Patent Publication Number: US-6669389-B2

Title: Device for applying a product and method for manufacturing device

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT international application PCT/FR01/01911, filed Jun. 19, 2001, which claims the benefit of priority based on French Application Nos. 00/09115, 01/05110, and 01/07310, filed Jul. 12, 2000, Apr. 13, 2001, and Jun. 5, 2001, respectively. 
     The present invention relates to a device for applying a product, for example, applying a make-up or a care product to the skin, to the hair, to the eyelashes, to the finger nails, and/or to the toe nails. 
     Cosmetics are increasingly incorporating one or more active agents for care of a treated surface. For example, agents such as hydrating agents or anti-wrinkle agents may be applied. It may be desirable to encourage penetration of such agents in order to boost their effectiveness. For example, German Patent No. 4 325 071 describes using magnetic particles dispersed in a cream, a lotion, a gel, or on a dressing to encourage blood circulation. 
     There exists a need to improve the ease with which a product may be extracted from a receptacle, to improve the application of a product on a surface to be treated, and to create novel make-up effects. 
     In the following description, certain aspects will become evident. It should be understood that the invention, in its broadest sense, could be practiced without having one or more of these aspects. 
     In one aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a device for applying a make-up product. The device includes an applicator element including a plurality of fibers. The applicator element may be configured to apply a make-up product, and at least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     As used herein, the term “fiber” means any generally elongate body (e.g., a bristle of a brush (e.g., a bristle of a mascara brush, nail varnish brush, paint brush, or blusher brush), a fiber in a flocking, a bristle in a paint brush, a fiber for applying a powder, fibers included in a filler for a product for applying to eyelashes (e.g., for lengthening the eyelashes)). The fibers may be relatively flexible, for example, elastically deformable, and the fibers may comprise a synthetic material. 
     In yet another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided including an applicator element including a plurality of fibers. At least one of the plurality of fibers may include a plurality of particles configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     In another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided including an applicator element including a porous member and a plurality of fibers extending from the porous member. At least one of the plurality of fibers may include at least one magnetic particle configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     According to yet another aspect, a device for applying a product may be provided with a core configured to generate a magnetic field and a plurality of application members connected to the core. At least one of the application members may be configured to interact magnetically with the core. 
     In still another aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element including a plurality of fibers configured to be loaded with the product and to apply the loaded product. At least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. The device may further include a receptacle configured to contain the product to be applied and the receptacle may define a recess configured to receive the applicator element. 
     In a further aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element including a flocking. The flocking may include a plurality of fibers. At least one of the fibers may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     In an additional aspect, a device for applying a product may include an applicator element defining an axis. The applicator element may include a plurality of bristles extending in a direction at least substantially parallel to the axis of the applicator element. At least one of the bristles may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     The magnetic properties of fibers in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the invention may be used in multiple ways. For example, a magnetic field having a predefined or varying orientation may be generated by the fibers when a product is applied, for example, thereby encouraging microcirculation and penetration of active agents. By making use of any magnetic interactions between the fibers and/or by making use of the manner in which the fibers may react to an external magnetic field, it may be possible to orient the fibers in a particular arrangement while the fibers are loaded with product, for example, during optional wiping of the product and/or during application of the product, thereby possibly increasing the quantity of product loaded onto the applicator resulting in, for example, greater ease of application of the product. 
     In some exemplary embodiments of magnetic bodies used for conferring magnetic properties to fibers, it may be possible, for example, to impart a biocidal action suitable for enhancing conservation of a product (e.g., a cosmetic and/or a care product) in contact therewith. 
     In one aspect of the device, at least one of the fibers may include a synthetic material. In addition, at least one of the fibers may have a cross-section that is substantially constant. At least one of the fibers may be formed by one of extruding and co-extruding at least one of a thermoplastic material and an elastomeric material. For example, the plastic material used may contain a filler of magnetic particles, and the fiber may be formed by co-extrusion of two synthetic materials, with one of the two synthetic materials being filled with magnetic particles, for example. In another aspect, at least one of the fibers may include a non-magnetic inner portion and a coating comprising magnetic particles. The fibers may be formed by coating one or more magnetic bodies in at least one non-magnetic material, or by coating a nonmagnetic material (e.g., a fiber of wood, rayon, nylon, cotton, or polyethylene) in magnetic particles, which may also be encapsulated in a resin. For example, the magnetic particles may be particles coated in a resin (e.g., cyanoacrylate) or they may be formed by depositing a magnetic substance on a non-magnetic medium (e.g., a glass microbead or a wood fiber). 
     In another aspect, at least one of the fibers may include not only a synthetic material and magnetic particles, but the at least one fiber may also include particles capable of absorbing a liquid and/or a component in solution in the liquid, and/or the at least one fiber may also include particles capable of dissolving in a liquid. The liquid may include, for example, water, an oil, an alcohol, and/or any type of solvent. One exemplary embodiment may also provide a porous magnetic fiber. Another exemplary embodiment may provide a textured magnetic fiber. 
     In yet another aspect, at least one particle may at least partially include at least one material chosen from soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, ferrites, ferrites based on zinc, ferrites based on nickel, ferrites based on manganese, rare earth elements, barium sulfates, silicon iron alloys, cobalt irons, and cobalt irons filled with molybdenum. 
     In a further aspect, at least one of the fibers may include one of magnetized particles and magnetizable particles, wherein the particles comprise an amount ranging from about 0.2% to about 30% by weight. At least one of the fibers may include at least one plastic material chosen from polyamides, polyethylene terephthalates (PETs), acetates, polyethylenes (PEs), polypropylenes (PPs), polyvinylchlorides (PVCs), amide block polyesters, plasticized RILSAN (which is believed to be a form of polyamide), elastomers, polyester elastomers, PE elastomers, silicone elastomers, and nitril elastomers. The plastic material selected may present properties whereby the selected material swells and/or softens upon coming into contact with a product (e.g., a cosmetic product and/or a care product) that comes into contact therewith, for example, water contained in the product. The fibers may contain particles of one or more materials selected from the following list: polymers that swell in water or in fat; super-absorbent cross-linked polyacrylates having a high swelling factor in water; poly-vinyl alcohol; carboxyvinyl polymers; semi-synthetic derivatives of cellulose; starches; bio-gums; biosaccharides; sclero-glucanes; casein; phytocalloids such as alginates; gelatin; cotton fibers; gelanes; xanthan; laponite; silicas, colloidal silicas; or mixtures thereof. 
     In still another aspect, the at least one particle may be at the surface of the at least one fiber. The at least one fiber may include magnetic particles only at the surface of the at least one fiber or the at least one fiber may include magnetic particles solely inside the at least one fiber. Alternatively, the at least one fiber may include magnetic particles dispersed throughout the at least one fiber. 
     According to an additional aspect, the cross-section of at least one of the fibers may be at least one shape chosen from circularly symmetric shapes, circular shapes, solid square shapes, hollow square shapes, disk shapes, disk shapes having a groove, solid triangle shapes, hollow triangle shapes, solid star shapes, hollow star shapes, U-shaped, V-shaped, I-shaped, T-shaped, Z-shaped, dash-shaped, cross-shaped, kidney-shaped, shapes having three branches, and hollow shapes. 
     In another aspect, the fibers may be merely magnetizable (i.e., they may become magnetized in response to exposure of a magnetic field) without being magnetized. In another embodiment, the fibers may be magnetized (i.e., they may generate a substantially permanent magnetic field). 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention may be applied to a large number of applicator devices. The fibers presenting the magnetic properties may belong to the applicator device and/or the fibers presenting magnetic properties may be contained in the product. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the device may include an applicator element having magnetized and/or magnetizable fibers along with a receptacle containing a product that contains particles suitable for being attracted by the magnetic field exerted by the fibers of the applicator element. For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the device may include an applicator element having magnetized and/or magnetizable fibers and a receptacle containing a product that contains magnetized and/or magnetizable particles. The fibers may be suitable for being subjected to the magnetic action of the particles. In either case, the magnetic interactions between the fibers and the product may contribute to improved loading of the applicator element with the product. 
     In another aspect, the device may include a wiper member. In addition, the wiper member may be configured to generate a magnetic field (e.g., for the purpose of magnetizing an applicator element that includes magnetizable fibers) while the applicator element is withdrawn from the receptacle and/or for improving the quality of wiping. The applicator element may be a mascara brush and at least one of the bristles of the mascara brush may include at least one of the fibers. The bristles of the brush may be secured to a twisted core, which may or may not be magnetized. 
     In still a further aspect, the device may include a receptacle and a product (e.g., a make-up product) contained in the receptacle. The applicator element and the product may be configured such that the product is attracted to the applicator element (e.g., the product is attracted to the at least one fiber of the applicator element). For example, the product contained in the receptacle may include magnetized and/or magnetizable particles and at least one fiber may be configured to interact with the magnetized and/or magnetizable particles of the product. 
     According to another aspect, the applicator element may be a mascara brush including a plurality of bristles. At least one of the bristles may include at least one of the fibers configured to generate a magnetic field. The mascara brush may further include a magnetized core. The magnetized core may be twisted such that the plurality of bristles are connected to the magnetized core. 
     In yet another aspect, the applicator element may be a paint brush including a plurality of bristles, with at least one of the bristles including at least one of the fibers configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     According to yet another aspect, the applicator element may include a flocking including the plurality of fibers. The device may be configured so that flocking covers at least a portion of one of teeth, bristles, a wiper, a foam member, a porous member, a film, a perforated film, an endpiece, a woven fabric, and a non-woven fabric. In another aspect, the applicator element may include one of a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, and a felt comprising the plurality of fibers. As discussed herein, the fibers may be fixed on many types of media, which may be magnetized so as to subject the fibers to a magnetic field and cause them, for example, to take up a particular configuration and/or to become magnetized. The fibers may be subjected to a magnetic field of a magnet fixed on a medium. The device may also contain a composition including a filler that includes at least some of the fibers. 
     In still another aspect, the plurality of fibers may be exposed to a magnetic field. 
     According to an additional aspect, the device may include a product (e.g., make-up product) including a plurality of fibers, at least one of the plurality of fibers of the product may include at least one particle configured to generate a magnetic field. 
     In another aspect, at least one of the fibers may have a diameter ranging from about 0.5 μm to about 500 μm, and at least one of the fibers may have a length ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 50 mm. 
     In yet another aspect, the plurality of fibers may include flocking on an application surface of the application element. Alternatively, the plurality of fibers may include a plurality of bristles. 
     According to an additional aspect, the applicator element may define an axis and a plurality of bristles may extend in substantially the same direction as the axis of the applicator element. The applicator element may further include branches of wire holding the plurality of bristles. 
     In another aspect, the device may include a receptacle containing a product (e.g., make-up product). The receptacle may be provided with an opening configured to receive the applicator element. 
     In an additional aspect, a method of manufacturing a device for applying a product may include exposing the plurality of fibers to a magnetic field. Exposing the fibers to a magnetic field may arrange the plurality of fibers in a desired orientation. 
     In another aspect, there is a method of applying a product. The method comprises providing the device, loading the applicator element with product and applying the loaded product to skin, hair (e.g., eyelashes, eyebrows, and/or scalp hair), and/or nails (e.g., finger nails and/or toe nails) via the device. 
     The term “providing” is used in a broad sense, and refers to, but is not limited to, making available for use, enabling usage, giving, supplying, obtaining, getting a hold of, acquiring, purchasing, selling, distributing, possessing, making ready for use, and/or placing in a position ready for use. 
     Aside from the structural and procedural arrangements set forth above, the invention could include a number of other arrangements, such as those explained hereinafter. It is to be understood, that both the foregoing description and the following description are exemplary. 
    
    
     The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain some principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of an embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 5A is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 5B is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 6A is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 6B is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic axial cross-section view of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9A is a schematic view of a cross-section of one embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9B is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9C is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9D is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9E is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9F is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9G is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9H is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9I is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9J is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9K is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9L is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9M is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9N is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9O is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9P is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9Q is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 9R is a schematic view of a cross-section of another embodiment of a fiber; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of fibers being manufactured according to one embodiment; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of fibers being manufactured according to another embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-section view of one embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 18A is a schematic view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product being used according to one exemplary method; 
     FIG. 18B is a view of a another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 19 is a view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 20 is a view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 21 is a side view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 23 is a view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 26 is a schematic cross-section view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 27 is a schematic side view of fibers according to one embodiment being influenced by magnetic field lines in an exemplary manner; 
     FIG. 28A is a schematic view of an embodiment of fibers influenced by magnetic interaction in one exemplary manner; 
     FIG. 28B is a schematic view of an embodiment of fibers influenced by magnetic interaction in another exemplary manner; 
     FIG. 29A is a schematic side view of an embodiment of fibers influenced by magnetic interaction in another exemplary manner; 
     FIG. 29B is a schematic side view of an embodiment of fibers influenced by magnetic interaction in another exemplary manner; 
     FIG. 30 is a partial cross-section view of another embodiment of a device for applying a product to a surface; 
     FIG. 31 is a schematic cross-section view of one embodiment of a particle; and 
     FIG. 32 is a schematic cross-section view of one embodiment of a particle. 
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to some possible embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of an embodiment of a fiber that can be used in a device and system for applying a product to a surface. In this exemplary embodiment, the fiber  11  may be formed by extruding a material (e.g., a thermoplastic material) that may contain a filler of particles  12  configured to generate a magnetic field. The particles  12  may be formed, for example, by fragmenting a magnetic substance or by depositing a magnetic substance M on a non-magnetic body C (e.g., a microbead or a wood fiber) as shown in FIG.  31 . The particles  12  may also be configured in the form of magnetic cores M having non-magnetic outer coverings R (e.g., a layer of resin, for example, a layer of cyanoacrylate), as shown in FIG.  32 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fiber  11  may be solid and may be circular in cross-section. As explained herein, however, the fiber  11  may have other cross-sections. 
     According to one exemplary aspect, the fiber  11  may be formed using an arrangement as shown in FIG.  10 . Such an exemplary arrangement may comprise an extruder  20  and a bath  21  of liquid (e.g., a cooling liquid) into which the fibers  12  may be immersed upon leaving the extruder  20 . 
     The invention is not, however, limited to fibers  11  including particles  12  dispersed substantially uniformly within the material. For example, the particles  12  may be deposited solely on the surface of the fibers  11  by a method such as coating, for example, as shown in FIG.  2 . Alternatively, the particles  12  may be confined to the inside of the fiber  11 , as shown in FIG.  3 . The particles  12  may also be configured in the form of a core  14 , as shown in FIG.  4 . The fibers  11  may also be formed by coating a non-magnetic inner fiber portion with particles (e.g., magnetic particles) and then encapsulating the coated fibers in a resin. The content of the particles  12  by weight in a fiber  11  may range from about 0.2% to about 30%, for example, and the materials (e.g., magnetic materials) used may be, for example, any of those materials mentioned herein. 
     The fibers  11  may include fillers having particles  12  that generate a magnetic field in addition to fillers of particles suitable for absorbing and/or swelling on contact with a liquid (e.g., a make-up product, a cosmetic, and/or a care product) that is to be applied. For example, the fiber  11  may include particles  12  that are liquid-absorbing and/or particles  12  that swell in the presence of a liquid (e.g., water). Such liquid-absorbing materials may include, but are not limited to, one or a mixture of the following: polymers that swell in a liquid and/or in a fat; super-absorbent cross-linked polyacrylates having a large swelling factor in liquid; polyvinyl alcohol; carboxyvinyl polymers; semi-synthetic derivatives of cellulose; starches; bio-gums; biosaccharides; scleroglucanes; casein; phytocolloids such as alginates; gelatin; cotton fibers; gelanes; xanthan; laponite; and silicas such as colloidal silica. 
     For example, FIG. 5A shows a fiber  11  prior to coming into contact with a liquid (e.g., water) including a filler of particles  30  of a material that swells in a liquid. FIG. 5B shows the fiber  11  of FIG. 5A after contacting the liquid. The swelling of the particles  30  may produce a relief on the surface of the fiber  11 . Such a relief may be useful, for example, for enabling the fiber  11  to pick up a greater quantity of product and/or to better catch hold of eyelashes when the fiber  11  is used as a bristle in a mascara brush, for example. 
     The particles  30  may also be useful for absorbing one or more substances (e.g., preservatives and/or make-up agents, cosmetic agents, and/or active dermatological agents) into the fiber  11 . For example, the bath  21  that may be used for cooling the fibers  11  when they leave the extruder  20  may include one or more materials (e.g., preservatives) dissolved in the liquid of the bath  21 . Such materials may be absorbed by the particles  30  when the fibers  11  are in immersed in the bath  21 . The fibers  11  may leave the bath  21  filled with materials which have been absorbed by the particles  30  contained in the fibers  11 . These materials may subsequently be released (e.g., progressively) when in the presence of a product (e.g., a cosmetic product or a care product) so as to improve conservation of the product, for example. The fibers  11  may be dehydrated on leaving the bath  21 . 
     In addition to having particles  12  possessing the properties mentioned previously, the fibers  11  may also contain particles  40  that are at least partially soluble in a liquid (e.g., the liquid in the bath  21  used for cooling the fibers upon leaving the extruder  20 ). The particles  40  may comprise, for example, a salt and/or a sugar that is soluble in the liquid used, or a gelatin when the liquid is water. 
     FIG. 6A shows a fiber  11  containing particles  40  prior to dissolution (i.e., immediately after leaving the extruder  20 ), and FIG. 6B shows the fiber  11  of FIG. 6A after it has passed through the bath  21 . As shown, the soluble particles  40  that were present on the surface of the fiber  11  may be dissolved by the liquid in the bath  21 , for example, thereby creating roughness of the surface of the fiber  11 , possibly resulting in the fiber  11  being at least somewhat porous. Such roughness or porosity may be used for increasing the amount of product that can be loaded onto the fiber  11 . The roughness or porosity that is obtained may depend on the initial grain size of the particles  40 . The particles  40  may also be only partially dissolved upon leaving the bath  21 , and may further dissolve when coming into contact with a product (e.g., a cosmetic product or a care product) that is present on the surfaces of the particles  40 . The particles  40  may comprise one or more substances having a cosmetic or a dermatological effect, for example. In such a case, the particles  40  may dissolve when in contact with the product and may accompany these cosmetic or dermatological substances being released on the treated surface. 
     In another exemplary aspect, the fibers  11  may be exposed to shocks seeking to cause or facilitate removal of the particles  40  present on the surface. The particles  40  may also be formed of a material which is not soluble in the liquid of the bath  21 , but which is soluble, progressively, only in the product present (e.g., a cosmetic product or a care product) when the product comes into contact with the fibers  11 . 
     In addition to the previously mentioned particles, it may also be possible to introduce particles  50  into the fibers  11  that are suitable for gelling upon coming into contact with a liquid, so as to form a layer of gel  51  on the surface of the fiber  11 , as shown in FIG. 7. A layer of gel  51  may alter the affinity of the fiber  11  for a cosmetic product or a care product that comes into contact therewith, for example. The gel  51  may also be deposited on the surface, for example, the eyelashes, so as to improve their strength, their appearance, and/or the way the applicator slides in contact therewith. 
     The use of particles  12  capable of absorbing a liquid (e.g., water) may also present an advantage of delaying drying of a product (e.g., a cosmetic product and/or a care product) on the surface of the fiber  11  if the liquid absorbed by the particles  12  is suitable for being released progressively, thereby compensating for the evaporation of a solvent contained in the composition. 
     The use of particles such as  30 ,  40 , or  50  may also make it possible to create privileged zones on the surface of the fiber  11  for anchoring a product, for example, the cosmetic or care product (i.e., because of affinity between the particles used and the hdyrophilic or lipophilic compounds contained in said product). The product may optionally be in the form of an oil/water emulsion and the fibers  11  may absorb either oil or water only, and more generally, the fibers  11  may absorb one of the components of the product in selective manner. Particles  30 ,  40 , or  50  presenting properties other than magnetic properties, where appropriate, may be present on the surface only of the fibers  11 , as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     The initial grain size of the particles  30 ,  40 , and  50  may range from about 0.1 μm to about 300 μm, or from about 5 μm to about 200 μm, or from about 10 μm to about 150 μm. The fibers  11  may comprise by dry weight of particles  30 ,  40 , and/or  50 , a range from about 0% to about 20%, or a range from about 0% to about 6%. 
     As described below with reference to FIGS. 9A through 9R, the fibers  11  may have a wide variety of cross-sections. The fibers  11  may be formed (e.g., by extrusion) to have a substantially flat cross-section as shown in FIG. 9A, a cross-shaped section as shown in FIG. 9B, or a three-branch star shape as shown in FIG.  9 C. The cross-section of the fibers  11  may also be hollow as shown in FIG. 9D, or solid with a capillary groove as shown in FIG.  9 E. The fibers  11  may also have a cross-section that is U-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9F; I-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9H; C-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9I; V-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9J; Z-shaped, as shown in FIG. 9K; or a combination of the these shapes (e.g., the combination shown in FIG. 9G which combines the shapes that correspond to FIGS.  9 B and  9 C). FIG. 9L shows an exemplary fiber having a hollow square cross-section; FIG. 9M shows an exemplary fiber having a solid square cross-section; FIG. 9N shows an exemplary fiber having a hollow star-shaped cross-section; FIG. 9P shows an exemplary fiber having a hollow triangular cross-section; FIG. 9Q shows an exemplary fiber having a cross-section that forms peripheral grooves; and FIG. 9R shows an exemplary fiber having a kidney-shaped cross-section. 
     The fibers  11  may be exposed to a magnetic field for magnetizing the fibers  11  upon leaving the bath  21  by means of, for example, a magnetizing apparatus  60 , as shown in FIG. 11, so as to magnetize the fibers  11  with a predefined polarity. According to an exemplary embodiment, the fibers  11  may also be magnetized after the fibers  11  have been incorporated into an applicator device by subjecting the device, or a batch of such devices, to a magnetizing field. By magnetizing the fibers  11  once they have been placed into an applicator device, it may be possible to limit any risk of the fibers  11  clumping together. 
     The fibers  11  may also be used in a variety of devices as described herein. For example, FIG. 12 shows an applicator device  100  comprising a receptacle  101  for containing a product P for application (e.g., a mascara) and an applicator  102 . The receptacle  101  may be provided with a wiper member  106  which, in an exemplary embodiment not shown, may be provided with flocking. The applicator  102  may include a stem  103  provided at one end with a handle member  104  that may also constitute a cap for closing the receptacle  101 . A brush  105  may be provided at the opposite end of the applicator  102 . The brush  105  may include a core comprising twisted wire with bristles being held in the turns of the twisted wire core. The bristles may comprise fibers  11  configured to generate a magnetic field, for example. Alternatively, the bristles might lack any magnetic properties. 
     The magnetic poles of the brush  105  may be oriented either along the axis of the stem  103  or perpendicularly to the axis of the stem  103 , for example. The twisted core may be formed from a non-magnetic material (e.g., a non-magnetic stainless steel) or in another embodiment, the twisted wire core may be formed from a material having magnetic properties. The core may thus interact magnetically with the bristles. The bristles of the brush  105  may be magnetized such that the magnetization of a bristle of the brush  105  acts on adjacent bristles with the magnetic interactions between the bristles being used, for example, to orient the bristles in a desired manner. Depending on the orientation of the magnetic poles of the brush  105 , the effect on the orientation of the bristles may differ. For example, FIGS. 28A and 28B show one effect of the bristles of the brush  105  being deflected in the presence of a transverse magnetic field. 
     The magnetization of the bristles may also be used, during application of a product onto the eyelashes, for example, solely for the purpose of inserting a magnetic field whose action is beneficial on the eyelashes or on some other part of the face (e.g., the eyelids). The magnetic field exerted by the bristles of the brush  105  may vary over time, for example, when the shape of the brush  105  is altered (e.g., while the applicator is being withdrawn from a receptacle or during application of the product). 
     The product P may present magnetic properties (e.g., the product P may contain particles that are magnetized and/or that are magnetizable). When the product P presents magnetic properties, a brush having bristles which may be configured to generate a magnetic field may encourage loading of the brush with the product P (i.e., by the product P being attracted to the bristles of the brush). The product P may also contain fibers or flakes having magnetic properties and the applicator may interact magnetically with the flakes, for example, to put them into a particular orientation at the time of application (e.g., to encourage sliding of the applicator during application). 
     FIG. 13 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device  110  for applying a product (e.g., nail varnish). The device  110  may comprise a receptacle  111  and an applicator  112  comprising a stem  113  provided at one end with a handle member  114  that may also constitute a cap for closing the receptacle  111 . The other end of the applicator  112  may be provided with a paintbrush  115  comprising a bundle of bristles placed close together. The bristles may be formed from fibers presenting magnetic properties, which may be useful for bringing the bristles of the brush  115  into a predefined orientation so as to make it easier to load product onto the brush  115  and/or so as to exert an action on the treated surface. Magnetic interactions between the bristles of the paintbrush  115 , depending on the polarity of the magnetic field of each brush, may contribute either to bunching the bristles together or to splaying them apart. For example, FIGS. 29A and 29B are schematic representations of one possible effect (i.e., the effect of the bristles being splayed apart due to magnetic interactions between the bristles). The product P may also present magnetic properties. 
     FIG. 14 shows an exemplary embodiment of an applicator device  120  which may comprise a receptacle  121  containing a product P (e.g., a liquid lipstick) and an applicator  122  comprising a stem  123  provided at one end with a cap  124  for closing the receptacle  121  which may also serve as a handle, and at its other end with an applicator endpiece  124  covered in flocking comprising fibers that are configured to generate a magnetic field. The device  120  may also include a wiper comprising a block of foam  125 . The block of foam  125  may present magnetic properties. For example, the block of foam  125  may be magnetized in a certain direction by incorporating magnetized and/or magnetizable particles within the block of foam  125 . Magnetizing the wiper may be used, for example, to magnetize the flocking on the endpiece  124  while the applicator  122  is being withdrawn from the receptacle  121 . 
     FIG. 15 shows another exemplary embodiment of an applicator device  130  for a product P (e.g., a liquid lipstick) that may include an endpiece  131  covered by flocking  132  comprising fibers presenting magnetic properties. 
     FIG. 16 shows an exemplary embodiment of a brush  140  for applying a powder, for example, with bristles of the brush being formed using fibers that present magnetic properties. 
     FIG. 17 shows an exemplary embodiment of an applicator  150  comprising a foam member  151  covered on its surface by flocking  152  comprising fibers that present magnetic properties. Such an applicator may be used, for example, to apply blush to the skin. 
     FIG. 18A shows an exemplary embodiment of a liquid lipstick applicator  160  including an endpiece  161  of material (e.g., an elastomer) provided with flocking, and FIG. 18B shows an exemplary embodiment of an eyeliner  160 ′ including an endpiece  161 ′ of material (e.g., an elastomer) provided with flocking. The flocking may comprise fibers presenting magnetic properties. 
     The fibers may also be used for flocking on an embodiment of a powder puff  170 , as shown in FIG. 19, or for flocking on an exemplary embodiment of a make-up removal sponge  180 , as shown in FIG.  20 . The flocking may also extend on a film  191  fixed on a block of foam  192  of an exemplary embodiment of an applicator  190 , as shown in FIG.  21 . 
     It may also be possible to use fibers that present magnetic properties in a disk or wiper  200  comprising at least one layer  201  of a woven or non-woven fabric incorporating such fibers, as shown in FIG.  22 . 
     FIG. 23 shows an exemplary embodiment of a comb  210  for applying a product to the eyelashes. The comb may include teeth  211  provided with flocking. The flocking may be formed using fibers having magnetic properties. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, an applicator may include one or more one-piece magnets in addition to fibers having magnetic properties. For example, FIG. 24 shows an applicator  220  comprising a handle  221  with a magnet  222  fixed thereto. The magnet  222  may be covered by a block of foam  223 . The block of foam  223  may be provided with flocking  224  comprising fibers presenting magnetic properties. The presence of the magnet  222  may subject the flocking  294  to a magnetic field. For example, the flocking having fibers that extend substantially perpendicularly to the underlying support may become oriented along magnetic field lines M, as shown in FIG.  27 . The fibers may tend to stand up on the surface of the applicator  220  or may tend to take on other orientations depending on their position relative to the magnet  222 . This may make it possible, for example, to load more product onto the applicator  220 , which may result in making application of the product softer. In addition, when the product is a powder that is brought into contact with the applicator  220 , and when the applicator  220  has magnetic properties, the particles of powder may tend to become deposited on the applicator  220  (e.g., on its fibers), thereby reducing the risk of the powder being blown about, which may induce sneezing. 
     FIG. 25 shows an exemplary embodiment of a device  230  in which the product may be contained in a flexible bag  231  surmounted by a pump  232 . The applicator may include a foam element  234  coated on a surface with flocking  235  and secured to a cap  236 . A magnet  237  may be received in the foam element  234  and may be carried by the cap  236 . The flocking  235  may present magnetic properties and may be subjected to the magnetic field of the magnet  237 , as described previously herein. 
     FIG. 30 shows a portion of an exemplary applicator  280  comprising flocking on an endpiece  282 , which may be received in a cap  281  when not in use. By using fibers that contain particles which absorb water or which swell in water, it may be possible to maintain moist conditions within the cap  281 , such that the endpiece  282  dries out more slowly. In another aspect, the endpiece  282  could be replaced by some other applicator element (e.g., a brush). 
     Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, it may be possible to provide a screen  240  between an applicator and a product contained in a receptacle, as shown in FIG.  26 . Under such circumstances, the product P may contain magnetic particles  241  and the applicator may present magnetic properties (e.g., because it comprises an endpiece provided with flocking comprising magnetized and/or magnetizable fibers). The endpiece  240  may be capable of attracting the magnetic particles  241  contained in the product. By selecting a proper mesh size for the screen  240 , it may be possible to ensure that the magnetic particles  241  attracted by the endpiece  242  are substantially prevented from passing through the screen  240 , while still serving to move the product P towards the endpiece  242 , thereby improving loading of the endpiece  242  with product. In another aspect, the product P may itself present magnetic properties (e.g., containing coated magnetic particles) and may pass through the mesh of the screen  240 . 
     In addition, the fibers may be magnetized over only a fraction of their length. The applicator devices described above may include fibers having magnetic properties mixed with fibers that do not have magnetic properties (e.g., fibers that are filled with particles of a material for absorbing liquid (e.g., water), and/or particles suitable for swelling on contact with a liquid, and/or particles capable of dissolving on contact with the liquid). 
     The device and system according to some exemplary embodiments of the invention may be used to apply any cosmetic or care products, such as make-up, dermatological, or pharmaceutical compositions used for treating and/or changing the appearance of eyelashes, hair, skin, lips, or nails. However, in its broadest aspects, the present invention could be used to apply many other substances. 
     Furthermore, sizes of various structural parts and materials used to make the above-mentioned parts are illustrative and exemplary only, and one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that these sizes and materials can be changed as necessary to produce different effects or desired characteristics. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure and methodology of the present invention. Thus, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the specification. Rather, the present invention is intended to cover modifications and variations.