Abstract:
A golf ball cleaner includes a housing having an open channel into which a golf ball is inserted. Bristles on both sides of the channel engage the golf ball and the golf ball rests on a supporting platform that is moved back and forth in the channel. A cleaner liquid-containing compartment is located on one side of the housing and openings in an inner planar wall on which bristles are supported allow golf ball cleaner to be applied to the golf ball as that ball is moved in the channel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of golf, and to the particular field of golf ball washing devices. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Golf is one of the most popular participant sports in America and is continuously growing in popularity. As such, the art associated with golf and golf accessories has grown at a commensurate pace. Accordingly, the golf art contains a plethora of inventions which range from extremely sophisticated machines and devices to simple devices such as golf tees and the like. However, because of the immense popularity of golf, there is always a need for further improvements and devices. 
     One such device is the golf ball cleaner. Many golf courses have golf ball cleaners located near each tee area and still other golf courses have additional golf ball cleaners at other locations as well. However, no matter how many golf ball cleaners are located throughout the golf course, a golfer may not be near a golf ball cleaner when he or she needs it. 
     Therefore, the art has included several proposals for golf ball cleaners that can be carried by the golfer. However, many of these devices are complicated. This makes these known devices difficult to operate and clean. Still further the complexity of such known devices often makes it difficult to add cleaner fluid to the device and difficult to service the device when necessary. Service is often required to clean the device so a golf ball will be properly and efficiently cleaned when desired. 
     Due to the intended use of such devices, dirt or other such materials often becomes lodged in various parts of the device. If such material is not removed, the efficiency of the device is vitiated. If the material is not removed, the device will eventually become useless. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a portable golf ball cleaner that is simple and easy to use, repair and clean. 
     Still further, insertion and removal of golf balls into and from many of the known devices are difficult and onerous tasks. This makes a golfer reluctant to use the golf ball cleaner as often as it could be used. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a portable golf ball cleaner that accommodates golf balls in an easy and efficient manner. 
     Still further, many devices presently available cannot be readily adjusted to accommodate the cleaning operation. That is, many presently available devices operate in the same manner whether a golf ball is very soiled or nearly clean. This may be inefficient if the golf ball is very soiled or wasteful of cleaner liquid if the golf ball is nearly clean. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a portable golf ball cleaner which can be adjusted according to the desired use of the device. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a portable golf ball cleaner. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable golf ball cleaner that is simple and easy to use, repair and clean. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable golf ball cleaner that accommodates golf balls in an easy and efficient manner. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable golf ball cleaner which can be adjusted according to the desired use of the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a golf ball cleaner comprising a housing having a rear wall with an inner surface, a first side wall, a second side wall, a width dimension extending between the first side wall and the second side wall, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal dimension extending between the first end and the second end; a cleaner liquid-containing compartment on the first side wall of the housing and including a planar inner wall spaced from the first side wall of the housing and extending from the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing, and bristles on the inner wall of the cleaner liquid-containing compartment; a scrubbing element on the second side wall of the housing and including a planar inner wall spaced from the second side wall of the housing and extending from the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing, and bristles on the inner wall of the scrubbing element; the bristles on the inner wall of the cleaner liquid-containing compartment being spaced apart from the bristles on the inner wall of the scrubbing element along the direction of the width dimension of the housing; a golf ball-accommodating channel defined between the bristles on the inner wall of the cleaner liquid-containing compartment and the bristles on the inner wall of the scrubbing element; a golf ball-moving element movably mounted on the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing and including a body having a proximal end and a distal end, a handle on the proximal end of the body of the golf ball-moving element, a golf ball-supporting platform on the distal end of the body of the golf ball-moving element and movable between a first location adjacent to the first end of the housing and a second location adjacent to the second end of the housing; a clip unit on the rear wall of the housing; a filling port defined into said cleaner liquid-containing compartment; and a multiplicity of openings defined through the inner wall on the cleaner liquid-containing compartment. The first side wall of the housing is flexible so it can be flexed toward the second side wall of the housing to force golf ball cleaning liquid through the openings in the inner wall of the cleaner liquid-containing compartment when the housing is squeezed. The openings are sized to keep golf ball cleaning liquid in the cleaner liquid-containing compartment unless that liquid is forced through the openings by squeezing the housing. Since most such liquid is viscous, such opening sizes are easy achieved and the device will not leak when not in use but will readily flow as much fluid to the golf ball as desired according to the amount of squeezing pressure applied to the housing. 
     The channel is open so it is easy to insert and remove a golf ball into a cleaning position and it is also easy to reach the bristles of the golf ball cleaner and the openings in the inner wall of the cleaner liquid-containing compartment. Thus, it is easy to clean a golf ball and also easy to service the golf ball cleaner when necessary. Thus, the golf ball cleaner embodying the present invention is easy to use as well as easy to maintain. The clip unit can be attached to a golf bag, golf cart, or to a golfer&#39;s belt as desired whereby it is easily accessible when desired. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf ball to cleaner embodying the teaching of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf ball cleaner of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of an inner wall of a cleaner liquid-containing compartment showing bristles on that inner wall and openings through that inner wall through which golf ball cleaning fluid passes. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     The golf ball cleaner of the present invention has an open channel into which a golf ball is placed for cleaning and which provides easy access to the golf ball as well as to the cleaning elements of the device whereby the device is easy to use as well as easy and convenient to maintain. Furthermore, the amount of cleaning fluid used in any cleaning operation is easily controlled using the golf ball cleaner of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the present invention is embodied in a golf ball cleaner  10  which comprises a housing  12  having a first end wall  14 , a second end wall  16 , and a longitudinal axis  18  extending between first end wall  14  and second end wall  16 . Housing  12  further includes a first side wall  20  having a rear end  24  and a front end  26  and a second side wall  28  having a rear end  30  and a front end  32 . The rear ends  24 ,  30  of the first and second side walls  20 ,  28  of housing  12  are co-planar with each other and the front ends  26 ,  32  of the first and second side walls  20 ,  28  of the housing  12  are also co-planar with each other. 
     Housing  12  further includes a width axis  34  extending between first side wall  20  and second side wall  28 , a rear wall  38  having an inner surface  40  and an outer surface  42  and extends between rear end  24  of first side wall  20  of housing  12  and rear end  30  of second side wall  28  of housing  12 . A thickness axis  44  extends between the rear ends  24 ,  30  of the first and second side walls  20 ,  28  and the front ends  26 ,  32  of the first and second side walls  20 ,  28 . First side wall  20  is formed of flexible material, such as rubber or the like, to be flexible to move toward second side wall  28  when force is applied to first side wall  20  in the direction of width axis  34  as indicated in FIG. 2 by arrow  46 . The flexible material will tend to resume its unflexed position after the flexing force is removed. 
     Golf ball cleaner  10  further includes a hollow cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  located adjacent to first side wall  20  of housing  12  and has a planar inner wall  52  spaced from first side wall  20  of housing  12  along width axis  34  of housing  12 . Planar inner wall  52  is located near longitudinal axis  18  of housing  12 , is located between first end wall  14  of housing  12  and second end wall  16  of housing  12 , extends from inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12  in the direction of thickness axis  44  of housing  12 , has a front end  54  located to be co-planar with co-planar front ends  26  and  32  of the first and second side walls  20 ,  28  of housing  12 , and has an outside surface  56 . Compartment  50  further includes a front wall  58  that is located to be co-planar with co-planar front ends  26  and  32  of the first side wall  20  and the second side wall  28  respectively of housing  12  and front end  54  of inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and extends from first side wall  20  of housing  12  toward second side wall  28  of housing  12  in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12 . Compartment  50  further includes a first end wall  60  that is located to be co-planar with first end wall  14  of housing  12  and extends from first side wall  20  of housing  12  toward second side wall  28  of housing  12  in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12 . Compartment  50  further includes a second end wall  62  that is spaced from first end wall  60  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  in the direction of longitudinal axis  18  of housing  12  and which is co-planar with second end wall  16  of housing  12  and extends from first side wall  20  of housing  12  toward second side wall  28  of housing  12  in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12 . 
     A chamber  66  defined between the first and second end walls  60  and  62  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and between first side wall  20  of housing  12  and inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and between inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12  and front wall  58  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50 . A port  70  is defined through first end wall  60  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and a closure cap  72  covers port  70  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  when cleaner liquid containing compartment  50  is closed. 
     As best shown in FIG. 3, a multiplicity of openings, such as opening  74 , are defined through inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and a multiplicity of bristles, such as bristle  78 , are located on outside surface  56  of inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50 . Openings  74  are sized to permit soap or other such cleaner liquid that is stored in compartment  50  to be forced through the openings when first side wall  20  is forced in direction  46 , but to retain the liquid inside compartment  50  at all other times. The exact size of the openings will not be discussed as those skilled in the pertinent art will be able to size the openings based on the teaching of the present disclosure and the exact size of the openings is not considered inventive. 
     Golf ball cleaner  10  further includes a scrubbing element  80  on second side wall  28  of housing  12  and includes a front wall  81  on front end  32  of second side wall  28  of housing  12 . Front wall  82  is co-planar with front wall  58  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and extends toward first side wall  20  of housing  12  along width axis  34  of housing  12 . Scrubbing element  80  further includes a planar inner wall  82  spaced from second side wall  28  of housing  12  along width axis  34  of housing  12 . Planar inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80  is located near longitudinal axis  18  of housing  12 , is located between first end wall  14  of housing  12  and second end wall  16  of housing  12 , extends from inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12  in the direction of thickness axis  44  of housing  12 , has a front end  84  located to be co-planar with the co-planar front ends  26  and  32  of first and second side walls  20  and  28  of housing  12 , and has an outside surface  88 . 
     Scrubbing element  80  further includes a first end wall  90  on first end  14  of housing  12  and extends co-planar with first end wall  60  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  toward first side wall  20  of housing  12  in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12  and extends toward front wall  81  of scrubbing element  80  in the direction of thickness direction  44  of housing  12  and a second end wall  92  on second end  16  of housing  12  which extends co-planar with second end wall  62  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  toward first side wall  20  of housing  12  in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12  and which extends toward front wall  82  of scrubbing element  80  in the direction of thickness direction  44  of housing  12 . 
     A multiplicity of bristles  96  are located on outside surface  88  of inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80 . Bristles  78  on inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  are spaced apart from bristles  96  on inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80 . An open channel  100  is defined between bristles  78  on inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and bristles  86  on inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80  and inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12 . Open channel  100  is open between front wall  58  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and front wall  81  of scrubbing element  80 . 
     Golf ball cleaner  10  further includes a golf ball-moving element  102  movably mounted on inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12 . Golf ball-moving element  102  is located in open channel  100  between bristles  78  on inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and bristles  96  on inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80 , and includes a body  104  slidably mounted on inner surface  40  of rear wall  38  of housing  12  and has a proximal end  106  and a distal end  108 . Distal end  108  is located in open channel  100 . A handle  110  is on proximal end  106  of body  104  of golf ball-moving element  102  and extends in width direction  34  of housing  12 . A golf ball-supporting platform  112  is on distal end  108  of body  104  of golf ball-moving element  102 . Golf ball-supporting platform  112  has a rear end  114  located near inner surface  40  of rear wall  40  of housing  12  and a front end  118  spaced from rear end  114  of golf ball-supporting platform  112  in the thickness direction of housing  12 . Golf ball-supporting platform  112  extends from inner surface  38  of rear wall  40  of housing  12  in thickness direction  44  of housing  12  and extends between bristles  78  on inner wall  52  of cleaner liquid-containing compartment  50  and bristles  96  on inner wall  82  of scrubbing element  80  in width direction  34  of housing  12 . 
     Golf ball-supporting platform  112  of golf ball-moving element  102  moves between a first location adjacent to first end  14  of housing  12  and a second location adjacent to second end  16  of housing  12  in the direction of longitudinal axis  18  of housing  12 . 
     Golf ball cleaner  10  further includes a clip unit  120  on outer surface  42  of rear wall  38  of housing  12  and includes two clip elements  122  and  124  mounted on outer surface  42  of rear wall  38  to be spaced apart from each other in the direction of width axis  34  of housing  12 . Clip elements  122  and  124  releasably attach to a golf bag, a golf club holder, or a user&#39;s belt to support golf club cleaner  10  when it is not in use. 
     In use, a golf ball, such as golf ball G, is inserted into open channel  100  and is supported on golf ball-supporting platform  112 . Handle  110  is manipulated to move the golf ball-supporting platform  112  between the first and second positions thereof and to move the golf ball against the bristles  78  and  96 . First side wall  20  is squeezed in direction  46  to trap the golf ball against supporting platform  112  as that platform moves in both directions and to force cleaner liquid out of compartment  50  through openings  74  and onto the golf ball. Once the cleaning is completed, the golf ball is simply grasped and removed from open channel  100 . As can be understood from the foregoing, the golf ball will remain in place on the supporting platform  112  due to the inward pressure applied to first wall  20  even as that supporting platform moves away from first end  14  toward second end  16 . To this end, the walls of compartment  50  are slightly flexible to permit inner wall  52  to flex inwardly toward inner wall  82  when pressure is applied to wall  20  in direction  46 . If necessary, a user can insert his or her finger into open channel  100  to hold the golf ball on the supporting platform  112  during movement of that supporting platform from first end  14  toward second end  16 , if necessary. Certainly, friction between the bristles and the golf ball will keep the golf ball in place on the supporting platform  112  as that supporting platform moves away from second end  16  toward first end  14 . Bristles  78  and  96  are formed of nylon type material and will remove dirt from a golf ball as that golf ball moves past the bristles. 
     Cleaning of golf ball cleaner  10  is easy since channel  100  is open and water or other cleaning fluid is easily applied to those bristles through channel  100 . Additional cleaner is easily added to compartment  50  via port  70  after cap  72  has been removed. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.