Abstract:
An apparatus for facilitating the collection of leaves and/or yard debris using a portable vacuum device is provided. The apparatus includes a top surface and side walls defining an open-bottom chamber. An intake hose leading to the open-bottom chamber receives materials expelled from an exhaust outlet of the portable vacuum device and routes the expelled materials into the open-bottom chamber. The apparatus can be positioned within a yard waste disposal bag. When the apparatus has been filled with yard waste, it can be removed from the disposal bag, leaving the collected yard waste behind in the bag.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates in general to the collection of leaves and other yard debris, and specifically to a device to facilitate the deposition of leaves and other yard debris into a disposal bag.  
         [0003]     2. Background Art  
         [0004]     Leaves and other yard debris are commonly collected into receptacles, such as garbage cans or bags, for disposal. While leaves can be collected manually using a rake to collect leaves into piles and transfer the piles of leaves into disposal containers, this process is labor-intensive and can be time-consuming for individuals seeking to collect leaves from a large area containing a number of trees. A less labor-intensive technique for collecting leaves involves the use of a portable air blower to arrange the leaves into piles. However, such blower techniques still typically require the collection of leaves into piles, followed by the manual transfer of the leaves into containers for disposal.  
         [0005]     More recently, portable leaf blowers have been equipped with a vacuum function, whereby a portable vacuum device can be configured to vacuum up leaves and deposit the leaves into a portable container attached to an exhaust port on the device. A mulching function can optionally be provided whereby the leaves drawn into the vacuum device are mulched, thereby reducing the volume of yard waste for disposal. Such leaf vacuum products are typically supplied with a small receptacle configured for easy portability, such that the receptacle can be carried around the yard by the user. Thus, prior to disposal, the leaves must still be transferred from the portable receptacle to another, typically larger container for disposal.  
         [0006]     Therefore, an apparatus that permits the direct transfer of leaves from a leaf vacuum into a disposal receptacle may be desirable in many applications. Furthermore, it may be desirable to provide an apparatus that is adapted to operate in conjunction with a wide variety of standard portable leaf vacuum units, without requiring proprietary features.  
         [0007]     The disposal of leaves and other yard waste is also commonly subject to regulations implemented by many towns and local governments. Amongst such regulations may be requirements to use particular yard waste disposal bags. Therefore, it may also be desirable to provide a device which can deposit leaves and yard waste into a variety of different disposal bags or other receptacles.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     A device is provided for the collection of items such as leaves or other yard waste. The device can be used with a portable vacuum unit having a discharge outlet from which leaves or other yard waste can be expelled. The device includes a top surface and side walls forming an open-bottom chamber, and can be inserted into a receptacle into which leaves are to be deposited. The device further includes an intake hose leading to the chamber formed by the top surface and side walls. The other end of the intake hose can be connected to the exhaust outlet of the portable vacuum unit. One or more support legs are positioned along the surface of the side walls.  
         [0009]     The top surface and side walls can be made from a flexible woven material that is permeable to air, but which does not permit the passage of yard waste through the material, such as canvas. The top surface may include an access aperture such as a zipper, through which the user can gain access to the chamber formed by the device, which may be used to manually compress the collected yard waste or to insert additional debris.  
         [0010]     The support legs may be made from a rigid metal rod material. The support legs can each be a single length of material, or they may be divided into a plurality of segments, such as to permit folding of the legs for compact storage. A top surface support member may also be attached to the perimeter of the top surface. The top surface support may be made from a rigid metal rod material.  
         [0011]     The intake hose may include a fastener mechanism, adapted to permit interconnection with the exhaust outlet of a portable leaf vacuum. One type of fastener that may be employed is a ring of hook-and-loop fastener material around the inside perimeter of the intake hose, capable of being removably secured to a ring of complementary hook-and-loop fastener material circumscribing the exterior perimeter of the portable leaf vacuum exhaust outlet. Another type of fastener that may be employed is a pinch clamp positioned to circumscribe the exterior perimeter of the intake hose, thereby securing the intake hose to a leaf vacuum exhaust port inserted therein.  
         [0012]     Also disclosed is a method for collecting leaves and/or other yard debris. The method includes the step of inserting into a leaf receptacle a leaf conduit device such as is described above. The exhaust outlet of a portable vacuum device is attached to an open end of the leaf conduit intake hose. The portable vacuum device is then used to vacuum up leaves and/or other yard debris and expel the leaves and/or debris through the exhaust outlet, through the intake hose and into the open-bottom chamber. Once the leaf conduit device is full, the device is lifted out of the leaf receptacle, leaving the contents of the open-bottom chamber behind in the leaf receptacle.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a leaf collection apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view, shown inverted, of the leaf collection apparatus according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the leaf collection apparatus according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , operably connected to a leaf vacuum and engaged with a leaf disposal bag.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an interface between the leaf collection apparatus and the exhaust outlet of a leaf vacuum.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another interface between the leaf collection apparatus and the exhaust outlet of a leaf vacuum.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the leaf collection apparatus, shown inverted and having hinged legs for facilitating storage of the apparatus.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, certain specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments so illustrated.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a leaf collection apparatus, according to one embodiment of the invention. Leaf collection apparatus  100  forms an open-bottomed chamber generally rectangular in shape. The chamber is formed from four side walls  114   a - d  and top surface  110 . Intake hose  120  extends from top surface  110  and is adapted for connection to the exhaust outlet of a leaf vacuum at intake port  122 .  
         [0021]     In the illustrated embodiment, side walls  114 , top surface  110  and intake hose  120  are each comprised of canvas. Canvas is an effective material in many applications because it is porous to air, thereby preventing excessive buildup of pressure caused by the exhaust from a leaf blower, while containing leaves and limiting the amount of dirt and dust that passes through the chamber walls. Canvas is also a tough material that resists tearing and wear during extensive use. Of course, it is understood that other materials could be employed, such as synthetic woven nylon materials commonly used to contain grass clipping from gasoline-powered lawn mowers.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of leaf collection apparatus  100  shown inverted. Aperture  111  is provided in top surface  110 , and leads to intake hose  120 . The rectangular shape of leaf collection apparatus  100  is maintained by a support frame comprised of support legs  140   a -d and top surface support  145 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , support legs  140  and top surface support  145  are made of rigid metal rod. Top surface support  145  is generally rectangular in shape. Top surface  110  is pulled relatively tightly across top surface support  145  as attached, such that little slack is provided in top surface  110 .  
         [0023]     Support legs  140  run along the length of side walls  114 , and are physically attached to side walls  114 , such as through stitching or adhesive. Like support legs  140 , top surface support  145  is physically attached to side walls  114  and top surface  110  at the junction thereof. However, in the illustrated embodiment, support legs  140  are not physically attached to top surface support  145 . Therefore, since support legs  140  are held in position relative to top surface support  145  only by the flexible material of side walls  114  and top surface  110 , the angle of support legs  140  relative to top surface  110  is readily adjustable, with their movement being constrained by the flexible material to which they are attached.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates leaf collection apparatus  100  in use. Apparatus  100  is positioned within leaf disposal bag  200 . Top surface  110  generally covers the open top of leaf disposal bag  200 , with support legs  140  running inside and down the length of bag  200 . Intake hose  120  is connected to exhaust outlet  220  of leaf vacuum  210 . In operation, leaf vacuum  210  sucks up leaves, optionally mulches them, and expels the leaves out of exhaust outlet  220 . The flow of air and leaves out of exhaust outlet  220  forces the leaves down intake hose  120  and into the chamber formed by apparatus  100  and leaf disposal bag  200 . Top surface  110  prevents leaves and dust from being expelled from the top of bag  200 , while side surfaces  114  maintain close contact with the interior surfaces of bag  200  to further reduce leakage of dust, dirt and leaves. Optionally, bag  200  can be supported by a cart to facilitate the transport of bag  200  and leaf collection apparatus  100  around a yard during collection of yard waste.  
         [0025]     As bag  200  begins to fill, the user can temporarily shut down leaf vacuum  210  and open zipper  130  to reach into bag  200  to manually compress or otherwise adjust the bag contents, thereby allowing the user to maximize the amount of material that is deposited into each bag. Zipper  130  can also be opened to manually insert sticks or other items into bag  200 . Once zipper  130  has been closed again, the user can continue the operation of leaf vacuum  210  towards collecting further yard waste.  
         [0026]     Once bag  200  has been filled with leaves and the like, leaf vacuum  210  is turned off and disconnected from leaf collection apparatus  100 . Leaf collection apparatus  100  can then be lifted upwards out of bag  200 . Because leaf collection apparatus  100  has an open bottom, the collected leaves are left behind within bag  200 . Bag  200  can then be readily sealed and disposed of, thereby avoiding any need to transfer leaves into a different container.  
         [0027]     Because leaf collection apparatus  100  has flexible side walls, it can be adapted to fit within disposable leaf bags or receptacles having a wide variety of shapes and sizes, while maintaining close contact between flexible side walls  114  and the interior side surfaces of the leaf bag or receptacle such that the escape of dust and dirt is reduced.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of the connection between intake hose  120  and leaf vacuum exhaust outlet  220 . Many common leaf vacuums include a ring of hook-and-loop fastener material around the circumference of their exhaust outlets for the secure attachment of leaf collection bags. Therefore, in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , leaf collection apparatus  100  is provided with ring  124  of hook-and-loop fastener material around the inside circumference of intake hose  120 , adapted to be removably attached to ring  224  of hook and loop fastener material disposed around the exterior circumference of exhaust outlet  220 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a connection between intake hose  120  and leaf vacuum exhaust outlet  220 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , exhaust outlet  220  is inserted through intake port  122 , into intake hose  120 , and secured in place via pinch clamp  126 . Pinch clamp  126  is a conventional pinch clamp design. Clamp arms  127  and  128  can be squeezed together to open the clamp for insertion of exhaust outlet  220  into intake hose  120 . When exhaust outlet  220  is in its operational position, clamp arms  127  and  128  can be released, whereupon arms  127  and  128  spring apart, constricting the pinch clamp aperture to secure intake hose  120  onto exhaust outlet  220 .  
         [0030]     While support legs  140  are illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  as solid rigid rods, it is understood that alternative structures can be employed while still lending structural support to side walls  114  during operation within receptacle  200 . For example, it may be desirable to include joints in one or more positions along the length of each leg to allow them to be folded for more compact storage of apparatus  100 . Such an embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Each support leg  140  includes a mechanical hinge  340  providing for the folding of legs  140 . Legs  140  can be placed into a folded position such that the apparatus adopts a compact form for storage, and can be deployed into a substantially straight position during use.  
         [0031]     The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not so limited as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.