Patents Assigned to Unilever Patent Holdings
  • Patent number: 5789010
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method of reducing the organoleptic effect of undesirable aldehydic components in a triglyceride or derivative thereof by addition of a reaction product of an amine and an organoleptically acceptable aldehyde. The triglyceride may be a food or food component such as an edible fat or a surface active agent such as a detergent. The reaction product may be incorporated in the perfume or flavour to be added to the triglyceride or derivative thereof without distorting their organoleptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: John Martin Behan, Keith Douglas Perring, Brian James Willis
  • Patent number: 5786442
    Abstract: A polyester mixture is prepared composed of a diol, a dicarboxylic acid and optionally a monofunctional compound as a chain stopper, in which there is less than 3 wt. % of compounds having a molecular weight of up to 800. The process preferably involves stripping off volatile components from the mixture, for example by molecular distillation. The mixture may be used for forming shaped plastic objects for use in car interiors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventor: Johan Harmsen
  • Patent number: 5783244
    Abstract: The invention relates to flavoring compositions characterized by an effective amount of gamma-jasmolactone having the formula ##STR1## as well as the use of these flavorings or gamma-jasmolactone per se for imparting, enhancing or improving the flavor, in particular the fruity character of foodstuffs and drinks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Anton Vlas, Hans Julius Wille
  • Patent number: 5766656
    Abstract: A fresh renneted cheese having a pH value of 6.7 or below and in particular between 6.0 and 5.0 having a hydrocolloid structure which has not developed before the casein network of the cheese has developed. A method of preparing this cheese comprises adding a hydrocoloid before renneting but controlling the conditions such that the hydrocolloid network does not develop before the casein network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Janos Bodor, Maria Anna Geluk
  • Patent number: 5767364
    Abstract: A sequence encoding an enzyme having a xyloglucan-specific endo-(1-4)-beta-D-glucanase activity, and functional equivalents thereof, is disclosed. Also disclosed are vectors comprising such sequences, and transgenic plants into which such sequences have been introduced, a method of altering the characteristics of a plant, and a method of producing an enzyme having the activity defined above by means of recombinant DNA technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Jacqueline de Silva, Carl D. Jarman, David A. Arrowsmith, John S. G. Reid, Mary E. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5763741
    Abstract: A soft-milling wheat which produces dough having exceptionally low visco-elasticity is provided by breeding from a variety having Glu-Dl double null trait, such as the landrace "Nap Hal". The wheat can be used in the manufacture of biscuits and wafers without the need to treat the flour with agents such as sodium metabisulphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV
    Inventor: Peter Ivor Payne
  • Patent number: 5747086
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microwaveable food product composite containing a coating food product and a mode filtering structure wherein the food product has a crumb coating having an average crumb size of greater than 1.5 mm and an air gap of from 1 to 6 mm between the food product and the mode filtering structure such that the electric field strength generated within the mode filtering structure, when used in a commercially available microwave oven, is greater than 20 kV/m, but below the breakdown voltage of air. Such composite products are useful in enhancing the heating of the surface layer of the coated food product by a microwave energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: John Richard Bows, Renoo Avinash Blindt, Robert Hurling, James Thomas Mullin
  • Patent number: 5741672
    Abstract: The structural genes and their regulatory DNA sequences of an alcohol oxidase (MOX) and a dihydroxyacetone synthase (DHAS) of Hansenula polymorpha have been isolated and the nucleotide sequences determined. The invention relates to the use of the MOX gene, as well as the use of the regulatory DNA sequences of MOX and/or DAS in combination with the MOX gene, optionally after modification thereof, or other oxidase genes, or other genes, to produce engineered microorganisms, 0in particular yeasts. Said engineered microorganisms can produce oxidases or other enzymes in yields that allow industrial application on a large scale. Moreover, said engineered microorganisms can produce oxidases having improved properties with respect to their application in oxidation reactions and/or in bleaching and detergent products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Adrianus M. Ledeboer, Jan Maat, Cornelis T. Verrips, Christiaan Visser, Zbigniew A. Janowicz, Cornelis P. Hollenberg
  • Patent number: 5728380
    Abstract: A strain of Enterococcus faecium, deposited as NCIMB 40371, has valuable probiotic properties and is particularly effective in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in human patients. The strain can be used in the manufacture of human foodstuffs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: William Dennis Allen, Margaret Anneli Linggood, Philip Porter
  • Patent number: 5714449
    Abstract: A non-aqueous liquid cleaning composition comprising a non-aqueous organic solvent, particles of solid material dispersed in the solvent and a dispersant, wherein the dispersant is a hydrophobically modified material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Bernard Donker, Pieter Versluis
  • Patent number: 5711941
    Abstract: The invention concerns perfumed underarm hygiene products containing perfume encapsulated in a film forming encapsulation material showing improved re-encapsulating properties as evidenced by the "perfume re-encapsulation test. The underarm hygiene products preferably contain 0.05-10% w/w of perfume encapsulates. The perfume encapsulates used contain preferably 15-65% w/w of perfume. The underarm hygiene products may additionally contain a quantity of neat perfume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings, B.V.
    Inventors: John Martin Behan, Richard Arthur Birch, Kathleen Mary Tuck
  • Patent number: 5705144
    Abstract: A composition for topical application to human skin in order to promote the repair of photo-damaged skin and/or to reduce or prevent the damaging effects of ultra-violet light on skin and/or to lighten the skin comprising retinol or a derivative thereof and a dioic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Clive Roderick Harding, Caroline Marian Lee, Ian Richard Scott
  • Patent number: 5705358
    Abstract: Methods are described for the isolation and characterization of DNA sequences from Aspergillus niger var. awamori which are involved in the expression and secretion of endoxylanase II (exlA) by said Aspergillus mould. A process using these expression and/or secretion regulating regions to direct the production and optionally the secretion of proteins other than endoxylanase II by transformed moulds is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Robertus Johannes Gouka, Cornelis Antonius van den Hondel, Wouter Musters, Hein Stam, Johannes Maria Verbakel
  • Patent number: 5698254
    Abstract: The invention concerns coconut cream alternatives, being water continuous fat emulsions, comprising: 0.1-30wt. % vegetable fat, 0.1-5 wt. % protein compound, 0-2 wt. % emulsifier, 0-10 wt % sweetener, 0.01-5 wt. % thickener, 0.01-2 wt. % flavor, 0-1,500 ppm. multivalent cation, upon heating above 70.degree. C. flocculation of at least the protein compound occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Iain James Campbell, Evelyn Mary Moriarty, Yenni Sibuea
  • Patent number: 5696278
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of degummed glyceride oils, which comprises applying an acid degumming treatment to a crude glyceride oil which has not substantially been exposed to enzymatic activity. Preferably such crude glyceride oil has been obtained by heating and pressing glyceride oil containing vegetable material, optionally preceded by a cold pressing step, where the heating comprises an exposure of the vegetable material to a temperature of 30.degree.-80.degree. C. for 0.1-20 minutes, preferably for 0.1-15 minutes, more preferably 0.1-5 minutes, and then to a temperature of 80.degree.-140.degree. C., preferably 90.degree.-110.degree. C. for 1-60 minutes, preferably 15-20 minutes. Residual phosphorus levels of <7 ppm and even <2 ppm can be easily and consistently attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventor: Jacobus Cornelis Segers
  • Patent number: 5657762
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the ovulation cycle of a female mammal, involving regular measurement of basal body temperature throughout a current ovulation cycle and occasional measurement of the level of at least one urinary component of significance in the cycle, the measurement of the urinary component being conducted at predetermined stages in the cycle to check that the level is consistent with a predicted level and thus confirm that the cycle as a whole is consistent with a prediction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: John Coley, Paul James Davis, Philip Porter
  • Patent number: 5656503
    Abstract: An analytical test device useful for example in pregnancy testing, comprises a hollow casing (500) constructed of moisture-impervious solid material, such as plastics materials, containing a dry porous carrier (510) which communicates indirectly with the exterior of the casing via a bibulous sample receiving member (506) which protrudes from the casing such that a liquid test sample can be applied to the receiving member and permeate therefrom to the porous carrier, the carrier containing in a first zone a labelled specific binding reagent is freely mobile within the porous carrier when in the moist state, wherein the mobility is facilitated by a material comprising a sugar, in an amount effective to reduce interaction between the test strip and the labelled reagent, and in a second zone spatially distinct from the first zone unlabelled specific binding reagent for the same analyte which unlabelled reagent is permanently immobilised on the carrier material and is therefore not mobile in the moist state, the t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Keith May, Michael Evans Prior, Ian Richards
  • Patent number: 5654029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to stable pourable emulsions of the type vinaigrette. Stability is attained by incorporating into the continuous oil phase a small amount of solid fat, such as hardened rapeseed oil. The product resembles to a large extent traditional home-made vinaigrette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Auke Jan Heeringa, Pascale Fournier, Gerrit Daniel Harcksen
  • Patent number: 5652006
    Abstract: A method of processing a solid foodstuff, such as a meat portion or portion of plant foodstuff, by a heating and cooling cycle in which the environmental pressure applied to the foodstuff is controlled during heating so that, at a maximum target temperature, all parts of the body of the foodstuff are conformed to this target temperature due to flow of water, transiently in the vapour phase, from hotter regions to cooler regions. In particular, at least when the target temperature is nominally attained, the pressure is set to the saturated vapour pressure of the foodstuff at the maximum target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Ivar Assinder, Robert David Jones, Peter Wilding, Peter Richard Stephenson
  • Patent number: 5643624
    Abstract: An amorphous silica has a pore volume in the range of from about 1.6 to about 2.5 cc g.sup.-1, a mean pore diameter in the range of from about 8.0 to about 20 nm, a surface area in the range from about 450 to about 1100 m.sup.2 g.sup.-1 and an oil absorption in the range of from about 250 to about 350 cc/100g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV
    Inventors: Derek Aldcroft, John Robert Newton, Peter William Stanier