Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm A. Kate Huffman
  • Patent number: 5422021
    Abstract: A method of preparing a fabric softening material which comprises a quaternary ammonium material and at least on C.sub.8-28 alkyl or alkenyl group connected to the molecule via an ester linkage, said method comprising the step of reacting a base material with an alkyl or alkenyl group containing material, such that at least one alkyl or alkenyl group is connected to the base material via an ester linkage, wherein the reaction between the base material and the alkyl or alkenyl group containing material is carried out in the presence of an excess of alkyl or alkenyl groups, said excess being effective to lower the pour point of the softener material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham A. Turner
  • Patent number: 5419843
    Abstract: Novel fabric conditioners based on pyridine carboxylic acid esters or amides are described. The compounds are effective fabric conditioners and are biodegradable. Compositions including the compounds and a method of using the compositions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Shang-Ren Wu, Eddie N. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 5417939
    Abstract: A dispensing system is provided comprising a detergent supply pack (1) for supplying solid state detergent material to a dispensing device (4) associated with a washing machine and said dispensing device, which supply pack comprises packaging material for said solid state detergent material, said solid state detergent material and a closing/release device for promoting release of the detergent solid from the supply pack into the dispensing device, whereby the closing/release device comprises two movable parts (3a,3b) in between which the packaging material is clamped and which, after closing, are blocked by locking studs, such that the locking studs can be released by placing the supply pack on a top centring frame of the dispensing device which is used as a key for opening the movable parts and introducing the solid detergent into the dispensing device.There are also provided a detergent supply pack and a dispensing device which are adapted for use in a dispensing system according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerrit K. Bunschoten, Lambertus G. Van Der Heyden
  • Patent number: 5413733
    Abstract: A bleaching composition and method of using is provided wherein the composition comprises and effective amount for bleaching of an amido organic peroxyacid whose structure is: ##STR1## wherein R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, M, n, and m are defined in the specification;an effective amount of an oxygen transfer agent having a structure:R.sup.1 R.sup.2 C.dbd.NSO.sub.2 R.sup.3 (IV)wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are as defined in the specification; and from about 5.0 to 50% by weight of a surfactant. The preferred pH range of the compositions of the invention is from 7 to about 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Nicholson, Richard G. Gary
  • Patent number: 5411671
    Abstract: An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising a homogeneous dispersion of fabric conditioning active particles having a size distribution such that the particles have a mean size of about 0.7 to 10 microns as measured by Malvern Particle Size Analyzer and preferably have 10% of the distribution with a particle size of at least 23% of the mean particle size. The composition is obtained by a continuous process for making the aqueous fabric conditioning composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert E. Bauer, Michael G. Clarke, John E. Lovas, William R. Narath, Andrew N. Williams
  • Patent number: 5409621
    Abstract: A fabric softening composition comprising a water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent and a nonionic stabilizing agent wherein the water insoluble cationic fabric softening agent is a quaternary ammonium material and the nonionic stabilizing agent is preferably selected from a predominantly linear C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 alcohol alkoxylated with 10 or more moles of alkylene oxide. The nonionic stabilizing agent may also be a C.sub.10 to C.sub.20 alcohol or mixtures thereof. For high temperature stability the nonionic stability agent is an alkoxylated alcohol having a clear phase at a 1% concentration in water somewhere in the range of 0.degree. C. and 45.degree. C. and a Krafft point of less than 30.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon R. Ellis, Graham A. Turner
  • Patent number: 5407589
    Abstract: A fabric softening material comprising an ester-linked amine compound and/or its corresponding quaternary ammonium compound of general formula I. ##STR1## where each R.sub.1 group is independently selected from C.sub.1-4 alkyl, alkenyl, or hydroxyalkyl groups; each R.sub.2 group is independently selected from C.sub.8-28 or alkenyl groups and n and m are integers from 1 to 5; such that the material has an Iodine value of between 5 and 24, preferably between 5 and 20. The invention also comprises an aqueous fabric softening composition containing the softening material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Graham A. Turner
  • Patent number: 5407588
    Abstract: An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprising a fabric softener and a polymeric thickening material, said material comprising molecules with a hydrophilic backbone and at least two hydrophobic groups per molecule attached to the hydrophilic backbone, with the proviso that the polymeric material is not a hydrophobically modified nonionic cellulose ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Butterworth, Kenwyn D. Saunders
  • Patent number: 5403500
    Abstract: A powder progenitive of a rinse conditioner which is used to form an aqueous dispersion of a rinse conditioner. The conditioning dispersion is formed outside the washing machine shortly before it is to be added to the washing machine. It is preferred if the rinse conditioner contains a cationic active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventor: Graham A. Turner
  • Patent number: 5403499
    Abstract: An aqueous concentrated fabric conditioning composition is prepared by adding the co-melted mixture of cationic and nonionic agents to an acid solution. The resulting compositions are stable, have a viscosity of less than 300 cps, a pH of less than 4.0 and an average particle size of from about 2 to about 8 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse J. Kiefer, Lucia V. Salas, Dian M. Najarian
  • Patent number: 5403515
    Abstract: The invention relates to surfactant containing, liquid compositions based on the magnesium salt of primary alcohol sulphates and provides and aqueous, liquid, cleaning composition having a pH from 6-8, comprising:a) 2-40% wt surfactant, said surfactant comprising primary alcohol sulphate (i) and nonionic surfactants (ii) wherein at least 50% wt of the surfactant present is primary alcohol sulphate, said surfactant comprising less than 1% on surfactant of nitrogen-containing surfactant speciesb) magnesium, at a Molar ratio of at least 0.3 moles Mg per mole primary alcohol sulphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Instone, David P. Jones, David Roscoe, Philip J. Sams, Martin Sharples
  • Patent number: 5391864
    Abstract: A novel microwavable susceptor used for cooking expandable dough in a microwave oven is disclosed. Specifically, the susceptor comprises an inner region and an outer region, the inner region having a pattern of metalized and/or non-metalized portions wherein the intensity of the inner region is about from about 25% to about 75% and the outer region has an intensity arbitrarily set at about 100%. A cookie dough composition having desirable spreadable characteristics useful for baking in a microwave is also disclosed. The susceptor is reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Van den Bergh Foods Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Bodor, Girish Desai, Morteza Nematollahi, Ravinder Reddy
  • Patent number: 5391316
    Abstract: A liquid composition comprising a solubilized hydrophilic oil, a first surfactant which forms a calcium salt which is no more than sparingly soluble in an aqueous solution and a second surfactant which is foaming, different from the first surfactant and in weight excess over the first surfactant is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Garrett, Terry Instone, Francesco M. Puerari, David Roscoe, Philip J. Sams
  • Patent number: 5374369
    Abstract: A detergent composition comprising 1-20 weight percent of a peroxygen or hypohalite bleaching agent, 0.05 to about 10 weight percent cyanuric acid, from 1 to 75 weight percent of a builder; and 0 to 40 weight percent of a surfactant is described. The composition prevents tarnishing of silver and silver plated articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Petrus A. Angevaare, Richard G. Gary
  • Patent number: 5372825
    Abstract: Soured, water-continuous creams that are free of emulsifiers and that contain 5-15 wt % of at least a vegetable fat and that further contain a protein component and a thickener composition were found to be stable and spoonable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Van den Bergh Foods, Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Iain J. Campbell, Pascale Fournier, Wayne G. Morley, Ian T. Norton
  • Patent number: 5372740
    Abstract: A stable homogeneous liquid detergent composition based on sodium potassium tripolyphosphate, which is either formed in situ or preneutralized, and ortho- or pyrophosphates is described. The composition contains sodium and potassium ions in a K.sup.+ /Na.sup.+ weight ratio of about 0.5 to less than about 1.5, and contains no added alkali silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Fair, John R. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 5366653
    Abstract: A process for preparing a concentrated detergent composition useful in automatic machine dishwashers comprising preparing a dry mixture of a thickening polymer and a sodium trimetaphosphate builder, then adding the dry blend to water and subsequently adding a potassium hydroxide base to form a homogeneous solution. Sodium silicate and optional ingredients are then added to the process. Compositions resulting from the process contain a K+/Na+ weight ratio of greater than about 0.5 to about 1 and a viscosity of from 1,800 to about 3,500 cps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Corring
  • Patent number: 5340600
    Abstract: The present invention regards a low fat spread comprising from about 30 to about 40 wt. % of a continuous fat phase and about 60 to about 70 wt. % of an aqueous phase. The fat phase further comprises a non-proteinaceous fat crystallization inhibitor in an amount of less than 0.5 wt. % and a non-proteinaceous emulsifier. The aqueous phase contains a dairy protein in an amount of less than about 0.1 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Van Den Bergh Foods Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Freek Reckweg, Michael Chiaverini, Scott A. Lehouiller
  • Patent number: 5338561
    Abstract: The invention concerns water-continuous emulsions having a fat content of 1-60 wt. %, and wherein the aqueous phase consists of a gelling polysaccharide capable of forming a gel while the shear modulus of the aqueous phase must fulfil specific requirements and while the gelling polysaccharides are present as microgels with a mean equivalent diameter of less than 100 .mu.m.The emulsion is spoonable, meaning that it fulfils specific requirements as to yield value, Bingham viscosity and failure to stress.The emulsions can be used in non-dairy creams, in dressings and mayonnaises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Van Den Bergh Foods Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Iain J. Campbell, Wayne G. Morley, Ian T. Norton
  • Patent number: 5338560
    Abstract: An edible plastic dispersion not having a continuous fat phase, including at least two condensed phases, at least one of which is continuous, the dispersion comprising a first gel-forming composition and a second gel-forming composition containing 1-8 times the critical concentrations of a gelling starch having a rheological property in an aqueous dispersion characterized by a one-half G'.sub.max value at no more than about 7,250 seconds when prepared at a concentration to yield a log G'.sub.max value of 5.0 at 15,000 seconds at 11.degree. C. provided that the aqueous dispersion of the gelling starch is initially prepared at 0 to 40.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Van den Bergh Foods Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Leendert H. Wesdorp, Robert A. Madsen, James Kasica, Marie Kowblansky, Anthony Morrison