A ring binder subassembly configured for use with attachable and detachable front and back covers, the ring binder subassembly, when attached to the front and back covers, forming a ring binder assembly, the ring binder subassembly comprising:
- a spine having a front edge and a back edge;
- one or more binder rings configured in a ring assembly, the ring assembly being located adjacent to the spine so that the bound edges of papers stored in the ring assembly are arranged proximal to the spine;
- a front extension hingedly fixed to the spine's front edge at one or more points along the front extension's proximal edge, the front extension having a width that is substantially coextensive with a maximum projection of the one or more binder rings along an axis that is perpendicular to an inside surface of the spine, the front extension being mateably attachable at the front extension's distal edge to the front cover, the front cover and front extension when attached being pivotable as a unit about a hinge axis disposed substantially between the spine's front edge and the front extension's proximal edge so that the front cover may be opened and closed when the assembled ring binder is used;
- a back extension hingedly fixed to the spine's back edge at one or more points along the back extension's proximal edge, the back extension having a width that is substantially coextensive with a maximum projection of the one or more binder rings along an axis that is perpendicular to an inside surface of the spine, the back extension being mateably attachable at the back extension's distal edge to the back cover, the back cover and back extension when attached being pivotable as a unit about a hinge axis disposed substantially between the spine's back edge and the back extension's proximal edge so that the back cover may be opened and closed when the assembled ring binder is used;
- a front attachment arrangement for attaching the front cover to the front extension comprising one or more snap-fit fasteners disposed at the front extension's distal edge which are configured to mateably engage with respective one or more engagement features on the front cover's leading edge, the engagement features comprise a through hole that is configured to interface with a mating button projecting from the inside face of the snap-fit fastener;
- a back attachment arrangement for attaching the back cover to the back extension comprising one or more snap-fit fasteners disposed at the back extension's distal edge which are configured to mateably engage with respective one or more engagement features on the back cover's leading edge, the engagement features comprise a through hole that is configured to interface with a mating button projecting from the inside face of the snap-fit fastener;
- a front retaining flange disposed at the distal edge of the front extension, the front retaining flange being at least partially located opposite the one or more snap-fit fasteners on the distal edge of the front extension so as to form a front cover receiving channel between an inside face of the one or more snap-fit fasteners and outside face of the front retaining flange, the front cover receiving channel having a width that is sized to capture a thickness of the front cover in a substantially close fitting manner;
- and
- a rear retaining flange disposed at the distal edge of the rear extension, the rear retaining flange being at least partially located opposite the one or more snap-fit fasteners on the distal edge of the rear extension so as to form a rear cover receiving channel between an inside face of the one or more snap-fit fasteners and outside face of the rear retaining flange, the rear cover receiving channel having a width that is sized to capture a thickness of the rear cover in a substantially close fitting manner.