Patents by Inventor Steven J. Brouwer

Steven J. Brouwer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6080711
    Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, from about 0.1% up to about 15% of an acidulant and from about 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Brouwer, Michael J. Wint
  • Patent number: 6008174
    Abstract: A powder laundry detergent has improved solubility in the laundering solution by incorporating an acidulant that, in its acid form, is sparingly soluble in water and, in its salt form, is soluble in water. In particular, the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. A method of improving the solubility of a powder detergent includes admixing an acidulant in the powder detergent where the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Brouwer, Michael J. Wint
  • Patent number: 5998351
    Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with discrete whitening agent particles that do not adversely affect the bulk appearance of the detergent during storage. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, and from 0.1% up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The surfactant for the whitening agent particle includes those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree. C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.). The whitening agent particles, in a more desirably form, include a whitener and water. The particles are formed by extruding a homogenous mass into discrete particles. The homogenous mass includes either a whitening agent, a surfactant, and optionally a plasticizer or a whitening agent and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Brouwer, Michael J. Wint
  • Patent number: 5990068
    Abstract: A powder laundry detergent has improved solubility in the laundering solution and improved dispensability by incorporating an acidulant that, in its acid form, is sparingly soluble in water and, in its salt form, is soluble in water. In particular, the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably no greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. A method of improving the solubility of a powder detergent includes admixing an acidulant in the powder detergent where the acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 8%, preferably not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Brouwer, Michael J. Wint
  • Patent number: 5714450
    Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with discrete whitening agent particles that do not adversely affect the bulk appearance of the detergent during storage. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, and up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant. The surfactant for the whitening agent particle includes those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree.C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Brouwer
  • Patent number: 5714452
    Abstract: An whitening agent particle includes a whitening agent and a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of those anionics, nonionics, zwitterionics, ampholytics, cationics, and mixtures thereof that are solids in a temperature range of from about 32.degree. F. (0.degree.C.) to about 180.degree. F. (82.degree. C). The particle may be added to a powder detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Brouwer
  • Patent number: 5714451
    Abstract: A powdered laundry detergent is provided with (a) a powder laundry detergent base that includes an inorganic carrier and a surfactant and (b) post-added acidulant and discrete whitening agent particles to provide a detergent having improved cool water solubility with bulk color deterioration caused by whitening agents being minimized. The detergent includes from about 5% to about 80% of an inorganic carrier, from about 1% to about 90% of a detergent surfactant, up to about 15% of an acidulant and up to about 30% of the discrete whitening agent particles. The acidulant is selected from the group of acids that in an acid form are soluble in water in an amount not greater than about 0.7% by weight at 25.degree. C. and in a salt form are soluble in water at least in an amount of about 15% by weight at 25.degree. C. The whitening agent particles include a whitening agent and a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Brouwer, Michael J. Wint
  • Patent number: 5326387
    Abstract: An automobile surface protectant composition containing volatile silicone which when applied to a wet surface displaces water and imparts gloss and water repellency. Preferably, the composition includes a volatile silicone fluid, an amino-functional silicone fluid, and an organopolysiloxane fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Amway Corporation
    Inventors: Robert D. Faber, Steven J. Brouwer