Patent ID: 7870764

Claim:
A lock comprising: a lock body including a guide channel and an access orifice that provides access to the guide channel from outside the lock body; an elongated securement member; a locking mechanism disposed within the guide channel, the locking mechanism comprising a spool slideably disposed within the channel in the lock body and capable of being moved between a first position and a second position, an interior passageway passing longitudinally through an interior of the spool, and a pair of clamping jaws operatively connected to a first end portion of the spool, the pair of clamping jaws comprising an interior surface that defines a gripping surface that extends longitudinally about the interior passageway, the gripping surface being configured to closely surround and lockingly engage the securement member when the jaws are in a clamping position, and to allow movement of the securement member when the jaws are in a spread position; and a combination lock mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism, the combination lock operable to place the locking mechanism in a locked condition in which the clamping jaws secure the securement member in a fixed position and, upon entry of a proper combination, to place the locking mechanism in a released condition in which the clamping jaws are capable of releasing the securement member; wherein the lock body channel comprises jaw guide surfaces that act upon the jaws to allow the jaws to move toward one another when the spool is placed in the first position and urge the jaws apart from one another when the spool is placed in the second position.