Collapsible debris container and method of use

Abstract

A container according to the present invention provides a collapsible debris container including a receptacle having a plurality of framed side panels, a bottom panel, and an open side. A chute may be coupled to the receptacle, or a portion of the container may be decoupled from the remainder, to form a chute. The container may include a handle to ease transportation of debris along the ground.

1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a receptacle having an open end and a closed end, a plurality of receptacle side panels extending therebetween, each receptacle side panel coupled to another receptacle side panel, wherein each receptacle side panel comprises a flexible receptacle side panel material coupled to a receptacle side frame member having a folded and an unfolded configuration, said flexible receptacle side panel material assuming the configuration of its associated receptacle side frame member; and   a chute portion in cooperation with said receptacle, said chute adapted to assist in the transfer of objects external to said receptacle into said receptacle.   
   
   
       2 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , said plurality of receptacle side panels comprising at least three receptacle side panels, each receptacle side panel being coupled to at least two other receptacle side panels. 
   
   
       3 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , a first of said receptacle side panels being directly coupled to a second of said receptacle side panels. 
   
   
       4 . A collapsible container according to  claim 3 , said first receptacle side panel being directly coupled to a third of said receptacle side panels. 
   
   
       5 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle. 
   
   
       6 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , said chute including a chute back panel coupled to a receptacle side panel and two chute side panels, each chute side panel coupled to said chute back panel and a receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       7 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , said closed end comprising a receptacle bottom panel comprising:
 a flexible bottom material coupled to a bottom frame member having a folded and an unfolded configuration, said flexible bottom material assuming the configuration of said bottom frame member.   
   
   
       8 . A collapsible container according to  claim 7 , each receptacle side panel being
 indirectly coupled to two other receptacle side panels; and   directly coupled to said receptacle bottom panel.   
   
   
       9 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , a first receptacle side panel being indirectly coupled to a second receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       10 . A collapsible container according to  claim 9 , said first receptacle side panel being indirectly coupled to a third receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       11 . A collapsible container according to  claim 10 , each receptacle side panel being indirectly coupled to two other receptacle side panels. 
   
   
       12 . A collapsible container according to  claim 1 , the chute portion being formed at least partially by one of said receptacle side panels. 
   
   
       13 . A collapsible container according to  claim 12 , at least a portion of a first receptacle side panel being at least partially detachably coupled to a second receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       14 . A collapsible container according to  claim 13 , said first receptacle side panel being at least partially detachably coupled to said second receptacle side panel by a toggle clasp. 
   
   
       15 . A collapsible container according to  claim 13 , the first receptacle side panel being at least partially detachably coupled to the second receptacle side panel and a third receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       16 . A collapsible container according to  claim 12 , each of said receptacle side panels being at least partially detachably coupled to at least one other receptacle side panel. 
   
   
       17 . A collapsible container according to  claim 16 , a first receptacle side panel being at least partially detachably coupled to a second receptacle side panel and a third receptacle side panel;
 said first receptacle side panel being indirectly coupled to said second receptacle side panel by way of a first chute side panel; and   said first receptacle side panel being indirectly coupled to said third receptacle side panel by way of a second chute side panel.   
   
   
       18 . A method comprising the steps of:
 providing a collapsible container comprising:
 a receptacle having an open end and a closed end surrounded by at least three receptacle side panels, each receptacle side panel comprising:
 a flexible material coupled to a frame member having a folded and an unfolded configuration, the flexible material assuming the configuration of its associated frame member; 
 
   placing said collapsible container upon the ground; and   transferring lawn debris into said receptacle.   
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said step of transferring lawn debris into said receptacle comprises moving said lawn debris through said open end of said receptacle. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19  wherein said container further comprises a chute portion cooperating with said receptacle and said step of transferring lawn debris into said receptacle further comprises moving said lawn debris across said chute. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein said container further comprises a chute portion cooperating with said receptacle and said step of transferring lawn debris into said receptacle further comprises moving said lawn debris across said chute.