Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof

A device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment, such as a golf club. Furthermore, a method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of mounting a cleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, onto a piece of footwear.

2. Related Art

As recreational sports, such as golf, become increasingly popular, the more crowded golf courses may become. Therefore, to allow as many participants as possible to play a round of golf in a given day, a certain pace of play must be maintained, or sometimes increased depending on the volume of participants on the golf course. One aspect of the game that may slow the pace of play is the need to have a clean club face, free from course debris. Each time a player takes a practice swing, uses, or sets down a club, the club face may need to be cleaned. Unfortunately, a golf club cleaner may not always be at arm's length to clean the club. Rules and etiquette of the game may not allow a participant to retrieve a golf club cleaner from a distant golf club bag or golf cart. Typically, the participant must either break the rules by returning to the golf cart to use a brush, which halts play and decreases the pace of play, or attempt a golf shot with a dirty, debris-covered golf club, which usually negatively alters the accuracy, contact, and trajectory of the golf ball.

Thus, there is a need for a device and method which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies in the art for affixing a cleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, proximate a piece of footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a golf club cleaning device comprising a mounting plated coupling a footwear, the mounting plate having at least one opening therethrough, an attachment device on the mounting plate, the attachment device being receptive to a first end of a cleaning device to releasably secure the cleaning device to the mounting plate, wherein a first surface of the attachment device corresponds to a mating surface of the first end of the cleaning device and a second end of a cleaning device configured to contact a golf club, the second end protruding from the footwear.

A third aspect of the present invention provides A method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear.

The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of the invention will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1depicts an embodiment of a mounting device50. A mounting device may have, inter alia, a first end51, a second end52, a mounting plate20, an attachment device30proximate the second end52, at least one opening35located on the attachment device30, and at least one opening25located on the mounting plate20. The mounting device50may also be a brace, rack, unit, member, support, bracket, clamp, or any device that facilitates the engagement of a footwear90, which is also capable of accepting a and supporting a cleaning device40. The mounting device50may include a mounting plate20and an attachment device30, which may form the mounting device50configured to engage a footwear90. In one embodiment, the mounting device50may be one, solid, uniform, consistent member, piece, structure, component, etc., wherein the mounting plate20forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of the mounting device50, and the attachment device30also forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of the mounting device50. The mounting device50may also be hollowed out, or may be constructed by injection molding, or other various means of fabrication. In another embodiment, the mounting device50may be formed by two separate parts, for example, the attachment device30may be attached, affixed, glued, bonded, connected, screwed, bolted, welded, etc., to the mounting plate20. The shape of the mounting device50may vary, but in many embodiments, may be curvilinear, or circular, to conform to most designs of footwear90. For example, a typical footwear90may be curvilinear around the toes, or front of the footwear90. Therefore, the mounting device50may be shaped, generally, to conform to the shape of the footwear90, and in many embodiments, may be rounded, or curvilinear.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A-2C, the mounting device50may be configured to engage a piece of footwear90. Moreover, the mounting device50may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., a footwear90. The mounting device50may also be capable of engaging a footwear90, may be positioned alongside a footwear90, and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with a footwear90or a portion of a footwear90. For instance, the mounting device50may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece of footwear90through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the mounting device50may be coupled, or adhered, to a footwear90by any adhesive, specifically, by a thin, adhesive layer26, or film, placed on a top surface21of the mounting plate20. The adhesive layer26may come with a non-adhesive cover27that may be peeled away to reveal the adhesive layer26. In another embodiment, glue, epoxy, rubber cement, or any other adhesive may be applied to the mounting device50immediately prior to attachment to a footwear90. In another embodiment, the mounting device50may be fastened to the footwear90by at least one small fastener85, as shown inFIG. 3. The small fasteners85may be any fastening device, such as a nail or screw, and described as small only for the purpose and understanding that the length of the small fasteners85may be smaller than other fasteners used throughout the device100. The small fasteners85may be made of metal, composites, wood, or hard plastic; however, if the small fasteners85should be constructed of metal, they must not be exposed a distance below the footwear90to cause any damage to any surface, such as a green or fairway of a golf course, any interior surface, for example, in a clubhouse. Additionally, the small fasteners85may be driven through the mounting plate20, starting from the bottom surface22through the top surface21to secure the mounting device50to an underside of the footwear, or the sole95of the footwear90. Moreover, the length of the small fasteners85should be a length such that after engaging the sole95, they do not extend completely through the sole95and into the interior of the footwear to avoid injury to a foot, and should not extend a distance below the bottom surface22of the mounting plate20such that they contact the ground or potentially expose sharp edges. In another embodiment, the mounting device50may be both adhered to the sole95of the footwear90and secured by at least one small fastener85.FIG. 10depicts yet another embodiment, wherein the mounting device50may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear90when the footwear90is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to the device100, and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike92locations at the same point in the manufacturing process.

The mounting device50may engage a footwear90, or a portion of a footwear90, wherein a footwear90may include any style of footwear90, and may be a single shoe. For example, footwear90may include a low-top, high-top, a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a running shoe, a work boot, a combat boot, an open toed shoe, such as a sandal, and any piece of footwear90that includes a sole95, or a substantial portion of a sole95. The mounting device50, including the mounting plate20and the attachment device30, may best engage, affix to, attach to, couple with, etc., a footwear that is raised a distance above the ground surface to allow the mounting device50, in particular, the mounting plate20to fit underneath the sole95without impacting the landing of the footwear90. For example, a footwear90having spikes, such as a golf shoe, may raise the sole95of a footwear90a distance above the ground to sufficiently allow the mounting plate20to fit underneath the sole95. Any footwear90having a space between the sole95and the ground surface may best accommodate the mounting device50.

Referring back toFIG. 1, mounting plate20may be configured to engage a footwear90, in particular, an underside or sole95of a footwear. Moreover, the mounting plate20may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., a footwear90. The mounting plate20may also be capable of engaging a footwear90, may be positioned alongside a footwear90, and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with a footwear90or a portion of a footwear90. For instance, the mounting plate20may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece of footwear90through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the mounting plate20may also be a flat portion, a disc, a slab, a stratum, a planar member, or any substantially flat member capable of fitting substantially flat against a sole95of a footwear90. The mounting plate may have at least one opening25located on its surface, the at least one opening25extending the entire height of the mounting plate20, from the top surface21to the bottom surface22. The openings25may allow a spike92, such as a golf spike, to pass through the mounting plate20. For instance, before adhering, fastening, coupling, attaching, or engaging a footwear90, any spike92located on the sole95may be removed from the footwear90. After the mounting plate20is secured to a sole95, the spikes92may be re-attached through the openings25located on the mounting plate20. Those in the art will appreciate that the location of the openings25may correspond to the locations of the spikes92on the sole95, and their respective spike cavities, such that the openings25will allow access to replace the spike92onto the footwear90. Moreover, the location of the openings25may be predetermined to fit a particular design, make, or model footwear.

Additionally, the mounting plate20may have a thin film, or adhesive layer26spread across the top surface21, or spread substantially across the sop surface21to bond, adhere, secure, couple, etc., the top surface21of the mounting plate20to a portion of the sole95, or footwear90, as shown inFIG. 4. In many embodiments, a non-adhesive cover27may be placed over the adhesive layer26to avoid unintentionally bonding and/or convenience during packaging, transport, handling, etc. When the mounting plate20is ready to be secured to a portion of the sole95of the footwear90, the non-adhesive cover27may be peeled back and removed, exposing the adhesive layer26. The openings25should first be aligned with the spike cavities, and then the mounting plate20may be pressed onto a portion of the sole95of the footwear90to secure, bond, adhere, etc., it to the footwear90. After the mounting plate20is attached to the sole95, the spikes92may fit through the openings25and may be replaced. The replacement of the spikes92may assist and/or facilitate the fastening of the mounting device20to the footwear90. Furthermore, when attaching the mounting plate20to the sole95, it may be placed proximate to the edge of the footwear90, wherein the mounting plate20being located underneath the footwear90, and the attachment device30being located on the side of the footwear90, as shown inFIGS. 2A-2CIn other words, the attachment device30may be located on the side of footwear90, such that it rests against an outer surface96of the sole95, and may be accessible without removing the footwear90.

Alternatively, the mounting plate20need not have an adhesive layer26, nor be bonded or adhered by an adhesive to secure it to the sole95of a footwear90. The mounting plate20may also be secured to the sole95of footwear90using at least one small fastener85, at least one large fastener65, or a combination thereof. However, the placement and location of the mounting plate20underneath the footwear90may be the same as if adhering it using the adhesive layer26, except one or more small or large fasteners,85,65may be driven through the mounting plate20to engage the sole95of the footwear90. In one embodiment, the large fastener65may be driven through the top of the device100. In another embodiment, the large fastener65may be driven from the front of the device proximate the cleaning device40. When securing the mounting plate20to the footwear90, the fasteners65,85may have a length such that they do not extend through the sole95and extend into the interior of the footwear90, which may cause injury to a foot inside the footwear90. Furthermore, the mounting plate20may be both adhered, bonded, etc., to the sole95using the adhesive layer26and secured to the sole95by using at least one small or large fastener85,65. In both of these embodiments, the mounting plate20may be removable from the footwear90. For example, the mounting plate20may be peeled off the sole95and/or fasteners65,85removed, and be re-attached using one or more small or large fasteners85,65or additional adhesives. However, the mounting plate20may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear as a portion, or part, of the sole95when the footwear90is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to the device100, and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike92locations at the same point in the manufacturing process. Being molded or incorporated into the footwear90may prevent the mounting plate and/or mounting device50from being removable.

The mounting plate20may be curvilinear in shape, such as a circle. In many embodiments, the mounting plate20may be shaped to correspond to the curvature of the sole95. Moreover, the mounting plate20is configured to engage only a portion of the sole95of the footwear90. Because the mounting plate20is configured to engage only a portion of the sole95, the shape of the mounting plate20may vary. For instance, the end of the mounting plate20proximate the attachment device30, or proximate the second end52of the mounting device50, may be curvilinear and correspond to the curvature of the sole95. However, the end of the mounting plate20distal to the attachment device30, or proximate the first end51of the mounting device50, may also be curvilinear, but may also be any desirable shape, such as rectangular, polygonal, and the like. In one embodiment, the end of the mounting plate20distal to the attachment device30, or proximate the first end51of the mounting device50, may be designed to appropriately and efficiently conform to the design and/or model of the particular footwear90. The mounting plate20may be reversible, wherein the mounting plate20may be placed on either the left oriented footwear90or the right oriented footwear90. For example, a mounting plate may be attached to a left golf shoe and between holes, may be removed and attached to a right golf shoe without any alterations needed. Furthermore, the mounting plate20may be constructed out of material that is resilient, flexible, semi-rigid, and the like, to conform to the sole95, as well as to remain lightweight. However, the mounting plate20may also be constructed out of a rigid material. Therefore, the mounting plate20may be constructed out of, inter alia, metal, composites, hard plastic, rubber, nylon, vinyl, combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear.

Referring again toFIG. 1, an attachment device30may be located proximate the second end52of the mounting device, the attachment device30being receptive to a first end41, or base member43, of a cleaning device40to releasably secure the cleaning device40to the mounting plate20, wherein a groove surface38, or first surface, of the attachment device30corresponds to a mating surface48of the first end41of the cleaning device40. The attachment device30may also be a groove, a receptor, a clip-in device, a slide-in device, or any device capable of receiving a cleaning device40and removably securing it to the mounting plate20. The attachment device30may be a component of the mounting plate20and/or it may be a component of the mounting device50. For example, the attachment device30and the mounting plate20together may form, or represent, the mounting device50. In another example, the attachment device30may be a portion or component of the mounting plate20. In many embodiments, the attachment device30and the mounting plate20are comprised of the same material, which may be a flexible, resilient, semi-rigid, or rigid material such as, inter alia, metal, composite, hard plastic, rubber, vinyl, nylon, a combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear.

Furthermore, the attachment device30may include a back surface33, a flange34, a top surface36, at least one opening35located on the top surface36, and a groove37running horizontally therethrough. The back surface33may contact a side of the footwear90when the mounting device50is affixed to the footwear90. Located adjacent to the back surface33may be a top surface36, wherein at least one opening35may be located. The top surface36may be pitched, or sloped, to facilitate the angling of the cleaning device40. Moreover, the top surface36may be angled to allow the cleaning device40to be upwardly angled from a ground surface. The openings35located on the top surface36may accept, receive, accommodate, etc., at least one locking pin39, and may be horizontally aligned across the top surface36of the attachment device30. One or more locking pins39may be inserted into the openings35to removably secure the cleaning device40into its place within groove37. For instance, the cleaning device40may have one or more openings, or detents,45located thereon, wherein the cleaning device openings45are aligned with the attachment device openings35, and accommodate, accept, receive, etc., the at least one locking pin39which may be inserted to secure the cleaning device40. The locking pin39may or may not be needed or required to removably secure the cleaning device40, and the decision whether to utilize a locking pin39may depend on the friction coefficient of the materials used to manufacture the components. For example, a locking pin39may be useful if the cleaning device40may be likely to slide loose from groove37. The locking pin39may be any tubular object, such as a pin, needle, screw, bolt, nail, and the like. In one embodiment, more than one locking pin39may be coextensively connected together by a horizontal member, forming a “pitchfork” to lock the cleaning device40into place within the groove37in more than one of the openings35.

Located adjacent to the back surface33and distal to the top surface36may be a flange34. Flange34may create a space, channel, opening, or a place where the sole95may fit into when the mounting device50is affixed to the footwear, as shown inFIG. 3. This may allow the mounting device50to fit against the footwear90as snugly as possible to help support the cleaning device40and help prevent any undue deflection of the mounting plate20. Running horizontally through the attachment device30may be a groove37having a groove surface38, or first surface, which may correspond with a mating surface48of a first end41, or base member43, of the cleaning device40. The groove37may be an opening, a channel, a gap, a cavity, a keyway, and the like. The groove37may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile created by the groove surface38may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of the mating surface48of the cleaning device40. Furthermore, the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of the attachment device30, in particular, the groove37, may correspond to the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of the first end41, and/or base member43, of the cleaning device40. Thus, the attachment device30, and/or groove37, may accept, accommodate, receive, mate, interlock, couple, house, engage, secure, interlock, and/or accept the cleaning device30.

Referring now toFIG. 5, a cleaning device40may be operably attached to a mounting device50. Additionally, the cleaning device40may be operably attached to the attachment device30. The cleaning device40may have a first end41, a second end42, a dimple44located thereon, a base member43proximate the first end41, and a brush portion46proximate the second end42, wherein the brush portion46may be attached to the base member43. The cleaning device40may angularly protrude from a footwear90. In one embodiment, the cleaning device40may angularly protrude away from the footwear90at an angle between 0° to ° 70 with respect to a ground surface Proximate the first end41, the cleaning device40may have a mating surface48that may correspond to the groove surface38of the attachment device30, such that the mating surface48of the cleaning device40may mate, interlock, communicate, contact, and/or couple with the groove surface38to removably secure the cleaning device30to the attachment device30within the groove37. For instance, the base member43may have a mating surface48that corresponds with the groove surface38, and the base member43may be dimensioned such that it fits within the groove37to removably secure the cleaning device30into the attachment device30. The cleaning device40should be secured strongly enough and/or fit snugly enough that the cleaning device40may sustain any resistance or applied mechanical forces from the cleaning a piece of sport equipment, such as a golf club, and not unintentionally become dislodged. Furthermore, the base member43may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile of the mating surface48may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of the groove surface38of the attachment device30.

Moreover, the cleaning device may have a brush portion46attached, affixed, bonded, etc., to the base member43. For example, the brush portion46may be attached to the attachment device30by thermal molding, injection molding, an adhesive, plug ports, or any other method of securing brush-like components to another structure. The combination of the brush portion46and the base member43may comprise, generally, the cleaning device40. The brush portion46may be made of interlocked bristles, wire bristles, wire mesh, copper mesh, steel mesh, brass mesh, steel bristles, brass bristles, horse hair, synthetic, nylon, similar brush materials, and any other brush/cleaning materials that may facilitate the removal of dirt, golf course debris, mud, grass, and the like. Alternatively, the brush portion46may comprise a layer of sandpaper, sandpaper having various grit sizes, a plurality of beads, said beads being rubber, composites, hard plastic, metal, or any suitable material. The brush portion46may protrude or extend a distance from the base member43. In many embodiment, the brush portion46may protrude or extend anywhere from 0.1 to 5 centimeters (0.01 to 2 inches). Those in the art should appreciate that the length of the brush portion46may vary, and may be any length outside 0.1 to 5 cm. However, the brush portion46may be long enough to clean a piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club face, but may also be short enough to remain unobtrusive to lessen the possibility of snagging clothes or debris, and avoid becoming a tripping hazard. Furthermore, the brush portion46may cover, or substantially cover, the face of the cleaning device40, the face being located proximate the second end42, and facing away from the attachment device30.

With continued reference toFIG. 5, there may be more than one method of operably attaching the cleaning device40to the attachment device30. In one embodiment, the cleaning device40may slidably engage the mounting device50. For instance, a method of slidably engaging a cleaning device40with a mounting device50, or an attachment device30, may include positioning the cleaning device40alongside the attachment device30, aligning the mating surface48of the cleaning device40with the groove surface38, and sliding the cleaning device40through the groove37. For example, before a golfer starts a round of golf, the golfer may slide the cleaning device40into the attachment device30, which is mounted on one of his or her shoes90. Once the round is over, the golfer may remove the cleaning device40from the attachment device30and store it in his or her golf bag. Moreover, located somewhere on the cleaning device40, or located somewhere on the base member43, may be a dimple44. The dimple44may be an indentation, detent, recession, crater, depression, and the like. An object, such as a golf tee, may engage the dimple44, and help slide the cleaning device40along the groove37to facilitate the easy removal or attachment of the cleaning device40and from the attachment device30.

FIG. 6andFIG. 7depict another embodiment of a method of operably attaching the cleaning device140to the mounting device150, or attachment device130, which may include snapping or clipping the cleaning device140, in particular, the base member143, into a keyway139. The keyway139may be similar to the groove37, yet may not extend the entire horizontal distance of the attachment device130and may or may not be angled. A base member143may include at least one pressure release button149on its sides to removably secure the cleaning device140to the attachment device140. The pressure release buttons149may be resilient, such that when depressed, they may return to their original position. The keyway139may include cut-outs135that correspond to the shape and volume of the pressure release buttons149located on the base member143. Thus, the pressure release button149may be depressed, allowing the cleaning device140to enter the keyway139. Once inside the keyway139, the pressure release buttons149may spring back against the walls of the keyway139, and may eventually fit within the cut-outs135to secure the cleaning device140into the attachment device130. The cut-outs135may house, accommodate, contain, receive, accept, etc, the pressure release buttons149. Those in the art will appreciate that other securing methods may be used, such as a hook, hook and fastener, ball and dimple, locking pins, detents, and other various securing methods which may removably secure the cleaning device140to the attachment device130.

Furthermore, the cleaning device40, or simply a brush portion46may be coupled, bonded, attached, affixed, adhered, etc., to a footwear90, or a portion of a footwear90directly, as shown inFIG. 8. For example, a brush portion46may simply directly engage a portion of a footwear, such as the side, edge, or outer surface96of a sole95, without including the mounting device50. The brush portion46may be glued, bonded, or adhered with a glue, cement, epoxy, or any other means to bond a brush portion46to a footwear90.

With reference toFIGS. 1-9, in particular,FIG. 9, a method of cleaning a piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club, may include the steps of providing a cleaning device40, wherein the cleaning device40has a first end41and a second end42, coupling the first end41of the cleaning device40and an attachment device30, wherein the attachment device30and a mounting plate20form a mounting device50, wherein the mounting device50is configured to engage a footwear90. A method may further include placing a layer of adhesive on a top surface21of the mounting plate20for securing the mounting plate20to a sole95of the footwear90, securing the mounting plate20with at least one small fastener85and at least one large fastener65, positioning at least one opening25on the mounting plate20, and adjusting an angle of the cleaning device30. Moreover, the method may further include molding the mounting plate20into a sole95of a footwear90to secure the mounting plate20to the sole95of a footwear90. It should be understood that the device100may be also be an apparatus and method for cleaning more than just sports equipment. For example, the device100may be used to clean a piece of hardware, tools, such as a jack hammer or hammer drill, any work equipment, or any item that may appreciate hands-free cleaning.

Each component of device100, including, but not limited to, mounting device50, mounting plate20, attachment device30, groove37, keyway139, base member43, flange34, openings,25,35,45, and dimple44, may be fabrication and/or manufactured by the following methods: casting, extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injection molding, blow molding, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component.

Various modifications and variations of the described apparatus and method will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, outlined above, it should be understood that the invention should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.