Abstract: A locking ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12, 14, 16) each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. Each ring half has an end attached to a frame (18, 20). The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings. The frames are installed in housing (22) at one end of which a trigger (11) is mounted. A travel bar (34) installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements (50) which, when in position, prevent movement of the frames to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring (48) attached to the travel bar and housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12-16) portions of which are installed on frame assemblies (18a, 18b) installed in a side-by-side relationship within a shield (20). A lever (22) is operatively connected with a travel bar (24) for movement of the lever to effect opening or closing of the rings. A gear mechanism (G) includes a plurality of gear teeth (30) are formed on lever, and a plurality of gear teeth (32) are formed on an adjacent surface of the travel bar. These teeth mesh with each other so movement of the lever by a user effects movement of the travel bar to respectively unblock or block movement of the frame assemblies, so the binder ring can open or close.

Abstract: A locking ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12, 14, 16) each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. Each ring half has an end attached to a frame (18, 20). The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings. The frames are installed in housing (22) at one end of which a trigger (11) is mounted. A travel bar (34) installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements (50) which, when in position, prevent movement of the frames to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring (48) attached to the travel bar and housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

Abstract: A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of material and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and material stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes a shield (12) fitting over and substantially enclosing a mechanism by which at least one binder ring (14) of the metal is open and closed. The shield has a top surface (22) and an annular flange (24) forming a sidewall of the shield. At least one recess (32) is formed on the top surface of the shield. The recess is sized and shaped for an accessory to be attached to the top surface of the shield and to thereafter be portable with a ring binder to which the metal is attached. This facilitates ease of access to the accessory by a user of the ring binder. In addition, a trigger (62) installed at one end of the metal is formed using a molding process which allows a finger pad (64) of the trigger to be molded in place together with the body (66) portion of the trigger.

Abstract: A binder ring metal (10) includes a shield (12) fitting over and substantially enclosing a mechanism by which at least one binder ring (14) of the metal is open and closed. The shield has a top surface (22) and an annular flange (24) forming a sidewall of the shield. At least one recess (32) is formed on the top surface of the shield. The recess is sized and shaped for an accessory to be attached to the top surface of the shield and to thereafter be portable with a ring binder to which the metal is attached. This facilitates ease of access to the accessory by a user of the ring binder. In addition, a trigger (62) installed at one end of the metal is formed using a molding process which allows a finger pad (64) of the trigger to be molded in place together with the body (66) portion of the trigger.

Abstract: A locking ring metal (10) having twist-lok rings (12-16). Each binder ring comprises a pair of binder ring halves (12a-12b, 14a-14b, 16a-16b) with one end of each ring half interlocking with the one end of the other ring half, when the binder ring is closed, so to close the binder ring. A pair of frames (18, 20), mounted beneath a cover (22) of the ring metal, extend generally parallel to each other substantially the length of the metal. The other end (12c-12d, 14c-14d, 16c-16d) of each ring half is attached to a respective one of the frames so movement of the frames relative to each other affects opening of the binder ring. A trigger mechanism (26) operated by a user of the binder moves one of the frames relative to the other frame which is fixed in place and does not move. Movement of the frame is longitudinally of the metal and this movement spatially separates the interlocking ends of the binder ring halves and opens the binder ring.

Abstract: A ring metal (10) has binder rings (12-16) each comprised of two ring segments one end of each of which is attached to a hinge plate (18, 20). A movable bar (34) extends from one end of the metal to the other and contacts the hinge plates to move them when the binder is opened. A manually operated trigger (32) connects to one end of the bar to move the bar. The trigger includes a slot (40) in which is fitted a pin (44) connected to the bar. The pin moves in the slot as the trigger is moved. Drawing the trigger away from a binder closed position toward a binder open position moves the pin through the slot. This causes the bar to move relative to the hinges, forcing the hinges to pivot the respective segments of each binder ring away from each other and open the binder. When the binder is closed, a nib (62) formed on the top of the bar is received in an opening in a shield (22) of the metal to prevent the trigger from being inadvertently moved and opening the binder.

Abstract: A ring metal (10) has binder rings (12-16) each comprised of two ring segments one end of each of which is attached to a hinge plate (18, 20). A movable bar (34) extends from one end of the metal to the other and contacts the hinge plates to move them when the binder is opened. A manually operated trigger (32) connects to one end of the bar to move the bar. The trigger includes a slot (40) in which is fitted a pin (44) connected to the bar. The pin moves in the slot as the trigger is moved. Drawing the trigger away from a binder closed position toward a binder open position moves the pin through the slot. This causes the bar to move relative to the hinges, forcing the hinges to pivot the respective segments of each binder ring away from each other and open the binder. When the binder is closed, a nib (62) formed on the top of the bar is received in an opening in a shield (22) of the metal to prevent the trigger from being inadvertently moved and opening the binder.

Abstract: An improved “twist-lok” binder ring metal 10 includes binder rings (12-16) comprised of pairs of binder ring halves having an end attached to leaves (18, 20). Each leaf has swedges (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) are spaced along the length of the metal. A cover (22) fitting over the leaves has spaced openings (24) through which ring halves extend. The cover and leaves only have a point contact with each other, and the leaves extend away from the cover at a relatively shallow angle. The binder is opened by someone exerting finger pressure on one of the rings and twisting the ring halves apart. Because of the shallow angle of the leaves with respect to each other, the leaves do not readily rotate to a ring open position if the binder is dropped or bumped. The result is a ring metal readily opened by use of finger pressure on a binder ring, but which will not open if the binder is bumped or dropped.

Abstract: An improved ring shield (10) with an insert (40) for an accessory (44). The ring shield (10) includes a fastener (66) which removably attaches the insert (40) to the ring shield (10). The fastener (66) removably attaches the insert to the ring shield (10) such that the bottom of the insert (40) planarly abuts against the top of the ring shield (10).

Abstract: An improved “twist-lok” binder ring metal 10 includes binder rings (12-16) comprised of pairs of binder ring halves having an end attached to leaves (18, 20). Each leaf has swedges (18a, 18b, 20a, 20b) are spaced along the length of the metal. A cover (22) fitting over the leaves has spaced openings (24) through which ring halves extend. The cover and leaves only have a point contact with each other, and the leaves extend away from the cover at a relatively shallow angle. The binder is opened by someone exerting finger pressure on one of the rings and twisting the ring halves apart. Because of the shallow angle of the leaves with respect to each other, the leaves do not readily rotate to a ring open position if the binder is dropped or bumped. The result is a ring metal readily opened by use of finger pressure on a binder ring, but which will not open if the binder is bumped or dropped.

Abstract: A transfer plate (10) attaches to a leaf (L1) of a folder (F). Eyelets (16) for attaching the transfer plate to the folder are integrally formed with the plate. During assembly of the folder, the eyelets are inserted through holes formed in the leaf and outer ends (18) of the eyelets are then upset to secure the transfer plate to the folder. Other embodiments of the invention include a transfer plate having rivets (22), tabs (32, 34, 42, 44) or spurs (52) are integrally formed on the plate.

Abstract: The present invention is a flame retardant composition comprising (a) a first ethylene polymer; (b) a second ethylene polymer having a density less than 0.95 grams/cubic centimeter and being modified with an unsaturated aliphatic diacid anhydride; (c) a flame retardant; and (d) an ultra high molecular weight polysiloxane. The invention also includes a coating prepared from the flame retardant composition as well as a wire-and-cable construction made by applying the coating over a wire or a cable. The invention also includes articles prepared from the flame retardant composition, such as extruded sheets, thermoformed sheets, infection-molded articles, coated fabrics, construction materials and automotive materials.

Abstract: An improved ring shield (10) with an insert (40) for an accessory (44). The ring shield (10) includes a fastener (66) which removably attaches the insert (40) to the ring shield (10). The fastener (66) removably attaches the insert to the ring shield (10) such that the bottom of the insert (40) planarly abuts against the top of the ring shield (10).

Abstract: A ring metal (10) has binder rings (12-16) each comprised of two ring segments one end of each of which is attached to a hinge plate (18, 20). A movable bar (34) extends from one end of the metal to the other and contacts the hinge plates to move them when the binder is opened. A manually operated trigger (32) connects to one end of the bar to move the bar. The trigger includes a slot (40) in which is fitted a pin (44) connected to the bar. The pin moves in the slot as the trigger is moved. Drawing the trigger away from a binder closed position toward a binder open position moves the pin through the slot. This causes the bar to move relative to the hinges, forcing the hinges to pivot the respective segments of each binder ring away from each other and open the binder. When the binder is closed, a nib (62) formed on the top of the bar is received in an opening in a shield (22) of the metal to prevent the trigger from being inadvertently moved and opening the binder.