LEAF FUNNEL
Apparatus for use with a paper yard waste bag is disclosed. The bag has a flat rectangular bottom and, when expanded and empty, interiorly defines a void substantially in the shape of a rectangular prism. The apparatus includes a body having collapsed and expanded configurations as well as a support and a chute. When collapsed, the support is smaller than said prism. When expanded and in use, the support is disposed in a portion of said bag to hold that portion at least substantially fully expanded and the chute is disposed exteriorly of the bag and leads through the support into said bag, the chute having a base side arranged substantially coplanar with a wall of the bag, thereby to permit said bag and apparatus to be positioned with the wall of the bag and the base side of the chute on the ground to function like a dustpan.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/350,087 filed Jun. 1, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to the field of yard maintenance. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for use with a paper yard waste bag.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany plants lose their leaves seasonally and it is commonplace at least in parts of North America for homeowners to gather fallen leaves and package them in large paper bags for municipal pickup.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONForming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for use with a paper yard waste bag of the type which has a flat rectangular bottom and which, when fully expanded and empty, interiorly defines a void substantially in the shape of a rectangular prism. The apparatus comprises a body having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and a support portion and a chute portion. In the collapsed configuration of the body, the support portion is smaller than said rectangular prism. In the expanded configuration of the body and in use, the support portion is disposed in a portion of said bag to hold that portion of said bag at least substantially fully expanded and the chute portion defines a chute disposed exteriorly of the bag and leading through the support portion into said bag. The chute has a base side arranged substantially coplanar with a wall of the bag, thereby to permit said bag and the apparatus to be positioned with the wall of the bag and the base side of the chute on the ground to function in the manner of a dustpan.
According to another aspect of the invention, in the expanded position of the body and in use, a base side of the support portion can be substantially coplanar with the base side of the chute and extend substantially the full width of the wall of the bag.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus can be biased for movement towards the expanded configuration.
According to another aspect of the invention, the chute can be a funnel.
According to another aspect of the invention, in the expanded configuration of the body, the support portion can have a generally triangular cross-section.
According to other aspects of the invention the body can be defined by a single sheet of plastic; the sheet of plastic, if laid flat and viewed in plan, can be generally rectangular;
the base side of the chute can be defined between two slits which extend from a common edge of the sheet, spaced apart from one another and extending away from one another as they extend from the common edge to respective termini; a crease can be provided in the sheet for each slit, the creases extending outwardly from one another to respective edges of the sheet which are opposite to one another and connected by the edge of the sheet from which the slits extend, each crease extending from the termini of the slit for which it is provided; in each portion of the sheet bounded by the perimeter of the sheet, a slit and a crease, an aperture can be provided, to define in said each portion a handle which permits the apparatus to be drawn from the bag when the bag has been filled; notches can be provided in the opposite edges of the sheet such that the creases provided for the slits terminate in the notches; and a pair of folds can be provided in the sheet, each fold extending from a respective notch, towards the edge of the sheet opposite the edge of the sheet from which the slits extend, to define a pair of flaps, the flaps, in use and in the expanded configuration of the body, overlapping one another and being orientated substantially parallel to the base side of the support portion.
Thus, the present invention facilitates yard waste collection.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying photographs, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.
As an initial matter,
Turning now to the present invention and with reference to
In use, the apparatus 20 is firstly arranged in the collapsed configuration, and inserted into the open end of the prior art yard bag 14, as shown in
In this configuration, the support portion 22/26 holds the end of the bag 14 in which it is fitted substantially fully expanded and the chute portion 24 defines a chute 28 leading through the support portion 22 into said bag 14. As shown in
Once the bag 14 has been filled with leaves to the desired amount, the apparatus can be gripped by the handles 39 provided thereon and withdrawn from the bag 14. It will be noted in this regard that the overlapping flaps 30 previously mentioned avoid the presence of a ridge, which tends to reduce ripping in the bag. It will also be noted that the plastic is flexible, and as the bag 14 is filled with leaves, the triangular cross-section of the support portion will give way to a more rectangular or rounded shape, as it is forced against the walls of the bag 14. Once the bag 14 has been filled and the apparatus 20 removed, the bag 14 can then be positioned upright and closed in a conventional manner (not shown).
As indicated above, the foregoing apparatus facilitates leaf collection and is relatively easy to use. The exemplary apparatus is also relatively economical to manufacture, being formed of only a sheet 40 of plastic, with relatively little waste and little forming required. In this regard,
The apparatus of the present invention may be manufactured in the following manner:
the base side 34 of the chute is defined between two slits 42 which extend from a common edge 44 of the sheet, spaced apart from one another and extending away from one another as they extend from the common edge 44 to respective termini 46;
a crease 48 is provided in the sheet 40 for each slit 42, the creases 48 extending outwardly from one another to respective edges 50 of the sheet 40 which are opposite to one another and connected by the edge 44 of the sheet from which the slits 42 extend, each crease 48 extending from the termini 46 of the slit 42 for which it is provided;
in each portion of the sheet bounded by the perimeter of the sheet, a slit 42 and a crease 48, an aperture 52 is provided, to define in said each portion one of the handles 39;
notches 56 are provided in the opposite edges 50 of the sheet such that the creases 48 provided for the slits 42 terminate in the notches 56; and
a pair of folds 58 are provided in the sheet, each fold 58 extending from a respective notch 56, towards the edge 60 of the sheet opposite the edge 44 of the sheet from which the slits 42 extend, to define the pair of flaps 30.
The structure of
Whereas but a single exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown and described, numerous variations are possible. For example, only, whereas in the exemplary embodiment, the apparatus is biased for movement from the collapsed to the expanded configuration through the resiliency of a plastic sheet that is not creased in the portion that constitutes the support portion, this is not strictly necessary. The apparatus could, for example, be provided in an unbiased format, with folds or creases delineating the sides of the support tube. This would facilitate flat packing and would require only that the user manipulate the support portion into the operative configuration without the assistance of the spring action provided by the plastic sheet.
Accordingly, the invention should be understood as limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use with a paper yard waste bag of the type which has a flat rectangular bottom and which, when fully expanded and empty, interiorly defines a void substantially in the shape of a rectangular prism, said apparatus comprising: wherein in the collapsed configuration of the body, the support portion is smaller than said rectangular prism; and in the expanded configuration of the body and in use, the support portion is disposed in a portion of said bag to hold that portion of said bag at least substantially fully expanded and the chute portion defines a chute disposed exteriorly of the bag and leading through the support portion into said bag, the chute having a base side arranged substantially coplanar with a wall of the bag, thereby to permit said bag and the apparatus to be positioned with the wall of the bag and the base side of the chute on the ground to function in the manner of a dustpan.
- a body having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration and a support portion and a chute portion;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the expanded position of the body and in use, a base side of the support portion is substantially coplanar with the base side of the chute and extends substantially the full width of the wall of the bag.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus is biased for movement towards the expanded configuration.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the chute is a funnel.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the body is defined by a single sheet of plastic.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in the expanded configuration of the body, the support portion has a generally triangular cross-section.
7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the expanded configuration of the body, the support portion has a generally triangular cross-section.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the sheet of plastic, if laid flat and viewed in plan, is generally rectangular.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:
- the base side of the chute is defined between two slits which extend from a common edge of the sheet, spaced apart from one another and extending away from one another as they extend from the common edge to respective termini; and
- a crease is provided in the sheet for each slit, the creases extending outwardly from one another to respective edges of the sheet which are opposite to one another and connected by the edge of the sheet from which the slits extend, each crease extending from the termini of the slit for which it is provided.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in each portion of the sheet bounded by the perimeter of the sheet, a slit and a crease, an aperture is provided, to define in said each portion a handle which permits the apparatus to be drawn from the bag when the bag has been filled.
11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, notches are provided in the opposite edges of the sheet such that the creases provided for the slits terminate in the notches.
12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a pair of folds are provided in the sheet, each fold extending from a respective notch, towards the edge of the sheet opposite the edge of the sheet from which the slits extend, to define a pair of flaps, the flaps, in use and in the expanded configuration of the body, overlapping one another and being orientated substantially parallel to the base side of the support portion.
Type: Application
Filed: May 31, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2012
Inventors: Stefanos Karabas (Etobicoke), Joe Pantaleo (Woodbridge)
Application Number: 13/118,574
International Classification: B65B 1/00 (20060101);