Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An earplug of the type that includes a shell (12) that fits tightly in a human ear canal and a stem (20) that lies in the shell and can be pushed forward to push the shell into an ear canal, which reduces the possibility of loss of the stem, and provides better blocking of noise. The shell and stem have front ends that are integrally molded and that merge to avoid loss of the stem, although the molding leaves gaps between the shell and stem. The stem has a passage (62), and an insert (60) is inserted into the passage and expands the stem to cause the stem to closely slidably fit in a guide flange (44) of the shell and to press the stem into contact with an inside flange (46) of the shell to form a seal thereat to better block sound. An additional inside front flange (62) is formed in a front portion of the shell, so when the shell front portion is compressed by the walls of the ear canal the front flange engages the stem to provide another sealed chamber that blocks sound.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim