Patent Publication Number: US-6908247-B2

Title: Golf ball cleaning apparatus

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
   This application claims benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/472,997 filed May 23, 2003 entitled “Golf Ball Cleaning Apparatus.” 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a portable golf ball cleaning device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a belt worn container housing a sponge that is specifically adapted to clean the surface of a golf ball. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
   The use of golf ball cleaners is known in the art. Such cleaners typically include a housing retaining a volume of fluid. The housing is mounted upon a post embedded within the ground. These golf ball cleaning devices are positioned at various locations around a golf course to allow users to clean their golf balls during a game of golf. However, such cleaning devices suffer a draw back insomuch as they are stationary. Consequently, users can wash their golf balls only at particular times and locations throughout the course of a golf game. As any golfer knows, golf balls become dirty and soiled at various times during a round of golf—not just when a player has access to a ball washer. To remedy this, portable golf ball washers have been developed. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,232 to Frey discloses a portable ball washer that includes a fluid reservoir within a sealed housing and a concave portion that contains a moisture retaining paid. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,464 to Shioda discloses a golf ball cleaning device including a ball cleaning pad of a water absorbent material and a waterproof backing that is attachable to a golfer and that can be used for wiping a ball. 
   Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,066 to Gomez discloses a golf ball cleaning apparatus that includes a water tight container with a hinged lid that stores a cleaning implement. 
   Despite the presence of these designs, there exists a need in the art for a portable golf ball washer that allows users to clean their golf balls in an easy and effective manner. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable golf ball washer that stores a volume of cleaning fluid in a spill-proof manner and that is not susceptible to leaking. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a user manipulable cleaning implement that can be used without a user getting cleaning fluid on their hands. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   For the purpose of summarizing this invention, the invention comprises a golf ball cleaning apparatus that is adapted for use while playing a game of golf. The apparatus includes a rectangular container within which a supply of cleaning fluid can be stored. A drawer housing a sponge is adapted to slide in and out of the container. The drawer includes a lower surface that is moistened with a commercial cleaning fluid. A serrated edge can also be included to remove any spots. The apparatus further includes golf tee holders on one side for receiving and storing extra golf tees. On the opposite side, a towel holder can be included. A handle is attached to the upper surface of the drawer or tray. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the golf ball cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view of the golf ball cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is another side view of the cleaning apparatus with the cleaning tray removed. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of the cleaning apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the cleaning apparatus with the tray removed. 
       FIG. 8  is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention relates to a golf ball cleaning apparatus that is meant to be worn on the belt of the user during a round of golf. The apparatus allows a golfer to clean a golf ball without having to locate a stationary golf ball washer. 
   The major component of the cleaning apparatus  20  is the container  22 . The container is principally formed from an impact resistant plastic. The container  22  is water tight and contains a small amount of a cleaning fluid, such as soap and water. The external surface of the container can be colored or it can otherwise bear indicia such as a logo  24 . In this manner, the apparatus  20  of the present invention can be used as a marketing device. On the opposite side of container  22  an integrally molded loop  32  is formed. This loop can be used to retain a towel holder  34 . 
   The opened upper end  36  of container  22  is adapted to receive tray  42 . Tray  42  is retained within the container insomuch as the lower end of the container  38  is closed. Tray  42  is adapted to hold a sponge  44 . The tray further includes a handle  46  to facilitate placement of tray  42  within container  22 . A container lid  40  is also included upon the tray  42 . The lid  40  seals and is flush with the opened upper end  36  of the container  22  when the tray  42  is in a closed orientation. In the preferred embodiment, the handle  46  is curved to facilitate placement of a user&#39;s thumb and forefinger. The side edges  48  of tray  42  are curved and operate to retain sponge  44  within tray  42 , but nonetheless permit sponge  44  to be removed when needed. The tray is open-faced, thereby allowing the supplied fluid to soak into the sponge  44  when tray  42  is enclosed within container  22 . 
   The lower edge of the tray  42  is depicted in  FIG. 4 . Specifically, the lower edge of tray  42  has a block of cleaning material  52 , such as a hardened abrasive material, secured thereto. Alternatively, this may be an additional sponge-like material containing a supply of cleaning fluid. It is also within the scope of the present invention to employ a tray without an additional cleaning material. In operation, the tray  42  can be removed from container  22 , and used as an implement to apply cleaning material  52  to the surface of a ball. Thereafter, the ball can be wiped with the surface of sponge  44 . In an additional embodiment, a serrated edge  54  is included to remove any build-up that may have accumulated on the golf ball. 
   Finally, the entire apparatus  20  is adapted to be worn on the belt by the user by way of a belt loop or clip  56 . This belt loop  56  is preferably spring biased to the closed orientation and can be pivoted to an open position and inserted over a user&#39;s belt. 
   An alternative embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . This embodiment is the same as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–7 , except that it includes tee holders  62  that are integrally formed with the container. The tee holders hold one or more golf tees  64  in a friction fit manner. 
   The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.