Front-installed cam lock

A retaining spring for securing a front-mounted unit in a panel opening in a panel, said retaining spring including

• a planar base and at least two legs, said base and legs each having a length and a width being formed of spring steel and being integral with one another at, and only at, one end of each of said legs,
• said base having a central opening to receive a front-mounted unit, and having a rim about said central opening, said rim being so dimensioned as to be able to pass through said panel opening when said base is mounted on said front-mounted unit,
• each of said legs having two edges opposite to one another, said edges being of substantially equal length, one of said edges of each leg being angled along a portion of its length to create edges having different effective lengths whereby the outer ends of said legs are not perpendicular to said edges, said legs extending generally transversely to the plane of said base with the outer ends thereof being spaced apart a greater distance than the size of the panel opening,
• whereby said retaining spring can be used in the insertion through the panel opening of a front-mounted unit with said outer ends pressing against the panel and the permanent retention of the front-mounted unit in the panel in a fixed position.

A lock adapted for front-mounting through a panel opening in a panel, said lock including

• a face plate, a barrel extending transversely therefrom, and a shaft extending from said barrel, a shoulder on said barrel proximate to said shaft,
• a retaining spring including a planar base and two legs, each having a length and a width said base and legs being formed of spring steel and being integral with one another, said legs having as outer ends the ends thereof most removed from said base,
• said base having a central opening receiving said shaft, said base being so dimensioned as to be able to pass through said panel opening when said base is mounted on said shaft,
• each of said legs having two edges opposite to one another, said edges being of substantially equal length, one of said edges of each leg being angled along a portion of its length to create edges having different effective lengths whereby said outer ends of said legs are not perpendicular to said edges, said legs extending generally transversely to the plane of said base with the outer ends thereof being spaced apart a greater distance than the size of said panel opening, and said legs being twisted such that the shorter legs are outermost,
• whereby said lock can be pressed through a panel opening and said face plate will engage with one side of said panel and said outer ends will engage with the other side of said panel, thereby permanently securing said lock in a fixed position relative to said panel.