Maintenance cart with air filtration

Abstract

A maintenance/construction cart that facilitates wall and ceiling access while isolating the interior of the cart from the surrounding environment. The cart is configured such that its height can be easily adjusted by an operator to provide access to ceilings of different heights while maintaining the seal between the interior of the cart and the surrounding environment while structurally supporting a ladder leaning against a surface of the cart. In some embodiments, the cart includes an air filtration unit.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A maintenance cart comprising:
 a lower structure with a floor, an upper portion, and a plurality of sides that extend between the upper portion and the floor;   an upper structure disposed above the upper portion of the lower structure, the upper structure comprising a plurality of structural members, each structural member of the plurality of structural members connecting the upper structure to the lower structure, wherein at least two of the structural members move the upper structure relative to the lower structure between a stowed position and a raised position; and   a ladder support bracket attached to an interior of the maintenance cart, wherein the ladder support bracket is moveable relative to the lower structure, and wherein the ladder support bracket structurally supports a ladder,   wherein the maintenance cart comprises a single interior workspace defined by both the lower structure and the upper structure:
 (i) when the upper structure is in the stowed position; and 
 (ii) when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two structural members comprise telescoping members to move the upper structure relative to the lower structure. 
     
     
         3 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the ladder support bracket is disposed adjacent to the upper structure when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
     
     
         4 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder support bracket is moveable such that at least a portion of the ladder support bracket moves away from the lower structure. 
     
     
         5 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder support bracket is attached to the upper structure. 
     
     
         6 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sealing member attached to the upper portion of the lower structure and to the upper structure, wherein the at least one sealing member compresses and expands based on movement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure and wherein the at least one sealing member maintains a seal between the interior of the maintenance cart and an environment surrounding the maintenance cart. 
     
     
         7 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure changes a volume of the single interior workspace. 
     
     
         8 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket seal that forms a seal on a top surface of the upper structure against a ceiling when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
     
     
         9 . The maintenance cart of  claim 1 , wherein the ladder can rest on the ladder support bracket without being attached to the ladder support bracket. 
     
     
         10 . A maintenance cart comprising:
 a lower structure with a floor, an upper portion, and a plurality of sides that extend between the upper portion and the floor;   an upper structure disposed above the upper portion of the lower structure, the upper structure comprising a plurality of structural members, each structural member of the plurality of structural members connecting the lower structure to the upper structure, wherein at least one of the structural members is configured to move the upper structure relative to the lower structure between a stowed position and a raised position; and   a ladder support bracket attached to an interior of the maintenance cart, wherein the ladder support bracket structurally supports a ladder, wherein:   the ladder extends from the lower structure into at least a portion of the upper structure; and   the maintenance cart comprises a single interior workspace defined by both the lower structure and the upper structure:
 (i) when the upper structure is in the stowed position; and 
 (ii) when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , wherein the ladder can rest on the ladder support bracket without being attached to the ladder support bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , wherein the ladder support bracket is moveable relative to the lower structure. 
     
     
         13 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the ladder support bracket is disposed adjacent to the upper structure when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
     
     
         14 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one sealing member attached to the upper portion of the lower structure and to the upper structure, wherein the at least one sealing member compresses and expands based on movement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure and wherein the at least one sealing member maintains a seal between the interior of the maintenance cart and an environment surrounding the maintenance cart. 
     
     
         15 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , wherein movement of the upper structure relative to the lower structure changes a volume of the single interior workspace. 
     
     
         16 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , further comprising a gasket seal that forms a seal on a top surface of the upper structure against a ceiling when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
     
     
         17 . The maintenance cart of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the structural members comprises a telescoping arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . A maintenance cart comprising:
 a lower structure with an upper portion and a plurality of sides extend down from the upper portion;   an upper structure disposed above the upper portion of the lower structure, the upper structure comprising a plurality of structural members, each structural member of the plurality of structural members connecting the upper structure to the lower structure, wherein at least two of the structural members move the upper structure relative to the lower structure between a stowed position and a raised position; and   a ladder support bracket attached to an interior of the maintenance cart, wherein the ladder support bracket is moveable relative to the lower structure and wherein the ladder support bracket structurally supports a ladder,   wherein the maintenance cart comprises a single interior workspace defined by both the lower structure and the upper structure:
 (i) when the upper structure is in the stowed position and 
 (ii) when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
   
     
     
         19 . The maintenance cart of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the ladder support bracket is disposed adjacent to the upper structure when the upper structure is in the raised position. 
     
     
         20 . The maintenance cart of  claim 18 , wherein the ladder support bracket is attached to the upper structure.