Patent ID: 8284981

Claim:
A cartridge for managing an ear bud cable, comprising: a housing having an input jack that is electronically connectable to an audio-source; a hub fixed in the housing, the hub has stationary audio contacts extending from the hub to create a stationary contact surface, the stationary audio contacts being electrically connected with the input jack; a spool rotatably mounted on the hub, the spool having moveable audio contacts for continuously contacting the stationary contact surface during rotation of the spool; an ear bud cable wrapped at least partially around the spool, the ear bud cable has a first end and a second end, the first end being electrically connected with the moveable audio contact of the spool and the second end being electrically connected with at least one ear bud; and rotation of the spool selectively retracts and dispenses the ear bud cables while enabling continuous communication between the at least one ear bud and the audio source, wherein the stationary contact surface includes at least one conductive contact circumscribing the hub.