Patent Publication Number: US-6216305-B1

Title: Portable apparatus for washing golf accessories

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 USC §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/094,725 filed Jul. 30, 1998, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/098,898 filed Sep. 2, 1998, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/115,495 filed Jan. 11, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for conveniently washing golfing equipment, such as golf club heads and golf balls. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable apparatus of the type described, which is readily attachable to a golf bag for use in the field. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     Many devices are known for washing golf club equipment. Examples of the previously known devices may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,011,619 (Michalak), U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,536 (Hartz), U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,299 (Duda), U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,974 (Stoltzman), U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,457 (Carnahan), U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,968 (Stoltzman), U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,358 (Wyckoff), U.S. Pat. No. 4,89,413 (Trobiani), U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,063 (Jordan), U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,136 (Flanders), U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,486 (Persic), U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,455 (Crossley), U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,311 (Crossley), U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,225 (Ellis), U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,586 (Dorrich), U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,567 (Danyluk), U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,232 (Frey), U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,082 (Garske), U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,330 (Nelson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,379 (Hovnanian), U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,122 (Bogle), U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,086 (Billek). A washing device for golf club heads is also disclosed in applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,840. 
     Although the known devices are generally effective for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for a highly versatile, yet structurally simple, durable and easy to use washing apparatus for golfing equipment, which is unobtrusively attachable to a golf bag to allow convenient washing of the equipment by golfers while golfing on a golf course. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided washing apparatus for golfers, comprising: a flexible container for containing washing liquid and for receiving objects to be washed therein; handle means operatively connected to the container for manipulating the container; and support means for suspending the container and the handle means from a golf bag and for restricting movement of the container relative to the golf bag when suspended therefrom. 
     With such structure according to the invention, the flexible container may be of a sufficiently large sized to easily accommodate even the club head of a driver for washing purposes, yet it is simply suspended from the golf bag and is otherwise non-obtrusive when not being used because of its restricted movement relative to the bag and because the flexible container can assume a narrow profile when not in use. 
     Preferably, the container includes an access opening defined therein through which objects such as golf club heads may be inserted, closure means for selectively sealing the opening, at least one flap extending away from the closure means, abrasive means disposed within the container for scrubbing against objects inserted into the container during a washing operation, and baffling means for baffling movement of the washing liquid toward the opening after the liquid is placed in the container; and the handle means preferably includes a handle operatively connected to the flap. 
     Also preferably, the support means includes a clip member for suspending the handle means from a rim of a golf bag and which normally urges the container toward the golf bag when suspended therefrom to restrict movement of the container, while the support means may optionally include a pouch in which the container is disposed and which operatively cooperates with the clip member to restrict movement of the container. When the pouch is used, the handle means is also operatively connected to the pouch. 
     Still further, the several components of the washing apparatus are preferably separable from each other for cleaning, storage, selective replacement, etc. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for washing golf accessories, comprising: a pouch member defining an internal space therein, the pouch member having first and second opposed flaps thereon, each flap comprising a hollow sleeve; first and second support braces, each support brace having an arm which fits into a sleeve of the pouch member and a loop integrally attached to the arm and defining an aperture therein; and a sealable bag for holding a washing solution therein, the bag fitting into said internal space in the pouch member. 
     With the apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the overall apparatus is economical to produce and simple to use. For example, the sealable bag may be constructed as an inexpensive, disposable plastic bag because it is supported in the pouch, while the braces function as simple handles for pouch and may be selectively removed from the pouch for replacement or for cleaning purposes. 
     According to the second aspect of the invention, the sealable bag also preferably includes a pair of opposed flaps which are respectively connected to the first and second flaps of the pouch such that the pouch and bag flaps are movable together; and the apparatus preferably further comprising a support hook member for attaching to a golf bag and for suspending the braces, pouch and bag therefrom, and means disposed within the bag for scrubbing a golf accessory 
     As may be understood from the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable apparatus for washing golfing equipment, including club heads and golf balls, which may be conveniently and efficiently used by golfers during the course of a game for cleaning their equipment, and which is also simple in structure, compact in size and unobtrusively supported on a golf bag. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide such a washing apparatus comprising a few components which may be readily assembled together for use and readily disassembled for storage, cleaning, etc. 
     Yet another object of the invention to provide such an apparatus which is economical to produce, and having readily separable components, including a main container component, that may be individually replaced as desired or necessary. 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, describes the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a golf accessory washing apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a mounting member according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pair of brace members and a pair of support cords in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention, with an optional towel shown in phantom; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an accessory golf ball bracket for use in the assembly according to the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an alternative modified version of a pouch member which is a component of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pouch member of FIG. 1, shown from the opposite direction as the view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is an optional brush board for use with the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternative modified pouch member usable as a part of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of an alternative modified brace member for use together with the pouch member of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a detail perspective view of an alternative variant of the pouch member of FIG. 1, shown partially broken away; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention, which eliminates the pouch member of FIG. 1, shown in a position with the flaps open; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11, with the right side flap omitted for purposes of illustration, and showing an internal baffling device in phantom; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIGS. 11-12; 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a wire section, showing the completed configuration of an optional mounting bracket usable with the apparatus of FIG. 1 in phantom, which optional bracket may be formed from the wire section of FIG. 14; and 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of the optional mounting bracket. 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of a further modified version of the optional mounting bracket. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3,  6  and  7  of the drawings, an apparatus for washing golf accessories is shown generally at  10 . The apparatus  10  is an assembly which includes an (optional) external pouch  12 , a flexible, sealable, water impermeable internal bag  14  and a pair of identical support braces or handles  16 , each of which will be described in further detail hereinbelow. The apparatus  10  also preferably includes a hook member  18  (FIG. 2) for attaching to a golf bag (not shown), cords  58 ,  60  (FIG. 3) which are joined to the braces  16  for use together therewith, and abrasive means (FIG. 7) such as a scrubbing brush  62 . Collectively, the braces  16  and cords  58 ,  60  are a handle means of the invention; while collectively the hook member  18  and the external pouch are a support means of the invention. 
     The apparatus  10  is usable, in particular, to wash golf club heads and golf balls while a user is out in the field, such as on a golf course. Optionally, the apparatus may include an optional golf ball bracket  80  (FIG. 4) for placement in the bag  14  to support a golf ball therein such that the ball may be easily handled while being washed in the bag  14 . 
     The External Pouch 
     The external pouch  12  is a generally oblong rectangular member, formed of a durable fabric such as woven nylon or the like, which is sewn, sealed or otherwise closed around three sides thereof, and which is open at the top end  20  thereof. The pouch  12  defines an internal space  22  therein for receiving the bag  14 . The pouch  12  includes two opposed flaps  24 ,  26  extending upwardly thereon at the top end  20  thereof. Each of the flaps  24 ,  26  is turned over and attached to itself at the outermost extension thereof to form sleeves  28 ,  30 . The sleeves  28 ,  30  define internal channels  29 ,  31 , respectively, which are provided to each receive a portion of a support brace  16  therethrough. Optionally, as shown in the modified embodiment of FIG. 5, a pouch  12   a  may be provided with foldable gussets  25  along the sides thereof for greater capacity. 
     The pouch  12  also preferably includes means for connecting the pouch flaps  24 ,  26  to corresponding flaps  36 ,  38  of the bag  14 . Such connecting means may comprise cloth strips  23  respectively attached to the inside of the flaps  24 ,  26  parallel to the sleeves  28 ,  30 , as shown in FIG. 1, and safety pins (not shown) for joining the bag flaps  36 ,  38  to the pouch flaps  24 ,  26  such that the flaps may be manipulated together. Alternatively, a strip  23   a  with hook-and-loop fastener material  27  thereon, as shown in FIG. 10, may be used instead of the strips  23  and safety pins, and in such case the bag flaps  36 ,  38  will have openings  40 ,  42  (see FIG. 1) defined therein through which the strips  23   a  may be inserted. 
     The pouch  12  may also have a fabric band or strap  13  attached to the middle section of the outer surface thereof, and extending thereacross, as shown in FIG.  6 . The strap  13  receives a long portion  21  of the hook member  18  therethrough so as to minimize movements of the pouch  12  away from a golf bag when suspended from the hook member  18 . 
     The Bag Member 
     The water impermeable flexible internal bag  14  is preferred to be formed in an elongated, substantially rectangular shape, and is dimensioned to fit snugly within the pouch  12 . The bag  14  is preferably formed of a liquid impermeable material such as thin plastic, and is suitable for holding a cleaning solution therein for extended time periods without leaking. The bag  14  includes an upper end  32  having a sealable closure means  34  integrally formed therein to resist leakage from the bag when closed. The closure means  34  is preferred to include a zippably closable interference closure  35 , of the known type which is used in conjunction with food storage bags, extending across the bag  14 . The closure means may optionally include two such zippably closable members which are parallel to one another. The upper end  32  of the bag  14  also includes the two opposed flaps  36 ,  38  which have the respective holes  40 ,  42  formed centrally therein, adjacent the upper edges  37 ,  39  thereof. The pouch  12  provides significant support for the bag  14 , such that the bag need not be formed to have great strength and durability, and it is contemplated that the bag  14  could be selectively replaced as it becomes worn because it is not expensive to produce. 
     The Support Braces 
     The support braces  16 ,  16  may be made of an extended filament  17  of spring wire or strong plastic, and are provided for use as handles in manipulating the pouch  12  and bag  14  and for supportively attaching the apparatus  10  to a golf bag. As shown, each support member  16  preferably includes a substantially straight lower segment  44  for sliding into one of the sleeves  28  or  30  of the pouch  12 . At the end of the lower segment  44 , the filament  17  curves upwardly in a right angle to a first side section  46 , and then coils upon itself to form a first ear hole  48 . The filament  17  of the brace  16  then continues across in an upper segment  50  which is substantially parallel to the lower segment  44 , until at the end of the upper segment  50 , it again coils upon itself to form a second ear hole  52 . The filament  17  then extends downwardly in a second side section  54  parallel to, and opposite the first side section  46 . At the lowermost end of the second side section  54 , the filament  17  curves upwardly in a hook portion  56  to engagingly surround an end portion of the first segment  44 , as shown. With such preferred structure, the braces can be readily connected to and removed from the sleeves  28 ,  30  as desired for assembly, storage, replacement, cleaning of the pouch, etc. Referring now to FIG. 3, the cords  58 ,  60  are preferably used together with the braces  16  as the handle means. The cord  58  is connected to one brace  16  by being extended through the first and second ear holes  48 ,  52 . Then, the second cord  60  is placed through the first and second ear holes  48 ,  52  of the second brace  16 . Thereafter, the free ends of the first and second cords  58 ,  60  may be knotted together, as shown. If desired the cords  58 ,  60  could be omitted, while the braces  16  could be formed with other shapes than rectangular, such as trapezoidal, triangular, etc. 
     In assembling the pouch  12  to the braces  16 , the lower segment  44  of a support brace  16  is first disengaged from the hook portion  56  of the brace, and the free end of the lower segment is then inserted into a channel  29  of a sleeve  28 . The lower segment is slidably placed through the sleeve  28  until the free end protrudes through the opposite side of the sleeve  28 . The free end of the lower segment is then re-engaged with the hook portion to fasten the brace in engagement with the flap  24  of the pouch  12 . The above-described process is repeated to engage a second support brace  16  in the sleeve  30  of the second flap  26 . A towel  59  may conveniently be secured between cord  58  or  60  and a corresponding one of the braces, and subsequently used in a cleaning operation. 
     The Hook Member 
     The hook member  18  is used to support or suspend the apparatus  10  from the lip of a golf bag. With reference to FIG. 2, the hook member preferably is constructed of resilient plastic or spring metal wire, and includes one hooked portion  19  onto which the cords  58 ,  60  may be placed for being suspended therefrom, another hooked portion  19 ′ opposite to the one hooked portion  19  for being secured onto the rim of a golf bag at any appropriate location, and the long portion  21  which is received through the pouch strap  13 . In use the hooked portion  19 ′ is disposed inside the golf bag and functions to securely clamp onto bag&#39;s upper rim, while the hooked portion  19  and the long portion  21  are disposed outside of the bag such that the long portion engages the backside of the pouch  12  and is received by the strap  13  so that the pouch is restricted from moving away from the bag, and the handle means are hung on the hooked portion  19 . 
     The Abrasive Means 
     With reference to FIG. 7, the abrasive means preferably includes a pair of the scrubbing brushes  62 . Each brush  62  preferably includes a rectangular plate  63  made of flexible plastic, from one face of which a mass of bristles  64  extend, and a pair of handles  66  extending in parallel from the two corners of one edge of the plate. Further, each of the handles preferably has a hook  66 ′ formed in the free end thereof. The hooks  66 ′ of each brush  62  may selectively be engaged in the ear holes  48 ,  52  of a corresponding one of the braces  16  such that the plate  63  is suspended within the bag  14  through the opening thereof for use in a cleaning operation. Particularly, when thus suspended from the braces, the bristles  64  on the pair of brushes  62  will face each other, and as an object such as a club head is repeatedly moved up and down within the bag, the bristles scrub the object in an efficient manner. When not in use the hooks  66 ′ are disengaged from the ear holes and the brushes  62  are disposed fully within the bag  14  together with the washing liquid. 
     A mildly abrasive scrubbing sponge  65  (FIG. 1) may, optionally, be placed into the bag in place of, or in addition to, the brush plates  62 . Where used, the sponge  65  is placed in the washing fluid within bag  14  and is manipulated by the hand of a user, to generate a scrubbing motion against the ball or club head to be washed. 
     As will be understood from the foregoing descriptions of the several components of the apparatus  10 , the components are easily assembled and disassembled relative to each other, which is desirable for storage, cleaning, selective replacement, etc. 
     Ball Washing Apparatus 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, an optional golf ball washing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed. The ball washing apparatus preferably includes a bracket  80  made of plastic or metal. The bracket  80  includes an outer section  81  and an inner section  82 , which is rotatably connectable to the outer section. 
     The outer section includes a handle  84  attached to an integrally formed annular portion  86 . The annular portion  86  of the outer section  81  has a pair of opposed integral hole plates  88 ,  90  at the top and bottom thereof, and the hole plates are provided with respective bracket mounting holes  90 ,  92 . 
     The inner section  82  includes a circular band  94  having arrow-shaped projections  96 ,  98  extending outwardly thereon at the top and bottom thereof, which extend through the bracket mounting holes  90 ,  92  of the outer section, attaching the inner section thereto to form rotational hinges. 
     A golf ball (not shown) may be placed into the assembled bracket  80  and is held securely within the circular band  94  of the inner section  82 . The bracket and golf ball may then be placed inside of the bag  14 , and the outside of the pouch  12  may be manually manipulated to assist in cleaning the golf ball. Wiping the golf ball on a towel after its removal from the apparatus  10  also provides added cleaning benefit. 
     Modified Embodiments and Optional Accessories 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is shown a pouch  102  and a brace  116  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, which are structurally and functionally identical to the pouch  12  and brace  16  of the first preferred embodiment except that the pouch  102  has a third sleeve  104  at the bottom thereof, and that the brace  116  has an L-shaped extension  106  with a portion  106 ′ that is received in the third sleeve  104  when the brace is assembled to the pouch for additional support. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11-13, a pouch member and bag according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention are shown combined in a single container  112  to replace, and to serve the functions previously served by both the pouch  12  and bag  14  or the first embodiment  10 , in a modified alternative apparatus according to the invention. The container  112  of FIGS. 11-13 is made of a more durable flexible resilient material, preferably a tough and flexible plastic. The container  112  is sealed and impervious to liquid at all points thereof except the top section  115  thereof. The container  112  includes first and second outer flaps  124  and  126 , which are substantially identical to the pouch flaps  24 ,  26  as described herein. This container  112  may also, optionally, include a sleeve  118  on the bottom end thereof, if desired, so as to be usable with the support brace  116  of FIG.  9 . 
     The container  112  in this embodiment also has a pair of opposed lips  136 ,  138  inside the flaps  124 ,  126  which are sealably closable together by the use of a sealing closure  134  similar to the closure  34  as previously described. 
     The container  112  is attached to a golf bag in the same way as previously described in connection with the first embodiment, using two of the support braces  16  or  116  in connection with appropriate cords such as those shown at  58 ,  60  in FIG.  3 . 
     The container  112  preferably includes a baffle  140  to resist spillage therefrom. The baffle  140  is a resilient and flexible rectangular polymer structure, and includes opposed first and second baffle plates  142 ,  144  extending diagonally inwardly from the top corner edges of the container  112  as shown in FIG.  13 . The plates  142 ,  144  may have integral brushes  146  formed thereon, as shown, in which case the brushes  62  of FIG. 7 are not used. Rubbery sponge or urethane foam biasing members  148 ,  150  may be provided between the side walls of the container  112  and the baffle plates  142 ,  144  as shown. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, an optional bracket is shown at  152 . This optional bracket  152  may be provided for use with the apparatus  10  of FIG. 1, replacing the cords  58 ,  60  and the hook member  18 . This bracket  152  may be formed of wire or a strong plastic material. A strong wire is preferred in the practice of the present invention because of its malleability. 
     FIG. 14 is provided to help the viewer to see the spatial relation of selected portions of the bracket  152  relative to an inverted substantially U-shaped frame member  151 , which may be an intermediate step in forming the bracket. Four bend points are shown at A, B, C, and D in FIG. 14, where the frame member  151  may be bent to form the bracket  152 . 
     At points A and B, the frame member  151  is bent backwardly at approximately 180 degrees to form a large clip portion  154 , forming arcuate high points or apices  153 ,  155  at points A and B of the frame member  151 . The clip portion  154  of the bracket  152  extends downwardly from the arcuate apices  153 ,  155 , and this configuration of the bracket  152  allows it to be slidably mountable on an upper edge of a golf bag (not shown) in the final use thereof. 
     The frame member extends downwardly from the arcuate apices  153 ,  155  in a center section  161  of the bracket  152 . At points C and D of the original frame member  151 , respective legs  156 ,  158  thereof are bent outwardly in opposite directions, forming opposed wing portions  157 ,  159  which are oriented at obtuse angles with respect to the center section  161  of the bracket, as shown. Then, each of the tip ends of the legs  156 ,  158  is bent forward, curved around, and oriented pointing upwardly to form respective hooks  160 ,  162  to receive the ear holes  48 ,  52  of the brace members  16  thereon, and to mount the brace members  16  on the bracket  152 . Preferably, a stopper (not shown) is inserted between each respective ear hole  48 ,  52  and its respective hook  160  or  162 . Where used, the stoppers are provided to stabilize the brace members  16  on the bracket  152 , and to reduce the chance of both brace members  16  slipping off of the hooks  160 ,  162 , when a first brace member  16  is manually lifted off of the hooks to open the pouch  12  and the bag  14  for a washing and cleansing operation. 
     Also, in FIG. 16, a further modified version of a bracket is shown at  164 . The further modified bracket  164  is similar to the bracket  152  of FIG. 15, including a a pair of arcuate apices  163 ,  165  and a clip portion  167  which extends downwardly from the arcuate apices  163 ,  165 . The bracket  164  also includes a center section  169  extending downwardly from the apices  163 ,  165  of the bracket  164  substantially parallel to the clip portion  167  and continuing on beyond the clip portion. The bracket  164  also includes a pair of opposed wing portions  168 ,  170  which are bent outwardly in opposite directions from the center section  169  and which are oriented at obtuse angles with respect to the center section, as shown. The further modified bracket  164  differs from the bracket  152 , in that, instead of the filament  166  simply curving around to form hooks at the ends of the respective wing portions  168 ,  170 , in this embodiment, the filament  166  is made longer than in the bracket  152 , and it extends downwardly at the respective end of each outwardly bent wing portion  168 ,  170  to form opposed depending fingers  172 ,  174  for placement inside of the strap  13  on the pouch  12 . 
     The filament then curves back upwardly and crosses over the wing portions  168 ,  170  to form hooks  176 ,  178  located at the ends of the wing portions. In a manner similar to the bracket  152  of FIG. 15, the hooks  176 ,  178  are provided to supportively receive the ear holes  48 ,  52  of the brace members  16  thereon, and to thereby mount the brace members  16  thereon. 
     Once again, in this embodiment, preferably, a stopper (not shown) is inserted between each respective ear hole  48 ,  52  and its respective hook  176  or  178 . Where used, the stoppers are provided to stabilize the brace members  16  on the bracket  164 , and to reduce the chance of both brace members  16  slipping off of the hooks  176 ,  178 , when a first brace member  16  is manually lifted off of the hooks to open the pouch  12  and the bag  14  for a washing and cleansing operation. 
     Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiment could be made which would be operable. For example, the bag  14  of the first embodiment could be formed with a baffle and integral bristles, etc. such as in the container  112  of the third embodiment. All such modifications which are within the scope of the claims are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.