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.

Example binder apparatus are disclosed. An example binder apparatus includes a housing and a plurality of rings supported by the housing. Each ring includes a first closure member and a second closure member. The first closure member has a first end defining an aperture having a first opening at least partially intersecting a second opening. The second closure member has a second end. The second end is receivable by the first opening to position the second end within the aperture and to enable a surface of the second end to be substantially flush with a surface of the first end immediately adjacent the second opening.

A binding component includes ring back portions, first ring arm portions, second ring arm portions and a back part to which the ring back portions are connected. Each ring back portion, each first ring arm portion and each second ring arm portion forms an annular ring part. Each ring part includes fitting portions at places where the ring back portion and the first and second ring arm portions are connected. The fitting portions are configured to be fitted by an operation of opening and closing the first and second ring arm portions with hinge portions of the ring back portion. Each fitting portion includes at least one first fitting convex portion, at least one first fitting concave portion to engage with the first fitting convex portion, at least one second fitting convex portion and a second fitting concave portion to engage with the second fitting convex portion.

A media binder, comprising: a front surface board, at least one spine board, and a back surface board, wherein each board comprises an inwardly facing surface and an outwardly facing surface; a cover sheet wrapped around the outwardly facing surface of the spine board and a portion of a surface cover sheet, the surface cover sheet wrapped around the outwardly facing surface of at least one surface board and comprises a first marginal edge attached to the inwardly facing surface of the at least one surface board and a second marginal edge unattached to the inwardly facing surface of the at least one surface board; at least one spring clamp to secure physical media inserted between clamp edges of the at least one spring clamp; and a tension sheet attached to the at least one spring clamp and the inwardly facing surface of the at least one surface board.

A media binder has an inner assembly and a case assembly, The inner assembly includes inside boards pre-attached to a binding mechanism. Adhesive is placed on outward surfaces of the inside boards. The case assembly includes a cover sheet with at least one marginal edge attached to surface boards and at least one loose edge. To customize cover, a printed cover is inserted in-between the cover sheet and the surface board through an opening formed by the loose edge. The case assembly is then laminated. The laminated case assembly is combined with the inner assembly using the adhesive on the inside boards. A one-piece media binder has cover sheets wrapping around surface boards forming pockets. The surface boards are partially attached to paste downs. To customize cover, printed covers are inserted into the pockets, and the paste downs are then attached to the surface boards to seal loose edges.

A binding apparatus including a plurality of generally coaxially arranged binding coils. Each binding coil includes a pair of generally parallel wires terminating in a tip. Each binding coil is coupled to an adjacent binding coil by a connection portion extending generally parallel to an axis of the binding apparatus. At least one binding coil is directly circumferentially attached to itself, or to a connection portion.