Cleaning apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus includes a cart having a base movable along a ground surface and a vacuum assembly removably receivable on the base. The vacuum assembly includes a power head, a collection container, and a suction inlet through which dust and debris is configured to be drawn via the power head into the collection container. The cleaning apparatus also includes a cleaning head coupled to the cart separate from the vacuum assembly such that the vacuum assembly is separable from the cleaning head when removed from the cart, the cleaning head configured to engage the ground surface and the dust and debris located thereon. The cleaning apparatus also includes a nozzle mounted at the cleaning head, the nozzle coupled to the suction inlet of the vacuum assembly and providing a suction path between the cleaning head into the collection container of the vacuum assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a cart having a base movable along a ground surface;   a vacuum assembly removably receivable on the base, the vacuum assembly including a power head, a collection container, and a suction inlet through which dust and debris is configured to be drawn via the power head into the collection container, the vacuum assembly operable to draw the dust and debris into the collection container when the vacuum assembly is received on the base of the cart and when the vacuum assembly is placed on the ground surface, separate from the cart;   a cleaning head coupled to the cart separate from the vacuum assembly such that the vacuum assembly is separable from the cleaning head when removed from the cart, the cleaning head configured to engage the ground surface and the dust and debris located thereon; and   a nozzle mounted at the cleaning head, the nozzle coupled to the suction inlet of the vacuum assembly and providing a suction path between the cleaning head into the collection container of the vacuum assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is selected from the group consisting of a sweeper head, a squeegee head, and an agitating head. 
     
     
         3 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein cleaning head is an agitating head configured to dislodge debris attached to the ground surface, and wherein the agitating head is selected from the group consisting of a roller-brush, a scraper, and a pressure washer. 
     
     
         4 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hose extending between the nozzle and the suction inlet. 
     
     
         5 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cart includes a handle coupled to the base, wherein the vacuum assembly is separable from the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cart further includes a collection chamber separate from the collection chamber of the vacuum assembly, and wherein the collection chamber of the cart is configured to receive and store dust and debris collected by the cleaning head. 
     
     
         7 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the collection chamber of the vacuum assembly is connected to the collection chamber of the cart when the vacuum assembly is received on the base. 
     
     
         8 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is pivotably attached to the base of the cart. 
     
     
         9 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the cart includes a plurality of wheels configured to support the base on the ground surface, wherein the cleaning head is pivotable about an axis parallel to a rotational axis of the plurality of wheels. 
     
     
         10 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head includes a mounting point, wherein the nozzle is secured to the mounting point. 
     
     
         11 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting point is located at a leading edge of the cleaning head and a forward edge of the cart. 
     
     
         12 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cleaning head includes two counter-rotating brushes, and wherein the mounting point is proximate a location where the two counter-rotating brushes come together. 
     
     
         13 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning head is powered by a first power supply and the vacuum assembly is powered by a second power supply. 
     
     
         14 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a horizontal base formed as a recess sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the collection container. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating the cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 locating the vacuum assembly on the base;   securing the nozzle relative to the cleaning head, the nozzle connected to the suction inlet via a hose;   operating the cleaning head to disrupt the dust and debris on the ground surface; and   operating the vacuum assembly to draw the dust and debris through the nozzle and hose and into the collection container.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein operating the cleaning head includes rotating a sweeper head or roller-brush against the ground surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein operating the cleaning head includes moving a squeegee head or a scraper against the ground surface. 
     
     
         18 . A cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a cart having a base movable along a ground surface;   a vacuum assembly removably receivable on the base, the vacuum assembly including a power head, a collection container, and a suction inlet through which dust and debris is configured to be drawn via the power head into the collection container;   a cleaning head coupled to a forward side of the cart, the cleaning head configured to dislodge dust and debris from a ground surface; and   a hose removably coupled to the cleaning head and defining an inlet through which the dust and debris is directed to the suction inlet of the vacuum assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning head is selected from the group consisting of a sweeper head, a squeegee head, and an agitating head. 
     
     
         20 . The cleaning apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein cleaning head is an agitating head configured to dislodge material attached to the ground surface, and wherein the agitating head is selected from the group consisting of a roller-brush, a scraper, and a pressure washer.