Patent ID: 7222558

Claim:
Gripping pliers, comprising: a pliers clamp and a pliers handle, said pliers clamp having a handle portion at one end and a pliers yaw at the opposite end, and said pliers handle having a handle portion at one end and a pliers yaw at the opposite end, said clamp having a longitudinal slot between said handle portion and said pliers yaw thereof, said longitudinal slot defining a pair of parallel inner surfaces, said pliers handle extending through said longitudinal slot, said clamp having aligned longitudinal apertures on both sides of said longitudinal slot, said longitudinal apertures defining detent positions, and further comprising a joint for articulated interconnection of said clamp and said handle. said joint including a detent body movable between a first axial position and a second axial position, said detent body, in its first axial position, permitting movement of said joint in said longitudinal slot and, in its second axial position, is adapted to lock in anyone of said detent positions, wherein said detent positions are defined by toothed edges along at least one of said aligned longitudinal apertures, said detent body has at least two axially spaced detent lugs for engagement with said toothed edges, said joint comprise a bearing ring with end faces, said bearing ring surrounding said detent body and having axial dimensions substantially equal to those of said handle, said bearing ring being guided with its end faces between said inner surfaces of said slot, said pliers handle is rotatably mounted on said bearing ring, and said bearing ring is a profiled ring having a central aperture and radial recesses extending from said central aperture, said radial recesses being substantially complementary to said detent lugs, a pair of said detent lugs of said detent body engaging said radial recesses in said second axial position of said detent body.