Circuit breaker

A circuit breaker comprising:

• a housing;
• a fixed contact;
• an operating mechanism including a movable contact arm pivotally mounted thereto and a spring, said movable contact arm having a movable contact adapted for engagement with said fixed contact, said spring biasing said movable contact arm and said movable contact toward said fixed contact;
• an operating handle having an OFF position, an ON position, and an intermediate position between said OFF and ON positions, said operating handle including a handle member having an extension;
• a blocking member having a bias member, a first surface, a second surface and a third surface, said handle member and said blocking member being co-pivotally mounted to said housing, the extension of said handle member engaging the third surface of said blocking member for rotation therewith;
• a pivot lever including a first end adapted for engagement with said movable contact arm, and including a second end adapted for engagement with the first and second surfaces of said blocking member,
• the first surface of said blocking member blocking the second end of said pivot lever as said operating handle is moved from the OFF position toward the intermediate position thereof, and the first surface of said blocking member releasing the second end of said pivot lever to the second surface of said blocking member as said operating handle is moved to the intermediate position thereof,
• wherein the first end of said pivot lever blocks movement of said movable contact arm when the first surface of said blocking member blocks the second end of said pivot lever, and
• wherein the first end of said pivot lever releases said movable contact arm when the first surface of said blocking member releases the second end of said pivot lever as said operating handle is moved to the intermediate position thereof, thereby moving said movable contact arm and said movable contact toward said fixed contact in response to the bias of said spring.