Collection tarpaulin

Abstract

A collection tarpaulin is comprised of top and bottom sheets. The top sheet partially overlies the bottom sheet. Contiguous portions of their respective peripheries are joined together to form a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet. Trimmings from a tree or bush fall onto the exposed portion of the bottom sheet. By lifting the free end of the bottom sheet, the trimmings slide by gravity into the pouch for disposal. The collection tarpaulin may be made from a single sheet or from two separate sheets. The collection tarpaulin may be rectangular or circular in shape. For trimming long hedges, the collection tarpaulin can be much longer than it is wide.

I claim: 
     
       1. A collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet having first and second opposed ends of a first predetermined length and opposed edges of a second predetermined length; and   b. a top sheet having first and second opposed ends of the first predetermined length and opposed edges of a third predetermined length less than the second predetermined length, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet with the top sheet first end contiguous to and joined to the bottom sheet first end and with the opposed edges of the top sheet contiguous to and joined to respective portions of the bottom sheet edges, wherein: i. the second end of the top sheet defines a loop therealong; and   ii. a snap band is inserted in the top sheet loop, the snap band being selectively placeable in a first mode whereat the snap band holds the pouch open and in a second mode whereat the snap band holds the pouch closed,   so that the top sheet cooperates with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a collection tarpaulin with a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet.     
     
     
       2. A collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet having first and second opposed ends of a first predetermined length and opposed edges of a second predetermined length; and   b. a top sheet having first and second opposed ends of the first predetermined length and opposed edges of a third predetermined length less than the second predetermined length, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet with the top sheet first end contiguous to and joined to the bottom sheet first end and with the opposed edges of the top sheet contiguous to and joined to respective portions of the bottom sheet edges, wherein the exposed portion of the bottom sheet is formed with an opening therethrough and a slit extending from the opening to the bottom sheet second end,   so that the top sheet cooperates with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a collection tarpaulin with a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet.   
     
     
       3. A collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet having first and second opposed ends of a first predetermined length and opposed edges of a second predetermined length; and   b. a top sheet having first and second opposed ends of the first predetermined length and opposed edges of a third predetermined length less than the second predetermined length, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet with the top sheet first end contiguous to and joined to the bottom sheet first end and with the opposed edges of the top sheet contiguous to and joined to respective portions of the bottom sheet edges, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are made from separate pieces of material,   so that the top sheet cooperates with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a collection tarpaulin with a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet.   
     
     
       4. A collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from trees and bushes comprising: a. bottom sheet having first and second opposed ends of a first predetermined length and opposed edges of a second predetermined length; and   b. a top sheet having first and second opposed ends of the first predetermined length and opposed edges of a third predetermined length less than the second predetermined length, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet with the top sheet first end .Iadd.contiguous to and joined to the bottom sheet first end and .Iaddend.with the opposed edges of the top sheet contiguous to and joined to respective portions of the bottom sheet edges, wherein the top sheet and the bottom sheet are made from a single piece of material that is folded over along a fold line to form the top and bottom sheets, the fold line defining the respective first ends of the top and bottom sheets,   so that the top sheet cooperates with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a collection tarpaulin with a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet.   
     
     
       5. Collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet having first and second opposed ends of a first predetermined length and opposed edges of a second predetermined length; and   b. a top sheet having first and second opposed ends of the first predetermined length and opposed edges of a third predetermined length less than the second predetermined length, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet with the top sheet first end contiguous to and joined to the bottom sheet first end with the opposed edges of the top sheet contiguous to and joined to respective portions of the bottom sheet edges, wherein the first predetermined length is much greater than the second predetermined length, so that the collection tarpaulin is suitable for collecting trimmings from long hedges,   so that the top sheet cooperates with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a collection tarpaulin with a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet.   
     
     
       6. A collection tarpaulin comprising: a. a bottom sheet having a circular periphery with a predetermined outer diameter; and   b. a top sheet having a segment periphery with the predetermined outer diameter, the top sheet outer diameter being contiguous to and joined to a selected portion of the bottom sheet outer diameter to thereby form a pouch and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, wherein the exposed portion of the bottom sheet is fabricated with an opening therethrough and a slit extending from the opening to the bottom sheet periphery on the opposite side of the opening as the pouch.   
     
     
       7. An article of manufacture useful as a collection tarpaulin for collecting trimmings from a tree or bush fabricated from a sheet of flexible material having first and second opposed ends and first and second opposed edges that is folded over along a fold line parallel to and located closer to the first end then the second end to form a top sheet and a bottom sheet with the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet and leaving a portion of the bottom sheet exposed with the first and second edges of the top sheet being contiguous with and joined to the respective underlying portions of the first and second edges of the bottom sheet to form a pouch, so that trimmings from the tree or bush can fall onto the exposed portion of the bottom sheet and the sheet second end can be lifted to slide the trimmings by gravity into the pouch.   
     
     
       8. The article of manufacture of claim 7 wherein the sheet first and second ends are substantially longer than the first and second edges, so that the exposed portion of the bottom sheet can be placed adjacent a long hedge to collect trimmings therefrom. .Iadd.   
     
     
       9.  Apparatus that enables material fallen from a tree or bush to be collected without having to rake or pick the material from the ground comprising a bottom sheet bounded by a bottom sheet periphery, and a top sheet bounded by a top sheet periphery and partially overlying the top sheet such that there is an underlying portion of the bottom sheet and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, the top sheet being joined along selected sections of the top sheet periphery to the bottom sheet and cooperating with the underlying portion of the bottom sheet to create a pouch that is closed at the sections of the top sheet periphery that are joined to the bottom sheet and that is open toward the bottom sheet exposed portion, the bottom sheet exposed portion being placed on the ground under the tree or bush and being sized and configured to catch the fallen material, and the pouch being sized and configured to receive the fallen material by sliding the material from the bottom sheet exposed portion into the pouch. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. A collection tarpaulin comprising: a. a bottom sheet bounded by a periphery having first and second edges each having a first end point and a second end point, the bottom sheet being further bounded by a third edge that connects the respective second end points of the first and second edges and that contains no internal corners; and   b. a top sheet that partially overlies the bottom sheet to create an underlying portion of the bottom sheet and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, the top sheet having a top sheet periphery a selected section of which is joined to the bottom sheet at least generally along the bottom sheet third edge in a manner such that the top and bottom sheets cooperate to form a pouch that is closed along the selected section of the top sheet periphery and that is open toward the bottom sheet   
     
     
        exposed portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.11.  A collection tarpaulin for collecting and transporting material dropped from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet having a periphery including a selected edge of predetermined length and shape and having no internal corners; and   b. a top sheet partially overlying the bottom sheet to create an underlying portion of the bottom sheet and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, the top sheet having a periphery that includes a selected top sheet edge that is generally the same length and shape as the selected edge of the bottom sheet, at least the respective selected edges of the top and bottom sheets being joined together to create a pouch that is closed toward the selected edges of the top and bottom sheets and that is open toward the bottom sheet exposed portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. A collection tarpaulin for collecting and transporting material dropped from trees and bushes comprising:   a. a bottom sheet bounded by a quadrilateral bottom sheet periphery having opposed bottom sheet edges each of a first predetermined length, and first and second bottom sheet ends; and   b. a top sheet bounded by a quadrilateral top sheet periphery having opposed top sheet edges each of a second predetermined length less than the first predetermined length, and first and second top sheet ends, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet to create an underlying portion of the bottom sheet and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, the top sheet being joined to the bottom sheet along a first selected line extending between the top sheet edges and along a pair of second selected lines each extending between the first top sheet end and the first selected line to form a pouch that is closed along the first and second selected lines and open toward the bottom sheet exposed portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The collection tarpaulin of claim 12 wherein the   
     
     
        periphery of at least the bottom sheet is a rectangle. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A collection tarpaulin for collecting and transporting material dropped from trees and bushes comprising: a. a bottom sheet bounded by a quadrilateral bottom sheet periphery having opposed bottom sheet edges of a first predetermined length, and first and second bottom sheet ends; and   b. a top sheet bounded by a quadrilateral top sheet periphery having first and second opposed top sheet edges each of a second predetermined length less than the first predetermined length and first and second top sheet ends, the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet to create an underlying portion of the bottom sheet and an exposed portion of the bottom sheet, the top sheet being joined to the bottom sheet along a first selected line extending between the first top sheet edge and a selected one of the bottom sheet edges, and along a pair of second selected lines each extending between the first top sheet end and the first selected line to form a pouch that is closed along the first and second selected lines   
     
     
        and open toward the bottom sheet exposed portion. .Iaddend..Iadd.15.  An article of manufacture useful as a collection tarpaulin for collecting matter fallen from a tree or bush fabricated from a sheet of flexible material having first and second opposed ends and opposed edges and that is folded over along a fold line generally parallel to the first end and located closer to the first end than the second end to form a top sheet and a bottom sheet with the top sheet overlying a portion of the bottom sheet and leaving a portion of the bottom sheet exposed with the top sheet being joined to the bottom sheet along at least two joining lines that extend from the sheet first end to the fold line, so that the top and bottom sheets cooperate to form a pouch that is closed along the joining lines and the fold line and that is open at the top   
     
     
        sheet first end. .Iaddend..Iadd.16.  A collection tarpaulin for collecting vegetative matter fallen from vegetation, said collection tarpaulin comprising: a. a flexible bottom sheet having an inwardly disposed more central portion thereof, and an outer portion disposed outwardly of the more central portion; and   b. a top sheet overlying a portion of said bottom sheet, said top sheet being secured to said bottom sheet outwardly of the inwardly disposed more central portion of said bottom sheet, said top and said bottom sheet, in combination, thereby defining a pouch having a first peripheral portion that is closed toward the outer portion of said bottom sheet and a second peripheral portion that is open toward the more central portion of said bottom sheet, the more central portion of said bottom sheet, the pouch, and the second peripheral portion being sized and configured to receive said fallen vegetative matter. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. A collection tarpaulin for collecting vegetative matter fallen from vegetation, said collection tarpaulin comprising:   a. a flexible elongated bottom sheet having a length, and opposed first and second ends, an elongated side edge of said bottom sheet between said first and second ends, an outer portion of said bottom sheet being disposed toward the elongated side of said bottom sheet; and   b. a top sheet overlying the outer portion of said bottom sheet, and being secured to said bottom sheet along the elongated side edge, said top and said bottom sheet, in combination, thereby defining an elongated pouch extending along the length of said bottom sheet, said pouch being closed toward the elongated side edge, and having an opening along an edge of said top sheet displaced from said elongated side edge, both the pouch and the opening being sized and configured to receive said fallen vegetative matter. .Iaddend.