Abstract: A ring binder mechanism has a housing supporting first and second hinge plates and rings, each ring including first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted one of the hinge plates and moveable with the hinge plate relative to the second ring member between closed and open positions. An actuating lever for opening the rings is mounted on a pin secured to the housing. Pivoting of the actuator moves a travel bar relative to the hinge plates. A blocking element is secured to the travel bar for conjoint movement therewith between a locking position in which the blocking element blocks pivoting movement of the hinge plates to open the rings and a non-locking position in which the blocking element does not block pivoting movement of the hinge plates to open the rings. A torsion spring on the pin biases the actuating lever to its closed position.

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. The mechanism has an actuator 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 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 that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that gently close and readily lock together. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, moving the ring members between an open position and a closed position. A lever causes the pivoting motion of the hinge plates such that the lever is pivotable between a first position in which the ring members are closed and a second position. A spring is engageable with the lever for urging the lever to move the control structure toward the first position.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that readily lock together in a closed position, preventing accidental opening of the ring members and loss of pages. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for pivoting motion that brings the ring members to either an open position or the closed position. The mechanism further comprises a control structure supported by the housing for causing the pivoting motion of the hinge plates. A spring plate is engage able with the control structure for urging the control structure to move toward a position blocking pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members move to the closed position.

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 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 that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that readily lock together, preventing accidental loss of pages. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for pivoting motion, bringing the ring members to either an open position or a closed position. The mechanism further comprises a control structure, which includes an actuator moveable relative to the housing for controlling pivoting movement of the hinge plates. The actuator is connected to a travel bar that is moveable by the actuator into position for blocking pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members are closed. The connection of the travel bar to the actuator permits the actuator to move in a range without actuating corresponding movement of the travel bar.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages has a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing. Ring members are mounted on the hinge plates and are moveable between a closed position and an open position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing for causing pivoting motion of the hinge plates. A locking element releasably locks the closed ring members in a locked position and releases the closed ring members to move to the open position in an unlocked position. An intermediate connector operably connects the locking element to the actuator. The intermediate connector is deformable during movement of the actuator.

Abstract: A ring mechanism having a housing and at least one ring configurable between a closed position for retaining loose-leaf pages and an open position. A pair of hinge plates, operatively connected to the ring, are pivotable within the housing between first and second position corresponding respectively to the closed and open positions of the ring. Each hinge plate has a free end and a line of weakness formed therein proximate the free end to facilitate bending of the hinge plate. A hinge plate actuator has a bearing surface engageable with the hinge plates proximate the free ends thereof upon movement of the actuator from a first position toward a second position thereof such that the hinge plates bend proximate their free ends to delay pivoting movement of the hinge plates upon initial movement of the actuator from its first position toward its second position.

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 retaining loose-leaf pages comprises a housing, hinge plates, and ring members. The housing supports the hinge plates for pivoting motion relative to the housing to open and close ring members mounted thereon. The mechanism comprises a thin, flat travel bar below the hinge plates arranged in a vertical orientation. The travel bar is supported by coil springs in a position where the travel bar is adjacent a bottom surface of 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.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises 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 a lever actuating pivoting movement of the hinge plates in at least one direction (e.g., moving the hinge plates and ring members to the open position). The lever is connected to a travel bar that moves lengthwise of the housing between a position blocking pivoting movement of the hinge plates and a position allowing pivoting movement of the hinge plates. At least one of the lever and the hinge plates deforms when the lever moves to delay pivoting movement of the hinge plates so that the lever may move the travel bar so that it does not block movement of the hinge plates.

Abstract: A ring binder includes a housing, a driving mechanism moveable relative to the housing, and rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring has a first ring member and a second ring member moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position. A ring actuator is positionable relative to the housing and operatively connected to the driving mechanism for moving the ring members between their closed and opened positions. A blocking device blocks the ring members in their closed position against movement to their opened position. The blocking device is positionable relative to the housing between a blocking position wherein the ring members are inhibited by the blocking device against movement from their opened position, and an unblocking position wherein the ring members are selectively moveable from their closed position to their opened position by positioning of the actuator. The blocking device is operable independent of the actuator.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises 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 mechanism includes a housing, a plurality of rings for holding loose-leaf pages, and a plurality of locking elements. Each ring is supported by the housing and includes a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is moveable relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. Each ring is moveable relative to the housing between an upright configuration in which the ring stands generally upright from the housing and a fold-down configuration in which the ring generally lies against the housing. Each locking element is associated with one of the rings and moveable relative to the housing between a locked position wherein each of the rings is locked in the upright configuration and an unlocked position wherein each of the rings is moveable between the upright configuration and the fold-down configuration.