Patents by Inventor Karen O. Rigley

Karen O. Rigley 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: 8420586
    Abstract: Cleaner compositions, associated cleaners, and associated methods are disclosed. The cleaner compositions are capable for use in making thickened cleaners that are capable of removing from vertical and inverted surfaces fresh, greasy soils and baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. The cleaner compositions include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, one or more thickening agents, one or more buffers, and as a remainder, water. Cleaner compositions of the invention are substantially free of phosphates and have a low caustic content making them user and environmentally friendly. Yet the cleaners of the invention are surprisingly effective at removing tenacious baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. Compositions of the invention have a viscosity of about 700 cps and are applied using a foaming or misting dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Vinson, Karen O. Rigley, Tami J. Tadrowski
  • Patent number: 8372796
    Abstract: Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. The solid cleaning products are essentially free of unbound water and include an acid, an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant and a builder. The present invention also discloses methods of using the solid cleaning products by dissolving the solid cleaning product in water to form a use solution; and applying the use solution to a floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Karen O. Rigley, Tami Jo Tadrowski, Peter J. Barnett
  • Patent number: 8329630
    Abstract: Cleaner compositions, methods of making cleaners, and methods of use are disclosed. Disclosed is a method of formulating a ready-to-use degreaser composition that has extended to infinite cling time. The method of making the cleaner results in thickened compositions that are capable of removing from vertical and inverted surfaces fresh, greasy and baked-on soils encountered in the food industry. The compositions include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, one or more thickening agents, one or more solvents, one or more buffers, and as a remainder, water. Compositions prepared according to the method of the invention are substantially free of phosphorous and have a low caustic content making them user friendly, having a lower pH than commercially available cleaners. Yet the cleaners prepared according to the method of the invention are surprisingly effective at removing tenacious baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Finison, Daniel L. Moran, Stephen T. Smith, Thomas J. Vinson, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20120165240
    Abstract: Cleaner compositions, methods of making cleaners, and methods of use are disclosed. Disclosed is a method of formulating a ready-to-use degreaser composition that has extended to infinite cling time. The method of making the cleaner results in thickened compositions that are capable of removing from vertical and inverted surfaces fresh, greasy and baked-on soils encountered in the food industry. The compositions include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, one or more thickening agents, one or more solvents, one or more buffers, and as a remainder, water. Compositions prepared according to the method of the invention are substantially free of phosphorous and have a low caustic content making them user and having a lower pH than commercially available cleaners. Yet the cleaners prepared according to the method of the invention are surprisingly effective at removing tenacious baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Finison, Daniel L. Moran, Stephen T. Smith, Thomas J. Vinson, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20110284575
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during at least a first cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during at least a second cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during at least a third cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20110237481
    Abstract: Cleaner compositions, associated cleaners, and associated methods are disclosed. The cleaner compositions are capable for use in making thickened cleaners that are capable of removing from vertical and inverted surfaces fresh, greasy soils and baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. The cleaner compositions include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, one or more thickening agents, one or more buffers, and as a remainder, water. Cleaner compositions of the invention are substantially free of phosphates and have a low caustic content making them user and environmentally friendly. Yet the cleaners of the invention are surprisingly effective at removing tenacious baked-on soils encountered in the food service industry. Compositions of the invention have a viscosity of about 700 cps and are applied using a foaming or misting dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Vinson, Karen O. Rigley, Tami J. Tadrowski
  • Patent number: 7993579
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley
  • Patent number: 7964547
    Abstract: Cleaner concentrates, associated cleaners, and associated methods are disclosed. The cleaner concentrates are capable for use in making cleaners that are capable of removing from surfaces fresh, greasy soils and polymerized soils more recently encountered in the food service industry originating from non-trans-fat oils. The cleaner concentrates include one or more alkalinity sources, one or more chelants, one or more surfactants, and as a remainder, water. The one or more alkalinity sources may be present in an amount sufficient to provide a free alkalinity (expressible as Na2O) of greater than about 3.6 wt % and a total alkalinity (expressible as Na2O) of greater than about 6.1 wt %, based on the total weight of the cleaner concentrate. The one or more chelants may be present in an amount sufficient to permit a use of a water having a hardness number up to about 600 ppm (600 mg/L) or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Danielle E. Underwood, Tami J. Tadrowski, Karen O. Rigley
  • Publication number: 20110065623
    Abstract: Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. Methods of making and using solid cleaning products are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Karen O. Rigley, Tami Jo Tadrowski, Peter J. Barnett
  • Patent number: 7863237
    Abstract: Solid cleaning products suitable for use as a floor cleaner are disclosed. Methods of making and using solid cleaning products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Karen O. Rigley, Tami Jo Tadrowski, Peter J. Barnett
  • Publication number: 20080015133
    Abstract: An alkaline floor cleaning composition concentrate in the form of a liquid and an alkaline cleaning composition concentrate in the form of a solid are provided. The alkaline cleaning composition concentrate can be used to remove fresh, greasy soil and polymerized soil from a floor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Karen O. Rigley, Joseph T. Thekkekandam
  • Publication number: 20080011774
    Abstract: A method of dispensing a first solid product and a second solid product with a solid product dispenser includes placing the first solid product in a product housing of the dispenser and placing the second solid product in the product housing on top of the first solid product, the first and second solid products being different products. A portion of the first solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been partially depleted to a size small enough to allow the second solid product to also be dispensed, then a portion of the first solid product and a portion of the second solid product are dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser until the first solid product has been completely depleted, and then a portion of the second solid product is dispensed during each cycle of the dispenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Kristine J. Williams, Thomas P. Berg, Karen O. Rigley