Patent ID: 8713787

Claim:
A flat finisher maintenance method, the maintenance method comprising the steps of: outfitting a flat-finisher-based coil spring with a spring coupler, the spring coupler comprising: radially extending structure for insertion intermediate adjacent loops of the flat-finisher-based coil spring, the radially extending structure extending substantially radially relative to a spring axis of the flat-finisher-based coil spring when outfitted upon said flat-finisher-based coil spring; and primary coupling means for enabling a user to manually alter tension in the flat-finisher-based coil spring when outfitted upon said flat-finisher-based coil spring; tensioning the flat-finisher-based coil spring, the flat-finisher-based coil spring being tensioned by fixing first and second spring ends of said flat-finisher-based coil spring via spring tensioning means; altering tension in said flat-finisher-based coil spring via the spring coupler so as to disengage the first spring end from the spring tensioning means; relaxing the flat-finisher-based coil spring via the removed first spring end; and maintaining the flat-finisher-based coil spring.