Patent ID: 7697706

Claim:
A hearing protection device, comprising: a sound attenuating portion for being disposed within an ear canal of a user to attenuate a passage of sound; and a channel formed through the sound attenuating portion for allowing sound to pass through the sound attenuating portion, wherein at least a portion of the channel is disposable in the ear canal of the user, wherein at least a portion of the channel has a cross-sectional area and an attenuating diameter or width that is less than a diameter or width in a remainder of the channel, the cross-sectional area and the attenuating diameter or width being configured to attenuate a portion of the sound passing through the channel, wherein the portion of the channel has a distinct first end and a distinct second end, the first end and the second end each being located at a point in the channel where the attenuating diameter or width begins, a point in the channel where the attenuating diameter or width terminates, or at a terminating end of the device itself, the cross-sectional area of the portion being generally consistent across an entirety of the portion from the first end to the second end, wherein the cross-sectional area is also at least partially unobstructed.