Patent ID: 6843676

Claim:
A male connector ( 13 ) for connecting to a female connector ( 1 ), the female connector ( 1 ) having a female connector housing ( 2 ) with a first longitudinal axis ( 3 ) and an insertion chamber ( 5 ) enclosed by a wall ( 4 ) and open to an end face ( 6 ) of the female connector housing ( 2 ) and closed at the end, distanced thereto, by a base ( 8 ), to which first contacts ( 7 ) are arranged, projecting into the insertion chamber ( 5 ) from the base ( 8 ) and arranged parallel to the first longitudinal axis ( 3 ), wherein an outer face ( 9 ) of the wall ( 4 ) enclosing the insertion chamber ( 5 ) has at least one retaining projection ( 10 ), the male connector ( 13 ) comprising: a male connector housing ( 14 ), having a second longitudinal axis ( 15 ), and including a first housing portion ( 16 ), insertable into the insertion chamber ( 5 ), when the longitudinal axes ( 3 , 15 ) are arranged parallel to each other, with an end face ( 17 ), from which second contacts, mateable with the first contacts ( 7 ), are accessible, said male connector housing including an elastically deflectable locking arm ( 21 ) with locking means ( 23 ), opposing the retaining projection ( 10 ) when connecting to the female connector housing ( 2 ), a slider ( 29 ), held displaceable on the male connector housing ( 14 ) along the second longitudinal axis ( 15 ) between a releasing position and a locking position and preventing in the locking position a deflection of the locking arm ( 21 ), at least one compression spring ( 27 ), which is supported on the male connector housing ( 14 ) and on the slider ( 29 ) and acts on the slider ( 29 ) to take up its locking position, and an elastic retaining element ( 35 ), formed from steel wire, having two spring legs ( 37 ) distanced to each other and extending from a connection portion ( 36 ) and an attachment portion ( 39 ) respectively attached to each spring leg ( 37 ) in an angled manner, wherein each attachment portion ( 39 ) engages in a separate insertion bore ( 33 , 34 ) of the slider ( 29 ) and wherein the insertion bores ( 33 , 34 ) extend at a right angle to the second longitudinal axis ( 15 ) and are parallel off-set to each other.