A contact socket for power outlets or couplings, comprising two resilient socket arms (2a, 2b) which form an insertion opening and between which a contact pin (10, 10', 10") of a plug can be clamped in the insertion opening by resilient deflection of the two socket arms (2a, 2b) away from each other along a deflection plane when the contact pin (10, 10', 10") is introduced into the insertion opening perpendicular to the deflection plane; wherein: the contact socket comprises a fork including a first and a second outer arm (4a, 4b) between which a first and a second inner arm (5a, 5b) is formed; each inner arm (5a, 5b) has one end disposed on a free end (6a, 6b) of a respective one of the outer arms (4a, 4b) and towards the other end of each inner arm one of the socket arms (2a, 2b) is defined having a free end; free areas (F, F') are defined between the socket arms and the outer arms (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b), so that when the contact pin (10, 10', 10") is introduced into the insertion opening, the two socket arms (2a, 2b) can resiliently deflect outwards into the free areas (F, F'); and wherein the first and second socket arms (2a, 2b) bear against one another at least on the side of the insertion opening where the ends of the first and second inner arms (5a, 5b) are disposed on the free ends (6a, 6b) of the first and second outer arms (4a, 4b) and where the free ends of the socket arms (2a, 2b) approach each other; characterized in that limiting features (7, 7') are formed between the socket arms and the outer arms (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b) on the first and second outer arms (4a, 4b), which limit the deflection of the first and second socket arms (2a, 2b); wherein the limiting features (7, 7') are dimensioned such that depending on the shape of the free ends of the socket arms (2a, 2b), the socket arms when engaging on the limiting features (7, 7') can assume a maximum spacing from each other which will always be smaller than the minimum diameter of a contact pin (10, 10', 10") to be received in clamped manner. the contact socket comprises a fork including a first and a second outer arm (4a, 4b) between which a first and a second inner arm (5a, 5b) is formed; each inner arm (5a, 5b) has one end disposed on a free end (6a, 6b) of a respective one of the outer arms (4a, 4b) and towards the other end of each inner arm one of the socket arms (2a, 2b) is defined having a free end; free areas (F, F') are defined between the socket arms and the outer arms (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b), so that when the contact pin (10, 10', 10") is introduced into the insertion opening, the two socket arms (2a, 2b) can resiliently deflect outwards into the free areas (F, F'); and wherein the first and second socket arms (2a, 2b) bear against one another at least on the side of the insertion opening where the ends of the first and second inner arms (5a, 5b) are disposed on the free ends (6a, 6b) of the first and second outer arms (4a, 4b) and where the free ends of the socket arms (2a, 2b) approach each other; characterized in that limiting features (7, 7') are formed between the socket arms and the outer arms (2a, 2b, 4a, 4b) on the first and second outer arms (4a, 4b), which limit the deflection of the first and second socket arms (2a, 2b); wherein the limiting features (7, 7') are dimensioned such that depending on the shape of the free ends of the socket arms (2a, 2b), the socket arms when engaging on the limiting features (7, 7') can assume a maximum spacing from each other which will always be smaller than the minimum diameter of a contact pin (10, 10', 10") to be received in clamped manner.