Abstract:
A wearable golf towel can be secured around a golfer&#39;s lower leg and can carry a bristled brush so that the head of a golf club can be independently brushed and then wiped after brushing. An adjustable strap system enables a golf towel of a single size to accommodate golfers having various lower leg heights.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to golf accessories, and more particularly to golf towels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In golf, it is not uncommon to use a towel or cleaning pad to wipe dirt, grass and moisture from the head of a golf club. To this end, various types of specialized golf towels have been developed. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,765,233 and 5,893,190 disclose disposable club head wiping patches that can be removably stuck to the lower portion of a golfer&#39;s trouser leg, and U.S. Pat. No. D414645 discloses an ornamental design for a sports towel. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,797,142 and 4,403,366 teach golf towels that can be attached to a user&#39;s belt, and U.S. Pat. No. D339496 discloses the ornamental design for a golf towel having a handheld brush dangling from its corner, with the brush being attached by a keychain-type loop. U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,703 teaches a golf towel that can be attached to a golf bag and which includes a main towel and an accessory towel. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0144874 teaches a wearable towel. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,190 to Knudsen discloses a cleaning pad which can be secured to the leg of a player, and describes an embodiment in which bristles extend through the surface of the cleaning pad. This bristled cleaning pad, however, does not allow a user to brush dirt or other debris out of the grooves on the head of a golf club before wiping the head of the golf club, and does not allow a pad of a single size to accommodate users of varying lower leg heights. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a wearable golf towel that is secured around a golfer&#39;s lower leg and can carry a bristled brush so that the head of a golf club can be independently brushed and then wiped after brushing. An adjustable strap system enables a golf towel of a single size to accommodate golfers having various lower leg heights. 
         [0006]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a wearable golf towel, comprising a textile substrate having a wiping surface, at least one first brush mounting fixture on the textile substrate for removably mounting a brush to the textile substrate and supporting the brush for brushing, with the at least one brush mounting fixture leaving a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping, and at least one strap on the textile substrate for securing the textile substrate about a leg of a user. 
         [0007]    The wearable golf towel further comprises a brush having a bristled surface and a mounting surface opposite the bristled surface, with the brush having at least one second brush mounting fixture on the mounting surface. The at least one second brush mounting fixture is complementary to and interengageable with the at least one first brush mounting fixture so that the brush is removably mountable to the textile substrate with the bristled surface facing outwardly. When the brush is mounted to the textile substrate the brush leaves a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping. In a particular embodiment, the at least one first brush mounting fixture is one of a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement and the at least one second brush mounting fixture is the other of the hook surface or the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement. In another particular embodiment, the at least one first brush mounting fixture comprises a plurality of first snap fastener portions and the at least one second brush mounting fixture comprises a plurality of correspondingly positioned second snap fastener portions that are complementary to and interengageable with the first snap fastener portions. 
         [0008]    The at least one strap preferably comprises two straps. In a particular embodiment, the golf towel has a length and a width that is less than the length and has opposed lengthwise edges, and the two straps comprise a fixed position strap secured to the textile substrate to have a fixed position on one of the lengthwise edges and an adjustable position strap selectively positionable on the one of the lengthwise edges, relative to the fixed position strap and spaced from the fixed position strap. Fastener strips may extend along at least corresponding portions of the opposed lengthwise edge, with the adjustable position strap being interengageable with the fastener strips so that the fastener strips can securingly receive the adjustable position strap. In a particular embodiment, the adjustable position strap has a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and the fastener strips expose the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the adjustable position strap. 
         [0009]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a wearable golf towel, comprising a textile substrate having a wiping surface and having a length and a width that is less than the length and having opposed lengthwise edges. The wearable golf towel further comprises a brush having a bristled surface and which is secured to the textile substrate with the bristled surface facing outwardly, with the brush being supported for brushing by the textile substrate and leaving a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping. There are straps on the textile substrate for securing the textile substrate about a leg of a user. The straps comprise a fixed position strap secured to the textile substrate to have a fixed position on one of the lengthwise edges and an adjustable position strap selectively positionable on the one of the lengthwise edges, relative to the fixed position strap and spaced from the fixed position strap. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, fastener strips extend along at least corresponding portions of the opposed lengthwise edges and the adjustable position strap is interengageable with the fastener strips so that the fastener strips can securingly receive the adjustable position strap. In a particular embodiment, the adjustable position strap has a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and the fastener strips expose the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the adjustable position strap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded front perspective view of a first embodiment of a wearable golf towel according to an aspect of the present invention, showing mounting of the brush on a textile substrate of the golf towel and securing of the golf towel about a lower leg of a golfer; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the golf towel of  FIG. 1 , with the brush mounted to the textile substrate and the golf towel secured about the lower leg of the golfer; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the golf towel of  FIG. 1 , with the brush mounted to the textile substrate and the golf towel secured about the lower leg of the golfer; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the golf towel of  FIG. 1 , with the brush mounted thereto; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view showing first and second brush mounting fixtures of a second embodiment of a wearable golf towel, according to an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary wearable golf towel according to an aspect of the present invention is shown and is indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 , and the lower leg of a golfer is shown transparently in dashed lines and indicated generally by the reference numeral  12 . The golf towel  10  comprises a textile substrate  14  having a wiping surface  16  suitable for wiping the head of a golf club, a first brush mounting fixture  18  disposed on the textile substrate  14  for removably mounting a brush  20  to the textile substrate  14  and supporting the brush  20  for brushing, and straps  30 ,  32  on the textile substrate  14  for securing the textile substrate  14  about the golfer&#39;s lower leg  12 . 
         [0018]    The textile substrate  14  may be made from any suitable textile material, and may comprise a multi-layered substrate, for example a first outer layer comprising fabric made from viscose from bamboo, an inner layer comprising a waterproof or water-resistant membrane, and a second outer layer, which may also comprise fabric made from viscose from bamboo or may comprise another type of fabric. Golf towels of this general type are offered under the trade-mark “Amphibian Towels” by Frogger Golf, having an address at 1400 Fashion Island Blvd., Suite 1050, San Mateo, Calif., 94404 and may be adapted for use in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
         [0019]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the first brush mounting fixture  18  leaves a majority of the wiping surface  16  exposed for wiping and the exposed wiping surface  16  is substantially free of bristles. The brush  20  has a bristled surface  22  from which a plurality of bristles  24  extend and also has a mounting surface  26  opposite the bristled surface  22 , with a second brush mounting fixture  28  disposed on the mounting surface  26  of the brush  20 . The second brush mounting fixture  28  is complementary to and interengageable with the first brush mounting fixture  18  so that the brush  20  can be removably mounted to the textile substrate  14  with the bristled surface facing outwardly, as shown in  FIG. 2 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , when the brush  20  is mounted to the textile substrate  14 , the brush  20  leaves a majority of the wiping surface  16  exposed for wiping and the exposed wiping surface  16  is substantially free of bristles. 
         [0020]    In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the first brush mounting fixture  18  comprises either a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, e.g. Velcro®-type hook-and-loop straps, and the second brush mounting fixture  28  comprises the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement. Thus, if the first brush mounting fixture  18  comprises a hook surface then the second brush mounting fixture  28  would comprise a loop surface, and vice versa. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of a second embodiment of a wearable golf towel  510  which is identical to the first embodiment  10  except that instead of using a hook and loop fastener arrangement, a brush  520  is removably mounted to the textile substrate  514  by a plurality of snap fasteners. Specifically, in the second embodiment  510  shown in  FIG. 5 , a plurality of first snap fastener portions  518  are secured to the textile substrate  514  to serve as the first brush mounting fixtures and a plurality of correspondingly positioned second snap fastener portions  528  are secured to the mounting surface  526  of the brush  520  to serve as the second brush mounting fixtures, with the first and second snap fastener portions  218 ,  528  being complementary to and interengageable with one another. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , it can be seen that in the exemplary embodiment the golf towel  10  has a length L and a width W that is less than the length L, and has opposed lengthwise edges  36 . As noted above, the golf towel  10  comprises straps  30 ,  32 ; these comprise a fixed position strap  30  and an adjustable position strap  32 . The fixed position strap  30  is secured to the golf towel  10  to have a fixed position on one of the lengthwise edges  36 , and the adjustable position strap  32  is selectively positionable on that lengthwise edge  36 , relative to the fixed position strap  30  and spaced from the fixed position strap  30 . 
         [0023]    As best seen in  FIG. 1 , each of the straps  30 ,  32  has a fastening surface  30 F,  32 F, respectively, extending therealong. The fastening surfaces  30 F,  32 F comprise either a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, e.g. Velcro®-type hook-and-loop straps. Referring again to  FIG. 5 , one end  40  of the fixed position strap  30  is secured to the textile substrate  14  at one of the lengthwise edges  36  thereof, and a fastener patch  42 , comprising the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to that of the fastener surface  30 F of the fixed position strap  30 , is secured to the textile substrate  14  at the other lengthwise edge  36  thereof. The fastener patch  42  is secured to the textile substrate  14  at a longitudinal position corresponding to the longitudinal position of the fixed position strap  30 , so that the fixed position strap  30  can be wrapped around a user&#39;s lower leg  12  and then secured to the fastener patch  42  by interengaging the fastening surface  30 F of the fixed position strap  30  with the fastener patch  42 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 . 
         [0024]    Unlike the fixed position strap  30 , the adjustable position strap  32  is not permanently secured to the textile substrate  14 . Fastener strips  44  extend along corresponding portions of the opposed lengthwise edges  36  to securingly receive the adjustable position strap  32 , and the adjustable position strap  32  is interengageable with the fastener strips  44 . In the illustrated embodiment in which the fastener surface  32 F of the adjustable position strap  32  is part of a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement, the fastener strips  44  expose the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to that of the fastener surface  32 F of the adjustable position strap  32 . In particular, if the fastener surface  32 F of the adjustable position strap  32  comprises a hook surface then the fastener strips  44  would comprise a loop surface, and vice versa. The adjustable position strap  32  can be secured anywhere on the portions of the opposed lengthwise edges  36  along which the fastener strips  44  extend by interengaging the fastening surface  32 F of the adjustable position strap  32  with the fastener strips  44 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  and as indicated by the arrows A in  FIG. 1 . The adjustable position strap  32  can thus be positioned, relative to the fixed position strap  30 , to comfortably accommodate golfers having various lower leg heights. 
         [0025]    In this regard, it can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  that in an advantageous positioning of the golf towel  10  on a golfer&#39;s lower leg  12 , the textile substrate  14  will be on the outside of the lower leg  12 , with the upper end  14 U of the textile substrate  14  positioned at the user&#39;s mid-calf or upper calf, with the lower end  14 L of the textile substrate  14  extending below the golfer&#39;s ankle to cover the outside of the user&#39;s foot. This assists in keeping grass and dirt out of a golfer&#39;s cuff and shoe. The adjustable strap  32  and the fastener strips  44  assist in enabling a single size of textile substrate  14  to accommodate this positioning for a variety of lower leg sizes. 
         [0026]    A golf towel according to an aspect of the present invention can advantageously be used on a driving range, since it allows a golfer to first brush dirt out of the grooves of the head of the golf club using the brush  20 , and then wipe away the remaining dirt, as well as any moisture on the head of the golf club, using the wiping surface  16 . The brush  20  and the textile substrate  14  can be separated for cleaning, i.e. washing the textile substrate  14 , and the brush  20  can be replaced with a new brush without discarding the rest of the golf towel  10 . 
         [0027]    The longitudinal position of the brush mounting fixture(s)  18 ,  518 , and of the brush  20 ,  520 , relative to the lengthwise edges  36 , is preferably close to or aligned with the longitudinal position of the fixed position strap  30  so that the fixed position strap  30  assists in stabilizing the brush  20 ,  520  during brushing. 
         [0028]    One or more currently preferred embodiments have been described by way of example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
         [0029]    For example, in addition to using snap fasteners to secure the brush  520  to the textile substrate  514  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the fastener patch  42  may be replaced with a snap fastener portion, and the fastener strips may comprise a series of snap fastener portions extending along a portion of the opposed lengthwise edges  36 , with the fastening surfaces  30 F,  32 F of the straps  30 ,  32  comprising complementary snap fastener portions. In one embodiment, the brush may be permanently secured to the textile substrate, rather than removably securable. 
         [0030]    The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Variations to the exact embodiments described may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set out below. It is intended that any such variations be deemed within the scope of this patent.