# US 2013/0152359 A1 · Rotary trimmer apparatus and related rotary head assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152359 A1 - Document ID: US20130152359A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/690,583 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-01 - Inventors: Orlando Jerez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152359A1 ## CPC - A01D 34/4166: {Mounting or replacement of the lines} - Y10T 29/49824: to elastically deform work part or connector - Y10T 279/33: Member applies axial force component - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus and method is provided for removing a retained member from a rotary head assembly configured for attachment to a rotary power source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising a rotary head assembly configured for attachment to a rotary power source, the rotary head assembly comprising a rotary head housing defining one or more slots, each of the slots being intersected by at least a portion of a respective retention member chamber defined by the rotary head housing, and each of the slots being sized and configured to receive a respective retained member a first face and a second face, wherein the first face and the respective retention member chamber define a respective first face aperture; one or more retention members, each comprising a first retention member portion and a second retention member portion, wherein the second retention member portion is sized and configured such that at least a portion of the second retention member portion may be disposed within a respective retention member chamber; and one or more biasing members, each biasing member and a respective one of the retention members being coupled to the rotary head housing and each biasing member biasing the respective retention member so that (i) the first retention member portion extends through the respective first face aperture and is external of the respective retention member chamber such that the first retention member portion is accessible to manipulation by an actuating external force and (ii) the second retention member portion thereof in the respective retention member chamber intersects and extends through the respective slot, thereby retaining a portion of the retained member within the respective slot, wherein each retention member and respective biasing member are sized and configured so that, when the actuating external force is applied to the first retention member portion, the retention member is actuated causing the bias of the biasing member to be overcome and the second retention member portion to be removed from the respective slot, thereby releasing the respective retained member from the respective slot; and wherein at least a portion of the second retention member portion is geometrically shaped, and an aperture defined by the retained member is defined in a geometrical mating fashion relative to the geometrically shaped second retention member portion, so that the second retention member portion is removed from the aperture defined by the retained member through which the second retention member portion extends only when the second retention member portion is in key-and-lock style geometric alignment with the aperture defined by the retained member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retention member chamber defined by the rotary head housing comprises a first retention member chamber portion and a second retention member chamber portion and the rotary head housing further defines a sidewall at least semi-encircling the first face aperture, a top portion of the sidewall extending further from the first face than the first retention member portion when biased by the biasing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first retention member portion comprises a first retention member head portion coupled to a first retention member shaft portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the retention member is disposed within the retention member chamber such that the first retention member shaft portion extends through the first retention member chamber portion, the first face aperture, and the biasing member and is further coupled to the first retention member head portion such that the biasing member and the retention member are coupled to the rotary head housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the biasing member is a spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second retention member chamber portion intersects the respective slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first retention member chamber portion and the second retention member chamber portion each intersect the respective slot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retention member forms a J-shaped retention member, the straight portion of the retention member forming the first retention member portion and at least a portion of the curved portion of the J-shaped retention member forming the second retention member portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first retention member portion comprises a first retention member head portion coupled to a first retention member shaft portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the diameter of the second retention member portion is greater than the diameter of the first retention member shaft portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the portion of the curved portion of the J-shaped retention member forming the second retention member portion forms a square-shaped cross section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the retained member is a trimmer line, wherein the trimmer line is inserted into the respective slot and wrapped around and retained by the retention member, the end portions of the trimmer line extending distally from the respective slot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the retained member defines a retained member aperture sized and configured to accept the second retention member portion therethrough, such that the retained member is retained by the retention member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the retained member is selected from the group comprising a trimmer line holder, a broom apparatus, a mixer blade, a blower blade, and a propeller blade. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the trimmer line holder defines one or more recesses and a respective slot opening, wherein the trimmer line holder comprises a hook member disposed within the respective recess, the hook member capable of retaining a trimmer line when the trimmer line as folded is wrapped around the hook member and the remainder of the trimmer line extending through the respective slot opening and distally from the trimmer line holder. ### Claim 16 A method for removing one or more retained members from a rotary head assembly configured for attachment to a rotary power source and comprising a rotary head housing defining one or more slots each being sized and configured to receive a respective one of the retained members and being intersected by at least a portion of a retention member chamber defined by the rotary head housing, the method comprising applying an actuating external force to a first retention member end portion of a retention member, the first retention member end portion and at least a portion of a second retention member portion of the retention member being biased by at least one biasing member prior to application of the actuating external force such that the first retention member end portion is external to the retention member chamber and the second retention member portion retains the retained member in the slot, wherein upon application of the actuating external force, the bias of the biasing member is overcome, removing the second retention member portion from the slot, and removing the retained member from the rotary head assembly; wherein at least a portion of the second retention member portion is geometrically shaped, and an aperture defined by the retained member is defined in a geometrical mating fashion relative to the geometrically shaped second retention member portion, so that a second retention member portion is removed through the aperture defined by the retained member through which the second retention member portion extends only when the second retention member portion is in key-and-lock style geometric alignment with the aperture defined by the retained member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the rotary housing further defines a first face and a second face, wherein the first face and the retention member chamber define a respective first face aperture and the retention member chamber comprises a first retention member chamber portion and a second retention member chamber portion, and a sidewall at least semi-encircling the first face aperture, a top portion of the sidewall extending further from the first face than the first retention member end portion when biased by the biasing member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the first retention member end portion comprises a first retention member head portion coupled to a first retention member shaft portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the retention member is disposed within the retention member chamber such that the first retention member shaft portion extends through the first retention member chamber portion, the first face aperture, and the biasing member and is further coupled to the first retention member head portion such that the biasing member and the retention member are coupled to the rotary head housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the biasing member is a spring. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein the actuating external force is applied by the hand of a human operator directly contacting the first retention member end portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the retention member forms a J-shaped retention member, the straight portion of the retention member forming a portion of the first retention member end portion and at least a portion of the curved portion of the J-shaped retention member forming the second retention member portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22 wherein the portion of the curved portion of the J-shaped retention member forming the second retention member portion forms a square-shaped cross section. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 wherein the retained member is a trimmer line, wherein the trimmer line is inserted into the respective slot and wrapped around and retained by the retention member, the end portions of the trimmer line extending distally from the respective slot. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the retained member defines a retained member aperture sized and configured to accept the second retention member portion therethrough, such that the retained member is retained by the retention member. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the retained member is selected from the group comprising a trimmer line holder, a broom apparatus, a mixer blade, a blower blade, and a propeller blade.