Patents by Inventor Chau Cao

Chau Cao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6025316
    Abstract: Detergent composition are disclosed which are formulated for use in wash water over a wide range of pH in the washing bath. The compositions contain an anionic surfactant, optionally in combination with a nonionic surfactant with optimal builders and enzymes, and also contain at least one water soluble organic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol, which is miscible with or soluble in the surfactant. The presence of the water soluble polymer leads to enhanced fabric cleaning performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben, Patricia Pagnoul, Patrick Durbut, Guy Broze, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 6020301
    Abstract: A composition comprising: an organic chemical having a chemical group having a dipole moment of at least about 1.5 Debyes and a chemical linker selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, an ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 600 to about 10,000, wherein the molar ratio of organic chemical to chemical linker is about 4:1 to 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Colgate Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Michele Davister, Guy Broze, Patrick Durbut, Hoai-Chau Cao, Thomas Connors, John Labows, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 5972869
    Abstract: A mildly acidic laundry detergent composition is provided for the improved protection of fine fabrics during washing and enhanced removal of generated foam during rinsing in hand wash comprising:a) at least one anionic surfactant; and/orb) at least one nonionic surfactant;c) a rinse-active, pH-sensitive foam control agent comprising a fatty acid; whereby the fatty acid foam control agent remains substantially in acid form at the mildly acidic pH of the wash water so as to be essentially inoperative to suppress foam during washing, and whereby upon rinsing of the laundry with tap water having a pH of from about 7.5 to 8.5 at least of portion of said fatty acid is converted to a soap which functions to suppress foam during rinsing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben, Patricia Pagnoul
  • Patent number: 5955407
    Abstract: A composition comprising: an organic chemical having a chemical group having a dipole moment of at least about 1.5 Debyes and a chemical linker selected from the group consisting of carbovlic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, an ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 600 to about 10,000, wherein the molar ratio of organic chemical to chemical linker is about 4:1 to 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Michele Davister, Guy Broze, Patrick Durbut, Hoai-Chau Cao, Thomas Connors, John Labows, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 5948745
    Abstract: Detergent compositions are disclosed which are formulated for use in wash water over a wide range of pH in the washing bath. The compositions contain a surfactant mixture comprised of an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant optionally further including a nonionic surfactant with optional builders and enzymes, and also contain at least one water soluble organic polymer, such as polyethylene glycol, which is miscible with or soluble in the surfactant mixture. The presence of the water soluble polymer leads to enhanced fabric cleaning performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben, Patricia Pagnoul, Patrick Durbut, Guy Broze, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 5922664
    Abstract: Aqueous detergent concentrates containing a mixture of two or more surfactants having a differing resistance to electrolytic salting out in the form of micellar solutions and having pourable viscosities are converted into lamellar solutions upon dilution with water where the dispersion contains a viscosity promoting electrolyte present at a narrow range of concentration. Transformation from the micellar phase to the lamellar phase produces an increase in viscosity such that the diluted concentrate has a viscosity equal to or higher than the viscosity of the original concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Patricia Pagnoul
  • Patent number: 5854194
    Abstract: A composition comprising: an organic chemical having a chemical group having a dipole moment of at least about 1.5 Debyes and a chemical linker selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, an ethoxylated polyhydric alcohol, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 600 to about 10,000, wherein the molar ratio of organic chemical to chemical linker is about 4:1 to 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Michele Davister, Guy Broze, Patrick Durbut, Hoai-Chau Cao, Thomas Connors, John Labows, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 5733560
    Abstract: A composition comprising: an organic chemical Which has a chemical group having a dipole moment of at least about 1.5 and a chemical linker composition which is an ethoxylated glycerol type compound and, optionally, a compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids having 4 to 6 carbon atoms, a polyvinyl pyrrolidone and a polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of about 600 to about 10,000, wherein the molar ratio of organic chemical to the chemical linker composition is about 4:1 to 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Michele Davister, Guy Broze, Patrick Durbut, Hoai-Chau Cao, Thomas Connors, John Labows, Anne-Marie Misselyn
  • Patent number: 5500151
    Abstract: A heavy duty fabric softening laundry detergent composition, in liquid form, which has been found to be especially effective in cleaning dirty laundry and in leaving washed laundry feeling softer to the touch, comprises certain proportions of a certain amphoteric detergent, such as is marketed under the trade name Ampholak 7TX, anionic surfactant of the higher alkyl ether sulfate type, nonionic surfactant of the polyethoxylated higher fatty alcohol type, inorganic builder and bentonite, in an aqueous medium. Also within the invention are washing processes in which such laundry detergent compositions or components thereof are employed.The liquid detergent described is of a pH in the range of 7 to 8 and of a viscosity in the range of 1,500 to 2,500 cps. at 25.degree. C., and it is stable on storage. The surfactants, bentonite, builder and enzyme (optional) are dissolved, emulsified or suspended therein, and the enzyme retains enzymatic activity even after normal storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben
  • Patent number: 5437810
    Abstract: An aqueous heavy duty liquid detergent composition of controlled viscosity is disclosed. The composition comprises a homogeneous mixture of at least one water soluble anionic organic detergent, at least one detergent builder, an oxidized polysaccharide viscosity control agent, an optional salt of an acrylic polymer as a supplementary viscosity control agent, an optional clay fabric softener and water. The composition is characterized as having a considerably lower initial viscosity than compositions which do not contain the viscosity modifier and exhibit a stability or even a diminution of the initial low viscosity after prolonged storage. As a result, heavy duty liquid detergent compositions having good flowability and stability are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
    Inventors: Eric Ewbank, Genevieve Jonlet, Hoai-Chau Cao
  • Patent number: 5221495
    Abstract: A three component enzyme stabilization system including boric acid, citric acid and calcium ions helps maintain the enzyme activity of aqueous built detergent compositions in accelerated aging (multiple freeze-thaw cycles). The preferred detergent compositions are "softergents" and also include a clay softener, a mixture of anionic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, and detergent builder(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventor: Hoai-Chau Cao
  • Patent number: 4931195
    Abstract: Lecithin or certain other phosphate esters are added to a non-aqueous liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition in the form of a suspension of builder salt in liquid nonionic surfactant containing small amounts of low density filler, such as hollow plastic or glass microspheres to provide stabilization against phase separation and further containing a small amount of organophilic modified clay, such as a water-swellable smectite clay, in which the metal cations are totally or partially exchanged with mono- or di-long chain quaternary ammonium compound to provide a viscoelastic network structure. The lecithin reduces plastic viscosity and helps maintain the viscoelastic network structure over extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben
  • Patent number: 4828723
    Abstract: A non-aqueous liquid heavy duty laundry detergent composition in the form of a suspension of builder salt in liquid nonionic surfactant is stabilized against phase separation by the addition of small amounts of low density filler, such as hollow plastic or glass microspheres. The low density particulate filler is added in an amount to equalize the densities of the continuous liquid phase and the dispersed phase. Further stabilization against phase separation under strong vibration conditions is provided by addition of a small amount of organophilic modified clay, such as a water-swellable smectite clay in which the metal cations are total or partially exchanged with mono- or di-long chain quaternary ammonium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Hoai-Chau Cao, Marie-Christine Houben, Michel Julemont