Patent ID: 7406898

Claim:
A hand held tool comprising: a slotted handle having a jaw end, a medial section, and a gripping end, wherein the jaw end defines a jaw, the medial section includes a slot having a gear tooth rack, the toothed rack defining a plurality of alternating teeth and spaces, and the gripping end defining a handle; an operative handle having a pinion gear end and a gripping end, wherein the pinion gear end includes a pinion gear fixed with respect to the operative handle, the pinion gear being positioned in the slot, the pinion gear having a toothed portion and a non-toothed portion, the toothed portion having at least one tooth shaped to engage the spaces of the gear tooth rack in a rolling motion, and the non-toothed portion being structured to enable sliding of the pinion gear along the slot when the pinion gear teeth are not engaged with the gear tooth rack; and an operative jaw slidably mounted with respect to the slotted handle to cooperate with the jaw of the slotted handle to grip a workpiece, the operative jaw having one or more guide mechanisms to maintain the orientation of the jaw with respect to the slot as the jaw slides and as torque is applied to the operative jaw when a workpiece is gripped, the jaw having a post member fixed to the jaw and extending through the pinion gear to pivotally mount the pinion gear with respect to the slotted handle.