Ring binder mechanism

A ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages, the mechanism comprising:

• an elongate housing;
• first and second hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing;
• rings for holding the loose-leaf pages, each ring including a first ring member and a second ring member, the first ring member moveable with the pivoting motion of the first hinge plate relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position the two 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 two ring members forming a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings;
• an actuator mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing for causing pivoting motion of the hinge plates to open the rings, the actuator comprising a lower arm for moving the hinge plates to open the rings and an upper arm for moving the hinge plates to close the rings, the upper arm having a hook thereon;
• a travel bar;
• an intermediate connector connecting the travel bar to the actuator so movement of the actuator to pivot the hinge plates causes longitudinal movement of the travel bar in the housing;
• and
• a locking element moveable with the travel bar between a locking position in which the locking element blocks movement of the hinge plates to open the rings and non-locking position in which the locking element does not block pivoting movement of the hinge plates to open the rings,
• wherein the intermediate connector comprises a cross bar captured by the hook on the actuator.