Patent ID: 8002488

Claim:
A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages, the mechanism comprising: a housing having longitudinal ends; first and second hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion about a pivot axis, said pivoting motion being relative to the housing; rings for holding loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member 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; a travel bar movable in translation relative to both the housing and the hinge plates, said translational movement being generally lengthwise of the housing; a locking element moveable in translation relative to both the housing and the hinge plates, the locking element producing the pivoting motion of the hinge plates when moving from a position in registration with an opening in at least one of the hinge plates to a position out of registration with said opening, the locking element producing no pivoting motion of the hinge plates when moving from the position out of registration with said opening to the position in registration with said opening; and an actuating lever pivotable relative to the housing for producing said translational movement of the travel bar, the actuating lever being free of driving engagement with the hinge plates such that the actuating lever does not contact the hinge plates during the pivoting motion of the hinge plates.