BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a ring binder including a cover and a ring binder mechanism attached to a spine of the cover, the ring binder mechanism being attached to the cover using a fastening system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective similar to FIG. 1 with the ring binder mechanism exploded from the spine of the cover, the remainder of the cover not being shown;
FIG. 3A is a section taken on line 3A-3A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 3B is a section similar to FIG. 3A but showing the ring binder mechanism engaging the cover and a fastener being partially inserted through the spine and into the ring binder mechanism;
FIG. 3C is a section taken on line 3C-3C of FIG. 1 which shows the fastener fully inserted through the spine and into ring binder mechanism;
FIG. 4 is a bottom side perspective of the ring binder mechanism;
FIG. 4A is an enlarged perspective of circled portion of the ring binder mechanism of FIG. 4 showing a mounting post having a retainer affixed thereto;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of the ring binder mechanism of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is the perspective of FIG. 4 but with ring members in an open position;
FIG. 7A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the ring binder mechanism with a housing removed showing a lever connected to hinge plates;
FIG. 7B is a section taken on line 7B-7B of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 8A is a perspective of the mounting post and the retainer exploded from the mounting post;
FIG. 8B is a perspective similar to FIG. 8A but showing the retainer affixed to the mounting post;
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having another configuration;
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the fastening system used to attach the ring binder to the spine partially assembled;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 12 is a section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective of a spine cover, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system of yet another configuration;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 15 is a section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragment of the perspective of FIG. 14 with parts broken away and parts removed to show the fastening system;
FIG. 17 is a bottom side perspective of the ring binder mechanism having clips of the fastening system connected thereto;
FIG. 18A is a perspective of the clip showing a retainer removed therefrom;
FIG. 18B is a view similar to FIG. 18A but showing the retainer affixed to the clip;
FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having a further configuration;
FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 19 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 21 is a section taken on line 21-21 of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is a perspective of a clip showing a retainer affixed to the clip;
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having still a further configuration;
FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 23 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having still yet another configuration;
FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 27 is a fragmentary section taken on line 27-27 of FIG. 26;
FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having another configuration;
FIG. 29 is a view similar to FIG. 28 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 30A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective showing the ring binder mechanism and a retainer exploded therefrom;
FIG. 30B is a perspective of the ring binder mechanism showing the retainers attached thereto;
FIG. 30C is a bottom side perspective showing the retainers attached to the ring binder mechanism;
FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having still yet another configuration;
FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31 but showing the fastening system used to attach the ring binder mechanism to the spine partially assembled;
FIG. 33A is a perspective showing a cap having a retainer in an unlocked position;
FIG. 33B is a perspective similar to FIG. 33A but showing the retainer in a locked position;
FIG. 33C is a fragmentary perspective showing the cap partially cut away to show the retainer in the locked position;
FIG. 34 is an exploded perspective showing a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having a further configuration;
FIG. 35 is a view similar to FIG. 34 but showing the fastening system used to attach the ring binder to the spine partially assembled;
FIG. 36 is a view similar to FIG. 35 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 37 is a section taken on line 37-37 of FIG. 36;
FIG. 38A is a perspective showing a cap having a retainer removed therefrom;
FIG. 38B is a perspective similar to FIG. 38A but showing the retainer affixed to the cap;
FIG. 39 is an exploded perspective of a cover spine, a ring binder mechanism and a fastening system having still another configuration;
FIG. 40 is a view similar to FIG. 39 but showing the fastening system used to attach the ring binder to the spine partially assembled;
FIG. 41 is a view similar to FIG. 40 but showing the fastening system attaching the ring binder mechanism to the spine;
FIG. 42A is a perspective of a mounting post having a retainer removed therefrom; and
FIG. 42B is a perspective similar to FIG. 42A but showing the retaining affixed to the mounting post.
Patent Application
20070223990
