Abstract: A locking ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12, 14, 16) each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. Each ring half has an end attached to a frame (18, 20). The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings. The frames are installed in housing (22) at one end of which a trigger (11) is mounted. A travel bar (34) installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements (50) which, when in position, prevent movement of the frames to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring (48) attached to the travel bar and housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12-16) portions of which are installed on frame assemblies (18a, 18b) installed in a side-by-side relationship within a shield (20). A lever (22) is operatively connected with a travel bar (24) for movement of the lever to effect opening or closing of the rings. A gear mechanism (G) includes a plurality of gear teeth (30) are formed on lever, and a plurality of gear teeth (32) are formed on an adjacent surface of the travel bar. These teeth mesh with each other so movement of the lever by a user effects movement of the travel bar to respectively unblock or block movement of the frame assemblies, so the binder ring can open or close.

Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

Abstract: A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes a shield (12) fitting over and substantially enclosing a mechanism by which at least one binder ring (14) of the metal is open and closed. The shield has a top surface (22) and an annular flange (24) forming a sidewall of the shield. At least one recess (32) is formed on the top surface of the shield. The recess is sized and shaped for an accessory to be attached to the top surface of the shield and to thereafter be portable with a ring binder to which the metal is attached. This facilitates ease of access to the accessory by a user of the ring binder. In addition, a trigger (62) installed at one end of the metal is formed using a molding process which allows a finger pad (64) of the trigger to be molded in place together with the body (66) portion of the trigger.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes a shield (12) fitting over and substantially enclosing a mechanism by which at least one binder ring (14) of the metal is open and closed. The shield has a top surface (22) and an annular flange (24) forming a sidewall of the shield. At least one recess (32) is formed on the top surface of the shield. The recess is sized and shaped for an accessory to be attached to the top surface of the shield and to thereafter be portable with a ring binder to which the metal is attached. This facilitates ease of access to the accessory by a user of the ring binder. In addition, a trigger (62) installed at one end of the metal is formed using a molding process which allows a finger pad (64) of the trigger to be molded in place together with the body (66) portion of the trigger.

Abstract: A ring metal (10) has binder rings (12-16) each comprised of two ring segments one end of each of which is attached to a hinge plate (18, 20). A movable bar (34) extends from one end of the metal to the other and contacts the hinge plates to move them when the binder is opened. A manually operated trigger (32) connects to one end of the bar to move the bar. The trigger includes a slot (40) in which is fitted a pin (44) connected to the bar. The pin moves in the slot as the trigger is moved. Drawing the trigger away from a binder closed position toward a binder open position moves the pin through the slot. This causes the bar to move relative to the hinges, forcing the hinges to pivot the respective segments of each binder ring away from each other and open the binder. When the binder is closed, a nib (62) formed on the top of the bar is received in an opening in a shield (22) of the metal to prevent the trigger from being inadvertently moved and opening the binder.

Abstract: A ring metal (10) has binder rings (12-16) each comprised of two ring segments one end of each of which is attached to a hinge plate (18, 20). A movable bar (34) extends from one end of the metal to the other and contacts the hinge plates to move them when the binder is opened. A manually operated trigger (32) connects to one end of the bar to move the bar. The trigger includes a slot (40) in which is fitted a pin (44) connected to the bar. The pin moves in the slot as the trigger is moved. Drawing the trigger away from a binder closed position toward a binder open position moves the pin through the slot. This causes the bar to move relative to the hinges, forcing the hinges to pivot the respective segments of each binder ring away from each other and open the binder. When the binder is closed, a nib (62) formed on the top of the bar is received in an opening in a shield (22) of the metal to prevent the trigger from being inadvertently moved and opening the binder.

Abstract: An improved “twist-lok” binder ring metal 10 includes binder rings (12-16) comprised of pairs of binder ring halves having an end attached to leaves (18, 20). Each leaf has swedges (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) are spaced along the length of the metal. A cover (22) fitting over the leaves has spaced openings (24) through which ring halves extend. The cover and leaves only have a point contact with each other, and the leaves extend away from the cover at a relatively shallow angle. The binder is opened by someone exerting finger pressure on one of the rings and twisting the ring halves apart. Because of the shallow angle of the leaves with respect to each other, the leaves do not readily rotate to a ring open position if the binder is dropped or bumped. The result is a ring metal readily opened by use of finger pressure on a binder ring, but which will not open if the binder is bumped or dropped.

Abstract: An improved ring shield (10) with an insert (40) for an accessory (44). The ring shield (10) includes a fastener (66) which removably attaches the insert (40) to the ring shield (10). The fastener (66) removably attaches the insert to the ring shield (10) such that the bottom of the insert (40) planarly abuts against the top of the ring shield (10).

Abstract: An improved ring metal (12) includes a shield (12). An elongate plate (14) has a length generally corresponding to the length of a binder (B) in which the ring metal is installed. A hollow cylindrical post (16a, 16b) extends from the underside (18) of the plate, at each end of the plate. One end (US) of a concealed fastener (CF) used to secure the ring metal to a binder cover is fitted onto each post. The post subsequently engages the concealed fastener to secure the shield and fastener together. The posts aid alignment of the shield and fasteners during fabrication of the binder.

Abstract: A concealed, clinch (“crown”) fastener (30) includes a cylindrical body (32) closed at one end to form a surface (34) deformable to attach the fastener to a binder ring mechanism (18). A first set (40) of prongs (42) extend from the opposite, open end of the fastener body to attach the fastener to a binder spine material (M) when the prongs are driven into the material. A second set (50) of prongs (52) are also formed at this end of the fastener, intermediate adjacent prongs comprising the first set. These prongs are shorter in length than those comprising the first set, and while the prongs forming the first set extend from the body in one direction, the prongs forming the second set extend in the opposite direction. The fastener provides better holding strength than other concealed fasteners and better resists pulling and twisting forces which tend to pull the mechanism away from the binder cover than these other fasteners.

Abstract: A binder ring assembly (10) for a ring binder comprises a plurality of spaced binder rings (12-16). A user operable mechanism (18) to which the rings are attached allows the user to open and close the rings to open and close the binder. A shield (22) covers the mechanism. The binder rings protrude through the shield. A recess (26) is formed in the cover adjacent each cover location where a binder ring is located. During shipment of binder ring assemblies, one layer (L1) of assemblies is placed in a container (C) with another, inverted layer (L2) of assemblies placed over them. The outer ends of the binder rings are received in the recesses of the covers, and the depth of each recess is such that the outer end of the binder rings of the mating assembly will not come out of the recesses and rub against the non-recessed portion of the cover which, if scratched, renders the assembly unusable.

Abstract: An improved ring binder (28) comprises a frame (F′) having a pair of leafs (L1′, L2′) extending lengthwise of the frame. Binder rings (R) are each formed of two binder ring halves (R1, R2) one end (E) of each of which is attached to one of the leafs. Boosters (10) are attached to each end of the frame, and the leafs each include a notch (24, 26) formed at their respective ends. Each booster includes a tang (12) captured in the notch. A cover or shield (40) fits over the frame and extends beyond the location of the boosters. The sides of the cover are now crimped about the boosters to secure them in place.

Abstract: A ring binder (100) has a center spine (102) and end leafs (104). The spine section has jaws (108) formed on each side which extend the length of the spine section. Each end leaf has one end (104a) insertable into one of the jaws and thereafter held in place by serrations (110) forming the jaws and which frictionally engage the one end of the leaf to keep it permanently in place. A binder ring assembly (10) includes binder rings (18-22) and a mechanism (14,16) for opening and closing the rings. The spine section includes rivets (72) integrally formed at each end of the spine section and the binder ring assembly includes a cover (12) having corresponding openings (68a,68b) for attaching the binder ring assembly to the spine section. This binder construction allows different width end leafs to be used with a common spine section to form a variety of different size binders using a common spine section.