Patents by Inventor Kristen Mills

Kristen Mills 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).

  • Publication number: 20210009452
    Abstract: The present invention is related to methods, apparatuses, and compositions for controlling water hardness. The methods, apparatuses and compositions also reduce scale formation. The present invention includes substantially water insoluble resin materials. The resin materials may be loaded with a plurality of cations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: LEE J. MONSRUD, XIN SUN, KRISTEN MILLS, DOUGLAS J. PRIDEAUX, BETH E. BENSON, KIM R. SOLOMON, KEITH E. OLSON
  • Publication number: 20200331786
    Abstract: The present invention is related to methods, apparatuses, and compositions for controlling water hardness. The methods, apparatuses and compositions also reduce scale formation. The present invention includes substantially water insoluble resin materials. The resin materials may be loaded with a plurality of cations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: LEE J. MONSRUD, XIN SUN, KRISTEN MILLS, DOUGLAS J. PRIDEAUX, BETH E. BENSON, KIM R. SOLOMON, KEITH E. OLSON
  • Patent number: 9896364
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including an inlet, one or more treatment reservoirs containing a first treatment agent that is an exhausted ionic resin that is incapable of performing ion exchange and a second treatment agent consisting of a metal oxide and/or hydroxide compound, an outlet, and a treated water delivery line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Lee J. Monsrud, Keith E. Olson, Kristen Mills, Erik C. Olson, Erin Jane Dahlquist Howlett
  • Publication number: 20160137538
    Abstract: The present invention is related to methods, apparatuses, and compositions for controlling water hardness. The methods, apparatuses and compositions also reduce scale formation. The present invention includes substantially water insoluble resin materials. The resin materials may be loaded with a plurality of cations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Lee J. Monsrud, Xin Sun, Kristen Mills, Douglas J. Prideaux, Beth E. Benson, Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson
  • Publication number: 20160031735
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including a first threshold agent shedding weak cation exchange resin and a second magnesium compound conversion agent water treatment. The system or apparatus and methods according to the invention provide synergistic reduction of hard water scaling and elimination of cementing on the insoluble magnesium compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: KIM R. SMITH, LEE J. MONSRUD, KEITH E. OLSON, KRISTEN MILLS, ERIK C. OLSON, ERIN JANE DAHLQUIST-HOWLETT
  • Patent number: 9193610
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including a first threshold agent shedding weak cation exchange resin and a second magnesium compound conversion agent water treatment. The system or apparatus and methods according to the invention provide synergistic reduction of hard water scaling and elimination of cementing on the insoluble magnesium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA, INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Lee Monsrud, Keith E. Olson, Kristen Mills, Erik C. Olson, Erin J. Dahlquist
  • Publication number: 20130037056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for treating water. The methods, apparatuses and systems reduce scaling associated with solubilized water hardness using a sequence of water treatment agents, including a first threshold agent shedding weak cation exchange resin and a second magnesium compound conversion agent water treatment. The system or apparatus and methods according to the invention provide synergistic reduction of hard water scaling and elimination of cementing on the insoluble magnesium compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Lee Monsrud, Keith E. Olson, Kristen Mills, Erik C. Olson, Erin J. Dahlquist
  • Patent number: 8071528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising conversion agents and methods of using them. The conversion agents of the present invention comprise water insoluble compounds such as metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be substantially free of a builder, e.g., a chelating agent, sequestrant, and/or threshold agent, while still achieving effective soil removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson, Kristen A. Mills, Lee J. Monsrud, Michael Rischmiller
  • Publication number: 20100263689
    Abstract: The present invention is related to methods, apparatuses, and compositions for controlling water hardness. The methods, apparatuses and compositions also reduce scale formation. The present invention includes substantially water insoluble resin materials. The resin materials may be loaded with a plurality of cations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Lee J. Monsrud, Xin Sun, Kristen A. Mills, Douglas J. Prideaux, Beth E. Benson, Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson
  • Publication number: 20100190676
    Abstract: A composition for blood-containing soils is provided. The composition is useful in warewashing, hard surface cleaning, laundry, and in cleaning medical, dental, and animal care instruments and implements. A composition of the invention comprises an iron chelant, a reducing agent, and lysing agent. Compositions of the invention may be provided in concentrated form or as ready-to-use solutions and may be provided in liquid, powder, solid, or granulated forms. Optional additional ingredients include but are not limited to surfactants, pH modifiers, viscosity modifiers, water, builders, corrosion inhibitors, threshhold agents, anti-redeposition agents, aesthetic aids, antimicrobial agents, solidification agents, and processing aids. A desirable feature of the invention lies in its ability to clean blood-containing soils at low active concentrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Melissa C. Meinke, Robin M. Blank, Yvonne M. Killeen, Victor F. Man, Steven E. Lentsch, Kristen A. Mills
  • Publication number: 20090054287
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising conversion agents and methods of using them. The conversion agents of the present invention comprise water insoluble compounds such as metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be substantially free of a builder, e.g., a chelating agent, sequestrant, and/or threshold agent, while still achieving effective soil removal, and reduced spotting, scaling or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson, Kristen A. Mills, Lee J. Monsrud, Michael Rischmiller
  • Publication number: 20080280800
    Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising conversion agents and methods of using them. The conversion agents of the present invention comprise water insoluble compounds such as metal oxides, metal hydroxides, and combinations thereof. The compositions can be substantially free of a builder, e.g., a chelating agent, sequestrant, and/or threshold agent, while still achieving effective soil removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson, Kristen A. Mills, Lee J. Monsrud, Michael Rischmiller
  • Publication number: 20080274939
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating an aqueous system comprising contacting the aqueous system with a composition comprising a conversion agent. The methods of the present invention reduce the solubilized water hardness and/or reduce or inhibit scale formation in an aqueous system. Further, the methods of the present invention impact the chemistries needed in downstream cleaning processes employing water treated in accordance with the methods of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Lee J. Monsrud, Keith E. Olson, Kim R. Smith, Kristen A. Mills
  • Publication number: 20080274932
    Abstract: A composition useful in hard surface treatment and particularly useful in automatic warewashing is provided according to the invention. The composition may comprise a pretreatment composition, a detersive composition, a rinse agent composition or a combination thereof. The composition includes water-soluble cation and a source of alkalinity. The anionic alkaline source is selected from at least one of hydroxide anion or carbonate anion or a combination thereof. The cation is selected from magnesium, titanium, and aluminum, or combinations thereof. The source of alkalinity is provided in an amount effective to provide a use composition having a pH of greater than about 7. The cation is present in sufficient amount to form an in situ conversion agent. A conversion agent is a water-insoluble hydroxide precipitate that causes calcium in hard water to precipitate as aragonite thereby softening the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: ECOLAB INC.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Keith E. Olson, Lee J. Monsrud, Kristen A. Mills, Michael Rischmiller