Patents by Inventor Geoffrey Irlam

Geoffrey Irlam 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: 6242399
    Abstract: A soap bar comprises: (A) 30-60% by wt of an alkali metal salt of a fatty acid mixture consisting of: (i) 65-90% soap having 1-14 carbon atoms, which includes 2-15% soap having 1-10 carbon atoms, and which further includes 1-10% by wt soap having 1-8 carbon atoms, and (ii) 10-35% of soap having greater than fourteen carbon atoms of which 0-25% is unsaturated soap; (B) 3-35% by wt. fatty acid; (C) 2-25% by wt. structurant; and (D) the remainder water. The product provides higher and creamier lather than other toilet soaps, and also provides a preferred post-use ‘draggy’ (non-frictional) feel to consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Unilever Home & Personal Care USA, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: John George Chambers, Geoffrey Irlam, Bryan Stuart Joy
  • Patent number: 6242398
    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
  • Patent number: 5656579
    Abstract: The invention relates to mild toilet soap bars, comprising blends of soap with one or more coactives. There is a need for mild bars which do not have the processing problems associated with the use of superfatting agents and co-actives, which can be made without difficulty on conventional soap production lines without substantial modification of the lines and yet provide a product with reduced harshness while maintaining lathering and structural properties. Moreover, it is desirable that soap bars should not suffer from the defect of grittiness and also have a composition which contains relatively low levels of the significantly more expensive lauric fats. We have determined that in soap bars which comprise at least 25% wt. on total actives of lauric acid soaps; as the balance of the soaps, non-lauric soaps having an iodine value of less than 45; at least 5% wt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, Divison of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: John George Chambers, Geoffrey Irlam
  • Patent number: 5030376
    Abstract: A cleaning composition for example in the form of a bar comprises at least 10 wt % fatty acid soap and at least 5 wt % non-soap detergent active wherein at least some of the said soap is in the delta phase. The non-soap detergent can for example be acyl isethionate. The presence of delta phase soap improves the properties of for example the bar comprising the composition. The composition can be made by subjecting to high shear energy a mixture maintained at a temperature of less than 40.degree. C. and containing at least 10 wt % fatty acid soap, at least 5 wt % non-soap detergent active and sufficient moisture to ensure the generation of at least some soap in the delta phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Lee, Craig D. Adam, Geoffrey Irlam
  • Patent number: 4707288
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for mixing water soluble salts of long chain (C.sub.8 to C.sub.22) monocarboxylic acids and water soluble acyl (C.sub.8 to C.sub.22) isethionates whrein the two materials are mixed and subjected to temperatures in the range from about 55.degree. C. up to about 90.degree. C. under conditions of shear. Preferably the materials are mixed in particulate form. The weight ratio of monocarboxylic acid salts to isethionates is preferably in the range of from 10:90 to 95:5. Suitably the present process is performed by use of a cavity transfer mixer. The product of the present process can have a smooth feel both initially and during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey Irlam, Ian J. Smith
  • Patent number: 4666624
    Abstract: The presence of iron in a detergent bar originating from sheet aluminosilicates, e.g. kaolins, may lead to color and odor degradation. However sheet alumino-silicates containing a relatively high amount of total iron are suitable for inclusion provided their free iron content is not more than 50 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey Irlam, Michael R. Lowry, Richard M. Twemlow