Abstract:
A wagon comprising a body portion, the body portion including a plurality of side portions, each of the side portions comprising wire or plastic sides. The wagon also comprises a plurality of reinforcing metal strips on a top and bottom of each of the wire sides; and a plurality of metal strips which extend from the top to the bottom of the body portion. Finally, the wagon includes a plurality of tie down straps in metal or plastic straps extending from a top portion of and side of the utility wagon. When an attachable leaf chute is combined with the utility wagon, it can also fill individual bags with leaves. The attachable leaf chute slides into and then is attached to the utility wagon.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a utility wagon and more specifically to a utility wagon with an attachable leaf chute. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    There is a need for a utility wagon which has many different uses and which can be used by people without the use of additional, often heavy (such as a motor) equipment. Often a utility wagon can be used for a particular purpose, but not for many different items, such as bringing large garbage cans or bags for pick up and then return these to the house or shed once they have been emptied, and yet at the same time it can also be used, for example, for decorations and displays for holidays and seasons. 
         [0003]    The utility wagon in accordance with the present invention can accomplish many different purposes, yet the utility wagon is simple in design and may be pushed and pulled by a person without additional equipment. The present invention addresses such a need. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A wagon comprising a body portion, the body portion including a plurality of side portions, each of the side portions comprising wire or plastic sides. The wagon also comprises a plurality of reinforcing metal strips on a top and bottom of each of the wire sides; and a plurality of metal strips which extend from the top to the bottom of the body portion. Finally, the wagon includes a plurality of tie down straps in metal or plastic extending from a top portion of and side of the utility wagon. When an attachable leaf chute is combined with the utility wagon, it can also fill individual bags with leaves. The attachable leaf chute slides into and then is attached to the utility wagon. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a utility wagon in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom view of a utility wagon in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a rear view of a utility wagon in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a front view of a utility wagon in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a front top view of the attachable leaf chute. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a side view of the attachable leaf chute. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4C  illustrates another side view of the attachable leaf chute. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4D  illustrates a top view of a utility wagon with the attachable leaf chute. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a side view of the presser/stuffer rake. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a front view of the presser/stuffer rake. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The present invention relates generally to a utility wagon and more specifically to a utility wagon with an attachable leaf chute. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein. 
       Utility Wagon  10   
       [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a utility wagon  10 . The wagon  10  includes a handle  12  (a shopping cart-type of handle or a similar type of handle). The height  13  of the wagon can be, for example, from 2.5 feet to 3 feet, so as to make it easy for people to push and move about. The wagon also includes wire sides  14  on all four sides of the utility wagon  10 . There is a reinforcing metal strip railing  18  on the bottom and top sides, which extends around the entire utility wagon  10 . There are also metal strips  20  which extend from the top to the bottom of the utility wagon  10 . Holding or tie down metal or plastic straps  22  extend from the top of one side of the utility wagon, and these are each fastened with hooks  24  on the opposite side of the wagon. 
         [0017]    In the side view on the front side of the utility wagon  10  of  FIG. 1 , there is a front gate or door  26 . This pulls down from the top or it can open from one side. 
         [0018]    The utility wagon  10  includes four wheels  28 , so that it can be moved easily. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates three (3) large garbage cans which can be inside the utility wagon  10 . Of course, other sizes of cans and bags could also be used. The inside of the utility wagon  10  could additionally be used for recycling containers, potted plants and small trees, decorations and displays during holiday season, empty or filled commercial water jugs; as well as storing office, janitorial, and laundry supplies; hauling bags of dirt, tools, small machines, and fertilizer for garden purposes; and even as a temporary holding pen for small and newborn pets. These are some ways in which the utility wagon  10  could be used, but the use of the utility wagon has many other possibilities as well. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the bottom view  102  of the utility wagon  10 ′. The bottom view of the utility wagon  10 ′ includes a wire bottom  104 . There are four wheels  28 ′. On the bottom, in the middle, sides, front, and back there are reinforcing metal or plastic strips  18 ′ or a railing. The front gate or door  26 ′ can be seen, which again can be opened either by pulling the door open down from the top or the door can be opened from the side. 
         [0021]    In  FIG. 3   a , from the rear view the utility wagon  10  includes reinforcing metal or plastic strap hooks  302 . There are also reinforcing metal or plastic strips  18 ′″. As is seen, there is the push/pull handle  304  and a reinforcing metal or plastic strip  18 ′″ which goes across the top of the utility wagon  10 . 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 3   b , from the front view the utility wagon  10  includes strap hooks  302 ′, a push/pull handle  304 ′, and reinforcing metal or plastic strips  18 ′″″. There is also a hatch  306 , side hinges  308  and bottom hinges  310 . The side hinges  308  open so that the door or gate opens from one side. A set of bottom latches  310  enables the door or gate to open from the top. 
       Features of the Utility Wagon  10   
       [0023]    The utility wagon  10  can accomplish many different things. For example, the following give examples, but do not limit, what the utility wagon can do. 
         [0024]    The utility wagon  10  can hold a plurality of large garbage cans. It can be pushed to the curb for garbage pickup. Empty cans can be returned to the wagon and then brought back to the house. It can also hold a plurality of large garbage bags, for example, for pickup. 
         [0025]    The utility wagon  10  can prevent empty cans from blowing away. It can hold recycling containers for pick up (stacks of folded cardboard or newspapers), but there are many other similar or related possibilities, of which the above are only an example. The utility wagon  10  can hold potted plants, small potted trees, and flowers. It can also be used for decorations and displays for holidays and seasons. The utility wagon  10  can be relocated to any place on a property. It can be kept outside, for instance, since it is weather resistant. The utility wagon  10  can haul bags of dirt, plants, tools, small machines and fertilizer for gardening or building purposes. It is a carry-all for outdoor events. 
         [0026]    The utility wagon  10  can hold filled or empty commercial water jugs. It can also be used to store office, janitorial, and laundry supplies. It can be used as a temporary holding pen for small or newborn pets, and it is easily attached to a fence, pole, and/or a tree. 
       The Attachable Leaf Chute  400   
       [0027]    An attachable leaf chute  400  in conjunction with the utility wagon  10  can be utilized for filling bags with leaves. 
         [0028]    The attachable leaf chute  400  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4D . If a person wants, a person can use a hand-held, shoulder-held or push model blower to push leaves or the like into the wagon via the chute  400 . However, the blower is not part of a system and method in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  is a front view of the leaf chute  400 . The leaf chute  400  is a trapezoidal shape which includes top guard  402 , bottom guard  404 , and a grass leaf door at one end. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a sleeve  410  of the chute  400  coupled to a leaf grass bag  410 . The leaves or the like that are placed in the chute  400  can be pushed into the bag via the leaf stuffer/press rake  500 . In so doing, the system can be used to compactly remove leaves and the like from a yard. 
         [0031]    The leaf chute  400  can be utilized with the wagon  10  in two fashions. The chute can be used at a front load on the front of the wagon  10  or it can be at the top load on the front of the wagon  10 . 
       Front Load 
       [0032]      FIG. 4C  illustrates the leaf chute being used as a front load device. To use the attachable leaf chute  400 , slide it into the front end of the utility wagon  10  with side hooks on attachment for both sides of the wagon. 
         [0033]    A leaf/grass blower (not shown) can be used to blow the leaves into the front opening of the attachable leaf chute  400 , or the leaves may be raked into the attachable leaf chute using the presser/stuffer  500  ( FIG. 4 ) into the front opening of the attachable leaf chute  400 . 
       Top Load 
       [0034]      FIG. 4D  illustrates the leaf chute  400  being used as a top load device. In the top load the chute  400  hooks into the top of both sides of the utility wagon  10 . A lawn mower bag or leaf vacuum bag full of leaves and grass can be shaken into the sleeve  410  of the chute. Leaves can also be collected and placed into the sleeve. A long handle presser/stuffer rake  500  is used to push leaves and grass in order to fill the bag. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the long handle presser/stuffer rake  500 . The long handle presser/stuffer rake  500  is used to push leaves or grass through the chute  400  into the bag. As is seen, the presser/stuffer  500  includes a long handle  502  coupled to a substantially rectangle ( FIG. 5B ) presser portion  504 . The presser portion is held in place by joints  506 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0036]    A utility wagon which is easy to use, can accomplish many different things, with the addition of the attachable leaf chute and a long-handle Press can fill individual bags with leaves in an efficient and effective manner. 
         [0037]    Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.