Patent ID: 8517624

Claim:
A binder apparatus, comprising a housing; a first carrier rail having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the first carrier rail defining a notch adjacent the second longitudinal edge, the housing biasing the first carrier rail by engaging the first longitudinal edge; a second carrier rail having a third longitudinal edge and a fourth longitudinal edge, the housing biasing the second carrier rail by engaging the third longitudinal edge, the second longitudinal edge hingably engaging the fourth longitudinal edge, the notch defining an opening having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge; a slider having a control element extending therefrom, the control element comprising a first control surface and a second control surface, the first control surface comprising a curved surface to engage the first edge to transition the first and second carrier rails toward an open position, the first control surface comprising a step between the curved surface and the slider, the step to secure the first and second carrier rails in the open position, the second control surface to engage the second edge to urge the first and second carrier rails to and secure the first and second carrier rails in a closed position; and a lever operatively coupled to the slider to move the slider between a first position and a second position, in the first position, the first control surface to engage the first edge to secure the first and second carrier rails in the open position, in the second position, the second control surface to engage the second edge to secure the first and second carrier rails in the closed position.