Yard waste collection device

Abstract

A yard waste collection device having an integral body, handle, and clamping means. The integral body has a planar surface and a continuous side. The continuous side has a large opening. Leaves and grass clippings can be raked or swept into the integral body and through the opening. A lawn or leaf bag, held in place by the clamping means, collects the leaves.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A yard waste collection device comprising,
 a planar surface with at least one free edge, wherein the free edge can be defined by a planar curve connecting two end points;   a continuous side surface, extending vertically from the planar surface, from end-point to end-point, sharing at least one edge in common with the planar surface and encompassing the entire edge of the planar surface, with the exception of the free edge;   wherein the vertical continuous side surface and planar surface both have an interior side and an exterior side;   an opening in the continuous side surface, extending from the interior side to the exterior side;   a rim, defining the exterior side of the opening;   a handle;   a clamping means;   wherein the clamping means, located on the exterior of the rim, is capable of capturing a bag in which to collect yard waste.   
     
     
         2 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous side surface, planar surface, and rim comprise an integral body. 
     
     
         3 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the integral body further comprises an integrally molded handle shank. 
     
     
         4 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the integral body is fabricated from at least one of steel, zinc, or aluminum. 
     
     
         5 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the integral body is molded from at least one of poly(methyl-methacrylate) (“PMMA”), polycarbonate (“PC”), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (“ABS”), polypropylene (“PP”), high-density polyethylene (“HDPE”), and low-density polyethylene (“LDPE”). 
     
     
         6 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 5 , wherein the integral body is fabricated in a gas-injection mold. 
     
     
         7 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 5 , wherein the raw material is augmented with at least one of glass beads, flue ash, or re-grind material. 
     
     
         8 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 5 , wherein a gaseous substance is introduced into the mold in order to foam the interior of the integral body, creating small air pockets within the material, wherein all of the exposed surfaces of the integral body are smooth. 
     
     
         9 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the linear length of the free edge of the planar surface, between the two end points, is at least 24 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the largest dimension of the opening in the continuous side surface is 18 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening on the interior side is semi-circular, and at least part of the opening's interior surface is semi-cylindrical, wherein the straight edge of the semi-circle and the flat surface of the semi-cylinder are co-planar to and parallel with the planar surface. 
     
     
         12 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is centered about the length of the continuous side surface, when the length of the continuous side surface is measured, at a constant elevation, from end-point to end-point, along the entire continuous side surface. 
     
     
         13 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the rim defining the exterior side of the opening is cylindrical. 
     
     
         14 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical rim is extended in length, so that the length of the cylindrical rim is at least equal to the radius of the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the free edge is a line. 
     
     
         16 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 15 , wherein the planar surface, in proximity to the free edge, is beveled. 
     
     
         17 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous side surface is composed of at least two discernible sections. 
     
     
         18 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous side surface is composed of at least three discernible sections. 
     
     
         19 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein at least a portion of the continuous side surface is substantially triangular. 
     
     
         20 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 17  or  18 , wherein at least a portion of the continuous side surface is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         21 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the continuous side surface is substantially orthogonal to the interior of the planar surface. 
     
     
         22 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the continuous side surface is obtuse with respect to the interior of the planar surface. 
     
     
         23 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the handle can be adjusted through the use of telescoping tubes. 
     
     
         24 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 23 , wherein the relative position of the telescoping tubes are held in place by a pin. 
     
     
         25 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 24 , wherein the pin is spring-loaded. 
     
     
         26 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 23 , wherein the cross-section of the telescoping tubes is a circle. 
     
     
         27 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping means is a plurality of retaining clips, made from spring steel, durably attached to the exterior of the rim. 
     
     
         28 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping means is a retaining ring. 
     
     
         29 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 28 , wherein the retaining ring is durably attached to the rim with a hinge. 
     
     
         30 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 29 , wherein the retaining ring is tightened with a screw. 
     
     
         31 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping means is a plurality of spring clamps. 
     
     
         32 . The yard waste collection device of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of spring clamps is permanently and durably attached to the exterior surface of the rim.