Abstract: A thickened, aqueous detergent composition having an aqueous phase containing foaming surfactant, carrageenan and water. Conveniently, the carrageenan is at least half kappa or iota carrageenan, or a mixture of the two.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 18, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 24, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Paul Aronson, Charles Rupert Brown, Robert James Chatfield, Edwin Willis
Abstract: A bar composition comprising about 50-80% soap, about 4 to 35% by wt. free fatty acid and less than about 4% synthetic surfactant. Addition of 1% to 10% organic salt has been found to allow use of little or no surfactant while maintaining consumer desirable properties.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 26, 2000
Date of Patent:
July 3, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Edward Andrew Van Gunst, James Joseph Corr, John Gerard Sheehan, Joseph Podgorsky
Abstract: A soap bar comprises 40-85% soap, 1-40% water immiscible benefit agent 1-40% solid water soluble carrier and 5-25% water. The carrier is initially mixed with the benefits agent to form a premix which is subsequently dispersed into the soap. Suitable benefit agents are oils and humectants whereas suitable carriers are starches, modified starches and water soluble solid polymers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 20, 1998
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
John George Chambers, Geoffrey Irlam, Bryan Stuart Joy
Abstract: A process for forming detergent bars comprising applying pressure to a detergent composition contained within a mould cavity. The detergent composition in the mould is in a substantially fluid or semi-solid state and the mould is substantially full before the pressure is applied.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 29, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Peter Stewart Allan, John Martin Cordell, Graeme Neil Irving, Suresh Murigeppa Nadakatti, Vijay Mukund Naik, Christine Ann Overton, Frederick Edmund Stocker, Karnik Tarverdi
Abstract: A detergent or rinse aid composition which reduces spotting and filming on glassware cleaned in an automatic dishwashing machine is described. The composition contains an effective amount of a water soluble cationic or amphoteric polymer having at least one monomer unit having a cationic charge over a portion of the pH range of about 2 to about 11 in the wash or rinse cycle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 11, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 29, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Alla Tartakovsky, Joseph Oreste Carnali, John Robert Winters
Abstract: A container having a lightweight bottle body resistant to stress cracking, especially useful for liquid household products such as heavy duty liquid detergents, but also for liquid fabric softeners, light duty liquid detergents, automatic dishwashing gels, chemicals, foods and other products. The light weight of the body limits the amount of resource needed to produce the body and the amount of plastic material to be disposed of when the contents have been consumed. In one embodiment, the body includes a multilayer resin structure having an inner layer which includes a metallocene polyethylene polymer. An octagonal shape, ribs or grooves at the intersections of the panels, a drainback fitment, an off center neck, and an in-mold label are optional.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 11, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, a division of Conopco, Inc.
Abstract: A container for dispensing two products kept separate prior to application, for example, surfactant and skin benefit agent. The container comprising two chambers, adhered to each other. Although the chambers are essentially identical when viewed from their respective distal walls, they are adhered to each other at an offset so that from any view, both chambers can be seen. Preferably, the chambers include in their proximal walls complementary raised and recessed portions, e.g., protuberances and depressions, which assist the alignment of the chambers in an offset. A closure preferably comprises a peripheral flange and a wall extending transversely of the flange and including at least two product egress openings. Product egress channels on the underside of the transverse wall may lead to the product egress openings. Preferably attached to the closure base, for example by a hinge, is a closure cover.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 28, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Kevin Joseph Markey, Frank Edward Gonda, James Lynn Turbett, David Scott Laubach
Abstract: A first aspect of the invention is a process for enhancing the activity of an oxidorecudtase by adding to the enzyme, certain specific compounds which are capable of enhancing the activity of said oxidoreductase enzyme. A second aspect of the invention is an enzymatic bleach composition comprising an oxidoreductase and enhancing compounds.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 4, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Ronald Hage, Jiri Hora, Ton Swarthoff, Robin Stefan Twisker
Abstract: A process for forming detergent bars by injection moulding in which a pressure is applied to a partially structured detergent composition to deliver it to a mould. The detergent composition can be delivered to the mould in a substantially semi-solid state, at a temperature below 70° C. and at a pressure at the point of injection of greater than 20 psi.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 14, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Peter Stewart Allan, John Martin Cordell, Graeme Neil Irving, Suresh Murigeppa Nadakatti, Vijay Mukund Naik, Christine Ann Overton, Frederick Edmund Stocker, Karnik Tarverdi, John Colin Wahlers
Abstract: A polysaccharide conjugate comprises a polysaccharide with an attached entity having a molecular weight of at least 5000, the polysaccharide conjugate being capable of binding to cellulose. Preferred polysaccharides include tamarind seed xyloglucan, locust bean gum and enzyme modified guar. The attached entity is suitably a protein such as an enzyme, antibody or antibody fragment, or a particle possibly having a benefit agent such as a fragrance associated therewith. Because the polysaccharide conjugate binds to cellulose, which is present in cotton and other fabrics, paper, etc., binding of the conjugate to cellulose brings the attached entity into close proximity to a surface of or containing cellulose. The invention thus enables targeting of attached entities to such surfaces. The invention also provides a product incorporating the polysaccharide conjugate of the invention. The product is conveniently a laundry product such as a fabric washing product, e.g.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 12, 1999
Date of Patent:
May 1, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, a division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Mark John Berry, Paul James Davis, Michael John Gidley
Abstract: A free-flowing built particulate laundry detergent composition comprises:
(i) at least 27% by weight of non-soap organic detergent surfactant,
(ii) one or more detergency builders, but not more than 7% by weight of alkali metal aluminosilicate,
the weight ratio of surfactant to builder being at least 1.2:1.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 1998
Date of Patent:
April 24, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
William Derek Emery, Andreas Theodorus Groot, Terry Instone, Seeng Djiang Liem, Kenneth Metcalfe, Richard George Smith, Gilbert Martin Verschelling
Abstract: There is provided a bleaching enzyme capable of generating a bleaching chemical and having a high binding affinity for stains present on fabrics. Furthermore, there is provided an enzymatic bleaching composition comprising the bleaching enzyme and a surfactant and a process for bleaching stains present of fabrics.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 15, 1998
Date of Patent:
April 17, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Thomas Stewart Beggs, Mark John Berry, Paul James Davis, Leon Gerardus J. Frenken, Cornelis Theodorus Verrips
Abstract: The present invention relates to synthetic bar compositions comprising amphoteric surfactants (e.g., betaine) in which, by using floor levels of fatty acid soap and floor ratios (minimum amounts) of saturated to unsaturated soap, enhanced processing (i.e., measured as rates of extrusion) is obtained at higher levels of amphoteric.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 8, 2000
Date of Patent:
April 10, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
William Narath, Gregory Ornoski, James Corr
Abstract: A rinse aid composition and method of using it in a machine dishwasher is described. The composition contains a polymer having about 50 wt. % to about 99% by weight of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of at least one monomer including a copolymerizable sulfonated monomer, copolymerizable nonionic monomer or both. The composition prevents the formation of scale in the machine dishwasher.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 25, 1997
Date of Patent:
April 3, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Abstract: A particulate detergent composition having a bulk density of 700 g/l or less and containing at least 10 wt % (preferably at least 15 wt %) of organic detergent surfactant comprises a base powder composed of at least two granular components. Less than 80% by weight, preferably less than 66% by weight, of the base powder has a compressibility (measured at 20-25° C. and about 40% relative humidity) of 17% or more. Preferably one of the components of the base powder is a granule containing a high level (at least 60 wt %) of anionic surfactant.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 1998
Date of Patent:
February 20, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, a division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
William Derek Emery, Terry Instone, Seeng Djiang Liem, Gilbert Martin Verschelling
Abstract: The invention relates to liquid cleansing compositions in lamellar phase. Use of minimum amounts of defined polymeric hydrophilic emulsifier in combination with a lamellar phase inducing structurant has been found to enhance both initial viscosity and free thaw (low temperature) viscosity/stability.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 18, 1997
Date of Patent:
January 16, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, a division of Conopco, Inc.
Abstract: The present invention relates to bar compositions in which an emollient composition comprising thickened entrapped emollient is added to a base bar composition at or during time of extrusion to form macroscopic, concentrated domains of emollient droplets. Addition of entrapped droplets allows far greater deposition than if the non-trapped emollients had been mixed in directly to form chips which are then extruded to form final bar.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 30, 1999
Date of Patent:
January 16, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Gail Beth Rattinger, Georgia Shafer, James Dalton, Michael Massaro, Harry Crookham, Michael Aronson, Terence Farrell
Abstract: There is provided a detergent composition comprising one or more surfactants and a compound capable of binding to coloured substances which may occur as stains on fabrics.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 25, 1997
Date of Patent:
January 9, 2001
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Daniel Convents, Cornelis Theodorus Verrips
Abstract: A system for dry cleaning soils from fabrics comprising densified carbon dioxide and a surfactant in the densified CO.sub.2. The densified carbon dioxide is in a temperature range of about -78.5.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. and a pressure range of about 14.7 to about 10,000 psi. At least 0.1% by volume of a modifier is preferably present. The surfactant has a polysiloxane, a branched polyalkylene oxide or a halocarbon group which is a functional CO.sub.2 -philic moiety connected to a CO.sub.2 -phobic functional moiety. The surfactant either exhibits an HLB of less than 15 or has a ratio of siloxyl to substituted siloxyl groups of greater than 0.5:1.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 19, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 21, 2000
Assignee:
Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
Inventors:
Sharon Harriott Jureller, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Dennis Stephen Murphy