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Here’s a solution to a problem which you probably didn’t want to know
existed. Thomas Fleming of San Diego says industrial workers often have to wear
plastic or rubber earplugs to protect their hearing. If they work in the food
industry, there is a chance that an earplug will fall into the food. Fleming’s
patented plugs (EP 855 176) come in pairs, and are attached by a cord so that if
one falls out it is temporarily secured by the other. The plugs are fixed to the
cord by metal rivets—if both fall out they can be found with a metal
detector.