Abstract:
The invention relates to a brush implement for cleaning the soft spikes of a golf shoe. The brush implement has a head onto which a plurality of thermoplastic nubs are fastened, wherein the nubs are made of a thermoplastic material. An extension may be attached to the handle that is designed to be held or operated with the hand. Other features are disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to brush implements. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for cleaning the short, plastic densely spaced spikes of golf shoe cleats. Accordingly only the prior art relating thereto is discussed in detail herein. 
     Golf is a game played on a large outdoor golf course with a series of nine or eighteen holes spaced far apart, the object being to propel a small, hard, golf ball with the use of various clubs into each hole with as few strokes as possible. A golf course is comprised of fairways made of short grass, putting greens made of cropped, manicured grass, sand traps, water traps, and areas known as the rough where the golf course is left unmowed and uncultivated to create a rugged, overgrown terrain. 
     A golfer moves the golf ball about the golf course by planting the golfer&#39;s feet firmly into the course and, after rotating his or her upper torso and arms, swinging to strike the golf ball. To provide traction for the golfer during the swing irrespective of the position on the golf course that the golf ball has come to a stop, golf shoes conventionally have projecting pieces of metal attached to the underside of the shoe. These spikes extend from cleats attached to the sole of the shoe so as to implant into the surface layer of the terrain of the golf course. These metal spikes damage the golf course turf and thus present a constant problem in maintaining the grass of the course, particularly on the putting greens. 
     To counter these green-unfriendly metal spikes, a metal spike alternative movement formed in the golf industry. Golf course operators and others have sought to ban the use of metal spikes and to require the use of soft spikes on the bottom of golf shoes. For example, to promote its U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,833 on soft spiked golf shoes, Softspikes®, Inc. of Rockville, Md. has spearheaded the effort to ban metal spikes at golf courses nationwide. Today, more than 5,000 golf courses, including eighty of Golf Digest&#39;s Top One Hundred Courses, have banned metal spikes as a result of Softspikes®′ pioneering work. 
     Soft spikes are made of various types of thermoplastics or hard rubbers. To provide a gentler gripping action, soft spikes are shorter in length than conventional metal spikes but compensate for this short length by increasing the number of soft spikes per cleat. Due to the greater density of the short soft spikes, the non-metallic spikes may become plugged with imbedded grass and dirt. This imbedded grass and dirt minimizes traction and causes the golfer to lose footing. Thus, there is a need for a brush implement for cleaning the short, plastic, densely spaced spikes of a golf shoe in a convenient, quick manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a brush implement which, in a preferred form, provides a brush for cleaning the soft spikes of a golf shoe. The brush implement is a unitary structure of thermoplastic material having a head on which a plurality of thermoplastic nubs are integrally formed. The brush implement includes an integral handle which may be curved back onto itself to form a handle that is designed to be held or operated with the hand. Other embodiments and features are disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan rear view of an embodiment of a brush of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of a brush that reveals a profile of each nub; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan front view of a brush of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a first end view of a brush of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a brush of the invention as it may be hung for sale display; 
     FIG. 7 shows an extension of the brush bent into a holding strap; 
     FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the key of the brush inserted into the keyhole opening of the brush; and 
     FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of the application of the brush to soft spikes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For purposes of explanation, specific embodiments are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by one skilled in the art, from reading this disclosure, that the invention may be practiced without these details. Moreover, well-known elements, devices, process steps and the like are not set forth in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 9 to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1 is a plan rear view of an embodiment of brush  10  illustrating the various unitary components of the brush, including head  18  and strap  12 . Elongated and thin (preferably approximately ⅛ inch thick), strap  12  of FIG. 1 has a keyhole shaped opening  16  at one end, and is integrally coupled to head  18  at the other end. Head  18  may be in the shape of an oval, square, diamond, or any other shape as the shape is predominately a function of aesthetic choice as suited to a particular application. As an oval shape, preferably head  18  has one axis measuring approximately 2½ inches and the other axis measuring approximately 3 inches. 
     Head  18  provides a backing structure on which nubs  20  are disposed. Nubs  20  may be used to clean the soft spikes of athletic shoes free of mud, grass, soil, and debris. Preferably, for use as a golf shoe cleaner, there are nineteen nubs  20  displaced symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the head  18  of brush  10 . With one axis measuring 2½ inches and the other axis measuring three inches, this gives a nub density of approximately 3.8 nubs per square inch of head  18 . However, nub densities ranging from two nubs per square inch to ten nubs per square inch are preferred for use as a golf shoe cleaning brush, with as many as approximately forty nine nubs per square inch being useful for other purposes, such as for a hair brush. Also attached to head  18  is key  22 . As a T-shaped protrusion extending away from head  18  in the opposite direction of strap  12 , key  22  may serve to lock strap  12  to head  18  as discussed in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of brush  10  showing the typical profile of each nub  20 . Nubs  20  preferably taper inward as cone  26  from surface  24  of head  18  to provide rigidity near surface  24 , and flexibility as cone  26  extends away from cone shape  26  into cylindrical protrusions  28 . The rigidity aids in extending the life time of brush  10  and the flexibility aids in removing mud, grass, soil, and debris from the soft spikes without damaging the soft spikes. Preferably, the brush and thus the nubs  20  are injection molded of a selected thermoplastic material to provide sufficient rigidity and abrasion resistance for convenient holding and use, while at the same time preventing damage to the soft spikes through the use of brush  10 . Brush  10  may also be made of a thermoplastic material. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan front view of brush,  10  and FIG. 4 is a front profile view of brush  10 . As can be seen in FIGS.  2  and  3 , top surface  30  of head  18  is a smooth and flat surface. FIG. 4 shows that key  22 , like strap  12  of FIG. 1, preferably lies within the thickness of head  18 . Thus in general, except for the nubs and a region of increases flexibility of the strap, the brush is of uniform material thickness in accordance with good injection molding practice. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3, illustrating grooves  32  formed in the surfaces of strap  12  along the bottom  24  and top  30  surfaces thereof. Preferably, five grooves  32  on bottom  24  are offset from five grooves  32  on top  30  by approximately the radius of each groove  32 . The grooves form a region of increased flexibility of the strap, the function of which will be subsequently described. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of brush  10  as it may be displayed for sale. Polyethylene bag  40  forms a container  42  serving as a receptacle to enclose head  18 . To provide a location on which to place printed information, cardboard backing  44  may be attached to bag  42  by two staples  46 . To display brush  10  for sale, the product may be hung on a display hook  46  by key hole  16 . 
     In one embodiment, strap  12  is used to hold brush  10  to the hand of the user. In particular, FIG. 7 shows strap  12  being bent into the finger encircling member  51  of FIGS. 7,  8  and  9 . After removing any packaging from brush  10 , the user bends the strap, and inserts key  22  into key hole  16  as shown in FIG. 8 to lock strap  12  to key  22  on head  18 . In general the elasticity of the material will hold the key in the keyhole, though a press fit may be used if desired. 
     FIG. 9 shows the application of one embodiment of the brush to the cleaning of soft spikes on athletic shoes. Athletic shoe  60  comprises cover  62  onto which is sewn hard sole  64 . Coupled to the bottom of sole  64  are cleats  66 . Each cleat  66  is formed from base  68  onto which are molded a plurality of soft spikes  70  projecting away from sole  64 . These soft spikes  70  are made of a non-metallic material such as plastic, an example of which may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,833. Soft spikes  70  may be attached to the soles of golf shoes or any other athletic shoe where it is necessary to obtain traction on a fragile surface. 
     As seen in FIG. 9, brush  10  will have nubs  20  that extend away from brush  10 , and strap  51  encircling fingers  72  of hand  14 . Nubs  20  may be used to clean soft spikes  70  free of mud, grass, soil and other debris. To prevent damage to soft spikes  70 , nubs  20  of brush  10  are made preferably of a material similar to the soft spikes  70  themselves. 
     While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the various Figures, it should be understood that the Figures and detailed description, and the identification of certain preferred and alternate materials, are for illustration only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention or excluding still other alternatives. Many changes and modifications may be made to the invention, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the matter and scope of the invention.