Electrical contact coupling for an automatic central buffer coupling of a rail vehicle, for interacting with/connecting to a mating electrical contact coupling of another rail vehicle, having a coupling housing in which is disposed an interface unit having a plurality of connection elements; a protective flap, which is mounted so as to be pivotable about a rotation axis, for covering an access to the connection elements of the interface unit; and an activation installation, which is connected to the protective flap, for displacing/moving the protective flap between a first position, in which the protective flap covers the access, and a second position, in which the protective flap releases the access, wherein the activation installation has at least one spring element (20a, 20b) which is at least in portions enclosed by the protective flap; characterized in that the protective flap is mounted on respective lateral faces (10a, 10b) of the coupling housing so as to be pivotable relative to the coupling housing, wherein the protective flap has a first pivot bearing, which has two plates (16a1, 16a2) that are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, and a second pivot bearing, which has two plates (16b1, 16b2) that are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, wherein the two plates (16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel and substantially perpendicular to the end side of the protective flap, of the first pivot bearing and of the second pivot bearing are configured to be integral to the protective flap, in particular welded to the latter, or the protective flap and the plates are configured as an integral casting, and in that a first spring element is disposed between the plates (16a1, 16a2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, of the first pivot bearing, and a second spring element is disposed between the plates (16b1, 16b2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, of the second pivot bearing, wherein the first spring element and the second spring element are in each case formed by a leg spring, and a first axial end portion (20a1, 20b1) of the respective leg spring is fastened to the coupling housing, and a second axial end portion (20a2, 20b2) of the respective leg spring is fastened to the protective flap, and the first spring element and the second spring element in the width direction of the electrical contact coupling are at least in portions enclosed by an outer plate (16a2, 16b2) of the respective pivot bearing (16a, 16b), and in the longitudinal direction of the electrical contact coupling are at least in portions enclosed by an end side of the protective flap. an activation installation, which is connected to the protective flap, for displacing/moving the protective flap between a first position, in which the protective flap covers the access, and a second position, in which the protective flap releases the access, wherein the activation installation has at least one spring element (20a, 20b) which is at least in portions enclosed by the protective flap; characterized in that the protective flap is mounted on respective lateral faces (10a, 10b) of the coupling housing so as to be pivotable relative to the coupling housing, wherein the protective flap has a first pivot bearing, which has two plates (16a1, 16a2) that are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, and a second pivot bearing, which has two plates (16b1, 16b2) that are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, wherein the two plates (16a1, 16a2, 16b1, 16b2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel and substantially perpendicular to the end side of the protective flap, of the first pivot bearing and of the second pivot bearing are configured to be integral to the protective flap, in particular welded to the latter, or the protective flap and the plates are configured as an integral casting, and in that a first spring element is disposed between the plates (16a1, 16a2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, of the first pivot bearing, and a second spring element is disposed between the plates (16b1, 16b2), which are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, of the second pivot bearing, wherein the first spring element and the second spring element are in each case formed by a leg spring, and a first axial end portion (20a1, 20b1) of the respective leg spring is fastened to the coupling housing, and a second axial end portion (20a2, 20b2) of the respective leg spring is fastened to the protective flap, and the first spring element and the second spring element in the width direction of the electrical contact coupling are at least in portions enclosed by an outer plate (16a2, 16b2) of the respective pivot bearing (16a, 16b), and in the longitudinal direction of the electrical contact coupling are at least in portions enclosed by an end side of the protective flap.