Patent ID: 8250696

Claim:
A device for collecting debris from a ground surface, comprising a flexible generally planar member with an opening therethrough such that when the device is laid on and forwardly moved over the ground surface debris on the ground surface passes upwardly through the opening onto a collection surface of the device, the device having a transversely extending barrier positioned whereby, in use, debris passing upwardly through the opening passes upwardly over the barrier and then downwardly to the collection surface, the barrier at least partially obstructing movement of collected debris on the collection surface back into the opening under deceleration of the device as it is forwardly moved over the ground surface, the barrier being in the form of a transverse wall arranged such that in an in-use condition of the device, it extends upwardly and is positioned behind and adjacent said opening, and at a forward location with respect to the collection surface, said wall having first and second opposed surfaces extending transversely of the device, these being arranged and configured so that in said in use condition the first surface is behind the opening and is inclined to extend upwardly and rearwardly from a lower location to a higher more rearward location, and the second surface is behind the first surface, extending generally downwardly substantially normally to the collection surface from an upper location to a lower location adjacent the collection surface the first surface being disposed to then, in use of the device, facilitate rearward flow of debris from the opening along and up the first surface to be carried under momentum of the debris past the wall to the collection surface, and said second surface acting to at least partially inhibit movement of collected debris back to the opening under deceleration of the device, by pile-up of the material against the second surface.