Electric utility vehicle

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A utility vehicle comprising:
 a 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.   
     
     
         2 . The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning element is movable between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the platform. 
     
     
         3 . The utility vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more controls are further configured to move the at least one cleaning element between the raised position and the lowered position 
     
     
         4 . The 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. 
     
     
         5 . The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning element is selected from the group consisting of: at least one dry mop; at least one wet mop; at least one broom; and at least one vacuum assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a second platform configured to be removably coupled to the platform. 
     
     
         7 . The utility vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the second platform is configured to carry at least one of a trash receptacle, a mop bucket, a paper-product receptacle, and a cleaning-supplies receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a seat configured for carrying a user. 
     
     
         9 . The utility vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cleaning element is detachable from the platform. 
     
     
         10 . The utility vehicle of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one second cleaning element coupleable to the platform when the at least one first cleaning element is detached. 
     
     
         11 . 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.   
     
     
         12 . The electric utility vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a wheeled cart configured to be removably coupled to the wheeled platform. 
     
     
         13 . The electric utility vehicle of  claim 11 , 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. 
     
     
         14 . The electric utility vehicle of  claim 13 , 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. 
     
     
         15 . The electric utility vehicle of  claim 11 , 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.   
     
     
         16 . The electric utility vehicle of  claim 11 , 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.   
     
     
         17 . A system comprising:
 a utility vehicle including a platform and a motor to propel the platform;   a first assembly of a first set of one or more cleaning elements configured to be coupled at a first location of the wheeled platform;   a second assembly of a second set of one or more cleaning elements configured to be coupled at the first location of the wheeled platform; and   a first mechanism configured to move one or more cleaning elements coupled to the wheeled platform between a collapsed position and an expanded position.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first set of one or more cleaning elements comprise a first type of cleaning elements and the second set of one or more cleaning elements comprise a second type of cleaning element. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first type of cleaning element comprises a first one of a dry mop, a wet mop, a broom, or a vacuum assembly and the second type of cleaning element comprises a second one of the dry mop, the wet mop, the broom, or the vacuum assembly.