Patent ID: 7311344

Claim:
Lockable tongs comprising: a pair of elongate tong members joined at a hinge point for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position for grasping an item, each elongate member defining a U-shaped channel comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion projecting in opposite directions from the hinge point; a locking mechanism, disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis extending between the elongate members and configured to rotate between an unlocking position and a locking position which releasably locks the elongate members in the closed position, the locking mechanism being disposed within the U-shaped channel between the rearward portions of the elongate members, the locking mechanism comprising a stop portion defining, a first portion having a first cross sectional dimension and a second portion having a second cross sectional dimension, the second cross sectional dimension being narrower than the first cross sectional dimension, whereby, when the first portion is rotated to the locking position, the stop portion stops the pivotal movement of the elongate members.