Collection Bag for Power Equipment

Abstract

A collection bag for the collection of leaf, grass, wood chips and the like is described that is capable of connection to more than one type of outdoor power equipment, including riding mowers, commercial type lawn mowers, wheeled lawn vacuums, hand-held or shoulder-mounted blower / vacuums, and wood chippers. The collection bag, typically having a large, generally conical shape, collects debris from any of the types of outdoor power equipment. The bag typically has a first large opening and at least one second smaller opening for attaching to different types of equipment. In another aspect, an anti-wear shield is placed between the bag and ground and attached to the equipment, to protect the bag from rubbing on the ground.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a device and method for collecting leaves, grass, wood chips, and similar items of debris from outdoor power equipment. The device and method are suitable for use with many types of power equipment, including riding mowers, wheeled lawn vacuums, hand held or shoulder mounted leaf blowers and vacuums, wood chippers and shredders, and side or rear mounted grass or leaf collectors, especially on commercial mowers. The collection bags of the invention are exchangeable among types and brands of outdoor power equipment. The invention also relates to an anti-wear shield device and method to protect the collection bag from abrasion and punctures.BACKGROUND[0002]Riding mowers, wheeled lawn vacuums, hand held or shoulder mount leaf blower and vacuums, wood chippers and shredders and side or rear mounted grass and leaf collectors on mowers (collectively, “outdoor power equipment”, or “equipment”) are widely used. These pieces of outd...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]It is a further object of the invention to provide a collection bag which is inexpensive and easy to use, and which requires little or no modification of the power equipment to install.

[0018]It is a further object of the invention to provide an anti-wear shield to extend the life of the collection bag. Such an anti-wear shield preferably fits the outdoor power equipment from a variety of manufacturers.

[0021]The exchangeable debris collection bag optionally also has means for its attachment to a shield, which reduces the rate of wear of the bag during use. The shield is preferably directly attached to the outdoor power equipment, or alternatively the shield is attached to the bag, or is integral with the bag, and the bag is attached to the outdoor power equipment. The shield can be provided by reinforcing material connected to the exchangeable debris collection bag.

Problems solved by technology

Most current equipment suffers from the disadvantage that the bins do not hold enough clippings before needing to be emptied.

Simply increasing the container size has several problems.

First, the container is suspended above the ground, and the increased weight in a large container can destabilize the mower.

Second, carrying a large container on the mower can be awkward, without increasing the size of the mower.

Third, the container itself becomes heavy and awkward for the person to carry before emptying

Similar constraints apply to non-riding mowers, where collection and storage of clippings can be even more demanding and require more frequent changes.

Such devices fill rapidly and are heavy and expensive.

Limitation of bag size is likewise necessary, since increasing the collection bag size burdens the carrier with additional weight, potentially making it too heavy for the person to carry safely.

Many wood chippers and shredders do not provide means to attach a collection bag to the discharge.

In many of these outdoor power equipment devices, wear on the collection bag during use will gradually lead to damage to the bag, and eventually require its replacement.

As collection bag size increases, the increased weight tends to cause more rapid degradation of the bag, increasing costs to consumers.

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