Ring Binder Mechanism with Transverse Actuator

A ring mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages, the ring mechanism comprising:

• an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis;
• at least two rings for holding the loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member and a second ring member, the first ring member being movable relative to the housing and the second ring member between a closed position and an open position of said rings, in the closed position the first and second ring members forming 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 the open position the first and second ring members forming a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings;
• an actuation system for moving the ring members between the closed and open positions, the actuation system comprising elongate first and second hinge members pivotable relative to the housing between a first position corresponding to the closed position of the rings and a second position corresponding to the open position of the rings, said first ring members being operatively connected to the first hinge member for conjoint pivoting movement with the first hinge member between the closed and open positions of the rings, and an actuator pivotable relative to the housing on a pivot axis that is one of parallel to and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the housing to selectively pivot the hinge members between their first and second positions corresponding to the closed and open positions of the rings;
• and
• a locking system positionable relative to the housing between a locked position in which the ring members are held in the closed position of the rings and an unlocked position in which the ring members are moveable from the closed position to the open position of said rings, said locking system being operatively connected to the actuator for operative movement by the actuator between the locked and unlocked positions of the locking system.