Patent ID: 8379872

Claim:
A talk-through listening system comprising: a) a hearing protection device comprising: i) a left ear protector comprising: A) a left protector for reducing outside noise entering a user's left ear; B) a left audio transducer having a signal input and an audio output for coupling audio signals to the user's left ear; and C) a left microphone on an outside of the left protector for picking up sound outside the ear protector, having an output; ii) a right ear protector comprising: A) a right protector for reducing outside noise entering a user's right ear; B) a right audio transducer having a signal input and an audio output for coupling audio signals to the user's right ear; and C) a right microphone on an outside of the right protector for picking up sound outside the ear protector, having an output; b) a right switch for controlling switching operation; c) a left switch for controlling switching operation; d) talk-through switching coupled to the output of the left microphone and the output of the right microphone and the left audio transducer and the right audio transducer and the left switch and the right switch; the talk-through switching being arranged such that when the left switch is operated the output of the left microphone is coupled to the signal input of the left audio transducer and the signal input of the right audio transducer, and when the right switch is operated the output of the right microphone is coupled to the signal input of the left audio transducer and the signal input of the right audio transducer.