Abstract:
A bagger apparatus includes a platform having an opening proximate a center of the platform and a bag holder being retained by the platform proximate the opening of the platform. In use, a bag having an opening is held by the bag holder. The opening of the bag is aligned to the opening of the platform. The platform has a wider area than the opening of the bag such that an object received by the platform can be led to the bag via the opening of the platform and the opening of the bag.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part application of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/074,829, filed May 8, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,842. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bagger apparatus, and more particularly to a wide opening bagger apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As it is well known, in autumn, people will sweep and move leaves from areas such as yard or public area. To bag leaves, some may use garbage cans to hold a bag, or even hold a bag by hand. It costs more time and labor to put leaves into the bag, because the opening of the bag is not wide enough. For this reason, some people use blanket, plastic film, even car cover to hold leaves and then move the leaves onto the truck or somewhere. Although it is easy to receive the leaves in this way, everytime the blanket, plastic film or the car cover cannot hold so many leaves as a trash bag, and the leaves in the blanket and the car cover need to be removed after filling everytime. Packing the leaves is also not an easy thing to do. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that there is a need for an improved bagger apparatus, particularly a wide opening leaves bagger to receive and move leaves in an easy way. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the above described considerations, a wide opening bagger apparatus is provided in this invention. The apparatus includes a platform to receive and lead the objects such as leaves into the bag. In addition, a normal trash bag can be used in the bagger apparatus to bag the leaves so that removal of the leaves-filled bag can be an easy thing. 
     In one embodiment in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a wide opening bagger apparatus is provided. The bagger apparatus comprises a standing member having a top opening and a plurality of members extending outwardly from the standing member; and a platform having an opening aligned with the top opening of the standing member, the platform being held by the plurality of members. 
     Still in one embodiment, the platform has a plurality of pieces hanging downwardly from the opening of the platform into the top opening of the standing member. 
     Further in one embodiment, the platform is flexible. 
     In another embodiment in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a wide opening bagger apparatus includes a platform having an opening proximate a center of the platform, the platform configured to be coupled to a bag such that the opening of the platform is aligned with an opening of the bag. The platform has a larger receiving area than the opening of the bag such that the platform receives and leads objects such as leaves into the bag. 
     Still in another embodiment, the coupling between the bag and the platform is via a bag holder. The bag holder is retained by the platform proximate the opening of the platform. 
     Further in another embodiment, the bag holder includes a first piece and a second piece, the first piece of the bag holder is mounted on the opening of the platform, and the second piece of the bag holder is mounted on the opening of the bag. The second piece detachably engages with the first piece. 
     Still in another embodiment, the platform has a plurality of pieces which are partially cut off from the platform so as to form the opening of the platform. The bag holder is retained by the plurality of pieces, and the bag is held onto the bag holder by clips or the like. 
     Further in another embodiment, the platform is flexible. 
     In another embodiment, the platform is supported by a standing frame. Alternatively, the platform can be used without a supporting frame. 
     Accordingly, the invention provides a new and improved bagger apparatus having a wide opening to receive the objects such as leaves. 
     Another advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is that it provides a simple structure to hold the opening of a bag. 
     A further advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is that the bagger apparatus can be easily assembled and disassembled. 
     A still further advantage of one embodiment of the present invention is that the flexible platform can be folded for easy storing. 
     It will be readily appreciated that additional advantages, which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of structure and operation of the invention as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bagger apparatus generally in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a corner section of the bagger apparatus along line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the corner section of the bagger apparatus along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the corner section of the bagger apparatus along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an intersection along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a connection between a projecting member of the frame and a corner of platform along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a flexible platform according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a flexible platform attached to a bag holder of the frame. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a bagger apparatus having a platform conFigured to attach to a bag without a supporting frame in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the bagger apparatus having a platform supported by a frame in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the bagger apparatus having a platform conFigured to attach to a bag via a bag holder in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is a wide opening bagger apparatus. 
     In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized as structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     One of the applications of the present invention is a leaves bagger. 
     One specific implementation of a leaves bagger  60  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8. Referring initially to FIG. 1, it is seen that the bagger  60  comprises a flexible platform  62  and a closed four-cornered frame  64  having four projecting frame members  66 . Four frame members  72  form a square base  70 , four legs  68  each of which has one end attached to the base  70  and the other end connected to a bag holder  76  which is in square. Four projecting frame members  66  extend from each leg  68  upwardly and outwardly, and the flexible platform  62  is then attached to the top of the projecting frame members  66 . It is appreciated that the frame can be in any shape such as a circle shape. It is also appreciated that the material used for the frame  64  is not limited. The frame can be made of plastic pipes, metal pipes, or wood stakes, etc. 
     FIGS. 2,  3  and  4  show the enlarged views of a corner connector  74  of the frame  64  as shown in FIG.  1 . The connector  74  connects the frame members  72  and the leg  68 . A piece  88  (see FIGS. 2,  3 ,  4 ) may be disposed to integrally connect to the connector  74 . It is noted that the same connector  74  can be provided to connect the bag holder  76  and the legs  68 . In use, after placing a bag  75  into the frame  64 , a top edge portion of the bag can be folded over the bag holder  76 . A clip  77  or the like can be used to fix the bag to the frame  64  by attaching the top edge portion of the bag to the piece  88  or the other places on the frame  64 , such as the bag holder  76  or the legs  68 , etc. 
     FIG. 5 shows a connector  78  between the leg  68  and the projecting frame member  66 . The connector  78  includes two integral pieces  90  and  91  with an angle φ therebetween. The projecting frame member  66  is inserted into the piece  91 , and the leg  68  is insert into the piece  90 . Preferably, the angle φ is between 120° and 135°. It is appreciated that other angles can be used within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a fastener  80  between the flexible platform  62  and the projecting frame member  66 . The fastener  80  fastens the corner of the flexible platform  62  and the top of the projecting frame member  66 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a top view of the flexible platform  62 . The flexible platform  62  has an opening  82  proximate the center of the platform  62 . In one embodiment, the opening  82  can be made by cutting the center of the flexible platform  62  into four triangle shaped pieces  86 . It is appreciated that other cutting shapes can be used within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows that the four pieces  86  of the flexible platform  62  hang downwardly toward the bag holder  76  of the frame  64 . The opening  82  is aligned with a top opening  94  (see also in FIG. 1) of the frame  64 . In use, the triangle shaped pieces  86  are hung downwardly into the opening of the bag, thus objects, such as leaves, received by the flexible platform  62  can be led to the bag through the opening  82 . The pieces  86  may include fasteners, such as valcro  84 , to attach the pieces  86  to the bag holder  76 . 
     The size of the frame  64  can be varied to meet different requirements. The size of the platform  62  can also be varied depending on the frame size and the angle between the leg  68  and the projecting frame member  66 . For example, the length and width of the platform  62  can be 36 inches, and the length and width of the opening  82  can be 15 inches; the length and width of the frame  64  can be 18 inches, and the length of the leg  68  can be 24 inches. Because the frame members and the platform can be connected by the connector  74 ,  78  and the fastener  80 , it is easy to assemble and disassemble the frame without any tools. 
     A second embodiment of a bagger apparatus  90  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  9 . The bagger apparatus  90  includes a platform  92  and a bag holder  94 . The platform  92  has an opening  96  proximate the center of the platform  92 . The platform  92  can be made of metal, plastic, or flexible materials, such as cloth. Preferably, the platform  92  is flexible. In the preferred embodiment, the opening  96  can be made by cutting the center of the platform  92  into four triangle shaped pieces  98 . It is appreciated that other cutting shapes can be used within the scope of the invention. Also, it would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that a hanging piece hung downwardly from the platform  92  can be used within the scope of the present invention. The cut opening  96  of the platform  92  can be in a square shape. The bag holder  94  can be in a square shaped frame. The four pieces  98  of the platform  92  hang downwardly toward the bag holder  94  and looped around the four edges of the bag holder  94 . It is appreciated that the bag holder  94  and the cut opening  96  can be in any other suitable shape, such as a round shape. The pieces  98  have fasteners, such as valcro  100 , to retain the bag holder  94 . In use, a bag which can be similar to the bag  75  shown in FIG. 1, can be retained onto the bag holder  94  by fasteners, such as clips, valcro etc., at the edges or corners of the bag holder  94 . Accordingly, the opening of the bag is aligned with the opening  94  of the platform  92 . Objects such as leaves or the like received by the platform  92  can be led to the bag through the opening  96 . The platform  92  can be placed on ground initially and lifted up to lead the leaves or the like to the bag. 
     In another embodiment of a bagger apparatus  101  is shown in FIG.  10 . In FIG. 10, the platform  92  of FIG. 9 is supported by legs  102  and a top frame  104 . The legs  102  and the top frame  104  are attached to each other via connectors  106 . The connectors  106  can be corner connectors which may be similar to the corner connectors  74  shown in FIG.  2 . It is appreciated that other types of corner connectors can be used within the scope of the invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the platform  92  is secured to the top frame  104 . The platform  92  can be secured to the top frame  104  in a variety of ways. For example, the platform  92  can be sewed onto itself with stitches by looping around the edges of the top frame  104 , etc. Further, the legs  102  can be a telescopic design so that they can be adjusted depending on the height of the bag. 
     FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a bagger apparatus  108  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The apparatus  108  includes a flexible platform  110  having an opening  112  proximate the center of the platform  110 . The platform  110  is coupled to a bag  114  via a bag holder  116 . The bag holder  116  may include two pieces  118  and  120 . The piece  118  is retained at an opening edge  122  of the platform  110 . The other piece  120  is retained at an opening edge  124  of the bag  114 . The bag  114  can be attached to the piece  120  in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the opening edge  124  of the bag  114  is looped around the piece  120  and retained thereto by stitches, clips, or the like. The platform  110  can be attached to the piece  118  in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, the opening edge  122  of the platform  110  is looped around the piece  120  and retained thereto by stitches, clips, or the like. 
     Also as shown in FIG. 11, the piece  120  may include a couple of hooks so as to hook the piece  120  onto the piece  118 . Once the two pieces are hooked together, the top opening of the bag  114  and the opening  112  of the platform  110  are aligned to each other. It is appreciated that other types of attachment between the bag  114  and the platform  110  can be used without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
     Also in FIG. 1, legs  126 , a top frame  128 , and connectors  130  may be similar to those described in FIG. 10 to support the platform  110 . It would be appreciated to a person skilled in the art that the top frame, legs, and connectors can be replaced by a suitable single frame to support the platform  110 . 
     It is appreciated that many other suitable implementation can be used within the principles of the present invention generally shown above. The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.