Columbia Insurance Company

Utilization of knitted components, often with multi-layer structures or integrated thermoplastic yarns, and other advanced materials like specialized foams or structural color elements, for footwear uppers and other components.

Polymer compositions incorporating inorganic or organic filler materials to impart specific functional properties such as thermal conductivity, flame retardancy, electrical conductivity, or enhanced mechanical strength and dimensional stability.

Multi-layered materials incorporating fiber layers (e.g., carbon, non-carbon, fabric, mesh) within a polymer or ceramic matrix to achieve enhanced mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, impact resistance, or tailored hardness for demanding structural applications.

Apparatus and methods for automatically winding or unwinding continuous materials such as webs, cables, conduits, or yarns onto or from spools, reels, or bobbins, including aspects like layering, coreless winding, and material supply.

Footwear systems designed with interchangeable or reconfigurable components, such as soles, uppers, or footbeds, to allow for customization, repair, or adaptation to different uses.

Methods and systems for uniquely identifying individual units of material (e.g., yarn spindles, winding spools, bobbins) and monitoring their performance or status within a material handling process, often using sensors and coding.

Development and application of polymer compositions designed for reprocessability, recyclability, or incorporating sustainable additives, often featuring reversible bonds or bio-based components.

Novel formulations and mechanisms for initiating or controlling the polymerization and cross-linking of adhesives, including dual-curing systems, radical polymerization, and partial curing for tailored material properties.

Novel mechanisms for securing footwear to the foot, moving beyond traditional laces to include reel-based cables, vacuum-actuated bladders, or integrated frames for enhanced fit and ease of use.

Systems that employ imaging and image processing to automatically detect defects, verify states, or ensure quality control in manufactured goods, printed materials, or industrial processes.

Engineering of footwear sole components, including midsoles, outsoles, and integrated plates or shanks, to optimize cushioning, stability, energy return, and biomechanical support for specific activities.

Additives or compositions specifically formulated for surface application or modification to impart protective, decorative, or specialized functional properties to polymer products.

Polymer compositions engineered for enhanced heat resistance, thermal stability in molten states, or improved processability at high temperatures, often involving specific copolymers, blends, or stabilizing additives for applications in electronics or automotive.

Development and application of textile materials with engineered properties such as waterproofing, thermal regulation, anti-cling, structural coloration, or enhanced filtration capabilities for specific performance needs.

Design and material solutions for enhancing a building's ability to withstand seismic activity or other external loads, often involving energy dissipation mechanisms, specialized connectors, or reinforced structural elements.

Systems that perform operations like cutting, folding, binding, or applying liquids to sheets or webs, often integrated within larger production lines such as printing or image forming apparatuses.

Systems and methods for precisely measuring, monitoring, and regulating the longitudinal tension in continuous webs of material during roll-to-roll processes to prevent defects, reduce waste, and ensure consistent product quality.

Polymer compositions designed to change their properties (e.g., shape, optical transmittance, solubility) in response to external stimuli such as pH, temperature, light, or chemical presence, enabling applications in sensors, smart windows, or controlled release.

Mechanisms and control systems for reliably feeding, conveying, and separating print media, including managing media roll changes, adjusting airflow, and adapting to different media characteristics.

Polymers incorporating reversible bonds or crosslinks that enable reprocessing, self-healing, or tunable mechanical properties, often responding to stimuli like heat, light, or pH for de-crosslinking and re-crosslinking.

Methods and compositions for identifying, quantifying, or characterizing specific biological molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, metabolites, antibodies) or microbial species, often for diagnostic, prognostic, or quality control applications.

Polymer compositions tailored for medical and biological applications, including implantable devices, drug delivery systems, and diagnostic tools, emphasizing properties like biocompatibility, hydrolysis resistance, optical clarity, and specific mechanical characteristics.