Columbia Insurance Company Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150305434 | Shoe with Divided Ground Contact Surfaces - The invention relates to a shoe and method for making a shoe with divided ground contact surfaces including a toe area covered in part by a toe material; the toe material for contacting a ground; a heel area covered in part by a heel material; wherein the heel material is for contacting the ground. The shoe also has a flex member between the toe and heel areas; the flex member extends both in lateral and longitudinal directions for spreading the toe and heel materials toward a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and the toe and heel materials; and wherein the flex member is contoured for facilitating flexing of the shoe. | 10-29-2015 |
20150112030 | Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Compositions, Fibers and Articles Produced Therefrom, and Methods For Producing Same - In one aspect, the invention relates to recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions, fibers and articles produced therefrom, and methods for producing same. In a further aspect, the invention relates to homogenized post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to extruded polymer compositions, polymer mixtures, fibers, and/or Bulked Continuous Filament fibers comprising post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to processes for preparing recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. | 04-23-2015 |
20150110994 | Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Compositions, Fibers and Articles Produced Therefrom, and Methods For Producing Same - In one aspect, the invention relates to recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions, fibers and articles produced therefrom, and methods for producing same. In a further aspect, the invention relates to homogenized post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to extruded polymer compositions, polymer mixtures, fibers, and/or Bulked Continuous Filament fibers comprising post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to processes for preparing recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. | 04-23-2015 |
20150075107 | BRACED TRUSS FRAME AND FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM - A bracing panel for constructing a truss frame having spaced trusses includes first and second engagement members having outer faces extending parallel to each other. A plurality of spacing members are attached to the first and second engagement members. The plurality of spacing members are configured and dimensioned to maintain the outer faces of the first and second engagement members parallel and spaced by a distance equal to a predetermined truss spacing. A bracing member extends between the first and second engagement members and laterally with respect to the spacing members for providing lateral support to the spacing members. | 03-19-2015 |
20140325877 | Footwear Kit with Adjustable Foreparts - A footwear kit suitable for producing a pair of customized bowling shoes with appropriate sliding sole and a traction sole for right and left handed bowlers and optimizable for a variety of lane conditions is provided. A distal margin on the shoe matches a margin on a removable forepart to provide rapid alignment and orientation of the ground contact surface area of the forepart to the shoe. Foreparts provided are adjustable for use on either a left or right shoe. | 11-06-2014 |
20140310060 | Method and System for Indicating Customer Information - The invention relates to a method and system for indicating customer information having a computer; software executing on the computer for assigning each customer of a plurality of customers a unique customer identifier; software executing on the computer for retrieving product identifiers; software executing on the computer for determining a recent product purchase score, a frequency score, a monetary score, for each customer and each product; software executing on the computer for calculating an overall score for each customer based on criteria selected from the group consisting of a recent product purchase score, a frequency score, a monetary score, and combinations thereof; and software executing on the computer for identifying preferred customers based on the overall score. The invention also includes software for recalculating the scores based on new user submitted products and new customer transactions, and software for automatically providing promotions to preferred customers based on the overall scores. | 10-16-2014 |
20140267367 | Expert Color System for Color Selection with Color Harmony and Color Emotion Intelligence - An expert color selection system that assists the user in selecting color combinations is disclosed. The expert system suggests combinations of colors that are harmonious with each other. The user may tune the level of harmony in the combination. The user may also select a color emotion for the color combination and set the emotion threshold. The suggested color combination can be used as interior or exterior paints and for color merchandise. | 09-18-2014 |
20140235752 | Self-Coalescing Latex - The present invention relates to self-coalescing latexes that incorporate film fat ing polymers that are low molecular weight polymers that are compatible with the latex and act as thin plasticizers penetrating through the remainder of the latex particle and aiding in the coalescence of the remaining polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the self-coalescing latex is a sequentially polymerized polymer having at least a core, a shell and a skin. The film forming polymers are formed of monomers substantially the same as the monomers of the shell but having average weighted molecular weights substantially less than the polymers of the shell. The present invention also relates to the method of polymerizing the self-coalescing latex of the current invention, which largely results from the addition of a substantial amount of chain transfer agent to a remaining portion, about 15% or less, of the monomer pre-emulsion prior to polymerization. Lastly, the invention relates to paint compositions incorporating the self-coalescing latexes that are substantially free of coalescing agents or aids. | 08-21-2014 |
20140179839 | Environmentally Friendly Colorant Compositions and Latex Paints/Coatings - The invention relates to colorant compositions, and aqueous latex paints or other water-borne coatings made from them, which have a mitigated environmental impact. Levels of solvents, additives and impurities comprising volatile non-aqueous constituents, alkylphenol ethoxylates (and derivatives thereof), crystalline silica, and/or formaldehyde are decreased relative to those typical of preceding generations of colorants and tinted aqueous latex paints and other water-borne coatings. On the other hand, paint-performance as indicated by any of Stormer viscosity stabilization, rheological profile flow/leveling and sag resistance, water sensitivity and color transfer resistance is comparable to a paint in which the aforementioned solvents, additives and impurities are still present. | 06-26-2014 |
20140171585 | Grafted Pigment Dispersing Polymeric Additive and Paint Employing the Same with Improved Hiding - The present invention relates to a grafted pigment dispersing polymeric additive for opacifying pigments, prepared by polymerizing monomers in the presence of a polymeric pigment dispersant. The polymeric pigment dispersant has low molecular weight, high acid number and is dissolvable in alkali solution. When incorporated into paint compositions, hiding is improved with less opacifying pigments. | 06-19-2014 |
20140007794 | Universal VOC-Free Metallic/Pearlescent Colorants - The present invention relates to a universal metallic/pearlescent colorant composition that is free of VOCs including alkylphenol ethoxylate (APE) and formaldehyde. The colorant composition comprises substantially no resin and comprises microcrystalline cellulose and optionally a synthetic silicate to disperse the metallic pigments. | 01-09-2014 |
20130247421 | Interchangeable Foreparts for Shoes - The invention relates to a footwear kit and method of providing a footwear kit comprising a forepart that can be removably attached to both a left shoe and a right shoe, in which the shoes are substantially asymmetric about a line running from the front to the back of the shoe, and in which the periphery of the forepart substantially matches the periphery of the toe region of both the left shoe and the right shoe. | 09-26-2013 |
20130216691 | Cooking Apparatus With Detachable Support And Method For Using The Same - A cooking apparatus including a pan and a detachable support and a method for using the same to cook and flavor food are provided. The pan includes a bottom and a plurality of perforations arranged therein. The detachable cylinder includes a bottom surface, a generally circular sidewall extending upward from the bottom surface, and a plurality of fasteners formed on the bottom surface. The plurality of fasteners are sized and arranged to correspond with a sizing and arrangement of a subset of the perforations. The detachable cylinder is optionally secured to the pan by coupling the fasteners to the subset of perforations and by rotating the detachable cylinder in a first direction to move the fasteners into a locked position. The detachable cylinder is optionally disengaged from the pan by rotating the detachable cylinder in a second direction to move the fasteners into an unlocked position. | 08-22-2013 |
20130155488 | System Producing True Colors Using a Digital Micromirror Device Projector and Method for Controlling Same - The present invention is directed to a method of utilizing a digital micromirror device (DMD) to spectrally matching a standard or device-independent color. DMD can be fitted on an integrated chip and can provide more than one thousand (1,000) color primary channels for low metameric color matching producing a spectrally matched batch color. This represents a two orders of magnitude improvement in color matching. | 06-20-2013 |
20120203668 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALLOWING A USER TO INTERACT WITH THE INVENTORY OF A RETAIL LOCATION - The invention relates to a system allowing a customer in a retail location to interact with the inventory of said retail location, as well as a method of using said system. The system allows for searching, sorting, and viewing the inventory information through a user device, as well as requesting, purchasing, and reserving products for sale by said retail location. | 08-09-2012 |
20120165428 | Polymer for Extending the Open Time of Waterborne Architectural Coatings - The present invention relates to water soluble open time extenders, which are mixed with an architectural coating, such as aqueous latex paints, to increase the coating's open time and crosslink to the architectural coating upon drying. The open time extender comprises neutralized water soluble polymers with hydrophobic, hydrophilic and cross-linkable monomers, and at least one crosslinking agent. The open time extender also comprises water and the total solid content of the open time extender is less than about 25% by weight. | 06-28-2012 |
20120142847 | AQUEOUS CROSS-LINKING COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS - Water-borne cross-linking polymeric compositions and related embodiments, such as methods of making and using the compositions, as well as products formed with said compositions are described. For example, the water-borne composition may comprise polymers incorporating cross-linking functionality such as, but not limited to, carbonyl or epoxy functionality, and a blocked cross-linking agent, for example, a hydrazone. The cross-linking functionality does not react with the blocked cross-linking agent; however, the blocked cross-linking agent is capable of reacting with the alternative form cross-linking agent such as, but not limited to, a hydrazide, to yield a cross-linked polymer. The alternative form cross-linking agent may be formed in an equilibrium reaction including the blocked cross-linking agent. | 06-07-2012 |
20110273468 | Color Management Method for Color Representation with Self-Luminous Color Primaries - The present invention relates to a unique color management method for calibrating and characterizing a light mixing system comprising a set of primary light modules emitting self-luminous color primaries, which may be intimately mixed to produce a batch color that matches a standard color. The radiant output of each self-luminous color primary, or channel, is modulated by a setting a light controller to a Digital-to-Analog-Conversion (“DAC”) value. In the event that the radiant output of the color primary channels is non-linearly proportioned to the DAC input values, it is useful to employ an innovative “iterative best-fit” method of simultaneously calculating admixtures of light from all color primaries that match a standard color. Otherwise, a matrix method based on matrix algebra may also be used to create a batch color that matches a standard color. A best fit tristimulus value method or best fit minimum RMSD can be used in conjunction with these spectral color matching methods. In addition, an optical feedback method may be used to correct systematic drift of the individual color primary channels. | 11-10-2011 |
20110259897 | Food Server Assembly - A device for storing food and displaying food for service includes a base with a side wall extending upwardly from the base and a puck assembly removably disposed therein. The puck assembly has a generally flat plate surface on one side and a functional surface with a plurality of food receptacles formed thereon on the opposite side, a sealed cavity disposed between the plate surface and the functional surface, and a cooling substance disposed in the sealed cavity. A food tray is disposed proximate the puck assembly, and a lid shaped to alternatively fit on the top surface of the wall of the base and to fit on the external surface of the bottom of the base such that the base can nest in the lid. The device provides a multitude of optional arrangements of these elements to provide maximum flexibility to the user. | 10-27-2011 |
20110239874 | DRIVE SYSTEM - A drive unit that is movable between an unfired and a fired position. The drive unit comprises a handle member, a first drive gear having a first axis of rotation, and a second drive gear, engaged to the first drive gear at a mesh point, and having a second axis of rotation. The mesh point moves with respect to the axes of rotation as the handle member moves from the unfired position to the fired position. The drive unit drives an implement only when it is moved from the unfired position to the fired position. | 10-06-2011 |
20110112223 | Environmentally Friendly Colorant Compositions and Latex Paints/Coatings - The invention relates to colorant compositions, and aqueous latex paints or other water-borne coatings made from them, which have a mitigated environmental impact. Levels of solvents, additives and impurities comprising volatile non-aqueous constituents, alkylphenol ethoxylates (and derivatives thereof), crystalline silica, and/or formaldehyde are decreased relative to those typical of preceding generations of colorants and tinted aqueous latex paints and other water-borne coatings. On the other hand, paint-performance as indicated by any of Stormer viscosity stabilization, rheological profile flow/leveling and sag resistance, water sensitivity and color transfer resistance is comparable to a paint in which the aforementioned solvents, additives and impurities are still present. | 05-12-2011 |
20100228511 | Method for managing metamerism of color merchandise - The present invention relates to a method for minimizing the effects of metamerism between a set of color standards (e.g., nitrocellulose lacquers) and inkjet printed color merchandise (e.g., paint chips) under a plurality of illuminants, including a balanced illuminant that emulates lighting conditions between cool (6500 K) and warm (2856 K) color temperatures. For each color standard, one selects an ink combination that best produces color merchandise having a minimal degree of metamerism. Innovatively, a combination of instrumental and visual tests is used to evaluate color difference for a set of color standards-color merchandise pairs under a plurality of illuminants. If a color standard-color merchandise pair fails either test then the ink combination may be adjusted. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225935 | Apparatus and method for dispensing color Merchandise - A methodology and apparatus provide the customers and other decision makers the ability to make decisions, such as purchase decisions and other selections, based solely on non-verbal and non-textual, non-symbolic or non-hieroglyphic prints on a substrate. | 09-09-2010 |
20090076786 | Method for Representing True Colors with Device-Dependent Colors on Surfaces and for Producing Paints and Coatings Matching the True Colors - A method for selecting paints is disclosed. This method includes the steps of selecting true paint colors, displaying device-dependent colors corresponding to the true paint colors in a simulated full size room and interacting with the buyers to change the displayed colors and select the desired colors. The method also includes the step of dispensing paints corresponding to the selected colors. The displayed colors are generated by multiple color and/or white LEDs to provide a wider gamut of displayable colors and more color saturation and chromatic. A full-size apparatus for displaying paint colors using device-dependent colors is also disclosed. | 03-19-2009 |
20090056561 | Combination Breading Tongs And Dipping Tool - A kitchen utensil includes a handle having a dipping utensil at one end and a gripping surface at a second end thereof. The dipping utensil includes a frame member defining an opening. A tong member is engaged to the handle and is rotatable with respect to the handle between open and closed positions. The tong includes an actuation lever at one end and a gripping surface on a second end, whereby the gripping surfaces of the handle and tong may cooperate to hold an item placed therebetween. | 03-05-2009 |
20080232101 | System for Representing True Colors with Device-Dependent Colors on Surfaces and for Producing Paints and Coatings Matching the True Colors - An apparatus for displaying paint colors using device-dependent colors is disclosed. The apparatus has a wall portion sized and dimensioned to be substantially similar to a full size wall, and the device-dependent colors have color coordinates that are substantially similar to the color coordinates of paint colors. Lights displaying the device-dependent colors are diffused before illuminating the wall portion. A method for selecting paints using device-dependent colors is also disclosed. | 09-25-2008 |