A circuit breaker utilizes an elongated contact spring member which extends along the length of a breaker housing in an inclined relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The contact spring member is fixed at its one end and carries on the other end a movable contact engageable with a stationary contact. The contact spring member is self-biased in the direction of opening the contacts and is operatively connected to an actuator which is slidably received in the housing for movement between an outward and inward positions. The inward sliding movement of the actuator is translated into the contact closing movement of the contact spring member with the attendant deflection of the contact spring member against its bias. The energy accumulated in the deflected contact spring member in the closed position is liberated in response to a fault current condition to drive the actuator in such a manner as to pivot the actuator about a pivot axis adjacent its fixed end under the bias of the contact spring member. In this manner, the tripping of the contacts can be effected by making the most of the contact spring member.
