Abstract: A cotton swab, comprising: an ear canal engaging portion of a small enough diameter to fit within and clean the inside surface of an ear canal, an adjacently located ear cavity engaging portion of greater diameter than the ear canal within which the cotton swab is intended to be used, and a stick securely holding the ear canal and ear cavity engaging portions, the stick having a longitudinal axis, the ear cavity engaging portion having a gradual sloping interface surface which is non-perpendicular to the axis of the stick and having a variable diameter and providing a smooth contour directly connected to the ear canal engaging portion, the ear cavity engaging portion comprising a first section incrementally increasing in dimension and located adjacent to the interface surface and a second section incrementally decreasing in dimension and located distally from the ear canal engaging portion, the first and seconds being substantially symmetrical to one another about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axi

Abstract: A container for the facile storage and withdrawal of ear-cleaning sticks or similar articles includes two shell bodies, at least one of which is pivotable relative to the other for movement between an open and closed position or in the former of which it exposes a stick reservoir. The container is closed by a light snap action. The container has a generally tubular shape and has two flat end faces. Both shells may be provided by a single molding operation of thermoplastic material.