Patents Assigned to division
  • System comprising synthetic detergent bar and pouf for holding bar
    Patent number: 6042288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleansing system comprising a synthetic detergent bar and a pouf/sponge for holding the bar. By inserting bar inside the pouf, it has been found that lather can be enhanced, even in compositions comprising lather depressing emollients. The bar holder and bar system also help decrease perception of mush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gail Beth Rattinger, Peter Boettcher, Laurie Ann Coyle, William Narath
  • Preservative and flavoring system
    Patent number: 6042861
    Abstract: A preservative and flavoring system for tea based beverages. The system contains a tea extract, an antimicrobially active amount of cinnamic acid or an acidic derivative thereof and an acidulant in an amount that maintains the pH of the beverage below pH 4.5. The system preferably includes an additional preservative such as a weak acid preservative. It can be used to prepare an ambient-stable tea based beverage and is suitable for cold filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia Ann Anslow, Malcolm Stratford
  • Adjustable continuous casting mold
    Patent number: 6041848
    Abstract: A continuous casting mold assembly has four mold walls in the form of discrete plates. The mold walls are arranged with an edge face of each wall abutting a major face of an adjacent mold wall. To permit changes in taper, each of the mold walls is mounted for pivotal movement on two orthogonal axes. The mold walls are held together by springs which can be hydraulically relieved when the mold walls are to be adjusted. The mold walls tend to move away from one another following hydraulic relief of the springs, and such movements are limited by screws associated with the respective mold walls. The screws contact abutments when the mold walls have moved apart by distances large enough to allow pivoting of the walls but not large enough to permit molten material to leak between the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: SMS Concast Division of SMS-Schloemann Siemag Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Langner
  • Wheelchair lift with improved outer, inner, and side barriers
    Patent number: 6039528
    Abstract: A platform-type wheelchair lift for mounting in the stairwell of a vehicle, such as a bus or train. The wheelchair lift includes a platform frame that is movable from a retracted position in which it is stowed underneath the vehicle to an extended position in which it extends out from the side or back of the vehicle. A wheelchair platform is movably coupled to the platform frame by a parallelogram linkage that allows the wheelchair platform to move between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair platform includes foldable outer, side, and inner wheelchair barriers that prevent a wheelchair from moving off of the wheelchair platform during operation of the wheelchair lift. The outer and inner wheelchair barriers are capable of absorbing part of the energy of an impact between a wheelchair and the barriers and in ways cause barriers to fold out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Lift-U, Division of Hogan Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Cohn
  • Radially expandable tubular polytetrafluoroethylene grafts and method of making same
    Patent number: 6039755
    Abstract: Tubular ePTFE materials which are capable of being radially expanded under the influence of a radially outward force applied from the lumen of the ePTFE tubular material to substantially uniformly radially deform the ePTFE material. The ePTFE material is radially expandable to a diameter 700% its unexpanded diameter under the influence of pressures less than 6 atm while retaining the structural integrity of the ePTFE microstructure. Conservation of the structural integrity of the ePTFE material is determined by conservation of the ePTFE microstructure structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Impra, Inc., a Division of C.R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarun J. Edwin, Fariba Hurry, Christopher E. Banas
  • Sunscreen compositions
    Patent number: 6039935
    Abstract: A cosmetic sunscreen composition is provided which includes at least one organic sunscreen, a crosslinked non-emulsifying siloxane elastomer, a volatile siloxane and water. The composition is an oil-in-water emulsion to provide an aesthetically pleasing light skinfeel and rich viscosity, even in the presence of greater than 25% sunscreen oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Elizabeth Arden Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Fatemeh Mohammadi
  • Enzymatically extracted tea concentrate with xanthan gum which is stable at ambient temperature
    Patent number: 6036982
    Abstract: Stable tea concentrates containing xanthan gum are shown. The concentrates are prepared by the use of selected cell wall lysis enzymes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregg Lance Lehmberg, Sheng Xue Ma
  • Spark switch having coaxial electrodes with increased electrode surface area exposure
    Patent number: 6037715
    Abstract: A geometry for a spark switch includes an inner electrode surrounded by an outer electrode. The placement of the inner electrode within the outer electrode substantially increases the exposed overlapping surface area of the electrodes. The increase in surface area of the electrodes results in a proportional increase in the operational life of the switch. The design of the spark switch also causes the outer electrode to shield a surrounding insulation layer against debris that would otherwise contaminate an insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies Systems Division, Inc.
    Inventors: H. George Hammon, III, Michael Wright Ingram, David Vincent Drury, John Tom Naff, Ronald Stanley Shaw
  • Black leaf tea
    Patent number: 6036991
    Abstract: A leaf tea especially blended from a black tea and a green tea so that it contains catechins and phenols in a ratio between 0.15 to 0.4, but preferably between 0.2 and 0.3. Such a product resembles black tea but typically possesses an antioxidant activity that is 10% or more higher than that the same mass of the black tea alone. The black tea is preferably low grown while the green tea is preferably from an Assam jat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Graham Humphrey, Paul Thomas Quinlan
  • Cinnamic acid for use in tea containing beverages
    Patent number: 6036986
    Abstract: An aqueous based tea solids containing beverage is taught which also contains a sufficient amount of cinnamic acid its salts and esters as a flavoring/antimicrobial compound and employs a hurdle approach with selected levels of water hardness, polyphosphate, sequestrants, pH adjustment, benzoic acid and sorbic acid to prevent microbiological outgrowth while simultaneously contributing to the pleasant flavor of the beverage thus making the beverage acceptable both organoleptically and microbiologically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Cirigliano, William Conrad Franke, Meghan Mary Kemly, Raymond Thomas McKenna, Paul John Rothenberg
  • Manufacture of spreadable low-fat cheese
    Patent number: 6036979
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing spreadable low fat fresh cheese devoid of non-dairy binding or structuring agents or added whey protein having a dry matter content of over 25% wt., a fat content of 0-10 and preferably 0-7% wt. on dry matter and a Stevens value in excess of 200 at 10.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Van den Bergh Foods Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Angela Hedwig Hormann, Klaus Mayer, Helmuth Barthlomaus Kaindl
  • Gluconolactones and glucarolactones as anti-irritants in cosmetic compositions
    Patent number: 6036963
    Abstract: Gluconolactone or glucarolactone in cosmetic skin care compositions, as anti-irritants, to reduce skin irritation, which may be intrinsic skin irritation or irritation caused by hydroxy acids or certain retinoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Chesebrough-Ponds's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronni Weinkauf, Uma Santhanam, Laura Palanker, Donald Rick, John Bartolone
  • Mild antimicrobial liquid cleansing formulations comprising polyvalent cation or cations for improving an antimicrobial effectiveness
    Patent number: 6034043
    Abstract: The present invention relates to liquid skin cleansing compositions comprising (1) mild surfactant systems; (2) 0.1 to 10% by wt. of a polyvalent cation or cations selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, tin, aluminum cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium and/or manganese and mixture thereof; and (3) 1% to 99% water wherein said cation or cations provide antibacterial activity. In a second embodiment of the invention, the cation or cations potentiates antibacterial effect in compositions already containing an antibacterial agent. In a third embodiment, the invention relates to a method of enhancing antibacterial effect using these polyvalent cation or cations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuko Fujiwara, Carol Vincent, Kavssery Ananthapadmanabhan
  • Skin care compositions containing an organic extract of chick pea
    Patent number: 6030620
    Abstract: Organic chick pea extracts are phytoestrogens, if present in an amount such as to provide an estrogenic activity equivalent to at least 1 nM of estradiol. Cosmetic compositions containing organic chick pea extracts are useful in improving the appearance of wrinkled, lined, dry, flaky, aged or photodamaged skin and improving skin thickness, elasticity, flexibility and plumpness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sreekumar Pillai, Uma Santhanam, Marieann Carlomusto, Carol Bosko
  • Stanol ester composition and production thereof
    Patent number: 6031118
    Abstract: Stanol fatty acid ester composition comprising at least 85% of stanol (saturated) fatty acid esters in which at least 85% of the fatty acid groups are saturated. Also claimed is a process for the preparation of stanol fatty acid esters, by hardening phytosterol fatty acid or a mixture thereof, or as an alternative, a process for the preparation of stanol fatty acid esters by esterification of phytosterols or a mixture thereof, followed by the hardening of the so obtained phytosterol fatty acid esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Marnix P. van Amerongen, Lourus Cornelis Lievense
  • Foaming cleansing skin product
    Patent number: 6030931
    Abstract: A foaming cleansing product is provided as a cleansing composition packaged in a non-aerosol mechanical dispenser. The dispenser includes a container for holding a liquid composition, a dispensing head with a housing enclosing a pump mechanism and a screen material in the flow path to convert liquid composition into a foam, and a diptube for delivering liquid from the container to the dispensing head. The cleansing composition is free of water insoluble emollients and includes an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant of structure: ##STR1## wherein R is a fatty alkyl of 6 to 22 carbons; R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of H, C.sub.2 H.sub.4 COOH and C.sub.2 H.sub.4 COONa; and R.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of COONa, CH.sub.2 CHOHCH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 Na, C.sub.2 H.sub.4 COONa, CH.sub.2 COOCH.sub.2 COOH and CH.sub.2 COOCH.sub.2 COONa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Chesebrough-Pond's USA Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Vinski, Alexander Paul Znaiden, Craig Stephen Slavtcheff
  • Inlet control valve for compressors
    Patent number: 6027315
    Abstract: A simplified control valve system is provided wherein a single multi-functional orifice provides the required bleed from the control cylinder chamber as well as the required venting of the system for blow down. Preferably, the control line will be an oil scavenger line and the multi-functional orifice will be positioned in the inlet passage of the valve to the compressor and a suitable oil sump positioned adjacent to the multi-optional orifice to collect any oil blown there through during blow down. The valve of the present invention is also adjustable by rotating the valve stem to which the control piston is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: VMAC Division of Mangonel Corporation
    Inventor: James Victor Hogan
  • Immobilizing enzymes and processing triglycerides with immobilized lipase
    Patent number: 6025171
    Abstract: Enzymes are immobilized by preparing an emulsion containing a continuous hydrophobic phase such as a triglyceride oil and a dispersed aqueous phase containing an amphiphilic enzyme such as lipase or phospholipase and carrier material that is partly dissolved and partly undissolved in the aqueous phase, and removing water from the aqueous phase until the phase turns into solid enzyme coated carrier particles. The undissolved part of the carrier material may be a material that is insoluble in water and oil, or a water soluble material in undissolved form because the aqueous phase is already saturated with the water soluble material. The aqueous phase may be formed with a crude lipase fermentation liquid containing fermentation residues and biomass that can serve as carrier materials. Immobilized lipase is useful for ester re-arrangement and de-acidification in oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen Fabian, Johan Paul Geurtsen, Martin Roger Grote, Karel Petrus Van Putte, Adrianus Rozendaal
  • Multifunctional spread
    Patent number: 6025010
    Abstract: The invention relates to a low fat spread with low water content for application in baking without effecting organoleptic properties for cold use, (that is, spreads). The compositions of the invention are good quality spreads at low fat levels in the range of about 30-60% fat. The compositions of the invention comprise non gelling hydrocolloids to provide optimum viscosity to the aqueous phase at a concentration which results in a fat continuous emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Podutoori Ravinder Reddy
  • Fishing reel design
    Patent number: D421087
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Zebco Division of Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Hyunkyu Kim, Robert Bagby, Richard J. Robbins