A binder mechanism is shown and described herein. The binder mechanism may include a base, first and second ring bases pivotally coupled to the base, first and second ring portions fixed with the ring bases, at least one pin attached with the first and second ring bases, a slide operatively engaged with the base and operatively engaged with the at least one pin, the slide selectively and axially positionable relative to the base, and an actuator operatively engaged with the slide, where the actuator is configured to selectively and axially position the slide whereby the slide positions the at least one pin to pivot the first and second ring bases away from one another to disengage the first and second ring portions.

A binder mechanism is shown and described herein. The binder mechanism may include a base, first and second ring bases pivotally coupled to the base, first and second ring portions fixed with the ring bases, at least one pin attached with the first and second ring bases, a slide operatively engaged with the base and operatively engaged with the at least one pin, the slide selectively and axially positionable relative to the base, and an actuator operatively engaged with the slide, where the actuator is configured to selectively and axially position the slide whereby the slide positions the at least one pin to pivot the first and second ring bases away from one another to disengage the first and second ring portions.

A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

A locking ring metal includes binder rings each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. The binder rings are of a gap free construction. Each ring half has an end attached a frame. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings and are installed in a housing at one end of which a trigger is mounted. A travel bar installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements which fit into respective brackets formed on the underside of the frames when the binder rings are closed to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring attached to the travel bar and the housing biases the travel bar in the direction to open the binder rings.

A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

A ring metal (M) installed in a binder (B) stores punched sheets of paper and the like. The ring metal includes binder rings (R) mounted on movable frames (F) to which one end of each ring half is attached. The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the rings. A ring guard (10) is removably installable over a portion of each ring half, when the binder ring is closed, to securely encompass rings halves (12, 14) forming the ring. The guard encloses the junction (J) where outer ends of the ring halves meet when the rings are closed and prevents a gap from opening between the ring halves if the binder is subjected to a force which would otherwise cause a gap to form between the ring halves and paper stored in the binder to spill out or be damaged.

A binding device (10) is provided which can be performed opening/closing of binding rings smoothly; comprising a plurality of openable/closable binding rings (12, 14), a holding member (16), an operating member (18), and an opening/closing member (40); the operating member comprises a pair of operating pieces (30, 32); base portions of one and the other of the binding rings are secured to the operating pieces respectively; the binding device has a button member (80) in the vicinity of one and/or the other end portion of the operating member; the button member has a first and a second arm portion (800, 820) for moving the one of the operating pieces; and the first and second arm portions are respectively configured to move the operating piece (30) to the first arm portion and to move the operating piece (32) to the opposite side to the second arm portion.

A binding device (10) is provided which can be performed opening/closing of binding rings smoothly; comprising a plurality of openable/closable binding rings (12, 14), a holding member (16), an operating member (18), and an opening/closing member (40); the operating member comprises a pair of operating pieces (30, 32); base portions of one and the other of the binding rings are secured to the operating pieces respectively; the binding device has a button member (80) in the vicinity of one and/or the other end portion of the operating member; the button member has a first and a second arm portion (800, 820) for moving the one of the operating pieces; and the first and second arm portions are respectively configured to move the operating piece (30) to the first arm portion and to move the operating piece (32) to the opposite side to the second arm portion.

An expandable storage device is provided including a first panel and a second panel, along with one or more mechanisms for adjusting the size of a spine therebetween. By one approach, the storage device includes a first panel having a first panel spine portion, a second panel having a second panel spine portion, and one or more actuators, where the first panel spine portion and the second panel spine portion are configured to form a spine of the device having an adjustable width. The one or more actuators may be configured to move between an unlocked and a locked configuration to move the first panel or the second panel relative to one another and selectively retain the spine of the device at variety of adjustable widths. So configured, the device may accommodate an increasing or decreasing number of articles, sheets, or other items placed therein.

An expandable storage device is provided including a first panel and a second panel, along with one or more mechanisms for adjusting the size of a spine therebetween. By one approach, the storage device includes a first panel having a first panel spine portion, a second panel having a second panel spine portion, and one or more actuators, where the first panel spine portion and the second panel spine portion are configured to form a spine of the device having an adjustable width. The one or more actuators may be configured to move between an unlocked and a locked configuration to move the first panel or the second panel relative to one another and selectively retain the spine of the device at variety of adjustable widths. So configured, the device may accommodate an increasing or decreasing number of articles, sheets, or other items placed therein.