Patent ID: 7524127

Claim:
A binder mechanism for binding articles, the binder mechanism comprising: a base; an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base, the elongate ring support comprising a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article, the elongate ring support having an open configuration and a closed configuration; a locking arrangement comprising: a locking tab disposed on the elongate ring support; an elongate slide lock slidably mounted relative to the base, the slide lock having a lock structure comprising: a lock detent defining a cavity thereunder constructed and arranged to receive the locking tab when the slide lock is in a first position so that the locking tab is held in the cavity by the lock detent and the elongate ring support is held in the closed configuration; and an opening disposed adjacent the cavity constructed and arranged to cooperate with the locking tab such that, when the slide lock is moved to a second position and the locking tab is freed from the cavity, the locking tab can move into the opening to allow the elongate ring support to rotate toward the open configuration; and a spring disposed between the slide lock and the base, the spring biasing the slide lock toward the first position; an opening mechanism cooperating with the slide lock and constructed and arranged to move the slide lock to the second position, the opening mechanism comprising a button and a lever arm pivotally mounted to the base in a manner whereby downward motion of the button results in upward motion of the lever arm; and a cam rotatably mounted to the base and cooperating between the lever arm and the slide lock such that upward movement of the lever arm causes the cain to rotate and push on the slide lock toward the second position.