US Patent 8485071 Self-clamping wrench with push-button latch release

A wrench has an elongated handle pivotally connected to a first clamping jaw which is pivotally connected to a second clamping jaw, The wrench has a spring-loaded latch that locks the second clamping jaw to the first clamping jaw. The spring-loaded latch is disengaged by actuating a push-button release mechanism disposed within the handle that causes the spring-loaded latch to pivot to release the second clamping jaw. This press-button release mechanism enables single-handed operation of the wrench. Accordingly, a user can hold and operate two wrenches simultaneously which is not possible with the prior-art wrenches. In other words, the user may clamp a first self-clamping wrench to a tube, pipe, or other such object and then, with only one hand, clamp a second self-clamping wrench to the same tube, pipe, or object.