Interconvertible soft articles

Rugged, soft, interconvertible articles constructed from soft, resilient members, which articles adopt a substantially different geometry upon an interior to exterior interconversion. The articles of the invention provide a significant visual effect and are useful as educational aids, magician's props, and toys.Published versio

Audio bass resonator

A headphone comprising: at least one speaker housing comprising at least a first surface with a first opening and a second surface with second opening; at least one resonator designed to cover at least a portion of the second opening of the second surface; at least one speaker, at least a portion of the speaker disposed within the speaker housing proximate to the first opening of the first surface of the speaker housing.Published versio

Interconvertible soft articles

Robust, soft, interconvertible articles constructed from soft, resilient members, which articles adopt a substantially different geometry upon an interior to exterior interconversion. The articles of the invention provide a significant visual effect and are useful as educational aids, magician's props, and toys.Published versio

Non-linear temperature-dependent curvature of a Phase Change Composite Bimorph beam

Bimorph films curl in response to temperature. The degree of curvature typically varies linearly with temperature and in proportion to the difference in thermal expansion of the individual layers. In many applications, such as controlling a thermostat, this gentle linear behavior is acceptable. In other cases, such as opening or closing a valve or latching a deployable column into place, an abrupt motion at a fixed temperature is preferred. To achieve this non-linear motion, we describe the fabrication and performance of a new bilayer structure we call 'Phase Change Composite Bimorph (PCBM)'. In a PCBM, one layer in the bimorph is a composite containing small inclusions of phase change materials. When the inclusions melt, their large (generally positive and >1%) expansion coefficient induces a strong, reversible step function jump in bimorph curvature. The measured jump amplitude and thermal response is consistent with theory.First author draf

Composite Structures that Change Shape in Response to Changes in Temperature

The present invention is a composite structure that changes shape as temperatures change. The composite structure utilizes a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is static and does not change shape by itself in response to changes in temperature. A supports structure is affixed to the flexible substrate. The support structure is made from bi-layer films that change shape in response to changes in temperature. The support structures are formed into complex shapes that are smaller than the flexible substrates they support. As a result, when the support structure are affixed to the flexible substrates, the support structures cause the flexible substrates to buckle, bend and twist as the support structures change shape with temperature. The support structures can be designed so as to cause the specific changes in the flexible substrate to as to mimic the natural blooming movements of a flower petal or leaf.Published versio

Credit card display system

A card-oriented transaction system (10) is provided with the capability of communicating with the card user. Specifically, the system is provided with a user card (11) having a surface region (13) capable of receiving an erasable visual image, a card reader (14) capable of detecting the card and writing on the display surface, and a data processor (16) adapted for providing information to be written on the display surface. In a preferred embodiment, the erasable visual display surface (13) is a plastic film embedding droplets of oil containing reflecting magnetic flakes. The film can be laminated onto the user card and reset by a magnetic field in the plane of the major surface. Writing can be effected by application of a magnetic field perpendicular to the surface.Published versio

Phase change composite bimorphs

A bilayer composite thin-film beam structure is described. The structure incorporates a bulk phase change material as small inclusions in one layer of a bimorph. The structure, also referred to as a “phase change composite bimorph” or “PCBM”, curls abruptly, and reversibly, at a phase transition temperature. Large curling and effective expansion coefficients are demonstrated. The PCBMs may be employed in various self-assembly mechanisms and actuators.Published versio

Headphone extension system

In an embodiment, a music playing and listening apparatus comprising at least one speaker, at least one audio input receiver, at least one audio output interface at least one amplifier, and at least one power source.Published versio

Headphone with in-axle cord connector

A headset including a headband having two end portions each coupled to a respective speaker housing. One or both of the end portions includes a cord connector or jack wherein an audio cord may be coupled. The cord connector is arranged on the headband in a manner such that movement a speaker housing coupled to the headband does not result in tangling of the audio cord.Published versio

Multi-mode listening apparatus

A headset apparatus including a headband having two end portions, each of the end portions comprising an angled hinge having two opposing ends. The apparatus further includes at least two speakers, each of the speakers rotatably attached to the two ends of the angled hinged to form two rotary joints, wherein rotation of the speaker about an axis of rotation between the two rotary joints transitions the apparatus between a first listening mode to a second listening mode.Published versio