What is claimed is:
1. A method for regulating the growth of hair comprising administering to a mammal, an effective amount of a composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.001% to about 99.9%, by weight, of at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate, wherein said metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate is neither zinc gluconate nor manganese gluconate; and
(b) from about 0.1% to about 99.999%, by weight, of a vehicle.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises:
(a) from about 0.001% to about 15%, by weight, of said at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate; and
(b) from about 85% to about 99.999%, by weight, of said vehicle.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal comprising said at least one metal complex is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, silver, gold, zinc, copper, nickel, iron, chromium, calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, cobalt, palladium, platinum, tin, and mixtures thereof.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said metal comprising at least one said metal complex is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, zinc, copper, and mixtures thereof.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said metal comprising said at least one metal complex is zinc.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of oxidized aldoses, oxidized ketoses, oxidized trioses, oxidized tetroses, oxidized pentoses, oxidized hexoses, and mixtures thereof.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of ribonic acid; ribulonic acid; arabinonic acid; xylonic acid; xylulonic acid; lyxonic acid; allonic acid; altronic acid; gluconic acid; mannonic acid; gulonic acid; idonic acid; galactonic acid; talonic acid; glucoheptonic acid; psiconic acid; fructonic acid; sorbonic acid; tagatonic acid; lactobionic acid; maltobionic acid; isomaltobionic acid; cellobionic acid; oxidized malto-oligosaccharide; oxidized cello-oligosaccharide; oxidized cellulose; chitin; gum arabic; gum karaya; gum xanthan; oxidized gum guar; oxidized locust bean gum; oxidized agars; oxidized algins; oxidized gellan gum; and mixtures thereof.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of lactobionic acid; maltobionic acid; isomaltobionic acid; cellobionic acid; and mixtures thereof.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is lactobionic acid.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is not gluconate.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises zinc gluconate, manganese gluconate, or both.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbohydrate comprising said oxidized carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, and mixtures thereof.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of solvents; thickeners; propellants; powders; fillers; plasticizers; lubricants; and emollients and humectants; and mixtures thereof.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, C2 to C3 monohydric alcohols, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said vehicle comprises a solvent comprising:
(a) from about 50% to about 70%, by weight, of water;
(b) from about 20% to about 40%, by weight, of ethanol; and
(c) from about 5% to about 20%, by weight, of propylene glycol.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein said solvent comprises at least 5% propylene glycol.
17. The method of claim 21, wherein said solvent comprises from about 10% to about 15%, by weight, of propylene glycol.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of surfactants, conditioning agents, cationic polymers, anti-dandruff actives, activity enhancers, penetration enhancers, dyes, suspending agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical anesthetics, sunscreen actives, flavoring agents, preservatives, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein:
(a) said conditioning agents are selected from the group consisting of polydimethylsiloxane, polydiethylsiloxane, polymethylphenylsiloxane, amodimethicone, trimethylsilylamodimethicone, paraffin oil, mineral oil, polydecene, 1-decene homopolymer, C8-C10 triester of trimethylolpropane, polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof; and
(b) said cationic polymers selected from the group consisting of Polyquaternium 10, Polyquaternium 24, guar hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride, Polyquaternium 16, and mixtures thereof; and
(c) said anti-dandruff actives selected from the group consisting of zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, sulfur, ketoconazole, climbazole, and mixtures thereof; and
(d) said activity enhancers selected from the group consisting of minoxidil, finasteride, cyclosporin, ketoconazole, triclocarbon, triclosan, zinc pyrithione, itraconazole, hinokitiol, mipirocin, hydrocortisone, tenidap, triiodothyrionine, latanoprost, isotretinoin, acitretin, tazarotene, nicotinic acid, niacinamide, glycosaminoglycanase inhibitors, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, interleukin-1 inhibitors, interleukin-6 inhibitors, interleukin-10 promotors, saponins, triterpenes, betulinic acid, betulonic acid, crataegolic acid, celastrol, asiatic acid, inhibitors of 5–reductase, progesterone, 1,4-methyl4-azasteroids, 17–N,N-diethylcarbamoyl4-methyl4-aza-5–androstan-3-one, androgen receptor antagonists, cyproterone acetate, azelaic acid, diazoxide, potassium channel openers, cromakalin, phenytoin, dutasteride, coal tar, zinc gluconate, manganese gluconate, glucocortisoids, macrolides, aminexil, ginkgo biloba, ivy, methyl salicylate, clinacycin hydrochloride, benzoyl peroxide, benzyl peroxide, minocyclin, and mixtures thereof;
(e) said penetration enhancers selected from the group consisting of propan-2-ol; 1-propan-1,2-diol; propan-1-ol; di-isopropyl adipate; dimethylsulfonyl oxide; octonol;
niacinamide; and mixtures thereof; and
(f) said suspending agents selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate, stearyl stearate, cetyl palmitate, xanthan gum, copolymers of acrylic acid crosslinked with polyallylsucrose, methylcellulose, hydroxybutyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl ethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, guar gum, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl guar gum, starch, trihydroxystearin, and mixtures thereof.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said activity enhancers are selected from the group consisting of minoxidil, finasteride, cyclosporin, ketoconazole, triclocarbon, triclosan, zinc pyrithione, itraconazole, tenidap, niacinamide, triterpenes, betulinic acid, betulonic acid, zinc gluconate, manganese gluconate, glucocortisoids, and mixtures thereof.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidized carbohydrate is amido-, amino-, or phospho-substituted.
22. The method of claim 9, wherein said lactobionic acid is sulfo-substituted.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is administered orally, parenterally, or topically.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said composition is administered in a form selected from the group consisting of tablets, capsules, caplets, creams, gels, hydrogels, lotions, shampoos, rinses, tonics, sprays, ointments, mousses and pomades.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein said composition is administered topically.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is packaged as a component part of a kit, said kit containing at least one additional component for use in pre-treatment or post-treatment steps, said steps being part of a regimen for regulating hair growth performance.
27. A method for regulating the growth of hair comprising administering topically an effective amount of a composition comprising:
(a) zinc lactobionate;
(b) zinc gluconate, zinc pyrithione, or both; and
(c) a vehicle.
28. A method for regulating the growth of hair comprising administering to a mammal, an effective amount of a composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.001% to about 99.9%, by weight, of zinc lactobionate; and
(b) from about 0.1% to about 99.999%, by weight, of a vehicle.
29. A method for regulating the growth of hair comprising administering to a mammal, an effective amount of a composition comprising:
(a) from about 0.001% to about 99.9%, by weight, of at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate having a solubility in water of at least 10%; and
(b) from about 0.1% to about 99.999%, by weight, of a vehicle.
30. The method claim 29, wherein said at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate has a solubility in water of at least 40%.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein said at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate has a solubility in water of at least 50%.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate has a solubility in water of at least 60%.
33. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate is zinc lactobionate.
34. A method for regulating the growth of hair comprising administering to a mammal, an effective amount of a composition that is the product of a process comprising the steps (a) to (c) in any order:
(a) adding from about 1% to about 25%, by weight, of a metal salt, and mixing;
(b) adding from about 1% to about 30%, by weight, of a carboxylic acid of a carbohydrate, and mixing; and
(c) adding from about 0.1% to about 99.999%, by weight, of a vehicle, and mixing;
wherein said product comprises from about 0.001% to about 99.9%, by weight, of at least one metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate, wherein said metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate is neither zinc gluconate nor manganese gluconate.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the composition is the product of a process comprising the steps (a) to (c) in any order:
(d) adding from about 3% to about 10%, by weight, of a metal salt, and mixing;
(e) adding from about 5% to about 25%, by weight, of a carboxylic acid of a carbohydrate, and mixing; and
(f) adding from about 0.1% to about 99.999%, by weight, of a vehicle, and mixing;
wherein said product comprises from about 0.001% to about 15%, by weight, of said metal complex of an oxidized carbohydrate.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the metal comprising said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, silver, gold, zinc, copper, nickel, iron, chromium, calcium, magnesium, molybdenum, cobalt, palladium, platinum, tin, and mixtures thereof.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein said metal comprising at least one said metal complex is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, zinc, copper, and mixtures thereof.
38. The method of claim 37, wherein said metal comprising said at least one metal complex is zinc.
39. The method of claim 34, wherein said carboxylic acid of a carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of lactobionic acid; maltobionic acid; isomaltobionic acid; cellobionic acid; and mixtures thereof.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein said carboxylic acid of a carbohydrate is lactobionic acid.
41. The method of claim 34, wherein the salt portion of said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of chlorides, sulfates, acetates, oxides, and mixtures thereof.
42. The method of claim 34, wherein said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc oxide, cupric chloride, cupric sulfate, cupric acetate, and copper oxide.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein said metal salt is zinc sulfate.
44. The method of claim 40, wherein said metal salt is zinc sulfate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A cleaning robot for performing a cleaning operation while running along a cleaning path, comprising:
a running unit to run the cleaning robot;
a storage unit to store a running path, along which the cleaning robot has learned;
a control unit to recognize the learned running path of the cleaning robot when a path learning operation is required, to store the recognized learned running path in the storage unit, and to drive the running unit; and
a running path detecting unit to detect the learned running path of the cleaning robot moved by a user, and to store the learned running path in the storage unit,
wherein the control unit controls the running unit when a cleaning operation of the cleaning robot along the stored learned running path is required, to allow the cleaning robot to perform the required cleaning operation while running along the stored learned running path, and
the control unit stores a reserved time in the storage unit, inputted by a user corresponding to the stored learned running path, and drives the running unit at the reserved time to allow the cleaning robot to perform the cleaning operation while running along the corresponding learned running path.
2. The cleaning robot of claim 1, wherein the running path detecting unit comprises:
a running distance detecting sensor to detect a running distance of the cleaning robot; and
a running direction detecting sensor to detect a running directional change of the cleaning robot,
wherein the control unit detects the running distance and the running directional change of the cleaning robot at intervals of a predetermined time.
3. The cleaning robot of claim 1, further comprising:
a key input unit having learning start and end buttons to be operated by the user to start and end the path learning operation,
wherein the learned running path of the cleaning robot corresponds to the cleaning path, along which the cleaning robot runs after a key signal from the learning start button is inputted and until a key signal from the learning end button is inputted.
4. The cleaning robot of claim 3, further comprising an obstacle detecting unit to detect an obstacle existing on the learned running path of the cleaning robot.
5. The cleaning robot of claim 4, wherein the obstacle detecting unit comprises a plurality of obstacle detecting sensors to detect the obstacle in accordance with a transmission and a reception of an infrared ray, and to detect a distance of the detected obstacle from the cleaning robot.
6. The cleaning robot of claim 5, wherein each obstacle detecting sensor comprises:
an infrared light emitting element to emit the infrared ray; and
a light receiving element to receive a reflected light of the infrared ray.
7. The cleaning robot of claim 3, wherein the key input unit further comprises an automatic cleaning execution button to allow the cleaning robot to perform an automatic cleaning operation while running along the learned running path stored therein.
8. The cleaning robot of claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores a plurality of learned running paths, and the control unit drives the running unit to allow the cleaning robot to perform a cleaning operation while running along one of the plurality of learned running paths selected by a user from the stored plurality of learned running paths.
9. The cleaning robot of claim 1, further comprising a running unit to drive wheel motors to rotate opposite front wheels provided at a body of the cleaning robot, to enable the cleaning robot to run or rotate.
10. The cleaning robot of claim 9, further comprising:
a suction unit and a suction motor, wherein the suction unit drives the suction motor to pick up particles attached to a bottom of the body of the cleaning robot through an inlet and to feed the particles to a dust collecting filter.
11. The cleaning robot of claim 10, further comprising a display unit to display information to allow the user to input a control command and to identify information corresponding to the inputted control command.
12. A method for controlling a cleaning robot to perform a cleaning operation while running along a cleaning path, comprising:
recognizing a learned running path of the cleaning robot when a path learning operation is required, and storing the recognized running path;
controlling the cleaning robot to perform a cleaning operation while running along the stored learned running path when a cleaning operation of the cleaning robot along the stored learned running path is require;
storing a reserved time inputted by a user corresponding to the stored learned running path; and
controlling the cleaning robot to perform the cleaning operation at the reserved time, while running along the corresponding learned running path,
wherein the recognizing of the learning running path of the cleaning robot comprises detecting the learned running path of the cleaning robot moved by a user and storing the detected learned running path.
13. A method for controlling a cleaning robot to perform a cleaning operation while running along a cleaning path, comprising:
detecting a plurality of learned running paths of the cleaning robot moved by a user, and storing the detected learned running paths;
storing reserved times respectively inputted by the user corresponding to the stored plurality of learned running paths; and
controlling the cleaning robot to perform a cleaning operation at the reserved times, while running along the corresponding plurality of learned running paths, respectively.
14. A cleaning robot for performing cleaning operations while running along cleaning paths, comprising:
a running unit to move the cleaning robot;
a storage unit to store reserved times and learned running paths corresponding to the reserved times of the cleaning robot; and
a control unit to recognize the learned running paths in the storage unit, and to drive the running unit,
wherein the cleaning robot performs the cleaning operations corresponding to the reserved times selected by a user while running along the stored learned running paths and wherein the learned running paths are determined by the robot first traversing the running paths prior to performing the cleaning operations.