Abstract:
A universal cart is provided that receives a wet/dry vacuum and converts the vacuum into an upright walk behind cleaning device. The cart provides a handle attached to a mobile base. A switch is provided on the handle that can receive the electrical plug from the wet/dry vacuum and selectively turn the vacuum on and off via the switch.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application serial No. 60/384,232 filed May 30, 2002 for a Universal Wet/Dry Vacuum Cart. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention describes a device that converts an ordinary wet/dry utility vacuum into a walk behind upright vacuum tool.  
           [0004]    B. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    It is well known in the art to use a wet/dry vacuum to clean various areas of a house or business. Typically wet/dry vacuums include rollers that allow the device to be rolled along behind the operator during use. This may require the operator to kneel down, for example, if they are cleaning an area of the floor.  
           [0006]    What is needed is a universal cart for placing a wet/dry vacuum on that allows the wet/dry vacuum to be used as an upright walk behind cleaning device.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    This device is useful for using the wet/dry vacuum to clean debris from various surfaces such as driveways, garage floors, basement floors, etc. One method is to supply a separate cart that the wet/dry vacuum can be attached to. The cart has a nozzle protruding down from any direction of the cart. This nozzle will contact the ground surface or have close proximity to the ground surface. The input hose of the wet/dry vacuum is connected to the nozzle so that the suction from the vacuum is routed through the nozzle. The exhaust of the vacuum can also be routed through the nozzle and be used as a blower. The cart also has a handle from which to maneuver the cart.  
           [0008]    Another method is to attach a ground-contacting nozzle and a handle directly to the tank or base of a wet/dry vacuum.  
           [0009]    Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:  
           [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cart with an attached vacuum.  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side view of the cart with an attached vacuum.  
           [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the cart with an attached vacuum.  
           [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a close up view of the cart with an attached vacuum.  
           [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear side cart with an attached vacuum.  
           [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the subject invention showing a wet/dry vacuum having fixed rear wheels and front wheels. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIGS. 1, 2, &amp;  3  show views of the complete cart assembly. The cart includes a base  1  that acts as a support platform to hold the vacuum  9 . The base is supported on the ground by rear wheels  3  and front caster wheel(s)  10 . The nozzle  4  may pivot on the front of the base. This pivoting action allows the nozzle to adjust over uneven ground surfaces and still remain in contact with the ground surface. Alternately, the nozzle  4  may slide up and down or side-to-side, as opposed to pivoting, in a slotted groove with respect to the base  1 . A hose  13  may be included that connects between the nozzle  4  and the vacuum  9 . The nozzle shown in the figures may have two small wheels  14  attached on its outboard sides. However, in an alternate embodiment, the nozzle  4  may contact the ground directly without the use of any wheels. The wheels act as the main contact with the ground. Wheels can be caster or slide or some other means of supporting said nozzle. The front of the nozzle is open and the sides and back of the nozzle may be sealed with brushes, seals or other material used to seal side surfaces. The brushes also help to “sweep” the debris from the ground surface. In one embodiment, the brushes may be rotating brushing powered independently by an actuator and power source or the brushes may be connected in such a manner as to freely spin about an axel member. Details of the nozzle can be seen in FIG. 4. A handle  2  is fixed to the base  1 . The handle is used as the means of maneuvering the cart assembly and is design to facilitate folding down for storage.  
         [0018]    With reference to all of the Figures, the nozzle  4  may include alternate attachments. One such attachment may be a wiper blade  38  to direct or channel liquid on the surface being cleaned. The wiper blade  38  may be constructed from a flexible material. The wiper blade  38  may also be oriented at any angle with respect to the nozzle  4  as chosen with sound engineering judgment. A liquid cleaning dispensing attachment may be juxtaposed to the wiper blade  38  for use in selectively dispensing a cleaning solution during the cleaning process. Alternately, the nozzle  4  may include a magnetic member  40  for use in picking up debris having Ferrous properties such as Ferrous metal debris. The magnetic member  40  may be positioned close to the ground on the underside of the nozzle  4 . Any magnetic strength of magnetic member  40  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 1 and 3 also show an optional electrical hand switch  24 . The power cord from the vacuum may be plugged into the hand switch  24 . Also plugged to the hand switch  24  is the extension cord, or other electrical conductive device, from the electrical outlet. The hand switch is used as a convenient way to turn the vacuum on and off without reaching down to use the main power switch supplied with the vacuum. Any method of providing a switching means, chosen with sound engineering judgment, for turning power on and off at the handle may be incorporated.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  also show an adjustable stop bracket  5 . This bracket  5  is used as a stop to support the back of the vacuum tank. An adjustable strap  19  may be used to secure and hold the vacuum tank against the adjustable bracket  5 . This bracket is mounted to the handles  2  and can be adjusted vertically using a pattern of holes  35  supplied in the handle. The bracket  5  can also be adjusted horizontally using the slotted mounting holes  37  in the bracket. An alternate method to support the vacuum tank is with an adjustable stop mounted to the base. The adjustable strap  19  is used to secure the vacuum tank against the adjustable stop. These brackets and straps are adjustable to support a wide variety of wet/dry vacuums consisting of different shapes and sizes.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 1, 2, and  3  also show an optional attachment bag  31  with multiple ways of attachment. Upon mounting the vacuum to the cart, the optional attachment bag  31  would allow for an alternative method of storing vacuum attachments. This bag could also be used for holding larger debris items.  
         [0022]    Most previous wet/dry vacuums used a tank with four small caster wheels mounted the bottom of the tank. Some newer designs have large non-swiveling rear wheels and a handle mounted to the tank. An alternate method for this invention is to mount a pivoting, ground-contacting nozzle to the front of a wet/dry vacuum such as previously mentioned. FIG. 6 shows the pivoting nozzle in this configuration.  
         [0023]    The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.  
         [0024]    Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed: