Recycling and environmental debris chute

• US 8,020,686 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Azteca Pottery
• Original Assignee: Enviro Chute LLC
• Inventors: Babineau, Richard A., Walker, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): NICHOLSON III, LESLIE AUGUST
• Application Number:
  US12/434,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 193/2.R, 193/3, 193/25.FT, 193/2.D, 141/10, 141/114, 141/314, 141/316, 229/161, 229/931, 248/99
• US Class Current: 193/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/10 with refuse filling means, e.g. air-locks
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1415 for flexible receptables, e.g. bags, sacks
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2240/138 Garden debris

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a recycling and environmental debris chute that directs leaf, debris and recycling or other materials into a container for collection, and more particularly a foldable chute formed from a single sheet of material and insertable into a collection bag or flexible container to hold the bag or container open in an upright or laying down sideways position and facilitate directing leaves, debris and other material into the bag or container.

Claims

1. A chute apparatus for facilitating the collection of debris within a receiving container comprising:

a single sheet of material having first and second scores formed therein extending the length of the single sheet of material to define a respective first and second fold axes;

a first, second and third adjacent panels defined by the first and second scores;

a cut formed perpendicular to the first and second scores and extending from a first end position in the first panel across the second panel to a second end position in the third panel;

a first angular score extending from a first intersection with the cut in the first panel to an outer edge of the single sheet of material, and a second angular score extending from a second intersection with the cut in the third panel to the outer edge of the single sheet of material; and

wherein a portion of the first and second scores and the cut define an upper chute portion of the chute apparatus and the remaining portion of the first and second scores and the first, second and third panels form a lower insert portion of the chute apparatus.

2. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper chute portion of the apparatus defines a passage that is angularly aligned relative to a longitudinal passage defined by the lower insert portion of the chute apparatus.

3. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein a plurality of die cuts are formed in at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores to facilitate bending of the single sheet of material along the respective score lines.

4. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the chute apparatus is formed from a corrugated material having a plurality of longitudinal flutes forming the single sheet of material and the longitudinal flutes are aligned perpendicular to the first and second scores defining the first, second and third adjacent panels of the chute apparatus.

5. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first and second scores are each formed by a pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations in the single sheet of material.

6. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the die cuts which facilitate bending of the apparatus are formed directly between the pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations forming at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores.

7. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the angular scores extend from the cut to oppositely disposed corners formed in the outer edge of the single sheet of material.

8. The chute apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the oppositely disposed corners is defined by a portion of the outer edge of the single sheet of material being cut at an obtuse angle where the apex of the obtuse angle forms the respective corners.

9. A method of making a chute apparatus for facilitating the collection of debris within a receiving container comprising the steps of:

forming a single sheet of material having first and second scores formed therein extending the length of the single sheet of material to define a respective first and second fold axes;

defining a first, second and third adjacent panels by the first and second scores;

forming a cut perpendicular to the first and second scores and extending from a first end position in the first panel across the second panel to a second end position in the third panel;

indenting a first angular score extending from a first intersection with the cut in the first panel to an outer edge of the single sheet of material, and a second angular score extending from a second intersection with the cut in the third panel to the outer edge of the single sheet of material; and

bending a portion of the first and second scores, adjacent the cut to define an upper chute portion of the chute apparatus and bending the remaining portion of the first and second scores and the first, second and third panels to form a lower insert portion of the chute apparatus.

10. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of forming the upper chute portion of the apparatus to define a passage that is angularly aligned relative to a longitudinal passage defined by the lower insert portion of the chute apparatus.

11. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further comprising the steps of forming a plurality of die cuts in at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores to facilitate bending of the single sheet of material along the respective score lines.

12. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the steps of forming the chute apparatus from a corrugated material having a plurality of longitudinal flutes forming the single sheet of material and aligning the longitudinal flutes perpendicular to the first and second scores defining the first, second and third adjacent panels of the chute apparatus.

13. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the steps of forming each of the first and second scores by a pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations in the single sheet of material.

14. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of cutting the die cuts which facilitate bending of the apparatus directly between the pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations forming at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores.

15. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of forming the angular scores to extend from the cut to oppositely disposed corners formed in the outer edge of the single sheet of material.

16. The method of making the chute apparatus as set forth in claim 15 further comprising the steps of forming each of the oppositely disposed corners by cutting a portion of the outer edge of the single sheet of material at an obtuse angle where the apex of the obtuse angle forms each of the respective oppositely disposed corners.

17. A chute apparatus for facilitating the collection of debris within a receiving container comprising:

a single sheet of material having first and second scores formed therein extending the length of the single sheet of material to define a respective first and second fold axes;

a first, second and third adjacent panels defined by the first and second scores;

a cut formed perpendicular to the first and second scores and extending from a first end position in the first panel across the second panel to a second end position in the third panel;

a first angular score extending from a first intersection with the cut in the first panel to an outer edge of the single sheet of material, and a second angular score extending from a second intersection with the cut in the third panel to the outer edge of the single sheet of material;

a portion of the first and second scores and the cut define an upper chute portion of the chute apparatus and the remaining portion of the first and second scores and the first, second and third panels form a lower insert portion of the chute apparatus;

a plurality of die cut openings are formed in at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores to facilitate bending of the single sheet of material along the respective angular score lines; and

wherein the first and second scores are each formed by a pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations in the single sheet of material and the die cut openings which facilitate bending of the apparatus are formed directly extending between the pair of spaced apart but immediately adjacent parallel indentations forming at least one of the first and second angular scores and the first and second scores.

18. A chute apparatus for facilitating the collection of debris within a receiving container comprising:

a single sheet of material having first and second scores formed

therein extending the length of the single sheet of material to define a respective first and second fold axes;

a first, second and third adjacent panels defined by the first and second scores;

a cut formed perpendicular to the first and second scores and extending from a first end position in the first panel across the second panel to a second end position in the third panel;

a first angular score extending from a first intersection with the cut in the first panel to an outer edge of the single sheet of material, and a second angular score extending from a second intersection with the cut in the third panel to the outer edge of the single sheet of material;

a portion of the first and second scores and the cut define an upper chute portion of the chute apparatus and the remaining portion of the first and second scores and the first, second and third panels form a lower insert portion of the chute apparatus;

a die cut opening is formed intermediate between the intersection with the cut and the outer edge of the single sheet of material along at least one of the first and second angular scores to facilitate bending of the single sheet of material along the angular score; and

wherein each angular score extends from the cut to an apex of a corner formed in the outer edge of the single sheet of material and the corner is defined by an inwardly depending portion of the outer edge of the single sheet of material formed at an obtuse angle relative to the apex.