Abstract: A page turning assist device for use in turning loose leaf pages retained on rings of a ring mechanism includes a base having opposite side margins and being more rigid than the loose leaf pages. At least one aperture in one of the side margins of the base is sized and shaped for receiving a corresponding one of the rings therethrough to permit the base to slide along the ring for use in turning the loose leaf pages on the ring mechanism. A holder is mounted on the base for generally conjoint movement with the base on the ring. The holder is adapted for releasably securing an object to the base for movement with the base.

Abstract: A lever-arch type file mechanism is disclosed as including a base; two rings extending upwardly from the base, each ring including a post fixed to the base and an arch portion movable relative to the base and the post; a lever assembly movable relative to the base between two stable positions to pivot the arch portions relative to the post to selectively move the rings between a ring-closed configuration and a ring-open configuration; in which the lever assembly includes an outer arm and an inner arm, and when the lever assembly is in a first of the two stable positions, the outer arm is movable relative to the inner arm member between an upper position and a lower 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 foot massaging treadmill including a supporting base mounted close to the floor. The supporting base includes a supporting board, an endless running belt slidably extending around the supporting board, and driving rollers for driving the running belt to move around the supporting board in a longitudinal direction of the supporting board. The upper surface of the running belt forms a user supporting surface. The supporting surface of the running belt provides a plurality of upward protrusions for applying pressure force to the user's foot soles. The treadmill massages the user's foot soles by the protrusions. Thus, the user will feel comfortable even after a long time of exercise.

Abstract: A lever-arch type file mechanism (100, 200, 300) is disclosed as including a base (102) two rings secured to and extending upwardly from the base (102) for engaging holes in pieces of paper, each ring including a post (104, 204) fixed to the base (102) and an arch element (106, 206) movable relative to the base (102) and the post (104, 204); a lever (110, 210, 310) operable to move the arch elements (106, 206) relative to the posts (104, 204) between a closed configuration in which the rings are closed and an open configuration in which the rings are open; and the arch elements (106, 206) are joined by an integrally formed bent section (120, 220) which is asymmetrically bent about its mid point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ring binder mechanism for binding the sheets of loose leaves. The mechanism comprises an elongated spring plate that extends longitudinally and, in profile, has a shallow U-shaped configuration and opposite edges which extend substantially toward each other; two parallel elongate hinge plates supported by said spring plate for pivotal toggle motion relative to the spring plate about a central hinge line, which are mounted in parallel and retained by the opposite edges of the spring plate; and a plurality of rings for clasping said sheets of loose leaves. Each of the rings comprises a pair of half ring elements of circular cross-section which are mounted on said hinge plates, with one half ring element of each pair being attached to one of the hinge plates and the other half ring element of the pair attached to the other hinge plate, with the two half ring elements of each pair in substantial alignment.

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 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: Ring binder mechanism with special pronged fasteners secured thereto for fastening it to a binder, the special fastener per se, and a method of making the fasteners involving sheet metal stamping.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism adapted to be secured to a base member, and having a substantially rigid upper member having a substantially straight lateral edge along substantially its entire length and wherein the upper member supports a pair of pivotable lower members to which a plurality of pairs of respective half-ring members are secured and wherein the pivotable members are pivotably movable between a first position in which the pairs of half-ring members are closed and a second position in which the pairs of half-ring members are open and wherein at least one of the half-ring members of each pair has a lower portion disposed outwardly of and closely adjacent the lateral edge of the upper member when the pairs of half-ring members are in the first position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ring binder mechanism for binding the sheets of loose leaves. The mechanism comprising: a elongated plate that extends longitudinally; hinge plates supported by said elongated plate for pivotal rotating relative to the elongated plate; rings for clasp said sheets of loose leaves, each of the rings comprising a pair of half ring elements, and the pair of half ring elements being attached on said hinge plates and being movable between a closed position and an opened position via said hinge plates, characterized in that nesting portions of free ends of said pair of half ring elements form a nesting configuration with a concave portion and a convex portion that are symmetrical about an axis line of the cylindrical rods of the ring elements, so that when the pair of half ring elements are in the closed condition, the nesting portions of said pair of half ring elements are aligned to each other and nested together tightly.

Abstract: A clasp for use in fastening loose sheets of paper together in a binder and like usages having three pins for entry in holes in the papers and other items to be fastened together, thereby effecting a triple fastening.

Abstract: A housing for a ring binder mechanism is disclosed as including a central portion with two adjoining skirts, in which the skirts are deformable to support a pair of carrier plates, and the housing includes at least two ridges on an upper surface of the central portion, and a recess with a planar bottom is provided between the ridges.

Abstract: A clasp for use in fastening loose sheets of paper together in a binder and like usages having three pins for entry in holes in the papers and other items to be fastened together, thereby effecting a triple fastening.

Abstract: A ring binder is disclosed as including a curved upper plate supporting a pair of pivotable hinged leaves to which a number of half-rings are attached, and two pivotable actuating levers for moving the pair of hinged leaves between a first position in which the half-rings are closed and a second position in which the half-rings are open, in which the actuating lever.includes an aperture, and a cushion engaged with each actuating lever, in which the cushion has a first body part and a second body part, in which part of the first body part extends through the aperture of the actuating lever to engage with the second body part.

Abstract: Ring binder mechanism with special pronged fasteners secured thereto for fastening it to a binder, the special fastener per se, and a method of making the fasteners involving sheet metal stamping.

Abstract: A ring binder includes a substantially rigid curved upper plate supporting a pair of hinged leaves. A plurality of ring members are secured to the hinged leaves for engaging corresponding holes in sheets of material retained by the ring binder. An actuating lever is located at each end of the curved upper plate for actuating the hinged leaves to open and close the ring members. Each actuating lever includes a tab with a cushion member thereon. The actuating lever includes a toothed groove therein for engaging and retaining a tongue of the cushion member on the actuating lever. The cushion member is engaged by the fingers of a user to pivot the actuating lever in order to move the ring members between the open position and the closed position. The cushion member is a soft pad of resilient material such as rubber or soft plastic. The cushion member provides improved tactile characteristics to the actuating lever, making the actuating lever comfortable to use.

Abstract: A binder mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages. The mechanism includes a base and three retaining members secured to the base. Each retaining member has a post in fixed position relative to the base and an arch section moveable between a closed position wherein each retaining member forms a substantially continuous, closed loop and an open position wherein each retaining member forms a discontinuous, open loop. The arch sections are linked together for simultaneous movement. A lever is pivotally mounted on the base for actuating movement, and a linkage is provided for transferring force applied by the lever to the retaining members. Substantially equal clamping force is applied to each of the retaining members.

Abstract: A ring binder adapted to be secured to an article by at least one integral rivet, the ring binder comprising a substantially rigid integral upper plate supporting a pair of pivotable lower plates to which a plurality of ring members are mounted, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel that is in direct engagement with the upper plate and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least 75% of said claws extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel. Also disclosed is a rivet adapted to secure a ring binder to an article, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel for engaging the ring binder and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least a majority of the claws generally extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel.