Abstract: A ring binder mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages has a housing and rings movable between closed and open positions. The rings are mounted on hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting movement relative to the housing. An actuator is moveable relative to the housing to pivot the hinge plates to move the rings between the closed and open positions. A travel bar operatively connected to the actuator includes a locking element. The travel bar is moveable between a locked position in which the locking element blocks pivoting of the hinge plates and an unlocked position in which the locking element permits pivoting of the hinge plates. The travel bar and housing each include a retaining formation. The retaining formation on the housing is adapted to contact the retaining formation on the travel bar to releasably hold the travel bar in the locked position when the rings are closed.

Abstract: A binding tool for documents or the like is provided which is capable of suppressing the height of protruded portions from a surface of a base portion thereby to expand a space thereabove, and which is also easy to manufacture and assemble. The binding tool includes a base portion (2) formed of a metal plate, rings (3) that are each mounted on the base portion so as to be selectively changed into a closed ring posture to bind documents or the like and an opened ring posture to open a part of a closed ring for insertion of the documents or the like, and a switching mechanism (5) that is mounted on the base portion and includes a switching lever (4) for switching the rings between the closed ring posture and the opened ring posture. The switching lever has a base end (41) and a free end (42), and a cam member (6) is provided on the base end of the switching member for adjusting the degree of opening/closing of each of the rings according to a rotated position of the free end.

Abstract: A photograph album system (10) has a spine (14) with an internal lateral groove (30) at one end and a removable retainer (42) having a plurality of internal retaining fingers (44) within the groove. A plurality of pages (52) are defined by a plurality of signatures (54). Each signature is defined by a plurality of page sets (56). Each page set consists of an interior support sheet (58) with a central fold (60) and a pair of exterior cover sheets (64). The exterior cover sheets are folded around an individual outer edge of an interior support sheet with each having a central fold defining an outer bend (66). The exterior cover sheets are adhered to the interior support sheet so that two pages are formed with separate pockets (72) on each side of each page. Posts (36) couple the pages to the spine.

Abstract: A binder mechanism is disclosed having a first ring assembly and a binding portion. The first ring assembly includes at least one first ring half. At least the first ring assembly or the binding portion are a pivotable half that is pivotable with respect to the other to a locked position about a first longitudinal axis. In the locked position, the first ring half is engaged with the binding portion cooperatively defining a loop that is substantially closed to retain a stack of papers or a workpiece. The first ring assembly and the binding portion are lockable with respect to each other in the locked position to prevent pivoting of the pivotable half from the locked position. At least one of the first ring assembly and the binding portion is movable with respect to the other from the locked position in an unlocking direction oriented at less than 180° from the longitudinal axis to permit the pivotable half to pivot about the longitudinal axis to an open position in which the loop is substantially open.

Abstract: A binder mechanism comprises a pair of prong plates pivotally connected by a retainer spring to toggle between a first raised position and a second lowered position. The prong plates include a plurality of ring segments affixed to the prong plates that are capable of forming loops. A cam mechanism is used to toggle the prong plates between the raised and lowered positions causing the ring segments to open or to close to form loops. The cam mechanism is preferably a slider located above the prong plates, the slider having ramps inserted through recesses between the prong plates. Preferably, the recesses are located adjacent to where the ring segments are attached to the prong plates. Cleats may hold the parts of the binder mechanism together and keep the mechanism attached to a binder assembly. Preferably, the retainer spring is in the form of a top spring covering both the slider and prong plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ring binder mechanism (10) including an upper structure (12) supporting two pivotable plates (14) to which three pairs of half-ring members (16) are mounted, in which the plates (14) are pivotable between a first configuration in which the three pairs of half-ring members (16) are closed, and a second configuration in which the three pairs of half-ring members (16) are open, in which the ring binder mechanism (10) may be secured to a cardboard cover (60) via two rivets (20), in which each rivet (20) includes an anchor plate (40) from an upper major surface of which a post member (38) extends, in which the post member (38) includes an open end deformed to engage with the upper casing (12) via a bushing (22), and in which a sleeve (24) is positioned between the upper casing (12) and the anchor plate (40) of the rivet (20).

Abstract: A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Ring mechanism for loose leaf binders, and method of manufacture therefor, which has actuating or booster levers which serve both to open and close the rings. Mating ring segments or portions are affixed at corresponding spaced locations to a pair of metallic rods or rails. The outer ends of the rods of oval cross section include crank arm portions, with flattened tangs at the terminal ends thereof formed during fabrication on a rail of continuous length which is then severed to provide identical rail and ring segment components. The rail and ring components are then assembled in parallel relation within the inturned edge channels of a spring metal cover plate or case of arcuate cross section which is tensioned to hold the ring segments in closed relation. Each of the booster levers is slotted to engage opposite surfaces of the tangs for pivoting the rods about their longitudinal axes in response to pivotal movement of the booster levers whereby the rings are selectively opened and closed by said levers.

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.

Abstract: The invention is a notebook having a cover and a selectively openable and closable binder mechanism which can support a plurality of pre-punched, loose-leaf sheets.