Multi-use mobile vacuum cart

Abstract

A mobile vacuum cart includes a housing, a vacuum source in the housing, a dust box releasably engaged in the housing and in fluid communication with the vacuum source, an intake conduit in fluid communication with the dust box, wherein the housing accommodates reciprocal sliding action of the conduit between an engaged position in which the conduit locks the dust box in position and a release position in which disengagement of the conduit from the dust box enables removal of the dust box from the housing.

1 . A mobile vacuum cart, comprising:
 a housing;   a vacuum source disposed in said housing;   a dust box releasably engaged in said housing and in fluid communication with said vacuum source; and   an intake conduit in fluid communication with said dust box; and   said housing accommodates reciprocal sliding action of said conduit between an engaged position in which said conduit locks said dust box in position and a release position in which disengagement of said conduit from said dust box enables removal of said dust box from said housing.   
   
   
       2 . The cart of  claim 1  wherein said dust box has an inlet port and said intake conduit is in fluid communication with said inlet port when in said engaged position. 
   
   
       3 . The cart of  claim 1  further including a locking formation for retaining said conduit in said raised position to facilitate withdrawal of the dust box. 
   
   
       4 . The cart of  claim 1  wherein said conduit is the only locking mechanism for retaining said dust box in an operational position in said housing. 
   
   
       5 . The cart of  claim 1  further including a dustpan vacuum intake associated with said housing and movable between an operational position in fluid communication with said dust box and a storage position wherein said dust box is removable from said housing. 
   
   
       6 . The cart of  claim 5  further including a user actuated mechanism for moving said dust pan between said operational position and said storage position. 
   
   
       7 . The cart of  claim 6  wherein said dust pan is movable by said mechanism between said operational position, an interim disengaged position said storage position. 
   
   
       8 . The cart of  claim 5  wherein said dust box is engageable with a selected one of said intake conduit and said dust pan. 
   
   
       9 . The cart of  claim 8  further including a valve on said dust box for controlling said selective engagement between said intake conduit and said dust pan. 
   
   
       10 . The cart of  claim 9  further including a visual indicator on said dust box of a position of said valve. 
   
   
       11 . The cart of  claim 1  further including a pull handle on said dust box for facilitating removal from said housing. 
   
   
       12 . The cart of  claim 1  wherein said housing and said dust box have complement guide formations for guiding the movement of the dust box as it releasably engages the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The cart of  claim 1  further including an auxiliary intake hose in selective communication with said intake conduit and the dust box. 
   
   
       14 . The cart of  claim 1  wherein said intake conduit is provided with a multi-outlet fitting for selective fluid communication between two vacuum appliances or attachments. 
   
   
       15 . A mobile vacuum cart comprising:
 a housing;   a source of vacuum associated with said housing; and   a dustpan vacuum intake associated with said housing and movable between an operational position in fluid communication with said vacuum source and a storage position wherein said intake is disengaged from said vacuum source.   
   
   
       16 . The cart of  claim 15  wherein said dust trap is provided with a control valve for selective communication between said dust pan intake and a vacuum intake conduit. 
   
   
       17 . The cart of  claim 15  further including an adjustment mechanism for moving said dustpan intake between said operational position and said storage position, said mechanism including a latch with at least two settings. 
   
   
       18 . The cart of  claim 17  wherein said adjustment mechanism includes settings for said operational position, a disengaged position, and said storage position. 
   
   
       19 . The cart of  claim 16  wherein said housing includes a track accommodating reciprocal movement of said intake conduit between an engaged position in which said conduit locks said dust trap in position and a release position in which disengagement of said conduit from said dust box enables removal of said dust box from said housing. 
   
   
       20 . The cart of  claim 16  further including a dust box releasably disposed in said housing and in selective fluid communication with said dustpan vacuum intake only in said operational position.