Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle, the wheel having a mount configured to mount the wheel to a hub of the vehicle; a colored substrate; and a contoured reflective surface that is contoured to reflect coloring of the colored substrate out of the wheel, thereby appearing to alter coloring of the reflective surface.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate—nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle, which includes a mount configured to mount the wheel to a hub of the vehicle; a colored surface that is hidden from direct view from an outside environment when the wheel is mounted to the hub; and a contoured reflective surface optically aligned to reflect the colored surface into view of the outside environment when the wheel is mounted, thereby appearing to alter a color of the reflective surface.

Abstract: A Near Field Communication (NFC) payment system is provided for interacting with a NFC customer device enabled with a NFC scanning capability. The NFC payment system includes a NFC-scannable user-worn payment ring configured to perform a terminal-less payment transaction between itself and the NFC customer device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate - nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate-nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: A reel seat for use with a fishing rod, the reel seat including a hollow body; a receiving member shaped to receive a foot of a fishing reel; an adjusting mechanism positioned within the hollow body, the adjusting mechanism configured to move the receiving member longitudinally to capture and release the fishing reel; and an actuator that actuates the adjusting mechanism, wherein the actuator is positioned outside of the hollow body.

Abstract: A manual override assembly for a hydraulic power source operates to override an actuator of a hydraulic power source. The assembly includes a lever arm and connecting rods. The lever arm pivotally moves relative to a valve body of the hydraulic power source. The lever arm is connected to valve spools via the connecting rods, respectively. Each spool has a bore with an off-set opening for inserting one end of the connecting rod.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and systems are provided for performing Near Field Communication (NFC) communication with a first NFC device that includes a NFC writable component and an operating system that restricts writing to the NFC writable component and allows reading NDEF messages from a source other than the NFC writable component. A method includes receiving, by a remote server, a serial number of the NFC writable component. The method further includes generating, by the remote server, a unique ID based on the serial number. The method also includes storing, by the remote server, the unique ID with a name of the NFC writable component. The method additionally includes preparing and sending, by the remote server, a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message to the NFC device that includes the unique ID together with information to be shared with a user of the NFC device.

Abstract: A wheel for a vehicle, which includes a mount configured to mount the wheel to a hub of the vehicle; a colored surface that is hidden from direct view from an outside environment when the wheel is mounted to the hub; and a contoured reflective surface optically aligned to reflect the colored surface into view of the outside environment when the wheel is mounted, thereby appearing to alter a color of the reflective surface.

Abstract: Methods for sharing and transferring music files using near field communication (NFC), which include receiving an NFC ID from an NFC chip using an NFC enabled device, authenticating the received NFC ID with a server system using the NFC enabled device, and upon authentication, permitting the NFC enabled device to temporarily stream or purchase music files.

Abstract: A Near Field Communication (NFC) payment system is provided for interacting with a NFC customer device enabled with a NFC scanning capability. The NFC payment system includes a NFC-scannable user-worn payment ring configured to perform a terminal-less payment transaction between itself and the NFC customer device.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate-nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for continuously densifying at least one nanofiber sheet using heat and an applied force that can include both compressive and tensile components. Nanofiber sheets densified using these techniques have a more uniform and more highly aligned microstructure than nanofiber sheets densified using a solvent alone. As a result, the nanofiber sheets of the present disclosure have, for example, higher tensile strength and better electrical conductivity than nanofiber sheets densified using other techniques.

Abstract: A nanofiber forest that includes a pattern or shape can be transferred to a substrate. The nanofiber forest can be configured to have any perimeter and/or internal shape or pattern using a stencil technique and/or using an engraving technique. This pattern can be transferred as a “negative image” of a corresponding pattern in a stencil or as a “positive image” by engraving the pattern directly into the nanofiber forest. For either type of pattern formation, the patterned nanofiber forest is transferred by applying a substrate to the pattern or to a nanofiber forest covered by a patterned stencil. Pressure is then applied causing the exposed surface of the nanofiber forest or pattern of nanofiber forest to adhere to the substrate.

Abstract: Techniques are described for transferring nanofiber forests using transfer films that either lack a conventional adhesive at the substrate—nanofiber forest interface or that include a diffusion barrier that prevents diffusion of adhesive molecules (or other polymer molecules mobile at ambient temperatures) into the nanofiber forest. These techniques can be applied to single layer nanofiber forests or stacks of multiple nanofiber forest. By selecting the bond strength between the nanofiber forest and the transfer films, the nanofibers can be aligned in a common direction that includes, but is not limited to, perpendicular to a substrate or transfer film.

Abstract: Article of jewelry that reversibly transitions between two different ornamentations by way of a plurality of solid strands, each strand formed from a two-way shape memory alloy trained to reversibly transition between two set positions in response to two different temperatures, where the strands are anchored from shape memory movement at a proximal end and connected to distal elements at a distal end, thereby directing shape memory movement of the distal elements in response to the two different temperatures.

Abstract: A jewelry head for mounting a precious or semi-precious gem to an article of jewelry, the jewelry head having a ferrimagnetic body with an inner cavity configured to accept a precious or semi-precious gem; and a near field communication circuit having a near field communication chip electrically connected to an antenna, where the antenna is wrapped around and against the ferrimagnetic body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of jewelry with a druzy or geode effect, the method including: forming an adhesion mixture by mixing metal particles with a silica, shell, and/or clay with polymer, optionally in a liquid to form an adhesion paste; applying the adhesion mixture to an article of jewelry; applying a plurality of gemstones to the applied adhesion mixture to form a gemstone layer; melting the adhesion mixture without significantly melting the article of jewelry; and cooling the adhesion mixture to bond the gemstone layer to the article of jewelry.

Abstract: A nanofiber forest is described that has been processed to increase a number of nanofibers per unit area (referred to as “areal density” or, equivalently, “density”) compared to the nanofiber forest in its as-synthesized state. This increase in areal density is accomplished by physically manipulating a deformable substrate on which the nanofiber forest is disposed. At a high level, this physical manipulation begins by transferring the nanofiber forest from a growth substrate to a deformable substrate. A surface area of the deformable substrate is reduced relative to a surface area of the substrate when the nanofiber forest was attached. This reduction in area causes the nanofibers in the forest to move closer to one another, thus increasing the number of nanofibers per unit area.