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 for retaining loose-leaf pages has a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. The housing includes a plastic upper housing element and a lower housing element underlying the upper housing element. The lower housing element may be a single piece or multiple pieces. An actuating lever may be 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.

Abstract: A ring mechanism comprises a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. An actuating lever is 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 provided to block unintentional pivoting movement of the hinge plates when they are in the closed position. The lever pivots in a direction from one lateral side of the housing toward the other lateral side of the housing, i.e., about an axis that is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the housing and that extends upwardly relative to the housing. A ramped surface on the lever, e.g., a helical surface or a cam surface, engages the hinge plates to drive them to their open configuration.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages has an elongate housing and at least two rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member, with the first ring member being movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position of the rings. An actuator is pivotable relative to the housing on a pivot axis that is parallel to or coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the housing and is operatively connected to the ring members for opening and closing the rings. A locking system is positionable relative to the housing between a locked position in which the ring members are held in the closed position of the rings and an unlocked position. The actuator is also operatively connected to the locking system for positioning the locking system between its locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A ring mechanism is selectively configurable between an open configuration in which loose leaf pages can be added or removed from the mechanism and a closed configuration in which loose leaf pages are retained by the ring mechanism. Ring mechanism including an elongate frame having first and second frame elements. A hinge pin interconnects the first and second frame elements to permit pivoting movement of the frame elements relative to each other. At least one ring includes a first ring member mounted on the first frame element and a second ring member mounted on the second ring element. At least one hanging member is mounted on the frame for releasably hanging the ring mechanism from a support and inhibiting longitudinal movement of the hanging member relative to the support.

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 binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises a housing and first and second hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting movement. Ring members are mounted on the hinge plates for movement with the hinge plates between closed and open positions. Hook-shaped formations on fee ends of the ring members lock the ring members together when closed. The first hinge plate is slidable relative to the second hinge plate in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the housing for disengaging the hook-shaped formations and allowing the ring members to open. An actuator may be mounted on the housing for moving the first hinge plate to disengage the hook-shaped formations. In addition, friction buffers may be positioned between the hinge plates for aiding the sliding movement of the first hinge plate relative to the second hinge plate.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes a housing and first and second hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting movement relative thereto. A first ring member is mounted on the first hinge plate and moveable with the pivoting motion of the first hinge plate relative to a second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. An interlocking formation locks the first ring member and second ring member in the closed position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing. The actuator is adapted to pivot the first and second hinge plates and to translate the first hinge plate relative to the second hinge plate in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

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 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 binder mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages. The mechanism includes an elongate plate. Hinge plates are supported by the plate for pivoting relative to the elongate plate. Rings for holding loose leaf pages include ring members mounted on the hinge plates and moveable between a closed position and an open position. A lever is pivotally mounted on the elongate plate for moving the ring members between the closed and open positions. A travel bar is moveable in translation lengthwise of the elongate plate. A connector is pivotally connected to the lever and travel bar such that the pivoting motion of the lever produces translational movement of the travel bar lengthwise of the elongate plate.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages includes a housing and a plurality of rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring has a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is movable relative to the housing and the second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. In the closed position, the first and second 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 the opened position, the first and second ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings. The first and second ring members are generally mirror images of each other. Each of the ring members has a length and at least two different radii of curvature along the length of the rings.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages includes forming a generally planar frame element blank having ears with openings. The ears project from the blank and lie generally in the plane of the blank. The ears are bent so that the ears lie substantially in a plane forming an angle with the plane of the blank. Ring members are mounted on the blank. The ring members are adapted to mate with other ring members to form a closed ring for retaining the loose leaf pages. A hinge pin is inserted through the bent ears whereby a frame element made from the frame element blank is pivotable on the hinge pin.

Abstract: A fastening system includes a tubular mounting post engageable with a first structural member. The mounting post has an opened first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween and defining an interior channel. A retainer is held within the interior channel against movement relative thereto and has a central opening sized smaller than the interior channel of the mounting post at the first end of the mounting post. A fastener is enageable with a second structural member and has a shaft sized in cross-section smaller than the interior channel of the mounting post at least at the first end thereof and larger than the central opening of the retainer such that upon insertion of the shaft into the central opening of the retainer the retainer fastenably secures the fastener to the mounting post to thereby fasten the second structural member to the first structural member.

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 binder mechanism includes a housing having longitudinal ends and a top surface, hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion about a pivot axis relative to the housing, and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is movable relative to the second ring member between closed and opened positions of the rings. A control structure is supported by the housing and movable relative to the housing. The control structure produces the pivoting motion of the hinge plates in at least one direction. The control structure has an actuating lever pivotally connected to the housing and disposed generally above the top surface of the housing. The actuating lever is formed for receiving a fastener therethrough for connecting the housing to a cover.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing. Rings for retaining the loose-leaf pages comprise ring members mounted on the hinge plates for movement with the hinge plates between an open and closed position. An actuator mounted on the housing is moveable between a first position in which the ring members are open and a second position in which the ring members are closed. The actuator is in continuous engagement with the hinge plates when the ring members are closed resisting movement of the actuator. A travel bar is operatively connected to the actuator for movement with the actuator. The travel bar resists movement of the actuator when the ring members are open.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages includes a frame having a first frame element and a second frame element. At least one ring has a first ring member mounted on the first frame element and a second ring member mounted on the second ring element. The first and second frame elements include ears projecting outward from the first and second frame elements. The ears receive a hinge pin to pivotally interconnect the first and second frame elements for pivoting motion relative to each other between closed and opened positions. A biasing member mounted on the hinge pin biases the first and second frame elements to the open position.

Abstract: A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages having 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 includes a travel bar mounted for translational movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing. An actuating lever is provided secured for pivotal movement to the housing. The actuating lever has a handle portion projecting above the housing for manually pivoting movement of the actuating lever. An actuator portion which extends through an opening in the central top portion of the housing is engageable with the hinge plates to pivot them between the open and closed positions and further is engageable with the travel bar to move it between locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A ring binder has a ring binder mechanism including a housing and at least one ring supported by the housing for mounting loose leaf paper. At least one clip has a base and an attachment member extending outwardly from the base. The attachment member is adapted to attach the clip to the housing. A substrate is formed for attachment to the clip thereto for securing of the ring binder mechanism to the substrate.