Self-adjusting tool

A self-adjusting tool comprising:

• a. first and second elongated members, each of said members having a workend and at opposite ends therefrom handle means for applying force to said member, said first member having a raceway along a portion thereof and positioned adjacent said handle means;
• b. connector means adjacent said workends for slideably and pivotally connecting said first and second members together, said connector means including an elongated slot in said first member, said slot including engaging means along at least a portion of one edge and an engagement member slideable within said slot and adapted to pivotally engage said engaging means, and means for securing said first and second members together and securing said engagement member in said slot;
• c. a torsion arm with first and second ends, said first end including torsion means connected to said second member and said second end being slideably positioned within said raceway, said torsion arm being of length so as to space said work ends away from each other to their maximum extent when no force is applied to said handle means;
• and
• d. restraining means positioned within said raceway to initially restrain movement of said torsion arm therein, said restraining means comprising a detent positioned within said raceway to abut said torsion arm when no force is applied to said handle means.

A self-adjusting tool comprising:

• a. first and second elongated members, each of said members having a workend and at opposite ends therefrom handle means for applying force to said member, said first member having a raceway along a portion thereof and positioned adjacent said handle means;
• b. connector means adjacent said workends for slideably and pivotally connecting said first and second members together, said connector means including an elongated slot in said first member, said slot including engaging means along at least a portion of one edge and an engagement member slideable within said slot and adapted to pivotally engage said engaging means, and means for securing said first and second members together and securing said engagement member in said slot;
• c. a torsion arm with first and second ends, said first end including torsion means connected to said second member and said second end being slideably positioned within said raceway, said torsion arm being of length so as to space said work ends away from each other to their maximum extent when no force is applied to said handle means;
• d. restraining means positioned within said raceway to initially restrain movement of said torsion arm therein;
• and
• e. locking means for locking said workends to a workpiece and having ratchet teeth positioned in said raceway and a release arm pivotally mounted to said torsion arm and moveably engagable with said ratchet teeth.

A self-adjusting tool comprising:

• a. first and second elongated members, each of said members having a workend and at opposite ends therefrom handle means for applying force to said member, said first member having a raceway along a portion thereof and positioned adjacent said handle means;
• b. connector means adjacent said workends for slideably and pivotally connecting said first and second members together, said connector means including an elongated slot in said first member, said slot including engaging means along at least a portion of one edge and an engagement member slideable within said slot and adapted to pivotally engage said engaging means, and means for securing said first and second members together and securing said engagement member in said slot;
• c. a torsion arm with first and second ends, said first end including torsion means connected to said second member and said second end being slideably positioned within said raceway, said torsion arm being of length so as to space said work ends away from each other to their maximum extent when no force is applied to said handle means;
• d. restraining means positioned within said raceway to initially restrain movement of said torsion arm therein;
• and
• e. locking means for locking said workends to a workpiece and having ratchet teeth positioned in said raceway, a release arm pivotally mounted to said torsion arm and moveably engagable with said ratchet teeth and biasing means for biasing said release arm into engagement with said ratchet teeth.