A trip system for a circuit breaker having a support frame, a trip unit, a crossbar, and a trip bar, is disclosed. The trip unit is responsive to an electric current for generating a trip force, the crossbar is directly coupled to the trip unit and to the support frame, and the trip bar is directly coupled to the support frame. The electric current at the trip unit generates a trip force that acts upon the trip bar to trip the circuit breaker. The crossbar remains substantially stationary during the tripping action.