Patent ID: 7614324

Claim:
A multiple-grip set of pliers comprising: an interengaging arm including a first jaw, a first intermediate articulation region having a longitudinal slot therein, and a first handle; an interengaged arm including a second jaw, a second intermediate articulation region, and a second handle, said second articulation region being received through said longitudinal slot of said first articulation region so as to be rotatable and movable along said longitudinal slot, said interengaged arm having an elongated opening with a first axis in a plane of said interengaged arm, said elongated opening having two longitudinal sides comprising a first engagement means having a pitch; and an articulation joint articulating said interengaging arm and said interengaged arm, said articulation joint being arranged on said interengaging arm and including a body having second engagement means operable to cooperate by position adjustment with said first engagement means, said body arranged to extend along a second axis substantially perpendicular to said first axis of said elongated opening; wherein said body of said articulation joint is operable to move along said second axis between a first axial position and a second axial position, said first engagement means and said second engagement means being engaged so as to thereby prevent any relative translation movement between said interengaging arm and said interengaged arm when said articulation joint is in said first axial position, said first engagement means and said second engagement means being disengaged so as to thereby allow relative translation movement between said interengaging arm and said interengaged arm via said longitudinal slot when said articulation joint is in said second axial position; and wherein said interengaging arm, said interengaged arm, and said articulation joint are arranged such that, starting from a first engagement position along said first axis of said elongated opening, said body of said articulation joint is axially movable beyond said second axial position to a third axial position, said articulation joint being axially rotatable about said second axis in said third axial position, and said body of said articulation joint is axially movable from said third axial position back to said second axial position whereat said first engagement means and said second engagement means engage each other at a second engagement position offset from said first engagement position along said first axis so as to allow a position of said body along said first axis to be adjusted by a distance equal to a predetermined fraction of said pitch.