Patent ID: 7828491
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: B42F

Abstract:
1. A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages, the mechanism comprising: a housing having a guide; hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting movement relative to the housing, the hinge plates pivoting through a co-planar position; rings for holding loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member and a second ring member, the first ring member being mounted on a first hinge plate and moveable with the pivoting motion of the first hinge plate relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the two ring members forming 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, and in the open position the two ring members forming a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings; a travel bar restrained by the guide for longitudinal movement relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, the travel bar including at least one locking element formed as one piece with the travel bar, the locking element being adapted to block movement of the hinge plates in the locked position of the travel bar, wherein the guide is elongate in a direction extending lengthwise of the housing.