Abstract:
A golf shoe spike cleaner particularly adapted for use in association with a golf cart comprises a frame for mounting at least one spike cleaner thereto, at least one spike cleaner mounted to the frame, and mounting member for mounting the spike cleaner to the golf cart. The present device may further include a plurality of spike cleaners, angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal or ground at a convenient angle for dragging a golf shoe thereacross. To prevent debris from flying into the golf cart a shield is used to deflect the debris away from the cart.

Description:
This application is a continuation of PCT/US00/02296, filed Jan. 28, 2000 and further claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 60/117,786, filed Jan. 29, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to golf equipment. More particularly, the present invention concerns golf shoe spike cleaners. Even more particularly, the present invention concerns vehicular mounted golf shoe spike cleaners. 
     PRIOR ART 
     The “spikes” of a golf shoe are elongated pointed shafts, which extend downwardly from the sole of the golf shoe. As is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the cleaning of the “spikes” of golf shoes is a necessary task which must occur during the course of playing a round of golf in order to prevent slippage and obtain the proper footing. 
     Cleaning is necessitated by grass and other debris caught between the spikes. Usually the debris is removed through brushes, tees or the like. Today, with the advent of “spikeless” shoes cleaning of the soles of the shoes bearing these spikeless spikes becomes more imperative because of the easy loss of traction, especially where the grass is damp and/or recently cut. 
     Furthermore, and as is known to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, typically, spike cleaners comprise stiff brushes, usually found at the tee box, and which are mounted onto a post thereat. Especially at public golf courses, such spike cleaning brushes are intermittently and sporadically provided around the golf course. Because of the ever Increasing growth of the use of power cars or carts by golfers, the incorporation of a spike cleaner as an accouterment for such a golf cart offers the ability to provide a spike cleaner at all times to the golfer. The benefit to the golfer is, therefore, readily apparent. As is detailed hereinafter, the present invention affords such benefit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf shoe spike cleaner particularly adapted for use in association with a golf cart and which, generally, comprises: 
     (a) a frame for mounting at least one spike cleaner, thereto, 
     (b) at least one spike cleaner mounted to the frame, and 
     (c) mounting means for mounting the spike cleaner to a golf cart. 
     The present device may further include a plurality of spike cleaners, angularly disposed with respect to the horizontal or ground at a convenient angle for dragging a golf shoe thereacross. 
     In order to prevent debris from flying into the golf cart a shield is used to deflect the debris away from the cart. 
     The various features, advantages, and other uses of the present invention will become more apparent by referring to the following detailed description and drawings. Throughout the detailed description and drawings, identical reference numbers are used to refer to the same components shown in the multiple figures, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf shoe spike cleaner in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spike cleaner shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the spike cleaner shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the spike cleaner shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spike cleaner shown in FIG. 1 with parts removed to show detail. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With more particularity, and with reference to the Drawings, and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf shoe spike cleaner in accordance herewith and, generally, denoted at  10 . 
     The spike cleaner  10  comprises a frame  12 , and a pair of spaced apart sidewalls  14  and  16 , which comprise substantially planar members. As is shown in the drawing each sidewall  14  and  16  has, respectively, an interior surface  14 ′ and  16 ′ and an exterior surface  14 ″ and  16 ″. A space  17  is defined between the interior surfaces  14 ′ and  16 ′ of the sidewalls. 
     As shown in the drawing the sidewall  16  is octagonal shaped to simulate a traffic “stop sign”. Such a configuration enhances the utility of the device hereof by providing a traffic signal to an approaching cart. Of course, other geometric configurations and patterns may be provided for the sidewall(s). For example, the sidewall  16  may be configured as a triangle to simulate a “yield sign”, rounded to simulate a golf ball or other conventional standard traffic signal or any other convenient configuration. 
     The frame  12  defines a base  18  from which the sidewalls  14  and  16  upwardly extend. The base  18  comprises a pair of spaced apart base plates  19  and  19 ′ which comprise substantially planar members. Preferably, a mounting plate  80  overlies the edges of the plates  19  and  19 ′ and is secured thereto by gluing, bonding or the like. As shown, the plate  80  spans the space  17  and is angularly inclined with respect to the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees. Superposed on the mounting plate  80  is a support plate  82  which is secured to the mounting plate  80  by any suitable means, such as fasteners  84 . 
     The sidewalls  14  and  16  are secured to the base plates  19  and  19 ′, respectively, by any convenient means, such as through threaded fasteners  21  or the like. Similarly, the frame  12  may be integrally formed as a unitary member and may be formed from any suitable material such as plastic, metal or the like. 
     Preferably, and according to this invention, a grommet, bushing, bumper or cushion member or the like, such as shown at  70 , may be interposed, respectively, between the sidewalls  14  and  16  and the base plates  19  and  19 ′. Provision of a cushion-like member  70  advantageously operates to absorb any forces or impact received by the sidewalls. 
     A spike cleaner  20  traverses substantially the width of the space  17  between the interior surfaces  14 ′ and  16 ′ of the sidewalls  14  and  16 , respectively. The spike cleaner  20  generally comprises a rigid mounting block  24  or rigid base member and a stiff brush  22  of the type well known and commercially available and which is of the type typically used for the cleaning of golf shoe spikes. The brush  22  comprises a plurality of bristles  23  which are secured to the mounting block  24  by any conventional manner and project upwardly from the block  24 . The mounting block  24  is secured to the support plate  82  by fasteners  86  or by other conventional methods. 
     The brush  22  is disposed in the space  17  and as a result of its securement to the mounting plate  80  is angularly inclined with respect to the base at an angle of about 45 degrees. The brush  22  is disposed at an angle in order to achieve a convenient angle for the golfer to drag the spikes of the shoes against the bristles  23 . The angle can be chosen for convenience, but, as noted, is preferably about 45 degrees. 
     As shown in the Drawings, and referring to FIG. 5 in particular, preferably, a pair of brushes  22  and  22 ′ are mounted in opposition to each other in the space  17  defined between the interior surfaces  14 ′ and  16 ′ of the sidewalls  14  and  16 . Each of the brushes  22  and  22 ′ is, preferably, identical. 
     In providing the pair of opposed brushes  22  and  22 ′, a mounting frame  25  is secured to and surrounds the mounting block  24 . Similarly, a mounting frame  25 ′ is secured to and surrounds the corresponding mounting block  24 ′. The mounting block  24 , mounting frame  25  and brushes  22  constitute a unit which is, thus, affixed to the support plate  82 . 
     It should be noted that the combined frame and brush may define a single replaceable assembly in lieu of the brush, alone. 
     Preferably, a shield  40  is disposed in the interior space  17  between the sidewalls  14  and  16  and projects upwardly from its connection to a U-shaped bracket  42 . As shown, the bracket  42  comprises a pair of legs  42 ′ and  42 ″ formed, respectively, as extensions of the support plates  82  and  82 ′. The shield  40  is sandwiched between the legs  42 ′ and  42 ″ and secured to the bracket  42  by any suitable means, such as shown by the fasteners  43 . As with the brushes  22  and  22 ′, the shield  40  spans or traverses the width or space between the interior surfaces  14 ′ and  16 ′ of the respective sidewalls  14  and  16 . The shield  40  projects upwardly from its securement and above the upper plane of the sidewalls  14  and  16 . 
     The shield  40  prevents any debris removed from the spikes from scattering and strewing not only into the cart to which the spike cleaner  10  is affixed but, also, confines the debris to the area about the associated brush. It is to be appreciated that the shield  40  and the frame  12  cooperate to separate the frame  12  into a pair of mirrored compartments each of which contains a brush  22  or  22 ′. These compartments confine the debris removed from the spikes. 
     Preferably and according to an important aspect of this invention, the golf spike cleaner includes means for mounting the spike cleaner  10  to a golf cart or the like. To this end, a mounting bracket  50  is provided. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment the mounting bracket  50  comprises a substantially J-shaped member having a first leg  52  having a first end  52 ′ free and a second end  52 ″, a second leg  54  normal to the second end  52 ″, and a third leg  56  parallel to but longer than the first leg  52 . The third leg  56  is secured to the exterior surface  14 ″ of the sidewall  14  by any suitable means, such as bolts, fasteners, welding or the like. 
     Preferably, the mounting bracket  50  includes a fourth leg or plate  60  which extends substantially normal to the third leg  56  to a free end  60 ′ and is parallel to the second leg  54 . Thus, a gap  62  is defined between the free ends  52 ′ and  60 ′, respectively, to the first and fourth legs  52  and  60 . This gap  62  is of sufficient width to enable the mounting bracket  50  to fit around the rear bumper of a golf cart (not shown). 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 AND 4, the first, second and fourth legs  52 ,  54  and  60  each carry at least one fastener, or the like. Herein fasteners  66 ,  67  and  68  are shown. 
     The fasteners  66 ,  67  and  68  threadably engage the body of the cart about the bumper thereof to removably mount the device  10  hereof to the golf cart. Threadable advance of the fasteners  66 ,  67  and  68  relative to their respective legs  52 ,  54  and  60  enable the mounting bracket  50  to be adjusted and tightened about the golf cart. The fasteners  66  and  68  are disposed vertically and adjust the vertical grip on the bumper. The fastener  67  is disposed horizontally to adjust, the horizontal grip on the bumper. It is to be appreciated that other bracketry may be used to mount the spike cleaner hereof to the golf card, other than the specific bracket depicted herein. 
     In use, the bracket  50  is used to affix the spike cleaner  10  to the rear bumper of the golf cart, preferably, substantially medially thereof. Thus, where there are two golf bags seated in the rear well of the golf cart, the spike cleaner hereof is disposed intermediate or between the two. Of course, if the golf cart has a front bumper the present device may be affixed thereto. When affixed to the golf cart the brushes are disposed outwardly and are approached, for cleaning spikes, laterally. By providing a pair of brushes, no awkwardness in maneuverability is needed to clean both shoes. 
     It is to be appreciated from the preceding that there has been described herein a golf shoe spike cleaner which, when mounted to a golf cart, enables a golfer to clean his or her spikes at any desired moment. It is further to be appreciated that with appropriate bracketry being associated therewith, in lieu of the mounting bracket described herein, the present device may also be used to accommodate hand pulled carts. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described fully and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.