Yard waste collection system, collection apparatus, and method for collecting yard waste

1. A yard waste collection system for connection with a tractor, the system comprising:

a collection apparatus including a rigid internal frame, a top portion being a combination of at least a first panel portion that is substantially impermeable to dust particles and at least a second panel portion made of a flexible mesh material comprising nylon, the top portion being formed with at least two coupling anchors, a plurality of collapsible side portions made of the flexible mesh material comprising nylon and including at least one substantially impermeable panel portion, and at least a rigid bottom portion, the rigid bottom portion having a drop door that opens and closes relative to the rigid internal frame to allow access to an interior space of the collection apparatus, wherein the top portion and the collapsible side portions collapse and fold against the rigid bottom portion to produce a folded state in which the collection apparatus occupies a reduced space;

a cage suspension frame having at least two frame couples and being operably connected to the tractor, the collection apparatus being pivotably suspended from the cage suspension frame by the at least two coupling anchors that are connected to the at least two frame couples, respectively; and

a conduit for allowing passage of yard waste ejected from the tractor to the interior space of the collection apparatus.

2. The yard waste collection system of claim 1 , wherein the drop door covers substantially an entire surface of the rigid bottom portion.

3. The yard waste collection system of claim 1 , wherein the frame couples are spaced apart along the cage suspension frame for pivotably suspending the collection apparatus from the cage suspension frame.

4. The yard waste collection system of claim 3 , further comprising a mounting base operably connected with the tractor.

5. The yard waste collection system of claim 4 , wherein the cage suspension frame is operably and removably connected to the mounting base.

6. The yard waste collection system of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for maintaining the drop door in a closed state, the fastener comprising first and second straps each of which comprises:

a first end attached to the drop door; and

a second end removably attached to the top portion of the collection apparatus.

7. The yard waste collection system of claim 6 , wherein the drop door further comprises anchor portions such that the fastener is wrapped around the top portion and removably attached to the anchor portions, when the side portions are collapsed.

8. The yard waste collection system of claim 1 , further comprising an insertion port for removably coupling an opening of the conduit to the interior space of the collection apparatus.

9. The yard waste collection system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of collapsible side portions further comprises:

a first substantially permeable side portion including a door; and

second and third substantially permeable side portions.

10. The yard waste collection system of claim 9 , wherein the substantially permeable portions are made with a flexible mesh material.

11. A method of adapting a waste collection system to a tractor, the method comprising:

providing a mounting frame to an existing mounting portion of the tractor, the mounting frame being connected to a cage suspension frame having at least two frame couples;

pivotably suspending a collection apparatus from the cage suspension frame, the collection apparatus including a rigid internal frame, a top portion being a combination of at least a first panel portion that is substantially impermeable to dust particles and at least a second panel portion made of a flexible mesh material comprising nylon, the top portion being formed with at least two coupling anchors, a plurality of collapsible side portions made of the flexible mesh material comprising nylon and including at least one substantially impermeable panel portion, and at least a rigid bottom portion, the rigid bottom portion having a drop door that opens and closes relative to the rigid internal frame to allow access to an interior space of the collection apparatus, wherein the collection apparatus is pivotably suspended from the cage suspension frame by the at least two coupling anchors that are connected to the at least two frame couples, respectively;

providing a conduit for allowing passage of yard waste ejected from the tractor to the interior space of the collection apparatus; and

collapsing and folding the top portion and the collapsible side portions against the rigid bottom portion to produce a folded state in which the collection apparatus occupies a reduced space.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the drop door covers substantially an entire surface of the rigid bottom portion.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of providing a mounting frame comprises:

providing a mounting base operably connected with the tractor.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the mounting frame is operably and removably connected to the mounting base.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the frame couples are spaced apart along the cage suspension frame for pivotably suspending the collection apparatus from the cage suspension frame.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing a fastener for maintaining the drop door in a closed state, the fastener comprising first and second straps each of which comprises:

a first end attached to the drop door; and

a second end removably attached to the top portion of the collection apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the drop door further comprises anchor portions such that the fastener is wrapped around the top portion and removably attached to the anchor portions, when the side portions are collapsed.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing an insertion port for removably coupling an opening of the conduit to the interior space of the collection apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of collapsible side portions further comprises:

a first substantially permeable side portion including a door with removable slats; and

second and third substantially permeable side portions.

20. A collector for collecting debris from a grass mower, comprising:

a rigid internal frame;

a top portion being a combination of at least a first panel portion that is substantially impermeable to dust particles and at least a second panel portion made of a flexible mesh material comprising nylon, the top portion being formed with at least two coupling anchors;

a rigid bottom portion; and

collapsible side portions comprising:

a first substantially permeable side portion including a door;

second and third substantially permeable side portions made of the flexible mesh material comprising nylon; and

at least one substantially impermeable panel portion; and

a conduit for allowing passage of ejected debris from an ejection opening of the grass mower to an interior space of the collector,

wherein the top portion and the collapsible side portions collapse and fold against the rigid bottom portion to produce a folded state in which the collector occupies a reduced space, and

the collector is pivotably suspended from a cage suspension frame of the grass mower by the at least two coupling anchors that are connected to at least two frame couples, respectively, of the cage suspension frame.