Quick change blade assembly for a rotary mower

A blade assembly for a rotary mower, comprising:

• a blade adapter for removably retaining a mower blade, said adapter having an upper end provided with an opening for receiving a compression spring, said blade adapter further including a plurality of inwardly projecting ears disposed in spaced relationship within the opening at said upper end thereof;
• a fixed adapter dimensioned to be received within the opening in the blade adapter and having an upper end in which a cavity is formed, said cavity being dimensioned to receive an engine drive shaft of said rotary mower;
• said fixed adapter further including:
• (a) a first plurality of grooves disposed on an outer surface of the fixed adapter and extending from said upper end for the entire length of the fixed adapter, said grooves being spaced to correspond to the spacing of said ears;
• and
• (b) a second plurality of correspondingly spaced grooves disposed on said outer surface in angularly offset relationship to said first plurality of grooves, said second plurality of grooves extending from said upper end of the fixed adapter and being dimensioned in length, width and depth to substantially correspond with the dimensions of said ears;
• and
• securing means for connecting the blade to a lower end of blade adapter.