Patent ID: 8083429

Claim:
A modular locking binder system, comprising: a binder, comprising: a binder spine; a pair of cover-flaps attached to said binder spine, wherein at least one of the cover-flaps is attached to the binder spine for pivotal movement to allow the binder to be opened and closed; a document module retainer provided on the binder spine, the document module retainer having a channel extending in a longitudinal direction of the binder spine, said channel having an open longitudinal end and a longitudinally extending opening that has a constricted region along at least a portion of said channel; and a channel block located at the open longitudinal end of said channel, said channel block being configured to move from an open position wherein the open longitudinal end of said channel is unobstructed by said channel block, and a closed position wherein the open longitudinal end of said channel is obstructed by said channel block; and a document module removably attached within said channel, said document module comprising a module spine having a widened portion configured to be received longitudinally in the constricted region of said channel, wherein when the widened portion is longitudinally received in the constricted region, the constricted region prevents lateral withdrawal of the widened portion of the document module through the constricted region of the longitudinally extending opening, and wherein when the channel block is in the closed position, the channel block obstructs said channel and prevents longitudinal removal of widened portion of said document module from its receipt in the constricted region, and wherein when the channel block is in the open position, the channel block does not obstruct the longitudinal removal of said widened portion of said document module from its receipt in the constricted region, which pennits the removal of said document module from said binder.