Abstract:
This hauling tarpaulin can be deployed, loaded with refuse, moved and unloaded by a single person. A stored tarpaulin rolled about a mandrel is easily unrolled and filled with lawn refuse. The mandrel holds the tarpaulin flat on the ground despite wind. When the hauling tarpaulin is filled with refuse, the hauling line is pulled, causing the mandrel to rise up on its legs, and the sides to rise, forming a boat-shaped structure which engulfs the refuse. The hauling tarpaulin then is pulled by the hauling line to the refuse collecting point. At the collecting point the tarpaulin is restored to its flat form and the waste material unloaded.

Description:
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
         [0001]    Not Applicable.  
         SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0004]    This invention relates to loading and transporting of gardening and landscape refuse and other bulky items using a hauling tarpaulin.  
           [0005]    2. Prior Art  
           [0006]    Tarpaulins have long been used for collecting and hauling lawn refuse and litter. Problems emerge in using a simple tarpaulin for lawn refuse. Deployment of a tarpaulin on the ground requires the user to walk about the periphery unfolding the material. The edges of tarpaulins spread on the yard often are lifted by the wind, making it difficult to rake or load refuse onto the tarpaulin. Finally, raking refuse over the edge of a hauling tarpaulin may cause the edges to fold up, making it difficult to fill the tarpaulin.  
           [0007]    This application discloses an improved hauling tarpaulin which allows single-handed unrolling, filling, moving, and unloading the hauling tarpaulin. This invention comprises a tarpaulin with a hauling rope deposed in grommets around the rear and sides, and a mandrel with legs attached which is fastened to the rear edge of the hauling tarpaulin.  
           [0008]    The present invention therefore makes it possible for a single person to deploy, load, and drag a hauling tarpaulin to the refuse collection area, unload the trash, and roll-up the hauling tarpaulin.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,974,971 discloses a pick-up device for hauling leaves which is a canvas or plastic mat with straps in loops about the periphery. The device is anchored by pins to the ground while being loaded. A bar-like pull handle is attached at the front of the device.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,187 discloses a leaf handling device of flexible material with two battens in sleeves at the back end of the device. When the device is filled with leaves, the battens are brought up and attached together, creating a boat shaped device for convenient handling of the leaves.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,393 discloses a sled with a bar at the front and a handle attached by lines to the bar. The sled is rolled up around the bar and the handle is used to carry the rolled-up sled.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,133 discloses a hauling device for leaves which is a tarp with lines arranged about the edges so that a pull on the loop at the front of the device causes the back to rise up closing the back of the tarp and retaining the leaves. A flexible stiffening support material is inserted in a sleeve at the back of the tarp.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,321 discloses a tow bar assembly to which a tarp is attached for towing. The tow bar serves to anchor the tarp for filling and is the core around which the tarpaulin is rolled for storage and transport.  
           [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,402 discloses a lawn tarp with telescoping support bars inserted into hemmed pockets around the four sides of the tarp. Eyelets located about the four sides can be used to pull the tarp.  
           [0015]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,831 discloses a tarp for collecting leaves with holes in the four corners and a lifting handle which engages the holes when the tarp corners are folded toward the center of the tarp.  
           [0016]    None of the prior art inventions disclose hauling tarpaulins with the characteristics and advantages of the present invention, that is, a hauling tarpaulin which can be deployed, filled, and moved by a single person, and which is easily rolled up for storage.  
           [0017]    Objects and Advantages  
           [0018]    The objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin which can be deployed by a single person.  
           [0019]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin stabilized against winds when open and spread out on the ground.  
           [0020]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin which forms a boat-shaped structure when the hauling line is pulled.  
           [0021]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin which is stored by rolling about a mandrel.  
           [0022]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin with a hauling line attached to the tarpaulin by grommets around three sides of the tarpaulin.  
           [0023]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a hauling tarpaulin easily rolled up about a mandrel attached to the back end of the hauling tarpaulin.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0024]    This application discloses a rectangular hauling tarpaulin comprising, a towing line attached by grommets about three sides of the tarpaulin, a mandrel comprising a rigid longitudinal bar the mandrel attached to the rear side of the tarpaulin with the longitudinal bar approximately parallel to the rear edge of the hauling tarpaulin.  
           [0025]    This application further discloses a rectangular hauling tarpaulin comprising a towing line attached by grommets about three sides of the tarpaulin, a mandrel comprising a longitudinal bar and two or more legs attached approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal bar, and the mandrel attached to the rear side of the tarpaulin with the longitudinal bar approximately parallel to the rear edge of the hauling tarpaulin. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    Figures  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the hauling tarpaulin.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the hauling tarpaulin loaded with lawn refuse.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the hauling tarpaulin loaded with lawn refuse.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment mandrel.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment mandrel.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment mandrel.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a side view of a fifth embodiment mandrel. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0034]    In this application, the term “grommet” means a flexible loop or solid hook that serves as a fastening, or an eyelet of firm material to strengthen or protect an opening, or any other means for attaching a flexible line to a tarpaulin which allows the line to be tightened as a purse-string, causing the tarpaulin to pucker. A preferred grommet is a brass eyelet.  
         [0035]    The term “tarpaulin” means a flexible membrane, which may or may not be waterproof, and which is constructed of canvas, or other woven fabric, or of plastic material, and which is strong and abrasion-resistant enough to carry yard and lawn refuse. A preferred tarpaulin is made of canvas.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the hauling tarpaulin  10 . The top side  22  of the tarpaulin body  20  is shown. The tarpaulin body  20  is approximately rectangular with a relatively shorter front end  24  approximately equal in length to the rear end  26  and the relatively longer left side  27  approximately equal in length to the right side  28 . Grommets  22  are arrayed about the left side  27  and right side  28 .  
         [0037]    A mandrel  50  is attached at the rear end  26 . The mandrel  50  comprises a longitudinal bar  52  to which is attached a left leg  60 , middle leg  62  and right leg  58 . The left leg  54  is attached to the top  24  side of the tarpaulin body  20  by a rivet  60  or other fastener. The middle leg  56  is attached to the top  24  side of the tarpaulin body  20  by a rivet  62 . The right leg  58  is attached to the top  24  side of the tarpaulin body  20  by a rivet  64 . The longitudinal bar  52  is attached to the rear end  26  of the tarpaulin body  20  by straps  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  which extend through grommets in the rear end  26  of the tarpaulin body  20  (not visible in FIG. 1).  
         [0038]    A line  30  extends through the grommets on the left side  27  and is attached by straps  70 ,  72 ,  74 , and  76  to the top of the longitudinal bar  52  and extends through the grommets on the right side  28  of the tarpaulin body  20 . Line  30  extends from the left side  27  forming a left pulling cord  36 . Line  34  extends from the right side  28  forming a right pulling cord  36 . Pulling cords  34  and  36  are fastened together forming a loop  32  for pulling the hauling tarpaulin.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 2 and 3 are top and side views, respectively, of the hauling tarpaulin which has been loaded with lawn refuse.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 shows the lawn refuse  82  filling the hauling tarpaulin  10 . Tension on the line  30  caused by pulling loop  32  in the direction of arrow A has caused the longitudinal bar  52  of the mandrel to rise up on the legs (not shown in FIG. 2). In addition, pulling the loop  32  has caused the left  27  and right  27  sides of the hauling tarpaulin to rise up. The effect of pulling the loop  32  has been to form a three sided enclosure surrounding the lawn refuse. The height of the enclosure is the length of the mandrel legs. Further tension on the pulling cords  34  and  36  and loop  32  drags the loaded hauling tarpaulin in the direction of arrow A.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 is a side view of the hauling tarpaulin filled  10  filled with lawn refuse  82 . The bottom  26  of the right side  28  of the tarpaulin body  20  is visible. Grommets  22  are arrayed about the right side  28  of the tarpaulin body  20 . The line  30  which passes through the grommets is shown. Also visible is the longitudinal bar  52  of the mandrel. The right leg  58  is obstructed by the right side  28  of the tarpaulin body  20  and is depicted in FIG. 3 by a dashed line.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment mandrel  250 . Attached to the longitudinal bar  252  is the left leg  254  comprised of left arm  251  and right arm  253 ; the middle leg  256  comprised of left arm  255  and right arm  257 ; and right leg  258  comprised of left arm  259  and right arm  260 . The legs of the second embodiment mandrel are stronger than those of the first embodiment mandrel.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 5 is a side view of a third embodiment mandrel  350 . Attached to the longitudinal bar  352  is the left leg  354  comprised of left arm  351  and right arm  353 , the left and right arms attached to the connector bar  362 ; the middle leg  356  comprised of left arm  355  and right arm  357 ; the left and right arms attached to the connector bar  364 ; and right leg  358  comprised of left arm  359  and right arm  360 , the left and right arms attached to the connector bar  366 . The legs of the third embodiment mandrel allow a smoother and more convenient rolling of the hauling tarpaulin when it is stored.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 6 is a side view of a fourth embodiment mandrel  450 . Attached to the longitudinal bar  452  is the left end  454  and right end  458 . A second longitudinal bar  460  is attached to the other ends of the left end  454  and right end  458 . The fourth embodiment mandrel is lighter and less expensive to manufacture than are the other embodiments.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 7 is a side view of a fifth embodiment mandrel  550 . Attached to the longitudinal bar  552  is the left end  554  and right end  558 . A second longitudinal bar  560  is attached to the other ends of the left end  554  and right end  558 . A mesh fills the space within the fifth embodiment and provides additional strength for this embodiment. A polyethylene net is a preferred mesh.  
         [0046]    The longitudinal bars and legs are made of any suitable lightweight, strong, resilient material. Suitable materials are polyvinyl chloride pipe, bamboo wood, or aluminum. A preferred longitudinal bar and legs are made of polyvinyl chloride piping.  
         [0047]    Any flexible, strong, line or rope may be used with this invention. Suitable materials include sisial, hemp, cotton or plastic, such as nylon, or a metal cable or wire. A preferred line is made of nylon.  
         [0048]    Operation  
         [0049]    In use, the hauling tarpaulin is laid on the ground and unrolled with the mandrel toward the upwind side. Leaves and other lawn refuse is raked over the mandrel onto the tarpaulin. The mandrel firmly secures the rear end of the tarpaulin against winds and breezes which otherwise tend to cause the edges of a tarpaulin to fold over, and which must be restored to the original position.  
         [0050]    Once the tarpaulin is full, the operator pulls on the hauling line at the front. This causes the sides of the tarpaulin to rise and the mandrel also rises and is supported on the legs. Thus a boat-shaped “bag” is formed with raised sides and rear. Waste material is engulfed on three sides and is thereby retained against being blown or falling off the tarpaulin.  
         [0051]    The tarpaulin then is pulled over the ground to the desired collecting point. The waste material may be removed by lifting the mandrel, thereby dumping the material over the front of the tarpaulin. Alternatively, waste material is removed by loosening the line, thereby allowing the tarpaulin sides and the mandrel to fall to the ground. The waste material is removed by raking or shoveling. Finally, the hauling tarpaulin is cleaned by dumping by raising one side and shaking. The hauling tarpaulin is stored by rolling the tarpaulin over the mandrel. The mandrel serves to facilitate and speed the rolling-up of the tarpaulin.  
         [0052]    The mandrel has three distinct functions. It serves as a core to facilitate the rolling of the tarpaulin for storage. It stabilizes the tarpaulin against the wind when the refuse is loaded. Finally, the mandrel forms the rear end of the loaded hauling tarpaulin and thereby establishes the height of the walls of the loaded hauling tarpaulin.  
         [0053]    Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope  
         [0054]    The hauling tarpaulin of this invention makes it possible for a single user to deploy the tarpaulin, fill it with yard or garden waste, haul the loaded tarpaulin to a waste collection point, and unload the waste at the appropriate point. The mandrel makes it possible for a single user to quickly and easily roll up the hauling tarpaulin for storage when desired.  
         [0055]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the examples and embodiments described herein are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and that other examples may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.