Ring binder

Claim 2

A ring binder for perforated paper stock comprising: (a) a first cover having exterior and interior surfaces and an inner edge, (b) a second cover having exterior and interior surfaces and a inner edge spaced from the inner edge of the first cover, (c) a back part of flexible sheet material connecting the first and second covers and forming a flexible back strip which spans the space between inner edges of the first and second covers for allowing the covers to move between an open coplanar position and a closed, generally spaced, parallel position, said back part overlapping the back surface of the first cover to form a first edge part adjacent the inner edge thereof and overlapping the back surface of the second cover to form a second edge part adjacent the inner edge thereof, said first cover having a first pair of holes at said first part, said second cover having a second pair of holes at said second edge part, said first and second pairs of holes being located along a line which extends transversely across said back part, said back part being attached to the first and second covers along the longitudinal edges of the first and second edge parts, the area extending between the first pair of holes and the area extending between the second pair of holes being unattached, and (d) flexible binding prong means extending through the first pair of holes, along the interior surface of the back part, and also extending through the second pair of holes, the binding prong means having a first free end with an eye for receiving a second free end of the prong means to allow for sliding engagement of the prong means through the eye to form a closed loop.

Claim 3

A ring binder as recited in claim 1, wherein the binding prong means has an protrusion adjacent to but spaced from the eye.

Claim 4

A ring binder as recited in claim 1, wherein an intermediate portion of the binding prong means is split and separated.

Claim 5

A ring binder as recited in claim 1, wherein the binding prong means is a single strip of flat plastic material having an eye at one end and a reduced portion at the opposite end for insertion into the eye.

Claim 6

Ring binder for use with rectangular paper stock that is provided with perforations along one edge, comprising: (a) a first rectangular cover having exterior and interior surfaces, (b) a second rectangular cover having exterior and exterior surfaces, (c) a back part of flexible sheet material joining two edges of the covers in spaced, parallel relationship, the back part being of elongated rectangular shape located so that the parallel long edges are parallel to and spaced from the said edges of the covers, each long edge of the back part being welded to a cover along a line spaced from and parallel to its said edge, while each said edge of each cover is welded to the back part, so that an unattached area exists between each cover and the back part, a first set of four apertures being formed in the covers, the apertures being in alignment transversely of the back part, two of the apertures being formed through each of the two covers to give access to its unattached area, a second set of aperture similar to the first set and located a substantial distance along the back part, (d) a first flexible plastic prong extending through the first set of apertures by passing into and out of the two apertures in the first cover, passing across the interior surface of the back part, and then passing in and out of the two apertures in the second cover, and (e) a second flexible plastic prong extending in the same manner through the second set of apertures, each prong having a first free end with an eye for receiving the second free end to allow for sliding engagement of the prong through the eye to form a closed loop that passes through the perforations in the paper stock, the loop expanding and contracting with opening and closing movement of the covers, respectively.

Claim 7

Ring binder for use with rectangular paper stock that is provided with perforations along one edge, comprising: (a) a first rectangular cover having exterior and interior surfaces, (b) a second rectangular cover having exterior and exterior surfaces, (c) a back part of flexible sheet material joining two edges of the covers in spaced, parallel relationship, the back part being of elongated rectangular shape located so that the parallel long edges are parallel to and spaced from the said edges of the covers, each long edge of the back part being welded to a cover along a line spaced from and parallel to its said edge, while each said edge of each cover is welded to the back part, so that an unattached area exists between each cover and the back part, a first set of four apertures being formed in the covers, the apertures being in alignment transversely of the back part, two of the apertures being formed through each of the two covers to give access to its unattached area, a second set of aperture similar to the first set and located a substantial distance along the back part, (d) a first flexible plastic prong extending through the first set of apertures by passing into and out of the two apertures in the first cover, passing across the interior surface of the back part, and then passing in and out of the two apertures in the second cover, and (e) a second flexible plastic prong extending in the same manner through the second set of apertures, each prong having a first free end with an eye for receiving the second free end to allow for sliding engagement of the prong through the eye to form a closed loop that passes through the perforations in the paper stock, the loop expanding and contracting with opening and closing movement of the covers, respectively.