Metallic ink composition for wick type writing instruments

• US 6,561,713 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2002
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dri Mark Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dri Mark Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Sukhna, Chhman, Reichmann, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/121,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20020197096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 401/198, 401/199, 401/196
• US Class Current: 401/198
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/17 characterised by colouring agents

Abstract

An ink composition or system for writing instruments constructed with a polyester fiber reservoir and a porous oriented fiber nib. This ink system will write on both black and white surfaces. On black surfaces, it will reveal itself as being opaque and metallic almost iridescent in appearance. On white surfaces, a tint of color is observed with distinct flecks of silver. The ink system is composted of water as a carrier, a permanent water-based binder, a colored pigmented permanent water-based dispersion of sub-micron particle size, a unique aluminum dispersion of specific particle size in a special carrier, a humectant, a surfactant that lowers surface tension, an anti-settling additive, a preservative and a base acting as a pH adjuster.

Claims

1. A writing instrument, comprising:

a fibrous reservoir with passageways defined therein and a porous nib with channels allowing passage of an ink therethrough;

an ink formulation in the fibrous reservoir, the ink formulation including a color pigmented dispersion and a metallic dispersion; and

the nib being in contact with the fibrous reservoir and being able to absorb the metallic dispersion solely by capillary action and the ink formulation being formulated to permit the metallic dispersion to pass through the fibrous reservoir passageways and the channels in the nib without clogging or blocking the passageways and the channels.

2. The writing instrument of claim 1, including;

an anti-settling agent to keep the metallic particles in suspension;

a humectant; and

said color pigmented dispersion having a sub-micron particle size.

3. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein the metallic dispersion comprises an aluminum-pigmented water-based dispersion whose particle size is no greater than 12 microns made from bright leafing aluminum flakes.

4. The writing instrument of claim 3, wherein said aluminum flakes are dispersed in a medium of starch and water to prevent settling and a pH of 8.0 and 8.5 to prevent hydrogen gas build up and is stable at 100°

F. to 125°

F. so as to prevent drying out of the writing instrument.

5. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said ink formulation includes, as an anti-settling agent based on a lower molecular weight, unsaturated polycarboxylic acid with ionic activity that will bond with aluminum pigments and keep them in suspension for extended periods in a low viscosity ink system.

6. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said anti-settling agent increases color strength and prevents hard settling of the metallic dispersion.

7. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said ink formulation utilizes a humectant chosen from a group of polyglycol of molecular weight 400 to 1025.

8. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said ink formulation includes a pH adjuster in the form of a base capable of stabilizing said formulation to a pH of 8.0 to 8.5.

9. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said fibrous reservoir is made of polyester that is tightly bonded in a wrapped polypropylene skin and the reservoir is in contact with the nib which is a multi-channel highly porous oriented fiber nib said ink formulation having a viscosity of 5 cps to 10 cps at 25°

C., a surface tension of less than 40 dynes/cm at 25°

C., a pH about 7.0 to 8.5 capable of making permanent or semi-permanent metallic lines on black and white surfaces.

10. The writing instrument of claim 2, wherein said writing instrument is capable of making semi-permanent opaque metallic lines on human skin and nails that are washable with soap and water.

11. A writing instrument, comprising:

a non valve-action barrel with an opening that is closed off by a fiber nib;

a fibrous reservoir in physical contact with the nib;

an ink formulation in the fibrous reservoir, the ink formulation containing a metallic pigmented dispersion of not greater particle size than about 12 microns, a pigmented dispersion to impart a tint, and a binder;

the ink formulation flowing to the nib solely by capillary action.

12. The writing instrument of claim 11, further including a preservative, a surfactant to reduce surface-tension, and a pH adjuster.