Importance

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Abstract

An elongated earplug of slow recovery material has one end portion (14) for use in large ear canals to effectively block noise therein and an opposite end portion (16) for use in small diameter ear canals to block noise while maintaining a moderate comfort level for the wearer. The opposite end portions of the earplug are of different colors, to enable a person picking up the earplug to quickly determine which end to place in the ear as well as to identify the earplug as a dual type. The larger end is preferably of a lighter color such as yellow, then the darker end which is of a darker color such as medium to dark green or orange, to emphasize the largeness of the large end and the smallness of the small end. One dual earplug has a small end portion which is tapered along most of its length, at an included tapered angle (B) of about 15.degree., with the end portion progressively increasing in diameter until merges with the large end, without a step in diameters thereat, which facilitates rolling of slow recovery material in the fingers prior to insertion.

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First Claim