Patent ID: 9351442
Filing Date: 2016-05-31
CPC Classification: A01G

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for collecting leaves, comprising: a mobile carrier configured to be supported on and moved at least in a forward direction over a surface, said mobile carrier at a front end thereof including a platform for supporting a leaf collection bag in an upright, rearwardly inclined, orientation; a leaf raking mechanism supported by said mobile carrier at a bottom thereof between and spaced from a rear end and said front end thereof, said leaf raking mechanism extending in a transverse relation to the forward direction across said bottom of the mobile carrier and being rotatably driven to gather leaves from the surface by moving said mobile carrier in the forward direction; a hollow chute supported by said mobile carrier between said rear and front ends thereof in an inclined orientation being the reverse of the inclined orientation of the leaf collection bag when supported by said platform, said hollow chute comprising: a source of forced air flow supported by said mobile carrier and configured to direct a forced air flow from said forced air flow source, being located rearwardly of said hollow chute and said leaf raking mechanism, through said hollow chute from said rear opening of said hollow chute to said top outlet of said hollow chute, going past said bottom inlet of said hollow chute, being located between said rear portion and said top end portion of said hollow chute and in said flow communication with said leaf raking mechanism, so as to create a vacuum effect in said hollow chute that assists said leaf raking mechanism in gathering leaves from the surface and delivering the leaves through said bottom inlet of said hollow chute and into said hollow chute where the gathered and delivered leaves become entrained in the forced air flow being directed away from, and thus not through, said forced air flow source and said rear opening of said hollow chute toward said top end portion of said hollow chute and through said top outlet of said hollow chute; and an exhaust duct supported by said hollow chute and being configured to provide a path for exhausting forced air flow from the collection bag to exterior of the leaf collection bag after circulating into and depositing the leaves in the leaf collection bag.