Cuttings receptacle

Abstract

A receptacle used to catch shrub or hedge cuttings. The receptacle is a box-like structure having at least one frame assembly with a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side, and a bottom, which cooperate to form a catching area. The receptacle may be made from two frame assemblies of differing widths so that the assemblies can be telescopically positioned to form a generally continuous receptacle, and for compact storage. The receptacle may have a cutout in the bottom to allow for positioning the receptacle around a trunk of a shrub.

1 . A receptacle for catching shrub cuttings, comprising: 
 at least one frame assembly having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side and a bottom having a front edge, said first side, second side, distal side, and bottom cooperating to define a catching area;    a cutout disposed in the bottom of the frame assembly such that the cutout is substantially centrally disposed between the first side and the second side of the frame assembly, said cutout extending inwardly a selected distance from the front edge of the bottom toward the distal side of the frame assembly whereby, upon positioning the bottom of the frame assembly under a shrub, the cutout therein extends about at least a portion of a trunk of the shrub and the distal side of the frame assembly extends outwardly from the shrub such that upon cutting the shrub, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       2 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , where the first side, the second side, and the distal side of the frame assembly cooperate to form a substantially curved shape.  
   
   
       3 . The receptacle of  claim 1 , with a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly, wherein the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly are positioned such that the front edges are in close relation and the distal sides are remote.  
   
   
       4 . The receptacle of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom of the first frame assembly has a shorter front edge than the bottom of the second frame assembly such that the front edge of the bottom of the first frame assembly may be positioned within the front edge of the bottom of the second frame assembly, allowing the differing assemblies to be telescopically positioned creating a generally continuous receptacle around a shrub and allowing for compact storage.  
   
   
       5 . A receptacle for catching hedge cuttings, comprising: 
 at least one frame assembly having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side and a bottom having a front edge, said first side, second side, distal side, and bottom cooperating to define a catching area, whereby, upon positioning the front edge of the bottom of the frame assembly under a hedge, the front edge of the bottom of the frame assembly abuts at least a portion of the trunks of the hedge and the distal side extends outwardly from the hedge such that upon cutting the hedge, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       6 . The receptacle of  claim 5 , where the first side, the second side, and the distal side of the frame assembly cooperate to form a substantially curved shape.  
   
   
       7 . The receptacle of  claim 5 , with a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly, wherein the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly are positioned such that the front edges of the bottoms are in close relation and the distal sides of the frame assemblies are remote.  
   
   
       8 . The receptacle of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom of the first frame assembly has a shorter front edge than the bottom of the second frame assembly such that the front edge of the bottom of the first frame assembly may be positioned within the front edge of the bottom of the second frame assembly, allowing for compact storage.  
   
   
       9 . The receptacle of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a perforated portion marked by perforations disposed in a portion of the bottom of the frame assembly such that the perforated portion is substantially centrally disposed between the first side and the second side, said perforations extending inwardly in an arc a selected distance from the front edge of the bottom toward the distal side of the frame assembly;    said perforated portion being capable of being removed to fit around a trunk of a shrub.    
   
   
       10 . The receptacle of  claim 9 , where the first side, the second side, and the distal side of the frame assembly cooperate to form a substantially curved shape.  
   
   
       11 . The receptacle of  claim 9 , with a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly, wherein the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly are positioned such that the front edges are in close relation and the distal sides are remote.  
   
   
       12 . The receptacle of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom of the first frame assembly has a shorter front edge than the bottom of the second frame assembly such that the front edge of the bottom of the first frame assembly may be positioned within the front edge of the bottom of the second frame assembly, allowing for compact storage.  
   
   
       13 . A method for assembling a receptacle for catching shrub cuttings, comprising: 
 providing at least one frame assembly having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side, a bottom with a front edge, and a cutout disposed in the bottom, said first side, second side, distal side and bottom cooperating to define a catching area, said cutout being substantially centrally disposed between the first side and the second side, and extending inwardly a selected distance from the front edge of the bottom toward the distal side of the frame assembly; and    positioning the frame assembly on a supporting surface around a shrub such that at least a portion of the trunk of the shrub is positioned within the cutout of the frame assembly and the distal side of the frame assembly extends outwardly such that upon cutting the shrub, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cutout is created by removing the perforated portion of a frame assembly containing a perforated portion.  
   
   
       15 . A method for assembling a receptacle for catching shrub cuttings, comprising: 
 providing two frame assemblies, a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly, said assemblies each having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side, a bottom having a front edge, and a cutout disposed in the bottom, said first side, second side, distal side, and bottom cooperating to define a catching area, said cutout being substantially centrally disposed between the first side and the second side of the frame assembly, said cutout extending inwardly a selected distance from the front edge of the bottom toward the distal side of each frame assembly, the bottom of the first frame assembly having a longer front edge than the bottom of the second frame assembly such that the differing assemblies may be telescopically positioned to create a generally continuous receptacle around a shrub;    positioning the first frame assembly on a supporting surface around the shrub such that at least a portion of a trunk of the shrub is positioned within the cutout of the first frame assembly and the distal side of the first frame assembly extends outwardly;    positioning the second frame assembly on the supporting surface around the shrub opposite the first frame assembly such that the front edge of the bottom of the second frame assembly rests on the front edge of the bottom of the first frame assembly and the distal sides of the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly are remote;    sliding or moving the second frame assembly telescopically until at least a portion of the trunk of the shrub is positioned within the cutout of the second frame assembly and the distal side of the second frame assembly extends outwardly such that upon cutting the shrub, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cutout is created by removing the perforated portion of a frame assembly containing a perforated portion.  
   
   
       17 . A method for assembling a receptacle for catching hedge cuttings, comprising: 
 providing at least one frame assembly, the frame assembly having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, and a distal side and a bottom having a front edge, said first side, second side, distal side, and bottom cooperating to define a catching area;    positioning the frame assembly on a supporting surface along a hedge such that the front edge of the bottom of the frame assembly abuts at least a portion of any trunks of the hedge and the distal side of the frame assembly extends outwardly from the hedge, such that upon cutting the hedge, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       18 . A method for assembling a receptacle for catching hedge cuttings, comprising: 
 providing two frame assemblies, a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly, said assemblies each having a first side, a spatially disposed second side, a distal side and a bottom having a front edge, said first side, second side, distal side, and bottom cooperating to define a catching area;    positioning the first frame assembly on a supporting surface along a hedge such that the front edge of the bottom of the first frame assembly abuts at least a portion of any trunks of the hedge and the distal side extends outwardly from the hedge;    positioning the second frame assembly on the supporting surface along the hedge such that the front edge of the bottom of the second frame assembly abuts at least a portion of the trunks of the hedge, the distal end extends outwardly from the hedge, and the second frame assembly is disposed opposite the first frame assembly such that upon cutting the hedge, the cuttings fall into the catching area.    
   
   
       19 . A method of collecting shrub cuttings comprising: 
 providing a receptacle for catching shrub cuttings;    providing a shrub with a trunk;    assembling the receptacle for catching shrub cuttings around the trunk of the shrub;    providing a cutting instrument;    cutting the shrub with the cutting instrument; and    allowing cuttings from the shrub to fall into the receptacle.    
   
   
       20 . A method of collecting hedge cuttings comprising: 
 providing a receptacle for catching hedge cuttings;    providing a hedge with trunks;    assembling the receptacle for catching hedge cuttings along the trunks of the hedge;    providing a cutting instrument;    cutting the hedge with the cutting instrument; and    allowing the cuttings from the hedge to fall into the receptacle.