03 The Strip Manual Published May 2026 By the editors of Crybaby Wax Field guide, 20 min
A Field Guide, Chapter Three

The strip
manual.

A licensed esthetician's step-by-step for waxing every zone with the patented Stiff Upper Rip pull tab. Brows to bikini, chin to calf. Skip the pick, grip the handle, rip it clean.

Skill level First-time friendly · Time 20 minutes · Patent US 12,611,023 B2 · Set 50 tabs, 25 large + 25 small
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In this issue

Table of Contents

  1. 01The patentWhy a pull tab earned a US patent in 2026
  2. 02Strip anatomyAdhesive top, paper handle, large and small tabs
  3. 03The five movesUniversal method for any zone, head to toe
  4. 04BrowsOne small tab cut in half. Two mini strips
  5. 05Upper lipOne tab cut in half. Split at the philtrum
  6. 06ChinThree small strips, fan in from both sides
  7. 07SideburnsOne strip per side. Fade with tweezers
  8. 08Jawline + neckUnderjaw grows up. Trust the finger test
  9. 09UnderarmsTwo passes. Upper grows down, lower grows up
  10. 10BikiniTop edge, sides, fold line. Three large strips
  11. 11LegsStrips laid north to south, handle at the ankle
  12. 12Six don'tsMistakes our clients have made on the table
  13. 13AftercareThe first 72 hours, minute by minute
  14. 14The kitWhat you need on the tray. Where to buy
  15. 15QuestionsCompatibility, sizes, sensitive skin, and pros
01 Page One The Document Behind the Strip Filed: Patent

A US patent for a pull tab.

Estheticians spend hours of training learning how to make a lip at the end of a wax strip. Stiff Upper Rip removes the skill from the equation. The US Patent Office agreed.

Filed under invention

Skip the pick.
Grip the handle.

Every hard wax application traditionally needs a lip. A small lifted edge of cooled wax you grip between your fingertips to start the rip. Trained pros learn to flick one up cleanly in seconds. Beginners fight for it, lose strips to splits, and bruise themselves trying to chase a corner that never lifts. Stiff Upper Rip ends the fight.

The strip is a small biodegradable paper rectangle split into two functional zones. The top half is coated with a skin-safe adhesive and protected by a removable liner. The bottom half is bare paper, your built-in handle. You spread hard wax. You press the strip into it. The wax bonds to the adhesive as it cools. You grip the paper handle and pull.

"Estheticians spend hours of training learning how to make a lip at the end of a wax strip. Stiff Upper Rip removes the skill from the equation." From US Patent No. 12,611,023 B2
By the numbers

The receipt.

A US patent is not a marketing flourish. It is a granted, enforceable claim that the design solves a problem no one else has solved this way before. The application went through 22 months of examination. It cleared.

22Months under USPTO examination
04.28Granted April 28, 2026
2 zonesAdhesive top half, paper handle bottom
1/2 to 3/4Adhesive coverage range per spec
02 Page Two Anatomy of the Stiff Upper Rip Filed: Equipment

Two zones. One strip.

Know what you are holding before you press it onto wax. Every Stiff Upper Rip ships in two sizes. Both work the same way. Pick the one that matches the area.

Figure 2.0, Tab anatomy LARGE TAB GRIP A B 1" × 2" 25 PER SET SMALL TAB GRIP C D 0.75" × 1.5" 25 PER SET IN USE, CROSS-SECTION SKIN ADHESIVE HANDLE HARD WAX RIP wax bonds to adhesive and captures hair
  • A
    The adhesive zone Top half of the strip, coated with a skin-safe pressure adhesive and protected by a peel-off liner. This is the half that bonds to your spread of hard wax. Per the patent specification, adhesive covers between half and three quarters of the substrate.
  • B
    The handle Bottom half is bare biodegradable paper. This is the lip you grip. No picking, no scratching, no flicking a corner with your thumbnail. The handle exists from the second you press the strip down.
  • C
    The small tab For precision zones. Brows, upper lip, chin, sideburns, hairline. Smaller footprint, easier to maneuver around curves. 25 per set. Cuts cleanly with sharp scissors for sub-strip work like brow tails.
  • D
    The large tab For body. Legs, underarms, bikini, lower back, forearms. The larger handle gives extra leverage on longer strips, which is exactly what you want when wax has to grab coarser, denser hair. 25 per set.
03 Page Three The Universal Method Filed: Method

Five moves. Every zone.

Every strip on every body part is the same five movements. Memorize them once. The zone pages that follow only tell you what changes per area, the method underneath stays the same.

01 Warm

Honey, not syrup

Melt hard wax to a thick honey consistency. If it drips like syrup, it is too hot, your skin will protest and the strip will slide before it bonds. Wait one minute.

02 Press

Lay the tab

Peel the liner. Place Stiff Upper Rip on the skin with the adhesive zone at the lowest point of your wax area. Handle hangs free past the bottom edge. Adhesive side faces up, ready for wax.

03 Spread

Wax over the tab

Spread hard wax across the adhesive zone of the tab and onto the bare skin beyond, in a pad as wide as your strip. The wax bonds to the adhesive and covers the hair past the tab.

04 Wait

Count to seven

Let the wax cool around the hair and bond to the adhesive. Seven seconds is the window. Less and the wax tears, more and it goes brittle and chips. Count slow.

05 Rip

Pull parallel

Anchor the skin with your free hand. Grip the bare paper handle. Rip parallel to the skin in the direction of growth, fast and low. Never up and away, that is how skin lifts.

04 Page Four Zone One, The Brows Filed: Practice / Face
Figure 4.0, The cut STEP 1, ONE SMALL TAB STEP 2, CUT IN HALF CUT HERE STEP 3, TWO MINI STRIPS LEFT BROW RIGHT BROW

One small tab.
Three mini strips.

Brow work is precision work. A whole small tab is too wide for above and between the brows. We have a workaround that uses one tab efficiently across both brows and the middle.

Take one small tab. With clean, sharp scissors, cut it vertically down the middle along the dashed center line. You now have two narrow half tabs. Cut one of those halves in half again the same way. You have three mini strips: one for the left brow shape, one for the right, one slim one for between the brows.

1Small tab to start
2Cuts with scissors
3Mini strips ready
Zone
One
Brows
4 mini strips, 6 min
Zone One, Of Eight

The brows.

Brow shaping is precision work in three places: the strays under each brow, the strays above each brow, and the unibrow between. Cut two small tabs in half for four mini strips total. Never wax inside the brow shape, only the borders.

  1. 01
    Map your shapeBrush brows up with a spoolie. Identify three groups of strays: under each brow (below the natural line), above each brow (the few that creep onto the forehead), and between the brows (the unibrow).
  2. 02
    Cut two small tabs in halfTwo small tabs, two lengthwise cuts, four mini strips. Two for under each brow, one for above (you only need one for both above-brows since each side is small), one for the between.
  3. 03
    Under the right browPress a mini strip below the brow line. Spread wax across the strays below the brow. Count to seven. Anchor at the temple, rip down and out toward the cheekbone.
  4. 04
    Under the left browMirror on the left side. Same five moves. Anchor at the left temple, rip toward the left cheekbone. Press your palm for two seconds after.
  5. 05
    Above the browsOne mini strip across both above-brow areas (or split it again for two tinier strips). Spread wax over any strays creeping up. Anchor below the brow, rip up and out toward the temple.
  6. 06
    Between the browsSlim mini strip in the center over the unibrow area. Spread wax vertically. Anchor at the bridge of the nose, rip straight down toward the tip of the nose.
  7. 07
    Tweeze the survivorsStiff Upper Rip gets the bulk. Tweezers get any single hairs that broke the line. Step back from the mirror every four pulls so you do not over-shape.
05 Page Five Zone Two, The Upper Lip Filed: Practice / Face
Zone
Two
Upper lip
1 tab cut in half, 2 min
Zone Two, Of Eight

The upper lip.

Upper lip hair grows straight down from the nostrils. Wax it in two halves split by the philtrum (that little vertical groove). Never run one strip across the whole lip, the philtrum cradle traps wax that won't lift cleanly.

  1. 01
    Cut one small tab in halfUse clean sharp scissors. Cut a small tab vertically down the middle. You now have two narrow strips, one for the left half of the lip, one for the right.
  2. 02
    Stretch the lip tautPress your tongue against the back of your upper lip from the inside, or pull your lip down toward your chin with your free hand. Tension is the difference between clean removal and a sting that lingers.
  3. 03
    Spread wax, left sideSpread a thin pad of wax from the philtrum out to the corner of your mouth, against growth (wax goes on going up toward the nose). Stop a quarter inch short of the lip line itself.
  4. 04
    Press, count to seven, ripPress one of the half-strips firmly. Count seven. Anchor at the philtrum with your free thumb. Rip down and out toward the corner of the mouth, parallel to the lip, fast and low.
  5. 05
    Mirror on the rightSpread wax on the right half. Press the second half-strip. Anchor at the philtrum. Rip down and out toward the right corner of the mouth. The philtrum itself stays untouched.
  6. 06
    Cool, no lickingCool washcloth, ten seconds against the lip. No balm, no lipstick, no lip-licking for an hour. Saliva on freshly waxed skin is a fast track to perioral dermatitis.
06 Page Six Zone Three, The Chin Filed: Practice / Face
Zone
Three
Chin
3 small strips, 3 min
Zone Three, Of Eight

The chin.

The chin is the densest patch on the face for most people, especially hormone-driven hair. Follicles fan in from both sides and swirl through the middle. We wax it in three small strips, never one wide one.

  1. 01
    Three small tabs readyFor most chins, three uncut small tabs is the right setup. Pull the liners just before you spread. Once liners are off, work fast so the adhesive does not collect dust.
  2. 02
    Left strip firstTest the grain with a clean finger from the corner of the mouth outward, the side that feels rough is against. Spread wax in a thumbprint-sized pad along the left jaw of the chin, against growth.
  3. 03
    Press the strip, count to sevenLay the adhesive top of the small tab onto the wax pad. Press flat for two seconds. The paper handle hangs free toward your collarbone.
  4. 04
    Anchor and ripPin the corner of your mouth with your free hand. Grip the handle. Rip parallel to the jaw, toward your earlobe, fast and low. Press your palm to the area for two seconds after.
  5. 05
    Right strip mirrorRepeat steps two through four on the right side of the chin. Mirror the rip direction toward the right earlobe.
  6. 06
    The middle stripThe center of the chin swirls. Spread wax over the middle in a thin vertical pad. Press the third small strip vertically. Rip downward toward your collarbone, with the swirl, not across it.
07 Page Seven Zone Four, The Sideburns Filed: Practice / Face
Zone
Four
Sideburns
1 strip per side, 3 min
Zone Four, Of Eight

The sideburns.

Sideburn hair grows down and slightly forward from the hairline at the temple. Some people have downy fuzz, others have coarse hair that mirrors brow density. Wax with the smallest strip that covers your hairline, and never create a hard edge between sideburn and skin.

  1. 01
    Map your hairlineStand in good light. Run a finger from your temple down along the hairline to your jaw. The fuzz outside the hairline is what comes off. Hair inside the hairline stays. Do not carve a notch.
  2. 02
    One small tab per sideSideburn coverage is usually a single small tab. If your sideburn is denser or longer, use a large tab instead. Do not double-strip if one is not enough, use the bigger tab on round two.
  3. 03
    Test the grainRun a finger down along the sideburn. Most sideburn hair grows down and slightly forward (toward the cheek). Confirm with the finger test before you spread.
  4. 04
    Spread wax against growthSpread a thin pad outside the hairline, against growth (wax goes on going up and back toward the temple). Stop a quarter inch short of your hairline so you do not pull keeper hairs.
  5. 05
    Press, count to seven, ripPress the strip. Anchor the skin at your temple with your free hand. Grip the handle. Rip down and forward toward your cheek, parallel to the face, fast and low. Press your palm to the area for two seconds after.
  6. 06
    Blend with tweezersTweeze any single hairs that create a hard line. The goal is a soft natural fade between hairline hair and skin, not a sharp wax-line edge. Stand back from the mirror to check the fade.
08 Page Eight Zone Five, The Jawline and Neck Filed: Practice / Face
Zone
Five
Jawline + neck
3 strips, 5 min
Zone Five, Of Eight

The jawline + neck.

The neck is the trickiest face zone because the hair changes direction. Most of the neck grows down, like the rest of the body. The patch directly under your jaw often grows up to meet the jawline. Pull each strip according to the hair you find, not the hair you expect.

  1. 01
    Finger-test underjawRun a clean finger from your collarbone up to your chin under the jaw. The direction that feels rough is against the grain. Most people find under-jaw hair grows up. Do not assume.
  2. 02
    Two small strips for jawlineOne per side. Spread wax along the underside of the jaw, the small ridge between your jawline and your neck, with the strip pad going downward (against growth that points up).
  3. 03
    Press, wait, rip downwardIf under-jaw growth points up, you rip down. Anchor the skin at the chin. Pull the handle toward your collarbone, parallel to the neck, fast and low.
  4. 04
    Mirror on the other sideSame sequence, opposite side. Both jawline rips finish before you start the neck strip below.
  5. 05
    One large strip for the neckFor the upper neck below the jaw, switch to a large tab. Spread wax across the front of the neck with the strip pad going upward (against the downward growth).
  6. 06
    Press, wait, rip upwardAnchor the skin near your collarbone. Pull the handle up toward your chin, parallel to the neck. This is the only zone on the face where the rip direction is upward, because neck growth is downward.
09 Page Nine Zone Six, The Underarms Filed: Practice / Body
Zone
Six
Underarms
2 strips per side, 4 min
Zone Six, Of Eight

The underarms.

Underarm hair grows in two directions. The upper half points down. The lower half points up. They meet in the middle. Trying to wax it in one strip pulls hair against itself and leaves half behind. We split the armpit into two passes.

  1. 01
    Raise your arm fullyLock your forearm behind your head. The skin should be pulled tight already, the strip needs that tension. Loose skin is how underarms bruise.
  2. 02
    Finger-test both halvesRun a clean finger across the upper half (closer to the shoulder) and lower half (closer to the rib) separately. Confirm: upper grows down toward the rib, lower grows up toward the shoulder.
  3. 03
    Upper half firstTake a large tab. Spread wax across the upper half against growth (the wax goes on going up toward the shoulder). Press the strip. Count to seven.
  4. 04
    Anchor and rip downPin the skin at the shoulder ridge with your free hand. Grip the handle. Rip downward toward your ribs, parallel to the body, fast and low.
  5. 05
    Lower half secondNew large tab. Spread wax across the lower half against growth (wax goes on going down toward the rib). Press, count to seven. Anchor at the rib. Rip upward toward the shoulder.
  6. 06
    Mirror on the other armSame two-strip sequence on the other side. Press a cool palm flat against each pit for thirty seconds after the second rip. Skip deodorant for twelve hours.
10 Page Ten Zone Seven, The Bikini Line Filed: Practice / Body
Zone
Seven
Bikini
3 strips minimum, 6 min
Zone Seven, Of Eight

The bikini line.

Bikini means everything outside your underwear line, nothing inside. We are waxing the top edge above the waistband, the side strips along the inner thigh, and the fold line where leg meets pelvis. For full Brazilian or labia work, book a pro. That is not first-time-friendly.

  1. 01
    Trim first if neededIf hair is longer than a grain of rice (about a quarter inch), trim with sharp scissors before you start. Wax grips the hair best in the rice-grain range. Longer hair tears at the follicle and stings more.
  2. 02
    Map your linePut on the underwear or swimsuit you actually wear. Mark the outside edge with a white pencil. Wax only what sits outside that line. Take the underwear off before you start spreading.
  3. 03
    Top edge, one large stripSpread wax in a wide pad across the top of the bikini line, against growth (wax goes on going up toward the navel). Press a large tab. Count to seven. Anchor the skin above the navel and rip downward toward the leg.
  4. 04
    Sides, one large strip per sideThe inner thigh near the bikini line has hair that points toward the body center. Spread wax outward, away from the body. Press a large strip. Anchor at the hip. Rip inward toward the center, parallel to the leg.
  5. 05
    Fold line, two small stripsThe crease where leg meets pelvis is too curved for a large strip. Two small tabs, one per side. Spread wax in the fold against growth, press the small strip, rip down and away toward the outer thigh.
  6. 06
    Cool compress, no frictionCool clean washcloth, thirty seconds against the whole area. No underwear for an hour if you can manage. Skip the gym, the sauna, and tight jeans for 24 hours. Friction on freshly waxed bikini skin is how you get bumps.
11 Page Eleven Zone Eight, The Legs Filed: Practice / Body
Zone
Eight
Legs
8 to 12 large strips, 15 min
Zone Eight, Of Eight

The legs.

Legs are the easiest zone for first-timers because the hair is straightforward (it grows down) and the skin can take it. We do the shin in four overlapping strips per side, then the thigh in five or six. The calf and back of the thigh need a partner or a flexible spine.

  1. 01
    Shave-free for 2 weeksHair needs to be at least a quarter inch long to grip wax. If you have been shaving, give it two weeks of growth. Exfoliate lightly the day before. Skip lotion the morning of.
  2. 02
    Start on the shinSit on a chair, foot on a stool. The shin is the easiest place to start because it is flat and visible. Section the shin into four bands from knee to ankle, each as wide as your large tab.
  3. 03
    Strip one, top bandSpread wax in a band against growth (wax goes on going up toward the knee). Press a large tab. Count to seven. Anchor the skin above the knee and rip downward toward the ankle, parallel to the leg.
  4. 04
    Strips two, three, fourWork down the shin in overlapping bands. Each new strip overlaps the previous one by half an inch so you do not miss the seam. Same five-move sequence each time. Press flat after every rip.
  5. 05
    Thighs, five or six stripsStand up. Thigh hair grows down too. Same large tabs, same overlap. Work top to bottom in a column down the front of the thigh, then move to the side, then to the inner thigh last. Inner thigh skin is more sensitive, save it for last.
  6. 06
    Calves and back of thighsThis is where you ask a friend or do them last, when you are warmed up to the rhythm. Same method, same direction (hair grows down). If you cannot see it, do not rush it.
12 Page Twelve Six Things Not To Do Filed: Cautionary

The six don'ts.

We have lifted skin so you don't have to. Every mistake below is one a client has actually made on our table or at home, and the fix that worked.

01

Do not pull up and away

Ripping up and away from the skin is the most common new-waxer mistake. It lifts the skin instead of the hair. Fix: pull parallel to the skin, fast and low, like you are skipping a stone. The strip should travel along the body, not lift off it.

02

Do not wax broken skin

Active acne, eczema patches, sunburn, fresh cuts, ingrown hairs that have not healed: skip the strip. Wax will pull off the top layer of skin along with the hair. Fix: wait for the area to be fully healed, or wax around it with a smaller tab.

03

Do not double-strip the same patch

If a strip did not get every hair, do not repeat over the same spot. Two pulls on the same skin in one session is how bruises form. Fix: tweeze the survivors, or wait two weeks and try the patch again next session.

04

Do not skip the press

Pressing the strip flat for two seconds is the step beginners drop the fastest. Without it, the adhesive does not fully bond to the wax and the strip lifts cleanly off, taking nothing. Fix: press flat-palm, two slow seconds, before you count seven.

05

Do not wax against fresh actives

Retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic, and tretinoin all thin the top layer of skin. Wax will lift it. Fix: pause facial actives for 72 hours before face waxing, and skip facial waxing entirely on prescription retinoids.

06

Do not chase the corner with your nail

Every time you scratch at the strip with your fingernail to find a lip, you are doing the thing Stiff Upper Rip was patented to end. Fix: the strip already has a handle. The handle is the bottom half. Use it.

13 Page Thirteen The First 72 Hours Filed: Aftercare

After. The most important hour.

Skin is hyper-reactive in the hour after waxing, calmer by hour twelve, fully recovered by hour seventy-two. Here is exactly what to do in each window.

0-10
Min
Cool compress and press

Run a clean washcloth under cool water and press it flat against the waxed area for at least two minutes. No scrubbing, no rubbing. Just temperature and pressure.

The pressure constricts capillaries before any bruising can set. Cool slows histamine response.
10-60
Min
Apply post-wax serum

A calming, fragrance-free post-wax serum. Look for niacinamide, panthenol, or centella asiatica. Skip anything with menthol, eucalyptus, or perfume.

The follicle is still open in the first hour. Anti-inflammatory ingredients calm. Fragrance triggers reactivity.
1-12
Hrs
No heat, no friction

No gym, no sauna, no hot shower, no tight clothing on the waxed area. Loose cotton if possible. Avoid sweat-trapping fabrics.

Open follicles plus heat and friction is how bumps form. Twelve hours of restraint prevents a week of breakouts.
12-48
Hrs
Resume routine, gently

Showers are fine, soap is fine, you can sweat. Skip retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, and exfoliating scrubs. Skip deodorant on underarms. Wear sunscreen on any face waxing.

Skin is still thinning back to normal. Actives plus thinner skin equals irritation. Sunscreen prevents post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
48-72
Hrs
Start exfoliating

Gentle physical or chemical exfoliation, two to three times a week from this point until your next wax. A soft washcloth or a one to two percent BHA wipe is plenty.

Exfoliation prevents ingrowns between waxes. Without it, dead skin traps the new hair as it grows back through the follicle.
14 Page Fourteen What's On The Tray Filed: Equipment
ADHESIVE STIFF UPPER RIP
The patented pull tab

Stiff Upper
Rip.

The biodegradable paper pull tab that ends the worst part of waxing: picking at cooled wax with your fingertip to make a lip you can grip. One set, 50 tabs, 25 large for body and 25 small for face. Works with any hard wax warmer.

  • Patent No. US 12,611,023 B2, granted April 28, 2026
  • 25 large tabs for body and 25 small tabs for face per set
  • Skin-safe pressure adhesive on biodegradable paper substrate
  • Compatible with any hard wax: Meltdown line, Starpil, Cirepil, you name it
  • Cuts cleanly with scissors for sub-strip work like brow shaping
$10Set of 50 tabs
Get Stiff Upper Rip

Licensed pros buy wholesale at crybabywax.com/pros

15 Page Fifteen Frequently Filed Questions Filed: Questions

The questions we get.

Everything clients and pros ask before their first strip, answered straight.

01

What is Stiff Upper Rip and how does it work?

Stiff Upper Rip is a patented biodegradable paper pull tab that gives every hard wax strip a built-in handle. Place the tab at the base of your wax area, spread hard wax over its adhesive top half, count seven seconds while it cools, then grip the bare paper bottom half and pull. No more digging at cooled wax with a fingernail to find an edge.

02

Does Stiff Upper Rip work with any hard wax?

Yes. It works with any hard wax that hardens and lifts on its own, including our Meltdown line, Starpil, Cirepil, and the rest. It is not made for soft wax, sugar wax, or strip wax, which need a muslin or pellon strip instead.

03

What is the difference between the large and small tabs?

Every set has 50 tabs: 25 large at 1 inch by 2 inches for the body, and 25 small at 0.75 inches by 1.5 inches for the face. The small tabs cut cleanly in half lengthwise with scissors, which is how you shape brows with two mini strips.

04

Can I use Stiff Upper Rip on my eyebrows?

Yes, and it is one of the best uses for the small tab. Cut one small tab in half lengthwise with clean scissors for two mini strips, then shape only the strays under, above, and between the brows. Never wax inside the brow shape itself, only the borders.

05

Is Stiff Upper Rip gentle enough for sensitive skin?

The tab is a skin-safe adhesive on biodegradable paper, and it spares your skin by ending the repeated picking and re-waxing of the same patch that causes most irritation. Pair it with our I'm Sensitive Meltdown wax and a calm aftercare routine for reactive, hormone-driven skin.

06

Are the tabs single-use, and are they biodegradable?

Each tab is single-use and fully biodegradable, made from compostable paper rather than plastic film. One set of 50 goes a long way: a full pass on both legs uses only a handful of large tabs.

07

Do licensed professionals use Stiff Upper Rip?

Yes. Pros use it with the hard wax they already stock, and it speeds up the table by cutting out the pick-and-flick step before every pull. Licensed estheticians can buy it wholesale at crybabywax.com/pros.

Vol. I, Issue Nº 003 THE STRIP MANUAL Stiff Upper Rip, May 2026

No lip required.

Five moves. Eight zones. One patented pull tab. Print this, save it, send it to the friend who keeps splitting strips. We will see you back here at week four.

Crybaby Wax, est. 2024 $10, Set of 50 tabs End of issue, turn page
Crybaby Wax

A licensed esthetician's wax line for sensitive, hormone-driven skin. Made for consumers and licensed pros.

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Vol. I, Issue Nº 003, The Strip Manual, May 2026
Patent No. US 12,611,023 B2, granted April 28, 2026