Flat-sided funnel

Abstract

A funnel that includes at least four flat sides. The sides form a passage with a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is wider and taller than the second opening. At least one of the four flat sides includes one or more slots for attaching a bag such as a leaf bag. The funnel can be pre-formed or cast. However, the funnel preferably is made from a flat piece of material that includes at least two end sections, at least three middle sections, and creases between the end sections and the middle sections. When the piece of material is folded at the creases such that the end sections at least partially overlap, the piece of material forms the funnel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to a funnel that can be used to help rake leaves or other refuse into a bag such as a leaf bag. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] A perennial autumn ritual in most of the United States is bagging leaves that have fallen from trees. Most home improvement, hardware, and general retail stores sell “leaf bags” for bagging and disposing of leaves. These bags are made from durable paper and are fairly inexpensive. [0005] Because the bags are made of paper, the mouth of an empty bag tends to collapse when the bag is laid on the ground. As a result, a person often has to hold a bag open when starting to fill it. The person has to bend over to keep the bag open while trying to rake or push leaves into the bag. This is an awkward and tiring task, especially when a person has to fill many dozens of leaf bags. [0006] Many solutions have been proposed for this problem. A description of some p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, what is needed is a funnel that is effective as a leaf funnel and that is sufficiently inexpensive to be commercially viable. This funnel preferably should be easily stored when not in use.

[0013] The funnel can be pre-formed or cast. However, the funnel preferably is made from a flat piece of material that includes at least two end sections, at least two middle sections, and creases between the end sections and the middle sections. When the flat piece of material is folded at the creases such that the end sections can be secured together, the piece of material forms the funnel. If the funnel is made from folding such a piece of material, then the funnel preferably can be unfolded for easy storage.

[0016] A very inexpensive embodiment of the funnel can be made from a flat piece of cardboard or corrugated cardboard. A somewhat more expensive but perhaps more durable embodiment of the funnel can be made from a flat piece of plastic or corrugated plastic.

Problems solved by technology

Because the bags are made of paper, the mouth of an empty bag tends to collapse when the bag is laid on the ground.

As a result, a person often has to hold a bag open when starting to fill it.

This is an awkward and tiring task, especially when a person has to fill many dozens of leaf bags.

However, Singleton's design is not well adapted to be made from inexpensive materials that fail to roll well.

Most people simply are not willing to spend significant money on an accessory for those bags.

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