Abstract: A fastener (30) for fastening a paper retaining binder mechanism (18) to the spine (16) of a binder (10) and remaining entirely concealed from an outer surface of the binder. The fastener includes a circular anchor plate (38) and a vertically extending attachment post or eyelet (34). The post is a truncated cone of uniform taper. The anchor plate includes a circumferential reinforcing lip (48). The fastener is secured to the spine by a number of spurs (50) uniformly spaced about the circumference of the anchor plate. The eyelet extends perpendicular of the anchor plate and the binder mechanism seats on the eyelet by an opening (26, 28). The upper end of the eyelet is then deformed about the opening to secure the binder mechanism in place.

Abstract: A ring binder (10) stores hole (H) punched sheets of paper (P). A mechanism (16) is a bolt action mechanism which positively locks binder rings (18) which hold paper in its stored position. Each binder ring includes a fixed section (20) and a movable section (22). All of the movable binder ring sections are commonly mounted on a bolt (36) and move in unison with the bolt. A manually operable lever (38) is secured to one end of the bolt. When the lever is moved in one direction, the bolt is rotated so to move the movable sections of the binder rings away from the fixed sections and open the binder. Operation of the lever in the opposite direction brings the movable sections back into contact with the fixed sections to close the binder.

Abstract: A ring binder (10) holding sheets (S) of paper (P) has a dual angle ring metal (100). The ring metal includes a pair of leaves (102, 104) hingedly connected to each other for relative movement between them. Binder rings (114, 116, 118) each include a pair of ring halves with one end of each ring half being attached to a separate one of the leaves. A shield (30) covers the leaves. Release levers (140, 142) at each end of the shield are operable to open and close the binder. The leaves, when the ring binder is closed, form a predetermined angle (A) with respect to each other. Each of the leaves has a segment (122a, 122b, 124a, 124b) by which a second angle (B) is formed between the leaves. This second angle is formed such that the pair of leaves are prevented from movement relative to each other by movement of paper from one side of the binder to the other. However, the plates are readily movable to open the binder by movement of one of the release levers.

Abstract: A ring binder (10) includes a ring metal (18) securable to a spine portion (16) of the binder. A spur eyelet (30) used for this purpose includes a post (32) one end (34) of which attaches to the ring metal. A plate (40) is formed at the other end of the post. Radiating outwardly from the underside of the plate are a plurality of concentrically formed spurs (50). Each spur has barbs (56) formed on an outer end (54) of the spur. To attach the ring metal to the spine, the spurs are pushed into the body of the spine. Thereafter, the barbs keep the eyelet from being pulled away from the body of the spine thereby preventing the ring metal from separating from the binder.

Abstract: A ring binder (10) for holding hole punched sheets of paper (P) includes a low profile ring metal (20). A pair of leaves (28, 30) are hingedly connected to each other for relative movement of the leaves to each other. A plurality of binder rings (22, 24, 26) are each formed of a pair of ring halves (22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b). One end of each ring half is attached to a separate one of the leaves whereby movement of the leaves moves the ring halves to open and close the binder. A shield (40) covers the leaves, and release levers (44, 46) are located at each end of the cover. The levers are operable by a user of the ring binder to open and close the binder. Both release levers extend substantially co-planar to the cover and the length of the cover and release levers generally corresponds to the length of a sheet paper stored in the binder. This allows the overall size of the binder to be smaller than that of a ring binder holding the same size sheets of paper but using a conventional ring metal construction.

Abstract: A ring binder (10) comprises a pair of leaves (28, 30) hingedly connected to each other for relative movement therebetween. A plurality of spaced binder rings (22, 24, 26) are each formed of a pair of ring halves (22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b). One end (22c, 22d, 24c, 24d, 26c, 26d) of each ring half is attached to one of the leaves. Movement of the leaves thus moves the opposite end of the respective ring halves out of and into contact with each other so to open and close the binder. A shield (20) covering the leaves has spaced openings (42) through which the ring halves extend. The shield has a plurality of raised sections (44, 46, 48) extending transversely of a longitudinal axis of the shield with one of the raised sections being formed at each binder ring location. Another raised section (52) extends axially of the longitudinal axis of the shield and intersects each of the transversely extending raised sections.

Abstract: A binder (12) for storing sheets (S) of paper having punched holes (H). First and second end leafs (16, 18) form outer covers of the binder. A center plate (20) is positioned intermediate the end leafs which are flexibly attached (at 16f, 18f) to the center plate to enclose sheets of paper between the end leafs. Binder rings (24, 26, 28) carrier on the center plate hold the sheets and are movable from a closed to an open position. Sheets are inserted into the binder by inserting the holes over an exposed end (24e, 26e, 28e) of the rings when the rings are opened. Locking mechanism (30) locks the rings closed. A mechanism (58) moves the rings from their closed to their open position. One end (24d, 26d, 28d) of the rings attach to a rotatable plate (60). The locking mechanism is located on one side of the center plate adjacent one of the end leafs, and the rotatable plate is located on the opposite side thereof adjacent the other end leaf.

Abstract: A binder (10) is for use in storing sheets (S) of paper having punched holes (H) in them. First and second end leafs (12, 14) respectively form outer covers of the binder. A center section (18) is intermediate the respective end leafs. One side of each of the end leafs is flexibly attached to opposite sides of the center plate for sheets of paper stored in the binder to be enclosed between the end leafs. A plurality of binder rings (22-30) hold the sheets of paper, and the rings are movable from a closed position to an open position so sheets of can be fitted into or removed from the binder. A backplate channel (48) is affixed to a centerplate (42), and one end of the rings fit through openings in this channel. The other end of the rings are secured to a ring channel (46) which, in turn, is secured to the center plate by screws (70). When the screws are removed, the ring channel can be lifted away from the center plate, opening the rings.

Abstract: A locking assembly (10) is for use in a ringbinder (12) used to hold and store sheets (S) of paper or other material in which at least one hole (H) is punched for capturing the sheet of paper and holding it in place. The assembly includes at least one binder ring (14). Each binder ring has first and second mating segments (14a, 14b). These are movable into and out of contact with each other. A sheet of paper is inserted onto one of the ting segments, when the segments are out of contact with each other, by inserting the hole in the sheet of paper over the ting segment. One end of one of the ring segments is attached to a first elongated plate (48), and a corresponding end of the other ring segment is attached to a second elongated plate (50). The plates are positioned side-by-side and extend generally parallel to each other.