Patents by Inventor Mark Levitt

Mark Levitt 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: 20050199272
    Abstract: A concentrate and a ready-to-use or diluted formulation for an aqueous vehicle cleaner can remove a wide range of different types of traffic film using either low pressure application, hand pressure application, water jet spray apparatus, clean-in-place systems or other manual or mechanical washing systems. The compositions may comprise, for example, one or more solutions that each or collectively contain or comprises: a) at least one anionic surfactant; b) at least one poly[oxyalkylene] ammonium cationic surfactant; and an alkaline agent. Optional additional ingredients may comprise at least one polycarboxylic acid chelating agent (preferably an aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent), at least one non-ionic or amphoteric surfactant, at least one hydrotrope, inorganic and/or organic acids and at least one silicate. The alkaline agent may provide a pH (when the finished product is diluted to 0.5 to 5% by weight in water) will be between about 9 to 13.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Applicant: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Levitt, Terry Klos, Michael Besse, Robert Hei, Jerry Hoyt, Cathleen O'Connor, Victor Man
  • Publication number: 20050153140
    Abstract: A jobsite-renewable multilayer floor finish system has an undercoat employing a first hardening system, an autohardenable (e.g., two-part) topcoat employing a second hardening system, and at least one initiator for the topcoat hardening system in at least the undercoat. The initiator increases the topcoat hardening rate while reducing the topcoat pot life to a lesser extent than would be the case if the initiator were included only in the topcoat. The increased topcoat hardening rate facilitates earlier application of additional topcoat layers, or earlier return of the floor to service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Minyu Li, Robert Hei, Mark Levitt, Lauren Carlson
  • Publication number: 20050153068
    Abstract: Ultrafine zinc oxide can initiate hardening of polyurethane coatings and decrease the coating tack-free time. The decreased tack-free times facilitate earlier application of additional polyurethane layers and earlier return of a coated article to service, and can provide improved floor finishes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Minyu Li, Robert Hei, Mark Levitt, Lauren Carlson
  • Publication number: 20050153141
    Abstract: Zirconiun carbonates can initiate hardening of polyurethane coatings and decrease the coating tack-free time. The decreased tack-free times facilitate earlier application of additional polyurethane layers and earlier return of a coated article to service, and can provide improved floor finishes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Minyu Li, Mark Levitt, Lauren Carlson, Robert Hei, Nathan Damro
  • Publication number: 20050154111
    Abstract: Zinc carbonates such as carbonic acid zinc salt, zinc carbonate hydroxide monohydrate, zinc bicarbonate, zinc tetraamine carbonate, zinc ammonium carbonate, carbamic acid zinc salt and zinc carbamate can initiate hardening of polyurethane coatings and decrease the coating tack-free time. The decreased tack-free times facilitate earlier application of additional polyurethane layers and earlier return of a coated article to service, and can provide improved floor finishes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Levitt, Lauren Carlson, Minyu Li, Robert Hei
  • Publication number: 20050153139
    Abstract: Zinc crosslinked acrylic dispersions can initiate hardening of 2K polyurethane coatings based on polyester polyols or polyurethane polyols and decrease the coating tack-free time. The decreased tack-free times facilitate earlier application of additional polyurethane layers and earlier return of a coated article to service, and can provide improved floor finishes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Mark Levitt, Minyu Li, Lauren Carlson, Robert Hei
  • Patent number: 6916773
    Abstract: Compositions of the invention include: (a) a solvent having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 5 to 7; and (b) a solubilizing agent having the formula: where R is aryl, cycloaryl, heteroaryl or hetercyclyl; R1 is a bond, (C1-C7)alkyl, substituted (C1-C7)alkyl, (C1-C7)alkoxy, substituted (C1-C7)alkoxy, (C2-C7)alkenyl or substituted (C2-C7)alkenyl; and Z+ is hydrogen, Na, K, NR?4 where R? is defined herein. Further compositions include: (a) a solvent having a (HLB) value of 5 to 7; and (b) a solubilizing agent having the formula: where R2 is a bond, (C1-C7)alkyl, substituted (C1-C7)alkyl, (C1-C7)alkoxy, substituted (C1-C7)alkoxy, (C2-C7)alkenyl or substituted (C2-C7)alkenyl; and Z+ is hydrogen, Na, K, NR?4 where R? is defined herein. The compositions are useful in providing stable single phase aqueous solutions when combined with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Patent number: 6900167
    Abstract: Methods of the invention include: (a) providing a solid composition that includes; a rheology modifier, a solidifying agent, and a surfactant; (b) providing a solvent with a first viscosity; and dissolving a portion of the solid composition with the solvent forming a use solution with a second predetermined viscosity, wherein the second predetermined viscosity is greater than the first viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Patent number: 6767881
    Abstract: Compositions of the invention include: (a) a terpene compound; (b) a surfactant; and (c) an ethoxylated aryl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg G. Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Publication number: 20040122112
    Abstract: Compositions of the invention include: (a) a solvent at least partially immiscible in water; and (b) a solubilizing agent having a formula: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Greg Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Publication number: 20040072715
    Abstract: Methods of the invention include: (a) providing a solid composition that includes; a rheology modifier, a solidifying agent, and a surfactant; (b) providing a solvent with a first viscosity; and dissolving a portion of the solid composition with the solvent forming a use solution with a second predetermined viscosity, wherein the second predetermined viscosity is greater than the first viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Greg Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Publication number: 20040026665
    Abstract: Compositions of the invention include: (a) a solvent having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance value of 5 to 7; and (b) a solubilizing agent having a formula: 1
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Greg Griese, Mark Levitt
  • Patent number: 6686325
    Abstract: An alkaline sensitive metal cleaning composition is provided. The alkaline sensitive metal cleaning composition contains an alkaline concentrate and a corrosion inhibitor concentrate. The alkaline concentrate includes a source of alkalinity in an amount sufficient to provide a use solution having a pH of at least 10.0, and a first chelant component that exhibits soil removal properties when used at a pH of at least 10.0. The corrosion inhibitor concentrate includes a corrosion inhibitor component for reducing corrosion of alkaline sensitive metals when used in a use solution having a pH of at least 10.0, a second chelant component for stabilizing the corrosion inhibitor in the corrosion inhibitor concentrate when the corrosion inhibitor concentrate is provided at a pH that is less than 8.0, and a surfactant component for providing cleaning properties when used at a pH of at least 10.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry D. Hoyt, Michael E. Besse, Terry J. Klos, Mark Levitt, Richard O. Ruhr
  • Publication number: 20030176305
    Abstract: An alkaline sensitive metal cleaning composition is provided. The alkaline sensitive metal cleaning composition contains an alkaline concentrate and a corrosion inhibitor concentrate. The alkaline concentrate includes a source of alkalinity in an amount sufficient to provide a use solution having a pH of at least 10.0, and a first chelant component that exhibits soil removal properties when used at a pH of at least 10.0. The corrosion inhibitor concentrate includes a corrosion inhibitor component for reducing corrosion of alkaline sensitive metals when used in a use solution having a pH of at least 10.0, a second chelant component for stabilizing the corrosion inhibitor in the corrosion inhibitor concentrate when the corrosion inhibitor concentrate is provided at a pH that is less than 8.0, and a surfactant component for providing cleaning properties when used at a pH of at least 10.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Jerry D. Hoyt, Michael E. Besse, Terry J. Klos, Mark Levitt, Richard O. Ruhr
  • Publication number: 20030136942
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions including a combination of builders that stabilizes active oxygen compounds when the composition is formulated as an alkaline liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Mark Levitt, Keith E. Olson
  • Publication number: 20030139310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for cleaning or sanitizing carpet or upholstery. Powder, other solid, or agglomerate compositions include active oxygen compound, surfactant, and builder. The methods of cleaning or sanitizing carpet or upholstery include applying to the carpet or upholstery such a solid (e.g., powder) or agglomerate composition or a use solution of one of these compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Mark Levitt, Keith E. Olson
  • Publication number: 20030070692
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for cleaning or sanitizing carpet or upholstery. Powder, other solid, or agglomerate compositions include active oxygen compound, surfactant, and builder. The methods of cleaning or sanitizing carpet or upholstery include applying to the carpet or upholstery such a solid (e.g., powder) or agglomerate composition or a use solution of one of these compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Matthew Jon Finley, Keith E. Olson, Victor Fuk-Pong Man, Tami J. Tadrowski, Mark Levitt
  • Patent number: 6468954
    Abstract: A blood, coffee or fruit juice removing cleaning composition, and methods for using such, which may take the form of a detergent additive or pre-spotter, generally including an amount of carbonate source effective to remove blood, coffee or fruit juice from textiles. In other preferred forms the compositions disclosed herein may include surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Levitt, Kim R. Smith, Laurie Ehlers
  • Patent number: 6440910
    Abstract: A hydrophobic and particulate soil removal composition is provided. The composition can be used for removing organic hydrophobic soils, such as oily or greasy soils, from a laundry item and/or from a hard surface such as an engine part and/or from skin. The composition can be used in a liquid or solid form and can be applied to individual laundry items in the form of a solid stick or liquid spray prior to introduction to the laundry machine. Laundry items can also be contacted in the laundry machine with the pre-spot or pre-treatment composition in the form of an aqueous presoak, preflush, prewash, or other step prior to the cleaning step. The treatment composition can be used as a recirculating liquid stream or bath for the cleaning of hard surfaces. The composition includes an ethoxylate component and a fatty acid ester component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Robert D. P. Hei, Carrie Armstrong, Paul Mattia, Wendy Wiseth, Jennifer Layton, Mark Levitt
  • Patent number: 6399556
    Abstract: The ability of aqueous laundry compositions to remove organic hydrophobic soils, such as oily, greasy or particulate soils, from a laundry item is substantially improved by pre-spotting or pre-treating such a soiled item with a treatment composition having a surfactant comprising a unique hydrophillic ethoxylate surfactant with less than two moles of ethylene oxide or a or blend of at least two surfactant compositions with a blended HLB value of about 7-12. The blend of surfactants with this HLB value penetrates soils and renders the soil more easily removed from the item using aqueous laundry detergent. The treatment composition can be used in a liquid or solid form and can be applied to individual laundry items in the form of a solid stick or liquid spray prior to introduction to the laundry machine. Laundry items can also be contacted in the laundry machine with the pre-spot or pre-treatment composition in the form of an aqueous presoak, preflush, prewash, or other step prior to the cleaning step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Ecolab Inc.
    Inventors: Kim R. Smith, Carrie L. Armstrong, Paul J. Mattia, Mark Levitt, Robert D. P. Hei, Wendy M. Wiseth