Abstract:
A portable golf club cleaning device including a plastic bottle designed to contain a cleaning fluid, a threaded cover for the bottle having an opening and a removable snap on lid. Brushes attached to the cover extend partially into the fluid and surround the inside of the enclosure so that a golf club placed into the hole will be scrubbed by the brushes and washed by the cleaning fluid. The brushes are limited in deflection due to the insertion of the golf club between the brushes, by mounting opposite facing pairs of continuous scrubbing of the golf club. The snap on lid will allow portability without spillage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention related generally to a device for cleaning golf clubs and more specifically to a device that is portable, compact and provides cleaning means to any size or shape club, easily and conveniently. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Every sport has it&#39;s subtleties which can help or hinder a player depending on how well a player knows, understands, and uses them to his/her advantage. One such subtlety in the game of golf is that a golf ball will travel further when hit with a club having clean grooves, all other factors being equal, of course. A golf club in use tends to acquire dirt, mud, and/or grass by virtue of its proximity and contact with the ground during play. It is desirable then, for golfers to have hand-held portable cleaners with them at all times, thus allowing players to clean their clubs during play. 
     Devices for cleaning golf clubs have been in use for a period of time, but all have common shortcomings in that they are bulky, cumbersome and not easily portable to golfers. With the existing club cleaning devices it is impractical and difficult to clean a club after every shot. The devices are simply not designed to handle “on the spot” cleaning of the clubs. Therefore, clubs are usually only cleaned when the player returns to the clubhouse or home. 
     The prior art shows examples of golf-club devices, none of which will allow the cleaning of clubs with a hand-held apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,952 issued Apr. 5, 1988 to Parchment, et al. shows a container for mounting on the rear of a golf cart containing brushes and a flap to prevent the cleaning solution from spilling. Design patents U.S. Pat. Des. No. 267,751 issued Jan. 25, 1983 to Dobyns and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 308,766 issued Jun. 26, 1990 to Van Rensburg show golf club cleaners which fail to anticipate the device disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a convenient and inexpensive means for cleaning golf clubs of all shapes and sizes that is portable and easily serviced. Accordingly these are among the objects of the invention. 
     Utilizing a plastic container that may be transported by golfers throughout the golf course during play. Both the plastic container and its cover have threaded sections allowing a secure connection by screwing the cover on. The cover of the container is also designed to have a secure snap on tight fitting lid that will not disengage from the container accidentally. Attached to the inside surface of the cover are two intertwined brushes running parallel relative to each other. The brushes are of sufficient length that when mounted by their longitudinal axis, they will extend into the cleaning fluid within the cylindrical plastic container. The cover contains one opening, circular in shape. The opening is restricted in part by the brushes whose bristles face each other and actually engage and scrub the golf club within and out of the cleaning liquid. The opposite pairs of brushes allow for separation when the golf club is inserted for cleaning. The cover also contains a flexible membrane located approximately ¼″ (6.35 mm) from the top of the cover. The flexible membrane is bisected to allow passage of golf clubs and aids in preventing the cleaning liquid from splashing out of the container. While not in use, the flexible membrane and the snap on lid form a seal to prevent spillage of cleaning liquid. The circular opening within the cover is designed to accommodate any size club. 
     The cleaning liquid, which may be simply soap and water, is easily changed by merely removing the cover by unscrewing the cover from the container and pouring out the liquid within. The brushes are attached to the cover as to form a singular piece, which can be easily cleaned or replaced if necessary. Both the brushes and flexible membrane form a barrier preventing the splashing of cleaning liquid when in use. The snap on lid and membrane ensure the prevention of spillage in the event of accidental vibration or jarring of the container. A ridge around the circumference of the container above the flexible membrane retains cleaning liquid dripping from the club after cleaning and allows this liquid to drain back into the container. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved handheld, compact, portable golf club scrubber. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf club scrubber that will clean clubs of all shapes and sizes. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf club scrubber that is convenient and economical. 
     It is still another object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf club scrubber that is of durable and reliable construction. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a new and improved golf club scrubber that is portable and may be easily attached to golf bags or carts. 
     It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved golf club scrubber that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the cleaning device as embodied in the subject invention and illustrates the main components of the device. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning device as embodies in the subject invention and illustrated the device when sealed. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2 with portions broken away to illustrate the positions and locations of the brushes, lid, flexible membrane, cover and container when the cleaning device is not in use. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line identical to line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2 which illustrates the cleaning device with a portion broken away to show the position and motion of a golf club within the container during cleaning. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 3 showing the locations and positions of the brushes, lid, flexible membrane, cover and container when the cleaning device is not in use. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG. 4 showing the locations and positions of the brushes, lid, flexible membrane, cover and container as a golf club enters the container. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the lid with portions being broken away show the interior workings of the lid. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the cover with portions being broken away to show the interior particulars of the cover. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cleaning device as embodied in the subject invention with portions being broken away to illustrate the lid in relation to the cover whereas the lid is disengaged from the cover. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning device embodied in the subject invention is generally indicated at  5 . The cleaning device  5  includes a housing that is defined by a preferably cylindrical container generally indicated at  10 . The container  10  is preferably formed of a suitable rigid plastic material and can be constructed by any suitable means to define an interior chamber generally indicated at  27  and a rigid wall  11 . Formed around the circumference in the upper portions of the container  10  is a threaded portion  18  that is designed to fit with the lid generally indicated at  13 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  5  and  8 , the cleaning device  5  also includes a cover generally indicated at  13 . The cover is preferably formed of a suitable rigid plastic material and can be constructed by any suitable means to define an exterior cylindrical wall  15 , a threaded groove  28 , four wire guides  20 , a plurality of brushes  16  and  17 , and a thin flexible membrane  21 . 
     Attached within the cover  13  are a plurality of brushes generally indicated at  16  and  17 . These brushes are mounted within the wire guides  20  and are placed in a manner in which the brushes lie both parallel and opposite of each other, forming a small gap generally indicated at  37 , through which a golf club generally indicated at  25  is to pass. The brushes  16  and  17  are constructed of a wire harness  23  and  33 , throughout which evenly spaced bristle clusters  22  are located. The brushes  16  and  17  are to be considered to be a part of  13 , thus forming a singular entity. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3,  5  and  8 , the cleaning device  5  also includes a lid generally indicated at  14 . The lid is preferably formed of a suitable rigid plastic material and can be constructed by any suitable means to define a preferably circular shaped top  35 , a smaller preferably cylindrically shaped outer wall  36  located beneath top, a preferably circular shaped plug section  24 , and a contoured inside wall  34  designed to fit firmly onto the preferably cylindrical container  10 . 
     As described above, the subject invention is designed to effectively clean golf clubs  25 . In order to provide effective cleaning the cylindrical container  11  must contain a quantity of cleaning liquid  30  illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     Prior to use of the device in a cleaning operation, a quantity of cleaning liquid  30  must lie within the container  10 . The cover  13  is then to be firmly attached to the container  10  by means of a threaded section  18  shown in FIG. 1 and a threaded groove  28  located within the cover  13  as seen in FIG.  8 . As illustrated in FIG. 3 the lid  14  fastens to cover  13  utilizing a shaped groove  34  shown in FIG. 7 designed to accommodate a lip  29  illustrated in FIG.  8 . As illustrated in FIG. 7, the lid  14  contains a circular shaped plug section  24  designed to fit within the aperture  38  of cover  13 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, prior to use in a cleaning operation the lid  14  and cover  13  form a seal whereas the plug section  24  of the lid  14  and the flexible membrane  21  found within cover  13  seal with one another. As is shown in FIG. 3, the lid  14  is secured upon the cover  13  by means of a specially designed groove  34  specifically designed to accommodate the uppermost portion and protruding lip  29  of the cover  10 . 
     Immediately prior to use of the device in a cleaning operation, the lid  14  must be removed from the cover  13  by firmly pressing down on the lid top indicated by  35  in FIG.  7  and pulling in an upwardly fashion on the lid tab indicated by  39  in FIG.  7 . The lid  14  is then lifted away from the cover  13  and is maintained connected by a connecting strap indicated by  19  in FIG.  9 . The lid  14  proximal to the cover  13  when disengaged. 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 4 and 6, in the use of the device for cleaning the face of a golf club generally indicated by  25 , a club head indicated at  32  is inserted through the cover  13 . The golf club is to be gripped by the club shaft indicated by  31  while being introduced to the cleaning device. The club head  32  passes though the cover  13  aperture  38  by extending the flexible membrane  21  along a bisecting cleft  26  which permits distention to allow the full introduction of the club head  32  into the cleaning device. 
     As further illustrated in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 , a golf club  25  is inserted through the aperture  38  of the cover and is introduced into the container  10  in a generally vertical direction between brushes  16  and  17  in the area generally indicated by  37  in FIG.  5 . The user of the device then raises and lowers the club  25  in a generally vertical motion, engaging contact between the club head  32  and brushes  16  and  17 . As the club  25  is inserted in a manner illustrated in FIG. 4 the club head  32  is immersed into the cleaning solution indicated by  30 . The club head  32  undergoes the cleaning action upon engaging the brushes  16  and  17  whereas the club head  32  presses the brush wires  23  and  33  apart and is scrubbed by the brush bristles  22 . The user moves the shaft  31  of the club  25  in a generally vertical direction, as seen in FIG.  4 . The cleaning operation actually is accomplished in a matter of seconds as the club head is moved up and down in a generally vertical motion within the container  10  as the brush members  16  and  17  scrub the club head  32  while in the cleaning solution  30  or within the interior chamber  27 . By utilizing a cleaning fluid such as water or other liquid introduced into the interior chamber  27  as the club head  32  is inserted the swirling and churning motions of the liquid lends itself to a more thorough scrubbing action of the club head. Thus, as the brush members  16  and  17  and cleaning liquid  30  engage the surfaces of the club head  32 , debris and dirt as removed from the club head are trapped within the cleaning liquid  30  and within the brushes themselves. It is therefore seen that the brush members  16  and  17  cooperate with the cleaning liquid  30  in the interior chamber  27  to thoroughly clean the club head easily within a relatively short period of time. 
     The cover  13  may be simply removed from the container  10 , preferably by unscrewing the cover  13  from the container  10 . As the brushes  16  and  17  are attached to the cover, they are also simply removed from the container with the cover, allowing access to the brushes for, example, cleaning and air drying. The cleaning fluid and all suspended dirt may be removed from the container by simply inverting the container and dumping the fluid and dirt out. Because there is no need for a drain, there is less likelihood of a drain being clogged by the suspended dirt. Also, when the brushes are removed from the container, the container&#39;s interior chamber  27  may be wiped out. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodiments in the invention, it may be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.