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 binder mechanism includes a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, moving the ring members apart or together. The mechanism also includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the housing. The lever moves a travel bar and its locking elements for controllably pivoting the hinge plates and the ring members mounted thereon between closed and open positions. 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 substantially out of registration with the openings, blocking the hinge plates from pivoting to separate the ring members. The travel bar is formed with reinforcing structure to resist deforming the travel bar upon repeated operation.

Abstract: A ring binder has a substrate and 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 is adapted to secure the clip to a substrate and thereby mount the ring binder mechanism on the substrate. The clip has a first portion, a second portion spaced from the first portion, and an intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions. The first portion has an attachment member for attaching the clip to the housing. At least one of the portions is a wire.

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.

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 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 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 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 engageable 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 stand for supporting a structure (e.g., a notebook) for holding one or more pages includes a mounting member adapted to engage the structure. A support member secured to the mounting member is moveable between a stowed and support positions. The support member includes a pair of legs defining at least in part a base of the support member. Each of the legs is selectively reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the leg has a relatively shorter length and a second configuration in which the leg has a relatively longer length. When the legs are in the relatively shorter configuration, the stand may be used to support the structure in an inclined position on a work surface. When the legs are in the longer configuration, the stand may be used to retain the structure in self-supporting configuration so the structure can support itself upright on the work surface.

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 engageable 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 binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages has a housing and a pair of hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing. Mounted on each of the hinge plates are ring members which cooperate to form rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Pivoting motion of the hinge plates causes the ring members to move between a closed position wherein the two ring members form a substantially continuous, closed loop, and an open position wherein the two ring members form a discontinuous, open loop. A lever is moveable relative to the housing for controlling the pivoting motion of the hinge plates. The lever has a locking position for locking the first and second hinge plates in the closed position. A biasing member engages and biases the lever toward the locking position.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism comprises a housing, at least one ring for mounting loose leaf paper, and at least one mounting post extending outwardly from the housing. A base plate is adapted to be attached to a ring binder cover and has a surface adapted to receive the mounting post of the ring binder mechanism. A key can be received by the base plate into an affixing position with respect to the base plate and mounting post for securing the mounting post to the base plate.

Abstract: A stand for supporting a structure for holding one or more loose leaf pages, such as a notebook, has a mounting member for securing the stand to the structure. A support member is secured to the mounting member and is moveable between a stowed position and a support position. The support member is disposed at a relatively larger angle relative to a mounting surface of the mounting member in the support position and at a relatively smaller angle relative to the mounting surface in the stowed position. The support member comprising at least one leg moveable between a stowed position and a support position. The leg defining in part a base of the support member. The base has a relatively wider width when the leg is in the support position and a relatively narrower width when the leg is in the stowed 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 lever-arch type file mechanism is disclosed as including a base, two rings secured to and extending upwardly from the base for engaging holes in pieces of paper, each ring including a post fixed to the base and an arch movable relative to the post, and a lever assembly operable to move the arches relative to the posts between a ring-closed configuration in which the rings are closed and a ring-open configuration in which the rings are open, and a lever of the lever assembly is pivotable downwardly from a first position (J) to a second position (K) to move the rings from the ring-closed configuration to the ring-open configuration, and subsequently pivotable downwardly from the second position to a third position (L) to move the rings from the ring-open configuration to the ring-closed configuration. The lever is also pivotable upwardly to move the rings from the ring-closed configuration to the ring-open configuration.

Abstract: A fastening system for securing a ring mechanism on a substrate has a tubular support post, an expansible retainer, and a generally pin-shaped expansion member. The tubular support post has a sidewall with an inner surface defining a central passage through the support post. The expansible retainer has a head portion with a hole therethrough, and at least two flexible fingers extending longitudinally from the head portion. The flexible fingers collectively have an inner surface that together with the hole defines a central passage extending through the expansible retainer and have a cross-sectional dimension. The expansion member has a cross-section that is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of at least a portion of the central passage of the expansible retainer to urge and retain the flexible fingers transversely outward from a relaxed condition to a deflected condition in engagement with the sidewall of the support post.

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 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 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.