Patents Assigned to Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
  • Customized personal cleansing article
    Patent number: 6902338
    Abstract: A customized cleansing article provides the user with an assortment of one or more of skin cleansing, aesthetic, and skin benefit bars contained within a porous pouch. The toilet bars are characterized by a rigidity index greater than 0.2 Mpa at 25 C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhakar Puvvada, Thomas Morikis
  • Personal product liquid cleansers stabilized with starch structuring system
    Patent number: 6903057
    Abstract: The invention relates to liquid cleansers which comprise water soluble or water swellable starch to structure the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Liang Sheng Tsaur
  • Polymers and their use
    Patent number: 6903208
    Abstract: A substituted polysaccharide comprising ?1-4 linkages having covalently bonded on the polysaccharide moiety thereof, at least one deposition enhancing group which undergoes a chemical change in water at a use temperature to increase the affinity of the substituted polysaccharide to a substrate, the substituted polysaccharide further comprising one or more independently selected silicone chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Hugh Findlay, Christopher Clarkson Jones, Dax Kukulj
  • Dry cleaning process comprising a dry cleaning step and a regeneration step
    Patent number: 6900166
    Abstract: A process for dry cleaning laundry articles comprising at least one dry cleaning step followed by at least one regeneration step wherein said regeneration step comprises contacting the articles with a regeneration composition comprising 0 to 10 wt. % of a surfactant; 0.001 to 10 wt. % of water; 0 to 50 wt. % of a cosolvent and the balance being organic dry cleaning solvent, preferably a non-flammable, non-chlorine containing organic dry cleaning solvent, wherein the regeneration composition comprises an aqueous phase having a pH of at least 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Joop Evers, Machiel Goedhart, Fred Kerpels, Cornelis Gerhard Kralingen van, Pieter Everhardus Overdevest, Hank Robert Reinhoudt, Karin Vrieswijk
  • Fabric conditioning compositions
    Patent number: 6897194
    Abstract: In a concentrated fabric softening composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of less than 30% by weight of quaternary ammonium fabric softening material which comprises two C12-C22 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the molecule via at least one ester link, such as ester quat, improved stability of the viscosity on storage is obtained by including an unsaturated C8-C24 fatty acid, wherein the weight ratio of quaternary ammonium material to unsaturated material is greater than 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Shimei Fan, Gary Cahill
  • Liquid detergent compositions
    Patent number: 6894017
    Abstract: An isotropic aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising: (a) from 0% to 6%, preferably from 1% to 4% by weight of synthetic anionic surfactant; (b) from 5% to 25%, preferably from 10% to 20% by weight of soap; (c) from 0.03% to 5%, preferably from 0.10% to 1% by weight of a cationic polymer; and from 0.03% to 5%, preferably from 0.10% to 1% by weight of a cationic polymer or copolymer comprising at least one monomer unit which is cationic or carries at least one positive charge or carries a dipole moment greater than 3.5; and (d) from 5% to 70%, preferably from 10% to 30% by weight of nonionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Lili Faucia Brouwn, John Hines, Johannes Cornelis Van De Pas
  • Fabric conditioning compositions
    Patent number: 6894011
    Abstract: An aqueous fabric conditioning composition comprises a solid particulate material, perfume and an oil. Preferably the composition is in the form of an emulsion. A method of treating fabrics comprising contacting the fabric conditioning composition with fabrics during a laundry treatment process. The solid particulate material and the perfume in the fabric conditioning composition are used to stabilize the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Jane Ellson, Stephane Ugazio
  • Anti-microbial antiperspirant products
    Patent number: 6893630
    Abstract: Anti-microbial products comprising an antiperspirant active and an amount of transition metal chelator sufficient to enhance the deodorancy performance of said antiperspirant active, are claimed. The transition metal chelator salt improves the anti-microbial performance of the antiperspirant active and the two components can be co-formulated. Particular products are antiperspirant deodorant compositions. Preferred chelator salts have high affinity for iron (III).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Sjaak Landa, Stephen Anthony Makin, Victoria Anne McKay
  • Cosmetic and personal care compositions
    Patent number: 6890522
    Abstract: Cosmetic or personal care compositions, such as for styling hair, comprise a thermoplastic elastomer which is a block copolymer comprising a core polymer having a backbone comprising at least a proportion of C—C bonds and two or more flanking polymers. Each flanking polymer is covalently bound to an end of the core polymer and the core polymer and/or at least one of the flanking polymers is a copolymer derived from two or more monomers. The compositions comprise a cosmetically acceptable diluent or carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean M. J. Frechet, Damian Hajduk, Ezat Khoshdel, Mingjun Liu, Ralph B. Nielsen, Euan Stuart Reid, Keith Leslie Rutherford
  • Process for cleaning fabrics using petroleum ether and water or cycloherome and water
    Patent number: 6884765
    Abstract: A process for cleaning textile fabric without the need for conventional detergent systems comprising agitating the fabric in a composition comprising at least two immiscible liquids, for example, perchloroethylene or petroleum ether and water, having at least one liquid-liquid interface with an interfacial tension of at least 5 mN/m, preferably at least 10 mN/m, and where the concentration of the most polar liquid in the composition is from 10 to 90% by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijaya Milind Bargaje
  • Mild cosmetic composition with stabilized retinoids
    Patent number: 6881414
    Abstract: A cosmetic composition containing a retinoid and having an improved stability and mildness. Especially preferred compositions also include retinoid boosters and a polyhydric alcohol humectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Prem Chandar, Quynh T. Pham, Tak Yu Lam, Yan Zhou, Ritu Verma, Alexander Lips
  • Washing system
    Patent number: 6881714
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning composition suitable for manually cleaning substrates. The composition comprises at least two immiscible liquid phases having one liquid-liquid interface with an interfacial tension of more than 5 mN/m, the difference in density between the two liquid phases being not more than 0.2 g/cc. After agitation, the composition is applied to the substrate to be cleaned, and subsequently friction is applied to the substrate. The composition provides for the required stability after agitation, and gives good detergency, particularly as regards particulate soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijaye Milind Bargaje, Vidur Behal, Kripa Devagna Mody, Glyn Roberts, Paul Johan Birker
  • Fabric conditioning composition
    Patent number: 6878684
    Abstract: Fabric softening compositions with 1-10% by weight of cationic fabric softening compound show a surprising increase in viscosity when a fatty acid partial ester of a polyhydric alcohol at a level greater than 0.01% by weight and less than or equal to 0.45% by weight based on the composition is added and if the resulting mixture is sheared at a temperature below the phase transition temperature of the fabric softener composition. As a result, viscosities in the range 35-500 mPa·s at 106 s?1 can be obtained in a surprising manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Jane Ellson, Mansur Sultan Mohammadi
  • Process for the production of a detergent bar
    Patent number: 6878319
    Abstract: In an apparatus and process for manufacturing a detergent bar, the bar comprises a first distinct zone comprising a first component and at least a second distinct zone comprising a second component. In an injection step, the first and second components are injected into the mold cavity via nozzle means having a first orifice through which the first component is injected. The second component is injected through a second orifice of the nozzle means. The first and second components solidify in the cavity to form the bar. The interface between the zones may be non-planar and/or such that the zones cannot be separated by a unidirectional cut. The first and second zones may respectively comprise detergent and a benefit agent. The first and second zones may differ in texture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Browne, Paul Lloyd, Sudhir Mani, Christine Ann Overton, Frederick Edmund Stocker
  • Wrinkle indicator tape strip
    Patent number: 6875444
    Abstract: A test kit and method for visualizing fine lines and wrinkles is provided, the kit including a transparent strip with an adhesive on one surface thereof and an imaging substrate with at least one darkened glossy area for receiving the transparent strip. Written instructions are provided in the kit. These advise a consumer to place the adhesive surface of the strip against a skin area requiring measurement. Thereafter the strip is removed and placed against the darkened area of the substrate. Topographical features of the skin can be viewed through the transparent strip with the transferred skin image onto the blackened background. A cosmetic anti-aging product can be applied to the skin over a period of time. Beneficial changes caused by the product are visualized through the test strip as periodic measurements are taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Josephine Telesca, Liam Anthony Murray, Robert Edward Gott, Craig Stephen Slavtcheff
  • Stabilization of sunscreens in cosmetic compositions
    Patent number: 6869598
    Abstract: Cosmetic compositions containing organic sunscreens along with a 4-substituted resorcinol derivatives of general formula I exhibit improved storage stability and oxidative stability: where each R1 and R2, independently, represents a hydrogen atom, —CO—R (acyl group), —COO—R CONHR; where R represents saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic C1-C18 hydrocarbon groups; and R3 represents (1) an alkyl group, having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, with or without substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms of a linear alkyl group with a methyl or ethyl group; e.g., R3 constitutes linear or branched chain alkyls, or (2) a group of the general formula formula (II) Where X is preferably H, n is 0 to 3 and the dashed lines represents an optional double bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Ray Love, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Michael James Barratt, Yan Zhou, Prem Chandar
  • Laundry treatment for fabrics
    Patent number: 6869452
    Abstract: A method of reducing dye loss during the laundry treatment of dyed fabrics using a laundry treatment composition comprising a water-soluble or water-dispersible rebuild agent for deposition onto a fabric during a treatment process wherein the material undergoes during the treatment process, a chemical change by which change the affinity of the material for the fabric is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hopkinson, Christopher Clarkson Jones, David Arthur Mealing
  • Composition and method for bleaching a substrate
    Patent number: 6866687
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bleaching composition comprising iodine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Norman Batchelor
  • Stabilization of resorcinol derivatives in cosmetic compositions
    Patent number: 6863897
    Abstract: Cosmetic compositions containing a micronized metal oxide along with a 4-substituted resorcinol derivatives of the general formula I exhibit improved storage stability: where each R1 and R2, independently, represents a hydrogen atom, —CO—R (acyl group), —COO—R, CONHR; where R represents saturated or unsaturated, linear, branched or cyclic C1-C18 hydrocarbon groups; and R3 represents (1) an alkyl group, having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, preferably having from 2 to 12 carbon atoms, with or without substitution of one or more hydrogen atoms of a linear alkyl group with a methyl or ethyl group; e.g., R3 constitutes linear or branched chain alkyls, or (2) a group of the general formula formula (II) Where X is preferably H, n is 0 to 3 and the dashed lines represents an optional double bond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Ray Love, Judith Lynne Kerschner, Michael James Barratt, Yan Zhou
  • Spray head
    Patent number: D505073
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ursula A Flurer, Laura Garza, Lori Brazil Gery, Mark Neuhalfen