Patent ID: 7967508

Claim:
A leaf collection apparatus, comprising: a central collection section having an upper surface and a lower surface, the central collection section comprising an interior portion and a peripheral portion, wherein the peripheral portion extends from an outer edge of the interior portion to an outer edge of the peripheral portion, wherein the central collection section is for lying flat on the ground such that objects may be accumulated onto an upper surface of the interior portion of the central collection section, and wherein the thickness of the entire interior portion from the upper surface to the lower surface is greater than the thickness of the peripheral portion from the upper surface to the lower surface; a plurality of pockets attached to the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the central collection section; a plurality of straight, elongate stiffeners, wherein at least a portion of one stiffener is disposed in one of each of the plurality of pockets, wherein the stiffeners include a upper surface in contact with the lower side of the peripheral portion of the central collection section, and wherein a first end of each stiffener is adjacent to an outer edge of the lower side of the interior portion and a second end of each stiffer is adjacent to an outer edge of the peripheral portion, such that the stiffeners extend along the lower side of the peripheral portion from the outer edge of the interior portion to the outer edge of the peripheral portion; and an enclosure system connected to the outer edge of the peripheral portion of the central collection section for allowing an operator to enclose the interior portion with the peripheral portion of the central collection section, with the entire rectangular interior portion remaining flat on the ground, by raising the second ends of the stiffeners, wherein the enclosure system comprises a rope.