Patent ID: 8128305

Claim:
A ring binder mechanism adapted to be secured to a base member, comprising: a substantially rigid plate member; a plurality of pairs of respective half-ring members, each half-ring member having first and second ends, each half-ring member first end being pivotally supported by the substantially rigid plate member and each half-ring member second end being pivotably movable between a first position wherein the pairs of half-ring members are closed and the second ends of the half-ring members are generally together, and a second position wherein the pairs of half-ring members are open and the second ends of the half-ring members are spaced apart; and at least one tubular member having first and second ends, the first end being disposed over a portion of the second end of one of the half-ring members when the half-ring members are in the second, open position and wherein when the half-ring members are in the first, closed position, the second ends of the half-ring member pair are at least partially disposed with the at least one tubular member.