CA2593624A1 - Soft close ring binder mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that do not snap together when they close and that easily open and close as pages accumulate. The mechanism includes a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, moving the ring members apart or together. The mechanism further includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on the housing. The lever moves a travel bar and locking elements for controllably pivoting the hinge plates, and therefore controllably moving the ring members apart and together. In particular, the locking elements cam the hinge plates to softly close the ring members. When the ring members are apart, the locking elements register with openings in at least one of the hinge plates. When the ring members are together, the locking elements are out of registration with the openings, blocking the hinge plates from pivoting to separate the ring members.

Claims (7)

1. A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages, the mechanism comprising:

a housing having longitudinal ends;

hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion about a pivot axis relative to the housing;

rings for holding loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and 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 being in a position in registration with an opening in at least one of the hinge plates when the ring members are in the open position and in a position out of registration with said opening when the ring members are in the closed position for blocking the pivoting motion of the hinge plates; and a spring for producing the pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the locking element moves to said position in registration with the opening in at least one of the hinge plates.

2. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the spring is a wire form spring.

3. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spring constitutes a first spring, the ring binder mechanism further comprising a second wire form spring.

4. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein the locking element is shaped to pivot the hinge plates upon movement from the position in registration with the opening in at least one of the hinge plates to the position out of registration with the opening.

5. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 4 wherein the locking element produces no pivoting motion of the hinge plates upon moving from the position out of registration with said opening to the position in registration with the opening.

6. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an actuating lever pivotally connected to a longitudinal end of the housing for grasping to pivot the lever, the pivoting movement of the lever producing the translational movement of the travel bar.

7. A ring binder mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a cover, the ring binder mechanism being mounted on the cover, the cover being hinged for movement to selectively cover and expose loose-leaf pages retained on the ring binder mechanism.