Abstract: A hand tool that is self-adjusting by alternately squeezing and relaxing the hand grip on the two handles, and that has substantially parallel jaws during closing adjustment. In one embodiment, the jaws have opposing gripping surfaces. In another embodiment, the jaws have opposing cutting blades. All of the operations, except the resetting of the adjustable jaw to a wide open position, can be accomplished with just one hand holding the tool.

Abstract: A hand tool that is self-adjusting by alternately squeezing and relaxing the hand grip on the two handles; that has substantially parallel jaws during closing adjustment; that actually grips the work object with at least an 8-to-1 compound gripping leverage; and that can be locked onto an object when desired with a selectively light or strong grip. All of the operations, except the resetting the adjustable jaw to a wide open position, can be done with just the hand holding the tool and it can be made in the form of an adjustable plier, an adjustable wrench, or an adjustable pipe wrench, plus many other applications.