Self-adjusting tool utilizing a cam

A pair of pliers comprising:

• a first plier member assembly having a jaw portion, a tension assembly, and a cam assembly;
• a second plier member assembly having a movable member with a jaw portion, a handle member, and a second link;
• a jaw portion first pivot point coupling said first plier member assembly to said second member assembly;
• said movable member pivotably coupled to said cam assembly at a jaw portion second pivot point and pivotably coupled to said handle member;
• said second link pivotably coupled to said first plier member and to said handle member, said joint between said second link and said handle member being a toggle joint;
• a locking assembly structured to lock the toggle joint at a fixed angle;
• said first plier member assembly jaw portion and said second plier member assembly jaw portion structured to close together in a three-phase motion consisting of a first pivot phase, a transition phase and a second pivot phase, said first plier member assembly jaw portion and said second plier member assembly jaw portion pivoting relative to each other about said jaw portion first pivot point during said first pivot phase and pivoting relative to each other about said jaw portion second pivot point during said second pivot phase;
• and
• said cam assembly structured to engage said tension assembly when said first plier member assembly jaw portion and said second plier member assembly jaw portion contact a workpiece thereby initiating said transition phase between said first pivot phase and said second pivot phase wherein said rotation about said jaw portion first pivot point is halted causing said jaw portions to rotate about said jaw portion second pivot point.

A pair of pliers comprising:

• a first plier member assembly having a jaw portion, a handle portion, a tension assembly, an elongated first link and a cam assembly;
• said first link pivotably coupled at one end to said first plier member assembly handle portion at a first link pivot point and coupled at the other end to said cam assembly;
• a second plier member assembly having a movable member with a jaw portion, a handle member and an elongated second link;
• said second link pivotably coupled at one end to said first plier member assembly handle portion at a first jaw portion pivot point and pivotably coupled at the other end to said handle member at a toggle pivot point;
• said handle member pivotably coupled to said movable member at a handle member pivot point;
• said movable member pivotably coupled to said cam assembly at a second jaw portion pivot point;
• wherein the distance between said first link pivot point and said second jaw portion pivot point is about the same as the distance between said first jaw portion pivot point and said handle member pivot point;
• and
• whereby said first link pivot point, said second jaw portion pivot point, said first jaw portion pivot point and said handle member pivot point form a parallelogram.