Patents Assigned to Ecolab
  • Patent number: 7309026
    Abstract: A product dispenser (10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 760, 780, 800, 810, 820, 830, 840, 850, and 860) for attachment to a surface such as an inner surface of a dryer releasably attaches a product (31, 131, 431, 531, 713, 733, 743, 753, 763, 787, 804, 815, 825, 834, 844, 854, 862) to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Griese, John E. Thomas, Jamie W. Lerbs, Steven E. Lentsch
  • Patent number: 7303587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of employing heterogeneous cleaning compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Fine, Terry James Klos, Gretchen Louise King, Richard D. Stardig
  • Patent number: 7299951
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a foot activated dispenser and more particularly to a foot activated dispenser for dispensing a liquid product such as a skin care product (i.e. hand soap, hand sanitizer, surgical scrub, lotion, etc.). More specifically, the foot activated dispenser includes a bladder connected to tubing that is connected to a piston pump. The piston pump is located within a shroud that is removably attached to a wall bracket. The wall bracket includes a bottle retainer for holding a bottle having a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Darren M. Jahnke, Wesley M. Nelson, Joshua J. Lanz, Warren D. Pannkuk
  • Patent number: 7297666
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an O/W emulsion, in particular a PIT emulsion, for lubricating conveyor belt systems in food industries as well as a lubricant concentrate based on an O/W emulsion, in particular a PIT emulsion, of wax esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Küpper, Christina Kohlstedde, Michael Schneider
  • Patent number: 7292914
    Abstract: A system for controlling and monitoring operations of a chemical dispense system from a remote location is disclosed. The chemical dispense system includes a formulator for preparing a chemical product using one or more component chemical concentrates. The chemical dispense system also includes an allocator for managing the distribution of formulated chemical products to a point-of-use such that the formulated products are distributed to the point-of-use by a specified plan or sequence. The allocator may also be used to manage the formulation of chemical products such that the chemical products are formulated based on a plan or sequence. The chemical dispense system includes a communications system that enables system operators to control and monitor allocation and/or formulation operations from a remote location. A method for remotely monitoring and controlling operations of the chemical dispense system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Jungmann, Bruce W. Weber, James M. Zoll, Clyde A. Bailey, Jun Wu
  • Patent number: 7288274
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for washing eviscerated poultry carcasses (12) has a housing (11), a conveyor (15a) for moving the shackled poultry carcasses through the housing. A guide bar (24) tilts the poultry carcasses (12) from a vertical position for spraying by a first set of nozzles (23). The first set of nozzles (23) delivers a cleaning solution (100) at a sufficient flow rate and line pressure, whereby a portion of the cleaning solution (100) is deflected back out the rear opening (12d) of the poultry carcass (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hilgren, Scott P. Bennett, Gabriel M. Miller
  • Patent number: 7285255
    Abstract: A device and method for sanitizing and deodorizing including the selective transportation of a sanitizing composition by the capillary action of a wick to an acidic composition which may be held in a reservoir, or which also may be selectively transported through the capillary action of a wick to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Kadlec, Daniel Tallman, Patrick Kilawee
  • Patent number: 7285169
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a tire dressing fluid to a tire surface is provided. The apparatus includes a tire engagement arm having an applicator manifold and leveling pad. The applicator manifold has an opening for receiving a tire dressing fluid and a plurality of openings for dispensing the tire dressing fluid directly onto the tire surface. The leveling pad is provided for engaging the tire surface and spreading the tire dressing fluid over the tire surface. A method for applying a tire dressing fluid onto a tire surface is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Mattia, Kyle F. Schindel, Brian Chute
  • Patent number: 7284350
    Abstract: A flying insect trap is described including a source of insect attractant light, an insect immobilization device, and a housing partially surrounding the source of light. The housing includes a chassis configured to be attached to a mounting surface, an upper housing pivotally attached to the chassis, and a lower housing that is removably attached to the lower portion of the chassis. In an alternative embodiment, the housing of the trap includes a chassis and a lower housing, where the lower housing includes a lip that surrounds a support structure for an insect immobilization device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Nelson, Paul A. Pilosi, Martijn F. Loerakker
  • Publication number: 20070237568
    Abstract: A system for the formation of a thick robust transparent floor finish layer from a high solids formulation with an applicator device utilizing micro fiber technology. A micro fiber applicator device can be configured to apply a sufficient amount of an aqueous high solids floor finish to obtain a thick robust finish layer in a single application. One system for applying the floor finish can comprise a source of aqueous floor finish and an applicator wand comprising an application nozzle and application surface. Application surface can comprise micro fiber technology in a pad structure comprising a reservoir foam and a micro fiber applicator surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Balz, Wesley Nelson, Brian Carlson, Darren Jahnke, James Gardner
  • Patent number: 7279455
    Abstract: A rinse aid composition and methods of making and using the same. A rinse aid composition may generally include an effective amount of a sheeting agent component, and an effective amount of a defoamer component. The sheeting agent component may include one or more alcohol ethoxylate compounds that include an alkyl group that includes 12 or fewer carbon atoms. The defoamer component may include an ethylene oxide containing surfactant configured for reducing the stability of foam that may be created by the one or more alcohol ethoxylate compounds of the sheeting agent in an aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Janel Marie Kieffer, Steven Eugene Lentsch, Eddie D. Sowle, Jessica Susan Hammerberg
  • Publication number: 20070231056
    Abstract: An applicator tool for applying a liquid onto a surface of a floor includes an applicator and a handle connected to the applicator. The applicator includes a housing having a bottom surface and a plurality of sidewalls. The bottom surface is connected to the sidewalls to define a reservoir. The bottom surface has at least one opening in fluid for substantially continuously dispensing the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven James Lange, Minyu Li, Eric Richard Balz, Brian Philip Carlson
  • Publication number: 20070217947
    Abstract: A method for treating a drain for a device having a water flow system includes selectively transporting a first aqueous composition by a capillary action of a first wick from a first dispenser to a reservoir and selectively transporting a second aqueous composition by a capillary action of a second wick from a second dispenser to the reservoir. The first aqueous composition includes at least one acidic compound and the second aqueous composition includes at least one metal chlorite. The acidic compound is in molar excess of the metal chlorite. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Kadlec, Daniel Tallman, Patrick Kilawee
  • Publication number: 20070212281
    Abstract: A device provides a sanitizing gas, a sanitizing liquid, or both. The device includes a first liquid chemical component, a first container for housing the first liquid chemical component, a second liquid chemical component, a reaction chamber, and a first wicked conduit between the first container and the reaction chamber. The first liquid chemical component is a chlorite and the second liquid chemical component is an acid. The first and second liquid chemical components are brought into contact in the reaction chamber to produce the sanitizing gas, the sanitizing liquid, or both. The first wicked conduit transports the first liquid chemical component from the first container to the reaction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Kadlec, Daniel Tallman, Patrick Kilawee
  • Publication number: 20070193610
    Abstract: This invention describes a system for semi-automatic line cleaning in a beverage dispensing system, said beverage dispensing system comprising at least one tap (1) connected via at least one beverage line (3) to at least one coupling means (4) for a keg or other beverage container (5), said cleaning system comprising additional cleaning lines (8), a control unit (11) and at least one switching means (14) connected to the control unit (11) for switching between a tapping mode and a cleaning mode of the beverage dispensing system. It is preferred that the switching means (14) is designed as an electronic and/or a mechanical key switch so that the system is operable only by authorized personnel. Further it is preferred that the switching means (14) is additionally provided with an optical status indicator (17). Finally it is provided that, irrespective of the location of the control unit (11), the switching means (14) is positioned next to the beverage tap (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Werner Strothoff, Jorg Emmendorfer, Gerold Carlhoff, Frank-Rainer Schuster
  • Patent number: 7250393
    Abstract: A fabric treatment composition is provided. The fabric treatment composition includes a fabric treatment agent and a carrier component for containing the fabric treatment agent in a solid form during operation conditions in a dryer. The fabric treatment composition is constructed for transferring the composition to wet fabric as a result of solubilizing the fabric treatment composition by contacting the fabric treatment composition with the wet fabric during a drying operation in a dryer. A method for treating fabric is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Lentsch, Victor F. Man, Jaclyn J. Tilleskjor, Stephan M. Hubig, Terry J. Klos
  • Patent number: 7250086
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment method for dispensing a use solution from a solid product into a dishwashing machine includes placing a solid product in a dispenser. The product dispenser (10) for dispensing a use solution from a solid product includes a chamber (11) having a front (12), a back (15), and a bottom (16). The chamber (11) defines a cavity (20) configured and arranged to receive a solid product and a diluent. An inlet (21) proximate the back (15) of the chamber (11) is configured and arranged to receive the diluent, and an outlet portion (26) is in fluid communication with the inlet (21). The outlet portion (26) spans a length of the back (15) and includes a plurality of apertures (27) along the length of the back (15). The plurality of apertures (27) allows diluent to fan out along the back (15), flow down the back (15), and cascade evenly with relatively even pressure from proximate the back (15) toward proximate the front (12) of the chamber (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John P. Furber, Yvonne M. Killeen
  • Patent number: 7247210
    Abstract: A method for treating CIP equipment is provided according to the present invention. The CIP equipment includes process equipment. The method includes steps of treating the CIP equipment with a multiple phase treating composition comprising a treating liquid phase and a treating gaseous phase and rinsing the CIP equipment with a multiple phase rinsing composition comprising a rinsing liquid phase and a rinsing gaseous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Staub, Mark R. Altier, Paul F. Schacht, Robert D. P. Hei, Gabriel M. Miller, Thomas L. Harris, Peter J. Fernholz
  • Publication number: 20070163966
    Abstract: A food processing effluent refurbishing system of the present invention refurbishes effluent water in a first and a second food processing loop. The system includes first and second circulation systems, first and second balance tanks, and a side stream. The first circulation system circulates water through the first food processing loop. The first balance tank connected to the first circulation system refurbishes effluent water circulating through the first food processing loop. The second circulation system circulates water through the second food processing loop. The second balance tank connected to the second circulation system refurbishes effluent water circulating through the second food processing loop. The side stream connects the first and second circulation systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: John Hilgren, Roger Tippett, Scott Burnett
  • Publication number: 20070166441
    Abstract: A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Chandler Adams, Claudie Warf, Roger Tippett