Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Wierenga

Thomas J. Wierenga 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: 5968889
    Abstract: Disclosed are detergent compositions comprising a suds inhibiting amount of a synergistic antifoaming combination, and preferably further comprising a high-sudsing surfactant such as an amine oxide surfactant. The antifoaming combination consists of a carboxylated poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol cosurfactant and a silicone antifoaming agent in a weight ratio of from about 1:50 to about 1000:1. Both individual elements of the antifoaming combination are known. The carboxylated poly(oxyalkylated) alcohol has the formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrocarbon-containing group having from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms; each R' is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, methyl and carboxylic acid-containing groups having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms wherein the cosurfactant contains at least one such carboxylic acid-containing group; M is selected from the group of hydrogen and sulfate; x is a number from about 3 to about 75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Wierenga
  • Patent number: 5399296
    Abstract: Disclosed are solid, concentrated, amine oxide surfactant compositions containing amine oxide- maleic acid salts. The molar ratio of maleic acid to amine oxide in such salts is about a 1:1. The salts are soluble in water at 25.degree. C. at a pH of above the pKa of the amine oxide. Also disclosed is a process for preparing such solid amine oxide surfactant compositions, which process comprises admixing maleic acid and amine oxide surfactants in at least about a 1:1 molar ratio, at a pH of at least about 1 units less than the pKa of the amine oxide, to thereby form a visible precipitate therein. The precipitate is separated from the mixture, preferably by mechanical means, and dried. The dried precipitate is a maleic acid-amine oxide salt which can be incorporated into cleaning products, especially solid or granular cleaning products, as a solid, concentrated source of amine oxide surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wierenga, Raymond D. Young
  • Patent number: 5389306
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making solid formulations containing amine oxide surfactants. Maleic acid, or a water soluble salt thereof, is admixed with an aqueous liquid amine oxide formulation, which formulation preferably contains from about 20% to about 40% by weight of an amine oxide surfactant. The molar ratio of maleic acid to amine oxide surfactant is at least about 1:1. Admixture pH is maintained at or below, or reduced to at least, about 1 unit below the pKa of the amine oxide to form a visible precipitate therein. The precipitate is separated from the mixture, preferably by mechanical means, and dried. The dried precipitate is a maleic acid-amine oxide salt which can be incorporated into cleaning products, especially solid or granular cleaning products, as a source of amine oxide surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wierenga, Raymond D. Young
  • Patent number: 5002681
    Abstract: A pouched, detergent-compatible, through-the-wash, dryer-released, jumbo particulate fabric softening composition. The particle size of this particulate is from about 5 mm to about 30 mm, and preferably at least 10 mm. The low viscoisty jumbo particulate fabric softener is made to survive the wash more so than comparable smaller particulates and release more in the dryer than higher viscosity softener. The softener particulate of this invention has a low viscosity at about its melting point for good softener transferability from the pouch to the fabric, superior release in the dryer, and reduced residual pouch staining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wierenga, Charles A. Hensley, Ricky A. Pollard, Bernard K. Kremer
  • Patent number: 4954285
    Abstract: Perfume particles which are especially useful when incorporated into a fabric softening composition are formed by adsorbing a perfume composition onto silica particles. Those particles having a diameter of greater than about one micron also can be used to reduce the shiny appearance of visible softener spots which occasionally are present on fabrics treated with said fabric softening compositions and to maintain a relatively constant viscosity of the molten softening composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Wierenga, Joseph M. Ladd, Jr., Russell J. Merz, Alyce E. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 4911851
    Abstract: Fabric softener particles comprising an inner core of fabric softening composition and an outer coating completely surrounding said core. The outer coating is substantially water-insoluble and protects the inner core from dissolving when present in a typical fabric laundering operation, but releases the softener composition to the fabrics when the fabrics are dried in a heated dryer. The particles contain water-insoluble particulate materials, e.g., silica particles, having a diameter of greater than about one micron to reduce the shiny appearance of visible softener spots which occasionally are present on fabrics treated with said fabric softener particles and to maintain a relatively constant viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ladd, Jr., Michelle F. Mellea, Thomas J. Wierenga
  • Patent number: 4898680
    Abstract: Fabric softener particles comprising an inner core of fabric softening composition and an outer coating completely surrounding said core. The outer coating is substantially water-insoluble and protects the inner core from dissolving when present in a typical fabric laundering operation, but releases the softener composition to the fabrics when the fabrics are dried in a heated dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: The Proctor & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Allen D. Clauss, Gayle E. Culver, David M. Piatt, Thomas J. Wierenga
  • Patent number: 4828746
    Abstract: Fabric softener particles comprising an inner core of fabric softening composition and an outer coating completely surrounding said core. The outer coating is substantially water-insoluble and protects the inner core from dissolving when present in a typical fabric laundering operation, but releases the softener composition to the fabrics when the fabrics are dried in a heated dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Allen D. Clauss, Gayle E. Culver, David M. Piatt, Thomas J. Wierenga