Patent ID: 8485073

Claim:
A viper crescent wrench device for holding a work piece, the viper crescent wrench device comprising: a hollow first handle having an open first end and a second end; a first slot formed in the first handle; a fixed, non-movable first jaw portion secured to the second end of the first handle; an adjusting bar rotatably mounted within the first handle, the adjusting bar having a first end and a second end; a plurality of toothed notches formed on one side of the adjusting bar; a first spring for biasing the adjusting bar toward the first end of the first handle; a second jaw portion mounted to the second end of the adjusting bar, the second jaw portion movable toward and away from the first jaw portion; a second handle pivotable relative to the first handle, the second handle having a first end and a second end; a second spring for biasing the first end of the second handle in a general direction away from the first handle; a first spring-loaded pawl pivotally mounted to the second end of the second handle, the first spring-loaded pawl selectively interacting with the toothed notches of the adjusting bar through the first slot; a second spring-loaded pawl selectively interacting with the toothed notches of the adjusting bar through the first slot; and a release mechanism cooperating with the adjusting bar to rotate toothed notches of the adjusting bar out of contact with the first pawl and the second pawl; wherein upon squeezing the second handle toward the first handle, the first pawl and the second pawl move the adjusting bar, by action on the toothed notches, in a direction toward the second end of the first handle thereby moving the second jaw portion in a general direction toward the first jaw portion; wherein upon releasing the second handle, the first pawl and the second pawl releasably lock into place on the adjusting bar and the second handle readjusts relative to the first pawl thereby repositioning under bias of the second spring to do the same action again when the second handle is squeezed again until the work piece is secured between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion; and wherein upon rotation of the release mechanism, the toothed notches are rotated out of contact with the first pawl and the second pawl such that the second jaw portion moves in a general direction away from the first jaw portion under bias of the first spring thereby releasing the work piece.