Debris and snow removal apparatus and method

Abstract

An open mesh apparatus or net can be used for collecting and removing fallen snow, leaves, fruits, or other debris from an area of ground. The apparatus can include several panels hinged together for capturing snow or other material between the panels.

1 . A method for removing snow from an area of ground, comprising:
 preparing said area of ground by laying out an open mesh snow removal apparatus across said area of ground;   waiting for snow to accumulate to a predetermined thickness atop said open mesh snow removal apparatus; and   removing said open mesh snow removal apparatus from said prepared area of ground by a selected motion, thereby removing said snow.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said selected motion is dragging said open mesh snow removal apparatus across the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said selected motion is rolling, lifting, and carrying said open mesh snow removal apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined thickness of snow is at least two inches but not more than six inches based upon said snow being packable into a hard, icy ball. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined thickness of snow is at least four inches based upon said snow being packable into a soft snowball. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined thickness of snow is at least eight inches and not more than twelve inches. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said selected motion is dragging based upon said snow being packable into a ball. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said selected motion is rolling, lifting, and carrying based upon said snow not being packable into a ball. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said open mesh snow removal apparatus has openings of greater than one inch across. 
     
     
         10 . A debris collection and removal apparatus comprising:
 a main panel formed by pluralities of longitudinal and transverse flexible members joined together to define an mesh with openings between said flexible members;   a first side panel formed similarly to said main panel; and   a plurality of hinge members, each hinge member being pivotally attached at a first end thereof to an edge of said side panel and at a second end thereof to an adjacent edge of said main panel, whereby said main panel and said side panel are hingedly connected.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited by  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more second side panels formed similarly to said main panel and said first side panel; and   additional pluralities of hinge members hingedly connecting each of said second panels by an edge thereof to an edge of one of said main panel, said first side panel, or another of said second side panels.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited by  claim 11 , wherein said main panel is hingedly connected between said first side panel and one of said one or more second side panels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited by  claim 11 , wherein one of said one or more second side panels is hingedly connected to an edge of said main panel and to an adjacent edge of said first side panel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for removing material from an area of ground, comprising:
 preparing said area of ground by laying out an open mesh apparatus across said area of ground, said open mesh apparatus including a main lattice panel hingedly connected to at least one side lattice panel;   waiting for said material to accumulate to a predetermined thickness atop said open mesh apparatus;   capturing said material onto said open mesh apparatus by folding the at least one side panel over the main panel of said open mesh apparatus; and   removing said open mesh apparatus from said prepared area of ground by a selected motion, thereby removing said material.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited by  claim 14 , wherein said selected motion is dragging said open mesh apparatus across the ground. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited by  claim 14 , wherein said selected motion is rolling, lifting, and carrying said open mesh apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited by  claim 14 , further comprising:
 pre-selecting a disposal area; and   emptying said open mesh apparatus at said pre-selected disposal area.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited by  claim 17 , further comprising:
 establishing a net-emptying apparatus at said disposal area,   wherein said net-emptying apparatus includes a horizontal pole elevated above said disposal area, and emptying said open mesh apparatus includes dragging said open mesh apparatus over said net-emptying apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , further comprising:
 pre-selecting a disposal area;   establishing a net-emptying apparatus at said disposal area, wherein said net-emptying apparatus includes a horizontal pole elevated above said disposal area; and   emptying said open mesh snow removal apparatus at said pre-selected disposal area by dragging said open mesh snow removal apparatus over said net-emptying apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited by  claim 1 , wherein said open mesh snow removal apparatus includes a main panel hingedly connected to a side panel, and said selected motion includes folding the side panel over the main panel, thereby capturing said snow atop said open mesh snow removal apparatus.