ORIGINAL: downunder
I had to do a google search to find out what channel locks were...it seems it's an American generic term for any kind of pliers. Not a good idea.
What we all like to call channel locks are actually adjustable tongue and groove pliers like the ones on the Channellock web site
http://www.channellock.com/acb/store..._Groove_C3.cfm
Maybe channellock invented or patented the design and the brand became the name of the tool?