Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages includes a housing and ring members for holding loose-leaf pages that are moveable relative to the housing between an open and closed position. An actuation system moves the ring members and includes hinge plates pivotally mounted on the housing and an actuator actuating pivoting movement of the hinge plates. A travel bar of the actuation system is moveable by the actuator between a locked position blocking pivoting movement of the hinge plates and an unlocked position allowing pivoting movement of the hinge plates. The actuation system is adapted to deform while moving the travel bar from the locked position toward the unlocked position to delay the pivoting motion of the hinge plates from the movement of the actuator.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages has an elongate housing having a central portion and longitudinally extending sides on opposite sides of the central portion. Hinge plates are supported by the housing for pivoting movement. Rings for holding the loose-leaf pages, each include a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is mounted on and moveable with one of the hinge plates relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an open position. The housing has an opening extending laterally inward toward a center of the housing for receiving one of the first ring members. The housing has a vault-forming portion at the inner margin of the opening. The vault-forming portion of the housing is spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the housing and raised above longitudinally adjacent portions of the housing spaced the same distance from the centerline.

Abstract: A ring mechanism has pivoting hinge plates supported by a housing so pivoting of the hinge plates can open and close rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. The mechanism has an actuator including a lower arm for moving the hinge plates to open the rings and an upper arm for moving the hinge plates to close the rings. The upper arm has a hook thereon. An intermediate connector comprises a cross bar captured by the hook on the actuator. The intermediate connector connects a travel bar to the actuator so movement of the actuator to pivot the hinge plates causes longitudinal movement of the travel bar in the housing. A locking element is moveable with the travel bar between a locking position and non-locking position.

Abstract: A ring mechanism has housing supporting pivoting hinge plates. The mechanism has rings for holding loose-leaf pages. An actuator is mounted on the housing for causing pivoting motion of the hinge plates to open the rings. The mechanism includes a travel bar and intermediate connector connecting the travel bar to the actuator so movement of the actuator to pivot the hinge plates causes longitudinal movement of the travel bar. The intermediate connector and travel bar are formed as one piece and have a living hinge adapted to allow the intermediate connector to pivot relative to the travel bar. The mechanism has a locking element moveable with the travel bar between a locking position and non-locking position. The living hinge is constructed to maintain a substantially constant spacing between the intermediate connector and the travel at points of connection of the living hinge to the intermediate connector and travel bar.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes an elongate housing and a ring support supported by the housing for movement relative to the housing. The ring support has an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of rings is provided for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement with the ring support relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for pivotal movement relative to the housing for moving the rings from their closed position to their opened position. The actuator has a snap-lock connection with the housing.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes a housing and a ring support supported by the housing for movement relative thereto. Each ring of a plurality of rings includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement with the ring support relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing for moving the rings from their closed position to their opened position. The actuator includes a lower arm having a contact surface engageable with a lower surface of the ring support when the rings are in their opened position and out of engagement with the ring support when the rings are in their closed position. The contact surface defines an angle between its outer surface and a horizontal plane between about 16 degrees and about 55 degrees.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes a housing, a ring support, and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member that are moveable between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for moving the ring members from the closed position to the opened position. A travel bar has at least one locking element and is moveable between a locked position wherein the ring members are locked in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the ring members are capable of being moved to the opened position. An intermediate connector operably connects the travel bar to the actuator. A portion of the intermediate connector is captured by and moveable with a wide section of a mounting groove in the travel bar so the intermediate connector can move relative to the travel bar.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages including a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. An actuating lever is pivotally mounted on the housing for engaging the hinge plates and pivoting them to selectively move the ring members between an open position and a closed position. A travel bar is operatively connected to the lever for selective movement between a position in which locking elements of the travel bar block the pivoting movement of the hinge plates and a position in which the travel bar allows the hinge plates to pivot. The lever is configured to deform when pivoting the hinge plates to close the ring members to delay movement of the travel bar and locking elements to the blocking position from the onset of pivoting motion of the hinge plates.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes a housing, a ring support, and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member that are moveable between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for moving the ring members from the closed position to the opened position. A travel bar has at least one locking element and is moveable between a locked position wherein the ring members are locked in the closed position and an unlocked position wherein the ring members are capable of being moved to the opened position. An intermediate connector operably connects the travel bar to the actuator. A biasing member is engageable with the intermediate connector and at least one of the travel bar and actuator for biasing the travel bar toward the locked position.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism has a housing and hinge plates supported for pivoting movement by the housing. The mechanism has rings, each including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and a second ring member. The first ring member is movable relative to the second ring member between open and closed positions. The mechanism has a travel bar and a locking element that are free of fixed connection to the hinge plates and movable in translation relative to the housing and hinge plates. The travel bar blocks pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members are closed. An elongate link connects a pivotable actuating lever to the travel bar such that pivoting motion of the actuating lever produces translational movement of the travel bar. The elongate link is oriented so it extends longitudinally relative to the housing.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that do not snap together when they close and that easily open and close as pages accumulate. The mechanism includes a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, moving the ring members apart or together. The mechanism further includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the housing. The lever moves a travel bar and locking elements for controllably pivoting the hinge plates, and therefore controllably moving the ring members apart and together. In particular, the locking elements cam the hinge plates to softly close the ring members. When the ring members are apart, the locking elements register with openings in at least one of the hinge plates. When the ring members are together, the locking elements are out of registration with the openings, blocking the hinge plates from pivoting to separate the ring members.

Abstract: A ring mechanism has an elongate housing and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring has ring members mounted on pivoting hinge plates for movement between open and closed positions. An actuator has opening and closing arms extending from an actuator body for opening and closing the rings. The mechanism has a travel bar moveable between a locked position in which a locking element blocks pivoting movement of the hinge plates and an unlocked position. The actuator has a flexible arm positioned to push the travel bar toward the locked position when the actuator closes the rings. At least a portion of the flexible arm is adapted to deform during closing in a manner that includes rotation in a first direction relative to the body of the actuator. Movement of the actuator to close the rings includes rotation of the actuator in the first direction relative to the housing.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages includes a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing. Rings for retaining the loose-leaf pages are mounted on the hinge plates for movement with the hinge plates between an open and closed position. A lever is mounted on the housing and includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is disposed to engage the hinge plates and move the rings from the closed to the open position. The hinge plates are supported by the housing so that at least one of the hinge plates is in continuous engagement with the second portion of the lever when the rings are in the closed position. The at least one hinge plate has an upper surface facing toward the housing and a lower surface facing away from the housing and is in continuous engagement with the second portion of the lever.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism has a resilient polymeric housing. The housing has a central portion and lateral sides extending downwardly along either side of the central portion. A metal ring support is supported between the lateral sides for movement relative to the housing. Each of a plurality of rings includes a first ring member mounted on the ring support for movement therewith to open and close the rings. The housing applies a spring force biasing the ring support toward the open position when the first ring member is proximate its open position and biasing the ring support to the closed position when the first ring member is proximate its closed position. The housing spring force is the only spring force applied to the ring support that moves the ring support.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism has a housing and hinge plates supported for pivoting movement by the housing. The mechanism has rings, each including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and a second ring member. The first ring member is movable relative to the second ring member between open and closed positions. The mechanism has a travel bar and a locking element that are free of fixed connection to the hinge plates and movable in translation relative to the housing and hinge plates. The travel bar blocks pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members are closed. An elongate link connects a pivotable actuating lever to the travel bar such that pivoting motion of the actuating lever produces translational movement of the travel bar. The elongate link is oriented so it extends longitudinally relative to the housing.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes an elongate plate having a longitudinal axis. Hinge plates are supported by the plate for pivoting relative to the elongate plate. Ring members are mounted on the hinge plates and moveable between a closed position and an open position. A control structure is supported by the elongate plate and controllably pivots the hinge plates to move the ring members between the closed and open positions. The control structure has a travel bar connected to the hinge plates for moving the hinge plates between the closed and open positions. A spring biases the travel bar toward the closed position.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages. The mechanism includes a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting about a pivot axis relative to the housing. The mechanism further includes rings that hold the loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes two ring members. A first ring member is mounted on a first hinge plate and can move therewith relative to a second ring member. In a closed position, the two ring members form a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose-leaf pages retained by the rings to be moved along the rings from one ring member to the other. In an open position, the two ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings. Additionally the mechanism comprises an actuator that is pivotally mounted on the housing and can move relative to the housing for controlling the pivoting motion of the hinge plates and closing the ring members.

Abstract: A ring mechanism has a housing having a guide formed by tabs extending down from a plateau of the housing. The guide is elongate in a direction extending lengthwise of the housing. Some of the tabs are spaced apart from each other longitudinally. The housing supports pivoting hinge plates. The mechanism has rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is moveable with the pivoting motion of one of the hinge plates between a closed position and an open position. A travel bar is restrained by the guide for longitudinal movement relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position. The travel bar includes at least one locking element formed as one piece with the travel bar. The locking element is adapted to block movement of the hinge plates in the locked position of the travel bar.

Abstract: A ring binder has housing including a central portion and lateral sides. Hinge plates are held between the lateral sides of the housing. Each of multiple rings includes at least one ring member mounted for movement with the hinge plates between closed and open positions. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing and engageable with the hinge plates for opening rings. In one embodiment, the housing defines a stop engaged by the actuator upon arrival of the actuator at a terminal position when the actuator has opened the rings. The engagement between the surface of the actuator and the stop limits pivoting movement of the actuator relative to the housing in the opening direction beyond the terminal position. In another embodiment, the actuator is constructed for quicker response of the binder to movement of the actuator to open the rings.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages has supporting hinge plates for pivoting motion relative to a housing to open and close ring members. The mechanism further includes a thin, flat travel bar between the housing and the hinge plates. The travel bar moves relative to the hinge plates between a position blocking the hinge plates against pivoting when the ring members are closed and a position allowing the hinge plates to pivot when it is desired to open the ring members. The travel bar is supported in a generally vertical orientation by the hinge plates within a guide in the housing. The guide controls movement of the travel bar lengthwise of the housing.