Abstract:
A polygonal tarp, preferably octagonal in shape, having strapping handles attached at opposite ends to facilitate the pulling of debris piled on the tarp, and a plurality of lifting handled attached to said tarp along the lengthwise sides. The tarp is also provided with hooks co-located with the lifting handles to facilitate the folding of the tarp into a cup-shape by attaching each corner having a hook to another corner of the tarp.

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    A polygonal tarp, preferably octagonal, is affixed with at least two main handles on each length-wise side above and below the plane defined by the tarp and a gripping handle above the plane of the tarp on either or both width-wise sides. The tarp is utilized primarily for ergonomic debris removal. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the tarp of the present invention 
           [0003]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the tarp of the present invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 3  is an alternate embodiment of the invention having detachable handles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0005]    According to a preferred embodiment, tarp  10  of the present invention is formed in the shape of a polygon, preferably as irregular polygon, and, more preferably, is formed having an octagonal shape. It is also preferred that tarp  10  be bilaterally symmetrical. 
         [0006]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is provided with strapping handles  12  disposed at opposite ends, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Strapping handles  12  are preferably attached by stitching, although other means of attachment are within the scope of the invention. Additionally, strapping handles  12  may be fully or partially covered with rubber piping or other padding material for comfort and ease of handling. Preferably, strapping handles  12  are positioned such as to provide a pulling force directed along the longitudinal axis of tarp  10 . 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, multiple strapping handles  12  may be provided on each end of tarp  10 , disposed on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis, such as to provide even pulling along the length of tarp  10  when pulled by one or multiple persons. 
         [0008]    In an alternate embodiment, the strapping handles may be detachable, as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, strapping handles  12  are configured with hooks  18  which allow connection to tarp  10  by engaging hooks  18  with one or more grommet holes located ion the end sides of tarp  10 . Preferably, hooks  18  are snap-fish hooks, but any type of hook well known in the art may be used, such as spring clips, carabiners, and the like. Preferably, hooks  18  will be attached to one or more grommet holes, such as grommet holes  7  and  8  for one handle and grommet holes  1  and  2  for the other handle, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Having hooks  18  attached at grommet holes which are spread apart from each other will allow handle  12  to pull the tarp into a pocket shape when pulled upon. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, detachable handles  12  may be used with any standard tarp having an attachment means, such as grommet holes, including tarps of any shape. Consumer-grade tarps widely available in stores are typically rectangular in shape. When used with rectangular shaped tarps, hooks  18  may be engaged with multiple grommet holes to form the tarp into a pocket shape such that debris loaded onto the tarp will be contained therein. 
         [0010]    The tarp is also provided with a plurality of handles  14  disposed at various positions along the lateral edges of tarp  10 . In the octagonal embodiment, there may be, for example, four handles  14  disposed near grommet holes  3 ,  4 ,  5 , and  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Each of handles  14  are preferably in the shape of hoops threaded through two reinforced slits defined in the body of tarp  10  such that half of hoop projects above the plane of tarp  10  and half projects below the plane of tarp  10 , such as to allow handles  14  to be used from either side of tarp  10 . Handles  14  in the form of hoops may also be sewn to tarp  10  at one end thereof and allowed to pass through a reinforced slit on the opposite side thereof, again allowing use from either side of tarp  10 . Half-loop handles  14  can also be sewn or other-wise affixed opposite each other on the top side and underside of tarp  10  at each handle position, or may just be affixed to one side of tarp  10 . 
         [0011]    Handles  14  along the lateral edges of tarp  10 , shown two per side in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are designed to ergonomically facilitate the lifting and unloading of debris, while strapping handles  12  on opposite ends of either or both ends of the long dimension of tarp  10  are designed to ergonomically facilitate dragging rather than lifting. Strapping handles  12  are preferably dimensioned to allow room for more than one person to drag tarp  10 . 
         [0012]    Tarp  10  is suited for multiple purposes, but is primarily constructed for the removal of yard debris by piling the debris onto tarp  10  and dragging to a suitable dumping place. Such debris may include, but is not limited to, dirt, branches, leaves, stones, grass cuttings and weeds. It can also be used to haul mulch, topsoil, fertilizer, peat and other gardening and landscaping supplies, as well as firewood, wall and paving stones and other heavy loads. The ergonomic ease with which loads may be dragged allow heavier loads to be transported, thereby reducing the number of trips required to move a pile of leaves or other debris to the curb or otherwise move a quantity of heavy materials. 
         [0013]    Tarp  10  is also preferably provided with hooks  16 , shown in  FIG. 1 , attached to each of handles  14 , which also are preferably permanently stitched to tarp  10 . Hooks  16  disposed near grommet holes  3  and  4  can be hooked through grommet holes  1  and  2  respectively. Likewise, hooks  16  disposed near grommet holes  5  and  6  can be hooked through grommet holes  7  and  8  respectively. This arrangement forms tarp  10  into a pocket shape to prevent the load from falling out. Hooks  16  are preferably snap-fish hooks, but any means for attaching grommets together can be used, such as bungee cords, spring clips, carabiners, and the like. Snap fish hooks are preferably permanently sewn into handles  14  of tarp  10  to prevent them from being misplaced. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, additional hooks  16  (not shown) or other attachment means can be used to attach grommets  5  and  6  to grommets  3  and  4  respectively, to further define the pocket shape. 
         [0015]    Note that it is not actually necessary for tarp  10  to be provided with grommet holes. Hooks  16  may be attached to attachment means integrated with or disposed near handles  14 . 
         [0016]    An octagonal tarp shape is particularly advantageous for pocket formation. 
         [0017]    The octagon is formed by cutting the corners off of a square or rectangular tarp. Irregular octagons formed from a rectangle are preferred such that the tarp is provided with a length (along the longitudinal axis) dimension longer that the width dimension to maximize load capacity. 
         [0018]    Tarp  10  can be made of durable cloth fabric, including natural fabrics such as canvas and heavy linen or synthetic fabrics such as nylon. Tarp  10  can also be formed from conventional polyolefin films typically used to make outdoor tarps. A typical tarp may have dimensions of 10′×12′, but any size is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.