Arch ring binder assembly

Apparatus for storing sheets of paper having punched holes in them in a binder, the binder including two covers with one side of each cover being flexibly attached to opposite sides of a single-piece center plate for sheets of paper stored in the binder to be enclosed between the covers, the apparatus comprising:

• ring means carried on said center plate for holding sheets of paper, said ring means including a plurality of single piece binder rings, and being movable from a closed position to an open position, and sheets of paper being inserted into the binder by placing the holes punched in the sheets of paper over an end of said ring means which is exposed when said ring means is moved to its open position;
• means for locking said ring means in its closed position, said locking means being fixedly secured to one side of said center place adjacent one of said covers, and said exposed end of said ring means being secured in a locked position by said locking means when said ring means is in its closed position;
• and,
• means for moving said ring means from its closed to its open position, an end of said ring means opposite said exposed end of said ring means being fixedly secured to said moving means, and said moving means being located on the opposite side of said center plate from said locking means and adjacent the other cover, said moving means being pivotally movable in one direction with respect to said locking means to move the first said end of said ring means from its locked position to its exposed position when the binder is to be opened, and movable in the opposite direction when the binder is to be closed thereby to facilitate insertion of papers into the binder for storage and to secure a substantial quantity of paper in the binder without the ring means being inadvertently opened because of the quantity of paper stored therein.

In a ring binder for storing sheets of paper having punched holes therein, the binder having respective first and second end covers and a single-piece center plate positioned intermediate the covers with one side of each cover flexibly attached to opposite sides of the center plate for sheets of paper stored in the binder to be enclosed between the covers, the improvement comprising a locking mechanism for holding and storing the sheets of paper comprising:

• a plurality of binder rings on which said sheets of paper are captured, said binder rings being movable from a closed position to an open position with sheets of paper being inserted into the binder by placing the holes punched in the sheets of paper over ends of said respective binder rings which are exposed when said binder rings are open, each binder ring being a single piece ring having an arch shaped center section with legs of equal length extending from the respective sides of the arch, the storage capacity of the binder being a function of the length of the legs;
• means for locking said binder rings in their closed position, said locking means being fixedly secured to one side of said center plate adjacent said first end cover, and said locking means securing said exposed ends of said binder rings in a locked position when said binder rings are in their closed position;
• and,
• means for moving said binder rings from their closed to their open position, said moving means located on the opposite side of said center place, adjacent said second end cover, the respective ends of said binder rings opposite said exposed end of said rings means being fixedly secured to said moving means with said moving means being pivotally movable in one direction with respect to said locking means to move said binder rings means from their closed to their open positions when the binder is to be opened, and movable in the opposite direction when the binder is to be closed, papers inserted into the binder for storage being secured therein with a substantial quantity of paper being securable in the binder without the binder rings being inadvertently opened because of the quantity of paper stored therein.