Abstract: A page protection system according to the present invention includes a band of material encircling the pages and a cover of an album, the band being snug enough to prevent removal of the pages without cutting or removing the band. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the page protection system includes album ring elements secured to the back cover, rather than the spline of the album and a band made of transparent, synthetic, and heat sealable and/or heat shrinkable plastic material. The band should not be easily torn and not easily removable. It is preferably located near the rings, for example within about 1.5 inches from the ring elements if the elements are mounted to the spline of the album and adjacent the ring elements if they are mounted to an album cover.

Abstract: A page protection system according to the present invention includes a band of material encircling the pages and a cover of an album, the band being snug enough to prevent removal of the pages without cutting or removing the band. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the page protection system includes album ring elements secured to the back cover, rather than the spline of the album and a band made of transparent, synthetic, and heat sealable and/or heat shrinkable plastic material. The band should not be easily torn and not easily removable. It is preferably located near the rings, for example within about 1.5 inches from the ring elements if the elements are mounted to the spline of the album and adjacent the ring elements if they are mounted to an album cover.

Abstract: A lock for the rings of photo albums and other binders includes a lock and a security component to prevent opening of the album in a retail store and to prevent pilferage of the contents or the improper insertion of refill pages. Once a consumer has made an album selection, the security component is removed. Once removed, the lock is moveable between a first position in which opening of the album rings is permitted and a second position in which opening of the rings is prevented. The initial release of the security component preferably requires a tool. In the most preferred embodiment, the lock slides in a slot in a binder body and includes a lower ridge which aligns with an opening in a pair of spring plates to permit ring opening. When the ridge is moved away from the opening and into the cavity of the binder body, the rings cannot be opened.

Abstract: A seal is provided for notebooks and albums to prevent inadvertent opening of the rings and to prevent pilferage of paper, photo album insert sheets and the like. The seal is a continuous band or overlapped loop of plastic material which is heat-shrunk over the rings. In the most preferred embodiment, the material used for the seal in spot welded, such as by ultrasonic welding, to hold it in place during the heat-shrink operation.