Patent ID: 7445396

Claim:
A ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages, the ring mechanism being selectively configurable between an open configuration in which loose leaf pages can be added or removed from the mechanism and a closed configuration in which loose leaf pages are retained by the ring mechanism, the ring mechanism being supportable on at least one support member, said ring mechanism comprising: an elongate frame having a longitudinal axis and comprising an elongate first frame element and an elongate second frame element separate from the first frame element, and hinged thereto to permit pivoting movement of said frame elements relative to each other about an axis extending one of parallel to and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said frame between a first position corresponding to the closed configuration of the ring mechanism and a second position different from the first position and corresponding to the open configuration of the ring mechanism; at least one ring comprising a first ring member mounted on the first frame element and having a free end and a second ring member mounted on the second frame element and having a free end such that in the first position of said frame elements corresponding to the closed configuration of the ring mechanism the free ends of the first and second ring members are adjacent one another and 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 in the second position of said frame elements corresponding to the open configuration of the ring mechanism the free ends of the ring members are spaced from each other to form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the ring; and at least one hanging member on said frame for releasably hanging the ring mechanism from the support when the ring members are in the closed configuration so the free ends of the ring members are substantially underneath the frame, the hanging member comprising a cutout in each of the first and second frame elements, the cutouts being spaced apart in the second position of the frame elements and adjacent each other in the first position of the frame elements for conjointly receiving the support in the cutouts, said hanging member being configured to inhibit longitudinal movement of the hanging member relative to the support.