Electric plug-in connector

Claim 1

An electric plug-in connector comprising: a housing (1) having a plurality of chambers (2) arranged in at least one row for receiving a respective one of a plurality of contact elements (3) of a mating connector; a shiftable locking element (6) having a generally oval, frame-like shape provided on a plug side of the housing to be connected to the mating connector, the locking element (6) being shiftable between unlocked and locked positions to release and secure the contact elements (3) in the chambers (2), wherein the locking element (6) is shiftable to the unlocked position by a sliding motion carried out on the plug side generally parallel to an axial, plug-in direction and held in the unlocked position by interlocking engaging elements (7,11) of locking element (6) and housing (1); said locking element (6) having locking pins (8) extending radially to the axial, plug-in direction into the frame opening, the engaging elements holding and guiding the locking element (6) in a slidable manner in plug-in area (4) of housing (1) such that the locking element (6) can be moved from the unlocked position to latch into the locked position by a sliding motion carried out in a direction generally normal to the axial, plug-in direction, wherein the locking pins (8) of locking element (6) grip through openings in the chambers (2) when the locking element (6) is in the locked position and come to rest against contact elements (3) inserted into the chambers; at least one coding element (20) associated with the locking element (6) which permits connection of the connector only with a compatible mating connector; and a flexible deformable stop pin (18) provided on the locking element (6) in the direct proximity of the locking pins (8) which latches into an opening of the housing (1) when the locking element (6) is in the locked position.