CONTACT ELEMENT

A contact element which, on account of its low installation depth, is suitable for use in switch panels of low overall height and can be combined with various keys. The contact element has a main body, two connection terminals, which are obliquely mounted in the main body, for electrical conductors, two busbars which are in each case electrically connected to one of the connection terminals and run from the respective connection terminal to a bearing arranged centrally in the main body. A tappet which is spring-mounted in the central bearing can be moved between a first and a second position and is fitted with a contact bridge which electrically short-circuits the two busbars in one of the two positions, wherein a portion of the tappet, which portion projects out of the main body, is designed to be coupled to a key.