RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to and claims priority from provisional Application Serial No. 60/243,946 filed October 27,2000, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The following information is presented solely to assist the understanding of the reader, and none of the information is admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the claims of the present invention.

A requisite for pen dispensers, particularly those produced en masse, is that they are simple and economical to manufacture. Therefore, pen dispensers should have as few component parts as possible which are easy to assemble at high speed, either by hand or by automated assembly machines.

Another feature desirable to pen manufacturers is that the parts of their pens which users can disassemble, discard and replace--such as cartridges--exclusively operate with other parts of their own pens. Thus, pen manufacturers would prefer that their brand of cartridges only work with the same brand of pen dispensers. In this way, users who wish to replace a cartridge must buy one of the same brand, or replace the entire pen.

In U. S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/337,561 ("the'561 application") <BR> <BR> filed on June 22,1999, for a"Pen Dispensing and Cartridge System, "the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including any drawings, there is a described a unit in the form of a cartridge system comprising a capsule filled with the substance to be dispensed and a brush housing. The'561 application also describes a pen dispenser that includes a rotating sleeve capable of accepting the cartridge, a spring loaded rod ratchet, a ratchet wheel and a bottom ratchet,

wherein the rod ratchet can engage both the ratchet wheel and the bottom ratchet.

While the user may insert the cartridge system into the pen dispenser, the cartridge does not have any particular shape or other feature that allows it to interlock with a specified pen dispenser.

The ratchet wheel comprises a button with a spring, a top flat ratchet and a bi-directional ratchet wheel with two sets of teeth running in opposite directions.

When the rod ratchet is"activated, "it engages with the ratchet wheel and bottom ratchet and can be advanced by pressing down on the flow control button which in turn presses down on the top ratchet, thereby advancing the wheel and rod ratchet one notch in the same direction. The ratchet wheel is made up of several different components.

Thus, there remains a need for pen applicators having cartridge systems that selectively operate with specified dispensers, and that are simple and economical to manufacture and assemble.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention features a pen applicator used, for example, to dispense materials such as nail polish, paints, glues and lubricants. The design is for a unit of use, meaning that the preferred pen applicator uses cartridges, i. e. , units. The cartridge comprises a disposable capsule filled with the substance to be dispensed and a brush housing unit that holds the capsule in place. The pen applicator includes a pen dispenser having a rotating sleeve for accepting the cartridge. The rotating sleeve and cartridge have corresponding shapes so that one can interlock with another.

In one preferred embodiment, the cartridge and rotating sleeve have corresponding screw thread shapes. Thus, the user inserts and interlocks, preferably by screwing, a cartridge into a pen dispenser having the corresponding shape. To replace the cartridge, the user simply unscrews and disposes of the old cartridge and substitutes it with a new cartridge having the same shape for the next application.

Each brand of pen applicator could adopt its own particular shape for the cartridge and rotating sleeve to insure that one component cannot be used with another component of a different brand.

Also featured are methods of making the pen applicators, dispensers and cartridges described herein. The components are combined to form the applicator, dispenser and cartridge and then used to apply the substance being dispensed, for example nail polish. Examples of preferred embodiments of each of the components are summarized herein.

Pen Dispenser The pen dispenser is the device that dispenses the nail polish or other substances from the cartridge system. The pen dispenser includes a rotating sleeve that accepts the cartridge. The interior surface of the rotating sleeve has a particular shape that corresponds to the shape of the inserted cartridge. The pen preferably uses a ratchet system that advances the rod ratchet a measured amount each time the flow control button is depressed. Depressing the button advances the rod ratchet a measured amount, and then the button returns to its original position by use of a coil spring. To disengage the cartridge, it is rotated counter clockwise and the rotating sleeve within the pen also is rotated to expose the flat sides of the rod ratchet which then releases the rod ratchet to its original position by use of a coil spring. The pen is then ready for use with another cartridge having the same shape as the disposed cartridge.

Ratchet Systems There are at least two alternative ratchet systems. Both systems employ a spring loaded rod ratchet, a top ratchet and a bottom ratchet, wherein the rod ratchet engages both the top ratchet and the bottom ratchet. In one embodiment, disclosed in the'561 application, the top ratchet comprises a bi-directional ratchet wheel, a spring loaded top flat ratchet and a button spring.

Alternatively, the top ratchet comprises a single-piece leaf spring that operates as both a ratchet and a spring. Preferably this leaf spring is generally v- shaped. The bottom ratchet comprises a ratchet and spring or, alternatively, a single-piece leaf spring that also operates as a ratchet and spring. The bottom leaf spring is preferably generally u-shaped. The leaf springs of the top and bottom ratchet are preferably metal pieces produced by a four slide machine.

Shell The pen dispenser also includes a protective outer shell that comprises two half jackets. These half jackets may snap fit together at the rear of the pen dispenser and secured together at the front of the pen dispenser by an outer decorative ring.

Alternatively, these half jackets may be molded together during construction.

First Capsule System The capsule preferably is a tube open at both ends. The ends have a step on each side that can be folded over to seal the ends with a Cap. The tube can be metal, plastic or other material.

Second Capsule System The capsule preferably is closed at one end and open at the other end. At the closed end there is a coined area in the center that is thinner than the rest of the capsule body. This allows the spike to penetrate the capsule and allow the substance to flow through the spike and into the brush or other applicator. The capsule is filled with the substance to be dispensed and the piston is then inserted into the capsule.

The piston prevents the substance from flowing out of the capsule when it is penetrated by the rod ratchet. The open end has a step to allow the cap to seat on the step and have the ends folded over onto the cap creating the seal. The capsule is then penetrated by the rod ratchet from the pen dispenser and it pushes forward the piston which in turn pushes the entire capsule forward in the brush housing causing it to be penetrated by the spike in the coined area of the capsule. As the rod ratchet moves forward it will dispense a measured amount of the substance into the spike and into the brush or other applicator.

Cap The cap preferably is a circular piece of metal, plastic or other material that is used to seal the capsule. In the first capsule design two caps are needed, one for each end. In the second capsule design only one cap is needed to seal the open end of the capsule.

Spike The spike preferably is identical on both ends. There is a hole that runs through the center of the spike. Both ends have a very sharp tip that is used to penetrate the capsule. Once the capsule is penetrated the substance to be dispensed flows through the hole in the center of the spike. At the other end of the spike the substance flows into either a brush fiber or other type of applicator which can be a foam tip, sponge or nothing at all. The spike is held in the brush housing using a tension fit between the spike, brush housing and fiber.

Piston The piston can be made of plastic, metal or other material. It is inserted into the capsule after the substance to be dispensed is filled in the capsule. The hollow end is inserted first. The purpose of the piston is to prevent the flow of the substance to be dispensed from leaking back out behind the piston and into the pen dispenser once the seal has been penetrated.

Brush Housing The brush housing holds the capsule in place before it is ready to be dispensed. A portion of the brush housing contacts the inner surface of the rotating sleeve. This portion of the brush housing is shaped to correspond to the shape of the interior surface of the rotating sleeve, thereby allowing the cartridge and pen dispenser of the same brand to interlock.

When the brush housing is inserted into the pen dispenser and is turned clockwise it turns the rotating sleeve inside the pen dispenser. As the brush housing rotates it eventually stops after rotating 90 degrees and the rod ratchet starts to penetrate the sealed end of the capsule. The capsule then starts to move forward within the brush housing and then the coined end of the capsule is penetrated by the spike. As the rod ratchet moves forward it moves the piston forward and dispenses the substance inside the capsule. After the capsule is dispensed the brush housing is turned counter clockwise, thereby also turning the rotating sleeve. The rotating sleeve turns the rod ratchet to expose the flat sides of the rod ratchet and then releases the rod ratchet to return to its original position.

The summary of the invention described above is not limiting and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows the entire pen applicator assembly.

Figure 2 shows various detailed views of preferred components of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a blown-up view of the embodiment of the pen dispenser seen in Figure 1 featuring a ratchet wheel.

Figure 4 shows a blown-up view of an alternative embodiment of the pen dispenser featuring a top leaf spring and bottom leaf spring.

Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the top leaf spring and flow control button into which it is secured.

Figure 6 shows cross-sectional views of the rotating sleeve and cartridge with screw thread shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a preferred embodiment, the pen dispenser and cartridge system work in the following manner. The user inserts a cartridge into the rotating sleeve of the pen dispenser. The brush housing and interior surface of the rotating sleeve have corresponding shapes so that the cartridge is easily inserted into and interlocks with the rotating sleeve. If the shapes of the brush housing and interior surface do not correspond, the user cannot screw the cartridge into the rotating sleeve. A spring loaded rod ratchet is in a fully retracted position in the pen dispenser and is not engaged either to the ratchet wheel or bottom ratchet. As the user screws the cartridge into the pen dispenser using a clockwise rotation, the cartridge continues to turn until it becomes snug. At this point the user continues to rotate the cartridge assembly another 90 degrees. This causes the rotating sleeve to turn and the rod ratchet to also turn 90 degrees. At this point the rod ratchet then engages both the top ratchet and bottom ratchet.

This is achieved by using a rod ratchet that has evenly spaced ratcheting teeth, but has a flat surface on two parallel opposite sides. When the rod is turned 90 degrees it engages. When it is turned back 90 degrees the flat surfaces are then exposed to the top ratchet and bottom ratchet, and the rod ratchet freely retracts back into the pen dispenser because there is nothing to hold the rod ratchet forward.

The rod ratchet now being engaged, it can be advanced by pressing down on the flow control button. In one embodiment, the button is attached to spring loaded top ratchet that in turn engages a bi-directional ratchet wheel. The depression of the button presses down on the spring loaded top ratchet which in turn advances the bi- directional ratchet wheel a single notch. The bi-directional ratchet wheel is designed with two sets of teeth, the inside set runs one direction while the outside set runs in the opposite direction. This system allows the top ratchet to advance the ratchet wheel and rod ratchet in the same direction.

In another preferred embodiment, the button is attached to a generally v- shaped, metal leaf spring comprised of two leaves. The button includes a slotted cavity into which the one leaf is secured. The other leaf extends between two ratcheting teeth on the rod ratchet. When depressed, the button in this embodiment presses down on one leaf, which in turn forces the second leaf to push forward the immediately preceding ratcheting tooth and thereby advance the rod ratchet. The bottom ratchet is a generally u-shaped metal leaf spring. One end of this leaf spring pushes against a tooth to stabilize the rod ratchet and prevent it from retracting while the top ratchet pushes it forward to dispense substance within the cartridge.

As the rod ratchet advances, it breaks through the thin rear membrane of the capsule after which it contacts the piston. At the same time, the forward motion of the rod ratchet against the rear of the capsule forces the forward membrane to be penetrated by the spike creating an exit point for the nail polish on to the brush.

Once contact is made with the piston it begins to move forward pushing the nail polish out of the capsule through the small exit hole created by the spike. Finally the rod ratchet continues to move forward as the user pushes down the flow control button and forces all of the nail polish out of the capsule and on to the brush for application.

After the nail polish application is completed the user simply turns the used cartridge counter clockwise. This motion now turns the rotating sleeve and rod ratchet the opposite direction 90 degrees exposing the flat sides of the rod ratchet to the ratchet wheel and bottom ratchet, since there is now nothing to keep the rod ratchet in the forward position, the spring now forces it back into the pen dispenser and ready for the next application.

EXAMPLES The following examples are offered by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

Example A. First Pen Assembly Process In order to construct the pen applicator, the following steps are performed.

1. Insert the rotating sleeve, spring loaded rod ratchet, bottom ratchet, top ratchet and flow control button into the pen dispenser.

2. Cover the pen dispenser with the two half jackets and snap fit said two half jackets together at the rear of the dispenser.

3. Slide the decorative outer ring over the surface of the fitted jackets at the front of the pen dispenser.

4. Prepare the capsule through either process set forth in the'561 application.

5. Screw the cartridge into the pen dispenser.

Example B. Second Pen Assembly Process In order to construct the pen, the following steps are performed.

1. Mold the two half jackets together to form a shell having a closed end and an open end.

2. Insert the rotating sleeve, spring loaded rod ratchet, bottom ratchet, top ratchet and flow control button into the open end of the pen dispenser.

3. Prepare the capsule through either process set forth in the'561 application.

4. Screw the cartridge into the pen dispenser.

One skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The devices and the methods, procedures, treatments, and specific kits described herein are presently representative of preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention are defined by the scope of the claims.

It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms"comprising", "consisting essentially of'and"consisting of"may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also

thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group. For example, if X is described as selected from the group consisting of bromine, chlorine, and iodine, claims for X being bromine and claims for X being bromine and chlorine are fully described.

Those references not previously incorporated herein by reference, including both patent and non-patent references, are expressly incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Other embodiments are within the following claims.