Leaf casket
United States Patent [1 1 Hatfield 51 Apr. 15, 1975 1 LEAF CASKET [76] Inventor: Clarence W. Hatfi Rt. 2, Box  
 25281&#34;, Auburn, C&#39; 95603 [22] Filed: June 5, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 367,171  
 [52} U.S. Cl 294/55; 56/40016&#39;, 220/4 E; 220/19; 220/94 R; 294/1 R; 294/508 [51] Int. Cl B65d 13/00 [58] Field of Search 294/55, 50.5, 50.6, 50.9, 294 53.5, 50.8, 25,] R; 5 0.11, 400.12, .16, 400.2; 220/4 E, 4 9, 94 A, 94 R; 217/122; 190/49, 57; 209 4, 281, 417, 8, 419  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 102, 4/1870 Scanla 294 1,039, 9/1912 Tittsw 294/.  
 1,138,371 15 Flynn 294/ 1,588,927 26 Willis 2,545,226 3/1951 Claude 20 19 UX 2,546,113 3/1951 Span 294/49 X 3,672,716 6/1972 Burk er 294/506 Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Assistant Examiner-James L. Rowland Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blair &amp; Brown [57] ABSTRACT A leaf casket for handling dead leaves or similar material consisting of a of baskets which are open on one face and prov with interloe teeth al the en faces to permit the baskets be fitted get manually to secure leaves therebetween. The baskets have interfitting handles which are tapered to perm&#39; essure to be bro the b&#39; t in position supp to bear to help secure ing the leaves.  
 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIED APR 1 5191s LEAF CASKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to leaf caskets for handling dead leaves or similar material.  
 2. Summary of the Invention The leaf caskets of the present invention include a pair of baskets having one opening side with interfitting teeth positioned along the lower portion of the open sides and an interfitting handle positioned at the upper edge thereof so that the baskets can be drawn together around a pile of dead leaves so as to enclose the leaves therein. The handles are tilted toward each other slightly so that hand pressure on the handles tends to tightly secure the baskets together with the leaves therein.  
  The primary object of the invention is to provide a handy easily used device for gathering and handling leaves and other materials.  
  Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevation of the invention in closed position with leaves trapped therein:  
 FIG. 2 is a front elevation of one of the baskets;  
  FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the invention with the baskets shown in separated position shown partially broken away and in section for convenience of illustration;  
 FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of the baskets;  
 FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the baskets.  
 shown partially broken away and in section for conve nience of illustration:  
 FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of one of the baskets;  
  FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view. taken along the line 77 of FIG. 2. looking in the direction of the arrows; and  
  FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view. taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7. looking in the direction of the arrows.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail. wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures. the reference numeral I indicates generally a leaf casket constructed in accordance with the invention.  
  The leaf casket I0 includes a band ll forming an open rim to which a wire netting I2 is secured. The netting I2 is formed into a container with the band I] delineating one open side of the container.  
  A strip I3 is secured along the open side of the container by rivets I4 which extend through the band II. The strip I3 has a plurality of teeth I5 formed therealong with the teeth of each of the leaf caskets I0 being adapted to interflt with those ofa companion leaf casket It) as illustrated in FIG. 1.  
  A handle I6 is integrally formed on the leaf casket 10 at the upper centrally portion of the band II as can be seen in FIG. 3. The handle I6 has a lug I7 formed on one side thereof and a companion socket I8 formed adjacent thereto. When the handles 16 are brought into contacting relation the lug 17 on one of the handles I6 fits into the socket 18 of the other handle I6 as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. An opening I9 is formed in the netting 12 adjacent the handles 16 to permit the fingers of the user to extend around the handles l6 as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3.  
  In the use and operation of the invention the caskets 10 are grasped in both hands as shown in FIG. 3 and are brought to the opposite side of a pile of leaves L. The caskets I0 are then moved toward each other until the teeth l5 interflt as well as the lugs I7 engaging in the sockets I8. As can be seen in FIG. 7 the handles are tilted slightly out of the plane of the bands ll toward the open side of the caskets I0 so that hand pressure around the handle 16 will tend to lock the caskets 10 together. The netting l2 tapers inwardly slightly from the open side to permit the caskets I0 to be nested for storage.  
  While wire has been disclosed as the netting material. it should be understood that other materials such as plastic may also be used when desired for the netting I2 and other elements of the casket 10.  
  Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention. it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
 What is claimed is:  
  I. In a leaf casket. a pair of similar members each ineluding a band forming an open rim. netting secured to said band. said netting being formed into a container with the band delineating one open side of the container. a strip secured along the open side of the container. said strip having a plurality of teeth formed therealong with the teeth of each of the leaf caskets being adapted to interfit with those ofa companion leaf casket. said teeth being blunt to prevent clogging. a handle integrally formed on the leaf casket at the upper central portion of the band. said handle having a lug formed on one side thereof and a companion socket formed adjacent thereto. and whereby when the handles are brought into contacting relation the lug on one of the handles fits into the socket of the other handle. there being an opening formed in the netting adjacent the handles to permit the fingers of the user to extend around the handle. said handles being tilted slightly out the plane of the bands toward the open side of the cuskets so that hand pressure around the handle will tend to lock the caskets together. and said netting tapering inwardly slightly from the open side to permit the casket to be nested for storage.