Method and apparatus for protecting circuitry accessible through metallic contacts from static discharge damage

A switching apparatus for isolating circuitry in a device from static electricity, the apparatus comprising:

• a first conducting element having a first contact member for making contact with a second contact member, said first contact member being located in a wireless handset unit and said second contact member being located in a wireless base unit matable with said wireless handset unit;
• a second conducting element connected to said circuitry;
• a third conducting element connected to ground potential;
• and
• means for connecting said first conducting element to said second conducting element when said first contact member is in contact with said second contact member and for connecting said first conducting element to said third conducting element when said first contact member is not in contact with said second contact member, said first conducting element being connected to said second conducting element when said wireless handset unit is mated with said wireless base unit by placing said wireless handset unit in a cradle portion of said wireless base unit and being connected to said third conducting element when said wireless handset unit is removed from the cradle portion of said wireless base unit.

A method of isolating circuitry in a device from static electricity, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first conducting element having a first contact member for making contact with a second contact member, said first contact member being located in a wireless handset unit and said second contact member being located in a wireless base unit matable with said wireless handset unit;
• providing a second conducting element connected to said circuitry;
• connecting said second conducting element to said first conducting element when said first contact member is in contact with said second contact member, said second conducting element being connected to said first conducting element when said wireless handset unit is mated with said wireless base unit by placing said wireless handset unit in a cradle portion of said wireless base unit;
• and
• disconnecting said second conducting element from said first conducting element when said first contact member is not in contact with said second contact member, said second conducting element being disconnected from said first conducting element when said wireless handset unit is removed from the cradle portion of said wireless base unit.

A switching apparatus for isolating circuitry in a device from static electricity, the apparatus comprising:

• a first pair of conducting elements, a first one of said elements having a first contact member and a second one of said elements having a second contact member, said first and second contact members being arranged for making contact respectively with a third and a fourth pair of contact members, each one of said first pair of conducting elements being a first generally u-shaped member with extended leg sections for respectively inserting in a pair of first and second openings in an upstanding portion of a housing member;
• a second pair of conducting elements connected to said circuitry;
• means for connecting said second pair of conducting elements to said first pair of conducting elements when said first and second contact members are in contact respectively with said third and fourth contact members;
• and
• means for disconnecting said second pair of conducting elements from said first pair of conducting elements when said first and second contact members are not in contact with said third and fourth contact members.