EP1196062A1

EP1196062A1 - Device for packaging and/or applying a product containing fibres comprising at least a magnetised or magnetizable element

Info

Publication number: EP1196062A1
Application number: EP01947527A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Louis Gueret
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 2000-07-12
Filing date: 2001-06-19
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-19
Also published as: DE60114343D1; EP1196062B1; ES2249451T3; AU2001269191A1; DE60114343T2; US20020164192A1; BR0106967B1; JP2006326322A; CA2382142A1; WO2002003832A1; MXPA02002544A; CA2382142C; JP4684957B2; US6669389B2; CN100405954C; CN1386055A; BR0106967A; JP2004502482A

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for packaging and/or applying a cosmetic and/or care product, containing fibres comprising at least a magnetised or magnetizable element.

Description

Packaging and / or application device containing fibers comprising at least one magnetized or magnetizable body

The present invention relates to the application of a product, in particular a cosmetic or care product, to the skin or the integuments.

It is more and more frequent to incorporate in cosmetic products one or more active agents intended for the care of the treated surface. They can be, for example, hydrating or anti-wrinkle active ingredients. There is a need in particular to promote the penetration of these active agents and thus reinforce their effectiveness. It has been proposed in patent application DE 4 325 071 to use magnetic particles to promote microcirculation. In this application, the magnetic particles are dispersed in a cream, lotion or gel, or deposited on a bandage.

Furthermore, there is generally a need to facilitate the removal of a product contained in a container, to improve the application of the product to the surface to be treated and to create new makeup effects, if necessary.

The invention aims in particular! meet all or part of the aforementioned needs. It does this by means of a device for packaging and / or applying a cosmetic or care product, characterized in that it comprises fibers comprising at least one magnetized or magnetizable body. By "fiber" should be understood within the meaning of the present invention any body generally elongate, for example to form a hair mascara brush, a ^'pile coating of flocking, a hair brush, in particular a pile of brush nail polish or brush for applying a powder, or alternatively to form a filler introduced into a product to be applied to the eyelashes, for example to lengthen them. The fibers can be relatively flexible, even elastically deformable, and be made of a synthetic material.

The magnetic properties of the fibers according to the invention can be exploited in many ways.

One can in particular exert at the time of application, thanks to the fibers, a magnetic field, of predefined or variable orientation, promoting micro-circulation and penetration of active agents.

We can also, by playing on the magnetic interactions between the fibers and / or by exploiting the reactivity of the fibers to an external magnetic field, orient the fibers in a particular way when loading the product with fibers, during a possible spinning or during application, in order for example to increase the amount of product on the applicator or to facilitate application. Depending on the magnetic bodies used to give the fibers their magnetic properties, it may be possible to benefit from a biocidal action, if necessary, capable of promoting the conservation of a cosmetic or care product in contact with them.

At least one of said fibers may have a substantially constant cross section, for example produced by extrusion or coextrusion of one or more thermoplastic and or elastomeric materials. The plastic used may contain a charge of magnetic particles. The fiber can be produced by coextrusion of two synthetic materials, one of them being for example loaded with magnetic particles. The fiber may also be a coated fiber, manufactured by coating one or more magnetic bodies with at least one non-magnetic material or by coating a non-magnetic body, for example a wood fiber, rayon, nylon, cotton, of PE, by magnetic particles, the latter possibly being encapsulated in a resin.

The magnetic particles used can be formed at least in part from a material chosen from the following list: soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, ferrites, in particular based on zinc, nickel or manganese, rare earths, barium sulphate, alloys silicon iron, cobalt iron, possibly charged with molybdenum, or a mixture of these, this list not being limiting. The magnetic particles may be particles coated with a resin, for example cyanoacrylate, or be produced by depositing a magnetic substance on a non-magnetic support, for example a glass microbead or a wood fiber.

At least one of said fibers may for example comprise between 0.2 and 30% by weight of magnetized or magnetizable particles, depending on the nature of said particles and the magnetic properties sought.

At least one of said fibers can be made with a plastic material selected from the following: polyamides, PET, acetates, PE, PP, PVC, polyester block amide, Rilsan ^® plasticized elastomers, in particular polyester elastomers, PE elastomers, silicone elastomers, nitrile elastomers, or a mixture of these materials. Optionally, the plastic material chosen may have swelling and / or softening properties in contact with the cosmetic or care product which is in contact with it, for example the water contained in this cosmetic or care product.

The magnetic particles can be present for example at least on the surface of the fibers, or even on the surface of the fibers only, inside the fibers only or even be dispersed within the plastic material in a substantially homogeneous manner.

The fibers can have the most diverse cross-sections, for example a shape chosen from the following: of revolution or not, in a circle, in a solid or hollow square, in a disc with groove possibly, in a full or hollow triangle, in a solid star or hollow, in U, in N, in I, in T, in Z, in -, in +, reniforrne, with three branches, full, hollow, or a combination of these forms. The fiber can be twisted.

The fibers can be simply magnetizable, that is to say sensitive to the action of a magnetic field, without being magnetized; alternatively they can be magnetized, that is to say generate a permanent magnetic field.

The invention can be applied to a large number of packaging and / or application devices. The fibers having magnetic properties may belong to the applicator and / or to the packaging device and / or be contained in the product. In a particular embodiment, the device comprises an applicator having magnetized fibers and a container containing a composition containing particles capable of being attracted by the magnetic field exerted by fibers of the applicator. In another particular embodiment, the device comprises an applicator having magnetizable fibers and a container containing a composition containing magnetized particles, the fibers being capable of being subjected to the magnetic action of said magnetized particles. In both cases, the magnetic interactions between the fibers and the product can contribute to improving the loading of product with the applicator.

The invention also applies to packaging devices comprising a wiping member for wiping an applicator. This wiping member may have magnetic properties, in order for example to magnetize an applicator comprising magnetizable fibers, when it is withdrawn and / or improve the quality of the wiping. The applicator may be a mascara brush and at least one of the bristles of the brush may consist of one of said fibers. The bristles of the brush can be secured to a twisted core, which can be magnetized or not.

The applicator may consist of a brush and at least one of the bristles of the brush may consist of one of said fibers.

The device may include a flock coating of which at least one of the bristles is formed by one of said fibers. This flock coating can at least partially cover a support, deformable or not, porous or not. The flock coating may in particular at least partially cover one of the following elements: the teeth of a comb, the bristles of a brush, a wringer, a foam, a sponge, a perforated or non-perforated film, a nozzle. , rigid or flexible, in particular an elastomer end piece, a woven or a nonwoven.

The device may also include a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric or a felt made with at least one of said fibers. As indicated above, the fibers can be fixed on any type of support, which can be magnetized so as to subject the fibers to a magnetic field and cause them, for example, to take on a particular configuration or to become magnetized. The fibers can be subjected to the magnetic field of a magnet fixed on a support. The device may also contain a composition comprising a filler constituted at least in part of said fibers.

In general, at least one of the fibers may have a larger transverse dimension of, for example, between 0.5 and 500 μm, or even 50 and 500 μm. The size of the fibers will be chosen according to their use. Generally also, at least one of said fibers may have a length of, for example, between 0.5 and 50 mm. The length will be chosen according to the use of the fibers.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of the fibers comprises, in addition to a synthetic material and the magnetic particles, particles capable of absorbing a liquid or a compound in solution in this liquid or particles capable of dissolving in a liquid. The liquid can for example be water, an oil, an alcohol or any type of solvent, more generally. The fibers may contain particles of one or more materials chosen in the following Kste: hydrogonflating or lipo-inflating polymers, cross-linked super absorbent polyacrylates with high swelling rate in water, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyvinyl polymers, semi-synthetic derivatives of cellulose , starches, bio-gums, bio-saccharides, sclero-glucans, casein, phytocoUoids such as alginates, gelatin, cotton fibers, gels, xantane, laponite, silicas, in particular colloidal silica, or mixtures thereof.

The fibers can be fixed or mobile.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a packaging and / or application device comprising fibers as defined above, characterized in that it comprises a step of exposing said fibers to a field. magnetic, for example to give them a desired orientation magnetization.

The invention also relates to a porous magnetic fiber.

The invention also relates to a rough magnetic fiber. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation, and on examining the appended drawing (which forms an integral part of the description), on which :

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in cross section, of an example of a fiber having magnetic properties,

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views similar to FIG. 1, showing alternative embodiments,

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic axial sections representing a fiber incorporating, in addition to the magnetic bodies, particles capable of swelling in the presence of a liquid,

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic axial sections of a fiber comprising, in addition to the magnetic bodies, particles soluble in a liquid,

FIG. 7 illustrates the formation of a gel on the surface of the fiber,

FIG. 8 represents an embodiment in which the particles other than magnetic are present on the surface of the fiber only,

- Figures 9A to 9R. are schematic cross sections illustrating various possible sections for the fibers, FIG. 10 illustrates the manufacture of fibers by extrusion,

FIG. 11 illustrates the magnetization of the fibers after the extrusion,

- Figures 12 to 26 show various examples of packaging and / or application devices. FIG. 27 illustrates the orientation of the bristles of a flocking produced with magnetizable fibers under the effect of the lines of the magnetic field generated by a magnet,

FIGS. 28A and 28B illustrate the deflection of the bristles of a brush under the effect of magnetic interactions,

FIGS. 29A and 29B illustrate the deflection of the bristles of a brush under the effect of magnetic interactions,

FIG. 30 represents an applicator comprising an application element housed under a protective cover, in the absence of use,

FIG. 31 represents a coated magnetic particle, and

- Figure 32 shows a magnetic particle formed by depositing a magnetic substance on a non-magnetic body.

In all the figures, the relative proportions of the different elements have not always been respected, in order to make the drawing clearer.

There is shown in Figure 1, in cross section, a fiber which can be used in a packaging and or application device according to the invention. This fiber is produced, in the example described, by extrusion of a thermoplastic material 11 containing a charge of particles 12 having magnetic properties. The magnetic particles 12 can be produced by fragmenting a magnetic substance or by depositing a magnetic substance M on a non-magnetic body C, for example a microbead or a wood fiber as illustrated in FIG. 32. The magnetic particles can also comprise a magnetic core M and an non-magnetic outer layer R, for example a layer of resin, in particular of cyanoacrylate, as illustrated in FIG. 31,

In the example illustrated, the fiber is full and has a circular section, but it could have other sections, as explained below. The fiber can be produced for example by means of an installation shown in FIG. 10, comprising an extruder 20 and a bath 21 of a cooling liquid in which the fibers are immersed at their outlet from the extruder. The invention is not limited to fibers comprising magnetic particles 12 dispersed in a substantially homogeneous manner within the plastic material 11 and the magnetic particles can be deposited only on the surface of the fibers, by an appropriate method, for example d coating, as illustrated in FIG. 2 or confined inside the fiber, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The magnetic particles can also be replaced by a central core 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The fibers can also be made by coating non-magnetic fibers with magnetic particles, all of which can be encapsulated in a resin.

The mass proportion of magnetic particles in a fiber can be for example between 0.2 and 30%.

One can use as magnetic materials, for example one of those mentioned above.

The fiber may include additional fillers in addition to the bodies having magnetic properties, and in particular a charge of particles capable of absorbing and / or swelling on contact with a liquid, in particular on contact with the cosmetic or care product to be applied. The fiber may in particular comprise water-absorbing and or water-swellable particles. As liquid-absorbing compounds, mention may be made, for example, of hydrogonflating or lipo-inflating polymers, cross-linked polyacrylates which are super absorbent with a high swelling rate in water, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyvinyl polymers, semi-synthetic derivatives of cellulose, starches, bio-gums, bio-saccharides, sclero-glucans, casein, phytocoUoids such as alginates, gelatin, cotton fibers, gelans, xantane, laponite, silicas, in particular colloidal silica, or mixtures thereof, this list not being limiting. FIG. 5A shows a fiber comprising a charge of particles 30 of a hydrogonflating compound, before bringing the fiber into contact with a liquid, for example water, and in FIG. 5B the same fiber after contact with this liquid.

The swelling of the particles 30 makes it possible to produce a relief on the surface of the fiber, such relief being useful in particular to allow the fiber to be loaded with a greater quantity of product or to hang the eyelashes more in the case where the fiber is used as a mascara brush bristle, for example. The particles can also be useful for absorbing one or more substances within the fiber, for example preservatives or cosmetic or dermatological active agents.

In particular, one or more compounds solubilized in the liquid of the bath, for example preservatives, can be introduced into the bath 21 used to cool the fibers at their exit from the extruder. These compounds are absorbed by the particles 30 when the fibers are immersed in the bath 21. Thus, the fibers leaving the bath 21 are loaded with the compounds which have been pumped by the particles 30 contained in the fibers. These compounds can then be gradually released on contact with a cosmetic or care product, in order to improve their conservation, for example. The fibers can be dehydrated at the exit of the bath 21.

The fibers may also contain, in addition to the bodies having magnetic properties, particles 40 soluble in a liquid, for example bath water 21 used to cool the fibers as they exit the extruder. These particles 40 can consist, for example, of a salt or a sugar soluble in the liquid used, or even gelatin when the liquid is water. FIG. 6A shows a fiber containing such particles 40, before dissolution, that is to say for example just at the outlet of the extruder 20 and in FIG. 6B the same fiber after passing through the bath 21. It is noted that the soluble particles 40 which were present on the surface of the fiber were dissolved by the liquid in the bath 21, creating a roughness on the surface _. of the fiber, or even making the fiber porous. Such roughness or porosity can be used to increase the loading of the fiber with product, for example. The roughness or porosity obtained will depend on the initial particle size of the particles 40. The particles 40 may also only be partially dissolved when they leave the bath 21, so that they continue to dissolve on contact with the cosmetic product, or of care present on their surface. The particles 40 may consist of one or more substances having a cosmetic or dermatological effect. In this case, the dissolution of the particles 40 in contact with the product can be accompanied by the release of these substances on the treated surface. The fibers may, where appropriate, be exposed to impacts aimed at causing or facilitating the departure of the particles 40 present on the surface.

The particles 40 can also be produced in a material which is not soluble in the bath water 21 but which is only gradually soluble in the cosmetic or care product present in contact with fibers.

It is also possible to introduce into the fiber, in addition to the magnetic bodies, particles 50 capable of gelling on contact with a liquid, so as to form a gel layer 51 on the surface of the fiber, as illustrated in FIG. 7 Such a gel layer 51 can modify, for example, the affinity of the fiber with the cosmetic or care product in contact with it. The gel can also be deposited on the treated surface, for example the eyelashes, to improve their hold, their appearance or the sliding of the applicator in contact with them.

The use of particles capable of absorbing a liquid, in particular water, may also have the advantage of delaying the drying of a cosmetic or care composition on the surface of the fiber, when the liquid absorbed by the particles is capable of being gradually released to compensate for the evaporation of a solvent contained in the composition.

The use of particles 30, 40 or 50 can also make it possible to create privileged anchoring zones for the product on the surface of the fiber, for example by virtue of the affinity of the particles used with respect to the hydrophilic or lipophilic compounds contained. in the product. The latter can optionally be an oil / water emulsion and the fibers absorb only oil or water and more generally absorb a component of the product selectively.

The particles 30, 40 or 50 having properties other than magnetic can, if necessary, be present on the surface only of the fibers, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

The initial particle size of the particles 30, 40 or 50 is for example between 0.1 or 300 μm, or even between 5 and 200 μm, or even still between 10 and 150 μm. The proportion of particles 30, 40 or 50 is for example between 0 and 20% by mass, even between 0 and 6% by mass, dry.

The fibers can be given very diverse cross sections, other than solid circular, as will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9R.

The fibers can be extradited with a flat cross section, - as illustrated in FIG. 9A, crosswise as represented in FIG. 9B, in the shape of a three-pointed star, as illustrated in FIG. 9 ^' C. The fibers can have a hollow section, as shown in Figure 9D or solid with a cap groove, as shown in Figure 9E. The fibers may also have a U-shaped cross section, as illustrated in figure 9F, a cross section in I as illustrated in figure 9H, in T as illustrated in figure 91, in V as illustrated in figure 9J, in Z as illustrated in figure 9K or a combination of the shapes mentioned above, for example the combination shown in FIG. 9G of the shapes corresponding to FIGS. 9B and 9C. FIG. 9L shows a fiber of square and hollow section, in FIG. 9 a fiber of square and solid section, in FIG. 9N a fiber of star and hollow section, in FIG. 9P a fiber of triangular section and hollow, in FIG. 9Q a fiber of section forming grooves at its periphery and in FIG. 9R a fiber having a reniform section. The fibers can be exposed to a magnetic field of magnetization at the exit of the bath 21, by means of a magnetization device 60, as illustrated in FIG. 11, in order for example to be magnetized with a predefined polarity.

The magnetization of the fibers, if necessary, can also take place after incorporation of these fibers into a packaging and / or application device, by subjecting this device or a batch of these devices to a magnetization field. The fact of magnetizing the fibers only once they are in place in the packaging device or application can facilitate manufacturing by limiting the risks of fiber agglomeration.

The fibers can be used in various appUcateurs and conditioning devices, as will now be described.

FIG. 12 shows a packaging and application device 100, comprising a container 101 for containing a product P to be applied such as a mascara and an applicator 102. The container 101 is provided with a wiper member 106 which can, in a variant not shown, be flocked. The applicator 102 comprises a rod 103, provided at one end with a gripping member 104 also constituting a closure cap for the container 101 and at the other end with a brush 105. The latter comprises a core constituted by a wire twisted metal, in the turns of which hairs are retained consisting of fibers having magnetic properties, such as fibers which have just been described. The magnetic poles of the brush can be oriented for example in the axis of the rod 103 or perpendicular to the axis of the rod 103. The twisted core can be made of a non-magnetic material such as non-magnetic stainless steel or alternatively in a material with magnetic properties. The soul can thus interact magnetically with the hairs. The bristles of the brush 105 can be magnetized, so that the magnetization of a poU of the brush exerts an action on the neighboring bristles, the magnetic interactions between the bristles being able for example to give the bristles the desired orientations. Depending on the orientation of the magnetic poles of the brush, the effect on the orientation of the poUs will be different. By way of example, FIGS. 28A and 28B have illustrated the effect of lateral deflection of the bristles of the brush in the event of a transverse magnetic field.

The magnetization of the hairs can also be used only to exert during the application of the product to the eyelashes a magnetic field having a beneficial action on them or on a part of the face, for example the eyelids.

The magnetic field exerted by the bristles of the brush is liable to change over time, in particular when the configuration of the brush is modified, for example when the applicator is withdrawn or during application. The product P can have magnetic properties, for example containing magnetizable or magnetized particles. In the case where the product P has magnetic properties, having brush bristles which also have magnetic properties can make it possible to favor the loading of the brush with product, for example by attraction of the product by the tips of the brush. The product may also contain fibers or palettes with magnetic properties and the applicator interact magnetically with these flakes, to bring them for example in a particular orientation at the time of application, in order for example to promote the sliding of the applicator.

We represented. in FIG. 13, a device 110 for packaging and applying a nail varnish, comprising a container 111 and an applicator 112 comprising a rod 113 provided at one end with a gripping element 114 also constituting a closure cap of the container and at the other end of a brush 115 comprising a bundle of relatively grouped bristles. The latter are made from fibers having magnetic properties, which can be used to bring the bristles of the brush 115 in a predefined orientation, in order to facilitate the loading of the brush 115 with product or to exert an action on the treated surface. Magnetic interactions between the bristles of the brush, according to the polarity of the magnetic field of each poU, can contribute to group the poUs or on the contrary to separate them. By way of example, a very schematic illustration has been illustrated in FIGS. 29A and 29B of an effect of separation of the bristles due to magnetic interactions between the bristles. The product P may or may not have magnetic properties.

FIG. 14 shows a packaging and appUcation device 120 which comprises a container 121 containing a product P, for example a liquid lipstick, and an applicator 122 comprising a rod 123 provided at one end with a cap 124 for closing the container 121, which also serves as a gripping member, and at the other end of an applicator tip 124, covered by a flocking made with fibers having magnetic properties. The device 120 also includes a wringer formed by a block of foam 125. This block of foam may have magnetic properties or not. One can in particular give the foam block 125 a certain magnetization by incorporating within it magnetic particles. The magnetization of the wiper can be used, for example, to magnetize the flocking of the end piece 124 when the applicator 122 is withdrawn.

FIG. 15 shows a device for packaging and applying 130 of a product P, in particular a liquid lipstick, comprising a nozzle 131 covered by a flocking 132 made with fibers having magnetic properties.

FIG. 16 shows a brush 140 intended for the application of a powder, the bristles of which are produced with fibers having magnetic properties.

In Figure 17, there is shown an applicator 150 having a foam

151 covered on its surface by a flocking 152 made up of fibers having magnetic properties. Such an appUcator can be used for example to apply a blush on the skin.

FIG. 18A shows a liquid lipstick applicator 160 comprising an endpiece 161 of flocked elastomer and in FIG. 18B an eyeliner 160 'also comprising an endpiece 161' of flocked elastomer. In both cases, the flocking particles consist of fibers having magnetic properties.

The fibers can also be used to flock a puff 170, as illustrated in FIG. 19 or a make-up sponge 180, shown in Figure 20.

The flock coating may also extend over a film 191 fixed to a block of foam 192, as is the case in the applicator 190 shown in FIG. 21.

It is also possible to use fibers having magnetic properties in a disc 200 or a towel comprising at least one layer 201 of a nonwoven or of a fabric incorporating said fibers, as illustrated in FIG. 22.

FIG. 23 shows a comb 210 for applying a product to the eyelashes, comprising flocked teeth 211. The flocking poUs are produced with fibers having magnetic properties. The applicator may include one or more monoblock magnets in addition to the fibers having magnetic properties.

By way of example, FIG. 24 shows an applicator 220 comprising a handle 221 on which a magnet 222 is fixed. The latter is covered by a block of foam 223, itself coated externally by a flocking 224 made of fibers with magnetic properties.

The presence of the magnet 222 makes it possible to subject the hairs of the flocking 294 to a magnetic field.

In particular, the hairs of the flocking which are connected substantially peφendicularly to the underlying support can be oriented along the lines of this magnetic field M, as illustrated in FIG. 27. The hairs tend to stand up on the surface of the element. application or to take other orientations according to the position relative to the magnet 222, which allows for example to load with more product the applicator or to make the application softer. In addition, when the product is a powder brought into contact with the applicator and the latter has magnetic properties, the powder particles tend to deposit on the applicator, in particular on the fibers, and the may cause the powder to fly and the sternutatory effect.

FIG. 25 shows a device 230 in which the product is contained in a flexible bag 231 surmounted by a pump 232. The applicator comprises a foam 234, coated on its surface with a flocking 235 and secured to a cover 236. A magnet 237, housed in the foam 234 is carried by the cover 236. The hairs of the flocking 235 have magnetic properties and are subjected to the magnetic field of the magnet 237, like the example of embodiment. previous. Partially shown in FIG. 30 is an applicator 280 comprising a flocked tip 282 housed under a cover 281 in the absence of use. The use of fibers containing water-absorbents or water-swellings makes it possible to maintain a humid atmosphere under the hood, delaying the drying of the nozzle, which could be replaced by other application elements, for example a brush or a paint brush. Of course, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments which have just been given.

One can in particular provide, between the applicator and the product-contained in the container, a sieve 240 as illustrated in FIG. 26. In this case, the product P can contain magnetic particles 241 and the applicator present, magnetic properties , for example because it consists of a flocked tip whose flocking coating consists of magnetized fibers. The tip 242 is capable of attracting the magnetic particles 241 contained in the product. By choosing the mesh size of the sieve 240, it is possible to ensure that these magnetic particles 241 attracted by the end piece 242 do not pass through the sieve 240 but move from the product P to the end piece 242, which makes it possible to improve the loading of the nozzle 242 with product. As a variant, the product P itself is magnetic, comprising, for example, coated magnetic particles, and can pass through the meshes of the sieve 240.

The fibers can be magnetized over only part of their length. The packaging and apphcation devices which have just been described may comprise fibers having magnetic properties mixed with fibers having no magnetic properties, optionally loaded with particles of a liquid absorbent compound and / or suitable to swell on contact with a liquid, or capable of dissolving on contact with a liquid, this liquid being for example water.

Claims

1. Device for packaging and / or applying a cosmetic and / or care product, characterized in that it comprises fibers comprising at least one magnetized or magnetizable body (12).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the fibers are made of a synthetic material.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of said fibers has a substantially constant cross section.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one of said fibers is produced by extrusion or coextrusion of one or more thermoplastic and / or elastomeric materials.

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fibers are made by coating.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said particles (12) are formed at least in part from a material chosen from the following list: soft magnetic materials, hard magnetic materials, ferrites, in particular at base of zinc, nickel or manganese, rare earths, barium sulphate, alloys iron silicon, cobalt iron, possibly charged in molybdenum, or a mixture of these materials.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises coated magnetic particles.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises magnetic particles réaUsés by deposition of a magnetic substance on a non-magnetic support.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers comprises between 0.2 and 30% by weight of magnetized or magnetizable particles.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers is made of a plastic material (11) selected from the following: polyamides, PET, - _acetates. PE, PP, PVC, polyester amide block, plasticized Rilsan ^® , elastomers, especially polyester elastomers, PE elastomers, silicone elastomers, nitrile elastomers, or a mixture of these materials.

11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of said fibers, the magnetic particles (12) are present at least on the surface of this fiber.

12. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of said fibers, the magnetic particles (12) are present on the surface of the fiber only.

13. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of said fibers, the magnetic particles are present inside the fiber only.

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for at least one of said fibers, the magnetic particles (12) are dispersed within the plastic (11).

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of at least one of said fibers has a shape chosen from the following: whether of revolution or not, in a circle, in a full or hollow square, in disc, with groove if necessary, in full or hollow triangle, in full or hollow star, in U, in V, in I, in T, in Z, in -, in +, reniform, with three branches, hollow, or a combination of these forms, the fiber possibly being twisted.

16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers is magnetized.

17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a wiper member (106; 125).

18. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wiper member (145) has magnetic properties.

19. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers belongs to an appUcateur (102; 112; 122; 140; 160; 170; 180; 190; 200; 210; 220 ; 234; 242) able to be loaded with product.

20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises a container (101; III; 121).

21. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the container contains a composition containing particles capable of being attracted by the fibers of the applicator.

22. Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the fibers of the appUcator are magnetizable and in that the container contains a composition containing magnetized particles, the fibers being capable of being subjected to the magnetic action of said magnetic particles.

23. Device according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the appUcateur is a mascara brush and in that at least one of the bristles of the brush consists of one of said fibers.

24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the bristles of the brush are integral with a twisted core, and by the fact that the core is magnetized.

25. Device according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the applicator is constituted by a brush and by the fact that at least one of the bristles of the brush consists of one of said fibers.

26. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that it comprises a flocking coating of which at least one of the bristles is constituted by one of said fibers.

27. Device according to claim 26, characterized in that the flock coating at least partially covers one of the following elements: the teeth (231) of a comb, the bristles of a brush, a wringer, a foam , a sponge, a perforated film or not, a nozzle, a woven, a non-woven,

28. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that it comprises a woven, a nonwoven or a felt made with at least one of said fibers.

29. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fibers are subjected to the magnetic field (222; 237) of a magnet fixed on a support.

30. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it contains a composition comprising a filler constituted at least in part by said fibers.

31. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers has a diameter of between 0.5 and 500 μm.

32. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said fibers has a length of between 0.5 and 50 mm.

33. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the fibers comprises, in addition to a synthetic material and the magnetic particles, particles capable of absorbing a liquid or a compound in solution in this liquid or particles capable of dissolving in a liquid.

34. Device according to claim 33, characterized in that the initial particle size of said particles, before swelling or dissolution, is between 0.1 and 300 μm, and by the fact that at least one fiber contains between 0 and 20 % by mass, relative to its total mass, dry.

35. Device according to claims 33. or 34, characterized in that said liquid is water, an oil, an alcohol.

36. Device according to any one of claims 33 to 35, characterized in that at least one of the said fibers contains particles of one or more materials chosen from the following list: super-absorbent or hydrogonflating polymers, cross-linked polyacrylates with a high swelling rate in water, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxyvinyl polymers, semi-synthetic derivatives of ceUulose, starches, bio-gums, bio-saccharides, sclero-glucans, casein, phytocoUoids such as alginates, gelatin, cotton fibers, gelans, xantane, laponite, silicas, especially the colloidal sitice, or mixtures thereof.

37. A method of manufacturing a packaging and / or application device as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that A comprises a step of exposing the fibers to a magnetic field, in order in particular to give them a desired orientation magnetization.