Advancing Colllecting Device

Abstract

An inexpensive and collapsible advancing and collecting device for leaves and other debris. The advancing collecting device includes a chute section foldable into a U-shaped configuration so as to be adjustable in diameter to accommodate varying size opening bags or containers in which the debris is to be collected. Connectable to the chute section is a planar scoop section. Leaves and debris are collected onto the planar scoop section while the chute section is inserted into the bag or container resting on the ground. The bag or container is leveraged upright by pulling up the advancing collecting device via handles in the scoop section while simultaneously advancing the debris through the chute section.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/456,787, filed Nov. 10, 2010, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collecting device for collecting debris such as, but not limited to, leaves, twigs, manure, construction debris, etc. In particular, the invention is directed to an inexpensive, collapsible collecting device adapted to easily advance the collected leaves through the chute and into the container or bag.

2. Description of Related Art

The collecting and bagging of fallen leaves is a time consuming and laborious activity that every residential homeowner undergoes on a yearly basis. Numerous devices have been developed to aid in the collection and/or bagging of fallen leaves. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,742 is directed to a leaf and debris chute that comprises a V-shape non-bending scoop that feeds directly into a closed perimeter chute. This patented collection and bagging device is subject to the following drawbacks including: (i) no advancement of the leaves and debris into the hag or container; (ii) due to the fixed size of the chute, its use is limited to a size bag or container whose diameter is greater than that of the perimeter of the chute.

It is therefore desirable to develop an improved collection device that solves the aforementioned limitations associated with conventional devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved collecting device that is inexpensive and collapsible.

The present invention is directed to an improved collecting device that has a U-shape chute open in a longitudinal direction so as to accommodate containers and bags of varying size openings including openings.

In addition, the present invention relates to an improved collecting device that is used to leverage, rather than lift, upright the bag or container once filled with the debris that has been collected.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an improved collecting device for easily advancing the collected leaves and/or debris into a bag or container.

One aspect of the present invention is directed to an advancing collecting device including a planar scoop section foldable along at least two lateral fold lines, the scoop section having a free terminating first end and an opposite second end. The advancing collecting device also includes a chute section having a free terminating end and an opposite second send. The second ends of the scoop and chute sections are connectable to one another. In addition, the chute section is foldable along two longitudinal fold lines to form a 3-sided structure having a U-shape cross-section with an open top so as to be adjustable in diameter. When the chute section is folded into the 3-sided structure with the U-shape cross-section, the scoop section is configured to remain planar.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for using the advancing collecting device as described in the preceding paragraph. Initially, the chute section is folded inward along the two longitudinal fold lines thereby forming the 3-sided structure having the U-shaped configuration adjustable to accommodate various size bag or container openings. Next, the chute and scoop sections are assembled together while the scoop section remains planar in its unfolded state and the chute section is folded in the substantially U-shaped configuration. Then the assembled advancing collecting device is placed on the ground. The free terminating first end of the folded U-shaped chute is inserted into the bag or container and the debris to be collected is pushed onto the advancing collecting device so that it at least partially covers the planar scoop section. Lastly, the bag or container with the chute section of the advancing collecting device received therein is leveraged upright via handles defined along the free terminating first end of the scoop section while the scoop section remains in an extended, unfolded state whereby gravity draws the debris collected onto the scoop section down through the chute section and into the hag or container.

Still another aspect of the present invention is directed to an advancing collecting device including a planar scoop section and a chute section. The planar scoop section includes a longitudinal section foldable along a first lateral fold line thereby dividing the longitudinal section of the planar scoop section into a lower panel and an upper panel. In addition, the planar scoop section also includes a trapezoidal panel extending from the lower panel of the longitudinal section forming an interface therebetween that defines a second lateral fold line, wherein the trapezoidal panel has three free mating tabs. As for the chute section, it includes a longitudinal section foldable in a longitudinal direction along two fold lines thereby defining three subdivided panels including a center panel sandwiched between two side panels. Moreover, the chute section also includes an angular section connected to the longitudinal section along an interface, wherein the angular section comprises two angled panels extending longitudinally from the respective side panels of the chute section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description and drawings of illustrative embodiments of the invention wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the collapsed advancing collecting device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention wherein the scoop section on the left is unassembled from that of the chute section on the right;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsed advancing collecting device in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the scoop section on the left is unassembled from that of the chute section on the right;

FIG. 3 depicts the unassembled scoop and chute sections of FIG. 1 with the chute section folded into a U-shape cross-sectional tube;

FIG. 4 depicts an initial step during assembly of the advancing collecting device in accordance with the present invention with the tab 136 of the scoop section secured to the edge 130c of the respective chute section;

FIG. 5 depicts the assembled advancing collecting device of FIG. 1 inserted into a bag and placed on the ground ready to receive the debris;

FIG. 6 depicts the assembled collecting device of FIG. 1 after the debris has been pushed onto the upper and lower panels of the scoop section;

FIG. 7 illustrates the step of leveraging the scoop section to an upright position by the handle while the chute section and bag remain flat on the ground;

FIG. 8 illustrates the step of raising the advancing collecting device to an upright position while it remains inserted in the bag;

FIG. 9 illustrates the advancing collecting device in an upright position while still inserted in the bag;

FIG. 10 illustrates the upper panel of the scoop section folded backwards so as to contact the lower panel of the scoop section; and

FIG. 11 illustrates the upper and lower panels of the scoop section both in a position folded backwards to readily remove the advancing collecting device from the bag after being filled with the debris.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The advancing collecting device depicted in accordance with the present invention comprises a scoop section 105 and a chute section 110. Preferably, the scoop and chute sections are two separate parts assembled together, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This two part construction is highly desirable for compact shipping and storage. It is, however, contemplated to manufacture the collecting device in more than two parts to be assembled together or as a single integrated unit.

In a first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, chute section 110 includes a longitudinal section 115 and an angular section 120. Longitudinal section 115 is preferably square or rectangular in shape with two substantially parallel side edges 117. The longitudinal section 115 is folded in a longitudinal direction preferably at least along two fold lines 119 thereby defining three subdivided panels (e.g., a center panel 121 sandwiched between two side panels 122). The fold lines 119 may be disposed so that the three panels are equal in width when measured in a lateral direction. Alternatively, the three panels of the chute may vary in width. Fold lines 119 advantageously allow side edges 117 to be brought together to form a substantially U-shaped cross sectional tube open on one side so that its diameter may be adjusted to accommodate various size bag and container openings into which the debris is to be collected. A free terminating end 125 of the longitudinal section 115 is insertable into the bag or container.

An opposite end of the longitudinal section 115 represents the interface with the angular section 120. Referring to FIG. 1, angular section 120 comprises two angled panels 127 extending longitudinally from the side panels 122 of the chute 110. The present invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be hereinafter described with the panels 127 being trapezoidal in shape. However, it is contemplated and with the scope of the present invention for the panels 127 to be rectangular or square in shape. The outer side edges in a longitudinal direction of each angled panel are non-parallel, whereas the inner facing side edges are substantially parallel to one another. At the interface 132 with the longitudinal section 115, a width in a lateral direction of each angled panel 127 is substantially equal to the width of the corresponding side panel 122. A lateral terminating edge 130a, 130e of each angled panel 127 opposite the interface 132 with the longitudinal section 115 has a width in a lateral direction less than the width at the interface 132 with the longitudinal section 115. Inner facing side edges of the two angled panels 127 are substantially parallel to one another and substantially align with the respective fold lines 119 in the longitudinal section 115. Thus, the angled panels 127 define five free edges 130a-130e. One of those five mating surfaces 130c is a lateral free edge of the center panel 121 of the longitudinal section 115. A lateral fold line 132 is defined at the interface between the side panels 122 and angled panels 127.

Scoop section 105 comprises a longitudinal section 143 and a trapezoidal panel 135. A lateral fold is disposed along the interface 137 between the longitudinal section 143 and trapezoidal panel 135. Longitudinal section 143 is substantially square or rectangular in shape with two substantially parallel side edges 147. The longitudinal section 143 is folded along a lateral fold line 152 thereby dividing the longitudinal section into a lower panel 140 and an upper panel 145. Preferably, the lateral fold line 152 is disposed so that the first and second panels are substantially equal in length in a longitudinal direction. A width of the longitudinal section 143 in a lateral direction is greater than the width of the trapezoidal panel 135 at its interface 137 therewith. Each of the lower and upper panels 140, 145, respectively, are also folded in a longitudinal direction preferably at least along two fold lines 149 thereby defining three subdivided panels (e.g., a center panel 153 sandwiched between two side panels 154). The fold lines 149 are separated relative to one another a distance substantially equal to a width in a lateral direction of the interface edge of the trapezoidal panel 135 so that the side panels 154 are substantially equal in width when measured in a lateral direction. Terminating ends 156a, 156b of the side panels 154 of the longitudinal section 143 of the scoop have a width in a lateral direction substantially equal to a width in a lateral direction of the terminating edges 130a, 130b of the angular section 120 of the chute section 110. The figures depict the terminating ends 156a, 156b as straight edges but alternatively they could be rounded. Cut outs, preferably rounded cut outs, are defined in the side panels 154 at the interface 152 of the upper and lower panels.

FIG. 3 shows the advancing collecting device prior to assembly of the scoop section 105 and chute section 110 with the side panels 122 folded upright to form a channel having a substantially U-shape cross section. During assembly, free terminating tabs 138a, 136, 138b of the scoop section are secured to complementary size mating edges 130b-130d of the chute section. In this configuration, the free edges 156a, 156b of the trapezoidal panel 135 of the scoop section 105 are not connected to the corresponding free terminating ends 130a, 130e of the chute section 110. FIG. 4 illustrates the tab 136 and complementary edge 130c secured together first; however, the order in which the mating edges are secured may vary, as desired. The scoop and chute may be secured permanently such as by adhesive or other permanent securing mechanisms. Alternatively, the scoop and chute may be releasably secured using snaps, hook-and-eye, releasable fasteners or any other releasable securing mechanism. Tabs such as those depicted in the figures along some or all of the mating edges to be secured may be utilized to form a more secure interface. As depicted in FIG. 5, when assembled, the scoop section 105 remains planar while the side panels of chute section 110 fold inwards along lateral folds 119 thereby forming a substantially U-shaped configuration with an open top so that the side edges 117 may be brought together to reduce its diameter and accommodate various size openings of the bag or container into which the debris is to be received.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2. This embodiment is the same as that described, above with respect to the description of the embodiment in FIG. 1 with two notable exceptions. In FIG. 2, free edges 156a, 156b of the respective lower panel 140 of the scoop section are secured respectively to mating free terminating edges 130a, 130e of angled panels 127 of the chute section 110, when assembled. In addition, each angled panel 127 is subdivided into two angular sub-panels along an angled fold line 133 beginning at the intersection with the fold lines 119 and extending outward toward the tapered side edge. In contrast to the embodiment described and shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment when assembled will cause the chute section to fold inward along angled fold 133 and fold outward along lateral fold 132.

In use, the scoop section 105 and chute section 110 are assembled together. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, tabs 138a, 136, 138b of the scoop section are secured to the complementary edges 130b-130d of the chute section using either releasable or permanent securing means. Whereas in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, tabs 156a, 138a, 136, 138b, 156b of the scoop are secured to complementary edges 130a-130e of the chute using either releasable or permanent securing means. Once assembled, the advancing collecting device is placed on the ground with the lower and upper panels 140, 145 fully extended and the free terminating end 125 of the chute section is inserted into the bag or container in which the debris is to be collected, as shown in FIG. 5. By drawing the side edges 117 of the chute 110 together its diameter may be adapted to accommodate the different size openings of the bag or container in which the leaves and debris are to be collected. Referring to FIG. 6, debris (e.g., leaves, twigs, manure, or construction debris) is pushed onto the advancing collecting device so that it preferably covers only the lower and upper panels 140, 145 of the scoop section. One can push some of the debris onto the trapezoidal panel 135 or even into the chute section 110, but this is not necessary. The bag or container with the collecting device received therein is then leverage, instead of having to be lifted, upright by handles 190 defined along the terminating free edge of the upper panel 145, as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The upper and lower panels 145, 140 in an extended or unfolded orientation draw the debris inward due to gravity causing the debris to fall down into the trapezoidal panel 135 of the scoop bounded on either side by angled panels 127 of the chute. Next, in FIG. 10 the upper panel 145 is folded backwards along lateral fold line 152 so that the two panels 140, 145 contact one another back-to-back. Then the lower and upper panels 140, 145 together are folded along lateral fold 137 backwards, as shown in FIG. 11. The advancing and collecting device is now reduced in size and can be easily removed from the bag via the cut out handle defined in the trapezoidal panel 135. Preferably the amount of debris collected on the upper and lower panels 140, 145 is substantially equal in volume to that of the chute section thereby serving as a sort of measuring container. Centered handles preferably substantially align when the upper and lower panels 145, 140 are folded along interface 152. Similarly, centered handles preferably substantially align when the lower panel 140 is folded along interface 137. The number and location of the handles 190 may be designed in various locations to assist with each step in holding and advancing the debris through the chute. Notches may be cut out of the side edges at the intersection with the fold lines 152, 119 to reduce any interference and assist in folding.

Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results be within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Every issued patent, pending patent application, publication, journal article, book or any other reference cited herein is each incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. An advancing collecting device comprising:

a planar scoop section foldable along at least two lateral fold lines, the scoop section having a free terminating first end and an opposite second end; and

a chute section having a free terminating end and an opposite second send; the second ends of the scoop and chute sections being connectable to one another; the chute section being foldable along two longitudinal fold lines to form a 3-sided structure having a U-shape cross-section with an open top so as to be adjustable in diameter; the scoop section configured to remain planar when the chute section is folded into the 3-sided structure with the U-shape cross-section.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the scoop and chute sections are collapsible to a substantially planar configuration when not assembled.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the scoop section is foldable in a longitudinal direction along at least two fold lines.

4. A method for using the advancing collecting device in accordance with claim 1, comprising the steps of:

folding the chute section inward along the two longitudinal fold lines thereby forming the 3-sided structure having the U-shaped configuration adjustable to accommodate various size bag or container openings;

assembling the chute and scoop sections together while the scoop section remains planar in its unfolded state and the chute section is folded in the substantially U-shaped configuration;

placing the assembled advancing collecting device on the ground;

inserting the free terminating first end of the folded U-shaped chute into the bag or container;

pushing debris to be collected onto the advancing collecting device so that it at least partially covers the planar scoop section; and

leveraging upright the bag or container with the chute section of the advancing collecting device received therein via handles defined along the free terminating first end of the scoop section while the scoop section remains in an extended, unfolded state whereby gravity draws the debris collected onto the scoop section down through the chute section and into the bag or container.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising the step of reducing in size the advancing collecting device for easy removal from the bag or container by folding backwards onto itself the scoop section along at least one of the two lateral fold lines.

6. The method in accordance with claim 4, wherein leveraging upright, without lifting, of the bag or container is achieved using the advancing collecting device.

7. An advancing collecting device comprising:

a planar scoop section comprising: a longitudinal section foldable along a first lateral fold line thereby dividing the longitudinal section of the planar scoop section into a lower panel and an upper panel; a trapezoidal panel extending from the lower panel of the longitudinal section forming an interface therebetween that defines a second lateral fold line, the trapezoidal panel having three free mating tabs;

a chute section connected to the planar scoop section; the chute section comprising: a longitudinal section foldable in a longitudinal direction along two fold lines thereby defining three subdivided panels including a center panel sandwiched between two side panels; and an angular section connected to the longitudinal section along an interface;

the angular section comprising: two angled panels extending longitudinally from the respective side panels of the chute section.

8. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein each angled panel is rectangular or square in shape.

9. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein inner facing side edges of the two angled panels are substantially parallel to one another and substantially align with the respective fold lines in the longitudinal section of the chute section so that the angled panels define live contiguous free terminating edges, one of which is a lateral free edge of the center panel of the longitudinal section of the chute section.

10. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein each angled panel is trapezoidal in shape with outer side edges in a longitudinal direction of each angled panel being non-parallel, whereas its inner facing side edges are substantially parallel to one another.

11. The device in accordance with claim 9, wherein at an interface with the longitudinal section of the chute section, a width in a lateral direction of each angled panel is substantially equal to a width of the respective side panel; while a lateral terminating end of each angled panel opposite the interface with the longitudinal section of the chute section has a width in a lateral direction less than the width at the interface with the longitudinal section of the chute section.

12. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein inner facing side edges of the two angled panels are substantially parallel to one another and substantially align with the respective fold lines in the longitudinal section of the chute section so that the angled panels define five contiguous free terminating edges, one of which is a lateral free edge of the center panel of the longitudinal section of the chute section.

13. The device in accordance with claim 7, a lateral fold line is defined at the interface between the side panels and angled panels of the chute section.

14. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein the longitudinal section of the scoop section is substantially square or rectangular in shape with two substantially parallel side edges.

15. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein a width of the longitudinal section of the scoop section in a lateral direction is greater than a width of the trapezoidal panel of the scoop section at its interface therewith.

16. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein each of the lower and upper panels, respectively, are foldable along two fold lines in a longitudinal direction thereby defining three subdivided panels including a center panel sandwiched between two side panels.

17. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein terminating ends of the side panels of the longitudinal section of the scoop section have a width in a lateral direction substantially equal to a width in a lateral direction of free terminating edges of the angled panels of the chute section.

18. The device in accordance with claim 12, wherein three contiguous free terminating edges of the five free contiguous terminating edges include: (i) the lateral free edge of the center panel of the longitudinal section of the chute section; and (ii) two parallel free terminating edges of the respective trapezoidal panels of the angular section of the chute section.

19. The device in accordance with claim 18, wherein the three contiguous free terminating edges of the chute section are connectable to complementary size tabs of the trapezoidal panel of the scoop section.

20. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one handle is defined in the scoop section.

21. The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one handle is defined in each of the upper and lower panels of the longitudinal section of the scoop section, the handles defined in each of the upper and lower panels are disposed so that when the upper and lower panels are folded along the lateral fold line along the interface therebetween the handles in each of the upper and lower panels are substantially aligned.