Abstract:
An athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning a shoe bottom, especially the bottom of a shoe having non-metal spikes. The athletic shoe cleaner includes a pair of opposed faces each having a cleaning surface having a plurality of spaced apart rods, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart rods is formed from a semi-rigid material. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaner includes a flexible carrying strap in the form of a continuous loop for permitting the cleaner to be attached to a golf bag or golf cart. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the opposed faces are generally round and the plurality of spaced apart rods are arranged in an overlapping and radially symmetrical fashion with respect to the center of the cleaner with the height of each of the plurality of spaced apart rods increasing from the outer edge to the center.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/024,083, filed Feb. 17, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,222, issued Jun. 20, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to athletic shoe cleaners and, more particularly, to a device for cleaning non-metal spiked golf shoes. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Devices for cleaning the conventional metal spiked golf shoes are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,617, issued to Racina, discloses a bristled brush that is attachable to a pull cart for a golf bag. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,150, issued to Kozub, discloses double-sided bristle brush that can be attached to the wheel of a golf club pull cart. Stationary bristle brushes that are mounted at ground level, with the bristles pointed upwardly are also well known. The state of the art of athletic shoe cleaning devices, and golf shoe cleaning devices particularly, is based on the predominant use of metal spiked golf shoes. 
     There is a trend, however, in the golf industry toward non-metal spiked golf shoes. There are several advantages associated with the traditional metal spiked golf shoe. They provide excellent stability during the golf swing. Traction during walking with metal spiked golf shoes is also excellent. The disadvantage of the metal spikes, however, is that they extensively damage golf greens, fairways and golf club facilities. The damage caused by metal spiked golf shoes increases golf course maintenance costs and effects the quality of the golf course play. Because of these problems associated with the use of metal spiked golf shoes, many golf facilities have banned metal spiked golf shoes. Thus, there was a need in the golf shoe art for a golf shoe that would provide stability and traction yet reduce the damage to golf greens, fairways and club facilities. 
     Golf shoe cleats for use in place of a standard metal spike, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,793, issued to Deacon et al., are known to cause significantly less damage to golf greens, fairways and facilities than conventional metal spikes. 
     There are, however, still disadvantages associates with non-metal spiked golf shoes. One of the most significant disadvantages is the loss of the excellent stability and traction associated with metal spiked golf shoes. This loss of stability and traction is exacerbated by the tendency of grass, dirt and other debris to collect on the bottom sole of non-metal spiked golf shoes. This collection of grass, dirt and debris further reduces stability and traction, especially under wet conditions and hilly terrain. 
     Conventional golf shoe cleaners, such as those discussed above, have serious disadvantages with respect to cleaning non-metal spiked golf shoes. Conventional golf shoe cleaners generally consist of a plurality of brush bristles anchored in a base. One disadvantage of such a cleaner is that brush bristles are not sufficiently rigid to dislodge grass, dirt, leaves and other debris from the bottom sole of a non-metal spiked golf shoe. 
     Another disadvantage associated with using conventional golf shoe cleaners with non-metal spiked golf shoes is that the flexibility of the brush bristles causes unwanted spray of mud, dirt and debris during the cleaning of the bottom sole of the golf shoe. This unwanted spray of mud, dirt and debris can cause soiling of the golfer&#39;s apparel, pants and socks and other nearby objects. 
     A further disadvantage of conventional golf shoe cleaners is the difficulty involved in cleaning the bottom of a golf shoe, particularly a non-metal spiked golf shoe during play. For example, the brush disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,150, issued to Kozub, requires a golfer to stand on one foot and to maintain balance while cleaning the bottom of the shoe on the other foot. If the golfer loses balance, he may fall and suffer injury and/or damage to equipment and apparel. Another disadvantage associated with conventional golf shoe cleaners is the relatively high cost of manufacturing golf shoe cleaners comprised of brush bristles. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for a new and improved golf shoe cleaner that is sufficiently rigid to be able to remove grass, dirt and debris from the bottom of non-metal spiked golf shoes while, at the same time, reduces the unwanted spray of dirt and debris associated with conventional bristle type golf shoe cleaners and is inexpensive and easy to manufacture. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning a shoe bottom, especially the bottom of a shoe having non-metal spikes. The athletic shoe cleaner includes a cleaning surface having a plurality of spaced apart rods, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart rods is formed from a semi-rigid material. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaner includes a flexible base for supporting the rods and permitting the cleaner to be mounted to a surface such as a fender or floor of a golf cart. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the base is generally round and the plurality of spaced apart rods are arranged in an overlapping and radially symmetrical fashion with respect to the center of the cleaner with the height of each of the plurality of spaced apart rods increasing from the outer edge to the center. 
     Attachment of the cleaner to a surface such as a golf cart fender or floor of the cart may not be convenient in some circumstances. For example, the golf cart may be rented, requiring detachment of the cleaner at the end of play. As a result, the cleaner may be forgotten, or the adhesive surface may be damaged, impairing the attachment of the cleaner to another fender or surface. In addition, the golfer&#39;s shoes may require cleaning at a time when the golfer is away from the golf cart. 
     Therefore, the present invention also contemplates an alternative embodiment of the cleaner that can be carried by the golfer and placed upon the ground or other surface when it is to be used. This embodiment requires no attachment to a surface. Instead, the cleaner of this embodiment simply rests upon the surface, and can be picked up after shoes are cleaned. 
     Basically, the alternative cleaner is comprised of a base segment having opposed first and second faces, with projections of the above-described configuration extending outwardly from at least the first face. The second face also includes outwardly extending projections, which may be of the same configuration as the projections extending from the first face. 
     A face of the base segment together with the projections extending therefrom will be referred to herein as a “surface.” Thus, the cleaner may also be described as a pair of opposed surfaces, each of which has a base and a plurality of outwardly extending projections. 
     The alternative cleaner may also include an attached strap for use in carrying the cleaner, or attaching the cleaner to the user&#39;s belt, a part of the golf cart, the user&#39;s golf bag, etc. For example, the cleaner may include a hole extending through the base from one face to the other, and a strap in the form of a continuous loop that extends through the hole. 
     The alternative cleaner can simply be dropped onto the ground or other surface for use, with the second cleaner face being toward the ground or other surface. The projections on the second face frictionally engage the surface, and may be pressed into the surface when the cleaner is used. The user can simply rub the sole of the golf shoe onto the upper face of the cleaner to remove dirt and debris, and pick up the cleaner when finished. 
     Thus, in one embodiment the alternative cleaner is comprised of a base, which is preferably a flexible base, having a first face or cleaning surface with a plurality of outwardly extending, spaced apart rods, formed from a semi-rigid material. Preferably, the rods are arranged in an overlapping and radially symmetrical fashion with respect to the center of the cleaner with the height of each of the plurality of spaced apart rods increasing from the outer edge to the center. The rods are preferably tapered, with the top end of each rod preferably being truncated. These terms have the meanings noted above. 
     As with the first-described embodiment, the rods are made of a semi-rigid material such as elastomeric rubber having a Shore Hardness value of greater than or equal to 80, with 100 being preferred. If desired, the entire alternative cleaner can be molded from this material as an integral object, or can be molded as two sections which are subsequently joined together. 
     The dimensions of each rod, and the dimensions of the base, may be the same as noted for the primary embodiment. As with the primary embodiment, the base is preferably between about four inches to twelve inches wide, with six inches being most preferred. The base desirably has at least five sides, with a round shape being preferred. 
     The projections from the second base face or gripping surface may include some, but not necessarily all, of the properties of the projections from the first face. That is, the projections from the second face may be semi-flexible, tapered and/or truncated. Also, the projections from the second face may have the above defined Shore hardness, and may be arranged in an overlapping and radially symmetrical fashion with respect to the center of the cleaner with the height of each of the plurality of spaced apart rods increasing from the outer edge to the center. 
     Preferably, the rods projecting from the first and second faces are of the same configuration, i.e., the opposed faces of the cleaner are the same. With this configuration, the cleaner can simply be dropped onto the ground or surface with either face in an upward position. The upper face can then serve as the cleaning surface and the lower face can serve as the gripping surface. An alternative cleaner of this configuration can be formed by gluing or otherwise attaching two cleaners as described in the first embodiment to each other with the lower surfaces of the two cleaners being aligned and joined. When formed in this manner, the interior of the base will be hollow, providing for increased flexibility, and thereby greater conformity to the shoe surfaces. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning a shoe bottom. The athletic shoe cleaner includes a first face; a second face opposed to the first face; and a plurality of spaced rods projecting outwardly from each of the first face and the second face forming a cleaning surface. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning a shoe bottom. The athletic shoe cleaner includes a first face; a second face opposed to the first face; and a plurality of spaced rods projecting outwardly from each of the first face and the second face forming a cleaning surface, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart rods is comprised of a semi-rigid material. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning a shoe bottom. The athletic shoe cleaner includes a first face; 
     a second face opposed to the first face; a plurality of spaced rods projecting outwardly from each of the first face and the second face forming a cleaning surface, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart rods is comprised of a semi-rigid material; and a carrying strap attached to the first and second faces. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front right perspective of an athletic shoe cleaner constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective of the athletic shoe cleaner shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an adhesive cavity for mounting the cleaner to a golf cart or the like; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the athletic shoe cleaner illustrating the overlapping arrangement of the cleaning rods; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the athletic shoe cleaner; 
     FIG. 5 is a cut away side view of an individual athletic shoe cleaner rod and a recess on an athletic shoe bottom; 
     FIG. 6 is perspective view of the upper surface of an alternative athletic shoe cleaner constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lower surface of the alternative cleaner of FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the cleaner of FIG. 6 along line  6 — 6 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, an athletic shoe cleaner for cleaning the bottom surface of an athletic shoe, generally designated  2 , is shown constructed according to the present invention. By “bottom,” it is meant the bottom of the shoe sole, which comes into contact with the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the athletic shoe cleaner  2  comprises a cleaning surface, generally designated  4 , and a flexible base  6  adapted to allow the cleaner to be mounted onto the fender of a golf cart. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaning surface  4  is comprised of a plurality of the spaced apart rods  8  for cleaning dirt, mud, debris, grass and other foreign objects that may become lodged on the bottom of the shoe. The spacing between the rods permits easy removal of mud, dirt, debris and grass that has been dislodged from the shoe bottom, but remains lodged between the rods  8 . It can be seen that the top side of the cavity defining lip  12  may include a plurality of indicia receiving regions  10  for displaying trademarks, logos and the like. 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of the flexible base  6  includes a cavity defining lip  12  for receiving an adhesive for fixably attaching the athletic shoe cleaner  2  to an object, such as a golf cart fender. 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, the plurality of spaced rods  8  are arranged in an overlapping, radially symmetrical fashion. Such an arrangement of the rods provides for better “cleaning action” than conventional bristle type cleaners where the bristles are arranged in straight rows and columns. 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, each rod  8  is oriented on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the flexible base  6 . As also shown in FIG. 4, the relative height of each rod  8  increases in height from the outside edge of the flexible base  6  to the center of flexible base  6 . The differences in the heights of the rods  8  allows the athletic shoe cleaner to effectively dislodge foreign objects from a shoe bottom regardless of where on the cleaning surface  4  the shoe bottom is placed. 
     As seen in FIG. 5, the top end  8   a  of each rod  8  is preferably truncated. The truncated top end  8   a , as opposed to a pointed brush bristle, maximizes the contact of the cleaning surface of each rod. By “truncated,” it is meant that the top end of each rod is flat or planar, as opposed to pointed. 
     Returning to FIG. 1, it can be seen that in the preferred embodiment, each rod  8  is tapered from the bottom end to the top end  8   a . By “tapered” it is meant that the bottom end of the rod is wider than the top end of the rod. As seen in FIG. 5, tapering allows the rod end  8   a  to fit between the ridges of the shoe bottom while also providing a more rigid rod because of the greater thickness at the bottom end of the rod. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of spaced apart rods  8  are made of a semi-rigid material such as elastomeric rubber having a Shore Hardness value of greater than or equal to 80, with 100 being preferred. Such material is rigid enough to dislodge foreign objects from a shoe bottom, but not so rigid that the dislodged foreign objects are “sprayed” by the rapid “snapping” back of the rods to their original, upright position. 
     Each rod  8  is between about one-eighth (⅛) of an inch to one and one quarter inch in length as measured from the bottom end of the rod  8  to the top end  8   a  of the rod  8 . In the most preferred embodiment, each rod  8  is between one-half inch and three-quarters of an inch in length, as measured from the bottom end of the rod  8  to the top end  8   a  of the rod  8 . It has been found that rods less than about this height do not completely clean the bottom of the shoe. Rods greater than about this height clean out may cause unwanted spraying of debris. 
     The flexible base  6  is between about four inches to twelve inches wide, with six inches being preferred. The flexible base is comprised of elastomeric rubber with a Shore Hardness value of less than or equal to about 100. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible base  6  has at least five sides, with a round shape being preferred. Such a shape allows the athletic shoe cleaner to be easily mounted on an object, such as a golf cart fender, without the need to have the athletic shoe cleaner be leveled in order to be aesthetically acceptable. 
     In operation, the athletic shoe cleaner  2  is fixably attached to an object, such as the rear fender of a golf cart, so that the plurality of spaced apart rods  8  extend outwardly on axes perpendicular to the plane of the golf cart fender. To clean the shoe bottom, the golfer places the heel of the shoe upon the plurality of spaced apart rods of the mounted golf shoe cleaner  2 . While pressing the shoe bottom against the plurality of spaced rods, the golfer scrapes or drags the shoe bottom across the top ends  8   a  of the plurality of the spaced apart rods  8 . As the shoe bottom is scraped across the top ends  8   a  of plurality of the spaced apart rods  8 , the rods  8  dislodge mud, dirt, debris, grass and any other foreign objects or materials that have adhered to the bottom of the golf shoe sole. The rods  8  are sufficiently rigid so that the dislodged objects or material are not sprayed on the golfer, the golfer&#39;s apparel, or other nearby objects and thereby soiling them. The golfer may repeat the scraping of the shoe bottom across the plurality of spaced apart rods  8  until the foreign objects and material that have adhered to the shoe bottom have been completely or nearly completely dislodged. 
     In the preferred embodiment, an athletic shoe cleaner is mounted on both the right and left fenders of a golf cart so that two golfers can simultaneously clean a shoe bottom. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the athletic shoe cleaner may be mounted on ground level stationary objects, nearby entrances to buildings and the like so that a golfer may clean the shoe bottom prior to entering the building. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, an alternative embodiment of the invention is comprised of a disc-shaped base segment  18  with opposed faces, a center and a continuous circular edge, and a plurality of spaced rods  20  extending outwardly from each face of the base segment. The opposed faces of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 are substantially identical, with either face being useable as the cleaning surface or the ripping surface. Therefore, the following description of a face will be understood to describe either of the faces. 
     Each face is comprised of a plurality of spaced rods  20  for cleaning dirt, mud, debris, grass and other foreign objects that may become lodged on the bottom of the shoe. The spacing between the rods permits easy removal of mud, dirt, debris and grass that has been dislodged from the shoe bottom, but remains lodged between the rods  20 . The plurality of spaced rods  20  are arranged in an overlapping, radially symmetrical fashion. 
     Each rod  20  is oriented on an axis perpendicular to the plane of its respective face  18 . Each face  18  is preferable circular and convex. The relative height of each rod  20  increases in height from the outside edge of flexible base  18  towards the center of the base. The top end of each rod  20  is truncated to maximize the contact of the cleaning surface of each rod, and is tapered from the bottom end to the top end to allow the distal end of the rod to fit between the ridges of the shoe bottom while also providing a more rigid rod because of the greater thickness at the bottom end of the rod. 
     Rods  20  are integrally formed at their inner ends with base  18 , with the rods and base preferably being made of a semi-rigid material such as elastomeric rubber having a Shore Hardness value of greater than or equal to 80, with 100 being preferred. Each rod  20  is between about one-eighth (⅛) of an inch to one and one quarter inch in length as measured from the base to the distal end of the rod. In the most preferred embodiment, each rod  20  is between one-half inch and three-quarters of an inch in length, as measured from the bottom end of rod  20  to the top end of the rod. 
     Carrying or attachment of the rod to a belt, golf bag, or other object, is facilitated by a continuous flexible strap  22 , such as a strap made of woven nylon having a width of from about one-quarter to one inch, and a length of from about six to about 12 inches. Strap  24  is looped through a hole  24  extending through the cleaner between the surfaces. The strap  24  may include a means (not shown)—such as a buckle or VELCRO® (hook-and-loop) closure—for adjusting the size of the loop. 
     In operation, the alternative cleaner just described is simply dropped onto the round. The user then places his or her shoe onto the surface of the cleaner that lands in the upright position and rubs the bottom of the shoe across the surface to cause flexible rods  20  to brush away dirt and other debris. The surface of the cleaner that lands against the ground is pushed against the ground by the pressure of the shoe, with the frictional contact between the downwardly projecting fingers or rods preventing movement of the cleaner during use. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. By way of example, while elastomeric rubber is the preferred material, other resilient polymers such as urethane and polyethylene could also be used. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.