TONGS WITH ENCAPSULATED LOCKING MECHANISM

摘要

A pair of locking kitchen tongs (10) for use in handling food items and the like is disclosed. The tongs have a pair of rigid steel arms (12,14) each having a workpiece engaging or grasping end (22), a body portion (20) and a pivot end (16) from which the arms ar pivotally connected together, The grasping ends are preferably scalloped along one edge, for handling relatively large items, and serrated (i.e. fine-toothed) along another edge, for handling relatively smaller or fine items. A bulbous, tear-shaped body (60) made from a rigid, non-metal material encapsulates the pivot ends of the two arms as they are pivotally connected together to permit movement between an open position and a closed position. Also within and coupled to the encapsulating body is a sliding locking plat (50). The locking plate has a body defining a slot which allows the locking plate to slide between a locked position, maintaining the arms in their closed position, and an unlocked position, allowing them free pivoting movement.