U.S. patent application number 14/153991 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-25 for hairbrush, methods of use, and methods of manufacturing the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michel Mercier. Invention is credited to Michel Mercier.
Application Number | 20150173500 14/153991 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43304373 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150173500 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mercier; Michel |
June 25, 2015 |
HAIRBRUSH, METHODS OF USE, AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE
SAME
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hairbrush for
detangling human or animal hair. In some embodiments, the hairbrush
includes a field of bristles where bristle height is substantially
random and substantially independent of position on the hairbrush.
In some embodiments, within the bristle field, the bristle width
and/or the bristle material may vary between bristles--for example,
substantially randomly with respect to position and/or in a manner
that is correlated with bristle height.
Inventors: |
Mercier; Michel; (Hertzliya,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mercier; Michel |
Hertzliya |
|
IL |
|
|
Family ID: |
43304373 |
Appl. No.: |
14/153991 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12903203 |
Oct 12, 2010 |
8627537 |
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14153991 |
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61367793 |
Jul 26, 2010 |
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61367447 |
Jul 25, 2010 |
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61298398 |
Jan 26, 2010 |
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61298205 |
Jan 25, 2010 |
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61297814 |
Jan 24, 2010 |
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61250057 |
Oct 9, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 9/02 20130101; A46B
9/023 20130101; A46B 9/028 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A46B 9/02 20060101
A46B009/02 |
Claims
1-93. (canceled)
94) A hairbrush comprising a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that bristle heights
vary in a substantially random manner and are substantially
independent of bristle location on the bristle-retaining surface,
the bristle field providing the following properties: (i) height
properties such that at least 5 different heights that
significantly differ from each other are represented; (ii) width
properties such that each bristle has a width that is at least 0.5
mm; and (iii) bristle end properties such that at least 60% of the
bristles have a rounded end.
95) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein: i) the bristle field further
provides width variation properties such that a ratio between a
bristle width standard deviation and a bristle width average is at
least 0.07 and such that there a is positive correlation between
bristle height and bristle thickness for bristles of the bristle
field such that, on average, taller bristles of the field are
thicker than shorter bristles; and ii) bristles of the bristle
field are each deployed substantially normally to a respective
local plane of bristle-retaining surface.
96) The hairbrush of claim 95 wherein bristles of the bristle field
are deployed at a substantially constant density on the
bristle-retaining surface.
97) The hairbrush of claim 96 wherein the range of heights for the
bristle field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16
mm.
98) The hairbrush of claim 95 wherein bristles of the bristle field
are deployed at a substantially constant density of at least 4
bristles/cm 2 on the bristle-retaining surface.
99) The hairbrush of claim 98 wherein the range of heights for the
bristle field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16
mm.
100) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the bristle field further
provides width variation properties such that a ratio between a
bristle width standard deviation and a bristle width average is at
least 0.07 and such that there a is positive correlation between
bristle height and bristle thickness for bristles of the bristle
field such that, on average, taller bristles of the bristle field
are thicker than shorter bristles.
101) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein bristles of the bristle
field are each deployed substantially normally to a respective
local plane of bristle-retaining surface.
102) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein bristles of the bristle
field are deployed at a substantially constant density that is at
least 4 bristles/cm 2.
103) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the range of heights for the
bristles field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16
mm.
104) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein a ratio between a height
standard deviation and the average height of the bristle field is
at least 0.075
105) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the average bristle
thickness for the field exceeds 0.85 mm.
106) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the average height of the
bristles of the field is at least about 8.5 mm.
107) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein bristles of the bristle
field are deployed at a density that is at most 12 bristles/cm
2.
108) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the average height of the
bristles of the bristle field is between 8 mm and 14 mm.
109) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein the field of bristles are
deployed within the selected area so that: i) at least 80% of the
bristles substantially reside on a constant lattice; and ii) at
least 2% of the bristles of the field reside in positions that
reside away from the lattice.
110) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein bristles of the field are
deployed so that they are substantially parallel to each other.
111) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein: i) an average height of the
bristle field is defined as HEIGHT_AVG, a height standard deviation
of the bristle field is defined as HEIGHT_SD; ii) the bristle field
includes a very-short-bristles (VSB) subset of bristles whose
height is less than a difference between HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD,
iii) a majority of bristles of the very-short-bristles (VSB) subset
of bristles has a height that is at least 5 mm and/or that is at
least 0.33*HEIGHT_AVG.
112) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein at least 10% of bristles of
the bristle field have a height between 5 mm and 9 mm, at least 25%
of the bristles have a height that is between 9 mm and 13 mm, and
at least 10% of the bristles have a height that is between 13 mm
and 18 mm;
113) The hairbrush of claim 94 wherein: i) each bristle b of the
field of bristles is associated with a respective nearest bristle
distance describing the respective closest distance d.sub.CLOSEST
(b) between bristle b and a different bristle of the bristle field
b.sub.CLOSEST that is closer to the bristle b than any other
bristle of the bristle field (d.sub.CLOSEST (b)=DISTANCE(b,
b.sub.CLOSEST)), thereby establishing a one-to-one mapping between
each bristle b of the bristle field and a closest distance
d.sub.CLOSEST (b) to form a set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE
whose members are the closest distances d.sub.CLOSEST(b) for the
field of bristles; and ii) an SD/AVG ratio between a standard
deviation of the set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE and an
average value of the set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE is at
most 0.25.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims the benefit of (i) U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/250,057 filed on Oct. 9,
2009; (ii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/297,814 filed
on Jan. 24, 2010; (iii) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/298,205 filed on Jan. 25, 2010; (iv) U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/298,398 filed on Jan. 26, 2010; (v) U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/367,447 filed on Jul. 25,
2010 (vi) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/367,793 filed
on Jul. 26, 2010 and (vii) GB 1017114.8 filed on Oct. 11, 2010, all
of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate to hairbrushes,
methods of using a hairbrush and methods of manufacturing a
hairbrush.
[0003] The following issued patents and patent publications provide
potentially relevant background material, and are all incorporated
by reference in their entirety: GB 2,447,692; US 2005/055788;
PCT/GB2008/000580; US 2005/210614; U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,050; EP
1,757,201; GB 1,469,552; U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,314; EP 1,078,585; BE
1007329, JP2003033226, EP 0904711, JP2003033226, U.S. Pat. No.
216,408; U.S. design patent D166,124; U.S. design patent D166,086;
U.S. design patent D168,916; U.S. design patent D168,917; U.S.
design patent D169,131; U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,811; US 2002/0004964;
U.S. design patent D543,705; U.S. Pat. No. 3,949,765; U.S. Pat. No.
4,475,563; U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,525; U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,242; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,308,717; WO 88/000446; U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,939; U.S.
Pat. No. 2,889,567; U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,064; U.S. Pat. No.
4,287,898; and US 2005/0210614.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS
[0004] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a hairbrush
for detangling human or animal hair that include a field of
bristles comprising at least 100, or at least 150 or at least 200
or at least 250 bristles where a variety of heights a
represented--for example, at least five heights that significantly
differ from each other. The heights/lengths of bristles of the
bristle field (i) vary in a substantially random manner and (ii)
are substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface.
[0005] Optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, the bristles
are not of uniform width--instead, a variety of bristles widths
(for example, three of more distinct bristle widths that
significantly different from each other) are represented in the
field of bristles. Alternatively or additionally, the bristles may
be constructed of materials of different flexibilities. Optionally,
but in some embodiments preferably, the longer/taller bristles are
on average thicker than the shorter bristles and/or the
longer/taller bristles are constructed of less flexible material
than the shorter bristles.
[0006] A novel hairbrush according to various feature(s) disclosed
herein was constructed and tested against a conventional `control`
hairbrush. In particular, hair on one half of the head (i.e. the
left half or the right half) was detangled using the novel brush
while hair on the other half of the head was detangled using the
control brush. While the hair was detangled, hair was shed or
pulled out of the user's head. The hair shed using the conventional
and control brush (i.e. when detangling hair regions of comparable
size) was collected separately and the quantity of hair shed was
measured and compared.
[0007] It was found that the novel hairbrush providing feature(s)
disclosed herein was able to detangle human hair (even wet hair
and/or hair that has not properly been treated with conditioner) in
a manner that was surprisingly painless and/or in a manner that
surprisingly inflected significantly less pain than when using a
conventional hairbrush. Furthermore, it was found that the amount
of hair shed when detangling using the novel brush was
significantly less than the amount of hair shed when detangling the
control brush (i.e. once again, when detangling regions of hair of
comparable size).
[0008] It is noted that during these tests/experiments, the user's
actual hair was actually detangled--this was not a situation where
one of the brushes merely `massaged the user's hair` without
detangling or while detangling only outermost layers of hair.
[0009] Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is noted that
mammalian hair strands are not of uniform length and is not of
uniform thickness--instead, on the head of a single person (or on
the body of a single animal) some hair strands are longer, some
hair strands are shorter, some hair strands are thicker and some
hair strands are thinner. Furthermore, this spatial fluctuation in
hair length and/or hair thickness tends to not follow any
discernable spatial pattern--instead, in many human or animal
subjects, this fluctuation tends to be mostly or completely
random/stochastic.
[0010] By employing a hairbrush that has at least some of these
random properties (i.e. a hairbrush including a field of bristles
where the bristle length and/or bristle thickness and/or bristle
material flexibility varies substantially randomly), it is possible
to detangle hair in a reduced pain manner. Not wishing to be bound
by theory, it is postulated that the reduced pain hair detangling
and/or reduced shedding hair that was observed is due, at least in
part, to the fact that there is a certain amount of mechanical
`compatibility` between the hairbrush's stochastic properties and
the stochastic properties of human/mammalian hair, to provide a
hair detangling technique that is significantly less painful and/or
uproots significantly fewer hair strands.
[0011] It is noted that each bristles of the `field of bristles`
where bristle heights vary in a substantially random manner and are
substantially independent of location are independently
deployed--i.e. each bristle is separately or individually deployed
to the hairbrush surface. These individually deployed bristles are
in contrast to bundles of bristles or tufts of bristles.
[0012] For the present disclosure, bristle height and length are
used synonymously.
[0013] For the present disclosure, bristle width and bristle
thickness are used synonymously to refer to the characteristic
width dimension. For the non-limiting case where the bristle cross
section is a circle (i.e. substantially cylindrical bristles), this
width is a diameter of the circle.
[0014] For the present disclosure, when bristle heights/lengths of
a field of bristles `vary in a substantially random manner that is
substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface,` (i) it is possible to view the bristles
together as a coherent unit or `field` and (ii) there is no
visually determinable (i.e. other than randomness) pattern for
bristle length/height of the bristles of the field of bristles.
[0015] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that bristle heights
vary in a substantially random manner and are substantially
independent of bristle location on the bristle-retaining surface is
now disclosed. The bristle field providing the following
properties: (i) height properties such that at least 5 different
heights that significantly differ from each other are represented;
(ii) width properties such that each bristle has a width that is at
least 0.5 mm; and (iii) bristle end properties such that at least
60% of the bristles have a rounded end.
[0016] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that a distal end
surface defined by ends of bristles of the bristle field is
irregularly and substantially randomly shaped. The bristle field
provides the following properties: (i) height properties such that
at least 5 different heights that significantly differ from each
other are represented; (ii) width properties such that each bristle
has a width that is at least 0.5 mm; and (iii) bristle end
properties such that at least 60% of the bristles have a rounded
end.
[0017] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining, an average height of the bristle
field being defined as HEIGHT_AVG, a height standard deviation of
the bristle field being defined as HEIGHT_SD. The field of bristles
providing height properties, width properties and bristle end
properties such that: (i) according to the width properties, each
bristle has a width that is at least 0.5 mm; (ii) according to the
bristle end properties, at least 60% of the bristles of the field
have a rounded end; and (iii) according to the height properties:
A) the bristle field provides at least 5 different heights that
significantly differ from each other are represented; B) the
bristle field includes at least one height outlier subset (HOS)
having a count that is at least 10% of the total bristle count of
the bristle field, the height outlier subset HOS being selected
from the group consisting of: I) a very-tall-bristles (VTB) subset
of bristles whose height exceeds a sum of HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD;
and II) a very-short-bristles (VSB) subset of bristles whose height
is less than a difference between HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD, wherein
bristles of the bristle field are individually deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface so that there is a contrast between the
deployment of the bristle field as a whole and the deployment of at
least one height outlier subset HOS, such that while the bristles
of bristle field as a whole are deployed at substantially a
constant density within a selected area SA of the bristle-retaining
surface, the bristles of the height outlier subset HOS are
scattered at irregular and non-periodic locations within the
selected area SA.
[0018] In some embodiments, i) the bristle field further provides
width variation properties such that a ratio between a bristle
width standard deviation and a bristle width average is at least
0.07 and such that there a is positive correlation between bristle
height and bristle thickness for bristles of the bristle field such
that, on average, taller bristles of the field are thicker than
shorter bristles; and ii) bristles of the bristle field are each
deployed substantially normally to a respective local plane of
bristle-retaining surface.
[0019] In some embodiments, bristles of the bristle field are
deployed at a substantially constant density on the
bristle-retaining surface.
[0020] In some embodiments, the range of heights for the bristle
field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16 mm.
[0021] In some embodiments, bristles of the bristle field are
deployed at a substantially constant density of at least 4
bristles/cm 2 on the bristle-retaining surface.
[0022] In some embodiments, the range of heights for the bristle
field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16 mm.
[0023] In some embodiments the bristle field further provides width
variation properties such that a ratio between a bristle width
standard deviation and a bristle width average is at least 0.07 and
such that there a is positive correlation between bristle height
and bristle thickness for bristles of the bristle field such that,
on average, taller bristles of the bristle field are thicker than
shorter bristles.
[0024] In some embodiments bristles of the bristle field are each
deployed substantially normally to a respective local plane of
bristle-retaining surface.
[0025] In some embodiments bristles of the bristle field are
deployed at a substantially constant density that is at least 4
bristles/cm 2.
[0026] In some embodiments the range of heights for the bristles
field substantially is between about 3.5 mm and about 16 mm.
[0027] In some embodiments a ratio between a ratio between a height
standard deviation and the average height is at least 0.075
[0028] In some embodiments the average bristle thickness for the
field exceeds 0.85 mm.
[0029] In some embodiments the average height of the bristles of
the field is at least about 8.5 mm.
[0030] In some embodiments bristles of the bristle field are
deployed at a density that is at most 12 bristles/cm 2.
[0031] In some embodiments the average height of the bristles of
the bristle field is at most about 12 mm.
[0032] In some embodiments the average height of the bristles of
the bristle field is between 8 mm and 14 mm.
[0033] In some embodiments the field of bristles are deployed
within the selected area so that: i) at least 80% of the bristles
substantially reside on a constant lattice; and ii) at least 2% of
the bristles of the field reside in positions that reside away from
the lattice.
[0034] In some embodiments bristles of the field are deployed so
that they are substantially parallel to each other.
[0035] In some embodiments i) an average height of the bristle
field is defined as HEIGHT_AVG, a height standard deviation of the
bristle field is defined as HEIGHT_SD; ii) the bristle field
includes a very-short-bristles (VSB) subset of bristles whose
height is less than a difference between HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD,
iii) a majority of bristles of the very-short-bristles (VSB) subset
of bristles has a height that is at least 5 mm and/or that is at
least 0.33*HEIGHT_AVG.
[0036] In some embodiments at least 10% of bristles of the bristle
field have a height between 5 mm and 9 mm, at least 25% of the
bristles have a height that is between 9 mm and 13 mm, and at least
10% of the bristles have a height that is between 13 mm and 18
mm.
[0037] In some embodiments i) each bristle b of the field of
bristles is associated with a respective nearest bristle distance
describing the respective closest distance d.sub.CLOSEST (b)
between bristle b and a different bristle of the bristle field
b.sub.CLOSEST that is closer to the bristle b than any other
bristle of the bristle field (d.sub.CLOSEST (b)=DISTANCE(b,
b.sub.CLOSEST)), thereby establishing a one-to-one mapping between
each bristle b of the bristle field and a closest distance
d.sub.CLOSEST (b) to form a set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE
whose members are the closest distances d.sub.CLOSEST (b) for the
field of bristles; and ii) an SD/AVG ratio between a standard
deviation of the set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE and an
average value of the set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE is at
most 0.25.
[0038] In some embodiments the SD/AVG ratio is at most 0.2 and/or
at least 0.075 and/or SD/AVG ratio is at least 0.1.
[0039] In some embodiments i) each bristle b of the field of
bristles is associated with a respective nearest bristle distance
describing the respective closest distance d.sub.CLOSEST (b)
between bristle b and a different bristle of the bristle field
b.sub.CLOSEST that is closer to the bristle b than any other
bristle of the bristle field (d.sub.CLOSEST (b)=DISTANCE(b,
b.sub.CLOSEST)), thereby establishing a one-to-one mapping between
each bristle b of the bristle field and a closest distance
d.sub.CLOSEST (b) to form a set of numbers CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE
whose members are the closest distances d.sub.CLOSEST (b) for the
field of bristles; and ii) values of a first subset of
CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE whose cardinality is between 50% and 95%
of a cardinality of CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE are all equal to a
representative closest distance value RCDV within a tolerance of at
most 10%.; iii) values of a second subset of
CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE whose cardinality is at least at least 10%
of a cardinality of CLOSEST_BRISTLE_DISTANCE are associated with
closest distance values that all deviate from the representative
value RCDV by at least 15%,
[0040] In some embodiments the bristles are constructed of
plastic.
[0041] In some embodiments i) the field of bristles is an inner
field of bristles deployed within a selected area SA of the bristle
retaining surface; ii) the hairbrush further comprises an outer
field of bristles deployed outside of the selected area SA bristles
on the perimeter of the selected area such that the outer field of
bristles substantially surrounds the selected area SA; iii) the
outer bristle field of bristles provides the following properties:
A) a bristle count that is at least 15% of the count of the inner
field; and B) an bristle average height that is at most 30% of the
average height of bristles of the inner field.
[0042] In some embodiments at least 80% of bristles of the field of
bristles have a height that is at least 6 mm and at most 18 mm.
[0043] In some embodiments i) a majority of bristles that are
deployed within the selected area are situated at locations that
are substantially on a regular lattice; and ii) a minority of at
least 2% of the bristles are located in off-lattice locations that
are away from the positions defined by the regular lattice.
[0044] In some embodiments, a height of at least 80% or at least
90% of the bristles of the field of bristles is at least 6 mm.
[0045] In some embodiments, a height of at least 80% or at least
90% of the bristles of the field is at most 20 mm.
[0046] In some embodiments, a ratio between a ratio between a
height standard deviation and the average height is at least
0.075.
[0047] In some embodiments, a thickness of at least 80% or 90% of
the bristles of the inner field is at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.8
mm or at least 0.85 mm.
[0048] In some embodiments, a thickness of at least 70% or at least
80% or at least 90% or least 95% of the bristles of the inner field
is at least 0.75 mm and/or at most 2.5 mm.
[0049] Some embodiments relate to hairbrushes that have a `paddle`
form factor and/or are relatively flat. Some embodiments relate to
hairbrush that are `fan-type` or have a cylindrical shape. Some
embodiments relate to hairbrushes with a form factor typical of
human hairbrushes. Other embodiments relate to hairbrushes with a
form factor typical of pet hairbrushes.
[0050] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface such that bristle widths vary in a
substantially random manner and are substantially independent of
bristle location on the bristle-retaining surface, the bristle
field providing the following properties: (i) height properties
such that at least 5 different heights that significantly differ
from each other are represented; (ii) width variation properties
such that a ratio between a bristle width standard deviation and a
bristle width average is at least 0.07; (iii) width properties such
that at least 80% of the bristles of the bristle field has a width
that is at least 0.5 mm; and (iv) bristle end properties such that
at least 60% of the bristles have a rounded end.
[0051] In some embodiments, there a is positive correlation between
bristle height and bristle thickness for bristles of the bristle
field such that, on average, taller bristles of the field are
thicker than shorter bristles.
[0052] In some embodiments, bristles of the bristle field are each
deployed substantially normally to a respective local plane of
bristle-retaining surface.
[0053] In some embodiments, bristles of the bristle field are each
deployed substantially normally to a respective local plane of
bristle-retaining surface.
[0054] In some embodiments, at least 80% of the bristles have a
height that is between 5 mm and 20 mm.
[0055] In some embodiments, a ratio between a height standard
deviation and the average height of the bristle field is at least
0.075
[0056] In some embodiments, the average bristle thickness for the
field exceeds 0.85 mm.
[0057] In some embodiments, at least 80% of the bristles of the
field have a thickness between 1 mm and 2 mm.
[0058] In some embodiments, a ratio between a bristle width
standard deviation and a bristle width average is at least
0.12.
[0059] In some embodiments, for a majority of the bristles of the
bristle field, a ratio between a bristle length and a bristle width
is at least 5 and at most 10.
[0060] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least 80% of the
bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm and 20 mm;
ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the average
height of the bristle field is at least 0.075 iii) at least 20% of
the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv) a bristle
density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at most 20
bristles/cm 2; v) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length selected from the group consisting of 3 and 4, for a MAPPING
physical property that is height, for an inner radius of a
neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a
neighborhood defining annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering
direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a substantially co-linear bristle
tolerance that is 20 degrees, at least a majority that is at least
50% of the bristles of the bristle field are members of a 40-set
that is a sub-set of the bristle field having 40 members that has a
LEVEL N variety where N is an integer selected from the group
consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
[0061] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least 80% of the
bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm and 20 mm;
ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the average
height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at least 20% of
the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv) a bristle
density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at most 20
bristles/cm 2; v) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length of 4, for a MAPPING physical property that is height, for an
inner radius of a neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm and an
outer radius of a neighborhood defining annulus that is 12 mm, for
an ordering direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a substantially
co-linear bristle tolerance that is 20 degrees, at least a majority
that is at least 50% of the bristles of the bristle field are
members of a 40-set that is a sub-set of the bristle field having
40 members that has at least a LEVEL 2 variety.
[0062] In some embodiments, a ratio between a bristle width
standard deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle
field is at least 0.07.
[0063] In some embodiments, the ratio between a height standard
deviation and the average height of the bristle field is at least
0.012.
[0064] A hairbrush comprising a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least 80% of the
bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm and 20 mm;
ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the average
height of the bristle field is at least 0.075 iii) at least 20% of
the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv) a bristle
density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at most 20
bristles/cm 2; v) a ratio between a bristle width standard
deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle field is at
least 0.07; vi) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length selected from the group consisting of 3 and 4, for a MAPPING
physical property that is width/thickness, for an inner radius of a
neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a
neighborhood defining annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering
direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a substantially co-linear bristle
tolerance that is 20 degrees, at least a majority that is at least
50% of the bristles of the bristle field are members of a 40-set
that is a sub-set of the bristle field having 40 members that has a
LEVEL N variety where N is an integer selected from the group
consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
[0065] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least 80% of the
bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm and 20 mm;
ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the average
height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at least 20% of
the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv) a bristle
density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at most 20
bristles/cm 2; v) a ratio between a bristle width standard
deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle field is at
least 0.07; vi) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length of 4, for a MAPPING physical property that is
width/thickness, for an inner radius of a neighborhood-defining
annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a neighborhood defining
annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering direction that is CLOCKWISE,
for a substantially co-linear bristle tolerance that is 20 degrees,
at least a majority that is at least 50% of the bristles of the
bristle field are members of a 40-set that is a sub-set of the
bristle field having 40 members that has at least a LEVEL 2
variety.
[0066] In some embodiments, a ratio between a bristle width
standard deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle
field is at least 0.1.
[0067] In some embodiments, the majority is a substantial majority
that is at least 70%.
[0068] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least
80% of the bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm
and 20 mm; ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the
average height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at
least 20% of the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv)
a bristle density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at
most 20 bristles/cm 2; v) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for
a word length selected from the group consisting of 3 and 4, for a
MAPPING physical property that is height, for an inner radius of a
neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a
neighborhood defining annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering
direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a substantially co-linear bristle
tolerance that is 20 degrees, at least a majority that is at least
50% of the bristles of the bristle field are members of a 40-set
that is a sub-set of the bristle field having 40 members that has a
LEVEL N variety where N is an integer selected from the group
consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
[0069] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least
80% of the bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm
and 20 mm; ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the
average height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at
least 20% of the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv)
a bristle density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at
most 20 bristles/cm 2; v) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for
a word length of 4, for a MAPPING physical property that is height,
for an inner radius of a neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm
and an outer radius of a neighborhood defining annulus that is 12
mm, for an ordering direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a
substantially co-linear bristle tolerance that is 20 degrees, at
least a majority that is at least 50% of the bristles of the
bristle field are members of a 40-set that is a sub-set of the
bristle field having 40 members that has at least a LEVEL 2
variety.
[0070] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least
80% of the bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm
and 20 mm; ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the
average height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at
least 20% of the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv)
a bristle density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at
most 20 bristles/cm 2; v) a ratio between a bristle width standard
deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle field is at
least 0.07; vi) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length selected from the group consisting of 3 and 4, for a MAPPING
physical property that is width/thickness, for an inner radius of a
neighborhood-defining annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a
neighborhood defining annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering
direction that is CLOCKWISE, for a substantially co-linear bristle
tolerance that is 20 degrees, at least a majority that is at least
50% of the bristles of the bristle field are members of a 40-set
that is a sub-set of the bristle field having 40 members that has a
LEVEL N variety where N is an integer selected from the group
consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
[0071] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that: i) at least
80% of the bristles of the field have a height that is between 5 mm
and 20 mm; ii) a ratio between a height standard deviation and the
average height of the bristle field is at least 0.075; iii) at
least 20% of the bristles have a height between 9 mm and 14 mm; iv)
a bristle density for the field is at least 3 bristles/cm 2 and at
most 20 bristles/cm 2; v) a ratio between a bristle width standard
deviation and a bristle width average for the bristle field is at
least 0.07; vi) for at least one arbitrary vector v, for a word
length of 4, for a MAPPING physical property that is
width/thickness, for an inner radius of a neighborhood-defining
annulus that is 2 mm and an outer radius of a neighborhood defining
annulus that is 12 mm, for an ordering direction that is CLOCKWISE,
for a substantially co-linear bristle tolerance that is 20 degrees,
at least a majority that is at least 50% of the bristles of the
bristle field are members of a 40-set that is a sub-set of the
bristle field having 40 members that has at least a LEVEL 2
variety.
[0072] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that bristle heights
vary in a substantially random manner and are substantially
independent of bristle location on the bristle-retaining surface,
the bristle field providing the following properties: (i) height
properties such that at least 5 different heights that
significantly differ from each other are represented; ii) width
properties such that at least 80% of the bristles of the bristle
field has a width that is at least 0.5 mm; and iii) bristle end
properties such that at least 60% of the bristles have a rounded
end.
[0073] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such that a distal end
surface defined by ends of bristles of the bristle field is
irregularly and substantially randomly shaped, the bristle field
providing the following properties: (i) height properties such that
at least 5 different heights that significantly differ from each
other are represented; (ii) width properties such that at least 80%
of the bristles of the bristle field has a width that is at least
0.5 mm; and (iii) bristle end properties such that at least 60% of
the bristles have a rounded end.
[0074] A hairbrush comprises a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining, an average height of the bristle
field being defined as HEIGHT_AVG, a height standard deviation of
the bristle field being defined as HEIGHT_SD, the field of bristles
providing height properties, width properties and bristle end
properties such that: (i) according to the width properties, at
least 80% of the bristles of the field has a width that is at least
0.5 mm; (ii) according to the bristle end properties, at least 60%
of the bristles of the field have a rounded end; and (iii)
according to the height properties: the bristle field provides at
least 5 different heights that significantly differ from each other
are represented; the bristle field includes at least one height
outlier subset (HOS) having a count that is at least 10% of the
total bristle count of the bristle field, the height outlier subset
HOS being selected from the group consisting of: a
very-tall-bristles (VTB) subset of bristles whose height exceeds a
sum of HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD; and a very-short-bristles (VSB)
subset of bristles whose height is less than a difference between
HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD, wherein bristles of the bristle field are
individually deployed to the bristle-retaining surface so that
there is a contrast between the deployment of the bristle field as
a whole and the deployment of at least one height outlier subset
HOS, such that while the bristles of bristle field as a whole are
deployed at substantially a constant density within a selected area
SA of the bristle-retaining surface, the bristles of the height
outlier subset HOS are scattered at irregular and non-periodic
locations within the selected area SA.
[0075] In some embodiments, the bristles are individually deployed
to the bristle-retaining surface.
[0076] A hairbrush comprising a bristle-retaining surface and a
bristle field of at least 100 bristles that are deployed to the
bristle-retaining surface the bristles being constructed of a
variety of materials having different flexibilities, each bristle
being constructed of a respective material, bristle material
flexibility per bristle varying in a substantially random manner
and is substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface, the bristle field providing the
following properties: (i) at least 70% of the bristles have a
height between 5 mm and 25 mm; (ii) a ratio between a height
standard deviation and the average height of the bristle field is
at least 0.075; (iii) the variation of bristle material
flexibilities among different bristles is equivalent to the
variation of bristle flexibility for a fixed height that is the
average height of the field that would be obtained if a ratio
between a bristle width standard deviation and a bristle width
average was at least 0.07; (iv) width properties such that at least
80% of the bristles of the bristle field has a width that is at
least 0.5 mm; and (v) bristle end properties such that at least 60%
of the bristles have a rounded end.
[0077] In some embodiments, at least 90% of the bristles have a
height between 5 mm and 25 mm.
[0078] In some embodiments, the height standard deviation and the
average height of the bristle field is at least 0.12.
[0079] In some embodiments, the variation of bristle material
flexibilities among different bristles is equivalent to the
variation of bristle flexibility for a fixed height that is the
average height of the field that would be obtained if a ratio
between a bristle width standard deviation and a bristle width
average was at least 0.07.
[0080] In some embodiments, at least a coverage majority that is at
least 50% of a bristle-covered portion of the bristle retaining
surface is covered with bristle field having one or more of random
or semi-random height properties, random or semi-random width
properties, and random or semi-random material flexibility
properties.
[0081] In some embodiments, the coverage majority is substantial
majority whose size is selected from at least 60%, at least 70%, at
least 90% and at least 95%.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0082] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an exemplary hairbrush according to
some embodiments.
[0083] FIG. 3 illustrates the distance between a pair of bristles
in some embodiments.
[0084] FIG. 4 illustrates locations of various bristles of a
hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 in some embodiments.
[0085] FIGS. 5 and 11 are height histograms.
[0086] FIG. 6 illustrate bristle thickness properties.
[0087] FIGS. 7 and 12 are histograms relating to closest bristle
distances.
[0088] FIG. 8 illustrates grid points in some embodiments.
[0089] FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate a fan brush in some embodiments.
[0090] FIGS. 10A-10E and 13 illustrate bristle locations.
[0091] FIG. 14 illustrates results of testing a hairbrush.
[0092] FIG. 15 illustrates the concept of substantially-co-linear
bristles in some embodiments.
[0093] FIGS. 16A-16B illustrate bristle neighborhoods in some
embodiments.
[0094] FIG. 17 illustrates a routine for forming words from
combinations of bristles and portions (or the entirety of) their
neighborhoods.
[0095] FIG. 18 illustrates ordering of a bristle neighborhood in
some embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0096] The claims below will be better understood by referring to
the present detailed description of example embodiments with
reference to the figures. The description, embodiments and figures
are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. It should
be understood that not every feature of the presently disclosed
methods and apparatuses is necessary in every implementation. It
should also be understood that throughout this disclosure, where a
process or method is shown or described, the steps of the method
may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless it is clear
from the context that one step depends on another being performed
first. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used
in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning "having the potential to`),
rather than the mandatory sense (i.e. meaning "must").
[0097] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention,
which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate
embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which
are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment,
may also be provided separately or in any suitable
sub-combination.
[0098] By employing a hairbrush whose "bristle end" surface defined
by the ends of the bristles have uneven, non-periodic, properties
(for example, having semi-random or random properties), it is
possible to detangle hair in a relatively low-pain' or `no-pain`
manner. In tests conducted under the supervision of the present
inventor, it was discovered that this use of a low-pain' or
`no-pain` hairbrush (i.e. constructed according to
presently-disclosed feature(s) and combinations thereof)
significantly reduces the amount of time required to detangle human
or animal hair (for example, longer hair) and significantly reduces
the amount of pain associated with hair detangling, even for wet
hair and/or wet hair that has not been treated with
conditioner.
[0099] FIGS. 1-2 are drawings of one non-limiting example of such a
novel `low-pain detangling` hairbrush.
[0100] Not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is
noted that that the lengths of human hair are typically not equal,
and typically vary in some sort of random or semi-random fashion,
despite the fact that the average hair length may be the same
throughout the head or throughout regions thereof. The present
inventor has postulated that it is is possible to facilitate
relatively low-pain and/or no-pain hair detangling by varying
bristle lengths and/or thicknesses and/or material flexibilities in
a substantially random manner over the bristle-retaining surface of
the hairbrush in a manner that mimics, at least in part, the random
or semi-random variations of hair length and/or of hair
thickness.
[0101] Thus, according to this line of reasoning, the hair brush
and in particular the shape of the "bristle end" surface defined by
the distal ends has a certain amount of disorder or entropy and is
therefore `compatible` with the hair to be tangled. Furthermore,
this bristle geometry (as opposed to a situation where the bristle
lengths are constant or vary in some `ordered` manner) may be
useful for distributing tension or pulling force associated with
detangling hair, reducing the amount of tension in any single
location.
[0102] Throughout the text and FIGURES a number of possible
features are disclosed. It is to be appreciated that (i) not every
feature is required in every embodiment; and (ii) any combination
of features (i.e. all features or any subset of features including
combinations not explicitly listed in the present document) may be
provided in any given embodiment.
[0103] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a hairbrush according to some
embodiments of the present invention. Hairbrush 500 includes a
brush body 510 and bristles deployed on a region 540 of
bristle-retaining surface 530 of the brush body 510. In addition,
the brush body includes a handle 520.
[0104] The more central portion of region 540 is labeled as 560,
while the `edge portion` of region 540 is labeled as 570. An `inner
field` of bristles resides in this more central portion 560; an
`outer field` of bristles' resides in the edge portions 570.
[0105] Reference is made to FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the "bristle end
surface" (illustrated by the broken, dotted line) defined by the
distal ends of bristles is illustrated. The term bristle end
surface" 550 does not require any extra material to be present
other than the bristles themselves--instead, this term describes
the surface which may be interpolated from the ends of the
bristles.
[0106] One salient feature of this bristle end surface 550 within
the more central portion 560 of bristle-retaining surface 530 is
that the bristle end surface 550 is irregularly shaped
substantially without any observable periodicity and with clearly
observable stochastic/random properties.
[0107] Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the
hair itself may define a "hair surface" defined by the ends of the
hair and/or the portions of hair strands that are `highest` above
the surface of the skull. This "hair surface" (NOT SHOWN) also may
provide a certain level of semi-randomness or randomness or
disorder or entropy, especially when the hair is tangled. It is
postulated that because the distal end surface 550 provides these
non-periodic/semi-random/random properties (similar to the `hair
surface`), this facilitates better penetration of the bristles
themselves into the hair surface in a manner that does not induces
strong pulling forces or tension.
[0108] As can be observed from FIGS. 1B and 2A, in the region 570
near the edge of bristle retaining surface bristles are much
shorter than in the more central region 560. This optional `outer
field of bristles` (in contrast to the inner field of bristles
whose bristles reside in the more central 560 region) may in some
embodiments facilitate the penetration of the bristles of the inner
field into the user's hair in a relatively `smooth` manner. For
example, many users brush their hair with a brush stroke so that
the outer region 570 of the hairbrush near the edge
encounters/contacts the hair before the inner region 560 of the
brush. In this case, first the shorter bristles of the outer region
will first encounter the hair first, and then the more `aggressive`
longer bristles (e.g. for hair detangling) will immediately
follow.
[0109] One salient feature of the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 is that
the majority of the `bristle-populated` or `bristle-covered`
portion of the hairbrush (in the example of FIGS. 1-2 this is the
regions 560 and 570) is configured so that some sort of random
pattern is dominant in this `majority`--i.e. a substantially random
height pattern and/or substantially random width pattern and/or
substantially bristle material flexibility pattern. For the case of
FIG. 1B, this is a substantial majority, as the area of the outer
field 570 is much less than the area of the inner field 560. For
the case of FIG. 9, this is substantially the entire area. In
different embodiments, this `majority` may be a substantial
majority that is at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at
least 90% or at least 95% or substantially 100%.
[0110] For the case of variation of material flexibilities, the
bristles may be constructed of materials of different flexibilities
(e.g. some bristles are constructed of one type of material such as
one type of plastic, other bristles are constructed of another type
of material having a different flexibility such as another type of
plastic, yet other bristles are constructed of another type of
material having a yet different flexibility such as another type of
plastic, etc--at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5
or any number of bristle materials may bne used).
[0111] Throughout the present disclosure, the term `inner field` of
bristles may refer to any field of bristles, whether or not there
are additional fields of bristles that co-reside on the surface of
the hairbrush. Thus, the field of bristles having random height
properties may or may not be provided together with additional
bristles.
[0112] It is appreciated that the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 is only
intended as illustrative and not as limiting--however, in some
embodiments, a given hairbrush may provided one or more common
features with the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 including but not limited
to features describing bristle lengths properties and/or features
describing bristle width properties and/or features describing a
relationship between bristle location and bristle length and/or
width.
[0113] Below is an abbreviated list of some physical parameters
related to the non-limiting example of FIGS. 1-2, and in particular
to the field of bristles in the central region (referred to as the
`inner field of bristles`). An additional list is provided below,
after the definitions section. It is appreciated that any
combination of features may be provided:
[0114] (i) bristle count--in the example of FIGS. 1-2, the inner
field of bristles has about 300 bristles. In different embodiments,
the inner field of bristles (or of the `field having the random
height and/or width and/or material properties`) may comprise at
least 50 bristles or at least 100 bristles or at least 150 bristles
or at least 200 bristles or at least 250 bristles. Preferably, each
of these bristles has a thickness that is at least 0.5 mm (or a
thickness that is at least 0.75 mm or at least 0.85 mm or at least
1 mm depending on the embodiments) and/or a height that is at least
5 mm (or at least 4 mm or at least 6 mm or at least 7 mm depending
on the embodiment).
[0115] (ii) bristle height--for bristles of the inner field (or of
the `field having the random height and/or width and/or material
properties`), there is a variation of bristle heights, and bristles
of different heights (i.e. at least 5 or at least 8 or at least 10
or at least 12) that significantly differ from each other may be
provided. In some embodiments, the average bristle height of the
bristle field whose heights varies substantially randomly (e.g.
`inner field` in area 560) may be on the order of magnitude of 1
cm--for example, between 7 mm and 18 mm--for example, between 8.5
mm and 15 mm or between 8 mm and 14 mm. An additional discussion of
`bristle height` features is provided below with reference to FIGS.
5, 7 10-12.
[0116] As will be discussed below, various other properties
relating to bristle height may be provided--for example, relating
to a height distribution function for bristles of the `field of
bristles` (i.e. having random height properties). As is clearly
visible to from FIGS. 1-2 (and from FIG. 5 which provides a height
histogram), the heights within the inner field (or of the `field
having the random height and/or width and/or material properties)
are by no means uniform--instead there is a noticeable and
significant `spread` amount of the heights.
[0117] (iii) bristle thickness--in some embodiments, the bristle
thickness for bristles of the inner field (or of the `field having
the random height and/or width and/or material properties) is on
the order of magnitude of about 1.2 mm--for example, between 0.8 mm
and 2 mm. However, the actual bristle thickness may depend on the
bristle material used. An additional discussion of `bristle
thickness` features is provided below with reference to FIG. 6.
[0118] (iv) bristle orientation features--as will be observed from
the figures, the bristles of the `inner field` (or of the `field
having the random height and/or width and/or material properties`)
will typically `stand up straight`--i.e. be oriented substantially
normally to the local plane of the bristle-retaining surface 530
and/or substantially co-linear with the local normal of the bristle
surface (for example, within tolerances of 30 degrees or 20 degrees
or 10 degrees.)
[0119] This may be the case for any shape/topology of
bristle-retaining surface 530--for example, flat (as illustrated in
FIGS. 1-2) or rounded or even a cylindrical fan brush. In some
embodiments, the bristles of the `field having the random height
and/or width and/or material properties` are substantially parallel
to each other (or locally parallel to each other).
[0120] (v) bristle shape features--as will be observed from the
figures, the bristles are all substantially straight (rather than
bent or crooked). In addition, bristles of the inner field 560
and/or outer field 570 of bristles (or any field providing the
`random height and/or width and/or material flexibility properties)
may have a substantially round end. For example, a substantially
majority of bristles of the `field` that is at least 60% or 75% or
85% or 90%. This may be useful for providing a more comfortable
effect when the bristles contact the scalp.
[0121] In some embodiments, a majority bristles or a substantially
majority of at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at
least 90%) of bristles of the `inner field` (or any field within
the `selected area`) are substantially straight.
[0122] (v) bristle density--as may be observed from the figures,
within the central portion of the brush, the density of bristles
tends to be substantially constant, though not exactly constant.
For embodiments relating to the `substantially constant bristle
density,` there will tend not to be sizable regions within the
`inner field` (or of the `field having the random height and/or
width and/or material properties`) that are devoid of bristles or
regions where bristles are clearly `overcrowded` compared to other
regions.
[0123] (vi) material/attachment means--] the bristles may be
constructed from a plastic material and attached to the
bristle-retaining surface of the brush. One example of bristles
that are `attached` or `deployed` to the bristle-retaining surface
is where the bristles are glued to or stapled to or fastened the
`brush surface` of `bristle retaining surface.` In another example,
the bristles may integrally formed with the brush surface. For
example, the brush surface and the bristles may be constructed of
the same material--it is possible to product a special mold that
conforms to the shape of the bush surface and the bristles--the
geometric properties of this mold may determine the `length
properties` or `thickness properties` or `bristle density
properties` or any other geometric properties of the bush including
the bristles. This `integrally formed` brush is another example of
bristles that are `attached` or `deployed` to the bristle retaining
surface.
[0124] (vii) uniform local-average height--one feature that is
clearly observable from FIG. 2B is that within the `inner region`
even if there is significant variation among the heights over
individual bristles, the local-average height of each bristle may
vary to a much lesser extent. In some embodiments, throughout the
region of the `field having the random height and/or width and/or
material properties,` the local averaged height of each bristle
along with the neighboring significant bristles (i.e. neighboring
bristles whose height is significant--for example, at least 30%)
may fluctuate to a much lesser extent than the heights of the
bristles themselves. Thus, in the event that the distal bristle
surface 550 is smoothed in a neighborhood (for example, having a
radius of around 7.5 mm and/or a radius equal to the average
bristle height within a tolerance of 50% or 40% or 30% or 20% or
10%), it may be found that the `neighborhood-smoothed` distal
bristlal surface is substantially constant.
DEFINITIONS
[0125] For convenience, in the context of the description herein,
various terms are presented here. To the extent that definitions
are provided, explicitly or implicitly, here or elsewhere in this
application, such definitions are understood to be consistent with
the usage of the defined terms by those of skill in the pertinent
art(s). Furthermore, such definitions are to be construed in the
broadest possible sense consistent with such usage.
[0126] Embodiments of the present invention relate to bristle
fields where bristles are deployed to the hairbrush surface such
that bristle heights `vary in a substantially random manner that is
substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface.`
[0127] For the present disclosure, when bristle heights/lengths of
a field of bristles `vary in a substantially random manner that is
substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface,` (i) it is possible to view the bristles
together as a coherent unit or `field` (ii) there is no visually
determinable (i.e. other than randomness) pattern for bristle
length/height of the bristles of the field of bristles; and (iii)
it is thus visually clear that the bristles of the bristle field
have a `substantially random` height pattern.
[0128] It is appreciated that additional optional objects or
features that do not obscure/cancel the visibly-observable
`substantially random` height pattern of bristles of the `field of
bristles` described in the previous paragraph may be provided. In
one example, the hairbrush topology may be other than the flat
topology illustrated in FIGS. 1-2.
[0129] In another example, there may be additional bristles beyond
that at least 100 or at least 150 or at least 200 or at least 250
bristles of the `field of bristles.` for example, located in an
outer field or in any other location on the bristle-retaining
surface. In a particular example, the additional bristles may be
`short` bristles that are substantially shorter the bristles of
inner field having the `random height properties` or `thin`
bristles or may have any other geometry. However, for embodiments
providing the substantially random height properties, these
additional optional objects or features would not obscure/cancel
the visibly-observable `substantially random` height pattern of
bristles.
[0130] Thus, bristles of the outer field of the edge 570 in FIGS.
1-2 may or may not have the `random height properties`--however, it
is clear that their presence (or the presence of any other
`additional` bristles in any location) does not obscure the random
height property observable in the `inner field.`
[0131] The term `substantially random` implies that the height
pattern (or width or flexibility pattern) does not need to be
exactly mathematically random pattern as long as these visible
patterns described above are present.
[0132] When a physical and/or statistical property of a `field of
bristles` having random height and/or width and/or material
stiffness features (or any other group of bristles or field of
bristles) is discussed, it is clear that this refers to only to the
field of bristles that provide that `random height properties` and
not to any additional bristles. Such physical and/or statistical
properties may relate to bristle density or height or thickness or
material or any other property. Certain measured physical and/or
statistical properties for the `field of bristles` hairbrush of
FIGS. 1-2 are discussed with respect to various figures.
[0133] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the case
where the bristles of the `field of bristles` having the observable
height and/or thickness and/or material flexibility pattern are
"individually deployed` to not deployed in tufts or bristles or
bundled of bristles. Instead, the bristles are individually
deployed to the bristle-retaining surface--i.e. each bristle is
separately deployed to the bristle-retaining surface.
[0134] Thus, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the bristles and/or
their `bases/bottoms/proximal ends` are spaced from each other and
are not `bunched together` as is known in the art for `bundles of
bristles` or `tufts of bristle.` Instead, they are each
`individually` deployed as illustrated in the figures.
[0135] Another salient feature of bristles that are not deployed as
tufts or bundles (but are rather independently deployed) is the
fact that the bristles may be parallel to each other. In some
embodiments, a majority or most (i.e. at least 70% or at least 80%
or at least 90%) of the bristles of a population are all `locally
parallel`--i.e. parallel to all neighboring bristles of the
population--e.g. all bristles of the population of bristles closer
than 1 cm or closer than 0.5 cm. Thus, even for the case of
bristles deployed to a cylindrical brush, it may be said that these
bristles which are not deployed in tufts or bundles are locally
parallel.
[0136] When a distal bristle surface has a shape that `varies in a
substantially random manner,` this refers to a situation where
there is no visually determinable (i.e. other than the randomness)
pattern for bristle distal surface. Once again, there may be
additional bristles (which may or may not have stochastic height
properties) present other than the `field bristles` that form the
bristle distal surface (for example, much shorter bristles than the
field bristles of the `mostly random or irregular or non-periodic`
portion of the distal bristle surface. However, the additional
bristles would not nullify the clearly-observable random-like or
irregular surface shape pattern of the bristle distal surface 550
(or a portion thereof).
[0137] Some embodiments relate to the case where a number of
different heights (i.e. at least 5 or at least 8 or at least 10 or
at least 12) `significantly differ from each other` are provided or
represented within a field of bristles. The term `significantly
different` heights for bristles refers is relative to functionality
of brushing the hair, as opposed to very small (e.g. microscopic)
height variations, for example, due to the manufacturing process.
These significantly different heights are clearly visible to the
user who views the brush with his/her naked eye--see FIGS. 1-2. In
examples relating to FIGS. 1-2 (and as is discussed in more detail
with reference to FIG. 5 which is a height histogram of the inner
field), the `range` of the at least five different heights that are
substantially different from each other is one the order of
magnitude of at least several mm.
[0138] When a bristle is `substantially stiff` this means that even
if the bristle is mostly stiff, there may still be some
flexibility--for example, to make brushing a less painful
experience. Thus, the term `substantially stiff` refers to `stiff
enough to serve its purpose`--to penetrate into the hair region and
to detangle hair.
[0139] A `bristle` is will have enough of a thickness and be
constructed of a material in order to serve this purpose. In some
embodiment, the bristle may has a thickness/width that is at least
0.5 mm (i.e. for the case of plastic).
[0140] Referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, it is noted that the `distance
between bristles` (denoted in FIGS. 3A-3B as DISTANCE(b.sub.1,
b.sub.2) between bristles b.sub.1 and b.sub.2) relates to the
distance between their centroids at their respective
`bottom/base/root/proximal ends of bristles` along the surface 530
of the hairbrush.
[0141] The `location` of a bristle is the location is the
center/centroid of the bristle on the brush surface (i.e. at a
`height` above local the brush surface of `zero). The `distance
between bristles` refers to the center-center distance.
[0142] The term `bristle-retaining surface` is not intended to
limit to a particular type of surface but is merely intended to
provide a name for the surface to which bristles are deployed.
[0143] For the present disclosure, when bristle widths/thicknesses
of a field of bristles `vary in a substantially random manner that
is substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface,` (i) it is possible to view the bristles
together as a coherent unit or `field` (ii) there is no visually
determinable (i.e. other than randomness) pattern for bristle
length/height of the bristles of the field of bristles; and (iii)
it is thus visually clear that the bristles of the bristle field
have a `substantially random` height pattern.
[0144] Below is a list of various features categorized by `feature
types` describing features that may be provided by bristles of the
inner field of bristles 560. Any feature pertaining to an `inner
field of bristles` may, in one or more embodiments, relate to a
field of bristles having random height and/or random width and/or
random material flexibility properties, regardless of whether or
not an `outer field` is present. In different embodiments, any
combination of features may be provided.
[0145] A Discussion of FIG. 4--Count Features and Density
Features
[0146] FIG. 4A is a map of bristle locations for the non-limiting
hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2.
[0147] FIGS. 4-4D illustrate certain sub-regions of the map of FIG.
4A. As may be observed from FIG. 4A, in the example of FIGS. 1-2
the inner field of bristles 560 (which for the particular case of
FIGS. 1-2 is the `selected area` of bristles where the random
bristle length pattern may be observed), includes about 300
bristles. This is just for one particular base, and more or fewer
bristles may be provided within the `selected area.`
[0148] In different embodiments, the number of bristles of the
`selected area` of bristles where the random bristle length pattern
may be observed is at least at least 100 or at least 150 or at
least 200 or at least 250 bristles.
[0149] Bristles of at least 100 or at least 150 or at least 200 or
at least 250 bristles may have specific properties--for example,
(i) a bristle thickness/width/diameter of these bristles is at
least 0.5 mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.8 mm or at least 0.9
mm and/or (ii) a bristle height that is at least 3 mm or at least 5
mm or at least 7 mm and/or (iii) a bristle height that is at most
25 mm or at most 22 mm or at most 20 mm or at most 18 mm or at most
16 mm.
[0150] In some embodiments, at least 50% or at least 70% or least
80% or at least 90% or at least 95% of all bristles in the
`selected area` have a thickness that is at least at least 0.8 mm
or at least 0.9 mm or at least 1 mm.
[0151] Another salient feature that is may be observed from FIG. 4
is that the bristles are deployed within the inner region at a
`substantially constant density.` In some embodiments, it may be
preferred for the density to not be exactly constant, but to permit
(or even prefer) relatively small fluctuations' in bristle
density.
[0152] For example, there may be relatively small regions 1020
within the inner field that are devoid of bristles (or have a much
lower density), and there may be relatively small regions 1024
within the inner field that have a relatively higher
density--however, these variations are relatively small, and do not
cancel the overall `substantially constant density` pattern of
bristles of the `inner field` and/or `the field exhibiting the
random height and/or width and/or material flexibility
pattern.`
[0153] In some embodiments, the bristle field comprising at least
100 or at least 150 or at east 200 or at least 250 bristles is
deployed on an area of bristle-retaining surface 530 of the
hairbrush whose size is between about 20 and 100 cm 2--for example,
between about 30 and about 50 cm 2, As will be discussed below,
different bristle densities and ranges for bristles of the `inner
field` (or any other random-property field) may be provided.
[0154] As noted above, it is evident from FIG. 4 that, in some
embodiments, while some spatial fluctuation in bristle density
(i.e. for bristles of the `inner field` and/or for bristles whose
height is at least a minimum height that is at least 4 mm or at
least 5 mm or at least 6 mm or at least 7 mm or at least 8 mm
and/or for bristles whose thickness is at least a minimum thickness
that is at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.85 mm or
at least 1 mm or more) may be permitted or even desired (see
regions 1024 or 1020 of FIG. 4), it may be desirable for the
overall density of bristles of the inner field to be substantially
constant.
[0155] A Discussion of FIG. 5--Height Features
[0156] Statistical properties of bristle heights for the inner
field of bristles (i.e. in region 560) for the particular example
of FIGS. 1-2 were computed. Table 1 is a summary statistics table
for this height distribution.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Mean 11.34222973 Standard Error 0.136397356
Median 11.2 Mode 11.7 Standard 2.346668846 Deviation Sample
Variance 5.506854672 Kurtosis -1.052072931 Skewness 0.176770335
Range 8.3 Minimum 7.5 Maximum 15.8 Sum 3357.3 Count 296
[0157] For the particular example of FIGS. 1-2 where the inner
field includes 296 bristles, the average bristle height is 11.3 mm
and the height standard deviation is 2.34 mm. For the example of
FIGS. 1-2, the ratio between the height standard deviation and the
average height (i.e. the height SD/average height ratio) is
0.21.
[0158] FIG. 5 is a `height histogram` describing the frequency of
heights whose values lie within certain `bins.`
[0159] Inspection of FIG. 5 reveals that not all of the heights are
the same--instead, there is a certain height `spread` and a variety
of heights are provided. In different embodiments (as can be seen
from FIG. 5), a number of different heights (i.e. at least 5 or at
least 8 or at least 10 or at least 12 or at least 15 or at least 20
heights) that `significantly differ from each other` is provided.
The term `significantly different` heights for bristles refers is
relative the functionality of brushing the hair, as opposed to very
small (e.g. microscopic) height variations, for example, due to the
manufacturing process. These significantly different heights are
clearly visible to the user who views the brush with his/her naked
eye.
[0160] In different embodiments, the bristles of the inner field
have a `minimum length` or a `maximum length` (this relates only to
inner field bristles--additional non-inner field bristles may have
any other length). Not limited by theory, for the former case,
shorter bristles may not be able to function to separate/detangle
hair. Not limited by theory, for the later case, longer bristles
may `interfere` with the hair detangling process and/or increase
the amount of pain and/or not serve a positive detangling
functionality.
[0161] In some embodiments, at least 50% or at least 60% or at
least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95% or at
least 99% (any combination is possible) of the bristles of the
inner field (or any `random properties field`) may have a minimum
length that is at least 6 mm or at least 7 mm or at least 8 mm or
at least 9 mm and/or may have a maximum length that is at most 20
mm or at most 19 mm or at most 18 mm or at most 17 mm or at most 16
mm or at most 15 mm (any combination is possible--for example, at
least 60% have a length that is at least 7 mm and at least 80% have
a length that is at most 16 mm or any other combination).
[0162] FIG. 5 describes a situation where the height range of
bristles within area 560 is between about 7 mm and about 16 mm. In
different embodiments, the height range for bristles within area
560 may be between about 3.5 mm (in some embodiments between about
6 mm) and about 16 mm--for example--thus, in some embodiments,
substantially all (for example, at least 80% or at least 90%)
bristles are within this height range--i.e. between any one of the
four height ranges: (a) 3.5 mm to 16 mm (b) 3.5 mm to 18 mm (c) 6
mm to 16 mm; and (d) 6 mm to 18 mm.
[0163] Inspection of FIG. 5 indicates that even if the height
distribution of bristles is exactly not uniform, the height
distribution may have some properties of a uniform height
distribution. For example, in some embodiments, a first fraction
(for example at least 5% or at least 10% or at least 15% or at
least 20%) of the bristle population of the inner field are `short
bristles` having a height in a relatively `short` range (height
range 1), a second fraction for example at least 5% or at least 10%
or at least 15% or at least 20% or at least 25%) of the bristle
population of the inner field are `medium height bristles` having a
height in a relatively `medium height` range (height range 2), and
a third fraction (for example at least 5% or at least 10% or at
least 15% or at least 20%) of the bristle population of the inner
field are `tall bristles` having a height in a relatively `tall
height` range (height range 3). Any combination of these
percentages may be provided.
[0164] In one example, relatively short bristles have a height
between 5 mm and 9 mm of bristles of the inner field (height range
S1), the `medium height` bristles have a height between 9 mm and 13
mm (height range M1), and the `tall bristles` have a height between
13 mm and 18 mm (height range T1). This may be true for `relatively
flat brushes`--for fan brushes, the height numbers may be 10-20%
higher. (S1 is a first version of `shore`; M1 is a first version of
`medium`; T1 is a first version of `tall`; S2 is a second version
of `shore`; M2 is a second version of `medium`; T2 is a
secondversion of `tall`.
[0165] In another example, relatively short bristles have a height
between 5 mm and 9.5 mm of bristles of the inner field (height
range 1), the `medium height` bristles have a height between 9.5 mm
and 12.5 mm (height range 2), and the `tall bristles` have a height
between 12.5 mm and 18 mm (height range 3).
[0166] In some embodiments, the number of bristles of the inner
field (or field having the `random` properties) in a height range
of S1 and/or M1 and/or T1 and/or S2 and/or M2 and/or T2 (any
combination may be provided) is at least 10 bristles and/or at
least 20 bristles and/or at least 30 bristles and/or least 40
bristles (any combination may be provided).
[0167] The terminology COUNT(S1) is the count of bristles of the
inner field (or field having the `random` properties) whose height
is in the S1 height range. This may relate to S1, M1, T1 S2, M2,
and/or T2.
[0168] In different embodiments, any of the following ratios (any
combination of ratios or any combinations of upper/lower bounds)
may be) at least 0.2 or at least 0.3 at least 0.4 or at least 0.6
or at least 0.7 or at least 0.8 and/or at most 2 or at most 1.5 or
at most 1.2 or at most 1 or at most 0.8 or at most 0.6 or at most
0.4 or at most 0.3 or at most 0.2 L: ratio between COUNT(S1) and
COUNT(M1) and/or a ratio between COUNT(S2) and COUNT(M2) and/or a
ratio between COUNT(T1) and COUNT(M1) and/or a ratio between
COUNT(T2) and COUNT(M2) Any combination may be provided.
[0169] This relatively `uniform` bristle height distribution may
apply to the population of bristles of `meaningful height` for
detangling hair deployed within the `selected area` 560. In
different embodiments, this set of bristles having a `meaningful
height for detangling` bristles (defined as bristles having a
minimum height of 2.5 mm (or 3 mm or 3.5 mm or 4 mm or 4.5 mm or 5
mm) and a maximum height of 17.5 mm (or 21 mm or 20 mm or 19 mm or
18 mm or 17 mm)--any combination of these number is possible)
deployed within the selected area has the minimum count discussed
in the previous section--at least 100 or at least 150 or at least
200 or at least 250 bristles and/or also a minimum thicknesses of
at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.8 mm or at least
0.9 mm.
[0170] In different embodiments, the height SD/average height ratio
bristles of the inner field (or any other field having `random
properties` deployed in any selected area is at least 0.05 or at
least 0.075 or at least 0.1 or at least 0.125 or at least 0.15 or
at least 0.2 and/or at most 0.6 or at most 0.5 or at most 0.4 or at
most 0.3 or at most 0.25. Once again, this indicates a `height
spread.`
[0171] In different embodiments, the average height of bristles of
the inner field (i.e. for example, bristles in a the `meaningful
height` range of about 2.5 mm to about 17.5 mm) is at least 6 mm at
least 7 mm or at least 8 mm or at least 8.5 mm and/or at most 16 mm
or at most 15 mm or at most 14 mm or at most 13 mm or at most 12
mm. Any combination of these values may be employed in any
embodiment.
[0172] In different embodiments, for the bristles of the inner
field the height standard deviation of the population of bristles
of the inner field may be at least 1 mm or at least 1.5 mm or at
least 2 mm and/or at most 5 mm or at most 4 mm or at most 3 mm.
[0173] Obviously, any combinations of height standard deviation
minimums and any combination of height standard deviation maximums
and/or height averages may be provided.
[0174] In some embodiments, the bristle field is substantially all
of the bristles (i.e. at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90%
or at least 95% or at least 99%) in a given `selected area` (for
example, the region of 560 in FIGS. 2-3) whose height has any
height feature or combination of features disclosed herein and/or
whose width has any width feature or combination of features
disclosed herein.
[0175] Bristle Width Features--a Discussion of FIG. 6
[0176] As noted above, the bristles that have a width that is at
least 0.5 mm--for example, this may be the threshold for
`individual` non-bundle bristles (i.e. for most materials from
which hairbrushes are typically constructed--e.g. most plastics)
where `non-tuft` and `non-bundle` bristles (i.e. individually
deployed) are thick enough to meaningfully penetrate into the hair
region and detangle hair.
[0177] In different embodiments, the bristles of the inner field
have a `minimum thickness` or a `maximum thickness length` (this
relates only to inner field bristles--additional non-inner field
bristles may have any other length).
[0178] In some embodiments, at least 50% or at least 60% or at
least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95% or at
least 99% (any combination is possible) of the bristles of the
inner field (or any `random properties field`) may have a thickness
length that is at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.85
mm or at least 0.9 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.1 mm or at
least 1.2 mm and/or may have a maximum thickness that is at most 3
mm or at most 2.5 mm or at most 2 mm or at most 1.8 mm or at most
0.5 mm or at most 1.3 mm (any combination is possible).
[0179] Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention relate to
hairbrushes where a variety of widths (or material flexibilities)
are provided. n some embodiments, instead of all of the bristles
having the same width (or the same material flexibility), it is
possible to provide a variety of bristles widths (for example, at
least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5) that
significantly differ from each other.
[0180] FIG. 6 illustrates bristle width (y-axis) as a function of
bristle height (x-axis) for the non-limiting case of FIGS. 1-2
(i.e. for the inner field in region 560 or for any other bristle
field providing random height or width or material flexibility
properties). As may be observed from FIG. 6: [0181] (i) there are
multiple widths that significantly differ from each other--in the
example of FIG. 6, some bristles of the inner field have a width
that is about 1, some bristles of the inner field have a width that
is about 1.2, some bristles of the inner field have a width that is
about 1.4, and some bristles of the inner field have a width that
is about 1.6; [0182] (ii) there is a clear correlation between the
bristle height and the bristle thickness--i.e. taller bristles tend
to be thicker.
[0183] Alternatively or additionally, the taller bristles may be
constructed of a less flexible material.
[0184] It is noted that, in general, longer bristles tend to be
more flexible than shorter bristles. Not wishing to be limited to
by theory, if the inner field (or any `random properties field`)
provides a both relatively tall bristles and relatively short
bristles, it is possible that are relatively long tall bristles
will exhibit a much greater degree of flexibility than the
relatively short bristles. In order to mitigate this effect (or for
any other reason), it may be useful to configure the hairbrush so
that the more taller bristles are `reinforced` with a greater
thickness (alternatively or additionally, constructed of a less
flexible material) while shorter bristles are constructed with a
lesser thickness or of more flexible material to counteract their
tendency to be `too stiff.`
[0185] This may be possible for providing a situation where bristle
stiffness varies less than would otherwise be observed and/or may
even be substantially constant
[0186] The skilled artisan would appreciate the difference between
`material stiffness" or `material flexibility` on the one hand, and
`bristle stiffness` or `bristle flexibility` on the one hand (i.e.
this would be determined by at least the combination of material
flexibility/stiffness, bristle height and bristle thickness).
[0187] Embodiments of the present invention relate to situations
where bristles are deployed to the bristle-retaining surface such
that bristle heights vary in a substantially random manner and are
substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface. For embodiment where these is a clear
correlation between bristle height and bristle thickness (for
example, where the taller bristles are thicker as in FIG. 6), then
it is clear that the bristle thickness (or alternatively, material
flexibility) may also vary in a substantially random manner that is
substantially independent of bristle location on the
bristle-retaining surface.
[0188] In different embodiments, one or more of the following
features may be provided for the `inner field` of bristles (or any
field of bristles having any `random properties`): [0189] (i) the
average bristle thickness may be at least 0.85 mm or at least 1 mm
or at least 1.15 mm or at least 1.25 mm. [0190] (ii) the average
bristle thickness may be at most 2.5 mm or at most 2 mm or at most
1.75 mm or at most 1.5 mm or at most 1.4 mm; [0191] (iii) a variety
of thicknesses are provided, with the standard deviation of
thickness, with the standard deviation of the bristle thickness
being at least 3% or at least 5% or at least 7% or at least 10% or
at least 12% or at least 15% of the average bristle thickness;
[0192] (iv) in some embodiments, the standard deviation of the
bristle thickness is at most 50% or at most 40% or at most 30% or
at most 20% of the average bristle thickness; [0193] (v) there is a
`positive correlation` between bristle thickness and bristle
heights so that on average, the taller bristles are thicker, and
the shorter bristles are thinner (see FIG. 6--where the `x` axis is
bristles height in mm and the `y` axis is bristle thickness in
mm--it is clear from FIG. 6 that the taller bristles tend to be
thicker--this may useful for providing a mixture of different
bristle flexibilities) [0194] (vi) In some embodiments relating to
this `positive correlation` (see FIG. 6), the tallest 20% of the
bristles of the population has an average height denoted by H1 and
an average thickness denoted by T1; the shortest 20% of the
bristles of the population has an average height denoted by H2 and
an average thickness denoted by T2; in this example, a ratio
between T1 and T2 may be at least 1.1 or at least 1.2 or at least
1.3 or at least 1.4 or at least 1.5. [0195] (vii) In one example
(i.e. either in the context of height in general OR in the context
of the `positive correlation between height and width`), the ratio
between H1 and H2 may be at least 1.1 or at least 1.3 or at least
1.4 or at least 1.5 and/or at most 3 or at most 2.5 or at most 2 or
a 1.75 or at most 1.5. [0196] (viii) some or most or all bristles
of the bristle population of inner field 560 may tend to be
somewhat or substantially stiff.
[0197] In some embodiments, the bristle field is substantially all
of the bristles (i.e. at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90%
or at least 95% or at least 99%) in a given `selected area` (for
example, the region of 560 in FIGS. 2-3) whose height has any
height feature or combination of features disclosed herein and/or
whose width has any width feature or combination of features
disclosed herein.
[0198] In some embodiments, for a majority (or a substantial
majority Of bristles that is at least 60% or at least 70% or at
least 80% or at least 90% or at least 95%), a ratio between a
bristle length and a bristle width is at least 2.5 at least 3 or at
least 4 or at least 5 and/or at most 30 or at most 25 or at most 20
or at most 15 or at most 10.
[0199] Nearest Bristle Histogram--a Discussion of FIG. 7
[0200] For a field of N bristles (N is a positive integer) deployed
to a hairbrush surface, the bristles of the field may be denoted as
{b.sub.1, b.sub.2, . . . b.sub.N}. For the kth bristle b.sub.k, the
bristle field provides a set of N-1 numbers {DISTANCE(b.sub.1,
b.sub.k), DISTANCE(b.sub.2, b.sub.k)-- . . . DISTANCE(b.sub.k-1,
b.sub.k), DISTANCE(b.sub.k+1, b.sub.k) . . . DISTANCE(b.sub.N,
b.sub.k)}--the minimum value of this N-1 number of this distance
set is the distance between the bristle b.sub.k and the `closest
distance` other bristle. Thus, each bristle b.sub.k (k is a
positive integer between 1 and N) is associated with a respective
`closest bristle distance.`
[0201] These numbers were computed for the `inner field` of
bristles for the example of FIGS. 1-2. A histogram of these numbers
is presented in FIG. 7--statistical parameters are displayed
below:
TABLE-US-00002 Mean 3.892409525 Standard Error 0.034380749 Median
4.235575522 Mode 4.242640687 Standard Deviation 0.600433964 Sample
Variance 0.360520945 Kurtosis 0.234056063 Skewness -1.350398162
Range 2.252640687 Minimum 1.99 Maximum 4.242640687 Sum 1187.184905
Count 305
[0202] Thus, for bristles of the `inner field` and/or field having
random properties, the average value of the closest bristle 3.89,
and the standard deviation is 0.6. The ratio between the standard
deviation and the mean is 0.15. In different embodiments, this
ratio may be at least 0.05 or at least 0.075 or at least 0.1 or at
most 0.5 or at most 0.4 or at most 0.3 or at most 0.25 or at most
0.2.
[0203] In different embodiments, the average value of the closest
bristle of bristles of the inner field may be at least 2 mm and/or
at least 2.5 mm and/or least 3 mm and/or at most 7 mm and/or at
most 6 mm and/or at most 5 mm and/or at most 4 mm.
[0204] In different embodiments, the average value of the closest
bristle of bristles of the inner field (where the average height of
bristles of the inner field is H.sub.AVG) may be at least
0.15*H.sub.AVG and/or at least 0.2*H.sub.AVG and/or at least
0.25*H.sub.AVG and/or least 0.3*H.sub.AVG and/or at most
0.7*H.sub.AVG and/or at most 0.6*H.sub.AVG and/or at most
0.5*H.sub.AVG and/or at most 0.4*H.sub.AVG and/or at most
0.3*H.sub.AVG
[0205] In different embodiments, each bristle of at least 50% or
least 60% or at least 70% or at least 90% or at least 95% or
bristles of the `inner field` (or any other field with random
bristles properties) may have respective `closest bristles` value
describing to the closets bristles that is also in the `inner
field` (or any other field of bristles having random properties)
that is at least 2 mm and/or at least 2.5 mm and/or least 3 mm
and/or at most 7 mm and/or at most 6 mm and/or at most 5 mm and/or
at most 4 mm.
[0206] In different embodiments, each bristle of at least 50% or
least 60% or at least 70% or at least 90% or at least 95% or
bristles of the `inner field` (or any other field with random
bristles properties) may have respective `closest bristles` value
describing to the closets bristles that is also in the `inner
field` (or any other field of bristles having random properties)
that is of the inner field (where the average height of bristles of
the inner field is H.sub.AVG) may be at least 0.15*H.sub.AVG and/or
at least 0.2*H.sub.AVG and/or at least 0.25*H.sub.AVG and/or least
0.3*H.sub.AVG and/or at most 0.7*H.sub.AVG and/or at most
0.6*H.sub.AVG and/or at most 0.5*H.sub.AVG and/or at most 0.4*AVG
and/or at most 0.3*H.sub.AVG
[0207] In some embodiments, i) each bristle b of the bristle field
(i.e. inner field or `random-property` field) is associated with a
respective nearest bristle distance describing the respective
closest distance between bristle b and any other bristle of the
same bristle field; ii) a ratio between a standard deviation of the
nearest bristle distances of the bristle population P and an
average of the nearest bristle distances of the bristle population
P is at most 0.25 or at most 0.2 (in the example of FIG. 8A it is
0.15).
[0208] One salient feature of FIG. 8 is that a majority fraction of
bristles of the inner field have a `closest distance value` that is
approximately a peak value or a `representative closets distance`
(i.e. within a tolerance of 5% or 10% or 15%)--this peak value is
defined by the frequency of the `peak value` or `close` numbers
within the tolerance. However, an additional subset of bristles of
the field have `deviating values` that deviate from the
representative value RCDV by at least 5% or at least 10% or at
least 15% or at least 20% or at least 1.2 times or at least 1.4 or
at least 1.5 or at least 1. or at least 2 times `the tolerance` for
the RCDV.
[0209] Grid Value--a Discussion of FIG. 8
[0210] In some embodiments, it is possible to describe bristle
density fluctuations within the region 560 of the `inner field` (or
any other region that `hosts` a field with any random
properties--e.g. height or thickness or material flexibility) as
follows: (i) first a 1 mm by 1 mm square grid is placed on the
`hosting region` 560 (see FIG. 8A)--the intersecting points where
perpendicular lines intersect each other are the `grid points.`
[0211] It is possible, for each grid point, to measure the number
of bristles of the inner field (or any field with the random
properties) that are "close to` the grid point (i.e. less than a
`threshold distance`)--for example, within 1 cm or within 7.5 mm or
within 6.5 mm and/or within a distance that is H.sub.AVG (recall:
the average height of bristles of the `random-property field` is
H.sub.AVG) or within 0.9*H.sub.AVG or within 0.8*H.sub.AVG or
within 0.7*H.sub.AVG or within 0.6*H.sub.AVG or within
0.5*H.sub.AVG using the `bristle-bristle` distance defined with
reference to FIG. 4. These distances are referred to as possible
`threshold distances.`
[0212] For the case of FIGS. 1-2, a threshold distance of 7.5 mm
was used, and the number of grid points within the `containing
region` or `host region` of the inner field was 3490--this
indicates an area of around 35 cm 2. Each given grid point was
associated with a different respective `close bristles` value
describing how many bristles of the inner field (or any
random-property field) were respectively less than the `threshold
distance` from the given grid point. Thus, for the example of FIGS.
1-2 having 3490 grid points, 3490 values for the `number of close
bristles` were computed. Statistics were computed on these 3490
values.
[0213] The average grid point had 10.13 bristles whose distance
from the grid point was less than `threshold` distance (see the
previous paragraphs for possible definitions of the `threshold
distance`--for the example of FIGS. 1-2, the threshold distance was
7.5 mm). While the `average value` among the grid points was 10.13
bristles, the standard deviation was only 1.31.
[0214] The relatively small SD/average ratio of 0.13 is another
indication of the `substantially-constant density of the inner
field of bristles. In different embodiments, this value may be less
than 0.3 less than 0.25 or less than 0.2 or less than 0.15 and/or
most than 0.03 or most than 0.05 or most than 0.07 or most than
0.1.
[0215] Also, for the threshold value of 7.5 mm, the average number
of bristles was 10.13--this indicates that the inner field (or any
other `random-property field of bristles) is deployed at a density
of about 10.13/(3.14*0.75 cm*0.75 cm)=5.7 bristles/cm 2.
[0216] In different embodiments, the density (or the substantially
constant density) of bristles of the inner field (or any other
`random-property field of bristles) may be at least 2 bristles/cm 2
or at least 3 bristles/cm 2 or at least 4 bristles/cm 2 or at least
5 bristles/cm 2 and/or at most 30 bristles/cm 2 or at most 20
bristles/cm 2 or at most 15 bristles/cm 2 or at most 12 bristles/cm
2 or at most 10 bristles/cm 2 or at most 8 bristles/cm 2 or at most
7 bristles/cm 2--any combination is possible. These inner field
bristles may provide the random height and/or random thickness
and/or random material flexibility properties. In some embodiments,
most (i.e. at least 50% or at least 60% or at least 70% or at least
80% or at least 90%) of these bristles may all have a bristle
thickness that is at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least
0.85 mm and/or a bristle height/length that is at least 5 mm or at
least 6 mm or at least 7 mm or at least 8 mm.
[0217] In some embodiments, the inner or `random property` bristle
field comprising at least 100 or at least 150 or at east 200 or at
least 250 bristles is deployed on an area of bristle-retaining
surface 530 of the hairbrush whose size is between about 20 and 100
cm 2--for example, between about 30 and about 50 cm 2, As will be
discussed below, different bristle densities and ranges for
bristles of the `inner field` (or any other random-property field)
may be provided.
[0218] In different embodiments, one or more (i.e. any combination
of) the following features related to locations of bristles may be
provided: [0219] (i) this inner field bristles is deployed on
bristle-retaining surface 530 at a density that ranges between
approximately 4 bristles/cm 2 and 12 bristles/cm 2--for example,
about 7 bristles/cm 2 within a tolerance of 50%. In some
embodiments, this density may be at least 2 bristles/cm 23 at least
3 bristles/cm 2 or at least 4 bristles/cm 2. In some embodiments,
this density may be at most 20 bristle/cm 22 or at most 12
bristles/cm 2 or at most 10 bristles/cm 2 o at most 8 bristles/cm
2; [0220] (ii) the inner field of bristles is deployed so that a
majority or even a significant majority of bristles (for example,
at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 98%) reside on a constant
lattice--however, a minority of bristles (for example, at least 2%
or 5% or 10%) reside at positions away from the positions defined
by the lattice. In one model, the inner field of bristles includes
about 300 bristles, which defined about 1080 "neighboring bristle"
distances where neighboring bristles were bristles separated by
less than 6.5 mm--in this model, approximately 40% of these
distances were exactly a first value--for example, 6 mm (within a
tolerance of a few percent or even 2% or 1%), and approximately 40%
of these distances were exactly a second value which differs from
the first value by at least 1 or 2 mm or at least 10% or 20% or
30%--for example, 4.25 mm--however, the other distances had
different values; [0221] (iii) Each given bristle may be associated
with a `closest neighboring bristle distance--this relates the
closest bristle on the hairbrush from the given bristle. In some
embodiments, at least a majority or at least a substantially
majority that is at least 75% of the bristles have a `closet
neighboring bristle` distance that is at least 1 mm or at least 1.5
mm or at least 2 mm or at least 2.5 mm. Without limitation, this
may relate to the feature where the bristles are `independently
deployed`--i.e. as opposed to tufts or `bundles of bristles` where
the roots of the bristles are in `bunches.` Thus, in the example,
of FIG. 7 most bristles have a `closest neighboring bristle
distance` of around 4.5. [0222] (iv) Each given bristle may be
associated with a `closest neighboring bristle that has a height of
at least 5 mm distance` distance--this relates the closest bristle
(i.e. among bristles whose height is at least 5 mm) on the
hairbrush from the given bristle. In some embodiments, at least a
majority or at least a substantially majority that is at least 75%
of the bristles have a `closet neighboring bristle that has a
height of at least 5 mm distance` distance that is at least 1 mm or
at least 1.5 mm or at least 2 mm or at least 2.5 mm. [0223] (v) In
some embodiments, a majority of bristles or substantial majority of
at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% of the
`inner field` (or any `random-property field`) have a `closest
neighboring bristle` distance that is within 50% or 40% or 30% of
an `average closest neighboring bristle value`--in the example of
FIG. 7, most bristles have a `closest neighboring bristle value`
that is about 4.5 mm. In some embodiments, at least a significant
minority (for example, at least 2% or at least 5% or at least 10%)
have a `nearest bristle distance` that deviates significantly (for
example, by at least 5% or at least 10% or at least 15% or least
20%) from the average and/or most popular `nearest neighbor
distance.`
A Discussion of FIG. 9
[0224] It is noted that the example of the figures relate to the
particular case of a brush with a substantially flat bristle
surface to which the bristles are deployed. In some embodiments,
the bristle surface may have curvature. In one example, there is
visible curvature but the bristle surface may still by mostly flat.
In another example (for example, related to so-called `fan-brushes`
or `hair rollers`--see FIG. 9--or any other brush), the bristle
surface may have a round shape or a substantially cylindrical shape
where the bristle heights are mostly random (or have any other
height feature disclosed herein) along the cylindrical or round
surface of the hair brush.
[0225] In some embodiments, the brush may have any form factor
including but not limited to a form factor of a pet brush (NOT
SHOWN)--for example, having plastic bristles.
A Discussion of FIGS. 10A-10E
[0226] FIG. 10A is a graph of locations (the units are in mm) of
bristles for the example of FIGS. 1-2. As is evident from FIG. 10A,
despite the presence of relatively small regions with `more sparse`
bristle densities 1020 and `more dense` bristles densities, taken
as a whole, it is clear that the bristle density throughout the
`hosting region` (in this case 560) that hosts the inner field is
substantially constant.
[0227] The average bristle length/height for the `inner field of
bristles` (or any other field having random-like properties) is
defined as H.sub.AVG or as HEIGHT_AVG (both are equivalent--the
notation just differs slightly). The standard deviation of bristle
length/height is denoted as HEIGHT_SD. It is possible to define
four height sub-sets for bristles of the field of bristles (e.g. in
region 560)--(i) a `very tall subset` (VTB) of bristles whose
height exceeds a sum of HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD; (ii) a `tall
subset`(TB) of bristles whose height exceeds HEIGHT_AVG but is less
than a sum of HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD; (iii) a `short subset` (SB)
of bristles whose height is less than HEIGHT_AVG but exceeds a sum
of HEIGHT_AVG and HEIGHT_SD; (iv) a `very short subset` (VSB) of
bristles whose height is less than a difference between HEIGHT_AVG
and HEIGHT_SD,
[0228] The first and the last subsets are referred to as `height
outlier subsets` since they refer to heights that have relatively
`large` deviation from the average height.
[0229] In some embodiments, the cardinality of each subset is
`significant`--e.g. at least 7% or at least 10% or at least 12% or
at least 15% of the total cardinality of the `bristle field.`
[0230] It is possible to observe the following contrast in `bristle
deployment` between the `field as a whole` and the various
sub-populations: the bristles of bristle field as a whole are
deployed at substantially a constant density within a selected
`host` area SA 560 of the bristle-retaining surface, bristles of
any one or two or three or four (i.e. any combination) of the
aforementioned subsets (VTB, TB, SB, VSB) are individually deployed
to the bristle-retaining surface so that there is a contrast
between the deployment of the bristle field as a whole and the
deployment of at least one height outlier subset HOS, such that
while the bristles of the height outlier subset HOS are scattered
at irregular and non-periodic locations within the selected area
SA.
[0231] This contrast may be attributed to the fact that the height
distribution of the bristles in some ways resembles a random or
semi-random height distribution.
A Discussion of FIG. 11
[0232] For the `inner field of bristles` (or any other `random
property field`) is possible to associate each bristle of the
`inner field` with a respective group of `close bristles` whose
distance from the `each bristle` is less than a threshold maximum
distance--for example, within 1 cm or within 7.5 mm or within 6.5
mm and/or within a distance that is H.sub.AVG (recall: the average
height of bristles of the `random-property field` is H.sub.AVG) or
within 0.9*H.sub.AVG or within 0.8*H.sub.AVG or within
0.7*H.sub.AVG or within 0.6*H.sub.AVG or within 0.5*H.sub.AVG
and/or optionally greater than a minimum distance (i.e. at least 1
mm and/or at least 1.5 mm or at least 2 mm).
[0233] The height of each bristles can be averaged with the
`nearby-bristles` (i.e. whose distance is less than the max
threshold and optionally exceeds the minimum threshold). For the
value of 7.5 mm (and not minimum), this was one--it is noted that
the `local-average height` tends to be about the same as the
average height for the `inner field` (and/ro random-property field)
of bristles, while the standard deviation
[0234] The resulting histogram is illustrated in FIG. 11--the
statistical properties obtained are listed below:
TABLE-US-00003 Mean 11.33401815 Standard Error 0.049109417 Median
11.27 Mode 11 Standard Deviation 0.844910352 Sample Variance
0.713873503 Kurtosis -0.625787516 Skewness 0.14288207 Range 3.99
Minimum 9.25 Maximum 13.24 Sum 3354.869372 Count 296
[0235] In contrast to the `overall field` where the standard
deviation was about 0.21 of the height (i.e. Ratio of the
SD/average height=0.21), for the local-averaged' case the standard
deviation was about 0.06 of the height. This is evident by the
`tighter` peak in FIG. 11 as compared to FIG. 5. In different
embodiments, the ratio between: [0236] (i) the SD/average ratio for
the `local average case` of the bristles of the inner field and/or
random properties field (see FIG. 11) to: [0237] (ii) the
SD/average ratio for the `original case` is at most: 0.5 or at most
0.4 or at most 0.3 or at most 0.2.
[0238] Thus (LA is an abbreviation for `locally-average`), in some
embodiments, for radius R=7.5 mm, for the inner field, (i) the
average height of all bristles b of the population P is
substantially equal to the local-average height LA(b, 7.5)
[radius=7.5 mm] over all bristles b of the inner field (i.e. all
bristles within the given region--e.g. 560); (ii) the standard
deviation of the local-average height LA(b, 7.5) is significantly
less than the standard deviation of the height distribution of all
bristles b of population P (e.g. the ratio between the standard
deviation of the local-average height LA(b, 7.5) and the standard
deviation of the height distribution of all bristles b of
population P may be at most 0.6 or at most 0.5 or at most 0.4.
[0239] This indicates that the height distribution is relatively
homogenous throughout the inner region--this is one indication of a
random or semi-random height distribution and of relatively `high`
entropy.
A Discussion of FIGS. 12A-12D
[0240] For each given bristle of the population, the respective
closest distance between the given bristle of the population and
another bristle of the population (i.e. the closest `other` bristle
of the population) is the `nearest bristle distance within the
population.` In FIG. 7, it is evident that the most popular
`closest distance` value (i.e. for a particular example of FIGS.
1-2) is around 4.5 cm.
[0241] For each given bristle of any sub-population, the respective
distance between the given bristle of the population and another
bristle of the sub-population (i.e. the closest `other` bristle of
the sub-population) is the `nearest bristle distance within the
sub-population.`
[0242] Because each bristle of a population (or sub-population) may
be assigned a respective `nearest bristle distance,` it is possible
to compute statistical properties across a population or
sub-population. In FIGS. 12A-12D both the `average value of the
closest distances` (i.e. for a population or sub-population) as
well as the `standard deviation of closest distances` (i.e. for a
population or sub-population) are computed and presented. One
metric for any population or sub-population is the
SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE) metric defined the quotient of the standard
deviation divided by the average. Smaller values of SD_AVG are
indicative of bristles (of a population or sub-population) that are
distributed relatively regularly over the bristle-retaining surface
of the brush. Larger values of SD_AVG are indicative of bristles
(of a population or sub-population) that are distributed less
regularly over the bristle-retaining surface of the brush.
[0243] In some embodiments, SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE) for the
population as a whole is less than 0.3 or less than 0.25 or less
than 0.2 or less than 0.175.
[0244] In the example of FIGS. 12A-12D, (i) for the population as a
whole, SD_AVG equals 0.15; (ii) for the sub-population of FIG. 10B
(see FIG. 12A), SD_AVG equals 0.37; (iii) for the sub-population of
FIG. 10C (see FIG. 12B), SD_AVG equals 0.28; (iv) for the
sub-population of FIG. 10D (see FIG. 12C), SD_AVG equals 0.34; (v)
for the sub-population of FIG. 10E (see FIG. 12D), SD_AVG equals
0.35.
[0245] In some embodiments, the ratio of (i) the
SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE) parameter for any one or any two or any
three or all four of the sub-populations (i.e. at least one or at
least two or at least three or all four sub-populations of the
group consisting of the `very short sub-population,` the `short
sub-population,` the `very tall sub-population,` and the `tall
sub-population,) to (ii) the SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE) parameter for
the population as a whole is at least 1.3 or at least 1.5 or at
least 1.7 or at least 2. This indicates that the sub-population(s).
When this ratio(s) exceeding one of these values, it may be
indicative that the sub-populations are distributed `less
regularly` within the a selected area or given area (e.g. the area
of the `inner field) than the population as a whole.
[0246] Another parameter that may be studied, for each given
bristles of a population or subpopulation, is the respective
`number bristles within a certain distance (e.g. 1.2 cm or 1 cm or
7.5 mm or 6.5 mm) of the given bristle that are within the
`selected area` and members of the population or sub-population. It
is possible to compute statistics of this metric over a population
or a sub-population. (FIG. 9 parameter), and to determine averages
and standard deviations.
An Additional Discussion Related to FIG. 8
[0247] A metric related to the `FIG. 8 parameter`) describing how
`regularly` bristles of a population or sub-populations are
distributed in a selected area is, for each given bristle of a
population or sub-population is the SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 7.5 mm)
or SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE, 6.5 mm) or SD_AVG(CLOSEST_BRISTLE, 1
cm), etc.
[0248] In some embodiments (i.e. related to the parameters of FIG.
9), SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLE, 7.5) for the population as a whole is
less than 0.3 or less than 0.25 or less than 0.2 or less than 0.175
or less than 0.15.
[0249] In some embodiments, the ratio of (i) the
SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 7.5 mm) or SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 65 mm) or
SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 1 mm) parameter for any one or any two or
any three or all four of the sub-populations (i.e. at least one or
at least two or at least three or all four sub-populations of the
group consisting of the `very short sub-population,` the `short
sub-population,` the `very tall sub-population,` and the `tall
sub-population,) to (ii) the SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 7.5 mm) or
SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 65 mm) or SD_AVG(LOCAL_BRISTLES, 1 mm)
parameter for the population as a whole is at least 1.5 or at least
1.75 or at least 2 or at least 2.5 or at least 3 or at least 3.5.
When this ratio(s) exceeding one of these values, it may be
indicative that the sub-populations are distributed `less
regularly` within the a selected area or given area (e.g. the area
of the `inner field) than the population as a whole.
[0250] In some embodiments, pattern of `more regular distribution
for the population as a whole; less regular distribution for
sub-population(s) may prevail for the `inner field` 560 only--in
some embodiments, there is much less height variation in the outer
field 570.
[0251] In some embodiments, the bristles of the inner 560 and/or
outer 570 field are substantially parallel to each other. In some
embodiments, the bristles of the inner 560 and/or outer 570 field
are substantially straight and/or deployed substantially normally
to the local plane of the bristle retaining surface.
[0252] It is noted that because in some embodiments, (i) the height
of the bristles may be substantially random and substantially
independent of the bristle location (i.e. for bristles within a
given area--for example, of the inner field) and (ii) there may be
a positive correlation between bristle thickness and bristle
height. Thus, some embodiments of the present invention relate to
the situation whereby the thickness of the bristles is
substantially random and substantially independent of the bristle
location. This, in some embodiments, may be another way for the
hairbrush to provide one or more `entropy features` or `randomality
features.`
A Discussion of FIG. 13
[0253] FIG. 13 illustrates locations of the `outer field` of
bristles--for example, located around and/or confined to a
relatively thin or small region around most of the perimeter of the
`inner field.` [0254] In some embodiments, an `outer field of
bristles` is also provided, and has the following features: [0255]
(i) the outer field of bristles 570 is also deployed at
substantially a constant density of bristles per area on the
perimeter of the inner field 560 of bristles, substantially (but
not necessarily completely) surrounding the inner field of bristles
on the bristle-retaining surface 530--in one example, this density
is substantially equal to are maybe a larger than the density of
the bristles of the inner field 560; [0256] (ii) the average height
of the bristles of the `outer field` 570 of bristles is at most,
for example, 50% or at most 40% or at most 30% or at most 20% or at
most 15% the average height of the bristles of the inner field 560
of bristles; [0257] (iii) the `outer field of bristles` 570 may
lack the `substantially-random height` feature of the inner field
of bristles; [0258] (iv) the number of bristles of the outer field
of bristles is at least 15% or 20% or 30% the number of bristles of
the inner field of bristles; [0259] (v) in some embodiments, there
is less (or much less) variation of thicknesses of bristles of the
outer field of bristles--thus, the average thickness may be about 1
mm but the standard deviation may be at most 0.1 or at most 0.05 mm
(or even less)--for example, at most 30% the standard deviation of
the thickness of bristles of the inner field. [0260] (vi) In some
embodiments, the outer field of bristles is substantially
surrounded by a region that is substantially devoid of
bristles--see for example, FIG. 1. [0261] (vii) In some
embodiments, a majority of bristles or substantially a majority of
at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90%) of
bristles of the `outer field` (or any field within the `selected
area`) are substantially straight.
`In-Vitro` Technique for Measuring the Hair-Brush Force
[0262] The present inventor is currently conducting experiments
whereby hair of a wig is detangled using both (i) a hairbrush
according to some embodiments (for example, see FIGS. 1-2); and
(ii) a conventional hairbrush as a `control.` According to these
experiments, it is possible to measure the force imposed upon the
wig hair by the detangling hairbrush. There are preliminary
indications that when detangling wig hair using both brushes that
the force imposed by the novel brush provided by embodiments of the
invention is less than the force imposed by the conventional
brush.
Clinical Trial Results
[0263] The present inventor had a model hairbrush constructed and
tested the model hairbrush (`brush B`) against a prior art
`ordinary` hair brush for approximately 25 women having long hair
(see FIG. 14).
[0264] Brush B is the prior art brush; brush A was constructed
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0265] As is evident from FIG. 14, the `invention` brush performed
consistently better--fewer hairs shed (i.e. less than 50%) and a
significantly faster `brushing time` (1 minute 33 seconds vs. 45
seconds). The brushing time was the amount of time it took the
subject to detangle the hair on his/her head--longer hair brushing
time would typically be due to the greater degree of pain felt
detangling--when the detangling was less painful, it was possible
to brush faster.
Substantially Co-Linear Bristles/Blocking Bristles
[0266] Reference is made to FIG. 15 which illustrates 3
bristles--B1, B2 and B3. B1 is closer to B1 than B3. Two vectors
are illustrated in FIG. 15--B1-B2 and B1-B3. The angle between
B1-B2 and B1-B3 is theta. In some embodiments, when theta is equal
to zero within a tolerance that is at most 30 degrees or at most 25
degrees or at most 20 degrees or at most 15 degrees or at most 10
degrees or at most 5 degrees, then bristles B1-B2-B3 are considered
`substantially collinear.` This tolerance is referred to as the
`substantially-co-linear bristle tolerance` Although any tolerance
can be used in any embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the
default `substantially-co-linear bristle tolerance` is 20
degrees.
[0267] In some embodiments, if B2 is closer to B1 than B3, and if
B1-B2-B3 is considered substantially collinear, then B3 is
considered to be `blocked` by B2 (relative to bristle BP. In some
embodiments, B2 may have to satisfy additional requirements to in
addition to the `substantially collinear requirement` in order to
block bristle B3--for example, B2 may have to have a height and/or
width in any range (for example, any range disclosed herein), or B2
may have to have a minimum distance from bristle B1 in order to
`block` bristle B3.
Mapping Bristles to Letters According to Height, Thickness or
Material Flexibility
[0268] In some embodiments, it is possible to categorize each
bristle of any set of bristles (for example, of the `inner field`
or any other bristle set exhibiting random height or random
thickness or random material flexibility properties) into a
distinct height categories or distinct thickness categories
according to `categorization schemes.`
[0269] According to a first mapping scheme, it is possible to
compare the heights of bristles with each other, and to divide the
bristles into four height categories--for example, into `height
quartiles`
[0270] As Wikipedia writes about quartiles, "In descriptive
statistics, a quartile is one of four equal groups, representing a
fourth of the distributed sampled population. It is a type of
quantile." It is appreciated that when more than one bristle has
exactly the same length/height (or when the total number of
bristles in the set of bristles is not divisible by four), that the
four groups of the `quartiles` will not necessarily be exactly the
same size--in general, they will be approximately the same
size.
[0271] Thus, according to the "FIRST MAPPING SCHEME," the bristles
are divided into four height categories--upper quartile (associated
with `the letter A`), upper-middle quartile, (associated with `the
letter B`) lower-middle quartile (associated with `the letter C`)
and lower quartile (associated with `the letter D`). Each bristle
is respectively mapped to the letter A or the letter B or the
letter C or the letter D. For the non-limiting example of the
`inner field` of the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 whose height
distribution histogram is presented in FIG. 5, bristles whose
height exceeds 13.3 mm may be considered `upper quartile height` or
`A` bristles; bristles whose height is less than or equal to 13.3
mm and whose height exceeds 11.3 mm may be considered `upper-middle
quartile height` or `B` bristles; bristles whose height is less
than or equal to 11.3 mm and whose height exceeds 9.3 mm may be
considered `lower-middle quartile height` or `C` bristles; bristles
whose height is less than or equal to 9.3 mm may be considered
`lower quartile bristles height` or `D` bristles;
[0272] According to another mapping scheme, (i.e. a "SECOND MAPPING
SCHEME"), the bristles are similarly divided into four width
categories--for example, `upper quartile thickness,` `upper middle
quartile thickness,` `lower middle quartile thickness,` and `lower
quartile thickness.` For the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 whose thickness
properties are illustrated in FIG. 6, the bristles with a thickness
of about 1.6 mm are the "A thickness bristles," the bristles with a
thickness of about 1.42 mm are "B thickness bristles,` the bristles
with a thickness of about 1.2 mm are "C thickness bristles and the
bristles with a thickness of about 1 mm.
[0273] It is noted that quartiles is just one example of a quanile.
Quartiles (or 4-quaniles) are associated with a `four letter
alphabet`--{A,B,C,D}. 3-Quaniles are associated with a `three
letter alphabet`--{A,B,C}. 5-Quaniles are associated with a `five
letter alphabet`--{A,B,C,D,E}.
[0274] It is possible to define a bristle-letter mapping for a set
of bristles (e.g. the `inner field` or any other set of bristles)
where each bristle is mapped to a respective letter based upon
physical properties--i.e. height or width or material flexibility.
We define the following notation:
MAPPING(physical property,N}--where `physical property` is selected
from `height` or `thickness` or `material flexibility` and `N` is a
positive integer defining the number of the quanile--thus, if N=3
this relates to a 3-quanile, if N=4 this relates to 4-quaniles (or
quartiles), if N=5 this relates to 5-Quaniles.
[0275] The `quanile border` for an N quanile relates to the value
which devices one qunaile from another--for the "FIRST MAPPING
SCHEME" (which may also be referred to as MAPPING(height,4)) there
are three `quanile borders` for the set of bristles of FIG. 5 (i.e.
the inner field)--11.3 mm, 11.3 mm and 9.3 mm. Thus, a mapping
scheme MAPPING(physical property,N} would, in general, provide N-1
`bordered.`
[0276] A non-exhaustive list of mapping schemes that may be
considered includes but is not limited to MAPPING(width,5),
MAPPING(height,8), MAPPING(flexibility,2), etc.
[0277] These mapping schemes may be applied to any `mapped set` of
bristles including any set of bristles disclosed herein--for
example, any combination of features of limitations of any set of
bristles disclosed herein (i.e. either explicitly disclosed
combination or any other combination).
[0278] The term `mapped set` of bristles does not imply any
physical limitations about he bristles whatsoever (i.e. physical
property of bristles and/or their distribution or any other feature
of the bristle)--instead, the term `mapped set` of bristles is used
to describe the mathematical construct of `bristle mapping.`
[0279] Any set disclosed herein may be a `mapped set.` A `mapped
set` of bristles may provide any feature or combination of features
disclosed herein--these features or combination of features may
include but are not limited to any height feature(s) combination
and/or any material flexibility feature(s) and/or any width
feature(s) and/or density feature(s) describing the density of
bristle deployment. Such features include but are not limited to
height features, features relating to the density at which bristles
are deployed, bristle count features, bristle width features,
bristle shape features are any other feature or combination
thereof.
[0280] Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, in some
embodiments, the `mapped set of bristles may include one or more of
the following features: [0281] (i) At least 60% or at least 70% or
at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 99% of the bristles have a
height that is above a minimum height--for example, at least 3 mm
or at least 4 mm or at least 5 mm or at least 6 mm or at least 7
mm; and/or [0282] (ii) At least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80%
or at least 90% or at least 99% of the bristles have a height that
is below a maximum height value--for example, at most 25 mm or at
most 22 mm or at most 20 mm or at most 18 mm or at most 17 mm or at
most 16 mm or at most 15 mm. [0283] (iii) At least 60% or at least
70% or at least 80% or at least 90% or at least 99% of the bristles
have a thickness that is above a minimum thickness--for example, at
least 0.3 mm or at least 0.4 mm or at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.6
mm or at least 0.7 mm or at least 0.85 mm or at least 1 mm; and/or
[0284] (iv) At least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at
least 90% or at least 99% of the bristles have a height that is
below a maximum height value--for example, at most 25 mm or at most
22 mm or at most 20 mm or at most 18 mm or at most 17 mm or at most
16 mm or at most 15 mm.
A Discussion of Bristle Neighborhoods
[0285] In some embodiments, for any `given bristle b` and any set
of bristles BrSet (i.e. including the set of all bristles on the
hairbrush or some any subset of bristles--any set disclosed herein
having any combination of feature(s) disclosed herein--for example,
any `mapped set` of bristles), it is possible to define a `bristle
neighborhood` for bristle b according to any criteria listed below
or any combination (including explicitly enumerated combinations or
any other combination) thereof. [0286] (i) `neighborhood bristles`
may be required to satisfy a `closer than maximum distance`
criteria--i.e. bristles whose distance from the bristle b is less
than a maximum distance--for example, less than 1.5 mm or less than
1.25 cm or less than 1 cm or less than 7.5 mm or less than 6.5 mm
or less than 5 mm or less than 1.5 times the average bristle height
for the set BrSet (denoted as AH_BrSet) or less than 1.2 times or
less than 1.1 times or less than 1.0 times or less than 0.9 times
or less than 0.8 times or less than 0.7 times or less than 0.6
times or less than 0.5 time AH_BrSet; and/or [0287] (ii)
`neighborhood bristles` may be required to satisfy a `further than
minimum distance` criteria--i.e. bristles whose distance from the
bristle b exceeds a minimum distance--for example, at least 1.5 mm
or at least 2 mm or at least 2.5 mm or at least 3 mm or at least
10% or at least 15% or least 20% times AH_BrSet; and/or [0288]
(iii) `neighborhood bristles` may be required to satisfy a `ranked
bristle criteria`--i.e. where N is a positive integer, it may be
possible to limit `neighborhood membership` relative to a bristle
set BrSet and a `given bristle` b to the Nth closest bristles to
bristle b where N is any positive integer (for example, 2 or 3 or 4
or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or any other integer)--this is
either the absolute Nth closest bristles or the Nth closest
bristles whose distance from b exceeds any minimum distance listed
above.
[0289] The set BrSet can be any set of bristle disclosed herein
and/or have any combination of features (for example, bristles of
the `inner field) including but not limited to height features,
deployment density features, etc. In one example, BrSet is the set
of all bristles in a given region that provides any combination of
features disclosed herein--for example, all bristles having any
minimum height and/or any minimum thickness and/or any maximum
height and/or any maximum thickness disclosed herein. The count of
BrSet may be any `bristle count` disclosed herein--for example, at
least 100 or at least 150 or at least 200 or at least 250.
[0290] In one particular example, it is possible to define
`neighboring bristles` as bristles within an annularly-shaped
region--i.e. the distance exceeds any `minimum distance` (i.e. the
inner radius of the annulus) and also is less than any `maximum
distance (i.e. the outer radius of the annulus).
[0291] Referring to FIG. 15, it is noted that optionally, it may be
possible to eliminate from a neighborhood bristle B1 any bristle B3
where (i) B2 is a member of the neighborhood of bristle B1; and
(ii) B2 `blocks` bristle B3--for example, B1-B2-B3 is
`substantially collinear.`
[0292] As noted before, the distance between bristles is along the
local surface and not necessarily a Cartesian distance (i.e. for
cases where the bristle-retaining surface is not flat).
[0293] In one example, the `inner radius` of the annular region
equals 1.5 mm or equals 2 mm or equals 2.5 mm or at equals 3 mm
and/or the `outer radius` of the annular region equals 15 mm or 12
mm or equals 1 cm or equals 8 mm or equals 7.5 mm or equals 6 mm.
Any combination is possible.
[0294] In one example, the `inner radius` of the annular region
equals 5% or 10% or 15% or 20% or 25% or 30% of AH_BrSet and/or the
`outer radius` of the annular region equals 150% or 120% or 100% or
90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 50% or 40% of AH_BrSet. Any combination
is possible.
[0295] FIG. 16A illustrates one such bristle neighborhood of
bristle B7 where r.sub.1 is the `inner radius of the annulus` and
r.sub.2 is the `outer radius of the annulus.`
[0296] FIG. 16B illustrates a subset of bristles of FIG. 16A--FIG.
16B illustrates the concept of `source-destination vector.` In FIG.
16B, the vector from B7 to B2 is the `source-destination vector` of
B2 in the neighborhood of B7; B7 to B3 is the `source-destination
vector` of B3 in the neighborhood of B7;
[0297] Every bristle in a neighborhood of a `given bristle` (in
FIG. 16 the `given bristle` is B7) is associated with a respective
`source-destination vector.`
Ordering Bristles of Neighborhood
[0298] In some embodiments, it is possible to order bristles of a
neighborhood so that the closest bristle in the neighborhood is the
`first bristle` in the neighborhood, the second closest bristles in
the neighborhood is the `second bristle` in the neighborhood, and
so on. In the event of a `tie,` it may be possible to utilize
`arbitrary vector V` as a `tie-breaker` so that the bristle in the
smaller angle from v (in the clockwise direction) is `earlier in
the order` than the bristle with the larger angle from v. In this
example, even if DISTANCE(B7,B8)=DISTANCE(B7,B11), B8 would be
earlier in a neighborhood order for a neighborhood of bristle B7.
(ORDERING SCHEME 1)
[0299] In another example (ORDERING SCHEME 2), it is not necessary
to utilize distance from the `given bristle` (in FIG. 16 this is
B7) in order to compute an order of bristles in a neighborhood. In
ORDERING SCHEME 2, each bristle of the neighborhood are ordered
only according to an angle between the `Arbitrary Vector` and a
respective source-destination vector.` The angle is taken from the
Arbitrary vector to the source-destination vector of the bristle in
the clockwise direction--bristles having a lower angle value (i.e.
between the Arbitrary Vector and the bristles' source-destination
vector) are given a lower score than bristles having a higher angle
value.
[0300] Thus, source-vector B7-B4 has a lower value (and thus would
be given a preferable or higher ranking) than vector B7-B8. Since
B7-B3 is collinear with an in the same direction as the arbitrary
vector, it would have an `angle of zero` and be given the most
preference.
[0301] For FIG. 16A, for the `ordered neighborhood around bristle
B7, the list of bristles `within the annulus` may be ordered in a
`clockwise manner` relative to an arbitrary vector V to yield the
following order: {B3, B4, B8, B12, B11, B10, B6 and B2} bristles
(see step s919 of FIG. 17).
[0302] B3 is first on the list because the angle between the
source-destination vector B7-B3 in this case is zero degrees. For
the `source-destination vector` B7-B4, the angle between the B7-B8
`source-destination vector` and the arbitrary vector is 45 degrees.
For the `source-destination vector` B7-B4, the angle between the
B7-B8 `source-destination vector` and the arbitrary vector is 90
degrees.
Mapping Bristles to Words Using Neighborhood Selection, Ordering
Bristles within a Neighborhood
[0303] FIG. 17 illustrates a routine for word formation.
[0304] In some embodiments, for a set of bristles BrSet (which
itself may be selected using any criteria and may have any
properties of bristle sets or bristle fields disclosed herein--e.g.
density, height, thickness or any other properties) and an
arbitrary vector V and a direction (i.e. clockwise or
counterclockwise--if no direction is specified, the default is
`clockwise` as was discussed in the previous section), it is
possible to map each bristle of the set of bristles BrSet to a
respective word as follows: [0305] (i) first a neighborhood of the
bristle relative to set BrSet is determined using any technique
disclosed herein; (see step S911 of FIG. 17--any other
`neighborhood selection technique may be employed); [0306] (ii)
optionally, redundant bristles (see FIG. 15) are eliminated from
the neighborhood using any `substantially-co-linear bristle
tolerance` (see step S915 of FIG. 17); [0307] (iii) the
neighborhood is ordered according to any criteria--for example,
relative to an arbitrary vector V and a direction (default is
clockwise)--see step S919. [0308] For a bristle b.sub.base, and an
positive interger N (for example, N=2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or
any other value) this will yield an ordered sequence
b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor; b.sub.second.sub.--.sub.neighbor .
. . b.sub.Nth.sub.--.sub.neighbor
[0309] In step S923, the letter of any bristle letter(bristle) may
be computed using any mapping scheme described in the previous
section entitled "Mapping Bristles to Letters According to Height,
Thickness or Material Flexibility" (MAPPING(height,N} or
MAPPING(width,N} or MAPPING(material_flexibilty,N} where N is any
positive integer.
[0310] If the letter of b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor is
letter(b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor); the letter of
b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor is
letter(b.sub.second.sub.--.sub.neighbor), and so on, then it is
possible in step S923 of FIG. 17 to compute a word WORD(b.sub.base)
as either:
[0311] (i) the ordered concatenation of the following letters:
letter(b.sub.base), letter(b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor)-- . . .
letter(b.sub.Nthneighbor) (this is "INCLUDE BASE POLICY" that is
also in setp S923) OR
[0312] (ii) the ordered concatenation of the following letters:
letter(b.sub.first.sub.--.sub.neighbor)-- . . .
letter(b.sub.Nthneighbor) (not including letter(b.sub.base)) at the
beginning (this is "OMMIT BASE POLICY").
[0313] Referring to FIG. 18, it is noted that optionally (see step
S915 of FIG. 17), it is possible to eliminate
`angularly-substantially-redundant neighboring bristles.` Thus, if
there are two bristles whose `source-destination` vector is less
than 30 degree or less than 20 degree or less than 15 degrees, it
may be possible to disqualify the farther of the 2 bristles. In the
example of FIG. 19, it may be possible (according to step S915) to
eliminate (i.e. for the `ordered neighborhood around B7) bristle
B22 in favor of bristle b21 because B21 is closed, and the angle
between the source-destination vectors is less than 30 degree or
less than 20 degree or less than 15 degrees or less than 10
degrees.
[0314] For FIG. 16A `2 bristle ordered neighbored` for bristle B7
(i.e. relative to the arbitrary vector in FIG. 16A) is {B7,B3}
(since the N bristle always includes the `given bristles to which
other bristles are `close` as the first bristle of he ordered
neighborhood. The 3 bristle ordered neighborhood for bristle B7 is
{B7,B3,B4}, etc.
[0315] Each bristle (may be mapped to a respective letter A,B,C or
D based on height or thickness/width or material flexibility).
Thus, it is possible for a neighborhood of N bristles around a
`given bristle` to make an N+1 letter word from the given bristle
and its neighbors (i.e. other `ordered neighborhood). If the height
letter of bristle B7 is `A`, the height letter of bristle B3 is
`B`, and height letter of bristle B4 is `D`, then the 3-letter word
for the neighborhood is "ABD."
[0316] A Discussion of Combinatorics Associated with Ordered
Words
[0317] As discussed above, the phrase "bristles are deployed within
the selected area such that bristle heights vary in a substantially
random manner and are substantially independent of location"
(either bristle height or width/thickness or material flexibility)
refers to the lack of a visible discernable pattern (other than a
`random` pattern) in the bristle heights is a function of location
for a field of bristles (e.g. the `inner field` for the brush of
FIGS. 1-2).
[0318] Without limiting this definition, it may be possible, in
some embodiments, to provide some sort of mathematical definition
characterizing substantially disordered or substantially random
variation of heights (or thicknesses or material
flexibilities).
[0319] One salient feature provided by some embodiments is that for
a given set of bristles (for example, inner field or any set BrSet
or any set disclosed herein having any feature or combination of
features) the `height words` (i.e. words formed when
MAPPING(height,N} is used in step S923) and/or the `width words`
(i.e. words formed when MAPPING(bristle words,N} is used in step
S923) and/or the `material flexibility words` (i.e. words formed
when MAPPING(material_flexibility,N} is used in step S923) do not
repeat very much. This may be indicative of a high degree of
entropy or randomality.
[0320] For 3-words of 4 letters, it is possible to make 4 3=64
`ordered` 3 words.
[0321] For 4-words of 4 letters, it is possible to make 4 4=256
`ordered` 4 words.
[0322] For 5-words of 4 letters, it is possible to make 4 5=1024
`ordered` 5 words.
[0323] This low repetition feature may thus indicate semi-random or
random height or width or material flexibility variation.
[0324] For the particular case of MAPPING(height,4}, for the
hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2, for the `inner field` where the bristles
have height distribution of FIG. 5, the number of distinct words in
a the region of the `inner field` was computed. The results of the
`3-letter neighborhoods` for the around 300 bristles of FIG. 3 are
indicated in Appendix B for the particular case where the `height`
is the physical property of the letter MAPPING function. The
results of the `4-letter neighborhoods` for the around 300 bristles
of FIG. 3 are indicated in Appendix C for the particular case where
the `height` is the physical property of the letter MAPPING
function.
[0325] If the height or width or flexibility distribution would be
ordered, then most words would be repeats, and only a relatively
`small` number of words would appear even in a larger set.
[0326] It is noted that for the hairbrush of FIGS. 1-2 (i.e. for
which `results` are presented in the Appendixes) the hairbrush
lengths (or widths or material flexibilities) may have random or
semi-random properties (i.e. mathematically random)--as such, there
are likely to be relatively few `repeated words.`
[0327] For example, for 3-words of 4 letters, a set of 300 bristles
(where the entire `vocabulary` is 64 words) may include most of the
possible words--for example, at least 30 distinct words or at least
40 distinct words or at least 50 distinct words or at least 55
distinct words. This may be true for any physical property for
MAPPING(physical_property,4}.
[0328] For example, for 4-words of 4 letters, a set of 300 bristles
(where the entire `vocabulary` is 256 words) may include a large
number of the possible words--for example, at least 150 distinct
words or at least 175 distinct words or at least 200 distinct words
or at least 225 distinct words.
[0329] Thus, if the bristles have mathematically random properties,
there would be few repeats, and the number of `distinct words` may
be on the order of magnitude of the size of the vocabulary.
[0330] It may also be possible to analyze 30 or 40 bristle subsets
of any `bristle set` having any combination of features disclosed
herein--for example, the sub-set may be deployed at a substantially
constant bristle density on the surface of the brush.
Combinatorics Features Related to `Ordered Neighborhoods`
[0331] The term 2-word refers to a word of 2 letters; the term
3-word refers to a word of 3 letters; the term 4-word refers to a
word of 4 letters, etc.
[0332] In one example, for 30 bristle sub-sets of any bristle set,
using the mapping function MAPPING(physical_property,4}, for 3
words, there may be at least 10 or at least 15 or at least 17
distinct 3-words for the 40 bristle subset for any physical
property.
[0333] For a MAPPING(physical_property,4} (i.e. height or width or
material flexibility) and for a `word length` 3, and for an
arbitrary vector V, and for a policy (the "INCLUDE BASE POLICY" is
the default), and for a tolerance (i.e. of FIG. 15 and step S915 of
FIG. 17-20 degrees is the default for the `substantially-co-linear
bristle tolerance`), and for an ordering direction (default is
CLOCKWISE), and for a neighborhood selection policy (see step
S911--this may include defining inner and outer radii of the
annulus), a set of 40 bristles (e.g. that is a subset of any
bristle set) referred to as a 40-SET is considered to have a
`substantially varied set of output words" if there are at least 10
or at least 15 or at least 17 distinct 3-words or at least 22
distinct or at least 25 distinct 3-words for the 40 bristle subset
for any physical property (i.e. height or width or material
flexibility). If for at least one arbitrary vector v, there are at
least 10 distinct 3 words, this is "LEVEL 1 VARIETY for 3-words of
an alphabet of 4 letters with respect to a physical property." If
there are at least 15 distinct 3 words, this is "LEVEL 2 VARIETY
for 3-words of an alphabet of 4 letters." If there are at least 17
distinct 3 words, this is "LEVEL 3 VARIETY for 3-words of an
alphabet of 4 letters." If there are at least 22 distinct 3 words,
this is "LEVEL 4 VARIETY for 3-words of an alphabet of 4 letters."
If there are at least 25 distinct 3 words, this is "LEVEL 5 VARIETY
for 3-words of an alphabet of 4 letters." The term `variety` refers
to a many different words within the 40-bristle subset.
[0334] This may also be respect to R(inner) and R(outer) radii of
an `neighbrohood-defining annulus.`
[0335] For a MAPPING(physical_property,4} (i.e. height or width or
material flexibility) and for a `word length` 4, and for an
arbitrary vector V, and for a policy (the "INCLUDE BASE POLICY" is
the default), and for a tolerance (i.e. of FIG. 15 and step S915 of
FIG. 17-20 degrees is the default for the `substantially-co-linear
bristle tolerance`), and for an ordering direction (default is
CLOCKWISE), and for a neighborhood selection policy (see step
S911--this may include defining inner and outer radii of the
annulus), a set of 40 bristles (e.g. that is a subset of any
bristle set) referred to as a 40-SET is considered to have a
`substantially varied set of output words" if there are at least 10
or at least 15 or at least 20 distinct 3-words or at least 25
distinct or at least 30 distinct 3-words for the 40 bristle subset
for any physical property (i.e. height or width or material
flexibility). If for at least one arbitrary vector v, there are at
least 10 distinct 4 words, this is "LEVEL 1 VARIETY for 4-words of
an alphabet of 4 letters with respect to a physical property." If
there are at least 15 distinct 4 words, this is "LEVEL 2 VARIETY
for 4-words of an alphabet of 4 letters." If there are at least 20
distinct 4 words, this is "LEVEL 3 VARIETY for 4-words of an
alphabet of 4 letters." If there are at least 25 distinct 4 words,
this is "LEVEL 4 VARIETY for 4-words of an alphabet of 4 letters."
If there are at least 30 distinct 4 words, this is "LEVEL 5 VARIETY
for 4-words of an alphabet of 4 letters." The term `variety` refers
to many different words within the 40-bristle subset.
[0336] This may also be respect to R(inner) and R(outer) radii of
an `neighborhood-defining annulus.`
[0337] In some embodiments, a field of bristles (for example,
including at least 100 or at least 150 or at least 200 or at least
250 bristles) having any properties disclosed herein may include
multiple distinct sub-sets of 40-bristles, each of which may
separately have a level of variety within a neighborhood (for
example, defined by R(inner) and R(outer)).
[0338] In some embodiments, a field of bristles (for example,
including at least 100 or at least 150 or at least 200 or at least
250 bristles), may have any number of not necessarily disjoint
sub-set of 40 bristles, each of which may separately have a level
of variety within a neighborhood (for example, defined by R(inner)
and R(outer)).
[0339] If a set SET_COVERED (for example, inner field) is
`substantially covered` by 40 sub-sets (i.e. with respect to a
physical property, neighborhood definition scheme, number of
letters of a word, numbers of letter), then at least 40% or at
least 50% or at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at
least 90% of the bristles of SET_COVERED is a member of a 40
sub-set having any property disclosed herein.
[0340] Additional Discussion
[0341] Any result or feature of the present section may be true
relative to at least one arbitrary vector V (in FIGS. 16, 19 the
`arbitrary vector` is pointed upwards though this is arbitrary). In
some embodiments, any result (i.e. related to a number of distinct
words) may be true for at least 2 of 4 arbitrary vectors disposed
on the unit circle at 90 degree intervals (or at least 3 of or all
4). In some embodiment, any result (i.e. related to a number of
distinct words) may be independently true for a majority (or a
substantial majority of at least 60% or at least 70% or at least
90%) of a set of 36 arbitrary vectors disposed on the unit circle
at 10 degree intervals.
[0342] For the case of a 40 bristle subsets of the population P,
there may be at least 10 or at least 15 or at least 17 distinct
3-words for the 40 bristle subset--this `minimum number of distinct
3-words feature (each 3-word maps to an `ordered neighborhood`
around a respective bristle) for a 40 bristle sub-set of the
population) may be independently `repeated` for at least 2 or at
least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 different 40-bristle subsets of
the bristle population P where each 40-bristle subset independently
exhibits the low neighborhood repetition attribute' to
independently exhibit at least 10 or at least 15 or at least 17
distinct 3-words for each of at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4
or at least 5 different 40-bristle subsets of the bristle
population P. In some embodiments, at least 40% or at least 50% or
at least 60% or at least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% of all
bristles of the `population of bristles` of the inner field (i.e.
within a `selected area` on the brush surface) are members one or
more such 40-bristle subsets the independent a low repeat of
heights in ordered neighborhood' described in he present paragraph
of 3-words (i.e,. words of 3 letters).
[0343] For the case of a 40 bristle subsets of the population P,
there may be at least 10 or at least 25 or at least 30 distinct
4-words for the 40 bristle subset--this `minimum number of distinct
4-words feature for a 40 bristle sub-set of the population) may be
independently `repeated` for at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4
or at least 5 different 40-bristle subsets of the bristle
population P where each 40-bristle subset independently exhibits
the `low neighborhood repetition attribute` to independently
exhibit at least 25 or at least 30 distinct 4-words (each 4-word
maps to an `ordered neighborhood` around a respective bristle) for
each of at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5
different 40-bristle subsets of the bristle population P. In some
embodiments, at least 40% or at least 50% or at least 60% or at
least 70% or at least 80% or at least 90% of all bristles of the
`population of bristles` of the inner field (i.e. within a
`selected area` on the brush surface) are members one or more such
40-bristle subsets the independent a low repeat of heights in
ordered neighborhood' described in he present paragraph in terms of
4-words (i.e,. words of 4 letters).
[0344] For the case of a 100 bristle subsets of the population P,
there may be at least 40 or at least 50 or at least 60 or at least
70 or at least 80 distinct 4-words for the 100 bristle subset.
[0345] This `lack of ordered neighborhood repetition feature`
discussed in terms of distinct words would be in contrast to
height-patterned brushes where the `words` would repeat
themselves.
[0346] Some emboldens relate to a hairbrush 500 having specific
properties relative to an arbitrary fixed vector comprising: [0347]
a) a hairbrush body 510 including a bristle-retaining surface 530
including a selected area SA; and [0348] b) a plurality of at least
N bristles located within the selected area SA, the plurality
having a count that is at least 100, an average bristle thickness
whose value is between 0.85 mm and 2 mm, and an average bristle
height whose value is between 8 mm and 14 mm, and a height standard
deviation whose value is at least 0.1 times the average bristle
height, each bristle of the plurality being mappable according to a
height-representation character mapping to a respective character
of a four-character alphabet={Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, Q.sub.4}
such that bristles of the upper height quartile, upper middle
height quartile, lower middle height quartile, or lower height
quartile for the bristle distribution respectively map to Q.sub.1,
Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, or Q.sub.4, wherein the bristles are deployed
within the selected area such that: [0349] i) each given bristle GB
of the plurality is associated with a respective annularly-shaped
neighborhood region neighb_region(GB) where the inner radius of the
annulus is equal to less than 4 mm and exceeds 1.5 mm and the outer
radius of the annulus is exceeds 6 mm and is less than 12 mm;
[0350] ii) the given bristle GB is associated with one or more
N-member neighbor sets of bristles of the plurality that reside in
the neighborhood region neighb_region(GB); N being a positive
integer; [0351] iii) at least one of the N-member neighbor bristle
sets that is associated with the given bristle GB for the
neighborhood region neighb_region(GB) being a distinct-angle
bristle set where all source-destination vectors differ from each
other by at least 20 degrees, greater than 2; [0352] iv) for each
bristle of the plurality, the respective representative ordered
N-member neighbor set of bristles of the plurality is defined,
relative to the arbitrary vector, as the ordered distinct-angle
N-member bristle set for the respective annularly-shaped
neighborhood region having a minimum-clockwise-angle-deviation
aggregate value relative to the arbitrary vector and ordered in a
clockwise-angle-deviation ascending order; [0353] v) each given
bristle is mappable to a respective neighborhood-height-descriptive
N+1 character word derived from bristle heights of the given
bristle and its representative ordered N-member neighbor set, the
neighborhood-height-descriptive being a concatenation of: [0354] A)
a neighborhood word of length N where each position in the word
corresponds to a character representing, according to the
height-representative character map, the corresponding position
within the representative ordered N-member neighbor set; and [0355]
B) a character representing a height of the given bristle according
to the height-representative character map. [0356] The population
may include at least or at least two or three or four or more
sub-40-bristle set-sets such that: this `minimum number of distinct
4-words feature for a 40 bristle sub-set of the population (where
the 4-words are derived by analyzing respective neighborhoods of
each bristle (i.e. by heights so that each bristle maps to one of 4
letters) of the sub-set--I.e. according to the ordering described
by `clockwise from the `arbitrary vector` may be at least 20
distinct words or at least 25 distinct words. [0357] The population
may include one or more two or three or four or more 40-bristle
set-sets of the population such that: the `minimum number of
distinct 3-words feature for a 40 bristle sub-set of the population
(where the 4-words are derived by analyzing respective
neighborhoods of each bristle (i.e. by heights so that each bristle
maps to one of 4 letters) of the sub-set--I.e. according to the
ordering described by `clockwise from the `arbitrary vector` may be
at least 12 distinct words or at least 17 distinct words or at
least 22 distinct words. This may be repeated for multiple `subsets
of people that are tested.
Height Different Objects Discussion of FIGS. 19-21
[0358] In some embodiments, it is possible to compute height
difference objects for bristles of any `field` (e.g. the `inner
field of bristles`). The `height difference object` of a pair of
bristles that are in the same neighborhood (for example, separated
by any minimum or maximum distance discussed above for the `annular
neighborhood` is the absolute value of the difference between their
heights.
[0359] The `height difference object` is not a physical object but
rather a mathematical construct. For the brush of FIGS. 1-2, height
difference objects were computed for bristles of the `inner field`
(it may be for any field or set of bristles disclosed herein).
[0360] FIG. 19 indicates the physical location of the height
difference object. Once again, their distribution is substantially
constant. FIG. 20 is a histogram of values of the height difference
objects. In FIG. 19, the average value height distance object is
4.41 mm, while the standard deviation is 3.04.
[0361] In different embodiments, the average value height distance
object may be at least 2 mm and/or at least 2.5 mm and/or at least
3 mm and/or at least 20% or at least 30% or at least 40% of the
average bristle height in any `field` and/or at most 8 mm and/or at
most 6 mm and/or at most 5 mm and/or at most 7 mm and/or at most
least 70% or at most 60% or at most 50% or at most 40% of the
average bristle height.
[0362] The SD/average ratio is 3.04/4.41=0.68--in different
embodiments this value can be at least 0.3 or at least 0.4 or at
least 0.5 and/or at most 1.2 or at most 1 or at most 0.8.
[0363] In some embodiments, at least 10% of the height difference
objects have a value over 7 mm and/or 1.5 time the average value
and at least 10% of the height difference objects have a value
under 3 mm or under 2 mm.
[0364] As shown in FIGS. 19-21, even though the overall
distribution of the height difference objects may be at a
substantially constant density, the pattern for any outlier subset
(i.e. whose value differs from the average by more than one SD--in
this case, by more than 3.04 mm) may indicate a random-like or
random pattern. (see FIG. 21A-21D).
APPENDIX A
[0365] Below is a table of bristle heights for the example of FIGS.
1-2. For the non-limiting example of table 1 relates to around 300
bristles whose locations are mapped in FIG. 4
[0366] Bristles labeled "A" are in the `upper height quartile` for
the around 300 bristles in the inner field of the brush, bristles
labeled "B" are in the `upper middle height quartile` for the
around 300 bristles in the inner field of the brush, bristles
labeled "B" are in the `upper middle height quartile` for the
around 300 bristles in the inner field of the brush, and bristles
labeled "C" are in the `lower middle height quartile` for the
around 300 bristles in the inner field of the brush, and bristles
labeled "D" are in the `lower height quartile` for the around 300
bristles in the inner field of the brush,
[0367] The first column is `bristle number` relating to the 306
bristles in the inner field see FIG. 4. The second column is
`bristle height` in millimeters. The third column relates to
`height quartile.`
TABLE-US-00004 11 1 7.5 D 23 1 7.5 D 54 1 7.5 D 71 1 7.5 D 95 1 7.5
D 108 1 7.5 D 115 1 7.5 D 135 1 7.5 D 188 1 7.5 D 258 1 7.5 D 88 1
7.8 D 103 1 7.8 D 134 1 7.8 D 157 1 7.8 D 211 1 7.8 D 253 1 7.8 D
256 1 7.8 D 260 1 7.8 D 279 1 7.8 D 299 1 7.8 D 35 1 8.1 D 60 1 8.1
D 68 1 8.1 D 84 1 8.1 D 127 1 8.1 D 169 1 8.1 D 193 1 8.1 D 197 1
8.1 D 232 1 8.1 D 285 1 8.1 D 9 1 8.4 D 106 1 8.4 D 117 1 8.4 D 152
1 8.4 D 159 1 8.4 D 180 1 8.4 D 212 1 8.4 D 230 1 8.4 D 266 1 8.4 D
278 1 8.4 D 33 1 8.7 D 67 1 8.7 D 128 1 8.7 D 130 1 8.7 D 139 1 8.7
D 158 1 8.7 D 196 1 8.7 D 229 1 8.7 D 244 1 8.7 D 293 1 8.7 D 12 1
9 D 22 1 9 D 37 1 9 D 90 1 9 D 111 1 9 D 160 1 9 D 183 1 9 D 222 1
9 D 251 1 9 D 294 1 9 D 17 1.2 9.1 D 21 1.2 9.1 D 30 1.2 9.1 D 36
1.2 9.1 D 204 1.2 9.1 D 214 1.2 9.1 D 246 1.2 9.1 D 247 1.2 9.1 D
46 1 9.3 D 50 1 9.3 D 77 1 9.3 D 79 1 9.3 D 131 1 9.3 D 168 1 9.3 D
213 1 9.3 D 268 1 9.3 D 302 1 9.3 D 303 1 9.3 D 42 1.2 9.4 C 56 1.2
9.4 C 86 1.2 9.4 C 123 1.2 9.4 C 191 1.2 9.4 C 216 1.2 9.4 C 245
1.2 9.4 C 254 1.2 9.4 C 259 1.2 9.4 C 7 1 9.7 C 57 1 9.7 C 142 1
9.7 C 145 1 9.7 C 239 1 9.7 C 255 1 9.7 C 274 1 9.7 C 280 1 9.7 C
296 1 9.7 C 5 1.2 9.8 C 16 1.2 9.8 C 112 1.2 9.8 C 114 1.2 9.8 C
167 1.2 9.8 C 171 1.2 9.8 C 181 1.2 9.8 C 199 1.2 9.8 C 298 1.2 9.8
C 2 1.2 10.1 C 85 1.2 10.1 C 166 1.2 10.1 C 225 1.2 10.1 C 228 1.2
10.1 C 233 1.2 10.1 C 257 1.2 10.1 C 264 1.2 10.1 C 289 1.2 10.1 C
27 1.2 10.4 C 63 1.2 10.4 C 94 1.2 10.4 C 149 1.2 10.4 C 172 1.2
10.4 C 203 1.2 10.4 C 249 1.2 10.4 C 305 1.2 10.4 C 306 1.2 10.4 C
41 1.2 10.8 C 45 1.2 10.8 C 66 1.2 10.8 C 76 1.2 10.8 C 126 1.2
10.8 C 155 1.2 10.8 C 178 1.2 10.8 C 221 1.2 10.8 C 292 1.2 10.8 C
8 1.45 10.9 C 29 1.45 10.9 C 32 1.45 10.9 C 104 1.45 10.9 C 189
1.45 10.9 C 195 1.45 10.9 C 215 1.45 10.9 C 284 1.45 10.9 C 49 1.2
11.2 C 78 1.2 11.2 C 113 1.2 11.2 C 141 1.2 11.2 C 161 1.2 11.2 C
201 1.2 11.2 C 236 1.2 11.2 C 270 1.2 11.2 C 281 1.2 11.2 C 3 1.45
11.3 C 18 1.45 11.3 C 24 1.45 11.3 C 64 1.45 11.3 C 81 1.45 11.3 C
122 1.45 11.3 C 154 1.45 11.3 C 207 1.45 11.3 C 265 1.45 11.3 C 13
1.2 11.7 B 52 1.2 11.7 B 102 1.45 11.7 B 138 1.2 11.7 B 140 1.45
11.7 B 205 1.45 11.7 B 209 1.45 11.7 B 218 1.2 11.7 B 226 1.45 11.7
B 238 1.2 11.7 B 243 1.2 11.7 B 261 1.2 11.7 B 269 1.45 11.7 B 272
1.45 11.7 B 295 1.2 11.7 B 297 1.45 11.7 B 304 1.2 11.7 B 14 1.45
12.1 B 20 1.45 12.1 B 116 1.45 12.1 B 170 1.45 12.1 B 179 1.45 12.1
B 192 1.45 12.1 B 223 1.45 12.1 B 276 1.45 12.1 B 290 1.45 12.1 B
51 1.45 12.5 B 58 1.45 12.5 B 107 1.45 12.5 B 137 1.45 12.5 B 148
1.45 12.5 B 162 1.45 12.5 B 175 1.45 12.5 B 194 1.45 12.5 B 288
1.45 12.5 B 4 1.6 12.7 B 25 1.6 12.7 B 43 1.6 12.7 B 110 1.6 12.7 B
129 1.6 12.7 B 133 1.6 12.7 B 190 1.6 12.7 B 271 1.6 12.7 B 277 1.6
12.7 B 39 1.45 12.9 B 74 1.45 12.9 B 83 1.45 12.9 B 105 1.45 12.9 B
119 1.45 12.9 B 235 1.45 12.9 B 273 1.45 12.9 B 283 1.45 12.9 B 300
1.45 12.9 B 15 1.6 13.1 B 31 1.6 13.1 B 121 1.6 13.1 B 124 1.6 13.1
B 202 1.6 13.1 B 210 1.6 13.1 B 220 1.6 13.1 B 252 1.6 13.1 B 267
1.6 13.1 B 55 1.45 13.3 B 61 1.45 13.3 B 89 1.45 13.3 B 125 1.45
13.3 B 174 1.45 13.3 B 219 1.45 13.3 B 227 1.45 13.3 B 241 1.45
13.3 B 286 1.45 13.3 B 1 1.6 13.5 A 10 1.6 13.5 A 109 1.6 13.5 A
136 1.6 13.5 A 143 1.6 13.5 A 156 1.6 13.5 A 198 1.6 13.5 A 200 1.6
13.5 A 250 1.6 13.5 A 34 1.45 13.7 A 47 1.45 13.7 A 69 1.45 13.7 A
72 1.45 13.7 A 91 1.45 13.7 A 151 1.45 13.7 A 164 1.45 13.7 A 240
1.45 13.7 A 263 1.45 13.7 A 6 1.6 14 A 19 1.6 14 A
53 1.6 14 A 92 1.6 14 A 146 1.6 14 A 153 1.6 14 A 176 1.6 14 A 206
1.6 14 A 234 1.6 14 A 26 1.6 14.5 A 44 1.6 14.5 A 48 1.6 14.5 A 75
1.6 14.5 A 82 1.6 14.5 A 150 1.6 14.5 A 177 1.6 14.5 A 182 1.6 14.5
A 275 1.6 14.5 A 40 1.6 15 A 87 1.6 15 A 118 1.6 15 A 163 1.6 15 A
217 1.6 15 A 231 1.6 15 A 248 1.6 15 A 262 1.6 15 A 287 1.6 15 A
301 1.6 15 A 59 1.6 15.4 A 73 1.6 15.4 A 93 1.6 15.4 A 132 1.6 15.4
A 147 1.6 15.4 A 173 1.6 15.4 A 224 1.6 15.4 A 237 1.6 15.4 A 282
1.6 15.4 A 291 1.6 15.4 A 28 1.6 15.8 A 62 1.6 15.8 A 65 1.6 15.8 A
70 1.6 15.8 A 80 1.6 15.8 A 120 1.6 15.8 A 144 1.6 15.8 A 165 1.6
15.8 A 208 1.6 15.8 A 242 1.6 15.8 A
TABLE-US-00005 APPENDIX B 1 ACB 2 CDC 3 CCD 4 BDC 5 CDD 6 AAD 7 CDB
8 CCA 9 DCC 10 ADB 11 DBD 12 DAC 13 BAA 14 BDC 15 BDC 16 CCD 17 DDA
18 CDA 19 AAD 20 BBA 21 DDC 22 DBD 23 DCB 24 CBC 25 BCD 26 ADC 27
CCD 28 ABA 29 CDA 30 DDD 31 BCD 32 CDB 33 DCA 34 AAD 35 DCC 36 DDD
37 DBD 38 DDD 39 BDB 40 AAC 41 CAC 42 CDD 43 BBA 44 ABC 45 CAD 46
DCC 47 AAB 48 ABA 49 CBB 50 DCA 51 BCD 52 BAC 53 AAC 54 DCA 55 BCA
56 CBB 57 CAB 58 BAA 59 ABD 60 DAC 61 BCC 62 ABC 63 CBD 64 CAD 65
ABD 66 CAB 67 DCD 68 DCA 69 AAA 70 ACA 71 DDC 72 ADA 73 AAA 74 BDA
75 AAD 76 CDA 77 DBA 78 CAB 79 DDC 80 ACD 81 CCD 82 ADA 83 BAD 84
DCA 85 CAA 86 CDB 87 ADC 88 DCD 89 BCA 90 DDA 91 ADA 92 ACD 93 AAD
94 CAA 95 DCD 96 DDD 97 DDD 98 DDD 99 DDD 100 DDD 101 DDD 102 BDC
103 DAB 104 CBD 105 BDA 106 DCC 107 BBA 108 DBC 109 ADB 110 BBD 111
DCB 112 CDB 113 CBB 114 CDD 115 DCC 116 BAB 117 DBD 118 ABD 119 BCC
120 ACD 121 BCC 122 CCB 123 CCD 124 BDD 125 BDA 126 CAB 127 DAB 128
DDB 129 BDC 130 DBB 131 DAB 132 ACB 133 BDD 134 DBD 135 DDD 136 ADD
137 BCD 138 BCA 139 DAD 140 BDA 141 CAA 142 CCB 143 AAB 144 ABD 145
CDB 146 ABC 147 ACA 148 BAA 149 CAC 150 ACA 151 ADB 152 DAB 153 ABC
154 CCD 155 CAD 156 ADA 157 DAB 158 DBC 159 DAD 160 DCA 161 CAA 162
BDD 163 ADD 164 ADD 165 ACB 166 CCA 167 CAB 168 DAA 169 DCC 170 BCD
171 CCB 172 CDB 173 ABB 174 BCC 175 BCA 176 AAA 177 ABB 178 CAA 179
BCA 180 DAA 181 CCB 182 ADC 183 DDA 188 DCA 189 CCC 190 BBD 191 CDB
192 BAC 193 DCA 194 BBD 195 CDC 196 DDC 197 DCB 198 ABC 199 CDB 200
ACD 201 CBA 202 BCB 203 CDB 204 DCD 205 BAD 206 ACA 207 CAC 208 ADC
209 BBC 210 BBC 211 DAB 212 DBA 213 DBB 214 DCA 215 CBD 216 CDC 217
ABD 218 BBD 219 BAD 220 BCC 221 CCB 222 DCC 223 BBA 224 ABB 225 CBD
226 BCB 227 BDC 228 CDD 229 DCA 230 DBC 231 ACB 232 DCB 233 CDA 234
ADD 235 BCD 236 CDA 237 AAC 238 BAA 239 CAB 240 AAB 241 BBA 242 ACB
243 BBA 244 DAA 245 CDB 246 DDD 247 DDD 248 ACC 249 CDD 250 ADC 251
DDC 252 BCC
253 DDD 254 CDA 255 CAB 256 DCA 257 CAD 258 DDB 259 CBD 260 DBC 261
BDC 262 ABD 263 ACC 264 CCA 265 CBD 266 DCB 267 BDD 268 DDB 269 BBA
270 CBB 271 BCC 272 BBD 273 BDB 274 CBA 275 ACB 276 BBD 277 BAD 278
DBC 279 DBD 280 CAB 281 CBB 282 ABC 283 BAC 284 CBD 285 DBD 286 BDA
287 ACC 288 BCA 289 CAC 290 BCD 291 ADB 292 CBA 293 DAB 294 DCB 295
BBA 296 CAB 297 BCD 298 CCA 299 DDB 300 BBC 301 ABB 302 DCD 303 DDB
304 BBA 305 CAD 306 CDD
TABLE-US-00006 APPENDIX C 1 ACDB 2 CDDC 3 CBCD 4 BDCA 5 CDCD 6 AABD
7 CDAB 8 CCAB 9 DCCB 10 ADDB 11 DCBD 12 DAAC 13 BCAA 14 BDCB 15
BDCD 16 CCDD 17 DDAC 18 CDDA 19 ABAD 20 BCBA 21 DDBC 22 DCBD 23
DCBB 24 CBCD 25 BACD 26 ADCB 27 CACD 28 ABBA 29 CDAA 30 DDDD 31
BCDD 32 CBDB 33 DCAB 34 ABAD 35 DDCC 36 DDBD 37 DBDA 38 DDDD 39
BADB 40 AACD 41 CDAC 42 CDDD 43 BCBA 44 ADBC 45 CAAD 46 DCCB 47
AADB 48 ADBA 49 CBAB 50 DCAB 51 BCDC 52 BADC 53 AAAC 54 DCAB 55
BDCA 56 CBBD 57 CABB 58 BDAA 59 ABDC 60 DACA 61 BCCA 62 ABCC 63
CABD 64 CACD 65 ABDA 66 CABA 67 DCAD 68 DCCA 69 AAAD 70 ACAA 71
DDCB 72 ADDA 73 AAAC 74 BDAD 75 AADC 76 CDAC 77 DBAD 78 CABA 79
DDCA 80 ACDB 81 CACD 82 ACDA 83 BADC 84 DCAC 85 CBAA 86 CDBD 87
ADCA 88 DCCD 89 BDCA 90 DDAA 91 ABDA 92 ACDD 93 AADC 94 CAAD 95
DCAD 102 BDCA 103 DADB 104 CBDD 105 BDAC 106 DBCC 107 BBAC 108 DCBC
109 ADBB 110 BBDC 111 DDCB 112 CBDB 113 CBDB 114 CBDD 115 DCBC 116
BDAB 117 DBBD 118 ABDC 119 BCCD 120 ACBD 121 BDCC 122 CDCB 123 CCDB
124 BCDD 125 BDDA 126 CDAB 127 DABB 128 DDCB 129 BDDC 130 DDBB 131
DABC 132 ACBC 133 BBDD 134 DABD 135 DDDB 136 ABDD 137 BCDC 138 BCAB
139 DADC 140 BCDA 141 CAAB 142 CBCB 143 AADB 144 ABDC 145 CCDB 146
AABC 147 AACA 148 BDAA 149 CAAC 150 ACCA 151 ADBA 152 DCAB 153 AABC
154 CCAD 155 CDAD 156 ADDA 157 DACB 158 DBCA 159 DADC 160 DACA 161
CADA 162 BADD 163 ACDD 164 ADCD 165 ADCB 166 CCAA 167 CAAB 168 DBAA
169 DCCC 170 BCCD 171 CACB 172 CBDB 173 ABBD 174 BACC 175 BACA 176
AAAB 177 ACBB 178 CDAA 179 BCAB 180 DAAC 181 CACB 182 ADDC 183 DDAA
188 DCBA 189 CCCC 190 BBCD 191 CCDB 192 BAAC 193 DCCA 194 BCBD 195
CDBC 196 DDCC 197 DCDB 198 ABBC 199 CDAB 200 ACCD 201 CBAA 202 BCAB
203 CDBB 204 DBCD 205 BADD 206 ACDA 207 CADC 208 ABDC 209 BBCD 210
BBBC 211 DACB 212 DCBA 213 DBAB 214 DBCA 215 CBBD 216 CDDC 217 ADBD
218 BBAD 219 BDAD 220 BBCC 221 CCBB 222 DACC 223 BBCA 224 ABDB 225
CBDD 226 BCDB 227 BDDC 228 CBDD 229 DCCA 230 DBAC 231 ABCB 232 DCCB
233 CDAC 234 ADAD 235 BACD 236 CDCA 237 AAAC 238 BBAA 239 CCAB 240
AABC 241 BBBA 242 ABCB 243 BABA 244 DAAD 245 CDBB 246 DDDD 247 DDDC
248 ACCB 249 CBDD 250 ADCD 251 DDCC 252 BCDC 253 DDCD 254 CDDA 255
CABC 256 DDCA
257 CAAD 258 DDCB 259 CBCD 260 DBDC 261 BCDC 262 ACBD 263 ACDC 264
CCAD 265 CCBD 266 DCCB 267 BDBD 268 DDBB 269 BBBA 270 CBBC 271 BCCB
272 BBCD 273 BDCB 274 CABA 275 ACBC 276 BBCD 277 BADC 278 DBCA 279
DBDB 280 CBAB 281 CBAB 282 ABBC 283 BDAC 284 CBCD 285 DBAD 286 BDAC
287 ACCC 288 BCDA 289 CACC 290 BCDD 291 ADBB 292 CBBA 293 DABB 294
DCCB 295 BBDA 296 CABC 297 BCAD 298 CCAD 299 DDDB 300 BBDC 301 ACBB
302 DCCD 303 DDCB 304 BCBA 305 CABD 306 CDDD
[0368] Having thus described the foregoing exemplary embodiments it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
equivalents, alterations, modifications, and improvements thereof
are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the
claims as hereafter recited. In particular, different embodiments
may include combinations of features other than those described
herein. Accordingly, the claims are not limited to the foregoing
discussion.
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