Patent ID: 7374135

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting yard debris, comprising: a frame defining an opening for receiving an open end of a bag, wherein the frame comprises a first straight member defining at least a portion of the frame opening; a closed loop of flexible material with an unstretched circumference smaller than a perimeter of the frame and configured to be secured about at least a portion of the perimeter separately from a bag and over at least a portion of the bag at least partially surrounding the perimeter; one or more retaining surfaces extending from the frame and configured to retain the length of flexible material about the frame and the portion of the bag; a handle secured to the frame and defining a longitudinal direction; a support member secured to the frame at a plurality of locations spaced laterally relative to the handle, the support member extending across at least a portion of the frame opening, to structurally reinforce the frame; and wherein the handle is coupled to the support member.