Gardening tarp

Abstract

A collector and method for catching the vegetation clippings from a trimming shrubs, bushes or hedgerows of vegetation wherein the collector is a lightweight, flexible, water resistant and generally rectangular shaped tarp easily transportable with the clippings in a secure pouch or chamber formed by hook and loop fasteners touched together after the trimming operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a gardening tarp for catching garden clippings from landscape trimming and, more particularly, to tarp and method for catching the clippings from yard vegetation when periodically trimmed. Most residential and commercial building are now landscaped with beautiful ornamental trees, bushes and hedgerows of various vegetation like evergreen bushes or shrubs. After this type of landscaping is planted, it is often accented with various landscaping stones or pebbles underneath and around the trunks of the vegetation to provide a pleasing landscape architecture. The bed of crushed stone or rock provides a ground cover and keeps other vegetation such as weeds and the like from sprouting up under and around the expensive landscape vegetation.

At least monthly but likely more often, a landscape service company or homeowner will find it necessary to clip or trim the vegetation in a predetermined shape in keeping with the overall landscape architectural plan for the land. When landscape vegetation is clipped or trimmed, the droppings fall to the ground around the vegetation. The landscaping stone is often of a colored variation which shows the unsightly clippings or trimmings on top of the stone. Previously, a landscaping services might use high speed gasoline or electric blowers to blow the clippings away from the stone onto the adjacent lawn or onto the cement sidewalks or driveways where the clippings are collected for disposal. However, this favored backpacker blower use by lawn service personal is a messy process and often leaves clippings that are blown into the various plants or into the hedgerow growth itself especially if the hedgerow is adjacent the outside wall of a commercial or residential building where the turbulent air effects from the backpacker blower is magnified.

Thus, the professional landscaping service or homeowner is looking for an easier method of removing the waste clippings and preventing it from getting entangled in the hedgerow vegetation or getting mixed in with the ornamental colored stone or crushed rock. Moreover, powerful lawn service backpacker blowers cause havoc with small ground cover stone when trying to clear the clippings which will disturbed the uniform spreading of the crushed stone covering and leave bare spots for weeds to grow where once there was a bed of crushed stone or rock completely covering the soil around the vegetation.

So most homeowners and even professional landscapers are in need of a more simple, convenient portable means of collecting these clippings during the timming of these hedgerows, shrubs and bushes and the like that are typically on a monthly if not weekly maintenance program to keep their pleasing shapes without disturbing the ornamental stone as originally laid around and about the landscape vegetation and, in general, to keep things in a tidy fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable clippings tarp in accordance with the invention includes a generally one-piece flexible nylon or plastic tarp of a generally elongated rectangular shape and a predetermined thickness for strength to catch the clippings from the vegetation. The tarp has a generally smooth surface on both sides so it does not catch on the stones or stick to the dirt around the vegetation in the absence of ornamental crushed stones or rocks around the vegetation. A plurality of grommets are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another on the perimeter of the rectangular shaped tarp and assist in fastening of a tape located on one side also on its perimeter, such as a hook-and-loop fastener or touch fastener. One such brand of hook and loop fasteners are the VELCRO® brand of fasteners. At opposing ends of the tarp are rope handles fixedly attached thereto for picking up the tarp and carrying it to a disposal receptacle like a garden trash barrel or yard waste bag for disposal of the clippings with the waste disposal services of the city, town or village. The tarp further includes several sets of straps for storing the tarp in a folded configuration for easy storage of the tarp in the home or on a landscaper's truck.

A method for using the portable clippings tarp includes the unfolding of the tarp from its storage configuration and spreading it out in an elongated fashion on top of the soil or ornamental stone closely adjacent the vegetation to be trimmed. Since the tarp is very flexible, strong, smooth and generally waterproof, it will conform to most trimming layouts unlike a heavy canvas tarpaulin, which is bulky and difficult to configure in tight places such as between a building wall and a hedgerow were clippings are difficult to catch before the clippings fall upon the ornamental stones, pebbles or soil adjacent the hedgerow being trimmed. The task of trimming ornamental landscaping vegetation often falls to a woman in the household who desires to have a very light-weight and easily to maneuver tarp to catch the clippings. So a heavy canvas tarpaulin is not a practical means of use by women or even most men at the household. With the tarp spread out adjacent the side of the hedgerow being trimmed, the landscaper or homeowner then trims the hedgerow vegetation with the clippings falling into a generally U-shaped configuration of the tarp between a building wall and the hedge being trimmed.

Next, the tarp is closed to form a clippings trap, pouch or chamber for the clippings by touching the perimeter loop and hook strips along the opposing edges to form a generally cylindrical chamber or pouch with the clippings therein. At least one or more pair of rope handles affixed to the tarp is used to carrying the cylindrical shaped clippings pouch or chamber within the tarp to a yard waste barrel, bag or other receptacle for disposal. The homeowner or landscaper then tips the cylindrical pouch or chamber downwardly at one end and the clippings by gravitational pull fall out of the open end of the cylindrically shaped chamber or pouch within the tarp into the yard waste disposal barrel or bag. An opposing hook and loop fastener strip across each end of the cylindrically shaped tarp allows the trimmer or landscaper to close each of the ends of the chamber by touching the hook and loop strips together in a transport mode until reaching the yard waste disposal receptacle.

Then the loop and hook fastener strips are pulled apart at least at one end of the tarp chamber or pouch to dispose of the clippings. Given the size of the clippings it often becomes necessary to carry the various clippings without spilling them out one end or the other in its cylindrically chamber or pouch configuration while transporting them to the yard waste receptacle. Afterwards, the tarp hook and loop fastener strip attachments are pulled apart along their outer edges of the rectangular shaped tarp and the tarp is then folded into a compact and convenient predetermined configuration for storage. A combination of exterior hook and loop fastener removable straps and strips, affixed on the opposite side from the hook and loop fastener perimeter strips, maintains the tarp in a tidy folded configuration for its storage in a folded configuration like a folded blanket on a shelf in a closet.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, portable but extremely durable and strong, gardening tarp to catch the clippings from the landscape vegetation that can be easily transported to a waste disposal receptacle without spilling the clippings.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a gardening tarp that can be configured into a clippings chamber or pouch for transporting the clippings to a waste disposal receptacle.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a secure collector for vegetation clippings from trimming bushes, shrubs and hedgerows in which an interior clippings pouch or chamber is formed that is impervious to turbulent air coming from a backpacker blower when the collector is left in place during a maintenance session for any reason.

It is an object of the invention to provide a gardening tarp that resists moisture from wet clippings or weather including rain and that sheds the moisture to keep the tarp light-weight if left out in a rain during an interrupted trimming due to weather or left out overnight and then once again subject to an overnight rain shower.

It is a another object of the invention to provide a waterproof gardening tarp which is capable of forming an enclosed chamber or pouch for transporting the vegetation clippings that generally keeps out weather elements like a rain shower so that the weight of the clippings remains low because the clippings are prevented from absorbing the moisture from the rain or other weather elements when left on the ground during a trimming operation.

Other features and advantages of the invention, which are believed to be novel and nonobvious, will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Reference is made to the claims for interpreting the full scope of the invention, which is not necessarily represented by any one embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an overall perspective view of a gardening tarp in an installed configuration for catching vegetation clippings incorporating the basic components in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gardening tarp in its chamber configuration of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a gardening tarp being configured into a chamber of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the gardening tarp of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the gardening tarp of the invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a folded gardening tarp in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a generally top perspective view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although this invention is susceptible to embodiments of many different forms, a preferred embodiment will be described and illustrated in detail herein. The present disclosure exemplifies the principles of the invention and is not to be considered a limit to the broader aspects of the invention to the particular embodiment as described.

Referring now to the drawings and especially to FIG. 1 shows a gardening tarp 10 is shown therein. The tarp 10 is placed adjacent a hedgerow 12 of ornamental landscaping placed a predetermined distance from a building wall 14 of a residence or commercial building to provide an ascetic landscape architecture for the owner. The tarp 10 is placed on top of ornamental crushed stone or pebbles 16 to catch clippings 18 from the hedgerow 12 when clipped by a trimming shear 20 or other suitable device. The tarp 10 catches the clippings 18 and prevents them from mixing in with the stones 15 or finding their way onto any adjacent lawn 22.

The tarp 10 is generally an elongated rectangular shape made out of a waterproof nylon or plastic material or any other suitable material having the same properties. Hook and loop fastener strips 24 are fixedly attached to one side of the tarp along its entire outer edges. The hook and loop fastener strips 24 are fastened to one another from touching their surfaces together along the outer edges of the tarp wherein one opposing side of the tarp includes a hook fastener strip and the other opposing side of the tarp includes a mating loop fastener strip which in turn forms a tight and complete closure of the tarp edges to form a clippings chamber or pouch. The operation of closing the hook and loop fastener strips by touching the strips together is well known in the art from the use of VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners on all types of materials by the general public.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an aforementioned clippings chamber or pouch 26 of a generally cylindrical shape is formed by touching the outer edges of the tarp on the side with the hook and loop fastening strips 24 together along its opposing longitudinal edges 28. The clippings chamber 26 includes openings 30 at either end of the chamber 26. The openings 30 are closed by touching their outer edges together such that the hook and loop fasteners on the inner side of the chamber engage shutting off the opening and keeping the clippings 18 from spilling out of the chamber 26 while transporting the tarp 10 to a yard waste receptacle 32 for disposal. The landscaper or homeowner then tips one end of the tarp 10 lower over the receptacle 32 receiving the clippings 18 and lets gravity or a slight shaking movement of the tarp 10 in conjunction with gravity to let the clippings 18 falls into the receptacle 32 for disposal. If both openings 30 are closed by the hook and loop fasteners 24, the homeowner simply pulls the fastening strips apart on one of the ends of the chamber to form the opening for the clippings 18 to pass through when disposing of them.

In addition, pair of generally rope handles 34, which can be made of nylon or other suitable material, are fixedly attached at opposite ends of the tarp 10 permit the homeowner to easily carry the tarp 10 to the receptacle 32 for disposal as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the tarp 10 is shown in a partially formed chamber 26 wherein hooks 36 are shown on the left half side of the tarp 10 and loops 38 are shown on the right half side of the chamber opening 30. By touching these two halves together the hook and loop fasteners shut this opening and prevent the clippings 18 from falling out of this opening during transporting of the clippings 18 to the receptacle 32. Moreover, the tarp 10 can be completely closed by touching the hook and loop fasteners both longitudinally and at either end of the chamber 26 and then left in place between the wall 14 and the hedgerow 12 if a sudden rain shower comes up without the clippings 18 become sodden with moisture from the rain because the light-weight, waterproof and flexible tarp 10 seals out the weather and even the turbulent air from the backpacker blower from soaking or disturbing the clippings 18 therein. Also, the clippings are prevented from mixing in with the ornamental stones 16 or even mixing in with a soil 40 in the event that ornamental stones 16 are not used between the building wall 14 and hedgerow 12.

FIG. 4 shows a top plan view of the tarp 10 spread out completely and shows a series of grommets 42 spaced a predetermined distance apart on the outer opposing longitudinal edges of the tarp 10 which secure the hook and loop fasteners 24 around the perimeter of the tarp 10 on the opposite side of the tarp 10 as shown. In additional, FIG. 4 shows that a draw rope 44 extending longitudinally through a folded over seam 46 running along one opposing side of the tarp 10 which is able to draw the chamber or pouch 26 into a more compact or tighter configuration. The draw rope 44 can also be used to pull the tarp 10 around in a circular configuration to trim a single bush or shrub. The rope 44 might also be used by a homeowner or lawn maintenance service to cover certain vegetation in the evening to prevent frost or other elements like hail from damage more fragile vegetation during certain inclement weather conditions. The rope can be tied to a stake in the ground or around the base of a bush in a hedgerow being covered by the tarp 10. The pair of rope handles 34 at either end of the tarp can also be used to hold down the tarp over protected vegetation to prevent wind or a backpacker blower from blowing the tarp off of the protected vegetation covered by the tarp 10 pair of hook and loop fastener strips 48 are affixed to this side of the tarp that are later used to secure the tarp when in its storage configuration to be explained below.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom plan view of the tarp 10 spread out for catching the clippings 18 therein. The hooks 36 run the entire longitudinal length on one opposing side of the tarp 10. The loops 38 run the entire longitudinal length on the other opposing side of the tarp 10. When the hooks 36 and loops 38 are touched together along the longitudinal length edge of the tarp 10, the two opposing edges are securely fastened together forming the generally cylindrically shaped clippings chamber 26. Also, shown are the hooks 36 and loops 38, each making up half of the length on the shorter opposing sides of the rectangular shaped tarp which form the openings 30. When the hooks 36 and loops 38 on these sides are pressed together, the fasteners 24 close off each opening 30 for transporting the clippings chamber 26 with the clippings 18 therein without spilling the clippings 18 during transport or for securing them from weather if the chamber or pouch 26 is left in place for a time after collecting the clippings 18 before later transport to a receptacle 32 for disposal. The draw rope 44 is shown in its rolled over seam enclosure 46 stretching the longitudinal length of the tarp 10 on one of the opposing sides and the seam enclosure include a passageway therethrough for pulling the ends of the rope to make the pouch or chamber 26 more compact or for forming a drop tarp around a single plant to be trimmed.

FIG. 5 also demonstrates how an end user of the invention could take one or more tarps 10 and affix them together to expand the width or length of the tarp covering for trimming vegetation. The hook and loop fastener strips on opposing sides of each tarp 10 means that one tarp 10 can be attached to another side of an adjacent tarp 10 in a side by side or end to end relationship by touching the respective hook and loop fastener strips together to expand the width or length by attaching one tarp to another along their sides or ends to form a limitless width or length in linked together tarps 10. The only limitation in the ultimate width or length of the tarps strung together is the practical size of the linked tarps to carry or use by the homeowner or lawn maintenance service. The tarp 10 is generally made from a 200 denier oxford nylon in one preferred embodiment from a nylon material which may or may not have a urethane or other coating on its surface to adapt it for a particular use. The 200 denier thickness tarp is generally resistant to piercing by rose bush thorn clippings and similar sharp clippings 18 from trimming certain types of vegetation having thorns. A heavier tarp of 400 to 420 denier nylon is still more resistant to piercing from sharp or pointed clippings 18 but there is a trade off because as the tarp thickness increases, the tarp 10 becomes less flexible and more difficult to spread around a single bush or scrub for catching the clippings 18.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the tarp 10 in its storage, folded over configuration. The fasteners 48 keep the tarp 10 in its folded condition without the ability of the tarp 10 unfolding when moved about on a garage storage shelf or in storage within a landscaping vehicle. The draw rope 44 permits the user of the tarp 10 to draw the tarp together in a more rolled up configuration if drawn at either end when the chamber 26 is formed to make a longer longitudinal tarp more portable and transportable by the homeowner or landscape service employee if professionals are using the tarp 10 to collect the vegetation clippings 18.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the tarp 10 with the fastening straps 48 securing the folded storage configuration of the tarp 10. The rope handles 32 and the draw rope 44 are also shown in more detail in the top surface position of the tarp 10. A grommet 42 affixing the hook and loop fastener strips 24 and the rope handles 32 to the tarp 10 extends completely through the tarp 10 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. FIG. 7 further shows how the hook and loop fastener strips and straps 48 work in combination to keep the folded tarp 10 from coming apart during storage since the folds of the tarp 10 are held firmly together by this combination of hook and loop fastener strips and straps.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. A garden trimming collector for catching vegetation clippings comprising:

a generally waterproof, lightweight, flexible an portable rectangular shaped tarp for generally placing on the ground adjacent to the vegetation;

opposing hook and loop fasteners fixedly attached to and extending along opposite length edges of the tarp on the same side, respectively, at a predetermined distance from each longitudinal edge:

opposing hook and loop fasteners fixedly attached to and extending along opposite width edges of the tarp on said same side, respectively, at a predetermined distance from each width edge and perpendicular to the longitudinal opposing edges of the tarp; and

wherein the opposing hook and loop fasteners on the length and width edges of the tarp are touched together to form a clippings chamber or pouch for transporting vegetation clippings without spilling said clippings to an appropriate disposal location.

2. The garden trimming collector of claim 1, wherein the tarp is made from a generally waterproof nylon, plastic or other similar material to prevent the outdoor elements such as rain, wind and man-made elements from adversely effecting the collected clippings.

3. The garden trimming collector of claim 1, wherein the tarp along one side edge of its longitudinal axis includes a rolled over seam of material forming a hollow passageway the length of the tarp for receiving a rope extending therethrough to form a draw string action in order to compact the size of the clippings chamber for easy transportation and disposal of the clippings or to draw the tarp into a configuration around the vegetation to be trimmed.

4. The garden trimming collector of claim 1, wherein the clippings chamber or pouch is generally in a cylindrical shaped chamber when the longitudinal edges on said same side of the tarp having the opposing hook and loop fasteners are touched together and further includes an openings at either end of the cylindrical chamber for depositing clippings, each opening further closes by touching the opposing hook and loop fasteners on the width ends of the cylindrical chamber wherein the hook and loop fasteners at either or both width ends are touched together to close each opening and form a completely sealed chamber or pouch to protect the clippings from being dislodged or disrupted due to the elements from nature or from backpacker gas blowers before transporting the clippings for disposal.

5. The garden trimming collector of claim 4, further comprising:

grommets spaced a predetermined distance apart along the entire perimeter edge of the tarp and extending through the opposing hook and loop fasteners to permanently affix the hook and loop fasteners on all four edges of the generally rectangular shaped tarp for forming a strong clippings chamber capable of carrying a tarp filled to capacity with clippings without opening; and

a pair of rope handles, one each affixedly attached closely adjacent to either end of the generally cylindrical clippings chamber openings to facilitate the clippings disposal when emptying the chamber so that the chamber can be shook back and forth and tilted downwardly to dislodge any remaining clippings in the chamber through either one of the openings during a disposal operation.

6. The garden trimming collector of claim 4, wherein the tarp material is generally impervious to rain and resistant to abrasion from stones and other things encountered on the ground adjacent vegetation to be trimmed, said tarp material is further resistant to degradation from a mixture of water or chemicals and wherein the tarp with its opposing hook and loop fasteners along the four edges thereof are capable of linking one or more tarps together at their edges in either the lengthwise or widthwise directions to fit a desired configuration for catching the clippings or acting as a cover for vegetation to protect it against the elements of nature or man.

7. A collector for catching vegetation clippings, comprising:

a generally lightweight, waterproof and abrasion resistant tarp of a predetermined size and shape for placing the tarp upon the ground in and around landscape vegetation to catch the clippings as the vegetation is trimmed or cut; and

opposing hook and loop fasteners spaced a predetermined distance around the entire perimeter of the tarp on the same side thereof that are touched together to form a generally secure chamber or pouch for transporting the clippings for disposal.

8. The collector of claim 7, wherein the tarp further includes a pair of handles located at a predetermined location on the tarp for carrying the tarp with the clippings in the secure pocket and further includes the ability to be linked to additional tarps to change the length or width of collecting tarp by extending the width or length by linking one or more tarps together through touching opposing hook and loop fasteners on each tarp together to increase the width or length of the collecting tarp.

9. The collector of claim 8, wherein the tarp further includes a seam extending along at least one side of the tarp having a passageway therethrough, a draw rope extending through said passageway and movably drawn within said seam by pulling either or both ends of the rope out of the seam to compact the secure pocket with the clippings to more easily carry the tarp for disposal or to form the tarp to surround the vegetation to be trimmed.

10. The collector of claim 9, wherein the tarp is made of flexible nylon or other generally suitable water-resistant material, said flexible tarp is easily folded like a blanket into a compact storage configuration wherein the pair of rope handles on opposing ends of the tarp are now closely adjacent to one another for carrying the tarp, said tarp further including at least one strap having either a loop or hook fastener on one side thereof, said tarp further including in its folded configuration at least two pair of hook or loop fasteners, one attached to the top of the tarp fold in a predetermined location adjacent the folded and exposed edges of the tarp and the other attached to the bottom fold of the tarp in a predetermined location adjacent the folded and exposed edges of the tarp so that the strap having either a mating hook or loop fastener touch fastens the strap to the top and bottom hook or loop fasteners to hold the folded tarp together during storage by binding the folded edges together in a fixedly relationship to one another.

10. The collector of claim 9, wherein the perimeter hook and loop fasteners are secured by metal grommets, said grommets further securing the pair of rope handles on the tarp.

11. A method for collecting clippings when trimming vegetation with a lightweight, flexible and generally water-resistant tarp having a pair of rope handles attached to opposing sides of the tarp and opposing hook and loop fasteners fixedly attached to the perimeter of said tarp for touching together so as to fasten the edges of the tarp together to form a secure clippings chamber or pouch for carrying the clippings for disposal, a draw rope movably secured to at least to one side of the tarp for configuring the tarp for collection or for drawing the chamber or pouch together in a more compact transporting state, the method comprising:

spreading the flexible tarp on the ground adjacent the vegetation to be trimmed in a predetermined configuration to catch the clippings;

trimming the vegetation with a suitable tool;

drawing the rope at one or both ends to configure the tarp around or adjacent the vegetation to be trimmed;

allowing the clippings from the trimming operation to fall upon the top side of the tarp to protect the ground from falling clippings in order to keep a tidy work area;

touching the opposing hook and loop fasteners together to form a clippings chamber or pouch;

bringing the rope handles together when the clippings pouch is formed in the tarp for carrying the tarp for disposal of the clippings; and

pulling apart the perimeter hooks and loop fasteners at least at one end of the tarp chamber or pouch to empty the clippings into a disposal receptacle of choice.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tarp is made from a generally waterproof, thin nylon, polyester or other similar material that is generally abrasion resistant when it comes in contact with either sharp and pointed clippings or in contact with the soil or ornamental crushed stone in a garden or landscape setting.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tarp is a generally in an elongated rectangular shape that is capable of being linked together with other tarps by joining opposing hook and loop fasteners along either the length or width of each tarp together to form the linkage.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the hook and loop fasteners are VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the hook and loop fasteners on the perimeter of the tarp when pressed together in a fastening mode forms a generally elongated and cylindrical clippings pouch with the rope handles attached at either end of cylindrical shape for carrying the tarp with its clippings to a disposal receptacle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the opposing hook and loop fasteners on the ends of the cylindrically shaped clippings pouch are secured and later form an opening at either end when pulled apart to pour out the clippings into the disposal receptacle.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the opposing hook and loop fasteners are secured to the perimeter of the tarp on one side only by grommets spaced apart a predetermined distance from one another on the perimeter of the tarp.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the draw rope is movably affixed within a seam on at least one side of the tarp so that the rope ends can drawn therethrough to compact the pouch for carrying to disposal or configure the tarp to the shape of a particular vegetation to be trimmed.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the rope handles and draw rope are made from nylon or a polyester material suitable for outdoor ground work.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the pouch when closed by the opposing hook and loop fasteners is generally resistant to a backpacker gas or electric blower used by lawn services thereby preventing the loss or disturbance of the clippings when the pouch is securely closed and ready for disposal transportation but left on the ground and subject to the turbulent air from a backpacker blower in the vicinity.