Patent ID: 6311588
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: B25B

Abstract:
Self-adjusting pliers for grasping a workpiece, said pliers comprising:a first member providing a first handle portion and a first jaw portion;a second member providing a second handle portion and a second jaw portion;said first member defining a rack having a plurality of teeth;a rack engagement structure mounted to an intermediate portion of said second member and positioned adjacent said rack;a spring structure constructed and arranged to bias said first and second handle portions apart from one another so as to bias said first and second jaw portions apart from one another to a fully opened position,said rack engagement structure being positioned relative to said rack such that during said initial manual movement of said first and second handle portions towards one another, said rack engagement structure travels in disengaged, spaced relation with respect to said rack,said first and second members being connected to one another such that, after said first and second jaw portions engage the opposing sides of the workpiece, continued manual movement of said first and second handle portions towards one another against the bias of said spring structure causes movement of said rack engagement structure toward said rack until said rack engagement structure engages said rack, so that continued application of manual force to said first and second handle portions toward one another after engagement of said rack engagement structure with said rack causes application of such force to said workpiece through said rack engagement structure,said rack engagement structure having a movement restrictive portion being cooperable with said rack so as to limit said movement of said rack engagement structure toward said rack when said jaw portions contact one another in the absence of a workpiece therebetween, so as to reduce friction between said jaw portions when said jaw portions contact one another in the absence of a workpiece therebetween.