Abstract: A directional position system for use in facilities having rooms, hallways, and other areas can include a plurality of portable units carried or worn by selected users in the facility; a plurality of stationary units mounted in each of a number of locations within the facility; and an administrative unit. At least one of the portable units can include at least one button for sending a signal, when pressed, for a type of emergency. At least one of the stationary units can include a display for indicating a direction to move during an emergency. The administrative unit can be configured to be monitored by security personnel and can be configured to receive any signal transmitted from any of the plurality of portable units or any of the plurality of stationary units. The plurality of portable units, the plurality of stationary units, and the administrative unit can form a mesh network.

Abstract: Functional jewelry is disclosed. A bracelet includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a main control unit, and positional and situational sensors, typically including an accelerometer, as well as a decorative, interchangeable fascial layer. The bracelet may also include sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, a microphone, and a color sensor. A radio transceiver within the bracelet is adapted to implement a protocol such as BLUETOOTH® 4.0, and is adapted to allow the bracelet to communicate in peer-to-peer or master-slave mode. Two users can pair their bracelets in person, usually with a gestural trigger, for shared light displays, multi-player games, and other types of interactions. Larger groups can pair temporarily and contextually for multi-user displays and interactions, in an ad hoc network with distributed functions. Real-world interactions are communicated to a social network with profiles linked to the individual bracelets.

Abstract: Functional jewelry is disclosed. A bracelet includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a main control unit, and positional and situational sensors, typically including an accelerometer, as well as a decorative, interchangeable fascial layer. The bracelet may also include sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, a microphone, and a color sensor. A radio transceiver within the bracelet is adapted to implement a protocol such as BLUETOOTH® 4.0, and is adapted to allow the bracelet to communicate in peer-to-peer or master-slave mode. Two users can pair their bracelets in person, usually with a gestural trigger, for shared light displays, multi-player games, and other types of interactions. Larger groups can pair temporarily and contextually for multi-user displays and interactions, in an ad hoc network with distributed functions. Real-world interactions are communicated to a social network with profiles linked to the individual bracelets.

Abstract: Functional jewelry is disclosed. A bracelet includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a main control unit, and positional and situational sensors, typically including an accelerometer, as well as a decorative, interchangeable fascial layer. The bracelet may also include sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, a microphone, and a color sensor. A radio transceiver within the bracelet is adapted to implement a protocol such as BLUETOOTH® 4.0, and is adapted to allow the bracelet to communicate in peer-to-peer or master-slave mode. Two users can pair their bracelets in person, usually with a gestural trigger, for shared light displays, multi-player games, and other types of interactions. Larger groups can pair temporarily and contextually for multi-user displays and interactions, in an ad hoc network with distributed functions. Real-world interactions are communicated to a social network with profiles linked to the individual bracelets.

Abstract: Functional jewelry is disclosed. A bracelet includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), a main control unit, and positional and situational sensors, typically including an accelerometer, as well as a decorative, interchangeable fascial layer. The bracelet may also include sensors such as capacitive touch sensors, a microphone, and a color sensor. A radio transceiver within the bracelet is adapted to implement a protocol such as BLUETOOTH® 4.0, and is adapted to allow the bracelet to communicate in peer-to-peer or master-slave mode. Two users can pair their bracelets in person, usually with a gestural trigger, for shared light displays, multi-player games, and other types of interactions. Larger groups can pair temporarily and contextually for multi-user displays and interactions, in an ad hoc network with distributed functions. Real-world interactions are communicated to a social network with profiles linked to the individual bracelets.

Abstract: A portable closet (10) with an interior (26) that can be used as a separable tote bag is disclosed. The portable closet is a clamshell-type piece of luggage with wheels (18) and an extendable and retractable handle (68). The interior of the piece of luggage includes at least one fold-down shelf (28, 30), and may include several fold-down shelves, as well as conventional pockets and closable compartments. The interior is connected to the piece of luggage such that it can be removed, folded, and configured as a tote bag. While connected, the interior may be moved aside to permit access to an undivided additional storage compartment behind or beneath it.

Abstract: Luggage with crushable, resilient portions and methods for making it are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cover of a piece of luggage is formed of a thermoplastic urethane (TPU) and has sufficient deformability so that it may be crushed and inverted into itself for storage and then resiliently returned to essentially the same shape. The luggage is preferably made by a process of vacuum forming a heated TPU sheet over a mold.

Abstract: A reconfigurable bag is disclosed. The reconfigurable bag has a center expanding section and two bottom expanding sections, all of which may be moved between stored and open configurations. Opening one or more of the expanding sections changes the shape and configuration of the bag.

Abstract: A portable closet (10) with an interior (26) that can be used as a separable tote bag is disclosed. The portable closet is a clamshell-type piece of luggage with wheels (18) and an extendable and retractable handle (68). The interior of the piece of luggage includes at least one fold-down shelf (28, 30), and may include several fold-down shelves, as well as conventional pockets and closable compartments. The interior is connected to the piece of luggage such that it can be removed, folded, and configured as a tote bag. While connected, the interior may be moved aside to permit access to an undivided additional storage compartment behind or beneath it.

Abstract: A reconfigurable bag is disclosed. The reconfigurable bag has a center expanding section and two bottom expanding sections, all of which may be moved between stored and open configurations. Opening one or more of the expanding sections changes the shape and configuration of the bag.

Abstract: Luggage with crushable, resilient portions and methods for making it are disclosed. In one embodiment, the cover of a piece of luggage is formed of a thermoplastic urethane (TPU) and has sufficient deformability so that it may be crushed and inverted into itself for storage and then resiliently returned to essentially the same shape. The luggage is preferably made by a process of vacuum forming a heated TPU sheet over a mold.

Abstract: A collapsible piece of luggage is disclosed. The piece of luggage may have wheels and an extendable and retractable handle. The sidewall, bottom and cover of the luggage have sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape and may be folded into a storage configuration in which the piece of luggage is smaller in width and depth. Additionally, the luggage includes an expansion feature that allows the luggage cover to expand outward pyramidally so as to increase the storage volume of the luggage.

Abstract: A collapsible piece of luggage is disclosed. The piece of luggage may have wheels and an extendable and retractable handle. The sidewall, bottom and cover of the luggage have sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape and may be folded into a storage configuration in which the piece of luggage is smaller in width and depth. Additionally, the luggage includes an expansion feature that allows the luggage cover to expand outward pyramidally so as to increase the storage volume of the luggage.

Abstract: A collapsible piece of luggage is disclosed. The piece of luggage may have wheels and an extendable and retractable handle. The sidewall, bottom and cover of the luggage have sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape and may be folded into a storage configuration in which the piece of luggage is smaller in width and depth. Additionally, the luggage includes an expansion feature that allows the luggage cover to expand outward pyramidally so as to increase the storage volume of the luggage.

Abstract: A collapsible piece of luggage is disclosed. The piece of luggage may have wheels and an extendable and retractable handle. The sidewall, bottom and cover of the luggage have sufficient rigidity to hold their own shape and may be folded into a storage configuration in which the piece of luggage is smaller in width and depth. Additionally, the luggage includes an expansion feature that allows the luggage cover to expand outward pyramidally so as to increase the storage volume of the luggage.