Abstract:
Cleaning implements for golfers comprise towels and gloves including abrasive portions for removal of dirt, grass, grass stains, and scuff marks from golf balls, golf clubs, and other golfing equipment. There is disclosed a towel which may include a pocket portion provided with adjacent, but slightly spaced portions or strips of an abrasive material disposable in overlying relationship for use in removing soil from balls and clubs. The towel comprises an attaching mechanism for the purpose of securing the towel to a golf cart or golf bag. The glove or towel according to the disclosure may include portions adapted for treatment, wetting, or impregnation with cleaning or polishing fluids or compounds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Dirt, soil, grass, grass stains, and scuffmarks inevitably accumulate on golf balls, golf clubs, and other equipment during the game of golf. The accumulation of this debris to golf equipment such as the ball or club head can affect the performance of this equipment and thus the score during play. One example of this problem is when debris on a golf ball or the golf club head interferes with the golf stroke. Typically, this problem requires the use of a ball washer, golf towels, or brushes or the combination of all three to clean the soiled area. 
   The use of such prior cleaning devices can create a number of problems. For instance, a ball washer may not be readily available to the golfer on the fairway. Also, there is a problem with removal of moisture on the golf ball. A ball washer leaves the golf ball wet and thus apt to be miss hit. Typically, this problem requires a golfer to also carry a towel. A ball washer also lacks a scrubbing technique often needed for tough marks, embedded or sticking debris. A golf towel may not always sufficiently clean embedded or hard-sticking debris, and therefore requires additional cleaning equipment to adequately clean the ball, club head or other equipment. Brushes by themselves are not capable of drying and absorbing liquid from a golf ball and also take up excess room in a golf bag. 
   None of the prior golf cleaning devices satisfactorily provide the ease of a readily available golf implement with abrasive cleaning and drying capabilities. It is therefore desirable to provide such a device that will allow golf equipment to be easily cleaned of all debris in a convenient manner. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention accomplishes those needs by providing easily carried or transported cleaning implements for effectively cleaning and removing dirt, soil, grass, grass stains, and scuffmarks from golf balls, golf clubs, and other golf equipment. The present invention discloses several embodiments of implements such as towels and gloves that will clean golf balls, golf clubs, and other golfing equipment in a superior manner. 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a towel that includes a pocket portion provided with adjacent, but slightly spaced portions or strips of an abrasive material. This abrasive material enables soil, grass, mud, and other debris to be removed from balls, club heads or other equipment. The pocket portion of the towel may be formed in the towel by the use of permanent fasteners such as stitching, rivets, snaps, grommets or other known fasteners. Alternatively, the pocket may be formed in the towel by selectively disengageable fasteners such as snap fasteners, or cooperating hook and loop fasteners. Selective disengagement of such fasteners allows opening of the pocket for washing of the towel. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pockets include spaced abrasive portions or strips. The spacing of the abrasive portions or strips facilitates over-folding of the abrasive portions for disposal on opposite side portions of a ball or club. The abrasive may comprise non-metallic scrubbing pad material, hook and loop fastener members of the type sold under the trademark Velcro, abrasive plastic materials, or even artificial turf portions. 
   In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the towel is used as an advertising or promotional item. The pocket portion of the towel or other location on the towel provides a location dimensioned and disposed for the display of a logo, golfer&#39;s name, or other ornamental or promotional indicia. This embodiment may be sold, given away or otherwise distributed as an advertising medium or as a promotional item. 
   Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an attachment mechanism. The attaching mechanism on the towel enables the towel to be secured to a golf cart, golf bag or even a belt. The attaching mechanism may be a string, cord, snap, or chain or any other type of suitable attachment device. The hole in the towel for the attaching mechanism may be reinforced by stitching or through the use of a plastic or metal grommet, or may alternatively be formed as a slit or slot. 
   Another preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a glove instead of a towel. The glove may be used primarily by a caddy, but may also be employed by a golfer. The glove of this embodiment includes a plurality of abrasive portions for cleaning golf balls, golf clubs, and other golfing equipment. Preferably the abrasive portions are disposed on a palm portion of the glove and on inner surfaces of finger and thumb portions of the glove. 
   In one alternative embodiment, the glove may be provided with a plurality of abrasive portions formed from different materials having varying degrees of roughness or coarseness graded from an harsh scrubbing material to a soft or smooth polishing material. 
   In another embodiment the golf cleaning implement, such as a towel or glove, may include portions for treatment, wetting, or impregnation with cleaning or polishing fluids or compounds. 
   These and other features of the present invention are evident from the drawings along with the detailed description of preferred embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an inner face of a pocket portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of an inner face of a pocket portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention provides implements for the cleaning of golf balls, golf clubs, additional golfing equipment, as well as for use with other sports equipment and non-sports equipment. It is to be expressly understood that this exemplary embodiment is provided for descriptive purposes only and is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the present inventive concept. Other embodiments, and variations of the present invention are considered within the present inventive concept as set forth of the claims herein. For explanatory purposes only, the preferred embodiments are discussed primarily for use with golf balls and golf clubs. It is to be expressly understood that the present invention may be used with other types of equipment, both sports and non-sports as well. 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 . Cleaning implement  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes a towel  12  preferably formed from an absorbent flexible material, such as terry cloth. It is to be expressly understood that other types of material may be used as well, both absorbent and non-absorbent. The towel  12  has a rectangular configuration with respective top and bottom edges  14  and  16  extending in spaced parallel relation and connected by respective elongated side edges  18  and  20 . The quadrilateral polygon comprising the towel  12  has top corner portions  21  and  23  and bottom corner portions  25  and  27 . It is to be expressly understood that other shapes can be utilized under the present invention as well. 
   A hole  22  is formed through the towel  12  adjacent the top corner portion  21 . This hole  22  receives an attaching mechanism  24  there through for the purpose of securing the towel  12  to a golf cart, golf bag, belt, or other suitable article. The attaching mechanism  24  can be a string, cord, snap, chain or other suitable attaching device. The hole  22  may be reinforced by stitching or through the use of a plastic or metal grommet, or may alternatively be formed as a slit or slot instead of the illustrated circular aperture. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pocket  30  attached to the towel  12  adjacent the bottom corner portion  27  is secured to the towel  12  by perpendicular seam portions  38  and  40 , leaving an arcuate open top edge  32 . Additional seams  41 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  define an outer periphery of securement of three abrasive strips  60 ,  70 , and  80 , in a manner to be described in more detail subsequently. The seams  41 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  extend through the pocket  30  forming an exterior badge-shaped region  51  having an apex  50 . The badge-shaped region  51  is adapted for the display of identifying or promotional indicia that may be affixed in a variety of different manners in accordance with the intended scope and content of the present invention. For example, such indicia may be directly embossed, painted, printed, or embroidered onto the area  51 . Alternatively, such indicia may be formed on a separate element and provided with suitable fasteners for detachable securement, such as cooperating snap fasteners, or cooperating hook and loop type fasteners of the type sold under the trademark Velcro. It is also to be expressly understood that the identifying, promotional or advertising region may be formed on other locations on the towel. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , an inner face of the pocket  30  is defined by substantially perpendicular side edge portions  34  and  36  connected by an arcuate open top edge  32 . Three abrasive strips or regions  60 ,  70 , and  80  are secured to the inner face of the pocket  30  in a slightly spaced relation by the seams  41 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48 . The first abrasive strip or region  60  includes longitudinal edge portions  61  and  62  connected at opposite ends by end edge portions  63  and  64 . A second abrasive strip or region  70  includes longitudinal edge portions  71  and  72  connected at opposite spaced ends by end edge portions  73  and  74 . A third triangular shaped abrasive strip or region  80  includes substantially perpendicular sides  82  and  83  connected by an edge portion  81 . The abrasive strip or region  60  is preferably secured by stitching to the pocket  30  along the edges  61 ,  63 , and  64 , leaving the longitudinal side edge  62  open for the potential insertion or storage of items or material in the pocket formed between the inner surface of the pocket  30  and the abrasive strip or region  60 . The abrasive strip or region  70  is preferably stitched only along edges  73  and  74  to allow insertion of items or materials underneath the strip or region  70 . The abrasive strip or region  80  is preferably secured by stitching along the edges  82  and  83 , leaving the edge portion  81  open for the potential insertion of items or materials. 
   The abrasive strips or regions  60 ,  70 , and  80  are preferably formed from strip s of hook type fastening members of the type sold under the trademark Velcro. Alternatively the abrasive strips or regions may be formed from a nonmetallic material of the type commonly employed for forming cleaning or scouring pads. Another material for creating the abrasive regions includes artificial turf. It is to be expressly understood that other abrasive materials may be used as well, particularly those that will scour the ball, club head or other equipment without permanently scarring or scratching the surface being cleaned. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention either the pocket face  30  or the strips or regions  60 ,  70 , and  80  may be treated, saturated, or impregnated with a cleaning, scouring, or polishing solution or material. In this preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the pocket  30  in the region underlying the strips  60 ,  70 , and  80  may be provided with a waterproof liner to prevent cleaning solution disposed on or beneath the strips  60 ,  70 , and  80  from wetting an outer surface of the pocket  30 . The pocket  30  is preferably formed from the same material as the towel  12 . 
   In use, a golfer or caddy inserts a golf ball, golf club head, or other item through the open top portion  32  of the pocket  30  into contact with one or more of the abrasive strips or regions  60 ,  70 , and  80 . The flexible material of the towel  12  and pocket  30 , in conjunction with the slight spacing of the strips  68 ,  70 , and  80 , allows the pocket  30  to be over folded such that the abrasive strips  68 ,  70 , and  80  may be disposed in at least partially surrounding relation with a club head or ball to be cleaned. 
   In connection with the alternative embodiment in which cleaning fluid, or cleaning solution, or polishing compound is provided in the region of the pocket  30  disposed beneath one or more of the strips  60 ,  70 , and  80 , a user disposes the ball or club head beneath one or more of the strip  60 ,  70 , and  80  to transfer cleaning or polishing solution to the ball or club head. 
   Additionally, the equipment need not be limited to golf equipment. The cleaning implement could be used for various sports equipment, such as croquet or polo. 
   In one alternative embodiment of the present invention, the abrasive strips or regions  60 ,  70 , and  80  may be formed with different materials having different textures to provide differing degrees of surface roughness or coarseness. For example, one of the strips  60 ,  70 , or  80  may be formed from hook type fastening material, with one or more of the other strips formed from a nonmetallic scouring pad material. 
   For cleaning purposes, a user may turn the pocket  30  inside out, remove the attaching mechanism  24 , and wash the entire cleaning implement in a washing machine. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate another preferred embodiment of the present invention. A golf cleaning implement  10 ′ is illustrated that is similar in most respects to the previously described embodiment  10  discussed above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The same reference numbers have been used to designate common features of the cleaning implements  10  and  10 ′, and the descriptions of such similar features will not be repeated. The embodiment  10 ′ includes a pocket portion  30 ′ having a somewhat different construction from the pocket  30  illustrated and discussed previously with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the alternative pocket  30 ′ is sewn to the towel  12  by a seam  40  extending along the edge  36  of the pocket  30 ′. The perpendicular edge  34  and upper arcuate edge  32  are preferably not sewn or otherwise permanently affixed to the towel  12 , allowing the flap of the pocket  30 ′ to be folded to a substantially open configuration. Cooperating fasteners  90  are preferably provided on the towel  12  and the pocket  30 ′ in a region proximate the intersection of the pocket  30 ′ edges  34  and  32 . The cooperating fasteners  90  allow the pocket  30 ′ to be selectively secured in the closed configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The cooperating fasteners  90  may take a variety of conventional forms such as snap fasteners or cooperating hook and loop fasteners of the type sold under the trademark Velcro. For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pocket  30 ′ may be provided with a small strip of hook type fastening material adapted for selective engagement with a complementary strip of loop type fastening material (not shown) sewn or adhesively secured on to the towel  12 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , the pocket  30 ′ includes a first abrasive strip or cleaning member  100  having a generally semi-circular shape and including an arcuate edge  102  and a straight edge  104 . A sewn seam  105  extends just within the periphery of the abrasive member or portion  100 , affixing the same to the inner face of the pocket  30 ′. A second abrasive member or portion  106  includes diverging straight edge portions  110  and  112  intersecting at an apex  108 . Opposite end portions of the edges  110  and  112  terminate at respective intersections with a pair of spaced, parallel, symmetrically disposed side edges  114  and  116  which are, in turn, connected by a straight edge  118  disposed in spaced parallel relation with the edge  104  of the first abrasive member or portion  100 . A sewn seam  120  extends just within the periphery of the second abrasive member  106 , substantially permanently securing the member or portion  106  to the inner face of the pocket  30 ′. The slight spacing of the first  100  and second  106  abrasive members or portions facilitates over folding and manual manipulation of the abrasive portions  100  and  106  in engagement with a golf ball, golf club head, or other golf related equipment. 
   In another preferred embodiment, an indicia display region  51 ′ is preferably provided to allow the display of endorsement, promotional, or identifying indicia on the exterior face of the pocket  30 ′ as shown in  FIG. 3 . The indicia may be imprinted, embossed, sewn, or removably attached by cooperating fastening members such as hook and loop fastener members of the type sold under the trademark Velcro. Other types of fastening mechanisms may be used as well. 
   Another alternative preferred embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Cleaning implement  200  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a glove having a palm region  202  connected in a conventional manner to finger regions  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and a thumb region  212 . A bottom edge of the glove  200  terminates in a wrist opening  214  provided with a cuff  216 . The glove  200  may be formed from leather, fabric, or synthetic materials, in a manner similar to a conventional golf glove. Alternatively, the cleaning implement glove  200  according to the present invention may be formed by retrofitting a conventional golf glove with abrasive cleaning and/or polishing portions in a manner to be described subsequently. 
   In another preferred embodiment, a generally conventional glove is provided with a plurality of scrubbing, cleaning, and or polishing members or portions to  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228 , disposed, as illustrated, respectively, on palm, finger, and thumb portions of the glove  200 . In accordance with the present invention, the regions  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  may be formed from different materials so as to provide materials having different surface textures to facilitate different types or degrees of cleaning and/or polishing. The regions or portions may be formed from materials including nonmetallic scouring pad material, hook or loop type fastener material, and cloth or felt cleaning pads or cloths. 
   Another embodiment of the above described implement provides one or more of the regions  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  may be treated or impregnated with a cleaning or polishing compound or solution. The cleaning regions or portions may be sewn or adhesively secured to the bottom or palm face of the glove  200 . Alternatively, the cleaning regions or portions may be detachably secured to the glove  200  by cooperating fasteners such as snaps or hook and loop type fasteners of the type sold under the trademark Velcro or other types of fasteners. This alternative construction allows selective replacement of the portions to change the surface texture, for cleaning, or to replace a worn component. Only one or two of the abrasive scrubbing or cleaning portions  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  224 ,  226 , and  228  may be employed, in accordance with the scope of the present invention. For example, the cleaning implement glove  200  may omit the regions or portions  220 ,  222 , and  224 , if desired. 
   The cleaning implement glove  200  as described above is preferably worn by a caddy to conveniently and readily maintain golf balls and golf clubs by cleaning, scrubbing, polishing, and thus ready for immediate use. 
   The present inventive concept, as set forth in the accompanying claims, covers not only the described embodiments but other embodiments, variations and configurations of the cleaning implement as stated in the accompanying claims.