This invention relates to a device for collecting needles which have dropped from coniferous trees, and is particularly concerned with a device adapted to be used with "Christmas" trees.

Coniferous trees which are brought into houses at Christmas for example suffer from the effects of heat and dry air and in many cases drop their needles in substantial quantities. Recently, the conventional "Christmas tree" has been replaced by varieties of tree which are more resistant to such conditions and which have a lesser tendency to drop their needles. However, such trees are not generally available and are substantially more expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collector device which can be used with a coniferous tree to catch the needles which drop from the tree, and preferably direct the needles towards a container means for subsequent disposal.

In accordance with the present invention this is achieved by a collector device comprising a generally circular or annular skirt adapted to encircle the trunk of a tree or to be positioned with its centre below the bottom of the trunk of the tree, wherein the skirt, in use, defines one or more sloping surfaces directing needles which fall on to the skirt towards the centre of the skirt.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the skirt comprises a plurality of neighbouring segments and is capable of being folded and unfolded between a fully folded position for storage and a fully unfolded position for use. The collector device of this embodiment, viewed in plan, may resemble a parachute. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the

skirt comprises a plurality of segments with radially extending lines therebetween about which the segments fold in order to define channels towards the centre of the skirt. In that preferred embodiment pairs of adjacent segments each define a channel with an aperture located on the fold line therebetween adjacent to the centre of the skirt.

Preferably, the skirt is made from a blank having an odd number of segments and cut by a radial separating line, with the segments bordering the respective opposite sides of the separating line being arranged in use to overlie each other.

The skirt of the collector device is preferably made from a relatively stiff material, preferably with a smooth and/or reflective upper surface which will assist the passage of the needles from the outside towards the centre and also enhance the decorative effect of the device.

One presently preferred embodiment of collector device in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of a blank which, when assembled for use, produces the collector device.

As shown in the drawing, the collector device comprises a skirt indicated generally at 10 which has a plurality of segments 11. In the preferred embodiment the skirt 10 is made in one piece from a single blank. The segmented skirt 10 is arranged to fold in concertina manner between the displayed position as shown in the drawing and a folded state in which the segments lie flat one upon another and the folded unit is a compact stack of segments. The skirt is cut by a generally radial dividing line, and the radial edge 12 of the particular segment 13 which borders that edge is

provided with a pair of locking tabs 14. These tabs 14 are arranged to be located in corresponding slots 15 which are cut through the skirt on the radial line which extends between the first two segments 16 and 17 at the opposite end of the skirt. Thus, in the assembled position, with the locking tabs in place, the segment 13 will overlie segment 16. For that reason, the skirt, in this preferred embodiment, has an odd number of segments 11, preferably 17 or 19. This then leaves an even number of exposed segments when the blank has been assembled for use.

As shown in the drawing, the individual segments 11 are defined by radial lines. These radial lines comprise creases or folds 18 (indicated by long broken lines) alternating with cuts or holes or perforations 20 (indicated by shorter broken lines). These segment- dividing lines 18 and 20 are such that when the blank is assembled for use, using the locking tabs 14, the blank which is initially flat will become "bowl- shaped" with the skirt sloping downwards from the periphery towards the centre. Again, by virtue of the segment-dividing lines 18 and 20, the individual segments will define an undulating surface around the skirt by virtue of the fold lines 18 being depressed in relation to the lines of perforations 20. Holes 21 are provided, as shown, towards the centre of the skirt, on the fold lines 18. Thus, as the needles fall from the tree and are directed by virtue of the undulating surface towards the centre of the skirt and down the channels formed by the segments, they will fall through the holes 21 into a suitable container (not shown). This container may be for example a cylindrical drum in which the trunk of the tree stands and which will serve also as a collector for the needles which fall through the holes 21. The path of movement of the needles is

indicated by the herringbone arrows 22 which are shown for just a few of the segments.

At the centre of the skirt 10 is a hole 24, and the skirt portion encircling the hole 24 is slit radially so that the trunk of the tree can pass through the centre of the skirt. Alternatively, the skirt may have no central hole and the trunk of the tree would then be arranged simply to stand on the centre of the skirt. It would then be necessary however for this central circular portion on which the trunk stands to remain flat when the segments are "raised" in use.

As shown in the drawing, the individual segments 11 are each provided with further holes 25 adjacent to the peripheral edge. These holes are for hanging decorations for example from the edge of the skirt for their decorative effect. Although the skirt 10 is shown in the drawings as having a scalloped edge, this is not essential and the actual shape and configuration of the skirt can be chosen as desired. The skirt 10 can be made of any suitable material. A thick card or thin board material has proved to be advantageous. A particularly pleasing effect is achieved if one or both sides of the skirt, and especially the upper surface, are made reflective. This can be achieved by using a reflective material for the blank or by coating or otherwise depositing a reflective material on a blank of some other material.

It will be apparent that the actual shape and configuration of the skirt and of the parts thereof can be varied, as desired. Also, it is not essential that the skirt should be formed in one piece. As one alternative embodiment, the skirt could be made from a plurality of sections which are fitted together around the tree to constitute the skirt. As yet a further alternative, one could provide an inflatable skirt such

that the upper surface thereof would define a downwardly sloping surface towards the centre along which the needles would pass.