Method and portable apparatus for storing long-handled garden tools prior to use in landscaping

A stand stores long-handled garden tools. The tools are removed from the stand to be used. The stand is unusually compact and permits a plurality of garden tools to be stored in close proximity to one another. The distal end of a garden tool is slidably received by a sleeve formed in the stand. The sleeve is shaped to contact the distal end of the tool and maintain the tool in a substantially vertical orientation while permitting the tool to generate a force which forces the stand against the ground.

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Having described my invention in such terms as to enable those of skill in the art to make and practice it, and having described the presently preferred embodiments thereof, I claim:

1. A toolstorage receptacle comprising (a) a plurality of long-handled garden tools each including a handle having a distal end and a proximate end, and a head attached to the proximate end of the handle; and (b) a storage unit setting on the ground andincluding (i) a top surface having a center, (ii) a bottom surface for engaging the ground, (iii) a circumferential wall extending between and interconnecting said top surface and said bottom surface, and, (iv) a plurality of hollow sleeves eachextending from said top surface to said bottom surface, spaced apart from said center, spaced apart from the other ones of said hollow sleeves, and slidably receiving said distal end of one of said long-handled garden tools, contacting said distal end ofsaid one of said long-handled garden tools and supporting said handle thereof at an angle of from zero degrees to fifteen degrees from the vertical in an upright orientation spaced apart from said handles of said tools in said other ones of said sleeves,shaped and dimensioned such that said distal end of said one of said long-handled garden tools extends completely through said sleeve and engages the ground, and said distal end of said one of said long-handled garden tools leans against and frictionallyengages a portion of said sleeve to generate a force pressing the tool receptacle against the ground.

2. A tool storage receptacle for long-handled garden tools, each garden tool including a handle having a distal end and a proximate end, and a head connected to the proximate end, the tool storage receptacle comprising (a) a top surface having acenter and a width in the range of seven inches to twelves inches; (b) a bottom surface for engaging the ground; (c) a circumferential wall extending between and interconnecting said top surface and said bottom surface and having a height in the rangeof six to eight inches; and, (d) a plurality of hollow sleeves each (i) extending from at least one of a pair including said top surface and said bottom surface, (ii) having a width in the range of one inch to one and one-half of an inch and slidablyreceiving the distal end of the handle of a long-handled garden tool, contacting the distal end and supporting the handle at an angle of from zero degrees to fifteen degrees from the vertical in an upright orientation spaced apart from the handles oftools in other ones of the sleeves, permitting the distal end to extend completely through the sleeve and engage the ground, and permitting the distal end to lean against and frictionally engage a portion of the sleeve to generate a force pressing thetool receptacle against the ground, (iii) spaced apart from said center, and (iv) spaced apart from each of said other hollow sleeves.

3. A tool storage receptacle for long-handled garden tools, each garden tool including a handle having a distal end and a proximate end, and a head connected to the proximate end, the tool storage receptacle comprising (a) a top surface having acenter and a width in the range of seven inches to twelves inches; (b) a bottom surface for engaging the ground; (c) a circumferential wall extending between and interconnecting said top surface and said bottom surface; and, (d) a plurality of hollowsleeves each (i) extending from said top surface toward said bottom surface and having a height in the range of six to eight inches, (ii) having a width in the range of one inch to one and one-half of an inch and slidably receiving the distal end of along-handled garden tool, contacting the distal end and supporting the handle at an angle of from zero degrees to fifteen degrees from the vertical in an upright orientation spaced apart from the handles of tools in other ones of the sleeves, permittingthe distal end to extend completely through the sleeve and engage the ground, and permitting the distal end to lean against and frictionally engage a portion of the sleeve to generate a force pressing the tool receptacle against the ground, (iii) spacedapart from said center, and (iv) spaced apart from each of said other hollow sleeves.