Glow in the dark earplugs
An earplug includes a body made of a silicone material containing a phosphorescent material that causes the earplug to glow in the dark after exposure to light. A filter for reducing sound is positioned within the body. The silicone material includes 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material, such as zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, or rare-earth metal chelates. A fin extends from the body and fits into folds of an outer ear to secure the earplug in place. The body has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter toward a tip of the earplug.
1 . An earplug device, comprising:
a body made of a silicone material, wherein the silicone material comprises a phosphorescent material that causes the earplug to glow after being exposed to light; and
a sound-impeding filter positioned within the body,
wherein the body has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter towards a tip of the earplug device, and
wherein the sound-impeding filter is positioned within a narrow channel at the tip of the earplug device, and wherein the earplug device further comprises 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent.
2 . The earplug device of claim 1 , wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, and rare-earth metal chelates.
3 . The earplug device of claim 2 , wherein the phosphorescent material comprises strontium aluminate doped with europium and dysprosium.
4 . The earplug device of claim 1 , wherein the silicone material comprises 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material.
5 . The earplug device of claim 1 , further comprising a fin extending from the body, the fin configured to fit into folds of an outer ear to secure the earplug device in place.
6 . A method of manufacturing an earplug device, comprising:
mixing a silicone material with a phosphorescent material to form a mixture;
molding the mixture into an earplug body shape; and
curing the molded mixture;
wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, and rare-earth metal chelates;
wherein mixing the silicone material with the phosphorescent material comprises combining 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material;
further comprising adding 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent to the mixture.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein molding the mixture into an earplug body shape comprises forming a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter towards a tip of the earplug device.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein inserting the sound-impeding filter comprises positioning the filter within a narrow channel at the tip of the earplug device, and wherein the phosphorescent material comprises strontium aluminate doped with europium and dysprosium.
9 . A method of using an earplug device, comprising:
exposing an earplug device to light, wherein the earplug device comprises a body made of a silicone material incorporating a phosphorescent material, wherein exposing the earplug device to light comprises exposing the earplug device to natural sunlight or artificial light for a duration of 5 to 30 minutes, wherein the phosphorescent material is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide, strontium aluminate, and rare-earth metal chelates;
inserting the earplug device into an ear canal, wherein inserting the earplug device into the ear canal comprises positioning a fin extending from the body of the earplug device into folds of an outer ear to secure the earplug device in place; and
blocking sound using a sound-impeding filter positioned within the body of the earplug device, wherein blocking sound comprises reducing an amplitude of sound waves entering the ear canal using the sound-impeding filter, wherein the body of the earplug device has a layered design with multiple sections that gradually decrease in diameter towards a tip of the earplug device, wherein the silicone material of the earplug device comprises 80-90% polydimethylsiloxane and 5-15% of the phosphorescent material, wherein the phosphorescent material comprises strontium aluminate doped with europium and dysprosium, wherein the earplug device further comprises 2-5% silica as a reinforcing filler, 1-3% of a curing agent, 0.5-2% of a plasticizer, 0.1-0.5% of a fluorescent dye, and 0.05-0.1% of an antimicrobial agent, and wherein the sound-impeding filter is positioned within a narrow channel at the tip of the earplug device.