Patent ID: 7834487

Claim:
A shorting stick comprising: a main rod assembly comprising: a rod; a resistor mounted between first and second conductive mounting assemblies, at least one of the mounting assemblies attached to the rod thereby to dispose the resistor upon the rod; and an equipment contact member electrically connected to the second mounting assembly and defining the distal end of the shorting stick; and a handle assembly movably disposed on the rod, the handle assembly comprising: a non-conductive handle; a grounding strap on the handle; a conductive collar extending from the handle; and a traveling contact situated upon the collar and electrically connected to the grounding strap; wherein the handle assembly is movable between a first position with the traveling contact in electrical contact with the first mounting assembly and a second position with the traveling contact out of contact with the first mounting assembly and in electrical contact with the second mounting assembly; wherein when the handle assembly is in the first position, electric current may flow from the equipment contact member toward the grounding strap via the resistor; and wherein when the handle assembly is in the second position, electric current bypasses the resistor en route from the equipment contact member to the grounding strap.