Patents Assigned to Ecolab Inc.
  • Patent number: 5474698
    Abstract: The invention provides a urea based solid composition and a process for preparing a homogeneous, urea-based, solid cleaning composition. Cleaning compositions for use in warewashing and cleaning hard surfaces, rinsing, sanitizing, deodorizing, and the like, made by the method are also provided. The ingredients are charged into a heated mixing apparatus and when uniform are transferred into a mold or other packaging system for dispensing the detergent. The consistency of the composition ranges from that of a fused solid block to a malleable article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Rolando, Bernard J. Heile, Kent R. Brittain
  • Patent number: 5464613
    Abstract: Novel fat-based, substantially water-free, insecticidal compositions are described which are particularly effective against insect pests such as cockroaches, ants, termites, flies, etc. The compositions may be used in various forms depending on the targeted pests. As an example, the composition in the form of a paste can be applied into cracks and crevices for control of such pests and have the advantage of superior durability and prolonged attractiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Barcay, Douglas G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5462681
    Abstract: The invention is a particulate suspending, antimicrobial concentrate composition. The concentrate may be used in any number of environments including food service and processing environments such as brewing and bottling facilities. Generally the concentrate may be entrained in a product or introduced directly into the environment of use. The concentrate generally comprises an antimicrobial cationic compound such as a quaternary ammonium compound, and a particulate suspending surfactant such as an amphoteric propionic acid salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Gutzmann, Mark R. Altier
  • Patent number: 5447648
    Abstract: A concentrated, extremely active, solid, food grade rinse aid which includes a sorbitan fatty acid ester, a sucrose fatty acid ester, a polyglycerol fatty acid ester, a water soluble filler, and optionally a processing aid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Steindorf
  • Patent number: 5443094
    Abstract: A product dilution system constructed according to the present invention includes an aspirator wherein a product delivery means allows a product concentrate to flow into the aspirator, and is sized in combination with the size of an outlet orifice of the aspirator to achieve a predetermined dilution ratio. A product package includes an inner flexible receptacle which collapses during product dilution to allow complete evacuation of the product concentrate from the product package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Olson, Steven E. Pasek
  • Patent number: 5437868
    Abstract: A peroxyacid antimicrobial concentrate and use composition is provided comprising a C.sub.5 peroxyacid in combination with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 peroxyacid, a C.sub.6 -C.sub.18 peroxyacid, or mixtures thereof. The combination of these peracids produces a synergistic effect, providing a much more potent biocide than can be obtained by using these components separately. Other components can be added to the composition such as hydrotrope coupling agents, stabilizers, etc. An effective antimicrobial use solution is formed at low concentrations when the concentrate composition is diluted with water. Sanitizing of substantially fixed, "in-place" processing lines in dairies, breweries, and other food processing operations is one utility of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Oakes, Thomas G. Boufford
  • Patent number: 5436008
    Abstract: This invention is a microbicidal and tuberculocidal composition comprising a major portion of carrier and an effective sanitizing amount of octanoic acid, or octanoic acid derivatives, and a sulfur containing compound. Optionally, the invention may also comprise any variety of formulatory ingredient options or application adjuvants. The invention comprises concentrate compositions and methods of sanitizing and disinfecting using the antimicrobial composition of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Francis L. Richter, Duane J. Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 5419908
    Abstract: The invention generally comprises a composition capable of sanitizing and disinfecting antimicrobial efficacy while also being ingestible as a food additive residue by humans and mammals. Specifically, the microbicidal composition of the invention generally comprises a carrier and an antimicrobial agent, wherein the antimicrobial agent generally comprises a C.sub.5 to C.sub.14 unsaturated monocarboxylic acid such as sorbic acid, in combination with an aromatic carboxylic acid such as benzoic acid. The antimicrobial composition of the invention is useful for both hard and soft surface sanitizing in environments such as farms, milk and food processing, fluid milk operations, institutional food preparation and serving areas, health care and child care facilities, as well as any other number of contact sensitive environments which require compositions having high antimicrobial efficacy and which will not contaminate food stocks and which pose no danger to humans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Francis L. Richter, Daniel E. Pedersen, May J. Biedscheid, Dale L. Fredell
  • Patent number: 5417233
    Abstract: A low product level detector is disclosed which utilizes a sensor comprised of an infrared emitter and receiver to project a beam of light across a cavity/enclosure which contains a solid product. When the product reaches a level at which more solid product should be added, an alarm indicia means is triggered. The alarm indicia means is comprised of an audible horn and a visually perceptible light. The low product alarm is utilized in a dispenser for dispensing a wash chemical solution which has been created by dissolving a solid wash chemical in a diluent. By maintaining a predetermined amount of solid wash chemical in the dispenser, the wash chemical solution maintains a more constant concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Dale W. Groth
  • Patent number: 5411716
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser (10) for use with an automatic floor scrubbing machine (75), and a method for cleaning a floor. The dispenser (10) has a solid chemical (13) which is dissolved by water spray from a spray nozzle (21). The detergent solution is then directed by a conduit (25) to a scrub brush (85). A water reservoir (83) provides water for the detergent solution, and a valve (38) directs water to a rinse conduit (37) for rinsing of the floor. After cleaning, the dirty water or detergent solution is carried through conduit (36) to a recovery tank (84).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Daniel K. Boche, James D. Decker, James L. Copeland
  • Patent number: 5409713
    Abstract: The invention is a process for preventing microbial growth in aqueous streams by applying peracetic acid to the aqueous stream. Generally, the process of the invention is applicable to aqueous streams used in any number of applications such as the application of streams for the transport of fruits or vegetables into the processing environment and through the various steps of processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Lokkesmoe, Keith Olson
  • Patent number: 5407700
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous coating composition a film or barrier layer. The aqueous coating, in a pseudoplastic thixotropic mixture having a yield point, can be applied to surfaces in heated food preparation units. The composition can be easily applied to a variety of surfaces, and can advantageously cling to vertical or substantially inclined surfaces in order to form a barrier film or coating. The coating can result in a smooth uniform coating. The film, upon heating forms a barrier layer which can facilitate the removal of food soils which can form during food preparation activities after formation of the barrier film layer. The compositions of the invention can be used in methods for coating the interior heated surface of food preparation units by applying the aqueous material through a spray or other aerosol apparatus to form a clinging aqueous coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Victor F. Man, Steven E. Lentsch
  • Patent number: 5407598
    Abstract: Aqueous bleach solutions can be made by directing a spray of water onto a bulk or shaped solid (brick, tablet, block, etc.) comprising a continuous solid phase of an encapsulated source of an active halogen bleach or a solid comprising a source of an oxidizing active halogen bleach and an encapsulated oxidizing halogen bleach source. Such shaped solids can be used to dispense uniform quantities of an aqueous bleach concentrate to bleaching locus such as a washing machine. The tablets can be made from the encapsulated bleach or from a powder mixture of a particulate, granulated or powdered unencapsulated source of active oxidizing bleach and an encapsulated source of active oxidizing bleach by forming the powder mixture into a desired shape. The presence of the encapsulate in the solid with the powder reduces the tendency of the solid to absorb water which can be wicked through the solid to pass water through the solid into adjacent solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Olson, Victor F. Man
  • Patent number: 5404893
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for programming a detergent controller to vary the detergent concentration set-point according to the time of day and to achieve detergent concentration levels quickly without incurring overshoot. Thus, the present invention insures that the warewashing machine is operated at optimum efficiency and cost. To vary the set-point according to the time of day, the invention combines the features of a microprocessor, a clock and a controller into one unit. The user enters the time setting and set point into the controller. The microprocessor then compares the real-time clock signal with the user time settings and outputs an appropriate set-point value from the microprocessor to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Brady, John E. McCall, Jr., Clyde A. Bailey, James L. Copeland
  • Patent number: 5397506
    Abstract: Improved cleaners for hard surfaces, cooking utensils, laundry and other substrates that can accumulate fatty soils can be cleaned using an aqueous cleaner made from a cast solid cleaning system. The cast solid system contains a carefully balanced formulation of cleaning ingredients that provide surprising animal or vegetable fat removing properties. The cleaning system can be manufactured in the form of a large bulk cast block. Such blocks are dispensed by spraying a dispensing spray of water onto the surface of the block creating an aqueous concentrate that can be directed to a cleaning site. The solid composition contains a unique blend of a specific amine oxide combined with anionic sulfonates in a solvent containing mass. These unique components cooperate to provide a substantial level of animal or vegetable fat removal in preferred cleaning protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Dale W. Groth, Terry J. Klos, Margaret M. Cleary
  • Patent number: 5389344
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispenser 10 for a solid chemical 13 and a method of dispensing the chemical 13. Water enters via an inlet line 22 and is sprayed from a spray nozzle 21, so that the solid chemical 13 is dispensed in the form of an aqueous chemical solution via outlet line 17. The solution's concentration is adjustable by varying the distance between the spray nozzle 21 and the exposed dissolving surface of the chemical 13. A pair of cam members 50, 51 adjust the vertical position of the solid chemical 13 with respect to the spray nozzle 21. In a preferred embodiment, a visual indication of the concentration settings is provided, with the concentration settings corresponding to the nozzle-to-eroding surface distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Copeland, John E. Thomas, Daniel K. Boche, James D. Decker, Daniel F. Brady
  • Patent number: 5385044
    Abstract: Disclosed is an indicator (15, 35) for determining the level of contents in an opaque, plastic container (10). The container (11) is filled with a solid chemical (11), such as a detergent. A spray of warm or hot water (19) impinges upon the eroding surface (16) of the solid chemical (11) to produce a chemical solution. The container (10) is provided with a thermo-chromatic strip (15, 35) for detecting the level of solid chemical (11) within the plastic capsule (10). A method of dispensing a solid chemical (11) and a dispensing container (10) are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Thomas, Jody A. Toetschinger, John E. McCall, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5384364
    Abstract: The stability of polyvinyl films used to contain detersive systems may be enhanced by the use of a barrier coating composition to separate the film degrading components, i.e., acids, bases, and halogens, from these films. The barrier coatings may either encapsulate the individual film degrading components, or they may coat the entire detersive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Besse, Deborah A. Ihns, Keith E. Olson
  • Patent number: D357762
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Douglas
  • Patent number: D360135
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Balz