Temporary Leaf Barrier and Collection System

Abstract

A device comprised of a physical system of movable posts that can be anchored to the ground and an affixable/detachable net such that the system creates a removable barrier to impede the migration of fallen tree leaves and facilitates the efficient capture and removal of said accumulated leaves.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A large swath of the populated globe lives in environs that experience seasons. Accompanying those seasons is the leaf cycle of deciduous trees. While leaves provide a rich potpourri of beauty and play a crucial role in sustaining our environment, once shed from their trees, leaves also create a considerable burden to home dwellers in the form of significant yard maintenance. The vast majority of the time, the said maintenance of leaf collection and removal requires strenuous physical effort and/or considerable air and noise pollution (in the form of gas-driven power blowers).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Temporary Leaf Barrier and Collection System (“The System”) creates a largely passive solution to the issue of leaf collection and disposal through its design and features. The basic unit of The System consists of two posts and a net which are specially designed to allow for the efficient collection, capture, and disposal of leaves. Multiple units of The System can be linked to one another to create a continuous extended system.

The System accumulates leaves in its net while the net is affixed to posts through interaction of the posts'prongs and the net's grommets. The affixed net can be detached from the posts in a specific sequence to entirely encapsulate the accumulated leaves. Once the net has captured the leaves, The System allows for further arrangement of the net such that it can be moved to a desired location for disposal of the captured leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front view of a post;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a post;

FIG. 3 is the top and bottom view of a post;

FIG. 4 is a view of the net, unfolded;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the net's hem and rivets;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of how the net affixes to and detaches from the posts;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of how the net is positioned once affixed to the posts;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of how the net rests when affixed to the posts and anchored in the ground;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the sequencing in which the net detaches from the posts to capture accumulated leaves;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of how the detached net is bound to create a transportable encapsulation of captured leaves;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of multiple units of The System linked together to form a continuous barrier;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of the net rolling up around a post during non-use and for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, the Figures referenced above will be further explained. It should be noted that while the working dimensions for The System are currently as follows: net is 5′ wide, a total of 8′ tall (with the four folded sections each at a height of 2′); posts'shafts are 2′ tall with 6″ cleats; sizes may vary, as may the density of the net's mesh.

FIG. 1 shows the front and back (as the front and back are identical) of a post of The System. FIG. 2 is an illustration of a post from a vantage perpendicular to the front of the post (i.e. a side angle). Post includes a disc 201 at its top as well as a disc 203 at the bottom of post's shaft (or above-ground portion of post) 202 and the post's cleat 204. The cleat 204, is one-fourth the length of the post. The cleat is comprised of two diamond-shaped plates intersecting at a 90-degree angle 204 and is to be driven into the ground to anchor the post. See FIG. 3. The posts discs 201, 203 are to provide guidance/stability/protection for the net FIG. 4 to be wrapped around the post, when The System is not in use (see illustration in FIG. 12).

Along the shaft of post 202 are three sets of pairs of prongs 205, 206, 207. Said prongs extend from the shaft to the front and back at 45-degree angle rising upward 205, 206, 207. The pairs of prongs are set 3″ from the top of the shaft 205, directly in the center of the shaft 206, and 1.5″ from the bottom of the shaft 207. The prongs are 1.5″ long and extend out at a 45-degree angle. All measurements are subject to modification/variation.

FIG. 4 is an image of The System's net unfolded. Along the perimeter of the net is its hem 208. Grommets 209 are set at specific spacing (to mirror the spacing of the post's prongs) in the hem. FIG. 5 is an illustration of a grommet 209 and net's hem 208 (NOTE: FIGS. 10, 209a illustrates option of an interlocking grommet, which would be an optional embodiment). When in place between the posts, the net is folded into four sections 210, 211, 212, and 213 along the net's horizontal plane.

FIG. 6 illustrates the manner in which the net is to affix to and detach from the post via the net's grommets 209 and the post's prongs 205, 206, 207 (arrows in FIG. 6 illustrate path of motion). Net section 212 is to attach to the front prongs of the posts and serve as the lead section of vertical net. Net sections 211 and 210 are to attach to the posts'back prongs as illustrated in FIG. 7. Net section 213 is to lie on the ground in front of the posts. The portion of the net that lies on the ground 213 is anchored to the ground using spikes 214 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The System's setup when in use is illustrated in FIG. 8.

The net's vertical hem's 208a grommets 209 are spaced in each of the four folding sections so as to align with the post's prongs in the prescribed sequencing of affixation above (see FIG. 7). The net's horizontal hems'208b grommets 209 are identically spaced with a grommet 209 placed 1.5″ from either corner of the net and one grommet 209 in the center of each horizontal hem 208b.

Once The System is set, leaves will accumulate in its net. Net manipulation to capture accumulated leaves is illustrated in FIG. 9. The rear two folded net panels 210 and 211 detach from the posts. The sections are then brought forward over the top of the front vertical section of net 212. The horizontal hems 208b are aligned and interlocking grommets 209a (or ties 216, depending on net embodiment) are used to secure the horizontal hems 208b together via their respective grommets 209 (or 209a). See FIG. 10.

Grommets 209 (or 209a) on the vertical hem 208a can also be snapped or tied (depending on net embodiment) together at one or both vertical hems (i.e. vertical hem along 210 and 211 connected with vertical hem along 213 and 212, respectively, via the corresponding grommets 209). The secured net, with leaves captured, can then be transported to a desired location for disposal.

Multiple units of The System can be set together to create a continuous barrier. FIG. 11. For a multi-unit, continuous barrier, two nets are affixed to one post running off on both sides of the post.

When The System is not in use, a post provides secure storage for the net. Net is folded into four vertical sections 210, 211, 212, and 213 and affixed to post's prongs 205, 206, and 207 via the grommets 209 located on one side of the net's vertical hem 208a. Net is then wound around post as illustrated in FIG. 12. Post's discs 201 and 203 provide guidance and protection for wound net.

Claims

1. A physical system of movable posts and an affixable/detachable net that creates a removable barrier to impede the migration of fallen tree leaves and facilitates the efficient capture and disposition of said accumulated leaves.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising of posts that can be anchored in the ground and each of which include pairs of prongs projecting from the post's shaft at specific intervals and angles so as to allow the affixation and detachment of a net as specifically arranged/folded between posts.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising guide discs at the top and bottom of each post's portion of above-ground (when anchored in the ground) shaft.

4. The device of claim 2 further comprising a diamond-shaped spear at the bottom of the post's shaft so as to allow the anchoring and removal of the post from the ground.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising of a net that is designed to fold into fourths and attach and detach from the posts to allow for the collection, capture, and disposal of fallen leaves.

6. The device of claim 5 further comprised of a hem around its perimeter in which grommets are imbedded at specific intervals so as to allow the grommets to affix to and detach from the posts'prongs.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprised of a hem around its perimeter in which grommets are imbedded at specific intervals such that they align to allow the net's hem to be bound together, essentially forming a bag or pouch of the net and encapsulating materials accumulated in net.

8. The device of claim 5 further devised such that the bag or pouch formed of the net can be detached from the posts for transport/disposal.

9. The device of claim 5 further comprised of grommets that interlock with their symmetrically-opposed (when folded as prescribed) grommets, but maintain a ring shape (i.e. hollow in the middle) regardless of whether grommets are interlocked.

10. The invention of claim 1, such that multiple units of the physical system can be linked in a consecutive fashion to create a continuous barrier.