Abstract:
The present invention involves the field of numerous types of compounds including tooth whitening compounds and in particular, to specific apparatus which are used to retain tooth whitening compounds and then dispense them either into a dental tray where the tray is placed over the patient&#39;s teeth for a period of time or the tooth whitening compound is directly applied to the patient&#39;s teeth by the dentist or the dental assistant. More broadly described, the present invention includes compound and applicators used to dispense the compounds including tooth whitening compounds, dental bonding and filling compounds, adhesives, finely ground powder, jells, creams and paints.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of compounds which include but are not limited to tooth whitening compounds, dental bonding and filling compounds used to fill a tooth after a cavity has been drilled out of the tooth, and adhesives used to bond two objects together, and in particular to apparatus which dispenses tooth whitening compounds used to whiten teeth, apparatus used to dispense dental bonding compounds, and apparatus used to dispense adhesives. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     One significant problem with prior art apparatus used to retain and dispense tooth whitening compounds is that they are reused over and over, resulting in the possible transmission of diseases from one dental patient to another. 
     The following 26 patents and published patent applications are the closest prior art references which were uncovered in the search. 
     1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,687 issued to Eugene C. Wagner on Mar. 18, 1997 for “Oral Hygiene Delivery System” (hereafter the “Wagner patent”); 
     2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,632 issued to Hidehei Kageyama et al. on Jan. 23, 2001 for “Liquid Container” (hereafter the “&#39;632 Kageyama patent”); 
     3. U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,739 issued to Hidehei Kageyama on May 8, 2001 for “Liquid Container” (hereafter the “&#39;739 Kageyama patent”); 
     4. United States Published Patent Application No. 2005/0063766 to Sou Y. Chen et al. on Mar. 24, 2005 for “Applicata Pen” (hereafter the “Chen Published Patent Application”); 
     5. U.S. Pat. No. 6,918,515 issued to Yoshio Noguchi on Jul. 19, 2005 for “Liquid Container” (hereafter the “Noguchi patent”); 
     6. United States Published Patent Application No. 2006/0275225 to Michael Prencipe et al. on Dec. 7, 2006 for “Applicator and Method For Applying A Tooth Whitening Composition” (hereafter the “Prencipe Published Patent Application”); 
     7. U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,527 issued to Richard Christopher Thorpe et al. on Apr. 10, 2007 for “Twist Up Pen Type Dispenser With Brush Applicator” (hereafter the “Thorpe patent”); 
     8. United. States Published Patent Application No. 2007/0086830 to Hidehei Kageyama on Apr. 19, 2007 for “Liquid Container” (hereafter the “Kageyama Published Patent Application”); 
     9. United States Published Patent Application No. 2008/0274066 to Robert Eric Montgomery on Nov. 6, 2008 for “Compositions, Methods, Devices, And Kits for Maintaining or Enhancing Tooth Whitening” (hereafter the “Montgomery Published Patent Application”). 
     10. U.S. Pat. No. 7,794,166 issued to Jun Zhang on Sep. 14, 2010 for “Press-Type Cosmetic Container with Anti-Press Means” (hereafter the “Zhang patent”); 
     11. United States Published Patent Application No. 2011/0129288 to Junya Uehara on Jun. 2, 2011 for “Liquid Applicator” (hereafter the “Uehara Published Patent Application”); 
     12. U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,778 issued to Tetsuaki Akaishi et al. on Jul. 19, 2011 for “Liquid Applicator” (hereafter the Akaishi patent”); 
     13. U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,449 issued to James C. Wightman et al. on Dec. 11, 2012 for “Click Pen Applicator Device And Method of Using Same” (hereafter the “Wightman patent”); 
     14. Japanese Patent No. JP096151123A issued to Shiraishi Katsuhiko et al. on Jun. 10, 1997 for “Tooth Coating Liquid” (hereafter the “Katsuhiko Japanese Patent”); 
     15. Japanese Patent No. JP2007130437A issued to Kageyama Shuhei on May 31, 2007 for “Liquid Container” (hereafter the “Shuhei Japanese Patent”). 
     16. U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,739 issued to William David Devaney et al. on Oct. 24, 1978 for “Dispenser With Unitary Plunger And Seal Construction” (hereafter the “Devaney patent”); 
     17. U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,005 issued to Franz K. Schneider, Jr. et al. on Apr. 14, 1992 for “Dual Component Mechanically Operated Caulking Gun” (hereafter the “Schneider patent”); 
     18. U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,091 issued to Walter B. Dunning et al. on May 10, 1994 for “Dual Product Dispenser” (hereafter the “Dunning patent”); 
     19. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,760 issued to Christen Simmen on Aug. 2, 1994 for “Dispensing And Mixing Apparatus” (hereafter the “Simmen patent”); 
     20. U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,922 issued to Bernard J. Maziarz on Jul. 16, 1996 for “Caulking Gun Dispensing Module For Multi-Component Cartridge” (hereafter the “Maziarz patent”); 
     21. U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,900 issued to Calvin D. Ostler on Sep. 12, 2000 for “Binary Energizer And Peroxide Delivery System For Dental Bleaching” (hereafter the “Ostler patent”); 
     22. U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,660 issued to Patrick J. Furlong et al. on Sep. 4, 2001 for “Pen Dispensing And Cartridge System” (hereafter the “Furlong patent”); 
     23. United States Published Patent Application No. 2009/0095777 to Frank. Francavilla on Apr. 16, 2009 for “Dispensing Pen” (hereafter the “Francavilla Published Patent Application”); 
     24. U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,980 issued to Paul Mulhauser et al. on Jul. 6, 2010 for “Dispenser for Dental Compositions” (hereafter the “Mulhauser patent”);
     25. U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,983 issued to Dean K. Reidt et al. on Feb. 8, 2011 for “Capsule for Two-Component Materials” (hereafter the “Reidt patent”);   

     26. U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,449 issued to Wilheilm A. Keller on Jan. 17, 2012 for “Dispensing Appliance for a Multiple Cartridge” (hereafter the “Keller patent”). 
     The Wagner patent discloses: 
     “A delivery system for a liquid oral hygiene preparation suitable for tooth whitening, tooth cleansing and the treatment of. The delivery system includes an elongate band shaped body. A supply of the hygiene preparation saturates a fibrous wadding carried in a hollow chamber of the body. At an end of the body, an applicator formed of felt or synthetic fibers is seated. The applicator includes a broad tip and a stem wick which is received in the wadding and draws the preparation to the tip by capillary action. The preparation is applied to tooth surfaces, oral lesions, and the like by pressing the tip against the surface to receive the preparation and, where appropriate, wiping the tip along the surface. In an alternate embodiment, ball applicator is provided and the hygienic preparation may be carried in the chamber without the wadding.” 
     The &#39;632 Kageyama discloses: 
     “A liquid container such that the liquid received in it will not easily spring out from its tip even if it is wrongly operated, comprises a tank portion for receiving a liquid, a knock bar stretching axially movably within the tank portion which is designed to have on its axial tip portion a pump shelf portion whose diameter have been enlarged, an induction bar fixed into the tip of the knock bar, a brush provided on the tip side of the induction bar, and a spring for always energizing the above knock bar and induction bar rearward. On the internal periphery surface of the above tank portion, a plurality of ribs are formed which stretch axially and on top of which the above pump shelf portion can slide, the internal periphery surface ahead of the ribs is at the same level as and continuous with the top face of the ribs and designed as a diameter-reducing portion where the pump shelf portion can slide. The pump shelf portion slidably touches the ribs when it is not biased.” 
     The &#39;739 Kageyama patent is related to the previously discussed patent and discloses: “A liquid container includes a body having a tank portion housing liquid, and a liquid supply port at a front side thereof, a piston moving forward inside the tank portion, a piston rod being integrally connected to the piston and extending rearward, the piston rod having an external thread formed in a periphery thereof, an operation cylinder being attached to a rear part of the body in a relatively rotatable fashion, a piston rod guide being adapted to be rotated integrally with the operating cylinder, the piston rod guide having an internal thread hole which is engaged with the external thread of the piston rod, and a ratchet cylinder being fixed in the rear inside the body, the ratchet cylinder having a bore through which the piston rod is pierced in a relatively unrotatable fashion. The operation cylinder is formed with serrated gear teeth at a front end thereof, and the ratchet cylinder is formed with a ratchet gear tooth which is brought into engagement with the serrated gear teeth and adopted to be selectively protruded or retracted in an axial direction, at a rear end thereof.” 
     The Chen Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an applicator pen 100 according to a first embodiment. The applicator pen 100 is formed of a number of different sub-assemblies that are then combined in an engaging manner to fowl the applicator pen 100. More specifically, the applicator pen 100 includes a body 110 and an applicator assembly 200 that serves to restrict and disperse an applicator material 112 that is stored within the body 110. The applicator pen 100 also includes a drive mechanism 300 for advancing the applicator material 112 within the body 110 such that it is introduced into and dispersed through the applicator assembly 200 to the consumer. The drive mechanism 300 is coupled to a button assembly 400 that permits the consumer to simply advance the applicator material 112 an incremental amount within the body 110 upon manipulation of the button assembly 400, e.g., a press and release action of the button assembly 400. 
     While the applicator material 112 can be any number of different types of materials, it will be appreciated that one exemplary use of the applicator 100 is as a cosmetic applicator and therefore, in this particular use, the applicator material 112 is in the form of a cosmetic product. For example, the applicator material 112 can in the form of conventional make-up, such as an eye shadow or liner, lipstick, other facial products, etc. The applicator material 112 is typically a viscous material, such as a liquid, gel or other material that has some flow properties.” 
     The focus of this Chen Published Patent Application is primarily a cosmetic applicator for eyeshadow, a liner, etc. and not for teeth whitening. 
     The Noguchi patent discloses: 
     “In a liquid container, the dimension of inside diameter of a liquid supply portion is not subject to any restriction, and also a liquid leakage suppressing mechanism that is not subject to any restriction by the viscosity of stored liquid is provided. A liquid container includes a body having a tank for storing a liquid; a supply mechanism which is connected to the tip end portion of the body and has a brush for supplying the liquid; and a drive mechanism for pushing out the liquid L in the tank T to the supply mechanism. A valve which is normally closed and can be opened only when the drive mechanism is operated is provided between the tank and the supply mechanism.” 
     The Prencipe Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “The dispenser 10 is shown as a complete unit in FIGS. 1 and 2. The dispenser is comprised of three sections. These are an applicator section 12, a whitening product storage section 14 and a dispenser drive section 16. The applicator section is comprised of an overcap 18, an applicator surface 30, an applicator surface holder 32, an applicator mounting unit 36 and a delivery channel 34. The whitening product in product chamber 40 is delivered to the applicator surface through delivery channel 34. A tubular wall 20 forms the product chamber 40. Piston 42 forms the upper wall of product chamber 40. 
     The dispenser drive section 16 is comprised of the mechanism to advance piston 42 downward in whitening product chamber 40. This dispenser drive section is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. Rotating unit 22 will rotate while tubular wall 20 of the whitening product chamber is stationary. 
     FIG. 7 shows an applicator tip with a fibrillated surface The applicator tip is comprised of channel 60 having a cross-section 65 which receives the peroxide containing tooth whitening composition from storage chamber 40. Fibrillated surface 62 is the application surface to apply the composition to the teeth. The peroxide tooth whitening composition flows through opening 64 of the channel 60. Applicator surface holder 66 holds channel 60 and is in turn held in place by applicator mounting unit 68. FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the applicator tip of FIG. 7. Additionally shown in this view is a chamber 70 on the applicator surface holder channel 72 of the applicator mounting unit 68. Flange 74 holds the applicator surface holder 66 in applicator mounting unit 68.” 
     The Dwyer Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “A method for manufacturing a cosmetic product applicator assembly includes selecting a disposable handle having a desired design from a number of handles of various designs. Each of the handles includes an elongated, decorative housing with a first end having an opening, a hollow chamber extending from the opening into the housing, and a flattened portion for displaying a word, phrase, symbol or design. A cosmetic product applicator having a first terminal end from which the cosmetic product is dispensed and a second terminal end opposite the first terminal end is inserted into the handle. The hollow chamber is adapted to receive and engage the second terminal end of the applicator in a non-rotatable manner.” 
     The Thorpe patent discloses: 
     “As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the twist up pen type dispenser with brush applicator 1 comprises a body 2, preferably substantially in the shape of a cylinder, having a top 3, a bottom 4, an outer surface 5 and an inner surface 6 which defines an annular space 7. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, material 8 may be within the annular space 7, which functions as a reservoir for the material 8 within the twist up pen type dispenser with brush applicator 1. The material 8 may be a dentifrice, such as tooth gel, tooth paste, mouthwash, mouth rinse, tooth whitener and combinations thereof, cosmetics, such as mascara and eyeliner, hair colorants such as darkeners, like darkeners for facial hair such as moustaches, dyes or similar materials, or skin treatment compositions, combinations thereof, and the like.” 
     The Kageyama Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “To provide a liquid container which includes a liquid supply member that is exchangeably mounted thereto and prevents liquids in liquid supply members from being mixed each other after exchanging the liquid supply members. The liquid container is provided which includes a container body with a tank section to hold a liquid, an applicator coupled to the front end of the container body, a piston which is advanced through the tank section, and a piston advancing mechanism which has a pushing member and causes the piston to be advanced through the tank section in response to the operation of the pushing member. The applicator is removably coupled to the container body, and the piston advancing mechanism causes the piston to be moved only forward.” 
     The Montgomery Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “The first and/or second tooth whitening compositions are preferably disposed in a delivery device 10 (e.g., FIGS. 2-4, 9, and 10), such as a dispensing tube, pencil, pen or liquid stick having an applicator 12, such as a felt tip 14 (FIG. 3), brush 16 (FIG. 4), roller ball, or non-woven pad. In one embodiment, the delivery device 10 includes more than one applicator 12 that may be removably engaged with the device 10. In an embodiment wherein the device 10 is a pen or a pencil, the applicator 12 may be retractable and/or housed in a cap 18. The tooth whitening compositions of the present invention may be housed directly within a reservoir 20 in the device 10 or may be supplied in a removable cartridge (not shown) within the reservoir 20 that may be replaced or refilled. The delivery device 10 may dispense the tooth whitening composition through a transfer channel 21 through capillary action, such as in a flow through pen, or through an actuator 22, such as mechanical piston with a click mechanism, twist button and ratchet mechanism, or push button mechanism, or through a vacuum method of ejection, or through other such mechanical means for transferring the composition from the device to an oral cavity surface in need of treatment. The actuator 22 may be present on first end 24 of the device 10 and the applicator on a second end 26 of the device 10 or the actuator 22 may be present on a side wall 28 of the device. In one embodiment, the delivery device 10 includes a felt tip 14 or brush 16 applicator 12 wherein the inventive composition is dispensed to the applicator 12 through actuation of the actuator 22, such as by a clicking or twisting mechanism. Kotobuke Pencil, Japan, is one manufacturer of such types of delivery devices  10  (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,632). 
     The Zhang patent discloses: 
     “The present invention is related to a press-type cosmetic container with an anti-press means. That is, a cosmetic container adopts the way of pressing to output the material therein. More particularly, the press cover of the cosmetic container is stopped by a block to prevent discharging or leaking the material in the cosmetic container.” 
     Claim 1 of the Zhang patent reads as follows: 
     “A press-type cosmetic container with an anti-press means comprising: a tube member having a sleeve at the one end thereof, the outer edge of the sleeve being disposed a collar base; a rotating tube member being disposed a female ringing slot at the inner edge of the one end thereof, the rotating tube member being female-connected to the outer edge of the sleeve and the collar base of the tube member being slid on the female ringing slot so as to make the rotating tube member be turned around on the sleeve, wherein two axial extending ribs are disposed at the inner wall of the another end of the rotating tube member, a block is disposed between the two ribs, and a resisting member is disposed beside the two ribs; a press cover having two wedging member being extended outwardly and disposed on the two side edges thereof respectively, the one end of the press cover located at the wedging member being embedded at the inner edge of the free end of the rotating tube member, and the one wedging member being disposed beyond the two ribs; herein the block stops pressing the press cover in order to stop outputting material in the cosmetic container and then achieve the function of preventing improper pressing, and the rotating tube member is then turned around, the two wedging members are moved to locations beside the resisting member so as to output the material.” 
     The Uehara Published Patent Application discloses: 
     “The present invention is a liquid applicator which, in its assembled state an applying part, joint, and front barrel are fixed to a barrel body front end portion, the step of an indented/projected engaging portion on the inner peripheral side of the applying part rear end portion is abutted from behind against and engaged with the step of an indented/projected engaging portion on the outer peripheral side of the forward part of the joint. At the same time, an indented/projected engaging portion on the outer peripheral side of the applying part rear end portion is abutted against and engaged with an indented/projected engaging portion on the inner peripheral side of the front barrel&#39;s forward part, and an indented/projected engaging portion on the inner peripheral side of the front barrel rearward part is engaged with an indented/projected engaging portion on the outer peripheral side in the rearward part of joint, whereby applying part, joint and front barrel are formed so as to fix the applying part to barrel body by means of the joint and the front barrel.” 
     The Akaishi patent discloses: 
     “A liquid applicator includes a liquid pressing mechanism 6 for pressurizing an application liquid 4 inside a main body 2 so as to supply the application liquid to an applying member 10 at the front end by the pressing of liquid pressing mechanism 6, wherein the applying member 10 is made of an elastic material, has a valve structure 8 which is formed with a communication path 24 for communication between the inside and outside of main body 2 and can close the communication path 24 by elasticity in the normal condition and open the communication path 24 by elastic deformation of the communication path when the application liquid is pressurized by liquid pressing mechanism 6, and, an ejection opening 24 a  of communication path 24 of valve structure 8 is arranged to front onto the applying portion 10 a  of the applying member 10.” 
     The Wrightman patent discloses: 
     “A click pen applicator device that provides predetermined dosing of the formulation for precise application, and rapidly primes the formulation using the dosing click mechanism to prepare the applicator for use.” 
     Claim 1 of the Wrightman patent reads as follows: 
     “A device for dispensing a formulation comprising: a centerband having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a storage section having the formulation disposed within; an applicator section situated at the distal end of the centerband; and a multistage actuator section situated at the proximal end of the centerband for rapid priming with a click dispensing mechanism with a piston seat having two sets of external threads on a shaft with an unthreaded length therebetween.” 
     The Katsuhiko Japanese Patent discloses: 
     “PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a coating liquid capable of coloring tooth or tooth crowns to white or any other color by using an acrylic resin prepared by neutralizing an acrylic ester-methacrylic eater-based copolymer with a specific compound. SOLUTION: This tooth coating liquid contusions ethanol and an acrylic resin prepared by neutralizing an acrylic ester-methacrylic ester-based copolymer with 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol or 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, and may also contain a color pigment or extender pigment, and furthermore, ceramic(s) and/or a vinyl acetate resin. It is preferable that this coating liquid comprises 10-94.8 wt. % or more of ethanol, 0.1-30 wt. % of a pigment, 0.1-20 wt. % of the above acrylic resin, and 5-30 wt. % of ceramic(s) and/or butyl acetate resin. The pigment is pref. titanium dioxide (optimally, ≦100 nm primary particle diameter on average).” 
     The Shuhei Japanese Patent discloses: 
     “PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid container which includes a liquid supply member that is exchangeably mounted thereto and prevents liquids in liquid supply members from being mixed each other before and after exchanging the liquid supply members; SOLUTION: The liquid container includes a container body 12 with a tank section T to hold a liquid, an applicator 20 coupled to the front end of the container body 12, a piston 22 which is advanced through the tank section T, and a piston pressing mechanism 23 which has a knocking member 32 and causes the piston 22 to be pressed through the tank section T in response to the operation of the knocking member 32. The applicator 20 is removably coupled to the container body 12, and the piston pressing mechanism 23 causes the piston 22 to be moved only forward.” 
     The Devaney patent discloses: 
     “A dispenser for precisely metering viscous fluids from a cartridge. The dispenser includes a cartridge body and a plunger having a piston head at its extremity. The plunger is unitarily configured from a plastic material, including seal rings in the piston head. Each piston head including two such seal rings axially spaced from one another and configured to include sharp peripheral edges permitting resilient wedging contact within the bore of the cartridge.” 
     The Schneider patent discloses: 
     “A dual component caulking gun which utilizes a gun body to which there is affixed a dual component cartridge assembly designed to carry dual component cartridges. A ball screw is journaled within the gun body for rotary motion but locked against axial motion and extends in a direction opposite the component cartridge assembly. A pair of ram rods are journaled through the gun body and terminate at the first end in ejector rams and at their opposite end in a transfer bar that is interconnected to the ball screw by means of a ball screw nut” 
     The Dunning patent discloses 
     “A dispenser for simultaneously dispensing and mixing a pair of fluid products such as chemically reactive resins, from a pair of axial adjacent front and rear chambers. A piston is mounted within each of the chambers and is moveable with respect to the hollow interior of the respective chamber for dispensing the fluid product therefrom. Telescopic movement of the rear chamber within the front chamber moves the pistons synchronously through the chambers to provide for controlled discharge of the products through a front discharge nozzle. A fixed hollow delivery tube extends through the interior of the front chamber and telescopically receives therein a post which is mounted on a rear wall of the rear chamber. The rear chamber has a relatively tight sliding fit within the front chamber so that a partial vacuum is formed within an annular space which forms between the two pistons as they move apart upon discharge of the two products to produce a “suck back” effect on product remaining in the discharge nozzle.” 
     The Simmen patent discloses: 
     “A dispensing and mixing apparatus for simultaneously dispensing from a cartridge into a static mixing element components which harden when mixed. The components exit the cartridge into the mixing element without intermixing as the components leave the cartridge. The initial intermixing of the components takes place within the mixing element. The cartridge is reusable since the components do not become mixed and harden as they come out of the cartridge. The chambers in the cartridge are of semi-cylindrical configuration and have rounded corners. Ribs can be provided on the cartridge for stiffening the cartridge from deforming under extrusion.” 
     The Maziarz patent discloses: 
     “The invention provides a dispensing module for dispensing multi-part adhesive from a multi-component cartridge utilizing a standard caulking gun. The dispensing module comprises a piston actuator and a module housing which when assembled with a standard multi-component cartridge and inserted into a standard caulking gun allows the components from the multi-component cartridge to be dispensed.” 
     The Ostler patent discloses: 
     “A dental bleach storage, mixing and delivery device and related method are disclosed. The device includes a barrel with at least two chambers. The chambers store components that when mixed can form a dental bleach or whitener. A plunger is provided that can be reciprocated within the barrel to force such components from their chambers. A mixing tip is provided for the end of the barrel. The components may be forced through the mixing tip which thoroughly mixes them together. The resulting bleach or whitener is applied to a patient&#39;s teeth where oxygen ions released from the bleach or whitener and will whiten the patient&#39;s teeth.” 
     The Furlong patent is a pen dispensing cartridge system which issued in 2001 and is still in full force and effect. The patent discloses: 
     “The present invention features a pen used, for example, to dispense nail polish for finger nail application. The design is for a unit of use, meaning that the preferred pen uses cartridges, i.e., units. In a preferred embodiment, each cartridge is filled with polish and has a brush head. After the cartridge is used, the user simply disposes of the old cartridge and replaces it with a new cartridge for the next application.” 
     The Francavilla discloses: 
     “The present invention is related to a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes a container; a dispensing opening located at one end of the container; a plunger located inside the container; a push button associated with the plunger; and a drive mechanism configured to drive the plunger linearly inside the container from a first position towards the dispensing opening when the push button is pressed and to hold the plunger at a second position, wherein the second position is closer to the dispensing opening than the first position.” 
     The Reidt patent discloses: 
     “Capsule (10) for two or more components of a material which are to be mixed together, comprising a cartridge (11) comprising an outlet (12), a first component chamber (13) for containing a first component, and a second component chamber (14) for containing a second component, the two chambers (13, 14) opening into the outlet (12); and a piston (15) which at least with its front end sits in the cartridge (11), lies with its rear end outside the component chambers (13, 14) and, when it is pushed forwards, presses the two components out of their component chambers (13, 14).” 
     The Mulhauser patent discloses a dispenser for dental compositions. 
     Claim 1 of the Mulhauser patent reads as follows: 
     “An apparatus for dispensing dental compositions, the apparatus comprising: a) a body comprising a top shell portion, a bottom shell portion, and a chamber received therein; b) a replaceable cartridge having at least two lumens with at least two pistons, the cartridge operable to dispense a component of a dental compound contained within the lumens, and wherein the cartridge is further operable to be at least partially inserted into the chamber; c) an inner mechanical system disposed in the body, the inner mechanical system comprising a rack system, said rack system having at least two racks operable to be urged forward to engage a piston in each lumen of the cartridge; d) a button system in contact with the body, the button system operable to be depressed in a direction substantially forward and in line with the rack system by a user such that the button system engages the inner mechanical system when depressed, such that the rack is advanced a predetermined distance such that a metered amount of the components of the dental compound is dispensed from the at least two lumens; and e) wherein the inner mechanical system further comprises a plurality of teeth disposed on the rack system, and a drive spring and a pawl spring disposed on the body, the drive spring and the pawl spring being operable to interface with at least one of a plurality of teeth on the rack system and at least one surface of the button system such that depression of the button system by a user initiates drive spring to advance the rack system a predetermined distance proportional to the distance between a first selected tooth located on the rack and a second selected tooth located on the rack and initiates the pawl spring to disengage from a third selected tooth on the rack and engage a fourth selected tooth on the rack located at a distance substantially equal to the distance between the first tooth and the second tooth, and release of the button causes the drive spring to disengage from said first selected tooth and engage the second selected tooth on the rack.” 
     The Keller patent discloses a dispensing appliance for a multiple cartridge. The broadest claim is Claim 1 which reads as follows: 
     “A dispensing appliance for a multiple cartridge or syringe, comprising: a housing configured to receive the multiple cartridge or syringe, and wherein the housing has a housing thread and a rotatable portion that has a complementary thread, wherein the housing thread and the rotatable portion cooperate in such a manner that by a mutual rotation of the housing thread and the rotatable portion, the rotatable portion is continuously displaceable relative to the housing in a dispensing direction, wherein the housing is configured to receive the multiple cartridge or syringe having at least two adjacent and parallel storage containers, wherein a thrust force of the rotatable portion is transmitted to a multiple ram with a single thrust plate, and wherein the multiple ram slides in the at least two adjacent and parallel storage containers of the multiple cartridge or syringe and the thrust plate is non-rotatably guided inside the housing.” 
     There is a significant need for an improved apparatus to dispense compounds including but not limited to tooth whitening compounds where the tooth whitening compounds are dispensed from a new and unused retainers. 
     There is also a significant need for an improved apparatus to dispense dental bonding compounds from new and unused retainers and adhesive compounds from new and unused retainers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves the field of numerous types of compounds including tooth whitening compounds and in particular, to specific apparatus which are used to retain tooth whitening compounds and then dispense them either into a dental tray where the tray is placed over the patient&#39;s teeth for a period of time or the tooth whitening compound is directly applied to the patient&#39;s teeth by the dentist or the dental assistant. More broadly described, the present invention includes compound and applicators used to dispense the compounds including tooth whitening compounds, dental bonding and filling compounds, adhesives, finely ground powder, jells, creams and paints (which are hereafter jointly referred to in this patent application as a “compounds”). 
     Although the summary discussed below relates to tooth whitening compounds in detail, it is understood that the present invention includes all products defined above as compounds and is not limited to tooth whitening compounds. 
     The present invention involves a pen which removably retains a single use capsule containing tooth whitening compounds and removably retains disposable tooth whitening applicators. One of the major problems with prior art tooth whitening applicators is that the applicator itself is reused over and over again through syringes which contain the tooth whitening compound and even though they are sterilized, run the risk of transmitting disease from one patient to another. Therefore, there is a significant need for an improved tooth whitening apparatus where the capsule containing the tooth whitening compound or compounds is disposable and replaceable with a new clean capsule with a fresh supply of tooth whitening compound or compounds and the applicator heads which are used to apply the compounds to teeth or to a dental tray are also disposable and replaced with new applicators so that the patient receives a completely new and sterile system for the purpose of applying tooth whitening compounds. The only portion of the apparatus which is reused is the retaining pen which is used to removably retain the tooth whitening compound and to removably retain the tooth whitening applicators. 
     One embodiment of the present invention involves a unidose single use cartridge or capsule which contains tooth whitening compound in a sealed condition with a cap that has an opening which is sealed by a frangible opening which seals the capsule until it is ready for use and a screw on cap which contains at a remote end a piercing object to pierce the frangible seal so that the tooth whitening compound can be dispensed from the capsule. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the capsule contains a dividing wall which separates the interior of the single use capsule or cartridge into two chambers where the compounds are separated from each other and do not come in contact until they are dispensed from the front end of the capsule and then enter a mixing chamber where the two compounds are mixed together to activate them and thereafter, dispensed from the applicator head to the dental tray or directly onto the patient&#39;s teeth. 
     The chamber contains a dual plunger which moves the compound forward by a unique ratchet mechanism contained within the pen, which mechanism causes a pair of plungers to engage separate rear pockets of the rear plunger to move the plunger forward in increments until the desired amount of compound is released from the capsule and mixed into a mixing tip which then flows directly into an applicator head. 
     Further, the amount of separate compounds can either be in the same amount by having the dividing wall of one thickness so that the interior chamber of the capsule is the same on each side or alternatively, the dividing wall can be thicker by several increments along one side so that the amount of one compound in the smaller side is less than the amount of the other compound if that is the formula that is required for appropriate mixing so that one portion of the compound may be half or a third of the second compound and that would be the appropriate mixing formula when they are mixed together. 
     The invention includes the plunger which also acts as a rear seal to prevent the compound from exiting the rear of the retaining capsule or cartridge and has two spaced apart pockets at the rear end of the plunger to respectively receive a respective one of a pair of pistons from the moving ratchet mechanism contained within the dispensing pen. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the cartridge does not contain any dividing wall and simply has one interior chamber which contains a single compound that does not need to be mixed with any other compound to be activated and contains a plunger which encapsulates the entire interior at the rear end of the rear chamber and is moved forward with a single piston from the dispensing pen, also moved forward through a ratchet mechanism so that the piston pushes the plunger in desired increments so that the tooth whitening compound can be dispensed from the front of the removable and replaceable cartridge in desired increments. In this case it is not necessary to have a mixing tip since there is no mixing required of the compound and the front of the capsule is directly applied to the tooth applicator. 
     In the embodiment where there is a dual chamber, the compound retaining capsule or cartridge has a threaded front end and the mixing tip has engaging threads which are screwed onto the threads of the dual chamber compound retaining capsule and before threading the mixing chamber onto the compound retaining chamber, the frangible seal is penetrated by the sharp object on the front of the cap and then the mixing tip is threaded onto the threads of the dual tooth whitening compound capsule and when compound is dispensed from the capsule, it is mixed in the mixing tip. A tooth applicator is then threaded onto the threaded end of the mixing tip so that the mixed compound can then flow through the applicator either into a dental tray where the compound is placed over a person&#39;s teeth or alternatively, directly applied to a person&#39;s teeth either through a glove hand rubbing or alternatively, through an applicator brush which is also part of the present invention. 
     In the case of the single chamber tooth whitening compound retaining capsule, the dispensing tip is directly threaded onto the threads of the opened chamber and the tooth whitening compound is directly applied into the dental tray or directly onto the patient&#39;s teeth. 
     With respect to alternative embodiments of the applicators, one embodiment is a straight applicator which is generally frustum shaped having a narrow dispensing tip and a threaded end which is threaded onto either the threaded end of the mixing tip or a threaded end of the cartridge and through which the tooth whitening compound flows and can be placed either into a dental tray or onto a patient&#39;s teeth. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the applicator, the applicator is horn-shaped or bent so that the tooth whitening compound can be directly applied to locations in the patient&#39;s mouth where teeth are near the back of the mouth, either upper or lower teeth and usually on the exterior but if necessary, also on the top or interior of the tooth. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the applicator, the applicator has an opening with a brush so that the tooth whitening compound extends through the applicator opening and then the brush is used to apply the tooth whitening compound onto the patient&#39;s tooth. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a reusable capsule and reusable applicator so that tooth whitening compounds which are contained in the capsule are used only once and the applicators used to apply the tooth whitening compound are also used only once and then discarded and replaced with a separate tooth whitening compound retaining capsule or cartridge and also replaced with separate applicator heads. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable cartridge or capsule which contains a single compound which does not need to be mixed with any other compound and can simply be dispensed once the sealed capsule or cartridge is opened to dispense the tooth whitening compound onto teeth or onto a dental tray where it can be used. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a removable capsule which has a dividing wall so that the capsule contains two separate compounds which are separated from each other and which may either have equal amounts of compounds on either side of the dividing wall or different amounts of compound where one compound is less than the other compound depending upon the formulation required for that tooth whitening application and then the compounds are mixed when they enter a chamber for mixing purposes. 
     It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a non-reusable container and non-reusable applicator head so that a fresh container containing fresh tooth whitening compounds, fresh dental bonding and filling compounds and adhesive compounds and fresh new applicators are used every time a new compound is dispensed so that a compound is not reused from one patient to another or from one adhesive bonding application to another, thereby providing safety and health to subsequent patients and products. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the a unidose single use cartridge which contains compounds selected from the group consisting of the tooth whitening compounds, dental bonding and filling compounds, adhesive compounds, jells, creams, adhesives and other materials ground into finely ground powders, (jointly and severally defined as “compounds” and in a sealed condition with the cap threadedly retained onto the cartridge, and which cartridge is disposed of and replaced with a new single use cartridge for subsequent application of one of the selected compounds; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded top perspective view of the unidose single use cartridge illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the sealing cap removed to expose the front frangible seal on the cartridge; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the unidose single use cartridge illustrated in  FIG. 1  with the sealing cap removed and illustrating the anti-rotation slit in the bottom of the sidewall of the cartridge; 
         FIG. 4  is a top cutaway view of a first embodiment of the unidose single use cartridge illustrating the divided interior chamber which retains two separate compounds which are separated from each other while in the cartridge by a dividing wall, and a rear plunger having opposing interior faces to push a compound in a respective portion of the interior of the cartridge forward and out of the cartridge, and a pair of opposed angular sidewalls ending in a rear wall forming a seal against the interior sidewall, each rear end of the plunger having a pocket to receive a respective pushing piston; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the entire operating mechanism for the divided interior chamber single use cartridge illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the pen of the present invention with the entire operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 5  inserted into an interior chamber of the pen; 
         FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cut away side perspective view of the pen of the present invention to illustrate the how the operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 5  is operationally inserted into an interior chamber of the pen; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken down the middle of the pen of the present invention to better illustrate a portion of the operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mixing nozzle of the present invention used with a cartridge having a divided interior housing two separate compounds; 
         FIG. 9A  is perspective view of the entire mixing nozzle including the two halves as illustrated in  FIG. 9  sonic welded together at their respective mating surfaces at a location illustrated along a seam line to form an entire mixing tip; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a straight dispensing nozzle used with a single chamber cartridge or used with a mixing tip and a dual chamber cartridge; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the straight dispensing nozzle illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a bent horn tip dispensing nozzle used with a single chamber cartridge or used with a mixing tip dual chamber cartridge; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the bent horn tip dispensing nozzle illustrated in  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view illustrating the pen with the dual piston operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 7  inserted into the pen, a dual chamber cartridge before it is inserted into the pen, the mixing nozzle, the straight nozzle and the bent horn nozzle; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view illustrating the pen with the dual piston operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 7  inserted into the pen, a dual chamber cartridge after it is inserted into the pen, the mixing nozzle, the straight nozzle and the bent horn nozzle; 
         FIG. 16  is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the unidose single use cartridge illustrating a single interior chamber which retains one compound, and a rear plunger having an interior face to push the compound in the interior of the cartridge forward and out of the cartridge, and an angular sidewall ending in a rear wall forming a seal against the interior sidewall, the rear end of the plunger having a pocket to receive a single pushing piston; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the entire operating mechanism for the interior single chamber cartridge illustrated in  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded view illustrating the pen with the single piston operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 17  inserted into the pen, a single chamber cartridge before it is inserted into the pen, the mixing nozzle, the straight nozzle and the bent horn nozzle; and 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded view illustrating the pen with the single piston operating mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 17  inserted into the pen, a single chamber cartridge after it is inserted into the pen, the mixing nozzle, the straight nozzle and the bent horn nozzle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a top perspective view of the unidose single use cartridge  10  which contains a compound as defined above including compound selected from the group consisting of a tooth whitening compound, a dental bonding and filling compound, and an adhesive compound in a sealed condition with the cap  30  threadedly retained onto the single use cartridge  10 , and which cartridge is disposed of and replaced with a new single use cartridge for subsequent application of a compound. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the same capsule illustrated in  FIG. 1  but with the sealing cap  30  removed. In examining  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the compound single use capsule or cartridge (the term capsule or cartridge are used interchangeably) contains an exterior surface  12  which is generally cylindrical in shape and a rear surface  14  which is generally flat with an opening  16  (see  FIG. 7 ), a front surface  18  which is generally frustum shaped extending from the body of the cylinder  12  to a nozzle having a cylindrical surface  20  extending from the frustum  18  and extending to a dispensing nozzle tip  22  having threads  24  on the exterior surface and a frangible seal  26  on the front end of the tip  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the sealing cap  30  is cylindrical with an interior surface  32  with threads  34  adjacent the rear  36  of the sealing cap  30  and a front end  38  with an interior chamber  40  having a piercing tooth  42  (See  FIG. 2 ) within the interior  40  which extends inwardly from the front end  38  of the sealing cap  30 . In use, after the cartridge  10  is placed in the tooth whitening pen as will be discussed, the front or tip  22  of the tooth whitening cartridge  10  extends through an opening in the pen and the threaded cap  30  which is previously unscrewed from the threads  24  of the capsule  10  before the capsule or cartridge  10  is inserted into the pen, and the sealing cap  30  is then rotated 180 degrees so that the sharp tooth  42  penetrates the frangible seal  26  so that the tip  22  is opened and a selected compound can therefore be dispensed from the interior of the cartridge or capsule  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is a bottom perspective view of the unidose single use cartridge  10 . The difference between the top view and the bottom view is that bottom view shows an anti-rotation slit  44  in the bottom of exterior surface  12  of the exterior wall  12  of the tooth whitening retaining cartridge  10 . The slit  44  does not extend so deep that it goes into the interior chamber as will be discussed. The purpose of the anti-rotation slit  44  is to be inserted into a mating member in the pen to prevent the cartridge  10  from rotating once it is placed into the pen. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated a top cutaway view of a first embodiment of the unidose single use cartridge  10  containing the divided interior chamber  50  which retains two separate compounds  100  and  110  which are separated from each other while in the cartridge by a dividing wall  52 , and a rear plunger  54  having opposing interior faces  56  and  58  to push a compound  100  or  110  in a respective portion of the interior  50  of the cartridge forward and out of the cartridge  10 , and a pair of opposed angular sidewalls  60  and  62  ending in rear wall sidewalls  64  and  66  forming a seal against the interior sidewall  51  of the cartridge, each rear end  68  and  70  of the plunger  54  having a pocket  72  and  74  to receive a respective pushing piston from the retaining pen. Referring to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that the chamber  50  is divided into two equal chambers  53  and  55  which contain different compounds which cannot come in contact with each other because the dividing wall  52  extends for the varying diameter and Length “L1” of the interior chamber  50  of the cartridge  10 . For dual compounds where less is need of one of the two compounds, the dividing wall  52  is thicker on one side to reduce the volume of compound in the smaller chamber, the design of the plunger is modified to accommodate the revised sidewall  52 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and a portion of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is illustrated the operating mechanism  230  for the dual chamber cartridge  10 . The mechanism includes a pair of pistons  210  and  220  which are respectively used to engage a respective pocket  72  and  74  of the two-pocket plunger  54  used with the dual chamber cartridge and a ratchet mechanism  230  which is engaged by a tooth member  270  as will be discussed to move the two pistons  210  and  220  in the forward direction to push the plunger  54  forwardly to dispense selected compounds such as tooth whitening compounds  100  and  110  (or dental bonding or filling compound or adhesive compound or other selected compounds as defined above) from the cartridge  10  within the pen  300 . The mechanism  230  also contains a moving ratchet tooth member and housing  270  to engage each ratchet tooth  232  having a vertical wall  234  and a rearwardly slanted top surface  236  by a given amount and the ratchet tooth slides down the slanted top surface  236  until it is adjacent the vertical wall  234  of the next ratchet tooth  232  to move the pistons  210  and  220  forward. The pen  300  has an interior chamber  310  which receives the ratchet mechanism  230  which also has a pulling or reset bar at its end  16  which extends out an opening  330  in the rear end  16  of the pen  300  so that the entire operating mechanism  230  can be pulled backward in the interior chamber  310  of the tooth whitening pen  300  for the insertion of a fresh cartridge  10  after a specific cartridge has been used up. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a top perspective view of the present invention pen  300  which is used to retain the removable cartridge  10 . The pen  10  has an interior chamber  310  which contains the operating mechanism  230  illustrated in  FIG. 5  where the two pistons  210  and  220  are shown in the condition where they are about to dispense compounds from a cartridge to be inserted in the pen. The pen  300  further includes and interior cylindrical sidewall  320  and an exterior cylindrical wall  322  and an open front  340  through which the front tip  22  of the cartridge  10  extends, There is also a back pushing member  350  which is used to push the cartridge forward along with the mechanism  230  to push the pistons  210  and  220  forward to enable the pistons  210  and  220  to move against the back of the plunger  54  and dispense the selected compound. Also illustrated is a back resetting member  360  which will be described later. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is illustrated the operating mechanism  200  within the pen. The mechanism involves a pushed down tooth operator  260  which is pushed down by the back pushing member  350  and a tooth operating mechanism  265  which pushes down on moving ratchet tooth  270  which engages each of the ratchet teeth  232  as previously described. The moving ratchet tooth engaging member  270  also has a spring mechanism  280  which causes the moving ratchet tooth engaging member  270  to move upwardly after it engages a ratchet tooth  232  and moves it forward and is adjacent a vertical wall  234  so it is moved upwardly to come in contact with the next slanted top wall  236  of a ratchet tooth  232 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when a downward force from the back pushing member  350  is exerted on and pushed down on the tooth operator  260  which in turn exerts a downward force on the moving ratchet tooth engaging member  270 , the member  270  engages a downward sloped wall  236  of a ratchet tooth  232  and slides downwardly against the ratchet to move the ratchet forward by the given distance of the downward sloped wall  236  until it arrives at the vertical wall  234  of the next ratchet tooth  232  and the spring mechanism  280  causes the moving ratchet tooth engaging member  270  to be pushed upwardly to come in contact with the next top sloped wall  236  of the next ratchet tooth  232  so that a downward force from the pushed down tooth operator  260  causes the ratchet tooth to slide downwardly against the next sloped top  236  or the next ratchet tooth  232  and therefore move the ratchet forward, thereby moving the pistons  210  and  220  forward. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 , the ratchet tooth assembly  230  including ratchet teeth  232  is affixed to and is part of a longitudinal bar  255  surrounded by a compression spring  257  affixed to a plate  259  which is attached to a rear ratch tooth housing  261  which includes rear ratchet teeth  232 R having a rear vertical wall  234 R and a rear slanted wall  236 R for each ratchet tooth  232 R with an inverted rear ratchet tooth engaging member  270 R with an upside down spring mechanism  280 R. As the first ratchet mechanism  230  is moved forwardly as previously described, the bar  255  moves forwardly causing plate  259  to which the bar  255  is attached to move forwardly which in turn causes the compression housing plate  259  to move forwardly which in turn causes the rear ratchet tooth housing  261  to move forwardly causing the rear ratchet tooth engaging member to move downwardly against and to engage a rear slanted top wall  236 R of a rear ratchet tooth  232 R until it comes in contact with a rear ratchet tooth vertical wall  234 R. The upside down spring  280 R causes the moving ratchet tooth engaging member  270 R to move upwardly after it engages a ratchet tooth  232 R and moves it forward and is adjacent a vertical wall  234 R so it is moved upwardly to come in contact with the next rear slanted top wall  236 R of a rear ratchet tooth  232 R. During this process, main compression spring  257  and a rear ratchet tooth compression spring  257 R surrounding rear ratchet tooth assembly  230 R are compressed. 
     After the cartridge  10  is used up, the back resetting member  360  is pulled away from the back wall  16 , overcoming the compression force of compression springs  257 R and  257  to reset the entire ratchet tooth assemblies  230  and  230 R so the pistons  210  and  220  are moved away from the front opening  340  to leave the opening  305  into which a new cartridge can be inserted. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 ,  9 A and  14 , there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of one half  400 H of the mixing nozzle  400  which is used with a dual chamber cartridge. The mixing nozzle  400  has internal threads  410  on its internal surface  420  adjacent its rear end  430  and on its external surface  418  external threads  440  adjacent its front end  450  and contains a multiplicity of semi-closed shelves  460  and also straight shelves  470  so that as the compounds  100  and  110  are driven through the mixing nozzle  400 , the angular shelves  460  and the straight shelves  470  cause the compounds  100  and  110  to mix together and go through a series of angular shelves  460  and straight shelves  470  to make sure that the compound is fully mixed when it gets to the opening  480  of the mixing chamber  400 . A rear opening  414  permits the compounds  100  and  110  to enter the mixing tip  400  after it is screwed onto the threads  24  of tip  26  of capsule  10 .  FIG. 9  illustrates one half of the mixing nozzle. The opposite half is a mirror image of half  400 H. The two halves of sonic welded together along their longitudinal interior faces  412  to form a complete mixing nozzle  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 14 . Referring to  FIG. 14 , a seam line  408  illustrates the location of the sonic weld. 
     A key innovation of the present invention mixing nozzle  400  is that it is comprised of internal built in shelves which thoroughly mix the compound portions as they are forced through the mixing nozzle. This is a major improvement over the prior art where an insert is placed into a chamber and compounds mixed through the insert which leads to less mixing and much more inefficiency in the mixing. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10   11  and  14 , there is illustrated a straight applicator  500  which contains an exterior surface  510  and an interior chamber  528  which has a widened end  520  with interior threads  522  surrounding a rear opening  524  that either thread around the end of the mixing tip or thread around the threaded end of the compound capsule and a front opening  530  through which the compound is dispensed. The compound enters through rear opening  524  and exits through front opening  530 . 
     In an alternative embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 12 ,  13  and  14 , the applicator is a horn-shaped applicator  600  which has an exterior wall  610  and an interior chamber  620  which has a rear opening  624  and a rear interior wall  620  having threads  622  which can be threaded onto the end of the mixing tip or threaded onto the end of the tooth whitening compound cartridge and also has an opening  630  in front end  640  which is bent at an angle so that the tooth whitening compound can be applied to rear surface or to teeth near the back of the patient&#39;s mouth, the dental bonding compound can be applied to rear teeth fillings and the adhesive compound can be applied at a rear area of objects to be bonded together. The selected compounds enter from rear opening  624  and exits through front opening  640 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14  (before the cartridge  10  is inserted into the pen  300 ) and  FIG. 15  (after the cartridge  10  is inserted into the pen  300 ) there is illustrated an exploded view showing how the mixing pen operates. The cartridge  10  containing the compound  100  and  110  is inserted into an opening  305  near the front of the applicator pen  300  and into interior chamber  305  where the pockets  72  and  74  of the plunger  54  are retained against the dual pistons  210  and  220  and the front tip  12  of the cartridge  10  extends out of the opening  340  in the pen  300 . The anti-rotation slit  44  on the cartridge is placed into the anti-rotation longitudinal stop shelf  301  in chamber  305  so the cartridge  10  will not rotate once inside the pen. The sealing cap  30  is shown removed from the cartridge  10 . After the cartridge is inserted into the pen, the cap  30  is used to penetrate the frangible seal  26  of the tip  22  of the cartridge  10  which extends out of the opening  340  in the pen  300  and thereafter either the mixing tip  400  is threaded onto the cartridge  10  if it is a dual chamber cartridge and either the straight applicator  500  or the horn-shaped applicator  600  is threaded onto the mixing tip  400  so that as the ratchet mechanism  230  causes the pistons  210  and  220  to move toward the front of the pen  300 , the pistons  210  and  220  push on the back of the plunger  50  causing the plunger  50  to move each compound  100  and  110  from each separate section of the cartridge  10  into the mixing tip  400  where the compounds  100  and  110  are mixed and then exit the mixing tip  400  into the applicator so that the mixed tooth whitening compound is either placed in a dental tray or placed on the patient&#39;s tooth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , there is illustrated a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the unidose single use cartridge with sealing cap affixed, illustrating a single interior chamber which retains one compound, and a rear plunger having an interior face to push the compound in the interior of the cartridge forward and out of the cartridge, and an angular sidewall ending in a rear wall forming a seal against the interior sidewall, the rear end of the plunger having a pocket to receive a single pushing piston. 
     The exterior of the cartridge for the second embodiment looks the same as  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . The cartridge  10 A has a single interior chamber  50 A with a single compound  100 A retained in the interior chamber  50 A. A rear plunger  54 A having an interior face  56 A is used to push the compound  100 A in the interior chamber  50 A forward and out of the cartridge  10 A. The rear plunger  54 A has a pair of opposed rear angular sides  60 A and  62 A extending from opposite ends of the interior face  56 A and respectively ending in rear sidewalls  64 A and  66 A forming a seal against the interior sidewall  51 A of the cartridge  10 A, each rear end  64 A and  66 A of the plunger  54 A forming the sidewalls of a pocket  72 A to receive the pushing piston from the retaining pen. 
     The remaining rear and front of the cartridge  10 A has the same parts as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , 3  and  4  with the corresponding part numbered the same with an “A” after each corresponding part number. The corresponding parts  14 A,  18 A  20 A,  22 A,  24 A,  26 A,  30 A,  32 A,  34 A,  38 A,  40 A and  42 A function and operate the same as previously described and will be repeated. The length and width can be the same as for the double chamber cartridge or for the single cartridge, it can be shorter in length and diameter which would require a smaller pen. In the interests of efficiency, it is anticipated that the single chamber cartridge  10 A will have the same length “L1” and the same varying diameter as the dual chamber cartridge. 
     The operating mechanism for the single chamber cartridge  10 A is the same as the operating mechanism for the dual chamber cartridge  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  with the same parts except that the operating mechanism for a single chamber cartridge has only one piston  210 S (see  FIG. 17 ) extending from the ratchet tooth assembly. Therefore, the operation as described for the illustrations in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  will not be repeated. The corresponding parts visible in  FIGS. 17 ,  18  and  19  are the same as in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  with an “S” at the end of each number. 
     The operation of the pen  300 A with a single chamber cartridge  10 A is the same as illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15  with the corresponding parts having the same number with an “A” added to the number. However, since there is only one compound, a mixing nozzle is not necessary. Therefore, after the single chamber cartridge  10 A is inserted into the pen  300 A and the frangible seal  26 A is penetrated by the tooth  42 A, either a straight nozzle  500  or a bent horn shaped nozzle  600  is threaded onto the threads  22 A of the single chamber cartridge  10 A. As compound  100 A is pushed through the internal chamber  50 A by plunger  54 A pushed by the ratchet mechanism advancing single piston  210 S, the compound  100 A exits the cartridge  10 A and enters a nozzle through which the compound  100 A is dispensed. 
     Except for combining two compounds in a mixing nozzle, the operation after the compound is pushed out of the cartridge is the same. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated.