A locking ring metal (10) includes binder rings (12, 14, 16) each formed by a pair of complementary shaped binder ring halves. Each ring half has an end attached to a frame (18, 20). The frames are movable relative to each other to open and close the binder rings. The frames are installed in housing (22) at one end of which a trigger (11) is mounted. A travel bar (34) installed within the housing above the frames and not connected to the trigger includes blocking elements (50) which, when in position, prevent movement of the frames to lock the binder rings in their closed position. A coil spring (48) attached to the travel bar and 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 binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.

A binding mechanism including a body portion having a flange opening extending therethrough. The body portion further includes or at least partially defines a body portion opening positioned adjacent a base end of the flange. The binding mechanism has a manually deflectable flange coupled to the body portion. At least part of the flange is insertable through the flange opening from a first side of the body portion to at least partially form a loop on the first side of the body portion. The at least part of the flange is alternatively insertable through the flange opening from a second side of the body portion opposite the first side to at least partially form a loop on the second side of the body portion. The body portion opening is configured to receive the flange therethrough to enable the flange to be positioned on either the first side or the second side of the body portion.