By a locking mechanism especially for parcel containers and of the kind that comprises a base plate (2) onto which a housing (6) in the shape of a U-bend plate is mounted, wherein a pawl (8) is arranged having a hook-shaped catching end, and said pawl over a cranked and pivotally mounted spring arm (20) is connected to a turnable handle (26), and where the spring element extends through an aperture in the edge of the housing, there is a risk that a finger can be crushed in the free space (38) between the housing (6) and the spring arm (20). This problem can be solved by providing the spring arm (20) with a cranking that reduces the free space (38), but in such a way that the wanted spring force still is maintained, or by bending the material from the slot up along one of the long sides, so that it protrudes to cover the free space. Hereby the safety problem is solved without making the locking mechanism more expensive to manufacture or change its way of working.