Electric iron having electrostatic discharge protection

An electric iron having a handle including a first member housing electronic components and a second member overlying the first member;

• a soleplate;
• an electrically operated resistance element in heat transfer relation with the soleplate;
• first electrical conductor means connected to said resistance element for connecting said resistance element to a source of electrical power;
• and electrostatic discharge protection means mounted in said second member of said handle, said electrostatic discharge protection means comprising:
• a first electrically conductive track extending parallel to and lying adjacent a first section of a seam formed by joining said first and second handle members, a second electrically conductive track parallel to and spaced from said first track and extending parallel to and lying adjacent a second section of said seam, and a third electrically conductive track interconnecting said first and second tracks, and second electrical conductor means connected to a selected one of said first or second tracks and to a portion of said iron normally held at a relatively low potential for transmitting any electrostatic discharge collected by said electrostatic discharge protection means to said low potential iron portion.