Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Rimma Mitelman
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6689735
    Abstract: A built laundry detergent composition contains a combination of anionic, nonionic and cationic surfactants which includes a highly ethoxylated nonionic surfactant which is a C8-C16 alcohol ethoxylated with an average of from 20 to 50 ethylene oxide groups. The cationic surfactant may advantageously be an ethoxylated quaternary ammonium compound. The composition exhibits improved oily soil detergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Amrat Paul Singh, David Christopher Thorley
  • Process for preparing granular detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6680288
    Abstract: A process for preparing a free-flowing granular detergent composition with improved storage stability involves granulation of a solid starting material comprising a hydratable salt with a liquid binder and treating the resulting granules in a low shear mixer with from 0.5 to 20 wt % of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Theodorus Groot, Roland Wilhemus van Pomeren
  • Washing tablets marked with indicia on their surfaces
    Patent number: 6677296
    Abstract: Washing tablets of compacted particulate washing composition are marked with indicia on their surfaces, the indicia preferably being of a contrasting color. Processes for applying the markings are also described, as is a combination of the marked tablets with a packaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Judith Maria Bonsall
  • Process for preparing fluid detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6660708
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of fluid detergent product comprising an anionic surfactant in which the acid precursor of the anionic surfactant is fed through at least two mixing devices, sufficient neutralising agent to neutralise 25-75 wt % of the acid precursor being fed to the first mixing device, and sufficient neutralising agent to complete neutralisation being added to the mixture from the first mixing device to substantially complete neutralisation by the time the process stream exits the final mixing device, wherein the initial liquid component and the process stream are kept at pumpable temperature at all times during the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: André Kaess
  • Method of delivering a benefit agent
    Patent number: 6642196
    Abstract: There is provided a method of delivering a benefit agent whereby a benefit agent is first loaded to a surface and subsequently unloaded and transferred and delivered to a second surface. More in particular, the benefit agent is first loaded onto a garment during a laundering process, and subsequently delivered to another surface. The benefit agents can be fragrance agents, perfumes, colour enhancers, fabric softening agents, polymeric lubricants, photoprotective agents, latexes, resins, dye fixative agents, encapsulated materials, antioxidants, insecticides, soil repelling agents, soil release agents, and cellulose fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Howell, Julie Little, Cornelis Paul Van Der Logt, Neil James Parry
  • Transparent/translucent liquid compositions in clear bottles comprising colorant and fluorescent dye or UV absorber
    Patent number: 6630437
    Abstract: A translucent or transparent aqueous heavy duty liquid in a clear bottle comprising colorant dye and fluorescent dye and/or UV absorber to protect said colorant dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Stephen Murphy, Kristina Marie Neuser, Myongsuk Bae-Lee, Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Daniel Joseph Kuzmenka, Barbara Bory
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6608016
    Abstract: Laundry detergent compositions contain a sulphate or sulphonate anionic surfactant and a defined cationic surfactant in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 99:1. The cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium salt containing an ethoxylated alkyl chain. The compositions exhibit enhanced removal of oily soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Amrat Paul Singh
  • Bleaching detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6596679
    Abstract: There is provided an enzymatic detergent composition comprising a surfactant, a cofactor-dependent oxidoreductase and an antibody or antibody fragment which is directed at one or more surface amino acid residues of said oxidoreductase, characterised in that the molar ratio between said antibody or antibody fragment and said oxidoreductase is less than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul James Davis, Cornelis Paul van der Logt, Neil James Parry
  • Granular detergent component and process for its preparation
    Patent number: 6596684
    Abstract: A granular detergent component comprising a high level of surfactant, for example, cationic surfactant, and an inorganic carrier material is prepared by a process involving spraying an aqueous solution of the surfactant onto moving granules of the inorganic carrier material in the presence of a drying gas, preferably air, at a temperature within the range of from 65 to 200° C. The process is preferably carried out in a fluidised bed. Preferred inorganic carrier materials are sodium carbonate and zeolite MAP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA divison of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Peter Astley, William Derek Emery
  • Method of treating fabrics and apparatus used therein
    Patent number: 6586384
    Abstract: A method of delivering a benefit agent to a selected area of a fabric for exerting a predetermined activity, wherein the area is pre-treated with a multi-specific binding molecule which has a high binding affinity to said area through one specificity and is capable of binding to said benefit agent through another specificity, followed by contacting said pre-treated area with said benefit agent, to enhance said pre-determined activity to said area. Preferably, the binding molecule is an antibody or fragment thereof, or a fusion protein comprising a cellulose binding domain and a domain having a high binding affinity to another ligand which is directed to said benefit agent. The method is useful for stain removal, perfume delivery, and treating collars and cuffs for wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandra Hemmington, Steven Howell, Julie Little, Cornelis Paul Van Der Logt, Neil James Parry, Richard George Smith
  • Method of treating fabrics
    Patent number: 6579842
    Abstract: A method of delivering a benefit agent to fabric for exerting a pre-determined activity, wherein the fabric is pre-treated with a multi-specific binding molecule which has a high binding affinity to the fabric through one specificity and is capable of binding to the benefit agent through another specificity, followed by contacting the pre-treated fabric with the benefit agent, to enhance the pre-determined activity to the fabric. Preferably, the binding molecule is an antibody or fragment thereof, or a fusion protein comprising a cellulose binding domain and a domain having a high binding affinity to another ligand which is directed to said benefit agent. The method is useful for example for stain removal, perfume delivery, and treating collars and cuffs for wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Howell, Julie Little, Cornelis Paul Van Der Logt, Neil James Parry
  • Laundry wash compositions
    Patent number: 6573229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for the washing of laundry fabrics, the compositions containing anionic surfactants and a cationic detergency enhancing polymer which may be homopolymer or copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Martin Creeth, Philippus Cornelis Van Der Hoeven, Edwin John Staples
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6573231
    Abstract: A particulate laundry detergent composition having a bulk density of 550 to 900 g/l comprises at least two different granular multiingredient components. A first granular component (preferably non-spray-dried) has a bulk density of 550 to 1000 g/l and has a weight ratio of a first ingredient type to a second ingredient type of r; a second granular component (preferably spray-dried) has a bulk density of from 300 to 550 g/l and has a weight ratio of the first ingredient type to the second ingredient type of r′, wherein the ratio of r to r′ is within the range of from 1.25:1 to 1:1.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vera Johanna Bakker, Daniel Pierre Berthod, Christophe Michel Joyeux, Duncan Howard Wright
  • Textile treatment process and product
    Patent number: 6565924
    Abstract: A process for treating a yarn and/or a fabric to form fine inorganic particulate material in the intra-yarn pores and/or on the surface of the fibers constituting the yarn or fabric, which would substantially maintain fabric reflectance after repeated wash/wear cycles without affecting the desired characteristics of air permeability. The inorganic particles are preferably formed by reacting in an aqueous medium a first reagent selected from mineral and organic acids and a second reagent selected from alkali or alkaline earth metal salts with inorganic anions. The invention also relates to a treatment product composition directed to provide instant inorganic deposits in the yarn or fiber surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gangundi Prakash Babu, Vinodkumar Ramniranjan Dhanuka, Kaushik Narotam Divecha, Manish Hardas Keswani, Raghavachari Rajan
  • Detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6555513
    Abstract: Laundry detergent compositions contain a sulphate or sulphonate anionic surfactant and a defined cationic surfactant in a weight ratio of 1:1 to 99:1. The cationic surfactant is a quaternary ammonium salt containing an ethoxylated alkyl chain. The compositions exhibit enhanced removal of oily soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco Inc.
    Inventor: Amrat Paul Singh
  • Polymers for laundry applications
    Patent number: 6554869
    Abstract: A polymer for use in a composition or method of laundry treatment is a copolymer of: (a) one or more anionic monomer units; (b) one or more cationic monomer units; and (c) optionally, one or more uncharged monomer units; wherein, the number ratio of the total of all negative charges on the anionic monomer unit(s) to the total of all positive charges on the cationic monomer unit(s) is from 10:1 to 3:1, especially from 17:3 to 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Aubay, Wilfried Blokzijl, Cedric Geffroy, Khalid Mahmood, Laurence Griffith Thompson, John Michael Walsh, Kenneth Wong, Dominic Yeung
  • Water-soluble package with multiple distinctly colored layers of liquid laundry detergent
    Patent number: 6521581
    Abstract: The present invention includes a layered liquid detergent composition in a water-soluble single use package, the composition comprising at least two layers, the at least two layers comprising a surfactant, a colored inorganic electrolyte, and water. In the inventive compositions at least one of the layers (the electrolyte layer) is colored. Preferred compositions include a dye in the surfactant layer, so that the compositions contain at least two layers, with two distinct colors. Preferred compositions are transparent and are enclosed within a transparent body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Lung Gordon Hsu, Kwang H. Lee, Andre M. Puleo
  • Production of anionic surfactant granules by in situ neutralisation
    Patent number: 6518234
    Abstract: A process for the production of detergent particles, comprises feeding an acid precursor of an anionic surfactant and a neutralising agent into a horizontal thin-film evaporator/drier comprising a mixing region, a drying region and a cooling region. The resultant detergent particles are graded to separate an oversize granule fraction in which at least 70 wt % of the particles have a minimum diameter of 1000 &mgr;m. This fraction is fed back into the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: William Derek Emery, Andreas Theodorus Groot
  • Production of anionic surfactant granules by in situ neutralization
    Patent number: 6518233
    Abstract: In process for producing detergent particles, an acid precursor of an anionic surfactant and a neutralizing agent are fed into a horizontal thin-film evaporator/drier where they are neutralized, granulated and dried. The neutralizing agent is present in an amount equal to or in excess that required for stoichiometric neutralization and has a D50 mean particle size of less than 40 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: William Derek Emery, Andreas Theodorus Groot
  • Production of anionic surfactant granules by in situ neutralisation
    Patent number: 6514930
    Abstract: A process for the production of detergent particles comprises feeding an acid precursor of an anionic surfactant, a neutralizing agent and aluminosilicate detergency builder into a horizontal thin-film evaporator/drier. The evaporator/drier comprises a mixing region, a drying region and a cooling region. Neutralization of the acid precursor is effected, together with granulation, drying and cooling, to form the detergent particles. At least some of the aluminosilicate builder is fed into the thin-film evaporator/drier between the drying region and the cooling region and/or into the cooling region. When all of he aluminosilicate builder is fed into the cooling region, the aluminosilicate is in an amount of more than 20% by weight of the particles exiting the cooling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: William Derek Emery, Andreas Theodorus Groot