Binder mechanism

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a top spring;
• a pair of prong plates having outside edges and retained in parallel relation to one another against inner edges by the retainer spring such that the prong plates are capable of toggling between a raised position and a lowered position;
• an inner edge on each prong plate where the prong plates meet each other in parallel relation, the prong plates defining at least one recess having recess edges along the inner edges of the prong plates;
• a plurality of ring segments attached to the prong plates at attachment positions forming loops when in a closed position;
• a movable cam mechanism having cam members adjacent the attachment positions, the cam mechanism is a slider having a beam and at least one pair of ramps extending from the slider;
• and
• a handle pivotally attached to the top spring and the slider;
• wherein the pair of ramps extend through the recess in the prong plates such that the beam is located between the top spring and the prong plates, and the ramps extend beyond the prong plates;
• wherein the top spring having at least two flanges connected by a top surface, with the outside edges of the prong plates being captured between the top surface and the flanges thereby locating the prong plates in a side-by-side relation such that they are capable of toggling between the raised position and the lowered position and when the slider is moved the ramps abut the recess edges and cause the prong plates to toggle to the raised position and the lowered position;
• and
• wherein the handle is capable of pivoting and thereby moving the slider.

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a binding assembly, comprising,
• a retainer;
• a pair of prong plates having outside edges and retained in parallel relation to one another against inner edges by the retainer spring [such that the prong plates are capable of toggling between a raised position and a lowered position,] the prong plates together defining at least one recess having recess edges along the inner edges of the prong plates;
• a plurality of ring segments attached to the prong plates at attachment positions forming loops when in a closed position;
• a slider having two ends and at least one ramp extending from the slider;
• and
• at least two cleats, each cleat having a base of separate construction from the other base and a post attaching the binding assembly to the base;
• wherein the ramp extends through the recess in the prong plates to the corresponding base of the cleat such that the slider is capable of moving and the ramps riding on the corresponding base of the cleat.

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a top spring;
• a pair of prong plates held in parallel relation with each other against inner edges by the top spring, the prong plates being capable of toggling between a raised position and a lowered position, the prong plates together defining at least one recess along the inner edges of the prong plates;
• a plurality of ring segments attached to the prong plates at attachment points, the ring segments forming loops when in a closed position;
• a slider movable between a first and a second position, the slider having at least one pair of ramps extending through the recess formed by the prong plates;
• and
• at least one cleat having a base and a rivet, the rivet attaching the top spring and the slider to the cleat;
• a handle pivotally attached to the top spring and the slider;
• wherein the pair of ramps are located adjacent to where the ring segments are attached to the prong plates;
• wherein the pair of ramps is supported against the base of the cleat;
• wherein the slider is capable of being moved by pivoting the handle causing the ramps to contact the prong plates and thereby causing the prong plates to toggle between the raised position and the lowered position.

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a retainer;
• a pair of prong plates having outside edges and retained in parallel relation to one another against inner edges by the retainer spring such that the prong plates are capable of toggling between a raised position and a lowered position;
• a plurality of ring segments attached to the prong plates at attachment positions forming loops when in a closed position;
• a movable cam mechanism having cam members adjacent the attachment positions;
• and
• a handle pivotally attached to the retainer spring and the slider;
• wherein the cam mechanism is capable of being moved by pivoting the handle causing the cam members to toggle the prong plates between the raised position and the lowered position.

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a binding assembly configured for binding a stack and having a slider with at least one ramp;
• and
• first and second cleats, each comprising,
• a base having a length;
• an extending portion extending outwardly from the base along its length;
• a first surface and a second surface on opposite sides of the base and extending portion, the second surface being configured for securing to a folder;
• and
• a post extending upwardly from the first surface on the base and configured for attaching to a binding assembly;
• wherein the first surface is configured for slidably accommodating the ramp of the slider of a binder mechanism for riding on the first surface, and the extending portion is less than three times the length of the base.

A binder mechanism comprising:

• a retainer;
• a pair of prong plates having outside edges and retained in parallel relation to one another against inner edges by the retainer spring such that the prong plates are capable of toggling between a raised position and a lowered position, the prong plates together defining at least one recess having recess edges;
• a plurality of ring segments attached to the prong plates at attachment positions forming loops when in a closed position;
• a movable cam mechanism having cam members substantially adjacent the attachment positions;
• and
• a handle pivotable with respect to the retainer and the cam mechanism for moving the cam mechanism to cause the cam members to contact the recess edges of the recess to toggle the prong plates between the raised position and the lowered position.