carpet sweeper

Patent illustration of a carpet sweeper

A carpet sweeper or Ewbank^[1], as it is colloquially known to some in the UK, is a mechanical device for the cleaning of carpets in situ. These were popular before the introduction of the vacuum cleaner and have been largely superseded by them.

However, some restaurant chains continue to use them (e.g. Perkins) as they are lightweight and quiet, enabling the waitstaff to quickly clean crumbs up from the floor without disturbing other diners. Carpet Sweepers are still available from major USA retail chains such as www.carpetsweepersonline.com and Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Patent illustration of the underside of a Bissel carpet sweeper

A carpet sweeper typically consists of a small box. The base of the box has rollers and brushes, connected by a belt or gears. There is also a container for dirt. The arrangement is such that when pushed along a floor the rollers turn and force the brushes to rotate. The brushes sweep dirt and dust from the floor into the container. Carpet sweepers frequently have a height adjustment that enables them to work on different lengths of carpet, or carpetless floors. The sweeper usually has a long handle so that it can be pushed without bending over.

The carpet sweeper was redesigned at the beginning of the 21st century, and fitted with an electric motor to spin the rollers and brushes; this device is powered by rechargeable batteries.

Patented by Melville R. Bissell of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, in 1876. Manufactured & sold starting in 1883.

In some areas of the U.S., carpet sweepers are colloquially known as a "hoky" after the HOKY brand sweeper; the reference is used in either noun form ("Where is the hoky?") or in verb form ("Are you going to hoky the floor?").

References