# US 8,772,403 B2 · Food grade marker > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,772,403 B2 - Document ID: US8772403B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/649,085 - Filed: 2009-12-29 - Published: 2010-09-02 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-27 - Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc. - Applicants: Naresh B. Patel; William J. Zumdome; John P. Keating - Inventors: Naresh B. Patel; William J. Zumdome; John P. Keating - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8772403B2 ## CPC - C09D 11/16: Writing inks - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) ## Abstract A food-grade marking composition useful for marking and labeling surfaces of food processing equipment includes a food grade base polymer, a coloring agent, and a volatile organic solvent. A marker pen is also provided which includes the food grade marking composition in combination with a delivery instrument. The food grade base polymer meets the regulatory requirements of 21 C.F.R. §175.300 for incidental food contact applications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A food grade marking composition, consisting essentially of: about 1-20% by weight food grade base polymer; about 2-20% by weight of a coloring agent; and about 60-97% by weight of a volatile organic solvent; wherein the food grade base polymer is a terpolymer of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and dicarboxylic acid and the solvent comprises a mixture selected from the group consisting of a) about 50-85% by weight acetone and about 15-50% by weight cyclohexanone and b) about 50-85% by weight methyl isobutyl ketone and about 15-50% by weight cyclohexanone, and the food grade marking composition is adapted for use with a marker pen. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The food grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the food grade base polymer is present at about 1.5-10% by weight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The food grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the coloring agent comprises a pigment and a food grade carrier resin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The food grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the coloring agent is present at about 5-15% by weight. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The food grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the volatile organic solvent comprises acetone and cyclohexanone. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The food grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the volatile organic solvent comprises methyl isobutyl ketone and cyclohexanone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rood grade marking composition of claim 1, wherein the volatile organic solvent is present at about 75-95% by weight. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A marker pen comprising the food grade marking composition of claim 1 in combination with a delivery instrument. ### Claim 9 A marker pen, comprising: a chamber containing a food grade marking composition; and a marker tip receiving the food grade marking composition from the chamber; wherein the marking composition consists essentially or about 1-20% by weight food grade base polymer, about 2-20% by weight of a coloring agent, and about 60-97% by weight of a volatile organic solvent; the food grade base polymer is a terpolymer of vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and dicarboxylic acid; and the solvent comprises a mixture selected from the group consisting of a) about 50-85% by weight acetone and about 15-50% by weight cyclohexanone and b) about 50-85% by weight methyl isobutyl ketone and about 15-50% by weight cyclohexanone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The marker pen of claim 9, further comprising a valve assembly for transferring the food grade marking composition from the chamber to the marker tip. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The marker pen of claim 10, wherein the valve assembly comprises: a plug engaging an inner end of the marker tip; a subchamber defined by the plug, a portion of the marker tip, and an inner wall portion of the marker pen; a spring engaging the plug on a side opposite the marker tip; and one or more support members engaging the spring and sustaining the spring between the plug and the one or more support members; wherein pressure applied to the marker tip opens the plug and permits the food grade marker composition to flow from the chamber to the subchamber and into the marker tip. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The marker pen of claim 9, wherein the marker pen is configured as a dauber applicator. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The marker pen of claim 9, wherein the marker tip comprises a material selected from the group consisting of an absorbent sponge material, a fibrous material, a felt material, a brush-type material, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The marker pen of claim 9, wherein the food grade marking composition comprises about 1.5-10% by weight of the food grade base polymer, about 5-15% by weight of the coloring agent, and about 75-95% by weight of the volatile organic solvent.