Plug element having a locking mechanism

A plug element having a locking mechanism for forming a lockable plug connection with a counter piece having a wall section with an elastic locking tab, the plug element comprising:

• a plug housing extending in a longitudinal direction and having a wall section and a clearance with an edge formed therein;
• an actuating element mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction, for unlocking, said actuating element having a fork shape with two fork arms and a plate-shaped unlocking element disposed at an end side of each of said two fork arms, wherein in a plugged state, said wall section of said plug housing being in latching engagement with the wall section of the counter piece to form a locking, the locking occurring by the elastic locking tab engaging behind said edge of said clearance for forming the locking, said plate-shaped unlocking element formed such that, when said actuating element is displaced, the elastic locking tab is brought out of a locking position in a transverse direction, perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal direction, at least one of said actuating element or said plate-shaped unlocking element having a recess formed therein;
• and
• a spring element for returning said actuating element into a basic position after actuation, said spring element being a spring tab formed in a manner of a lug being integrally formed elastically within said recess of said plate-shaped unlocking element or said recess of said actuating element, said spring tab extending in a vertical direction perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction and projecting beyond one of end sides of said plate-shaped unlocking element or said actuating element.