Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Rimma Mitelman
  • Granular composition
    Patent number: 6911423
    Abstract: In order to improve the dispersion of nonionic surfactant into wash water from a granule in which the nonionic surfactant is carried on a water-insoluble granular material, the nonionic surfactant is intimately mixed with a structurant which is a non-soap ionic surfactant in finely divided particulate form. A preferred structurant is an anionic surfactant, for example, primary alcohol sulphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Robert Garrett, John Edley Wilson
  • Particulate laundry detergent composition containing zeolite
    Patent number: 6908895
    Abstract: A particulate zeolite-built laundry detergent composition having a bulk density of at least 550 g/l comprising at least two different granular components containing both surfactant and builder, preferably one prepared by non-tower granulation and another spray-dried, also contains from 1 to 10 wt % citric acid admixed as a separate particulate component. The admixed citric acid improves dispensing and dissolution properties, whether or not separately admixed sodium carbonate is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vera Johanna Bakker, Arie Krijgsman, Edwin Leo Lempers, Jasper Mol
  • Granular composition
    Patent number: 6900170
    Abstract: In order to improve the dispersion of nonionic surfactant into wash water from a granule in which the nonionic surfactant is carried on a water-insoluble granular material, the nonionic surfactant is intimately blended with a water-insoluble liquid. Preferred water-insoluble liquids include hydrocarbons, for example, paraffins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home Products and Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Instone, Rafiq Mohammed Nabi, John Edley Wilson
  • Liquid detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6894017
    Abstract: An isotropic aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: (a) from 0% to 6%, preferably from 1% to 4% by weight of synthetic anionic surfactant; (b) from 5% to 25%, preferably from 10% to 20% by weight of soap; (c) from 0.03% to 5%, preferably from 0.10% to 1% by weight of a cationic polymer; and from 0.03% to 5%, preferably from 0.10% to 1% by weight of a cationic polymer or copolymer comprising at least one monomer unit which is cationic or carries at least one positive charge or carries a dipole moment greater than 3.5; and (d) from 5% to 70%, preferably from 10% to 30% by weight of nonionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Lili Faucia Brouwn, John Hines, Johannes Cornelis Van De Pas
  • Process for cleaning fabrics using petroleum ether and water or cycloherome and water
    Patent number: 6884765
    Abstract: A process for cleaning textile fabric without the need for conventional detergent systems comprising agitating the fabric in a composition comprising at least two immiscible liquids, for example, perchloroethylene or petroleum ether and water, having at least one liquid-liquid interface with an interfacial tension of at least 5 mN/m, preferably at least 10 mN/m, and where the concentration of the most polar liquid in the composition is from 10 to 90% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijaya Milind Bargaje
  • Liquid or gel laundry detergent which snaps back at the end of dispensing
    Patent number: 6849587
    Abstract: Liquid and/or gel laundry detergent compositions which snap back at the end of dispensing, thus eliminating or minimizing the dripping from the container. Employing a non-neutralized fatty acid to the total surfactant weight % ratio within a specific range, defined by the Snap Index equation, results in liquids and/or gels with the desired snap-back property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Yun-Peng Zhu, Ronald Frederick Vogel, Agnes Boudou, Charles Ebert
  • Gel laundry detergent and/or pretreater which piles up after dispensing
    Patent number: 6815409
    Abstract: Gel detergent compositions which pile-up on a surface, upon dispensing, to minimize the spreading of the gel to a substantially larger area. The gels that can pile up are less messy to use and provide better stain removal, since more detergent is concentrated on the desired area of fabric (e.g., the spot). The composition comprises from about 10% to about 35% of a surfactant, from about 0.1 to about 5% of a non-neutralized fatty acid; from about 50 to about 85% of water; with the total of anionic surfactants selected from soap, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid, primary and secondary alkyl sulfates being more than 50% of total surfactant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Yun-Peng Zhu, Ronald Frederick Vogel, Agnes Boudou, Charles Ebert, Kwang H Lee
  • Liquid laundry detergent with emulsion layer
    Patent number: 6797685
    Abstract: An aqueous liquid laundry detergent composition comprising a detergent surfactant (including anionic), an emulsifier with an HLB value below about 8.5; an oil; and an electrolyte in an amount to provide ionic strength indicator of from about 0.55 to about 6.7. The composition separates, upon standing for at most 24 hours at ambient temperature, into at least two layers, one of which is an emulsion with a continuous aqueous phase. The second layer is preferably a transparent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Peng Zhu, Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6794349
    Abstract: A built particulate laundry detergent composition containing anionic sulphonate or sulphate surfactant and conventional ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant also contains a low level of a highly ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 15 to 40. The composition exhibits increased mildness to the skin without loss of detergency performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolfus Johannes Hafkamp, Rob Menting
  • Gel laundry detergent and/or pre-treater composition
    Patent number: 6794348
    Abstract: A sher-thinnig lamellar gel detergent composition, employing non-neutralized fatty acid in a specific amount, depending on the total surfactant level. The weight % ratio of non-neutralized fatty acid to the total surfactant within a specific range, defined by the Gelling Index equation, results in gels with the desired properties. The inventive product offers an advantage of laundry pre-treater and a detergent in a single product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Yun-Peng Zhu, Ronald Frederick Vogel, Agnes Boudou, Charles Ebert, Mohammad Hosseini-Nejad
  • Process of making gel detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6794347
    Abstract: According to the inventive method of making gels, the main mixture comprising most of the ingredients with the exception of a non-neutralized fatty acid or sulphonic acid, and/or other anionic surfactant acids is mixed, using at least one in-line static mixer, with the gelling post-mix comprising the non-neutralized fatty acid or sulphonic acid, or other anionic surfactant acids. The preferred process includes the mixing of the main mixture and the gelling post-mix just prior to either filling or storing the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Yun-Peng Zhu, Charles Ebert, Agnes Boudou, Ronald Frederick Vogel
  • Dry bleach compositions
    Patent number: 6773625
    Abstract: Dry bleach compositions particularly suitable for cleaning of hard surfaces or fabrics which, upon mixing with water, form a mixture that is easily removed from surfaces upon standing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy Ann Falk, Pamela Chau Lam
  • Soil release polymers and laundry detergent compositions containing them
    Patent number: 6764992
    Abstract: Anionic, hydrophobic polysaccharides useful as soil release agents in detergent compositions are graft copolymers of a polysaccharide having anionic substituents with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer, the copolymer having a polysaccharide backbone carrying grafted hydrophobic vinyl polymeric groups derived from the ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and anionic substituents. The polymers exhibit enhanced release of both oily and particulate soil from both polyester and cotton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Velayudhan Nair Gopa Kumar, Anuradha Moulee
  • Concentrated stock of capsules for detergent or personal care compositions
    Patent number: 6730651
    Abstract: Concentrated stock composition of capsules for incorporation into detergent or personal care composition, the stock composition comprising a high concentration of capsules comprising a hydrophobic material for forming the capsules, and a supernatant comprising water and a high HLB surfactant and/or a super-wetting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco. Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Kristina Marie Neuser, MyongSuk Bae-Lee, Eric Charles Ehrnsperger, Tracy Bowens
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6730649
    Abstract: A detergent composition comprising: (a) at least 5 wt % of a calcium-tolerant non-soap anionic surfactant system which comprises an alpha-olefin sulphonate; (b) at least 0.1 wt % of a cationic surfactant system in a weight ratio of (a):(b) of from 17:3 to 9:10, preferably from 3:1 to 1:1; and (c) the balance, if any, being other detergent ingredients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Metcalfe, Vincent Charles Mole
  • Detergent compositions comprising an ethoxylated alcohol and alkyl ioenzene sulfonate
    Patent number: 6720298
    Abstract: A built laundry detergent composition contains anionic surfactant in combination with a minor amount of a highly ethoxylated nonionic surfactant which is a C8-C16 alcohol ethoxylated with an average of from 20 to 50 ethylene oxide groups. The composition exhibits improved oily soil detergency especially under hard water conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Ann Blything, Amrat Paul Singh, Thelma Christine Titley
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6716807
    Abstract: A detergent composition comprising: (a) more than 10 wt % of a calcium-tolerant non-soap anionic surfactant system; (b) from 0.1% to 10%, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, more preferably from 1% to 10% by weight of a strong builder system selected from phosphate builders and aluminosilicate builders and mixtures thereof; and (c) the balance, if any, being other detergent ingredients wherein said composition comprises less than 35 wt %, preferably less than 25 wt %, more preferably less than 15 wt % of non-functional non-alkaline water soluble inorganic salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Philippus Cornelis Van der Hoeven, Kenneth Metcalfe
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6713442
    Abstract: A built particulate laundry detergent composition containing anionic sulphonate or sulphate surfactant and conventional ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant also contains a low level of a highly ethoxylated alcohol nonionic surfactant having an average degree of ethoxylation of from 15 to 40, and a low level of a textile softening clay. The composition exhibits increased mildness to the skin without loss of detergency performance, and the softness of washed fabrics is significantly improved despite the low level of softening clay present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolfus Johannes Hendrikus Hafkamp, Rob Menting, Antje Minke Wierenga
  • Photobleach speckle and laundry detergent compositions containing it
    Patent number: 6696400
    Abstract: A speckle composition for use in particulate laundry detergent compositions comprising a porous granular carrier, and at least 0.01 wt % photobleach, preferably at least 0.05 wt %, more preferably at least 0.1 wt %, based on the active ingredient the composition being layered with a finely divided high carrying capacity particulate material and/or a water-soluble material. The most preferred photobleach is a blend of Zn and Al sulphonated phthalocyanine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paulo Cesar Puelle Andrade, Juan Jose Bonelli, Marcio Henrique Perissinotto Bonfa, Paulo-Enrique De Gusmao
  • Oxidation process and composition
    Patent number: 6689738
    Abstract: There is provided an enzymatic oxidation composition and process wherein an oxidisable substance is reacted with (a) a compound having the formula: and (b) molecular oxygen, in the absence of peroxidase. The process is useful in detergent compositions for stain bleaching and/or anti dye-transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home and Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Convents, Monique Doornink, Richard George Smith, David William Thornthwaite