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

"The patent text describes a need for a funnel that is effective as a leaf funnel and is also affordable. The funnel should be easy to store when not in use. One embodiment of the invention is a funnel that includes at least four flat sides, with one or more slots for attaching a bag. The flat sides form a passage with two openings, one wider and taller than the other. The first opening is perpendicular to at least one of the flat sides, and the second opening is narrower and shorter than the first opening. The funnel can be made from a flat piece of material that is folded at creases to form the funnel, and it can be unfolded for easy storage. The invention also includes methods of making and using the funnel and flat pieces of material."

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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