Locking tongs

Locking tongs for grasping items, comprising:

• two arms, each with a hinge end and a grasping end;
• hinge means for pivotally connecting said two arms together at their hinge ends, so that said arms can pivot between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• locking means slidably disposed at the hinge ends of said two arms, wherein in a first position said locking means engage said hinge ends of said two arms and prevent said arms from pivoting to an open position, and wherein in a second position said locking means disengage said hinge ends of said two arms and allow said arms to pivot freely, said locking means include a longitudinally extending plate mounted on said hinge means between the hinge ends of said two arms having a top end, a bottom end, and a longitudinally extending slot, the longitudinally extending slot being located adjacent to the bottom end of said plate, said longitudinally extending plate additionally includes a transverse slot located adjacent to the top end of said plate, said transverse slot is oriented perpendicular to said longitudinally extending slot, said longitudinally extending plate additionally includes a connecting slot which joins said transverse slot to said longitudinally extending slot and an end slot disposed at said bottom end of said plate and connected to said longitudinally extending slot.