Patent ID: 8899865

Claim:
A ring binder for use in holding loose-leaf pages, the ring binder comprising: an elongate body having a longitudinal axis; rings for retaining loose-leaf pages, each ring including first and second ring members extending from and supported by the elongate body, the first and second ring members being moveable relative to one another between a closed position in which the first and second ring members together form a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose leaf pages retained by the ring to be moved along the ring from one ring member to the other and an open position in which the first and second ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the ring; and a retaining system operable to selectively and releasably hold the first and second ring members in the closed position, the retaining system comprising first and second interlocking formations adjacent ends of the first and second ring members, respectively, the first and second interlocking formations being selectively moveable relative to one another between a retaining position in which the retaining system holds the first and second ring members in the closed position and a non-retaining position in which the retaining system does not hold the first and second ring members in the closed position, wherein the interlocking formation of the second ring member comprises an opening having an axis, the first interlocking formation being adapted to exert forces on the second interlocking formation at the opening extending radially outward from the axis of the opening in multiple directions as the interlocking formations are moved from the non-retaining position to the retaining position, wherein the first and second interlocking formations are moveable between the retaining position and the non-retaining position by movement of the first interlocking formation relative to the second locking formation in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the interlocking formation of the first ring member comprises a post extending from a base to a free end, and the interlocking formation on the second ring member comprises an opening for receiving the post; and wherein the rings and the body are formed together as a one-piece unitary structure made of a moldable polymeric material.