Patent Publication Number: US-2007119013-A1

Title: Wearable golf ball cleaning and storage device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 60/740,330 filed on Nov. 28, 2005. The invention herein disclosed and described relates to the field of golf. More particularly it relates to a device for the cleaning of soiled golf balls which can be worn by a golfer.  
      The device provides a means for dampening a soiled ball while concurrently preventing moisture from reaching the golfer&#39;s clothing and provides ball cleaning without the necessity of the user to touch the ball during the cleaning process. The device also provides storage for small golf related tools and items and a means for engagement of golf gloves when removed from the hands. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Golf is one of the most widely played games throughout the world. Millions of golfers visit courses daily throughout the world and the rules and etiquette of the game are virtually identical wherever it is played.  
      One universally accepted practice occurs when a golfer is putting the ball or preparing to tee off on a new hole. During these two endeavors it is imperative that the surface of the golf ball be clean and free of all debris for optimum results. Soiled or muddy golf balls when struck by the club face can yield unexpected results in the landing of the struck ball.  
      The two occasions in which the rules allow the player to touch the ball with their hands occur just prior to teeing off and when the ball is resting on the putting surface or “green” adjacent to a hole. This is the generally accepted rule of golf with few exceptions.  
      Because grass and golf courses are by nature wet and soiled environments, the ball tends to become dirty during its travel from the tee shot to the green. Consequently, it is most convenient for the golfer to have some means at hand to clean the soiled ball during the occasions when a player is allowed to hold or touch it and before the next shot where mud, grass, or a soiled exterior can cause havoc.  
      The conventional tool for this purpose is the standard “golf towel” which is widely employed for a number of purposes including cleaning golf balls, club faces, grips, palms, sweat, and shoes and the like, throughout the course of play. However, such towels are designed for attachment to the players golf bag and as a rule need to be continually attached and detached for use. However, attaching the towel to the bag is inconvenient by nature since the ball needs to be cleaned while the player is on the green or teeing area, not standing next to his golf bag or cart, (neither of which are allowed on the green or teeing area), where the standard towel is carried.  
      Because of the inconvenience inherent in the golf towel, many players simply try to rub or clean the ball with their thumb, on the grass, or even spit on it in attempts to remove debris rather than detach and carry the bag towel to the green. Further, the unwitting golfer cleaning his ball with his hand may not be aware of the pesticides, reclaimed water, bacteria and fertilizers used in maintaining a golf course and the health hazards of touching a soiled ball and then his mouth.  
      Still further, even when golfers remember to detach and bring their golf towel with them to the ball, they frequently forget it on the green or at the tee. When this occurs, they are presented with the decision to either abandon the towel or go all the way back to the previous hole to retrieve it. Consequently, ball cleaning remains cumbersome, distracting, obstructive of the game, and time consuming. Most golfers being weekend warriors have more than enough to deal with on and around the green and need no additional distractions affecting their game.  
      As such, there is an unmet need for a cleaning device for golf balls that can be carried by the golfer at all times, thus removing the need for attachment to the heavy golf bag. Such a device should provide a means to clean and polish the exterior of a soiled ball in a convenient fashion during the times the player is allowed to pick up or touch the ball prior to putting or teeing off. Still further, such a device should allow for the cleaning of the ball while insulating the players fingers from touching the ball during the cleaning process. Additionally, such a device should be self-moistening of the ball surface yet should protect the player&#39;s clothing from getting wet. Finally, such a device should allow for storage of small tools and golf related items and a means for engagement of removed golf gloves.  
      With respect to the above description and background, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components and/or steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various apparatus and methods of the invention herein described and disclosed are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once they review this disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other devices, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the objects and claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      Further objectives of this invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The device herein disclosed and described provides a golf ball cleaning device adapted to also store the small tools such a a golf tee and divot repair tools used by the player. The device is small yet highly functional and provides an interior cleaning chamber housed between two buffing layers, one of which is backed by a water proof layer as a means to protect the clothing of the user from moisture.  
      An elongated aperture positioned on a side of the device to allow for easy rear entry of hand-held golf balls allows for a much easier placement of a soiled golf ball into the cleaning chamber. The aperture, experimentation has found, is best if it is at least twice the length of a conventional golf ball diameter to allow for easy insertion along the elongated side aperture and easy retrieval by the hand of the user.  
      The interior of the cleaning chamber is lined on at least one surface with a material that allows for scrubbing or polishing of the exterior of the dimpled golf balls with terry cloth being the current preferred favorite since its many projecting threads easily reach into the random dimples on the outside surface of a golf ball. Preferably both side surfaces of the cleaning chamber are lined with this type of material such that when the user inserts a soiled golf ball through the aperture, it can then be manipulated from the outside of the flexible walls to scrub the surface. Or, one surface may be slightly abrasive in nature with the terry cloth providing the buffing action and removal of debris dislodged by the abrasive layer.  
      In a particularly favored mode of the device, a means for storage and impartation of moisture or cleaning solution to the exterior of the ball is housed in the cleaning chamber. In the current favored mode of the device a sponge or similar moisture absorbing device is positioned in a sub-pocket formed in the cleaning chamber by a seam running from the bottom of the device up a portion of the aperture on the side edge. The exterior surface of the device around the area holding the sponge or other means for moisture retention and impartation to the ball surface is formed of waterproof or resistant material so that moisture inside the cleaning chamber does not reach the exterior and the clothing of the user.  
      Also in a preferred mode of the device, the sponge would be a disposable item which could be purchased separately and inserted before each round of golf. In this fashion, the sponge can be renewed with a fresh smelling one which is soaked with water, or water and detergent designed for cleaning the golf ball and which may be scented. Further, a disinfectant to prevent mold and such can be added. In a particularly preferred mode, if the moisture in the reservoir provided by the sponge is scented, the reservoir or sponge could impart a scent to the ball being cleaned and thus provide a later means for identification of the ball if such is in doubt, by simply sniffing the ball to detect the scent. An infinite number of scents could be employed in the disposable sponges which can be sold in the golf shop in sealed packages which can then be opened and inserted into the area of the cleaning chamber adapted to hold it.  
      The device employs a means for attachment to the belt of a user such as the depicted hook and loop fabric. In the current preferred mode of the device the loop fabric is attached in a fashion to allow it to loop around the user&#39;s belt or through a belt loop and attached to a horizontally positioned piece of the hook fabric. It has been found that proper positioning of the hook portion of the fastening fabric will allow the hook fabric so positioned to serve three purposes. First, it allows the distal end of the loop fabric an engagement point. Second, in a particularly preferred mode of the device, the abrasive hooks of the fastening fabric can be used as an external scrubber for the golf ball. And finally, vertical sewing points in the hook fabric can be employed as a means of attachment to the device and therein will define a plurality of exterior accessible pockets to hold tools such as divot tools or golf tees. One of the formed pockets is also sealed or covered for storage by the loop portion strap which engages over the aperture thereby providing a sealable pocket. The same exposed hook fabric is also especially well adapted to engage and hold conventional golf gloves when they are removed from the hands during play.  
      Still further the device may be adapted to right or left-handed users by employing two side apertures with one on each side edge. Both such apertures would have a means for closure to allow one of the two to be closed during use. Right-handed people could thus leave one aperture open when mounted on the right hip and left-handed people would leave the other aperture open when mounted on the left hip. This would allow easy side insertion of the hand and the soiled golf ball from a side surface adjacent to the user&#39;s dominant hand, no matter which hand they use. Of course, it can also be provided with the side aperture in two different modes with one for right handed and one for left handed players.  
      With respect to the above description of a textile formed golf cleaning and storage device, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
      Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.  
      In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      It is an object of this invention to provide a compact golf ball cleaning device which may be worn on the user&#39;s clothing.  
      It is another object of this invention to provide such a device that employs a cleaning chamber with a reservoir of moisture therein.  
      It is an additional object of this invention to provide such a chamber with moisture in a device having means to prevent the user&#39;s clothes from becoming wet.  
      Yet another object of this invention is the provision of such a device that allows for insertion and retrieval of soiled golf balls from a side surface allowing use by a user&#39;s dominant or favored hand.  
      Still further, it is an object of the disclosed device to provide a ball cleaning chamber with a reservoir of moisture for ball cleaning that is provided by replaceable moisture sponges or the like which may be freshly installed for each use and may be scented or imparted with detergent or cleaning solutions.  
      It is a further object of this device, to provide the insertable sponges in a sealed package for replacement of the internal moisture reservoir easily.  
      The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       FIG. 1  depicts the device being worn on a right-handed user&#39;s belt. Also shown is a stored golf glove engaged to hook fabric on the exterior.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective front view showing the front surface and side aperture.  
       FIG. 3  depicts the rear surface having water proof fabric.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the device showing the two side fabric layers providing a means for buffing, and the side aperture.  
       FIG. 5  depicts an opposite side view of  FIG. 4  showing the side to be closed.  
       FIG. 6  is a cut through view of  FIG. 4  showing the cleaning cavity and the sponge or other moisture reservoir means engaged removably in bottom moisture proof section of the cleaning cavity.  
       FIG. 7  depicts the sponges employed as a moisture reservoir and sized for engagement in the lower portion of the cleaning chamber wrapped in a moisture proof package. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  depict the disclosed golf ball cleaning and storage device  10  which is shown being worn by a right-handed golfer in  FIG. 1 . A side surface situated aperture  12  allows insertion of a golf ball  14  into the interior cleaning chamber  15  from the side and rear of the device  10  such that the user may more easily insert and retrieve a golf ball from the device  10 .  
      The cleaning chamber  15  is formed between two sidewalls with a rear sidewall  16  formed of material adapted to prevent passage of moisture and a front sidewall  18  having a soft or buffing type textile material  21  such as terry cloth on its exterior to provide a wiping surface for the hands or a cleaned golf ball  14 . The internal surface of the chamber  15  is lined with at least one side being buffing textile material such as towel or terry cloth fabric and preferably both sides of the chamber  15  having a buffing or polishing textile fabric.  
      Means for attachment to the user is provided by hook  22  and loop  20  fabric or other means of attachment which will removably secure the device to the user such as a spring clip which would be shaped similar to the loop fabric  20  shown in  FIG. 5 . As noted above, currently hook and loop fabric is favored to remove any chance of corrosion and the discomfort to the user caused by metal pressing against their body when sitting.  
      Currently loop fabric  20  is attached in a manner to loop over a belt and attach to hook fabric  22  on a front surface of the device  10  situated to engage the distal end of the loop fabric  20  formed as a strap. While this is considered a preferred mode due to comfort and corrosion noted above and very stable mount around a belt worn by the user, and the ability to also attach the device  10  to a golf bag, those skilled in the art will ascertain that other means for removable engagement to the user such as a clip for a belt could also be employed.  
      The hook fabric  22  is sewn to the exterior or front sidewall  18  in a manner to form a plurality of storage pockets  24  for storage of golf tees or divot tools and the like. Experimentation has found also that placing the hook fabric  22  in this position on the front sidewall  18  eliminates the need to place a separate abrasive pad thereon by providing a means for ball abrasion or scrubbing of a golf ball, on an exterior surface of the device  10 . It has been found that hook fabric  22  is stiff and tends to remain elongated yet will tend to bend to engage dimples in the ball  14 . The hooked portion of the hook fabric  22  tends to grab and pull dirt and such from the ball. Placement of the hook fabric  22  in this fashion also allows for engagement to conventional golf gloves  23  having loop fabric  20  thereon, when removed from the golfer&#39;s hands during play, which is particularly convenient. Further, by leaving the top edge of the hook fabric  22  open and using stitching  27  vertically, to form three storage pockets  24 , the center located storage pocket  24  will be covered by the distal end of the strap formed of loop fabric  20  allowing a cover over the tool or other device contained in the center pocket.  
      In the preferred mode of the device, in all modes, a sponge  26  as noted earlier is dimensioned for removable engagement in a similarly shaped lower portion  17  of the cleaning chamber  15  such that it may be removed and re-wetted between uses or replaced with replacement sponges  26  sold separately for that purpose as shown in  FIG. 7  pre-moistened and wrapped in a moisture proof package  27 . The lower portion  17  is lined on both sides with moisture proof fabric such as laminated vinyl or sealed rip-stop fabric to provide a moisture proof barrier to prevent moisture from the sponge from seeping through the device  10 . The device can be provided with one or a plurality of sponges  26  prepackaged in the moisture proof package  27  for insertion into the lower portion of the cleaning chamber as needed. Replacement sponges  26  so packaged can be sold at golf supply stores and pro shops when the initial supply runs out and as noted can contain one or a combination of a detergent or scent that is imparted to the golf ball for later identification by the users should confusion arise.  
      Placement of the sponge  26  in the lower portion  17  of the device  10  allows the user to easily insert the ball through the side located aperture and press the ball onto the sponge while rotating it. The positioning of the side access and bottom located sponge  26  has been found particularly suited to allow the user to moisten the soiled ball by pressing it into the sponge  26  and rotating it, and then buffing the ball on one or both internal sidewalls of terrycloth or other fabric in the upper portion  19  of the chamber  15 . Without the side access and lower positioning of the sponge  26  such an action by the user would be at best inconvenient and more likely not possible such as through a top located aperture that would constrict access to the sponge  26 . As such the arrangement is particularly preferred for all modes of the device.  
      Finally, as noted above, the side aperture  12  may be placed on one side in models adapted for one dominant hand, or two side apertures  12  can be employed, with one on each opposing side surface. In this optional mode, closure material such as the aforementioned hook and loop fabric or button closures or some other means for closure of the non-used aperture can be employed to allow the user to close the side aperture not used for entry to the cleaning chamber  15  and thus adapt the device  10  for rear entry by the hand chosen by the user.  
      Although the invention has been herein disclosed and described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be made to the produced labels or method of production without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention as shown in the drawings and described in detail herein discloses arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention, it is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this invention. Any and all such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art, are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.