Retractable golf utility device

The present invention is directed to a unique golf accessory, which in its most basic form comprises three fundamental parts; (a) a golf club/cleat brush; (b) a recoilable wire or tape and housing therefor; and (c) means for attaching the brush to the recoilable wire or tape. In preferred embodiments, the recoilable tape or wire includes measurement indications thereon, i.e., the tape or wire is marked in feet and inches (or meters and millimeters) to allow golfers to accurately determine putting distances. In addition, the housing for the recoilable tape or wire preferably includes a member suitable for attachment to a golf bag or the clothing of the golfer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I am 46 years old and have played golf since I was 12. In my 34 years of 
experience, I have witnessed many changes in the sport of golf and in 
golfing equipment. My own ability as a golfer is modest. I play a round of 
golf with a score generally in the 80's; typically, the high 80's. Beyond 
being a player, I have read extensively on the sport; its storied history, 
and I am a collector of sorts of golf clubs. In short, I have become aware 
of the evolution of the sport of golf, the evolution of golf equipment, 
and of golf accessories, over a period of three decades. 
With the evolution and advancement of today's golf clubs, they are found to 
be more expensive and more precise instruments of the game. The golf club 
grips, shafts clubs heads are all areas of intensive design improvements. 
The present invention put forth here involves the maintenance of the golf 
club face, golf shoes and measuring distances important to the game of 
golf. As a golfer, I am aware that the grooves on a golf club face or the 
"rifling" must be kept clean and free of debris to facilitate backspin 
when the club face strikes the golf ball. Technological advancements on 
the grooves or the "rifling" of golf clubs have enabled golfers to put 
more backspin on the golf ball. To effectuate this action, the club face 
must be clean and free of debris. The present invention does this by 
enabling a golfer to easy access and the ready use of a scrub brush 
without taking the time to retrieve the brush from inside the golf bag and 
then returning the brush to the inside of the golf bag after use. 
Often in golf, the question arises "who is farthest away from the hole." 
This question usually occurs on the putting surface and is important 
because the answer determines whose turn it is to play the next shot. The 
present invention advantageously includes within itself, but is not 
limited to, a tape measure-like means for measuring and/or indicating 
distances, e.g., in both feet and in inches. 
In my years as a golfer, an observer of the game of golf, and as a witness 
to the evolution and development of the equipment used in golf, I have 
found a growing need for a good golf scrub brush that can easily and 
quickly be used and either quickly put away or easily placed out of the 
way. Furthermore, the ready accessibility of a tape measuring device that 
is similarly quickly and readily available is a growing area that needs to 
be addressed. Thus, my interest in developing this invention was to 
develop a combination golf club and golf shoe cleat scrub brush that 
readily attaches either to the outside of a standard golf bag, or to the 
clothing of the golfer, in such a manner that it does not interfere with 
the normal course of play. In addition, as a most preferred embodiment, 
the device of the present invention further incorporates a tape measuring 
device to aide golfers in applying the rules of the game of golf, i.e., to 
properly determine who is "away" when on the putting surface. This device 
can also serve to clarify who is closest to the pin, in those cases where 
golfers desire to have this knowledge. 
Another device that I am aware of, but which is believed to be only 
remotely related to the present invention, is shown in U.S. Design Pat. 
No. 339,473 to Lewis et al. This patent claims "the ornamental design for 
a combined golf club brush and wire holder with clip, as shown and 
described." A review of the two drawings shown in this patent reveals that 
the so-called "wire holder" is actually a long spring of wire, akin to a 
conventional telephone cord "coil" or the like. In actual use, the wire 
coil is a very flexible spring-like material with a plastic coating on the 
outside, which allows the brush to dangle from the hook end by an 
unextended distance of about ten (10) inches, to an extended distance of 
about two (2) feet. Such a device may be suitable for attachment to a golf 
bag, but it could not conveniently be worn by a golfer during play. In 
addition, this device neither teaches nor suggests the inclusion of any 
means for providing measurement of putting distances. I hereby incorporate 
the disclosure of this patent by reference into this disclosure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a unique golf accessory, which in its 
most basic form comprises three basic parts; (a) a golf club/cleat brush; 
(b) a recoilable wire or tape and housing therefor; and (c) means for 
attaching the brush to the recoilable wire or tape. In preferred 
embodiments, the recoilable tape or wire (23) includes measurement 
indications (25) thereon, i.e., the tape or wire is marked in feet and 
inches (or meters and millimeters) to allow golfers to accurately 
determine putting distances. In addition, the housing for the recoilable 
tape or wire preferably includes a member suitable for attachment to a 
golf bag or the clothing of the golfer. 
To make the present invention, it is necessary to make a device that will 
coil and uncoil a line, wire, tape or lanyard of some type. The device is 
very similar to a common recoilable tape measure or retractable key chain, 
both of which may be readily found in any hardware store or home 
improvement department store. The coilable and recoilable action is 
typically caused by a simple spring-like mechanism located within the 
housing of these devices. Pulling or uncoiling the wire or tape from 
outside the device causes the mechanism inside the device to counter the 
uncoiling action by coiling a spring and thus causing a resisting action. 
When the end of the wire or tape outside the housing is released, the 
outside wire or tape recoils back to the spool inside in response to the 
resistance of the spring located within the device. 
Further, in a preferred embodiment, the wire or tape that extends from the 
spool of the coil and recoiling device may be, but is not limited to, 
being marked in inches and feet so as to be used as a measuring device 
when golfers need to determine distances or as an aide in otherwise 
applying the rules of the game of golf. 
Attached to the wire or tape, i.e., on the outside of the device, there is 
usually a nob or a clamp (or other like stop member) that is of sufficient 
size to accomplish two tasks; one task is to stop the wire or tape from 
retreating into the housing, thus making the wire or tape inaccessible; 
the other task is to allow the attachment of a ring or a clasp to the nob 
or clamp. Once in place, the ring or the clasp will then be used to link 
or join the golf club/golf shoe cleat scrub brush to the wire or tape and 
thus to the spring action recoil device previously described. 
The golf club/golf shoe cleat scrub brush attached to the nob should be of 
sufficient size as to accomplish said scrubbing tasks. The bristle, or the 
trim of the brush, may be made out of various materials that may be, but 
are not limited to, wire, brass, steel, nylon, horsehair or similar scrub 
brush materials. The length of the trim may be, but is not limited to, 
1/8" to 3" in length. 
The entire invention should be capable of simple attachment to the outside 
of a golf bag, by, but not limited to, for instance, an open-ended clasp 
that may easily slip over any accessory strap, towel holder equipment, 
shoulder strap or many other accessible accouterment found on a standard 
golf bag. Alternatively, the attachment may be to the belt, belt loop, or 
other clothing of the golfer, preferably in an accessible, but out of the 
way location during play. 
Preferably, at least one of (or both of) the sides of the device are flat, 
or otherwise capable of accepting graphics or the like. Most preferably, 
both the face side and the reverse side of the recoilable device are 
designed to accept, carry and to display visual or graphical information. 
This information may be, but is not limited to, company and corporate 
trademarks, logos, licensed copyrighted material, insignia, advertisement, 
golf course identification and personal identification of the user. 
Similarly, the golf club/golf shoe cleat scrub brush may carry and may 
display the same aforesaid information, e.g., on the brush handle area, or 
elsewhere.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As illustrated in the two Figures accompanying this specification, the 
present invention is a simple device, ideally made up of, very few parts, 
each of which contributes greatly to the use of the invention. As shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2 the present invention includes a golf club/cleat brush (10), 
comprising a handle (12) and a brush head (14) with bristles (16). At the 
end of the brush handle (12) there is a hole (18) which allows the brush 
(10) to be attached to the remaining parts of the invention. Brushes of 
this type are commercially available. 
As illustrated, the brush (10) is connected via handle hole (18) to a 
linking member (20) which bridges the gap between the recoil housing (22) 
and the brush (10). The recoil tape or wire (23) is contained within the 
housing (22), and the end thereof is provided with a stop member (24) 
which prevents the wire or tape from being fully recoiled into the housing 
(22), thereby allowing access to the tape or wire as required. As 
illustrated in the preferred embodiment, stop member (24) is provided with 
a hole (not shown) through which linking member (20) is connected thereto. 
Recoil wires and tapes of the type illustrated are commercially available. 
Finally, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing may be provided with a hanger 
member (26) for attachment to the golf bag or to the clothing of the 
golfer. The illustrated hanging member (26) is a metal clip, mounted to 
the rear face of the housing (22). Alternatively, other attachment 
members, such as clips, clams, hook, etc. could be employed, and the 
placement could be elsewhere on the housing, e.g., at the top, 180.degree. 
away from the stop member (24). 
Thus, as illustrated, a preferred embodiment of this invention has six main 
component parts; the brush (10), the linking member (20), the recoil 
housing (22), the recoil wire or tape (23), the stop member (24) and a 
hanger member (26). These six parts cooperate to provide golfers with a 
unique accessory device, which is both convenient and simple to use. 
The preferred six parts that make up the golf club/golf shoe cleat scrub 
brush that is attachable to the outside of a golfer's golf bag via a, but 
not limited to, spring action recoilable instrument that uncoils and 
recoils, but not limited to, a wire or string that in turn attaches to 
said scrub brush. Further, as seen in FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B, the said wire 
or tape (23) may or may not be a measuring device (25) indicating 
distances in inches and feet which is valuable information in the play and 
rules of golf. Additionally, the length of said wire or tape measure may 
be, but is not limited to, a minimum of one (1) foot and not to exceed two 
hundred (200) feet. Further, the scrub brush should be of sufficient size 
to accomplish its task of effectively scrubbing clean both golf clubs and 
golf shoe cleats. The length of the brush may be, but is not limited to, a 
minimum of two (2) inches and not to exceed three (3) feet. Further, the 
bristle or "trim" of the brush is made of, but not limited to, nylon, 
brass, horsehair or steel. 
The recoilable golf club and golf cleat scrub brush offers many advantages 
over how the task is now accomplished. Currently, a golf club and golf 
cleat brush must be stored inside a storage compartment inside a golfer's 
golf bag. These storage compartments are generally accessed by a common 
zipper. The reason for this, is a golf scrub brush large enough to 
effectively do the task of cleaning is too large and too cumbersome to fit 
into a golfer's pants pocket without causing some level of discomfort to 
the golfer during his round of play (if indeed a golfer is wearing clothes 
that has pockets, i.e. sport type shorts or some women's golfing apparel.) 
The two most common annoyances are (1) the bulge created in the pants 
pocket by the brush which can inhibit not only the golf swing but the 
putting stroke of the golfer; and (2) the scrub brush bristles commonly 
and routinely pierces through the pocket lining of the golfer's pants 
impaling the golfer's leg causing pain and irritation to the point where 
the golfer just no longer wants to carry the scrub brush in this manner. 
Each use of a scrub brush must follow the accompanying action of removing 
the scrub brush from the zippered golf bag storage compartment and 
returning said brush to said storage action following each use. This 
repeated action is eliminated through the use of the present invention due 
to the "outside" of the golf bag attachment feature of the present 
invention. More importantly, the brush, when used to scrub the golf club 
face or golf shoe cleats, the recallable action returns the brush quickly 
and effectively to the golf bag where said brush is automatically 
available for the next usage. This uncoil and recoil action after each use 
in addition to the golf scrub brush being located outside the golf bag 
reduces the time spent accomplishing the said action of scrubbing golf 
clubs and golf cleats. 
Removing debris from golf clubs and golf cleats answers problems not known 
to golfers of decades ago. First, the evolution and development of today's 
golf clubs requires a hitting surface free of grass, soil, dirt, muck, 
mud, and the growing menace of goose excrement left by increasing numbers 
of Canada Geese inhabiting golf courses, particularly in the eastern 
United States. Secondly, golf shoe cleats must be kept free of debris. 
Golf cleats increase stability and reduce the opportunity of slipping 
during the golf swing. When debris accumulates on the golf shoe cleats, 
their desired effect is reduced or negated. 
The present invention easily and effectively removes said debris and with 
the coil and recoilable action does this in a timely fashion offering both 
a time saving convenience and accessibility to a useful tool much needed 
in today's game of golf. 
Further, the present invention offers two (2) faces to facilitate 
communications, for example, written or graphic information in the form of 
advertisements, golf course affiliations, company and/or corporation 
logos, and trademark identification, as well as, personal identification 
of the user, e.g., in the listing of the user's name and home address for 
golf bag identification. 
The space available for said printed information may be, but is not limited 
to, the front and reverse of the housing of the instrument encasing the 
recoilable wire or tape. The shape of the said recoilable instrument may 
be, but is not limited to, being round, square, rectangle, triangle, 
oblong or any other shape. Upon the surface area(s) will be located 
information that may be, but not limited to, printed, embossed, engraved, 
silk-screened, adhesive labels or any other like process to communicate or 
reflect a company, corporation, service, event, trademark or logo or any 
other such succinct message. 
Further, the aforesaid scrub brush may also, but is not limited to, similar 
depictions of, but not limited to, printed, embossed, engraved, 
silk-screened, adhesive labels or any like process on the front, rear or 
anywhere on the surface of said scrub brush. Also, the shape of the 
surface of the said scrub brush may be, but is not limited to, being 
shaped to form a surface that may be, but is not limited to, smooth, 
recessed, indented, engraved, etched, stamped, porous or any other surface 
that my accommodate a message to an observer of said scrub brush. 
The size of the coilable and recoilable device may be, but is not limited 
to, a minimum of one (1) inch in diameter and up to twenty-four (24) 
inches in diameter. Similarly, the golf scrub brush may be, but is not 
limited to, one (1) inch in length and not to exceed thirty-six (36) 
inches in length. The bristles of said brush are to be, but not limited 
to, one-eighth (1/8) inch in length but not to exceed four (4) inches in 
length. Furthermore, the wire or tape contained inside the coilable and 
recoilable device may be, but is not limited to, a minimum of one (1) foot 
in length and not to exceed a maximum of two hundred (200) in length; 
preferable from about ten (10) feet to about one hundred (100) feet; and 
most preferably between about twenty five (25) feet and fifty (50) feet in 
length. The size of the housing gets larger as the length of the wire or 
tape therein increases, and thus, while longer tapes could be used within 
the scope of this invention, the housing size would make it impractical. 
The present invention has been described in detail, including the preferred 
embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that those skilled in 
the art, upon consideration of the present disclosure, may make 
modifications and/or improvements on this invention and still be within 
the scope and spirit of this invention as set forth in the following 
claims.