Patents Assigned to Unilever
  • Patent number: 5801226
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel monoclonal antibodies, raised against salivary pellicle, which are capable of recognising cryptitopes. They can be conjugated with a therapeutic or cosmetic active agent and can be targeted to the enamel pellicle or to the salivary coat on a developing biofilm on the teeth. They are particularly suitable for inclusion in oral care products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Diane Cummins, Karen Marie Pickup, Larry A. Tabak
  • Patent number: 5789212
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing gamma-lactones useful for incorporation in flavorings and fragrances, wherein a micro-organism which is acceptable for making food grade products and which does not metabolize gamma-lactones, is cultured aerobically in a culture medium containing as the substrate a hydroxy fatty acid having an even number 4 of carbon atoms between the carboxyl group and the carbon atom carrying the hydroxy group. The preferred micro-organism is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Debaromyces hansenii or Candida boidinii species. The gamma-hydroxy-alkanoic acid reaction product of the process is lactonized either in the fermentation broth or after separation therefrom. Especially suitable are 12-hydroxy fatty acids such as ricinoleic acid. The hydroxy fatty acid may be added either pure or as the mixture obtained by hydrolysis of an ester thereof. Enzymatic hydrolysis of such ester may be done in situ in the fermentation broth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Arnoldus L. G. M. Boog, Adrianus M. van Grinsven, Alfons L. J. Peters, Robert Roos, Andras J. Wieg
  • Patent number: 5789006
    Abstract: A method of processing a solid plant foodstuff comprises (a) heating the plant foodstuff using a mass heating method, according to which, during at least part of the heating step, the environmental pressure of the foodstuff being heated is so controlled in relation to the saturated vapour pressure of the foodstuff as to achieve a substantially uniform temperature through-out the solid foodstuff at the maximum temperature to be attained; (b) cooling the foodstuff by evaporation achieved by maintaining the environmental pressure of the foodstuff lower than the saturated vapour pressure of the foodstuff; characterised in that the time the plant foodstuff is at a temperature above 118.degree. C. is less than 29 seconds, and the time for which the plant foodstuff is above 70.degree. C. is less than approximately 100 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Robert David Jones, Peter Richard Stephenson, Peter Wilding
  • 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: 5713384
    Abstract: Detergent compositions are formed into tablets for dispensing. These tablets can be retained in a flexible plastic bag having a rigid opening and tapered midsection. The rigidity of the tablets enables the bag to retain its shape and prevent hydratable detergents from clogging up the dispenser. A preferred detergent formulation is a high-caustic detergent composition which includes a combination of sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium tripolyphosphate hexahydrate, defoaming surfactant, polycarboxylate and a processing and dissolution aid such as propylene glycol. This detergent composition, when tableted, provides an extremely uniform dissolution rate minimizing any temperature peaks that can occur in dispensing high-caustic detergent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Unilever N.V.
    Inventors: Kenneth James Roach, Patricia Anne Anderson
  • 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: 5665587
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modified subtilisins comprising a mutation in an amino acid sequence of a subtilisin at a position selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 27, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 87, 89, 91, 94, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 126, 128, 129, 130, 131, 133, 134, 136, 137, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 155, 156, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 170, 171, 172, 173, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 188, 189, 191, 192, 194, 195, 197, 204, 206, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 247, 248, 249, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 265, 269, 271, 272 and 275. The present invention also relates to detergent compositions comprising a modified subtilisin of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignees: Novo Nordisk A/S, Unilever PLC
    Inventors: Dorrit Aaslyng, Sven Branner, Sven Hastrup, Leif N.o slashed.rskov-Lauritsen, Ole Hvilsted Olsen, Merete Simonsen, Eric Casteleijn, Maarten Robert Egmond, Johan Haverkamp, John David Marugg, Arnoldus Theodorus Anthonius Mooren