Patent ID: 7086512

Claim:
A headset cable retraction system, comprising: a housing, the housing including a cavity; a cord capable of transmitting an electrical signal, wherein a portion of the cord is removably contained in the cavity; an earpiece attached to the cord; a retracting mechanism in the housing, the retracting mechanism including a drive wheel, a wave washer biasing the drive wheel, a spring coupled to the drive wheel, and a idler wheel, the cord being pressed between the drive wheel and the idler wheel; wherein when the cord is extracted from the cavity, the spring becomes tensioned; and, a stop mechanism displaced in the housing and operatively connected to the retracting mechanism for holding the cord at selected positions when the cord is extracted from the housing, wherein the stop mechanism includes a plurality of ridges in the drive wheel and a matching plurality of ridges in the housing, at least one of the plurality of ridges engaging one of the matching plurality of ridges to prevent release of the tensioned spring.