Patent Application
20070124993
This invention relates generally to protective shields, and more particularly to protective shield used for protection of predetermined areas.
Homeowners and contractors routinely apply fertilizers and other chemicals containing iron to their lawns and gardens. This iron causes stains on pavements or concrete surfaces requiring time consuming cleaning efforts. Fertilizers and other chemicals may also spill over onto flower beds and other landscaped areas causing unintentional damage. Some homeowners and landscapers use fixed edging or coping to avoid such unintentional damage, but such fixed edging is typically either ineffective in preventing such damage or unsightly for the purpose of providing decorative edging.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a retractable protective shield can include a first stake member and at least a second stake member and a sheet member having a first end attached to the first stake member and a second end attached to the second stake member. The shield can further include a retractable mechanism at either the first end or the second end of the sheet member. The sheet member can be made out of plastic or other suitable material such as vinyl tarp material and the stakes can be made of rigid materials such as hard plastics or metal. The shield can further include a cylinder enclosing a substantial portion of at least the first stake member or the second stake member. The sheet member can retracts within the cylinder using a crank member or can be self-retracting within the cylinder. The shield can also include a lock mechanism for selectively locking a length portion of the sheet member during extraction or retraction. For smooth extraction or retraction operation of the sheet member, the shield can also include a bearing. Optionally, the shield can include pocket or sleeve portions within the sheet member to enable insertion of rigid insert members that can optionally serve as additional stakes. The first or second stake members can be selectively attached to the sheet member using a clamp mechanism for example on the first or second stake members. Note, the sheet member can be attached to an upper portion of the first stake member and second stake member exposing at least a 6 inch portion of a bottom portion of the first stake member and the second stake member. In another aspect a top portion of the first stake portion can rotate relative to a bottom portion of the first stake portion.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, a retractable landscaping protective shield can include a first rigid stake member, a vinyl tarp having a first end attached to the first stake member, a second rigid stake member attached to a second end of the vinyl tarp, and a retractable mechanism at the first end or second end of the vinyl tarp. The shield can further include a cylinder enclosing a substantial portion of at least the first rigid stake member or the second rigid stake member. The shield can also optionally include one or more sleeves within the vinyl tarp and between the first end and the second end to enable the insertion of one or more rigid insert members. As previously noted, the first stake member or second stake member can be selectively attached to the sheet member using a clamp mechanism.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a portable landscaping barrier can include the steps of staking a first stake member into a ground surface, extracting a sheet member of a desired length from the first stake member, wherein the sheet member is attached to the first stake member, and staking a second stake member attached to the sheet member into the ground surface to provide the portable landscaping barrier. The method can further include the steps of unstaking the second stake member from the ground surface and retracting the sheet member towards the first stake member.
The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “suppressing” can be defined as reducing or removing, either partially or completely.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
Embodiments herein provide a product and method that creates a barrier or shield to fertilizers and other chemicals from pavements, concrete surfaces and other designated areas such as landscaped areas. Such barrier can prevent inadvertent landscape damage and avoid strenuous chemical cleanup after application of such fertilizers and chemicals. The barrier or shield can also provide even and straight lines of demarcation upon application of such chemicals and fertilizers.
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In one particular embodiment or implementation, the product can be comprised of a thirty inch wide or tall sheet of plastic tarp attached on one or both ends to plastic cylinder bases with a retractable mechanism as previously discussed. The plastic sheet can have a maximum extension, for example, of twenty-five feet. The cylinder bases can be anchored in place by thick plastic stakes attached on the bottom of the cylinders. The plastic sheet can be further anchored by thick plastic stakes in individual sleeves positioned in three feet intervals although other intervals or no intervals are certainly contemplated.
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In light of the foregoing description, it should also be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the description above is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, except as set forth in the following claims.
