# US 11,076,683 B2 · Systems and methods for creating custom formulations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,683 B2 - Document ID: US11076683B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/376,903 - Filed: 2019-04-05 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-05 - Assignees: L'oreal - Applicants: L'oreal - Inventors: Fabienne Wiltord; Benjamin Askenazi; Cyril Nurdin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076683B2 ## CPC - A45D 34/04: Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball - A45D 44/005: {for selecting or displaying personal cosmetic colours or hairstyle} - A45D 19/00: Devices for washing the hair or the scalp; Similar devices for colouring the hair - A45D 44/00: Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - A45D 2034/005: {with a cartridge} - A45D 2044/007: {Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment} - A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Methods for creating custom hair formulations include generating a first input set and a second input set, formulating a hair formulation recipe, displaying a predicted hair color on the user input device, and dispensing a hair formulation from a dispenser. The first input set is based upon a plurality of present hair state inputs received by a user input device of a hair formulation system. The second input set is based upon a target hair state input received by the user input device. Formulating the hair formulation recipe includes using a processor of the hair formulation system that is operatively connected to the user input device to formulate the hair formulation recipe based upon the first and the second input sets. The predicted hair color is based upon at least one present hair state inputs and the target hair state input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for creating custom hair formulations, comprising: generating a first input set based upon a plurality of present hair state inputs received by a user input device of a hair formulation system, and a second input set based upon a target hair state input received by the user input device; formulating, using a processor of the hair formulation system that is operatively connected to the user input device, a hair formulation recipe based upon the first and the second input sets; displaying a predicted hair color on the user input device, the predicted hair color being based upon at least one present hair state inputs and the target hair state input; producing a hair formulation based upon the hair formulation recipe, with a dispenser comprising a bead assembly and a fluid formulation assembly, wherein producing the hair formulation comprises mixing at least one formulation bead dispensed from the bead assembly with at least one fluid formulation dispensed from the fluid formulation assembly; and dispensing the hair formulation from the dispenser. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first input set includes at least one input selected from the group consisting of: color, texture, thickness, nationality, age, damage, environmental conditions, dry, oily, normal, straight, curly, wavy, kinky, length, thin, coarse, treated, and gray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second input set includes a target hair color. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second input set includes a plurality of inputs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a diagnostic on the user input device, the diagnostic being based upon at least one present hair state input and the target hair state input. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating at least one of the first input sets or the second input sets includes communicating with a digital assist platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the user input device a menu of present hair state options. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the menu of present hair state options includes a present hair state representation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the user input device a menu of target hair state options. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the menu of target hair state options includes a target hair state representation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the target hair state representation is based upon a customer image. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein formulating the hair formulation recipe includes using the processor to select an ingredient from the group consisting of: a dye, a developer, a lotion, a cream, and a diluter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein dispensing the hair formulation includes dispensing the ingredient into a mixing area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein formulating the hair formulation recipe includes using the processor to select at least two ingredients from the group consisting of: the dye, the developer, the lotion, the cream, and the diluter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein dispensing the hair formulation includes sensing a weight of the hair formulation in the mixing area and controlling dispensation of the hair formulation based upon the weight. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a formulation inventory stored in the dispenser using the processor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting a refill signal from the hair formulation system when the formulation inventory falls below a threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating a humidity level in the dispenser. ### Claim 19 A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform steps, including: generating a first input set based upon a plurality of present hair state inputs received by a user input device of a hair formulation system, a second input set based upon a target hair state input received by the user input device, a hair formulation recipe based upon the first and the second input sets, a predicted hair color representation based upon at least one of the present hair state inputs and the target hair state input; instructing at least one of a formulation dispenser or the user input device to display the predicted hair color representation; instructing the formulation dispenser to prepare a hair formulation based upon the hair formulation recipe, using a bead assembly and a fluid formulation assembly of the formulation dispenser, by mixing at least one formulation bead dispensed from the bead assembly with at least one fluid formulation dispensed from the fluid formulation assembly; and instructing the formulation dispenser to dispense the hair formulation. ### Claim 20 A custom formulation system, comprising: a user input device; a formulation dispenser operatively connected to the user input device, the formulation dispenser; and a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium located in the user input device or the formulation dispenser, that when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps, including: generating a first input set based upon a plurality of present hair state inputs received by the user input device, a second input set based upon a target hair state input received by the user input device, a hair formulation recipe based upon the first and the second input sets, and a predicted hair color representation based upon at least one of the present hair state inputs and the target hair state input; instructing at least one of the formulation dispenser or the user input device to display the predicted hair color representation; instructing the formulation dispenser to prepare a hair formulation based upon the hair formulation recipe, using a bead assembly and a fluid formulation assembly of the formulation dispenser, by mixing at least one formulation bead dispensed from the bead assembly with at least one fluid formulation dispensed from the fluid formulation assembly; and instructing the formulation dispenser to dispense the hair formulation.