boundary of the product volume and at least a portion of a boundary of the at least one structural support volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support frames are provided with vents to facilitate equalization of the pressure inside the product volume to the pressure of the environment outside of the containers. The vents enable rapid recovery of the structural support from a deformed state, which occurs when a fluent product is dispensed, to an undeformed state. For this purpose, the vents comprise vent paths between the environment outside of the containers and the product volume. The vents may further comprise a non-wetting material surrounding the entrance and exit of the vent path and/or microtexturing or a spacer to maintain space for air flow in the vent path.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Various containers are provided that include a resiliently deformable product volume and a dispenser configured to dispense fluent product from the product volume. When no dispensing force is applied to the product volume, the product volume has an undeformed state and a first interior volume. When a dispensing force is applied to the product volume, the product volume is resiliently deformable to a deformed state in which the product volume is reduced to a second interior volume less than the first interior volume, and the dispenser can dispense at least some of the fluent product from the product volume. When the dispensing force is released, the product volume fully restores itself to the undeformed state.

Abstract: A method for sealing and cutting of a flexible material for forming a flexible container comprising a product volume and at least one structural support volume can include feeding at least two flexible material into a sealing apparatus comprising a sealing surface and an opposed anvil surface; contacting a seam region of the at least two flexible material with the sealing surface to form a seal in the seam region and cut the seal to form a seam in a single unit operation. The seal defines one or both of at least a portion of a boundary of the product volume and at least a portion of a boundary of the at least one structural support volume.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support frames are provided with vents to facilitate equalization of the pressure inside the product volume to the pressure of the environment outside of the containers. The vents enable rapid recovery of the structural support from a deformed state, which occurs when a fluent product is dispensed, to an undeformed state. For this purpose, the vents comprise vent paths between the environment outside of the containers and the product volume. The vents may further comprise a non-wetting material surrounding the entrance and exit of the vent path and/or microtexturing or a spacer to maintain space for air flow in the vent path.

Abstract: Non-durable self-supporting flexible containers having product volumes and structural support volumes are provided with a valve mechanism to facilitate dispensing fluid product from the product support volume. One or more tension-inducing elements may be used to provide the valves with the ability to permit dispensing of fluid product from the product volume upon application of greater than a minimum threshold but less than a maximum threshold of squeeze force to an exterior of the flexible container. The valve may also be re-closable to prevent fluid product from being dispensed subsequent to use. The flexible container may further be provided with a product sensory experience sampling mechanism to provide for consumer interaction with one or more characteristics of the fluid product contained in the product volume without compromising the integrity of the product volume.

Abstract: Various containers are provided that have a product volume and one or more standoff structures coupled to the product volume. The standoff structures are configured to protect the product volume. The standoff structures may, for example, prevent damage (e.g., denting, rupture, scuffing, etc.) to the product volume, such as to indicia or information disposed on the product volume, that occurs when, for example, the container is dropped, falls, is placed into contact with another object, or is placed into a confined structure.

Abstract: One embodiment of an aperture for a scalp brush that does not cut hair is defined by the aperture's diameter and design of the aperture's perimeter. The aperture has a diameter of between 0.51 mm and 1.27 mm. The outside area beyond the aperture (20) being the aperture's perimeter can be no greater than 2.0 mm in diameter. The perimeter of aperture (20), part of tube (22), has a round contour (84) on the outside edge of tube brushing end (68). The tube length being predetermined for working efficiency. The rounded outside edge of tube brushing end (68) does not allow hair cutting. Other embodiments using aperture (20), contour (84), and tube (22) are described and shown.

Abstract: A method and system for reconciling an account among three data sources, including data provided by or on behalf of an entity, data provided by an asset manager, and data provided by a custodian of an account held by the entity. The system identifies data provided by the entity and receives data from the asset manager and data from the custodian on a daily basis. The system normalizes and aggregates the data. The system matches transactions and positions executed on behalf of the entity among the three data sets. The system compares data associated with matched transactions and positions among the three data sets. If the system identifies any differences in the data associated with a matched transaction and positions among the three data sets, the system reconciles the data. The system may also generate a reconciliation report.

Abstract: An elevating and clewing continuous log turner includes a mainframe having a movable frame adapted for vertical or horizontal translation relative to the mainframe. A rotating group is mounted in the movable frame. The rotating group has a passageway therethrough. Roller arms are pivotally mounted around a perimeter of the rotating group. The roller arms concentrically clamp the log relative to the rotating group to thereby rotate the log about its longitudinal axis simultaneously with selective rotation of the rotating group. At least one actuator horizontally and vertically translates the movable frame relative to the mainframe.