Patents Assigned to Columbia Insurance Company
  • Patent number: 11965782
    Abstract: Described herein is a process for correcting an observed color difference between a color at a first gloss and the color at a second gloss different than the first gloss, said process comprising the steps of: (a) determining a first correction caused by a lightness (Y-value) of the color a first gloss; (b) determining a second correction caused by an inclusion of a first surface diffusion in gloss readings; (c) based on the first and second corrections, determining a specular correction caused by a difference in specular reflections from the color at the first gloss and the color at the second gloss; (d) determining tristimulus corrections based on the specular correction; (e) preparing corrected tristimulus values of the color at a second gloss; and (f) producing a paint composition for the color at the second gloss using the corrected tristimulus values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Tomsia, Hugh S. Fairman, Christopher Sanders
  • Patent number: 11937053
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for performing a series of acoustic tests in a variety of testing environments comprising several types of construction assemblies. Prior to performing each acoustic test, a plurality of audio parameters corresponding to a given construction assembly can be used to configure an electronic device that captures audio produced by the acoustic test with a microphone and stores the captured audio as a computer sound file. Further, an acoustic testing device can be used during the acoustic test to gather data indicative of a result of the acoustic test. The result can then be mapped, along with information related to the given construction assembly, to the computer sound file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Woodall, Julie B. Brumbelow, Barrett R. Morton, David Wayland Dong, John Loverde
  • Patent number: 11920339
    Abstract: A hanger for connecting a structural component to a wall that can have sheathing mounted thereon either before or after the hanger is connected to the wall. The hanger includes a channel-shaped portion configured to receive the structural component. An extension portion extends from the channel-shaped portion and is configured to extend through the sheathing to engage the wall at a first location. A connection portion is configured for attachment to the wall at a second location spaced from the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven Brekke, Mark R Rolf
  • Patent number: 11919278
    Abstract: Described is a method of making a densified fiber batt that includes the steps of: a) providing a fiber batt with a first plurality of fibers having a first melting point and a second plurality of fibers having a second melting point different from the first melting point; and b) subjecting the fiber batt to heat and pressure in a static press, thereby forming a densified fiber batt having a first surface and an opposed second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: James Burns, Tom Odum, Jay Vecsey, Jean Briere, Derek Bass
  • Patent number: 11905135
    Abstract: A heat setting apparatus feeding assembly can comprise a yarn package rack having a first side and an opposing second side. A plurality of yarn package engagement elements can be positioned on each of the first side and the second side of the yarn package rack. The yarn package rack can be configured to rotate about a pivotal axis to orient one of the first side or the second side toward a yarn package loading area and to orient the other of the first side and the second side toward a feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Larry B. Sims
  • Patent number: 11905652
    Abstract: Disclosed is composite comprising four layers, two of the layers is a polymer film and two of the layers are non-woven materials, that is suitable for use as a primary backing material and/or a secondary backing material in the manufacture of textile carpet compositions. Also disclosed is a method for making the disclosed composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Kam C. Lui
  • Patent number: 11898050
    Abstract: Solutions to the problems of scuffing and chipping of the paint films in high traffic areas and in tight spaces, such as dressing rooms in department stores, where multiple scrapings of the wall paints are created by consumers, clothes hangers, shoes, etc., and hallways and conference rooms in office and other commercial buildings are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Kevin Lee, Thomas Penny, Jonathan Dugan
  • Patent number: 11892417
    Abstract: Automatic detection of mechanical defects in piece parts, such as floor covering planks, enables removal of the defective parts off an inspection path. A bypass conveyor system enables defective parts to be transported beyond or around a manual inspection, enabling personnel performing the subsequent inspection to focus on appearance defects. Once the remaining parts have been inspected by a manual process, the parts transported by the bypass conveyor system are returned to the production line. Defective parts may be distinguished by a marking capability that provides the ability to mark according to a variety of classes of defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Glassell, Chad Christman, Alex Epstein
  • Patent number: 11885077
    Abstract: A playing surface assembly that defines at least a portion of a playing surface. The playing surface assembly has a backing, a plurality of reinforcement elements secured to and extending upwardly from the backing, and an infill material defining a top surface of the playing surface assembly. Each reinforcement element has a top end and a reveal distance corresponding to a vertical spacing between the top surface of the playing surface assembly and the top end of the reinforcement element. The reveal distance of each reinforcement element is less than 0.5 inches. In use, the reinforcement elements restrict lateral and vertical migration of the infill material, and the infill material is the primary source of performance characteristics of the playing surface assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Philipe Aldahir, Cab Bramlett
  • Patent number: 11865561
    Abstract: A spray system and method for selectively applying fluids onto workpieces traveling on a conveyor. A support frame proximate the conveyor supports plural platforms sequentially arranged in the direction of workpiece travel on the conveyor, each platform being above and extending across the conveyor width. Plural carriers are sequentially disposed on each platform across the conveyor width. Each carrier has a nozzle module connected to a source of fluid, a lateral drive enabling bi-directional movement of the carrier across the respective platform and a swing drive for rotating the nozzle module about a swing axis orthogonal to the direction of workpiece travel. A programmable controller coordinates the lateral and rotational orientation of nozzle modules of each carrier and the flow of fluid through the respective nozzle modules to achieve a desired pattern of fluid application onto workpieces traveling on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard Glassell, Roman Morris, Caleb Barton Everett, Jason Shaw
  • Patent number: 11851796
    Abstract: A carpet product including a primary backing layer and a plurality of yarn tufts. The plurality of yarn tufts are tufted in and extend upwardly from a top surface of the primary backing layer to form a tufted carpet product. The carpet product has an inner portion and a peripheral portion surrounding at least a portion of the inner portion and extending along at least one of the edges of the primary backing layer. The plurality of yarn tufts include a plurality of peripheral yarn tufts positioned within the peripheral portion of the tufted carpet product. A portion of the peripheral yarn tufts are anchored to other peripheral yarn tufts. At least a portion of each anchored peripheral yarn tuft is entangled with one or more of the other peripheral yarn tufts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Tom Odum
  • Patent number: 11852579
    Abstract: An apparatus can comprise a basin that is configured to hold water. A heating source can be configured to heat the water in the basin to a temperature within a select range. A water-permeable substrate can extend across an upper surface of the basin, the water-permeable substrate simulating a subfloor (or other material upon which a covering material is positioned). Samples can be placed on the water-permeable substrate for a select duration to determine effects of moisture exposure from underneath, e.g., the subfloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Jordan Deurloo, Anthony Drevet, Chris Burns
  • Patent number: 11828011
    Abstract: A shifter adjustment assembly can be configured to couple to a shifter of a tufting apparatus, the shifter having first, second, third, and fourth shaft segments. The shifter adjustment assembly comprises a first body that is configured to couple to respective first ends of the first and third shaft segments. A second body is configured to couple to respective first ends of the second and fourth shaft segments. The shifter assembly comprises a coupling between the first body and the second body. The coupling is configured to releasably secure an axial position of the first body with respect to the second body along the longitudinal dimension. The first body and second body define respective complementary surfaces that are configured for sliding engagement so that movement between the first body and the second body in the transverse dimension is restricted and movement between the first body and the second body in the longitudinal dimension is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Paul Pittman, Terry Honeycutt, Michael Runyon, Dusty Jones, David Voyles
  • Patent number: 11821199
    Abstract: A girder tie for connecting a building component to a rigid rod to resist uplift forces applied to the building component comprises a connector including a building component connector and a rigid rod connector coupled to the building component connector. The rigid rod connector attaches to the rigid rod. The building component connector includes first and second back flanges free of direct connection to one another. The first and second back flanges can each be attached to the building component. A washer is disposed between the rigid rod connector and a nut on the rigid rod that secures the rigid rod to the girder tie. The washer includes at least one back flange brace to inhibit the first and second back flanges from moving relative to one another when the building component experiences the uplift forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Steven Brekke
  • Patent number: 11821149
    Abstract: Implementations herein describe an artificial turf having a backing layer and a plurality of rows of individual tufts tufted into the backing layer. Each tuft comprises at least three yarns per tuft and each one of the at least three yarns varies in at least one of material, color, texture, denier and cross-section. Each row of individual tufts is substantially similar to each adjacent tufted row and adjacent tufts on a given row are spaced apart at a predetermined gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventors: Gregory D. Fowler, Phil Stricklen, Lisa Porter
  • Patent number: 11803587
    Abstract: In an aspect, provided are methods, systems, and apparatuses comprising receiving a query specifying one or more materials of a floor/ceiling assembly and/or a classification or result, determining one or more media files responsive to the query, and providing the one or more media files for playback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Woodall, Julie B. Brumbelow, Barrett R. Morton, Alan Buttenhoff, Robert Blane Haywood, David Pearson
  • Patent number: 11794459
    Abstract: The disclosed panels generally comprise a protective layer composed of a paper impregnated with a melamine resin. The protective layer may be incorporated into a panel comprising a rigid composite core, such as a plastic composite core or a mineral composite core. Disclosed are also methods for manufacturing the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Anthony Drevet, Philippe Erramuzpe, Shawn Liao, Felix Herrera
  • Publication number: 20230330980
    Abstract: The disclosed panels generally comprise a protective layer composed of a paper impregnated with a melamine resin. The protective layer may be incorporated into a panel comprising a rigid composite core, such as a plastic composite core or a mineral composite core. Disclosed are also methods for manufacturing the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventors: Anthony Drevet, Philippe Erramuzpe, Shawn Liao, Felix Herrera
  • Patent number: D1005661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Columbia Insurance Company
    Inventor: Thomas McClaskie
  • Patent number: D1014054
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: COLUMBIA INSURANCE COMPANY
    Inventor: Jonathan K. Lebo