Abstract:
A golf ball cleaner ( 1 ) comprising a fabric tube, of which each distal end comprises an opening ( 8 ) arranged to receive a golf ball or a golf club into an internal space of the cleaner, and comprising at each respective distal end portion a collar ( 2 ), each collar being of greater thickness than that portion of the tube which is intermediate of the collars.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to golf cleaners, and in particular to cleaners for cleaning golf balls and golf clubs. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For optimum performance and to a certain extent, ease of use, both the golf ball and the club (in particular the club head) need to be kept free of debris, and ideally kept dry. Whilst golf balls and club heads should be kept clean at all times this is of primary importance when on the green. Some golfers detach the towel from their bags, carry it to the green and after cleaning the ball/putter head throw or lay the towel on the ground where it can get wet and dirty. After finishing on the green the golfer needs to lift the towel and carry it back to the bag. 
         [0003]    We have devised an improved golf cleaner. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a golf cleaner comprising a fabric tube, of which each distal end comprises an opening arranged to receive a golf ball or a golf club, and comprising at each respective distal end portion a collar, each collar being of greater thickness than that portion of the tube which is intermediate of the collars. 
         [0005]    The thickness of each collar is preferably double the thickness of that portion of the fabric which is intermediate of the collars. 
         [0006]    The stiffness of each collar may be greater than the stiffness of the fabric material which is intermediate of the collars. 
         [0007]    The internal surface of the cleaner is preferably arranged to clean and dry either a golf club or a golf ball. 
         [0008]    The internal space of the cleaner is of substantially uniform width along its length. 
         [0009]    Each collar may comprise a doubled-over portion of the fabric. 
         [0010]    The separation between collars may be at least the diameter of a golf ball. 
         [0011]    The cleaner may be of resilient and flexible fabric. 
         [0012]    The inner surface of the cleaner may comprise a microfiber material. 
         [0013]    The cleaner may be formed of a continuous piece of fabric. 
         [0014]    The mouth of each of the openings may be defined by a fold in the fabric which smoothly transitions from the inner surface to the collar. 
         [0015]    Each collar may be fastened in place by way of stitching. 
         [0016]    The internal diameter of the cleaner may be less than the diameter of a golf ball. 
         [0017]    The fabric may be of a double-walled construction. 
         [0018]    Other aspects of the invention comprise any combination of the above features and/or features in the description and/or drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Various embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a golf cleaner gripped by a user, 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the cleaner of  FIG. 1  on C-C, 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of the cleaner of  FIG. 1  on A-A, 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  shows an internal side elevation of the cleaner on B-B, 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a golf ball being ejected from one end of the cleaner, 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a golf ball being ejected from an opposite end of the cleaner, 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  shows a golf club being inserted into the cleaner, and 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  shows a golf club inserted into the cleaner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a golf ball and golf club cleaner  1  which conveniently enables a user to clean both golf clubs and golf balls. 
         [0029]    The cleaner is essentially of tubular or sleeve construction and is provided with a collar  2  at each distal end thereof. The cleaner  1  comprises a doubled-walled fabric, which is of continuous form, which a gap formed between the walls, there being what may be termed an inner wall and an outer wall. 
         [0030]    Each of the collars  2  is formed by folding each portions of each end back on each other. Stitching  4  is then used to hold the collars in position. The stitching  4  is located at spaced apart locations around the periphery of each collar  2 . The collars  2  form distal end portions of the cleaner  1 , and define mouths for the open ends  8  thereof. The transition to the collars at each mouth are smooth and are shown at  9 . 
         [0031]    As can be best seen in  FIG. 2 , the collars  2  are of double the thickness of that portion  5  of the fabric which is intermediate of the collars  2 . This increase in thickness of the distal end portions results in an increase in stiffness (to flexure) of those portions as compared to the intermediate portion  5 . The length of the intermediate portion is at least that of the external diameter of a golf ball. 
         [0032]    The fabric used comprises two portions of different sub-fabrics. A first sub-fabric  11  forms the collars  2 , and the outer layer/wall of the intermediate portion  5 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, this first sub-fabric, which may be termed the outer material, comprise a construction of 30% cotton, 50% Polyester and 20% Elastane (although it will be appreciated that other constituent materials in varying ratios may be used for the outer material. The inter material, referenced  10  comprises a microfibre material and is constituted of 85% Polyester, 10% Elastane, 5% Spandex. Similarly, other constituent materials and ratios could usefully be employed. The inner material  10  is provided as the major surface area of the inner surface of the cleaner  1 . The cleaner is thus of resilient and flexible nature. 
         [0033]    At one of the distal ends of the cleaner there is provided a loop or tie  20  is provided to allow the cleaner to be detachably connected to a user&#39;s clothing, such as a belt. 
         [0034]    Use of the cleaner Twill now be described, initially with reference to the cleaning and drying of a golf ball  40 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The ball  40  is manually inserted into one end of the cleaner. This is straightforward operation of pushing the ball into the respective opening. The increased stiffness of the collar  2  facilities the process of locating the ball to the opening. The ball is then pushed into the central part of the cleaner. The width/diameter of the internal surface of the cleaner, which is provided by the material  10 , is around or slightly less than the external diameter of a golf ball. This ensures that the ball comes into contact with the material  10 . With the ball in position the user can manipulate the outer layer  11  of the cleaner so that the ball, and indeed different surface regions of the ball, come into contact with the material  10 , and thereby cleaning and drying the ball. Advantageously, the collars serve to aid retention of the ball in the cleaner so that it does not inadvertently come out at either end before the cleaning and drying process is complete. The intermediate region  5  being less stiff, and readily flexible/pliable, ensures that the used can easily manipulate the inner surface  10  against the ball whilst in the cleaner. Once the ball has been cleaned, it can then be pushed out of the cleaner, at either end of way of squeezing the cleaner. 
         [0035]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 7 and 8  which show the cleaner  1  being used to clean a golf club  50 . The head of the club  50  is first inserted into one end of the cleaner, and similarly to the cleaning of a golf ball, the user can manipulate the cleaner so that the inner material  10  comes into contact with the head. Once the head has been cleaned, the cleaner  1  can then be moved along and against the shaft  50   b  of the club, and thereby cleaning and drying. Therefore, advantageously, the whole golf club can be cleaned with the cleaner. 
         [0036]    The cleaner  1  can conveniently be made of lightweight material, and is of small dimensions, so that it can easily be carried in player&#39;s pocket- which is especially useful when the player is away from their golf bag. 
         [0037]    During the cleaning process, the collars ensure that the user&#39;s fingers remain in the intermediate region  5 . Stepped regions  12  serve to perform this locating function.