Circuit breaker with improved contact push-off spring

A manually operable circuit breaker having an elongated movable contact member supported between its ends on a contact member pivot, said elongated movable contact member having a movable contact at one end, a stationary contact engageable by and disengageable from said movable contact when the circuit breaker is in a closed and open condition, respectively, said movable contact member having an actuator carrier by an actuator pivot at the end of the movable contact member remote from said movable contact and supporting an overcurrent releaseable latch normally restraining said actuator, a toggle including a pivoted handle and a link connected to said handle, said toggle being operable from a collapsed condition into an erect condition for operating said actuator and thereby operating said circuit breaker into the closed condition, a push-off spring biasing said circuit breaker toward said open condition, said push-off spring initially providing a first degree of resistance to closing of the contacts during operation of said circuit breaker to the closed condition, said push-off spring providing a second degree of resistance to closing of the contacts during operation of said circuit breaker to the closed condition after the initial operation, whereby manual closing of the circuit breaker initially encounters said first degree of resistance and is unimpeded by the second degree of resistance during the initial operation of the toggle toward the erect condition from the collapsed condition and the second degree of resistance is effective to accelerate opening of the contacts upon release of said overcurrent latch.