Patents by Inventor Thomas James Wierenga

Thomas James 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: 6812195
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a grease-cutting detergent composition that exhibits a stable foaming profile when used with non-enclosed automatic dishwashers. The composition can be sold in a concentrated form or in ready-to-use (RTU) diluted form. The concentrated compositions are formulated to be diluted with water before use. The RTU formulas are intended for as-is usage. In one embodiment the concentrated compositions comprises a) from about 0.25% to about 10% of a surfactant, b) from about 4% to about 8% of an alkalinity source, c) from about 0.1% to about 4.0% of a hydrotrope, d) from about 0.001% to about 2.0% of a builder, and e) from about 0.01% to about 3.0% of a thickener. In another embodiment an RTU formulation comprises a) from about 50 ppm to about 80 ppm of a surfactant, b) from about 45 ppm to about 75 ppm of an alkalinity source, c) from about 20 ppm to about 45 ppm of a hydrotrope, d) from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, James August Weikel
  • Publication number: 20030114329
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a grease-cutting detergent composition that exhibits a stable foaming profile when used with non-enclosed automatic dishwashers. The composition can be sold in a concentrated form or in ready-to-use (RTU) diluted form. The concentrated compositions are formulated to be diluted with water before use. The RTU formulas are intended for as-is usage. In one embodiment the concentrated compositions comprises a) from about 0.25% to about 10% of a surfactant, b) from about 4% to about 8% of an alkalinity source, c) from about 0.1% to about 4.0% of a hydrotrope, d) from about 0.001% to about 2.0% of a builder, and e) from about 0.01% to about 3.0% of a thickener. In another embodiment an RTU formulation comprises a) from about 50 ppm to about 80 ppm of a surfactant, b) from about 45 ppm to about 75 ppm of an alkalinity source, c) from about 20 ppm to about 45 ppm of a hydrotrope, d) from about 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, James August Weikel
  • Patent number: 6323170
    Abstract: No-rinse floor cleaning compositions which provide improved burnish response to finished floors are sold in concentrated form or in diluted, ready to use form. The concentrated compositions when diluted with water comprise from about 100 ppm to about 750 ppm of an amine oxide surfactant, from about 0 ppm to about 650 ppm of a nonionic surfactant, and from about 1 ppm to about 40 ppm of a silicone antifoam agent. These floor cleaning compositions are substantially free of harsh chemicals and are particularly suitable for use on highly polished floors in commercial environments where daily burnishing is most often utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Co.
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, Jeffrey Scott Weaver
  • Patent number: 6255270
    Abstract: Mildly acidic liquid hard surface cleaning concentrated compositions comprise: a) from 0.5 to 40 parts of an amine oxide detergent; preferably 1 to 25 parts; b) from 1 to 30 parts of a quaternary disinfectant (quat); preferably 2 to 16 parts; c) an effective amount of an acidifying agent; preferably 0.05 part to 10 parts; and d) an effective amount of an electrolytic disinfecting booster; preferably 0.5 to 12 parts; wherein said compositions have a pH of from 3 to less than 7 and wherein when used the concentrated compositions are diluted with water at a ratio of concentrate to water of 1:1 to 1:600, preferably 1:30 to 1:260 by volume, to provide superior, no-rinse ready-to-use cleaning and disinfecting compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Bruce Barger, Thomas James Wierenga
  • Patent number: 5990064
    Abstract: Hard surface cleaning compositions which cause little or no vinyl staining comprise from about 1% to about 60% of an amine oxide detergent surfactant having the formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 R.sup.3 NO, wherein R.sup.1 has from about 8 to about 30 carbon atoms, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each individually has from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms; an aqueous carrier liquid; an amine; and no more than about 2% anionic surfactant. At least a portion of the amine is protonated, and the molar ratio of protonated amine to amine oxide is at least 0.1:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, Bruce Barger
  • Patent number: 5977054
    Abstract: Disclosed are mildly acidic liquid compositions for use in cleaning hard surfaces. The compositions contain from about 1% to about 60% of an amine oxide detergent surfactant, an aqueous carrier liquid, and an acidifying agent having a pK.sub.a of less than about 6.0. The compositions contain enough of the acidifying agent to protonate at least about 10% of the amine oxide species within the compositions and to provide a composition pH of between about 3 and 7. These no-rinse liquid hard surface cleaning compositions have excellent cleaning properties, they do not leave a visible residue when they dry, and they cause minimal or no staining of vinyl surfaces. Also disclosed are a method for cleaning vinyl surfaces using the liquid compositions, and non-liquid compositions from which the mildly acidic liquid compositions can easily be obtained by adding an aqueous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Thomas James Wierenga
  • Patent number: 5965514
    Abstract: Concentrated mildly acidic hard surface cleaning compositions having a superior combination of cleaning and disinfecting comprise, by weight of concentrated composition:from about 0.5 to about 40% amine oxide detergent;from about 0 to about 4% nitrogen-containing chelant; andfrom about 1 to about 30% quaternary disinfectant.When the concentrated composition is diluted to form a diluted composition having a concentration of amine oxide of 0.5%, at least 10% of the amine oxide detergent within the diluted composition is protonated; the diluted composition has a surface tension of about 27 dynes per cm.sup.2 or less and a pH of from about 3 to about 7. Diluted cleaning compositions prepared from the concentrated compositions comprise from about 40 ppm to about 12,500 ppm of an amine oxide detergent, and from about 50 ppm to about 1500 ppm of a quaternary disinfectant (quat), and have a surface tension of about 27 dynes per cm.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, Bruce Barger
  • Patent number: 5919312
    Abstract: Composition for cleaning cooking surfaces comprises, by weight, from about 0.5% to about 10% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is H, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, 2-hydroxyl ethyl or 2-hydroxy propyl; R.sub.2 is a C.sub.5 -C.sub.31 hydrocarbyl; and Z is a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with at least 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylated derivative of the polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl wherein at least one of the hydroxyls is alkoxylated; from about 0% to about 10% of a surfactant selected from the group consisting of amine oxide surfactants having the formula:R.sub.3 R.sub.4 R.sub.5 N.fwdarw.Owherein R.sub.3 is an alkyl having from about 8 to about 16 carbon atoms, and R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are each independently methyl or ethyl; and mixtures thereof; from about 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, James August Weikel, David Charles Underwood
  • Patent number: 5691291
    Abstract: Disclosed are hard surface cleaning compositions comprising a) from about 1% to about 60% of an amine oxide detergent surfactant, b) an aqueous carrier liquid, and c) a protonated amine. When used to clean a vinyl surface, these compositions cause minimal or no staining of the vinyl surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wierenga, Bruce Barger