Patent ID: 7748922
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: B42F

Abstract:
1. A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages, the mechanism comprising: a housing; hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion about a pivot axis; rings for holding loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and moveable with the pivoting motion of the first hinge plate, each ring further including a second ring member, the first ring member being movable relative to the second ring member so that in a closed position the two ring members form 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 an open position the two ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings; and a control structure comprising a lever pivotally mounted on the housing, a travel bar operatively connected to the lever, and a link pivotally connected to the housing and to the travel bar, the link capturing the hinge plates such that pivoting motion of the hinge plates toward the closed positions of the ring members and toward the open positions of the ring members can be driven by pivoting movement of the link relative to the housing, the lever being pivotable on the housing to move the travel bar generally lengthwise of the housing and thereby pivot the links for use in controlling the pivoting motion of the hinge plates.