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.4 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 11, 1992
Date of Patent:
August 9, 1994
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Francis L. Richter, Daniel E. Pedersen, May J. Biedscheid, Dale L. Fredell
Abstract: A unit dose package dispenser (1) including a drawer (13) and ramp (7) such that unit dose packages are urged through an aperture ( 10) and into the drawer ( 13). The ramp ( 7) is elevated from the bottom region (6) of the container (1) so as to isolate the contents of the container from moisture. A cover (14) formed integrally with the container front wall (4) tends to protect the contents of the drawer (13) from moisture in the surrounding environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 1993
Date of Patent:
July 12, 1994
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Barbara L. Fritz, Elizabeth J. Gladfelter, Tina O. Outlaw
Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing solid rinse aids is disclosed. The dissolved solid rinse aid is dispensed from a dispenser (100) to a solution tank or reservoir (40) which uses the heat of a high temperature warewash machine (10) to prevent bacterial or microbial growth and degradation of rinse aid solutions held within the reservoir (40). The dispenser (100) is a solid rinse aid dissolving unit that is preferably a gravity feed device dispensing solutions to the solution tank (40) located within the warewash machine (10). The dispenser (100) is fed with hot tap water or final rinse water to dissolve the solid rinse aid.
Abstract: The invention is an alkaline cleaning system which includes an alkaline detergent composition having a pH greater than 10.5 when diluted to a 1 wt-% aqueous solution, and an alkali stable continuous polymeric film dispersible or soluble in aqueous liquids covering the detergent composition. The invention also includes methods of using the alkaline cleaning system by applying an aqueous diluent automatically (by machine) or manually through partial or complete dissolution of the film covered solid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 1991
Date of Patent:
May 31, 1994
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Elizabeth J. Gladfelter, Tina O. Outlaw, James L. Copeland, Rhonda K. Schulz, Daniel K. Boche, Jeff W. Peterson
Abstract: A peroxyacid antimicrobial concentrate and use composition is provided comprising a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 peroxycarboxylic acid, and a C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 peroxyacid. The combination of these acids 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 to a pH in the range of about 2 to 8. 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:
August 20, 1992
Date of Patent:
May 24, 1994
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas R. Oakes, Patricia M. Stanley, Jerome D. Keller
Abstract: A drain sanitizing article (9) for reducing microbiological activity in drain runoff areas having a housing (10), the housing having an inner wall (16) defining an inner opening (18) in the housing, an outer wall (12), and a bottom wall (14) defining a central cavity (15) in the housing (10), a tear strip (20) for destructibly removing the housing outer wall and a portion of the bottom wall (14), a handle (30) spanning the inner opening (18) of the housing (10) and joined to the inner wall (16) of said housing (10); and a chemical sanitizing agent (40).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 22, 1993
Date of Patent:
May 17, 1994
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Francis L. Richter, James Wilson, Daniel E. Pedersen
Abstract: A solid iodine concentrate composition comprising an iodine complex, and a solidifier wherein said iodine complex comprises a complexing agent and an iodine source present in a ratio of at least 1.5:1.
Abstract: A solid cast block of water soluble detergent is dispensed by obtaining a solid detergent article of at least twenty liters cast onto a longitudinally extending structural core and placing the article within the spray chamber of a dispenser such that the article is supported on the structural core. The detergent article is then rotated upon the structural core while dissolving solvent is sprayed upon the rotating article. The resulting detergent solution is dispensed to an end use point.
Abstract: A process for creating decolorized areas in dyed fabric, the process comprising the step of contacting wet dyed fabric with a pelletized decolorizing agent and optionally also including quenching the active decolorant present in the decolorizing pellet with a decolorant neutralizer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 23, 1990
Date of Patent:
December 7, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Lynne A. Olson, Elizabeth J. Gladfelter, Wendell D. Burch
Abstract: A system for proportioning and dispensing concentrated liquid products is disclosed. The components of the system's first embodiment are mounted upon a cart (12). A concentrate solution tube (14) is interconnected to a dilution assembly (61) containing an aspirator (26). A water supply assembly (69), containing a valve (75) and backflow preventer (74), is connected to the aspirator assembly (26) when dilution of the concentrated product (13) is desired. A discharge tube (68) carries the diluted product from the aspirator assembly (26) to a container (60). The system's second embodiment has a spray gun assembly (150) containing an aspirator (167), a valve (166), and preferably though not necessarily, a backflow preventer (165). The concentrate pickup tube (114) attaches to the spray gun assembly (150) with a releasable connector (170). The spray gun assembly has a rigid delivery tube (153) for dispensing to large containers (160), and a nozzle tip (180) for attachment to an inlet port (119) of a jug (111).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 10, 1993
Date of Patent:
November 9, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
John R. Spriggs, James D. Decker, James L. Copeland, John E. Thomas
Abstract: A system for diluting and dispensing concentrated liquid products is disclosed. The system's components are mounted upon a cart (12). A concentrate solution tube (14) is interconnected to a dilution assembly (61) containing an aspirator (26). A water supply assembly (69), containing a valve (73) and backflow preventer (74), is connected to the aspirator assembly (26) when dilution of the concentrated product (13) is desired. A discharge tube (68) carries the diluted product from the aspirator assembly (26) to a container (60). Also disclosed is a method for diluting and handling solutions.
Abstract: A unit dose package dispenser (1) including a drawer (13) and ramp (7) such that unit dose packages are urged through an aperture (10) and into the drawer (13). The ramp (7) is elevated from the bottom region (6) of the container (1) so as to isolate the contents of the container from moisture. A cover (14) formed integrally with the container front wall (4) tends to protect the contents of the drawer (13) from moisture in the surrounding environment.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 9, 1991
Date of Patent:
October 5, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Barbara L. Fritz, Elizabeth J. Gladfelter, Tina O. Outlaw
Abstract: A dispenser (10) for use particularly with viscous liquids which has a housing (11) having positioned therein a reservoir holder (31) demountably attached to the housing (11), a collapsible reservoir (26) disposed in the holder (31), a dispensing tube (27) extending from the reservoir (26), and a front push bar member (35) which when pushed, causes a block member (22) inside of the housing (11) to contact the dispensing tube (27) and thereby dispense a predetermined controlled amount of liquid.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 27, 1992
Date of Patent:
September 28, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
John T. Olson, Gerald L. Burns, Stanley R. Weller
Abstract: Stable concentrated liquid and solid antimicrobial lubricating compositions can be formulated which include (-) 5 to 40 wt % of a C.sub.6-24 fatty acid, (-) 10 to 40 wt % of a quaternary ammonium salt, (-) an amount of an alkaline source sufficient to increase the pH of the composition to at least 8, and optionally (-) about 0.1 to 10 wt % of an amine. The balance of the liquid form of the composition constitutes water. The lubricating compositions are particularly useful on the load bearing surfaces of conveyor belts used in food preparation where a combination of effective lubricity and efficacious antimicrobial activity are necessary.
Abstract: A food additive microbicidal composition consisting essentially of a major portion of carrier and an effective sanitizing amount of octanoic acid. Optionally, the invention may also consist essentially of 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:
December 11, 1992
Date of Patent:
August 10, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Francis L. Richter, Daniel E. Pedersen, Dale L. Fredell, Duane J. Reinhardt
Abstract: An air freshener device (10) having a cartridge (14) and a cartridge housing (16) is disclosed. The housing (16) has a sealed first cavity (18) and a sealed second cavity (20) having a first fragrance (22) and a second fragrance (24), respectively. First and second cavities (18) and (20) have first and second opening (34) and (54) respectively. The device (10) includes a housing (12) having air passage openings (70), (76), (78), a fan (82) and power means (80) and also supports cartridge (14).
Abstract: An article comprising a water soluble container containing a multiple use amount of a pelletized functional composition such as a fabric treatment composition, a warewashing composition, a laundry composition, a pot and pan presoak composition, a silverware presoak composition, a floor cleaner composition, a rinse additive composition, a disinfectant composition, a sanitizer composition, a general purpose cleaner composition, etc. The article may be optionally enclosed in a water impervious outerwrap.A method for using the article by placing the article inside a dispenser wherein the article is contacted with water having a sufficient temperature and pressure to dissolve the water soluble bag and the pelletized functional material contained therein in order to form a solution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 9, 1992
Date of Patent:
August 10, 1993
Assignee:
Ecolab Inc.
Inventors:
Elizabeth J. Gladfelter, Sheryl D. Slocumb
Abstract: A formulated attractant for household flying pests and the optimal release rates have been found providing improved attractiveness when compared to prior art attractants including the use of fermented materials or hydrolyzed or other decomposed proteins. The attractant is pleasant and nontoxic to humans when used correctly, and is easily manufactured, stored and transported.
Abstract: Aqueous processes and compositions of the invention for obtaining a "stone-washed", distressed or "used and abused" look in clothing, particularly in the panels and seams of denim jeans and jackets involve compositions that are stone-free that avoid mechanical abrasion of the fabric. In particular, the process and composition of the invention used to obtain the distressed, "stone-washed" or "acid washed look" are free of common pumice or pumice-bleach compositions, used in large institutional-size laundry machines, and rely solely on the chemical action of aqueous treatment compositions. The aqueous treatments can be made from liquid or solid concentrates.