Electric utility vehicle

• US 8,997,905 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dane Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dane Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Daniel T., Dvorak, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/538,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/6.2, 180/315, 180/324, 180/331, 180/21, 180/210, 180/211, 451350-353, 153/401, 153/403, 153/404, 15/491, 15/501, 15/78, 15/98
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/10 motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/20 combined with vacuum cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/24 Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4013 Contaminants collecting devices, i.e. hoppers, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4055 for lifting the tools to a non-working position
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4058 for adjusting the height of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4066 Propulsion of the whole machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4094 Accessories to be used in combination with conventional vacuum-cleaning devices

Abstract

A utility vehicle can comprise a wheeled platform, a motor coupled to the platform and configured to propel the platform, at least one cleaning element coupled to the platform, wherein the at least one cleaning element is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, and one or more controls configured to move the at least one cleaning element between the collapsed position and the expanded position. The at least one cleaning element can also be movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the wheeled platform, and the one or more controls can further be configured to move the at least one cleaning element between the raised position and the lowered position.

Claims

1. An electric utility vehicle comprising:

a wheeled platform;

a seat coupled to the platform for carrying a user;

an electric motor coupled to the platform and configured to propel the platform;

a pair of cleaning elements coupled to the platform,

wherein the pair of cleaning elements is movable between a raised position and a lowered position,

wherein the pair of cleaning elements is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position with respect to each other;

a first control configured to move the pair of cleaning elements between the raised position and the lowered position,

wherein the first control is configured to move between a first position corresponding to the raised position of the pair of cleaning elements and a second position corresponding to the lowered position of the pair of cleaning elements, further comprising a mechanical linkage between the first control and the pair of cleaning elements, the mechanical linkage comprising;

a pair of legs each coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of cleaning elements;

a mounting plate coupled to the pair of legs, the mounting plate including a pivot point pivotally coupled to the wheeled platform and a connection point;

wherein the connection point is mechanically coupled to the first control so that mounting plate and the pair of cleaning elements are pivoted vertically downward when the first control is moved to the second position and so that the mounting plate and the pair of cleaning elements are pivoted vertically upward when the first control is moved to the first position; and

a second control configured to move the pair of cleaning elements between the collapsed position and the expanded position.

2. The electric utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein when in the collapsed position, a width of the at least one cleaning element is narrower than a width of the platform.

3. The electric utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second platform configured to be removably coupled to the wheeled platform, wherein the second platform is configured to carry at least one of a trash receptacle, a mop bucket, a paper-product receptacle, or a cleaning-supplies receptacle.

4. The electric utility vehicle of claim 1,

wherein the pair of cleaning elements is movable between a vertical or substantially vertical raised position and a lowered position.

5. The electric utility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a wheeled cart configured to be removably coupled to the wheeled platform.

6. The electric utility vehicle of claim 1, wherein the pair of cleaning elements is detachable from the wheeled platform, the electric utility vehicle further comprising a second pair of cleaning elements coupleable to the wheeled platform when the at least one first cleaning element is detached.

7. The electric utility vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first pair of cleaning elements comprises one of a pair of mops or a pair of brooms and the second pair of cleaning elements comprises the other of the pair of mops or the pair of brooms.

8. An electric utility vehicle comprising:

a wheeled platform;

a seat coupled to the platform for carrying a user;

an electric motor coupled to the platform and configured to propel the platform;

a pair of cleaning elements coupled to the platform,

wherein the pair of cleaning elements is movable between a raised position and a lowered position,

wherein the pair of cleaning elements is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position with respect to each other;

a first control configured to move the pair of cleaning elements between the raised position and the lowered position; and

a second control configured to move the pair of cleaning elements between the collapsed position and the expanded position;

wherein the second control is configured to move between a first position corresponding to the collapsed position of the pair of cleaning elements and a second position corresponding to the expanded position of the pair of cleaning elements, further comprising a mechanical linkage between the second control and the at least one cleaning element, the mechanical linkage comprising;

a pair of legs, each coupled to a corresponding one of the pair of cleaning elements, each leg including a pivot point coupled to the platform and a connection point,

wherein the connection point of each of the pair of legs is mechanically coupled to the second control so that the pair of cleaning elements are pivoted laterally outward when the second control is moved to the second position and so that the pair of cleaning elements are pivoted laterally inward when the second control is moved to the first position.

9. The electric utility vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a second platform configured to be removably coupled to the wheeled platform, wherein the second platform is configured to carry at least one of a trash receptacle, a mop bucket, a paper-product receptacle, or a cleaning-supplies receptacle.

10. The electric utility vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pair of cleaning elements is detachable from the wheeled platform.

11. The electric utility vehicle of claim 10, further comprising at least one second pair of cleaning element coupleable to the wheeled platform when the pair of cleaning elements is detached.

12. The electric utility vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first pair of cleaning elements comprises one of a pair of mops or a pair of brooms and the second pair of cleaning elements comprises the other of the pair of mops or the pair of brooms.