YARD WASTE COLLECTION DEVICE

Abstract

A yard waste collection device having an integral body, handle, and hardware for securing a leaf bag. The integral body has a substantially planar base, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a posterior opening. Leaves and grass clippings can be raked or swept into the integral body and through the posterior opening. A lawn or leaf bag, held in place by the hardware, collects the leaves.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/207,038, filed Jul. 11, 2016, and entitled, “YARD WASTE COLLECTION DEVICE,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the classification of Handling: Hand and Hoist-line Implements. Specifically, this invention is a hand-held yard waste collection device.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A combined internet search for “yard waste” and “back pain” generates over one million (1,000,000) hits. Chiropractors, orthopedic doctors, laser spine institutes, landscape maintenance services, and a host of other interested stakeholders all discuss “yard waste” and “back pain” together, with many professing cures for the back pain caused by collecting yard waste. The obvious reason for so many results is that collecting yard waste causes back pain for a large proportion of the population.

Those who perform yard work are well aware of the difficulties typically encountered when manually collecting leaves and other light debris, and placing them into plastic bags. There are a few common methods for collecting leaves and other yard waste. First, a person holds a plastic bag open with one hand while the plastic bag rests on the ground, and uses the other hand to rake leaves and waste into the bag. This usually requires stooping to hold the bag open, and “choking-up” on the rake to get reasonable leverage with only one hand. Second, two people participate: one holds the bag, the other rakes the leaves into a pile and picks up the pile, placing it in the bag. One person repeatedly stoops and the other person holds the bag for a prolonged period of time. Third, a person uses a specialty implement to help collect leaves. For example, an open bottom barrel can be placed in an open trash bag to make the single person process easier. The problem with the open bottom barrel and other specialty implements is that they do not eliminate stooping and straining while collecting leaves.

In the past, a considerable amount of yard waste was burned. In recent years, many jurisdictions have imposed bans on burning yard waste. More and more jurisdictions have imposed restrictions that require residents to separately bag yard waste. Some require specific types of bags to be used. The result is that more and more homeowners have to rake, sweep, and bag yard waste and debris. In order to collect leaves, weeds, grass clippings, tree clippings, and other flora debris, a person usually needs to use one of the methods briefly discussed, above. The repetitive bending, while lifting, is the cause of most of the back pain. Even though most yard waste is not heavy in the conventional sense, repeated stooping and lifting fatigues the back, causing back pain.

Many tools and solutions have been created to address this problem. The internet abounds with alleged solutions. However, none of the tools or advertisements work. That is because all of the solutions, no matter how well-intentioned, still require some amount of stooping and lifting in order to collect yard waste and debris.

An ideal solution to collecting yard waste would be a tool that allowed a person to collect such waste without bending or stooping. Such a tool must also be light weight and ergonomically correct. Lastly, such a tool would need to be inexpensive. For although people seem to spend significant money on rehabilitating their back, after getting back pain, they don't seem to be enamored with spending money for tools that prevent back pain.

PRIOR ART REVIEW

There is clearly a market demand for an inexpensive, light weight yard waste collection device that minimizes lifting and stooping. There have been many attempts to create yard waste collection devices, but all of them fall far short of the market need.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,030, by named inventor Schultz, entitled, “Material Collecting Means” (“Schultz '030”), teaches a rim structure to maintain a collection bag in the open position. Although Schultz '030 makes leaf or yard waste collection a one-person job, it does not eliminate stooping and lifting. If anything, Schultz '030, and other similar products that require the leaves or waste be vertically dropped into a bag or trashcan, exacerbates the stooping and lifting inherent in the collection of yard waste and debris.

There are many similar products and patents to Schultz '030, which teach some sort of frame to hold open a leaf bag: U.S. Pat. No. 7,546,989, entitled, “Leaf bagging apparatus,” by named inventors Lineberry et. al., teaches a bag frame opening that lays flat on the ground; U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,301, entitled, “Leaf bagger,” by named inventor Fox teaches a variation of a triangular bag holder frame; U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,022, entitled, “Multi-compartment debris and leaf bag holder and assembly,” by named inventor Palumbo teaches using multiple frames, placed on their side, with bags; U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,126, entitled, “Leaf caddy,” by named inventor Bennett, teaches another variation on a bag frame; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,427, entitled, “Lawn and leaf bag frame,” by named inventor Jones, teaches a bag insert that mates with a frame.

The prior art has many examples of marrying a frame with a pole, to enable the user to rake the leaves into an open bag. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,236, entitled, “Method and apparatus for collecting yard debris,” by named inventor Romero, teaches a variation of a triangular frame on a pole for raking leaves into bag; U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,135, entitled, “Method and apparatus for collecting yard debris,” by named inventor Romero, teaches a variation of a triangular frame on a pole for raking leaves into bag; U.S. Pat. No. 6,520,554, entitled, “Yard sweepings collection device,” by named inventor Ditzik, teaches a variation of a triangular frame on a pole for raking leaves into bag; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,832, entitled, “Leaf collector,” by named inventor Haas, teaches a variation of a triangular frame on a pole for raking leaves into bag. Although an improvement over traditional methods of raking leaves, these solutions still seem to be ergonomically imperfect, still requiring a lot of stooping and sustained holding.

There is substantial prior art in which the inventor uses a chute or ramp to route the leaves and yard debris into a bag. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,406, entitled, “Apparatus for catching leaves or other debris,” by named inventor Petersen, teaches a truncated parallelepiped chute with bag retainer and handle; U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,274, entitled, “Combination holder for disposable leaf and rubbage bags and yard tool,” by named inventor Mitchell, teaches a dustpan-like leaf chute with bag opening; U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,803, entitled, “Leaf bagging device,” by named inventor Sapp, teaches a dust-pan like handle with bag and angled chute; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,559, entitled, “Scoop for gathering leaves, grass, debris and the like,” by named inventor Gainley, teaches a chute-shaped scoop that captures leaves; U.S. Pat. No. 7,815,153, entitled, “Leaf catcher,” by named inventors Campbell, et. al., teaches a leaf collector that lays on the ground and has several projections that create a wide chute; U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,965, entitled, “Leaf collecting system,” by named inventor Bergell, teaches a chute to be placed in over-turned trash can; U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,742, entitled, “Leaf and debris chute,” by named inventors Weathers, et. al., teaches a chute with a bag retainer feature; U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,768, entitled, “Yard waste bagging means,” by named inventor Young, teaches a chute that fits into turned-over trash-can like receptacle. There are many other sources of prior art which teach or disclose the use of a ramp or chute in order to collect leaves, but any further recitation would be merely cumulative.

There is even prior art related to pooper-scoopers, although these are fundamentally different devices. For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. D333,888, entitled, “Scoop for picking up pet droppings,” by named inventor Visser (“Visser '888”), teaches a pooper-scooper that has a beveled ramp, parallel side-walls, and an elevated opening at the rear to allow the feces to be properly dumped and disposed. Visser '888 would be inadequate for collecting leaves, because it is too small, has no means for connecting a bag to the rear opening, and it appears to have its handle attached near the center of gravity. Visser '888 also appears to be constructed from several pieces of what is presumably metal. This makes it impractical to scale up to the size needed to collect leaves.

Although substantial prior art exists to help bag leaves and other yard waste, none of the prior art significantly reduces or eliminates the stooping or lifting that ultimately leads to back pain. The market is still searching for a suitable solution, as evidenced by the fact that, although there have been many inventions in the public domain for decades, none of them seem to have acquired any significant market traction. The ideal tool will collect yard waste without requiring the user to bend, stoop, or lift. In order to be attractive to the market, such a solution also needs to be economical and lightweight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is intended to disclose the present invention, a yard waste collection device. The embodiments and descriptions are used to illustrate the invention and its utility, and are not intended to limit the invention or its use.

The present invention relates to hand implements used to perform landscaping, such as the collection of leaves and other lightweight, ground-based debris. The present invention is a hand implement that allows the user to easily rake yard debris into a bag. In its primary embodiment, the present invention has an integral body, a handle, and hardware with which to fix a bag about the posterior opening.

The integral body has a single continuous interior surface and a single continuous exterior surface. The integral body has a substantially planar base that rests on the ground when in use. The exterior surface of the substantially planar base rests on the ground when the invention is in use. The interior of the substantially planar base is used to collect debris and leaves. At a minimum, the substantially planar base has open, anterior free edge that is wider 18″. Preferably, the substantially planar base has an anterior free edge that is wider than a typical 24″ yard rake. The free edge is beveled, in order to help with raking or sweeping debris onto the interior surface of the substantially planar base. One end of the anterior free edge terminates at a first side wall; the other end of the free edge terminates at a second side wall. Therefore, the free edge has opposing terminations at a side wall. The first side wall and the substantially planar base are contiguous; the second side wall and the substantially planar base are contiguous. The first side wall and the second side wall extend upwardly from the substantially planar base. The first side wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The second side wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface.

The integral body has a posterior opening, opposed to the anterior free edge. The posterior opening is defined by at least one plane shape. A plane shape is a closed, two-dimensional figure. The posterior opening can also be defined by two plane shapes. In this embodiment, the two plane shapes of the posterior opening are attached by a continuous interior surface and a continuous exterior surface. Examples of a plane shape are circles, squares, rectangles, and ellipses. There is no requirement that the posterior opening be a well-known plane shape such as a circle. The at least one plane shape can be any closed, two-dimensional figure. On the exterior side of the posterior opening, disposed away from the anterior free edge, is a rim surrounding the opening. The rim has hardware for clamping or capturing a yard-waste or trash bag to the rim, and holding it in place. The rim may be defined by a groove in the integral body.

In the primary embodiment, each of the first side wall and the second side wall are substantially orthogonal to the substantially planar base. This means that the first side wall and the second side wall are contiguous with the substantially planar base, and approximately form a right angle with respect to the substantially planar base. A fillet may provide a transition from the substantially planar base to each of the first side wall and the second side wall.

The present invention includes capturing hardware such as spring-clamp, retaining ring, spring-steel retaining clips, or bungy cord. The capturing hardware secures a collection bag to the rim on the exterior side of the posterior opening.

The present invention has a handle. In an alternative embodiment, the handle telescopes, to allow a person to use the present invention without bending over. In another alternative embodiment, a captive handle can be integrally molded into the integral body. In one embodiment the handle is attached orthogonally to the top of the integral body, near the posterior opening. This is done so that the handle is near the center of mass, when the present invention has a full bag of yard debris. In this way, the invention will tip towards the anterior free-edge when there is no debris in the bag. However, the invention will be balanced when the bag is full. In an alternative embodiment, the pole may be attached near the center of the integral body at an acute angle with respect to the rear of the integral body. In this way, the integral body will once again tilt towards the anterior free-edge when there is no debris in the debris bag. However, the invention will be balanced due to the weight and torque angle of the handle when the debris bag is full.

The integral body is constructed from a stiff, lightweight, environmentally durable material such as poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA” or tradenames Plexiglass or Lucite®), polycarbonate (“PC” or tradename Lexan®), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”), steel, zinc, or aluminum. This is done so that the integral body is light enough to be manipulated with one hand by a user. Common methods to further reduce the weight of molded plastic can be used, such as adding glass beads, flue ash, or foaming the plastic.

The user rakes leaves into the integral body, by raking them past the beveled anterior free edge and onto the interior surface of the substantially planar base. The leaves and yard waste will then pass through the posterior opening and into the collection bag because (1) further leaves and debris raked onto the interior surface of the substantially planar base will displace them, forcing them through the opening and into the collection bag; (2) the user will push the leaves and debris through the opening with the rake or other hand held implement; or (3) the user will raise the anterior free edge above the opening and collection bag, allowing gravity to pull the leaves into the collection bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated with 18 drawings on 14 sheets.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the same embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a reverse perspective view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention of the alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 8 is a reverse perspective view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 11 is a reverse perspective view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention with a leaf bag attached.

FIG. 13 is an in situ view showing the relative size of the second alternative embodiment of the invention to a user.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a clamping means for the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a clamping means for the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the same alternative embodiment of the clamping means for the present invention as shown in FIG. 15, with the retaining hoop articulated.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a clamping means for the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a clamping means for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions are not meant to limit the invention, but rather to add to the summary of invention, and illustrate the present invention, by offering and illustrating various embodiments of the present invention, a yard waste collection device.

FIGS. 1-3 show a first embodiment of the present invention 11, a yard waste collection device. The present invention 11 has an integral body 14, fabricated from poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA” or tradenames Plexiglass or Lucite®), polycarbonate (“PC” or tradename Lexan®), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”), steel, zinc, or aluminum. The present invention 11 has to be lightweight in order to be lifted with one arm by a user to collect leaves and other yard debris. Due to the substantial size of the integral body 11, as further detailed in this section, the material needs to be lightweight.

The integral body 14 has an interior surface 6 and an exterior surface 7. The integral body has a substantially planar base 5, a first side wall 3, a second side wall 1, and a top wall 4. An angled anchor 8 is affixed to the top wall 4.

The integral body 14 has several discernible features. The integral body has a substantially planar base 5 connected to a first side wall 3, and a second side wall 1. The substantially planar base 5 is contiguous with both the first side wall 3 and the second side wall 1. The side walls 1, 3 have a height 20. The height 20 of the side walls 1, 3 is at least 12″. In many embodiments, it is preferable for the height 20 of the side walls 1, 3 to be at least 16″. The angle between the substantially planar base 5 and the first side wall 3 is substantially orthogonal, although that is not a requirement of the present invention 11. The angle between the substantially planar base 5 and the second side wall 1 is substantially orthogonal, although that is not a requirement of the present invention 11. The angle between the substantially planar base 5 and the side walls 3, 1 can also be slightly obtuse, or slightly acute.

Because the substantially planar base 5 is part of the integral body 14, the substantially planar base 5 has an interior surface 5 and an exterior surface (not shown). The first side wall 3 has an interior surface (not visible) and an exterior surface 7. The second side wall 1 has an interior surface 6 and an exterior surface (not visible).

The substantially planar base 5 has an anterior free edge 2. The anterior free edge 2 has a first end 12 that terminates at the first side wall 3. The anterior free edge 2 has a second end 13 that terminates at the second side wall 1. The anterior free edge 2 has a length 21 between the first end 12 and the second end 13. The length 21 of the anterior free edge 2 is at least 18″. In certain embodiments, it is preferable for the length 21 to be greater than 24″, the approximate width of a standard leaf rake. A beveled surface transitions between the interior surface 5 of the substantially planar base 5 and the anterior free edge 2.

The integral body 14 has a posterior opening 15. The posterior opening 15 is defined by at least one plane shape 15, in this case, a rectangle 15. A groove 10 defines a rectangular cubic rim 9 visible on the exterior surface of the integral body 14. A debris bag (see FIG. 4, 370) can be attached to the rim 9 by placing the debris bag 370 over the rim 9 and groove 10 and wrapping a bungy cord (not shown) around the device 11, or using other hardware to capture the debris bag 370.

The present invention 11 has a handle 30 attached to the integral body 14 at an angled anchor 8 on the top wall 4. The handle 30 has a screw attachment 32 at one end. The handle 30 has a shank 31 with a diameter 33. The angled anchor 8 has a screw receptacle. By attaching the handle 30 to the integral body 14 at the angled anchor 8 at the screw receptacle, a torque angle is created. The handle 30 creates an acute angle with the top wall 4 towards the posterior opening 15. When there is no debris bag 370, the present invention will tilt forward, towards the anterior free edge 2. When a debris bag 370 is attached and filled, the present invention 11 will be balanced. Alternately, the angled anchor 8 provides a hand-hold that can be used by a user to manipulate the integral body 14 directly, allowing the user to lift and empty the integral body 14.

FIGS. 4-12 show three alternative embodiments of the present invention 211, 311, 411, a yard waste collection device with an integral body 250, 350, 450. The integral body 250, 350, 450 has a substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 connected to a first side wall 215, 315, 415, and a second side wall 238, 338, 438. The substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 has an interior surface 212, 312, 412 and an exterior surface 229, 329, 429. The first side wall 215, 315, 415 has an interior surface 215, 315, 415 and an exterior surface 228, 328, 428. Like the first side wall, 215, 315, 415, the second side wall 238, 338, 438, has an interior surface (not visible) and an exterior surface 238, 338, 438. The three embodiments in FIGS. 4-12 do not have a top wall or surface. The first side wall 215, 315, 415 has a top edge 220, 320, 420. The second side wall 238, 338, 438 has a top edge 221, 321, 421.

The substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 has an anterior free edge 214, 314, 414. The anterior free edge 214, 314, 414 terminates at the first side wall 215, 315, 415 at a first end 260, 360, 460. The anterior free edge 214, 314, 414 terminates at the second side wall 238, 338, 438 at a second end 261, 361, 461. The anterior free edge 214, 314, 414 has a length 21 (see e.g., FIG. 4) between the first end (see e.g., 260) and the second end (see e.g., 261). The length 21 of the anterior free edge 214, 314, 414 is at least 18″. In certain embodiments, it is preferable for the length 21 to be greater than 24″, the approximate width of a standard leaf rake. A beveled surface 213, 313, 413 transitions between the substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 and the anterior free edge 214, 314, 414.

An interior edge fillet 233, 333, 433 defines the transition between the interior surface 212, 312, 412 of the substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 and the interior surface 215, 315, 415 of the first side wall 215, 315, 415. Likewise, an interior fillet (not shown) defines the transition between the interior surface 212, 312, 412 of the substantially planar base 212, 312, 412 and the interior surface (not shown) of the second side wall 238, 338, 438.

An exterior edge fillet 231, 232, 241, 331, 332, 341, 431, 432, 441 defines the transition between the exterior substantially planar base 229, 329, 429, on the one hand, and the exterior surface 228, 328, 428 of the first side wall 215, 315, 415 and the exterior surface 238, 338, 438 of the second side wall 238, 338, 438, on the other hand. The exterior surface 228, 328, 428 of the first side wall 215, 315, 415 and the exterior surface 238, 338, 438 of the second side wall 238, 338, 438 are connected by an exterior curved surface 230, 330, 430.

In the three alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 4-12, the integral body 250, 350, 450 the posterior opening is defined by two plane shapes 218, 318, 418, 248, 348, 448. A first plane shape of the posterior opening 218, 318, 418 is on the interior surface of the integral body 250, 350, 450 and a second plane shape of the posterior opening 248, 348, 448 is on the exterior surface of the integral body 250, 350, 450. The posterior openings 218, 318, 418, 248, 348, 448 are all defined by a plane shape 218, 318, 418, 248, 348, 448. In FIGS. 4-6, the posterior openings 218, 248 are connected with an interior cylindrical surface 224. In FIGS. 7-9, the posterior openings 318, 348 are connected with an interior cylindrical surface 324. In FIGS. 10-12, the posterior openings 418, 448 are connected with an interior cylindrical surface 424. In this case, the plane shapes 218, 318, 418 and 248, 348, 448 are circles, and the interior surface connecting the two plane shapes are cylinders 224, 324, 424.

A first interior edge 219, 319, 419 provides the transition between the interior surface 215, 315, 415 of the first side wall 215, 315, 415 and the interior surface (not visible) of the second side wall 238, 338, 438. The first interior edge 219, 319, 419 defines the lower boundary of the posterior opening 218, 318, 418 on the interior surface of the integral body 250, 350, 450. A semi-cylindrical top surface 222, 322, 422 connects the first side wall 215, 315, 415 with the second side wall 238, 338, 438. The first interior edge 219, 319, 419 is contiguous with a second interior edge 245, 345, 445 of the semi-cylindrical top surface 222, 322, 422. Together the first interior edge edge 219, 319, 419 and the second interior edge 245, 345, 445 define the plane shape 218, 318, 418 of the posterior opening 218, 318, 418.

A cylindrical rim 225, 325, 425 terminates at the posterior opening 248, 348, 448 in the exterior surface of the integral body 250, 350, 450. The cylindrical rim can be truncated like 225 or extended like 325, 425. The extended cylinder 325 can either be parallel to the substantially planar base 312, or the extended cylinder 425 can be angled with respect to the substantially planar base 412. For the first alternative embodiment in FIG. 5, the rim 225 has an edge 226. For the second and third alternative embodiments, in FIGS. 8 and 11, respectively, the rim 325, 425 edge is obscured by a retaining ring 360, 460, used to hold a standard lawn or leaf bag 370, 470. The cylindrical rim 225, 325, 425 is the external cylindrical surface 225, 325, 425 corresponding to the interior cylindrical surface 224, 324, 424 of the posterior opening 248, 348, 448.

The present invention 211, 311, 411 has a handle 223, 323, 423 attached to the integral body 250, 350, 450 by a handle shank 227, 327, 427. The handle shank 227, 327, 427 is attached orthogonally to the semi-cylindrical top surface 222, 322, 422. The handle shank 227, 327, 427 can have a telescoping feature 239, 339, 439, allowing the length of the handle shank 227, 327, 427 to be adjusted. The handle 223, 323, 423 is attached near the posterior opening 211, 311, 411, meaning that the integral body 250, 350, 450 will tend to tilt forward, towards the anterior free edge 214, 314, 414 when lifted by the handle 223, 323, 423, while empty. When the debris bag 370 is full, the integral body 250, 350, 450 will tend to be balanced when lifted by the handle 223, 323, 423

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the present invention 311 being used, in situ, by a user 600. A standard leaf bag 370 is attached to the present invention 311 with a retainer ring 360. The handle shank 327 is adjusted with a telescoping feature 339 so that the grasp hand 323 is at the proper height for the user 600 to grasp it with their hand 601. With reference to FIGS. 10-12, by angling the cylindrical rim 425 with respect to the substantially planar base 412, a user 600 can more easily use gravity to dump leaves by tilting the invention. When lifting the integral body 450 by the handle 423, while the leaf bag 370 is empty, the integral body 450 will tend to tilt forward. When lifting the integral body 450 by the handle 423, while the leaf bag 370 is full, the integral body 450 will tend to tilt towards the posterior opening 418, which will force the debris into the leaf bag 370 through gravity.

A standard leaf bag 370, 470 is connected to the present invention 11, 111, 211, 311, 411 with hardware attached to the rim 25, 125, 225, 325, 425. FIGS. 14-18 show several potential embodiments of hardware. FIG. 14 shows a plurality of retaining clips 610 attached to an extended cylindrical rim 325. The retaining clips 610 are made with spring steel, and capture a law bag 370, 470 with a friction fit.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a hinged retainer ring 620 connected to the cylindrical rim 325. The retainer ring has a tightening screw 622, a hinge 621, and the ring, itself, 620. The retainer ring 620 captures law bags 370, 470 with a friction fit. FIG. 17 is a variation on the retainer ring 630, in which there is no hinge. The retainer ring 630 separates from the cylindrical rim 325. The retainer ring 630 captures law bags 370, 470 with a friction fit, and is tightened using a screw 631.

FIG. 18 shows standard spring clamps 640 durably attached to the cylindrical rim 325. The spring clamps 640 hold law bags 370, 470 with a friction fit. The spring clamps 640 are opened by squeezing or depressing the handle 641.

Claims

1. A yard waste collection device comprising,

an integral body having a continuous inner surface, a continuous outer surface and comprised of a substantially planar base surface with an anterior free-edge, a first side wall surface contiguous with the substantially planar base surface and extending vertically from the substantially planar base surface wherein a first end of the anterior free-edge terminates at the first side wall, a second side wall surface contiguous with the substantially planar base surface and extending vertically from the substantially planar base surface wherein a second end of the anterior free-edge terminates at the second side wall, and a posterior opening, disposed opposite the anterior free-edge, with a rim disposed on the side of the opening away from the anterior free-edge;

a handle and shank; and

hardware with which to mount a bag to the rim of the opening;

wherein the anterior free-edge is at least 18″ in length, and the first and second side wall are at least 12″ in height.

2. The yard waste collection device in claim 1, wherein the anterior free-edge is at least 24″ in length.

3. The yard waste collection device in claim 1, wherein the first and second side wall are at least 16″ in height.

4. The yard waste collection device in claim 1, wherein the posterior opening is defined by at least one plane shape.

5. The yard waste collection device in claim 4, wherein the posterior opening is defined by two plane shapes.

6. The yard waste collection device in claim 5, wherein the two plane shapes defining the posterior opening are connected by an interior surface.

7. The yard waste collection device in claim 6, wherein the two plane shapes defining the posterior opening are rectangular and the interior surface is a rectangular cubic.

8. The yard waste collection device of claim 5, wherein the two plane shapes defining the posterior opening are circles and the interior surface is a cylinder.

9. The yard waste collection device of claim 8, wherein the rim is cylindrical.

10. The yard waste collection device of claim 1, wherein the integral body is further comprised of a top wall having an anterior edge, and wherein the first side wall is contiguous with the top wall; and wherein the second side wall is contiguous with the top wall.

11. The yard waste collection device of claim 10, wherein the integral body is further comprised of an angled anchor affixed to the top wall.

12. The yard waste collection device of claim 11, wherein the angled anchor provides a hand-grasp for lifting the integral body.

13. The yard waste collection device of claim 10, wherein the handle and shank attach to the angled anchor that is affixed to the top surface of the integral body, forming an acute angle between the shank and the top wall in the direction of the posterior opening.

14. The yard waste collection device of claim 1, wherein the handle and shank attach to the integral body in near proximity to the posterior opening.

15. The yard waste collection device of claim 1, wherein the integral body is molded from at least one of poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA”), polycarbonate (“PC”), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), and low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”).

16. The yard waste collection device of claim 16, wherein, in order to create a lightweight integral body, the at least one of PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, and LDPE is augmented with at least one of glass beads, flue ash, or re-grind material.

17. The yard waste collection device of claim 16, wherein, in order to create a lightweight integral body, a gaseous substance is introduced into the least one of PMMA, PC, ABS, PP, HDPE, and LDPE in order to foam the integral body, creating small air pockets within the material, wherein all of the exposed surfaces of the integral body are smooth.