Abstract:
A collector and method for catching the vegetation clippings from a trimming shrubs, bushes or hedgerows of vegetation wherein the collector is a lightweight, flexible, water resistant and generally rectangular shaped tarp easily transportable with the clippings in a secure pouch or chamber formed by hook and loop fasteners touched together after the trimming operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a gardening tarp for catching garden clippings from landscape trimming and, more particularly, to tarp and method for catching the clippings from yard vegetation when periodically trimmed. Most residential and commercial building are now landscaped with beautiful ornamental trees, bushes and hedgerows of various vegetation like evergreen bushes or shrubs. After this type of landscaping is planted, it is often accented with various landscaping stones or pebbles underneath and around the trunks of the vegetation to provide a pleasing landscape architecture. The bed of crushed stone or rock provides a ground cover and keeps other vegetation such as weeds and the like from sprouting up under and around the expensive landscape vegetation.  
         [0002]     At least monthly but likely more often, a landscape service company or homeowner will find it necessary to clip or trim the vegetation in a predetermined shape in keeping with the overall landscape architectural plan for the land. When landscape vegetation is clipped or trimmed, the droppings fall to the ground around the vegetation. The landscaping stone is often of a colored variation which shows the unsightly clippings or trimmings on top of the stone. Previously, a landscaping services might use high speed gasoline or electric blowers to blow the clippings away from the stone onto the adjacent lawn or onto the cement sidewalks or driveways where the clippings are collected for disposal. However, this favored backpacker blower use by lawn service personal is a messy process and often leaves clippings that are blown into the various plants or into the hedgerow growth itself especially if the hedgerow is adjacent the outside wall of a commercial or residential building where the turbulent air effects from the backpacker blower is magnified.  
         [0003]     Thus, the professional landscaping service or homeowner is looking for an easier method of removing the waste clippings and preventing it from getting entangled in the hedgerow vegetation or getting mixed in with the ornamental colored stone or crushed rock. Moreover, powerful lawn service backpacker blowers cause havoc with small ground cover stone when trying to clear the clippings which will disturbed the uniform spreading of the crushed stone covering and leave bare spots for weeds to grow where once there was a bed of crushed stone or rock completely covering the soil around the vegetation.  
         [0004]     So most homeowners and even professional landscapers are in need of a more simple, convenient portable means of collecting these clippings during the timming of these hedgerows, shrubs and bushes and the like that are typically on a monthly if not weekly maintenance program to keep their pleasing shapes without disturbing the ornamental stone as originally laid around and about the landscape vegetation and, in general, to keep things in a tidy fashion.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A portable clippings tarp in accordance with the invention includes a generally one-piece flexible nylon or plastic tarp of a generally elongated rectangular shape and a predetermined thickness for strength to catch the clippings from the vegetation. The tarp has a generally smooth surface on both sides so it does not catch on the stones or stick to the dirt around the vegetation in the absence of ornamental crushed stones or rocks around the vegetation. A plurality of grommets are spaced a predetermined distance apart from one another on the perimeter of the rectangular shaped tarp and assist in fastening of a tape located on one side also on its perimeter, such as a hook-and-loop fastener or touch fastener. One such brand of hook and loop fasteners are the VELCRO® brand of fasteners. At opposing ends of the tarp are rope handles fixedly attached thereto for picking up the tarp and carrying it to a disposal receptacle like a garden trash barrel or yard waste bag for disposal of the clippings with the waste disposal services of the city, town or village. The tarp further includes several sets of straps for storing the tarp in a folded configuration for easy storage of the tarp in the home or on a landscaper&#39;s truck.  
         [0006]     A method for using the portable clippings tarp includes the unfolding of the tarp from its storage configuration and spreading it out in an elongated fashion on top of the soil or ornamental stone closely adjacent the vegetation to be trimmed. Since the tarp is very flexible, strong, smooth and generally waterproof, it will conform to most trimming layouts unlike a heavy canvas tarpaulin, which is bulky and difficult to configure in tight places such as between a building wall and a hedgerow were clippings are difficult to catch before the clippings fall upon the ornamental stones, pebbles or soil adjacent the hedgerow being trimmed. The task of trimming ornamental landscaping vegetation often falls to a woman in the household who desires to have a very light-weight and easily to maneuver tarp to catch the clippings. So a heavy canvas tarpaulin is not a practical means of use by women or even most men at the household. With the tarp spread out adjacent the side of the hedgerow being trimmed, the landscaper or homeowner then trims the hedgerow vegetation with the clippings falling into a generally U-shaped configuration of the tarp between a building wall and the hedge being trimmed.  
         [0007]     Next, the tarp is closed to form a clippings trap, pouch or chamber for the clippings by touching the perimeter loop and hook strips along the opposing edges to form a generally cylindrical chamber or pouch with the clippings therein. At least one or more pair of rope handles affixed to the tarp is used to carrying the cylindrical shaped clippings pouch or chamber within the tarp to a yard waste barrel, bag or other receptacle for disposal. The homeowner or landscaper then tips the cylindrical pouch or chamber downwardly at one end and the clippings by gravitational pull fall out of the open end of the cylindrically shaped chamber or pouch within the tarp into the yard waste disposal barrel or bag. An opposing hook and loop fastener strip across each end of the cylindrically shaped tarp allows the trimmer or landscaper to close each of the ends of the chamber by touching the hook and loop strips together in a transport mode until reaching the yard waste disposal receptacle.  
         [0008]     Then the loop and hook fastener strips are pulled apart at least at one end of the tarp chamber or pouch to dispose of the clippings. Given the size of the clippings it often becomes necessary to carry the various clippings without spilling them out one end or the other in its cylindrically chamber or pouch configuration while transporting them to the yard waste receptacle. Afterwards, the tarp hook and loop fastener strip attachments are pulled apart along their outer edges of the rectangular shaped tarp and the tarp is then folded into a compact and convenient predetermined configuration for storage. A combination of exterior hook and loop fastener removable straps and strips, affixed on the opposite side from the hook and loop fastener perimeter strips, maintains the tarp in a tidy folded configuration for its storage in a folded configuration like a folded blanket on a shelf in a closet.  
         [0009]     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a lightweight, portable but extremely durable and strong, gardening tarp to catch the clippings from the landscape vegetation that can be easily transported to a waste disposal receptacle without spilling the clippings.  
         [0010]     It is still a further object of the invention to provide a gardening tarp that can be configured into a clippings chamber or pouch for transporting the clippings to a waste disposal receptacle.  
         [0011]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a secure collector for vegetation clippings from trimming bushes, shrubs and hedgerows in which an interior clippings pouch or chamber is formed that is impervious to turbulent air coming from a backpacker blower when the collector is left in place during a maintenance session for any reason.  
         [0012]     It is an object of the invention to provide a gardening tarp that resists moisture from wet clippings or weather including rain and that sheds the moisture to keep the tarp light-weight if left out in a rain during an interrupted trimming due to weather or left out overnight and then once again subject to an overnight rain shower.  
         [0013]     It is a another object of the invention to provide a waterproof gardening tarp which is capable of forming an enclosed chamber or pouch for transporting the vegetation clippings that generally keeps out weather elements like a rain shower so that the weight of the clippings remains low because the clippings are prevented from absorbing the moisture from the rain or other weather elements when left on the ground during a trimming operation.  
         [0014]     Other features and advantages of the invention, which are believed to be novel and nonobvious, will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Reference is made to the claims for interpreting the full scope of the invention, which is not necessarily represented by any one embodiment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an overall perspective view of a gardening tarp in an installed configuration for catching vegetation clippings incorporating the basic components in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a gardening tarp in its chamber configuration of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a gardening tarp being configured into a chamber of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the gardening tarp of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the gardening tarp of the invention of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a folded gardening tarp in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a generally top perspective view of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]     Although this invention is susceptible to embodiments of many different forms, a preferred embodiment will be described and illustrated in detail herein. The present disclosure exemplifies the principles of the invention and is not to be considered a limit to the broader aspects of the invention to the particular embodiment as described.  
         [0023]     Referring now to the drawings and especially to  FIG. 1  shows a gardening tarp  10  is shown therein. The tarp  10  is placed adjacent a hedgerow  12  of ornamental landscaping placed a predetermined distance from a building wall  14  of a residence or commercial building to provide an ascetic landscape architecture for the owner. The tarp  10  is placed on top of ornamental crushed stone or pebbles  16  to catch clippings  18  from the hedgerow  12  when clipped by a trimming shear  20  or other suitable device. The tarp  10  catches the clippings  18  and prevents them from mixing in with the stones  15  or finding their way onto any adjacent lawn  22 .  
         [0024]     The tarp  10  is generally an elongated rectangular shape made out of a waterproof nylon or plastic material or any other suitable material having the same properties. Hook and loop fastener strips  24  are fixedly attached to one side of the tarp along its entire outer edges. The hook and loop fastener strips  24  are fastened to one another from touching their surfaces together along the outer edges of the tarp wherein one opposing side of the tarp includes a hook fastener strip and the other opposing side of the tarp includes a mating loop fastener strip which in turn forms a tight and complete closure of the tarp edges to form a clippings chamber or pouch. The operation of closing the hook and loop fastener strips by touching the strips together is well known in the art from the use of VELCRO® hook and loop fasteners on all types of materials by the general public.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an aforementioned clippings chamber or pouch  26  of a generally cylindrical shape is formed by touching the outer edges of the tarp on the side with the hook and loop fastening strips  24  together along its opposing longitudinal edges  28 . The clippings chamber  26  includes openings  30  at either end of the chamber  26 . The openings  30  are closed by touching their outer edges together such that the hook and loop fasteners on the inner side of the chamber engage shutting off the opening and keeping the clippings  18  from spilling out of the chamber  26  while transporting the tarp  10  to a yard waste receptacle  32  for disposal. The landscaper or homeowner then tips one end of the tarp  10  lower over the receptacle  32  receiving the clippings  18  and lets gravity or a slight shaking movement of the tarp  10  in conjunction with gravity to let the clippings  18  falls into the receptacle  32  for disposal. If both openings  30  are closed by the hook and loop fasteners  24 , the homeowner simply pulls the fastening strips apart on one of the ends of the chamber to form the opening for the clippings  18  to pass through when disposing of them.  
         [0026]     In addition, pair of generally rope handles  34 , which can be made of nylon or other suitable material, are fixedly attached at opposite ends of the tarp  10  permit the homeowner to easily carry the tarp  10  to the receptacle  32  for disposal as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the tarp  10  is shown in a partially formed chamber  26  wherein hooks  36  are shown on the left half side of the tarp  10  and loops  38  are shown on the right half side of the chamber opening  30 . By touching these two halves together the hook and loop fasteners shut this opening and prevent the clippings  18  from falling out of this opening during transporting of the clippings  18  to the receptacle  32 . Moreover, the tarp  10  can be completely closed by touching the hook and loop fasteners both longitudinally and at either end of the chamber  26  and then left in place between the wall  14  and the hedgerow  12  if a sudden rain shower comes up without the clippings  18  become sodden with moisture from the rain because the light-weight, waterproof and flexible tarp  10  seals out the weather and even the turbulent air from the backpacker blower from soaking or disturbing the clippings  18  therein. Also, the clippings are prevented from mixing in with the ornamental stones  16  or even mixing in with a soil  40  in the event that ornamental stones  16  are not used between the building wall  14  and hedgerow  12 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a top plan view of the tarp  10  spread out completely and shows a series of grommets  42  spaced a predetermined distance apart on the outer opposing longitudinal edges of the tarp  10  which secure the hook and loop fasteners  24  around the perimeter of the tarp  10  on the opposite side of the tarp  10  as shown. In additional,  FIG. 4  shows that a draw rope  44  extending longitudinally through a folded over seam  46  running along one opposing side of the tarp  10  which is able to draw the chamber or pouch  26  into a more compact or tighter configuration. The draw rope  44  can also be used to pull the tarp  10  around in a circular configuration to trim a single bush or shrub. The rope  44  might also be used by a homeowner or lawn maintenance service to cover certain vegetation in the evening to prevent frost or other elements like hail from damage more fragile vegetation during certain inclement weather conditions. The rope can be tied to a stake in the ground or around the base of a bush in a hedgerow being covered by the tarp  10 . The pair of rope handles  34  at either end of the tarp can also be used to hold down the tarp over protected vegetation to prevent wind or a backpacker blower from blowing the tarp off of the protected vegetation covered by the tarp  10  pair of hook and loop fastener strips  48  are affixed to this side of the tarp that are later used to secure the tarp when in its storage configuration to be explained below.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a bottom plan view of the tarp  10  spread out for catching the clippings  18  therein. The hooks  36  run the entire longitudinal length on one opposing side of the tarp  10 . The loops  38  run the entire longitudinal length on the other opposing side of the tarp  10 . When the hooks  36  and loops  38  are touched together along the longitudinal length edge of the tarp  10 , the two opposing edges are securely fastened together forming the generally cylindrically shaped clippings chamber  26 . Also, shown are the hooks  36  and loops  38 , each making up half of the length on the shorter opposing sides of the rectangular shaped tarp which form the openings  30 . When the hooks  36  and loops  38  on these sides are pressed together, the fasteners  24  close off each opening  30  for transporting the clippings chamber  26  with the clippings  18  therein without spilling the clippings  18  during transport or for securing them from weather if the chamber or pouch  26  is left in place for a time after collecting the clippings  18  before later transport to a receptacle  32  for disposal. The draw rope  44  is shown in its rolled over seam enclosure  46  stretching the longitudinal length of the tarp  10  on one of the opposing sides and the seam enclosure include a passageway therethrough for pulling the ends of the rope to make the pouch or chamber  26  more compact or for forming a drop tarp around a single plant to be trimmed.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  also demonstrates how an end user of the invention could take one or more tarps  10  and affix them together to expand the width or length of the tarp covering for trimming vegetation. The hook and loop fastener strips on opposing sides of each tarp  10  means that one tarp  10  can be attached to another side of an adjacent tarp  10  in a side by side or end to end relationship by touching the respective hook and loop fastener strips together to expand the width or length by attaching one tarp to another along their sides or ends to form a limitless width or length in linked together tarps  10 . The only limitation in the ultimate width or length of the tarps strung together is the practical size of the linked tarps to carry or use by the homeowner or lawn maintenance service. The tarp  10  is generally made from a  200  denier oxford nylon in one preferred embodiment from a nylon material which may or may not have a urethane or other coating on its surface to adapt it for a particular use. The  200  denier thickness tarp is generally resistant to piercing by rose bush thorn clippings and similar sharp clippings  18  from trimming certain types of vegetation having thorns. A heavier tarp of  400  to  420  denier nylon is still more resistant to piercing from sharp or pointed clippings  18  but there is a trade off because as the tarp thickness increases, the tarp  10  becomes less flexible and more difficult to spread around a single bush or scrub for catching the clippings  18 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of one preferred embodiment of the tarp  10  in its storage, folded over configuration. The fasteners  48  keep the tarp  10  in its folded condition without the ability of the tarp  10  unfolding when moved about on a garage storage shelf or in storage within a landscaping vehicle. The draw rope  44  permits the user of the tarp  10  to draw the tarp together in a more rolled up configuration if drawn at either end when the chamber  26  is formed to make a longer longitudinal tarp more portable and transportable by the homeowner or landscape service employee if professionals are using the tarp  10  to collect the vegetation clippings  18 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a top view of the tarp  10  with the fastening straps  48  securing the folded storage configuration of the tarp  10 . The rope handles  32  and the draw rope  44  are also shown in more detail in the top surface position of the tarp  10 . A grommet  42  affixing the hook and loop fastener strips  24  and the rope handles  32  to the tarp  10  extends completely through the tarp  10  as shown in  FIGS. 4, 5  and  7 .  FIG. 7  further shows how the hook and loop fastener strips and straps  48  work in combination to keep the folded tarp  10  from coming apart during storage since the folds of the tarp  10  are held firmly together by this combination of hook and loop fastener strips and straps.  
         [0033]     Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.