This invention relates to drop cloths or ground covers, and in particular drop cloths and ground covers used for collecting and gathering pruned clippings and debris from around plants.
Removable drop clothes and ground covers are often used to collect leaves and clippings that fall on the ground from pruning and trimming bushes and trees. A common problem with most conventional drop cloths and ground covers is that they are difficult for a single user to handle or maneuver after they have been filled with debris. Moreover, most conventional drop cloths and ground cover are unwieldy and cannot be easily lifted to deposit the collected clippings into a separate container.
The ground cover of this invention allows users to collect and gather leaves and clipping pruned or falling from a tree, bush or plant and then easily lift and deposit those leaves and clippings in another collection container or bin. The ground Cover includes a planar fabric body, a cover flap, a pair of side rods. The cover body has a single slit that extends to its center to allows the ground cover to completely wrap around the base of the plant and lay flat over the ground. The cover flap is sewn or bonded to the cover body and folds to lay flat over the cover body in two positions, either folded to lie on one side of the slit or covering the slit. The side rods allow the ground cover to be easily lifted to deposit collected leaves and clippings into a collection container. One side rod is a two piece member that is detachable to position the cover body around the base of the tree or bush and easily reconnected to manipulate the cover and collected leaves and clippings.
The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which:
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings,
Ground Cover 100 includes a planar a fabric body 110, a cover flap 120, and a pair of side rods 130 and 140. Cover body 110 is constructed of a suitable durable, light weight, moisture repellent cloth, such as a nylon fabric. As shown, cover body 110 is generally square, but may take other shapes and configurations. The peripheral edges of cover body 110 are hemmed and stitched or bonded. Cover body 110 has a single slit 111 that extends to its center. The opposed edges of slit 111 are also hemmed for durability. Slit 111 allows cover body 110 to be wrapped around the trunk or stem of a plant. Draw strings 116 and hang tab 118 are sewn or connected to cover body 110. Hang tab 118 has a hole or grommet 119 for hanging ground cover 100 during storage.
A rectangular cover flap 120 is sewn to cover body 110. As with cover body 110, the peripheral side edges of cover flap 120 are hemmed and stitched. Cover flap 120 has a seamed edge 122 that is sewn or bonded directly to cover body 110 along the length of slit 111. Cover flap 120 folds to lay flat over cover body 110 in two positions, either folded to lie on one side of slit 111 (
Side rods 130 and 140 are lengths of rigid, light weight rod or tubing, such as PVC tubing, that are fitted to opposite sides of cover body 110. Side rod 130 is a single length of rod or tubing, typically PVC tubing disposed within side loop 112. Side rod 140 consists of two lengths of rod or tubing, sections 142 and 146, detachably connected end to end by a coupler 144. Sections 142 and 146 are disposed in side loops 114. Side loops 114 are spaced axially from one another to expose coupler 144.
It should be apparent from the foregoing that an invention having significant advantages has been provided. While the invention is shown in only a few of its forms, it is not just limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/696,275 filed Jul. 10, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62696275 | Jul 2018 | US |