Abstract:
A folding apparatus is provided for collecting, storing, and/or transporting various items, such as fallen leaves. According to various embodiments, the apparatus includes a tough tarp with a folding rigid outer frame and interlocking handles. The folding apparatus is adapted to allow a user to collect leaves and/or other items onto the tarp, and subsequent to folding or closing the apparatus, to store and/or transport these items.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/822,146, filed Aug. 11, 2006, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This disclosure relates to collecting, storing and/or transporting items. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Proper maintenance of the curtilage, or yard, of a dwelling or business is often a time and labor intensive task. For example, in locations that experience relatively cold climates, the collection and removal of leaves that have fallen from trees, and the removal of other refuse, may constitute a significant task. 
   Yard tarps, which may be made from, for example, water resistant canvas coated with plastic or latex, are often used in connection with the collection of fallen leaves. Conventional yard tarps, however, are problematic for many reasons. For example, when raking leaves onto conventional yard tarps, the rake tines often catch the side of the tarp, thus pulling at least a portion of the tarp onto itself. When this occurs, the leaves are no longer raked entirely onto the tarp, but rather a significant portion is raked onto the ground where the tarp formally was situated. Additional problems also arise in connection with the use of conventional tarps while transporting gathered leaves. For example, when trying to take the leaf filled tarp out to the street for pickup, leaves frequently fall out of various sides as the user attempts to awkwardly hold together all four corners of the tarp while it is being moved. Furthermore, the materials currently used to construct conventional yard tarps are generally intended for covering wood piles, boats, cars and the like (e.g., for protection from inclement weather only), and are not designed to stand up to the type of prolonged friction that may occur while dragging the tarp, filled with leaves or other refuse, to the street for pickup. 
   Therefore, what is needed is an apparatus for collecting, storing, and/or transporting various items, such as fallen leaves, without the aforementioned and other problems commonly associated with conventional yard tarps. 
   SUMMARY 
   Disclosed herein are folding apparatus and a method for making a folding apparatus. In one implementation, the apparatus has a four-sided frame where the sides are selectively detachable from one another. The apparatus also has a substantially rectangular tarp with at least one sleeve extending along each side of the tarp. The sleeves are adapted to receive one of the sides of the frame by retaining at least a portion of the side of the frame. Two of the sides of the frame that are not adjacent to each other each have a pivot joint that permits each of those sides to fold. The apparatus has an open configuration where the sides of the frames with pivot joints are extended in a substantially straight line. The apparatus also has a closed configuration where the sides of the frame with pivot joints are folded to create an enclosure in the attached tarp. 
   In another embodiment, the apparatus has a four-sided frame. The apparatus also has a substantially rectangular tarp with at least one connection along each side of the tarp adapted to connect to one of the sides of the frame. The connections of each side of the tarp connect a corresponding side of the frame. Two of the sides of the frame that are not adjacent to each other each have a pivot joint that permits each of those sides to fold. The apparatus has an open configuration where the sides of the frames with pivot joints are extended in a substantially straight line. The apparatus also has a closed configuration where the sides of the frame with pivot joints are folded to create an enclosure in the attached tarp. 
   In another embodiment, at least one sleeve adapted to receive a side of a four-sided frame is attached along each side of a four-sided tarp. Two sides of the frame that are not adjacent are divided using a pivot joint that allows each side to be folded. Each side of the four-sided frame is inserted into a corresponding side of the tarp using the sleeves on the sides of the tarp. The sides of the frame are connected to form a four-sided frame. 
   Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a folding apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the folding apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  when the apparatus is in its closed, or folded, position; 
       FIG. 3  provides a more detailed view of one connection location of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
       FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C provide more detailed views of a pivot joint used in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   A folding apparatus and method for making a folding apparatus is presented in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the apparatus and method described in the disclosure. Notably, the figures and examples below are not meant to limit the scope of the disclosure. Where certain elements can be partially or fully implemented using known components, only those portions of such known components that are necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure will be described, and detailed descriptions of other portions of such known components will be omitted so as not to obscure the disclosure. Further, the present disclosure encompasses present and future known equivalents to the components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
     FIG. 1  provides a top view of a folding apparatus  100  in its open position according to one embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, folding apparatus  100  includes a tarp  102 . According to various embodiments, tarp  102  is not taut around frame  104 , which is discussed below, thus allowing tarp  102  to form a bag-like enclosure when apparatus  100  is in its closed, or folded, configuration. As explained in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 2 , when in its closed position, folding apparatus  100  resembles an old-style change purse and serves to effectively contain gathered leaves or other items for storage and/or transportation (e.g., to the street for pickup or dumping). 
   Tarp  102  may be constructed, for example, using a tough canvas and/or one or more other materials that are strong enough to withstand frequent dragging over dirt or even a concrete surface. Such other materials may include nylon and sewn strands of cotton. Moreover, according to various embodiments, the material used to construct tarp  102  may be configured in a mesh configuration. In this case, according to various embodiments, the openings of the mesh tarp  102  are small enough to prevent small debris from escaping, but also large enough to permit moisture to escape. It will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to a particular type of material used to construct tarp  102 , nor by the particular size of the openings of tarp  102  when a mesh configuration is employed. Moreover, it is contemplated that replacement tarps similar or identical to tarp  102  (which may have been purchased by a user together with the remainder of apparatus  100 ) may also be sold separately to users. Alternatively, for example, tarps of different materials and/or mesh characteristics may be available to users to satisfy different needs. 
   As referenced above, folding apparatus  100  also includes a four-sided, substantially rectangular, internal frame  104 . According to various embodiments, frame  104  is constructed from a rigid, strong, but light material (e.g., titanium, aluminum, or a metal alloy). Moreover, frame  104  may be substantially flat, cylindrical or take any other suitable shape, and may be either hollow or solid. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the four sides of frame  104  are connected at four corners  106 , as explained in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 . Moreover, frame  104  includes pivot joints  108  and  110 , which are shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4A-4C  and discussed below, at the respective midpoints of the two longer sides of frame  104 . 
   When apparatus  100  is fully assembled, the four pieces or sides of frame  104  are situated through respective sleeves  112  of tarp  102  (as discussed in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 3 ). Moreover, according to various embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , the portions of tarp  102  near each of four corners  106  may be cut out (i.e., not present) to facilitate assembly of internal frame  104 . Similarly, according to various embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , the portions of tarp  102  near pivot joints  108  and  110  may also be cut out. Persons versed in the art will appreciate that such cut outs, resulting in the exposure of corners  106  and pivot joints  108  and  110 , may benefit a user such as by permitting easy application of oil for maintenance of apparatus  100 . 
   According to various other embodiments (not shown), rather than simply being permanently absent, the four corners of tarp  102  and/or the portions of tarp  102  near pivot joints  108  and  110  may be selectively removable and attachable using, for example, VELCRO and/or ZIPPER attachment mechanisms. For example, the four corners of tarp  102  may be exposed to a user during assembly of apparatus  100  (whether or not they were exposed at the time of purchase of apparatus  100 ), and following successful assembly, the user may attach the corners for safety and/or aesthetic reasons. Alternatively, for example, when apparatus  100  is fully assembled prior to purchase by a user, these four corners of tarp  102  may be permanently affixed to (or manufactured as a part of) the remainder of tarp  102 . 
   Apparatus  100  also includes handles  114  and  116  at the respective midpoints of the two shorter sides of frame  104 . According to various embodiments, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , for increased ease of dragging, handles  114  and  116  may be configured such that they are approximately the same length, while the points of attachment of handle  114  to tarp  102  are closer together than the points of attachment of handle  116  to tarp  102 . When in such a configuration, as is seen more clearly in  FIG. 2  discussed below, handle  114  extends further away from tarp  102  than handle  116 , and may optionally be used by itself to easily lift or drag apparatus  100 . 
   As also shown in  FIG. 1 , apparatus  100  includes a rope  118  that is used to facilitate unloading of fallen leaves and/or other items from apparatus  100  after it has been closed as shown in  FIG. 2 . According to various embodiments, rope  118  is attached at one end to center portion  120  of tarp  102  and at the other end in close proximity to handle  114  or  116 . For example, rope  118  may be sewn or stitched to these portions. Alternatively, rope  118  may be attached to these portions using glue or any other suitable method. After reaching the destination for unloading the items that have been collected in apparatus  100 , and upon opening apparatus  100 , a user may pull on rope  118  in order to cause the leaves and/or other collected items to fall out of the “bag” which has been formed by tarp  102  without the user having to kick or push the back side of tarp  102  for these items to fall out. 
   Although rope  118  is explained above as being attached at one end to a center portion  120  of tarp  102 , it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this manner. Rather, for example, rope  118  may be attached at one end to some point in the interior of tarp  102  that is not in center portion  120  of tarp  102 . 
   According to various embodiments, apparatus  100  may also include one or more optional edges  122  that are attached to frame  104  and/or an exterior portion of tarp  102 . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a first edge  122  is attached to a first sleeve  112  frame  104 , and a second edge  122  is attached to a second sleeve frame  104 . These edges may also be attached to any exterior portion of frame  104  or sleeve  112 , or through holes cut into sleeve  112  so that frame  104  is accessible. The edge  122  may be bolted, glued, or possess a snapping mechanism, etc., so that it can be securely or loosely attached to frame  104  or sleeve  112 . According to various embodiments, edges  122  are made from a hard plastic or rubber. Alternatively, edges  122  may be made from another material that is able to maintain at least a semi-rigid structure. According to various embodiments, edges  122  are made from a relatively heavy material, such that they are more likely to retain contact with the ground when in use. 
   When apparatus  100  is in its open configuration, edges  122  may be used to facilitate the gathering of leaves or other items onto tarp  102  by completely preventing or at least reducing the portion of such items that are accidentally swept or raked underneath tarp  102 . For example, when attached to an apparatus  100  that is in its open configuration, edges  122  may serve as a slight “ramp” off the ground and onto tarp  102  such that items swept or raked in the direction of edges  122  are forced over edges  122  and onto tarp  102  (rather than underneath tarp  102 ). 
   According to various embodiments, it is contemplated that edges  122  discussed above and shown in  FIG. 1  be selectively detachable from apparatus  100 . Moreover, for example, edges  122  may be attached in such a manner that they are able to pivot and be folded onto tarp  102  and remain partially or completely inside of the perimeter of frame  104  when apparatus  100  is in its closed configuration (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Additionally, although two edges  122  are shown in  FIG. 1  and described above, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this manner. For example, only a single edge  122 , or more than two edges  122 , may be used. In addition, it is not required that an edge  122  be of the same or similar length as a sleeve  112 . For example, although not shown, an edge that is approximately half of the length of a particular sleeve  112  may be attached to that sleeve  112 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the folding apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  when in its closed position. Apparatus  100  may be closed by a user by simply pulling together the two shorter sides of frame  104  (e.g., using handles  114  and  116 ). According to various embodiments, once handles  114  and  116  are brought near each other, they may be interlocked to prevent apparatus  100  from accidentally opening up, thereby preventing accidental spillage of items being contained within tarp  102 . In this case, apparatus  100  may be opened by releasing one of handles  114  and  116 . Alternate methods of keeping apparatus  100  closed are also contemplated. For example, according to various embodiments, the two shorter sides of frame  104  may be magnetized such that they are magnetically attracted to each other once they are brought to within a certain distance of each other. In this case, once apparatus  100  is closed, a sufficient force may be applied by a user to separate the two shorter sides of frame  104  in order to open apparatus  100 . Moreover, it is also contemplated that one or more mechanisms be employed to facilitate the opening of folding apparatus  100  from its closed configuration. For example, one or more springs may be attached to frame  104  such that, upon an initial exertion of force by a user to open apparatus  100  from its closed configuration, the one or more springs serve to assist in the opening of apparatus  100 . 
   As mentioned above and can be clearly seen from  FIG. 2 , handle  114  extends further away from tarp  102  than handle  116 , and when apparatus  100  is closed, handle  114  may be used to easily drag apparatus  100 . In particular, as shown, handle  114  may be passed through handle  116  when apparatus  100  is closed, such that a user need only deal with one handle as opposed to two or more. Moreover, according to various embodiments, this single, primary use, handle will be large enough to accommodate both of the user&#39;s hands. 
   According to various embodiments, handle  114  may include a hand piece  202  to make handling of apparatus  100  more comfortable for a user. For example, hand piece  202  may be made from a soft rubber. Moreover, hand piece  202  may be sufficiently inflexible such that handle  114  does not bend around and cause excess pressure on certain parts of a user&#39;s hand when apparatus  100  is being lifted or dragged by the user. 
   Although handles  114  and  116  are explained above as being situated at respective midpoints of the two shorter sides of frame  104 , it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this manner. That is, handles  114  and  116  may be situated at points other than the midpoints of the two shorter sides of frame  104 . 
     FIG. 3  provides a more detailed view of the top-right corner  106  of apparatus  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . Although only one corner  106  of apparatus  100  is shown in more detail, it will be understood that the explanation provided in connection with  FIG. 3  is also applicable to the other three corners of apparatus  100 . As shown, the pieces of frame  104  may be configured such that, during assembly of apparatus  100 , these pieces are connected at the corners  106  using bolt  302 , washer  304  and nut  306 . It will be understood that other suitable connection techniques may also be used. For example, a pre-assembled snapping system (not shown) such as currently known in the art may be used in order to form the rectangular frame  104  when assembled. According to various embodiments, where bolting is used such as shown in  FIG. 3 , the end portions of the pieces of frame  104  which are to be connected at the corners of apparatus  100  include “L” shaped pieces and/or indentions in the material (e.g., cast metal) of frame  104  that serve to strengthen the corner connections and minimize movement once assembly is complete. 
     FIG. 3  also provides a more detailed view of two of the sleeves  112  of tarp  102 . According to various embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the material of tarp  104  (or some other material attached thereto) may be sewn onto itself using stitching  308  in such a manner as to create hollow sleeves  112 . It is through sleeves  112  that the rigid pieces of frame  104  are pushed during assembly of apparatus  100 . 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C provide more detailed views of pivot joint  108  of apparatus  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood that pivot joint  110  of apparatus  100 , although not shown in similar detail, may be similar or identical to pivot joint  108  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C  and discussed below. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  respectively show top and side views of pivot joint  108 . As shown, pivot joint  108  includes a dual-pivot construction, which allows the two sides of frame  104  extending from pivot joint  108  to rest completely (or at least nearly completely) against each other when apparatus  100  is closed. Thus, such a dual-pivot construction prevents the gap which may otherwise form due to the two sides of frame  104  hitting each other when apparatus  100  is closed (e.g., as would occur if pivot joint  108  was flush with each side of frame  104 ). It will be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the use dual-pivot joints, and that any other suitable type of joint may be used. 
   Although pivot joints  108  and  110  are explained above as being situated at respective midpoints of the two longer sides of frame  104 , it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this manner. That is, pivot joints  108  and  100  may be situated at points other than the midpoints of the two longer sides of frame  104 . 
   A number of embodiments of the disclosure have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, as described above, and according to various embodiments, apparatus  100  is designed to be fully assembled only after purchase by a user, and may be disassembled after such assembly, thus simplifying transportation and sale thereof. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that a user may purchase a fully assembled apparatus  100 , and that, according to various embodiments, disassembly may not be intended or possible. 
   Various other modifications of apparatus  100  described above are contemplated and are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, although handles  114  and  116  of apparatus  100  are shown as attached to the two shorter sides of frame  104 , handles  114  and  116  may instead be attached to the two longer sides of frame  104 . Moreover, according to various embodiments, only one handle may be used, or more than two handles may be used (e.g., one handle on each of the four sides of frame  104 ). It is also contemplated that apparatus  100  be configured to have four sides that are equal in length (such that apparatus  100  resembles a square rather than a rectangle), or may be circular in shape or take the shape of a trapezoid, hexagon, or any other suitable shape. It is also noted that, while apparatus  100  has been described above with particular attention to the collection and transportation of leaves from a yard, the disclosure is not limited in this manner. In particular, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited with respect to the particular item or items being removed, or by the location from which the item or items are being removed from. Moreover, apparatus  100  may also be used for storage of various collected items, such as leaves. 
   Although the disclosure particularly describes the apparatus and method with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, modifications and substitutes are intended within the form and details thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that, in numerous instances, some features of the disclosure will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Further, those skilled in the art will understand that variations can be made in the number and arrangement of components illustrated in the above figures. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure include such changes and modifications. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure.