Abstract:
The present invention provides a liner for a golf equipment washer. The liner is adapted to fit within a conventional golf equipment washer and to hold cleaning solution of such a washer. When the cleaning solution needs to be changed, the old solution and liner are removed and replaced with new. In addition, the liner is adjustable in its volumetric capacity such that when the cleaning solution freezes, the liner expands to absorb the enlarged volume without imparting pressure on the reservoir of the washer and thereby damaging the washer. Moreover, through the use of the liner, anti-freeze within the cleaning solution cannot contact the washer itself and corrode the washer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/765,525, “Liner for Golf Equipment Washer,” which was filed on Feb. 6, 2006, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to devices for washing sports equipment and, more particularly, to devices for washing golf balls and golf clubs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A golf course typically provides golf ball washers and golf club washers at various locations along the course so course patrons can periodically clean their equipment. The washers remain on the course and are fixed in position. As such they are exposed to ambient temperatures and the natural elements.  
         [0004]     A conventional golf ball washer includes a reservoir into which a cleaning solution is placed. A golf ball agitator is attached to a removable lid attached to the reservoir. The agitator is adapted to reciprocate between upper and lower positions. A golf ball can be inserted when the agitator is in the upper position. The agitator is then reciprocated within the reservoir by the user pulling a handle up and down. In so doing, the ball is moved against a bristled surface within the reservoir to clean the ball. Such types of washers are well known and are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,044,089, 3,271,802, and 3,583,016.  
         [0005]     Other types of golf ball washers employ a rotating mechanism wherein the ball is not reciprocated between upper and lower positions within the reservoir but rather is rotated through the reservoir for cleaning purposes. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,583,016 and 4,899,413 present examples of such rotational types of golf ball washers.  
         [0006]     While both types of washers have been well received in the industry, they are not without drawbacks which manifest themselves in the form of unpleasant maintenance requirements and a susceptibility to cracking of the reservoir when the cleaning solution freezes. More specifically, golf course maintenance personnel are required, typically multiple times per month, to clean the washers and to refill the reservoirs. If such cleaning does not take place, the washers can generate a foul odor due to stagnating cleaning solution. This results in an unpleasant chore for the maintenance personnel and can result in a dissatisfied golf course patron.  
         [0007]     In addition, golf courses, particularly those in northern climates, are typically open during seasons when the ambient temperature can fall below the freezing temperature of the cleaning solution. The cast aluminum reservoir can then crack as the cleaning solution freezes and expands, resulting in replacement expenses for the golf course. Known solutions for this problem are dissatisfactory. For example, use of anti-freeze within the solution quickly corrodes the inside of the cast aluminum reservoir which requires the maintenance personnel to manually scrub the washers, again resulting in an unpleasant chore for the maintenance personnel.  
         [0008]     These reservoirs can be made of flexible plastic to avoid cracking during solution expansion, but such plastic washers have not been well received because they do not appear as professional as the cast aluminum type, and the color within the plastic can quickly fade.  
         [0009]     A still further problem encountered by known golf equipment washers comes from the fact that the washer is typically attached to a pipe inserted into the ground. The reservoir typically includes a tubular neck portion for such attachment purposes which is received by the supporting pipe and secured thereto by, for example, a set screw. The set screw must be removed every time the reservoir is to be removed for cleaning purposes and reset every time the reservoir is reattached. If the personnel cleaning the apparatus tightens the set screw to a sufficient degree, the set screw can puncture through the neck of the reservoir resulting in a leak, often requiring the washer to be replaced, again at added expense.  
         [0010]     It would therefore be advantageous to provide a golf equipment washer which would avoid the aforementioned problems of unpleasant cleaning chores associated with prior art devices, reservoir cracking during below freezing temperatures, use of anti-freeze, and possible damage to the reservoir during attachment to a mounting pipe.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a golf equipment washer which is easier to clean and which is protected from damage due to climatic changes.  
         [0012]     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a golf equipment washer with reduced maintenance requirements.  
         [0013]     It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a golf equipment washer with a longer serviceable life.  
         [0014]     It is another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a golf ball washer comprising a reservoir, a lid, an agitator, a bristled surface, and a flexible liner. A reservoir includes an open top, and the lid is removably attached to the reservoir. The agitator is mounted in the lid for reciprocating motion through the lid and includes an aperture for receipt of a golf ball. The bristled surface is within the reservoir and is adapted to engage the golf ball when the agitator is reciprocatingly moved. The flexible liner is within the reservoir, with the agitator and bristled surface being within the flexible liner. The flexible liner is adapted to hold a cleaning solution.  
         [0015]     In accordance with these objectives, it is a feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a golf equipment washer comprising a reservoir, a cleaning means within the reservoir, and a flexible liner disposed within the reservoir, the liner being adapted to hold a cleaning solution.  
         [0016]     It is another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to manufacture the reservoir from cast aluminum and the liner from plastic.  
         [0017]     It is another feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a golf equipment washer which is adapted to clean golf clubs in addition to golf balls.  
         [0018]     It is a still further feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a golf equipment washer climatic protection device comprising a flexible liner sized to fit within a fluid reservoir of a golf equipment washer.  
         [0019]     It is a still further feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a flexible liner which includes means for expanding and contracting the volumetric capacity of the liner in the form of a plurality of bellowed ridges biased radially inwardly, frozen cleaning solution causing the ridges to move radially outwardly to thereby expand the volumetric capacity of the liner.  
         [0020]     These and other objectives and features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]     While the appended claims set forth features of the present invention, the invention, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical golf ball washer usable with a liner of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the golf ball washer of  FIG. 1  showing the position of a liner;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the reservoir and liner of  FIG. 2  with the cleaning solution in a liquid state;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the reservoir and liner of  FIG. 2  with the cleaning solution in a frozen state; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a liner.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
         [0028]     Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to  FIG. 1 , a typical golf ball washer  20  is shown in detail. The golf ball washer  20  includes a reservoir  22  having, in one embodiment, a substantially cylindrical section  24  with an open top  26 . A mounting neck  28  in this embodiment (see  FIG. 2 ) is also substantially cylindrical in shape but of a reduced diameter relative to the cylindrical section  24 . The mounting neck  28  is adapted to receive a set screw  30  for securing the reservoir  22  to a mounting post  32 . A drain plug  33  (see  FIG. 2 ) removably attaches to the bottom of the mounting neck  28 . In one embodiment, the reservoir  22  is manufactured from cast aluminum, although other materials are possible. The reservoir  22  is preferably manufactured from metal for aesthetic purposes, but it is to be understood that it can be manufactured from other materials including plastic.  
         [0029]     Also shown in  FIG. 1 , the golf ball washer  20  includes a removable lid  34  which is sized to close the open top  26  of the reservoir  22 . The lid  34  can be temporarily secured to the reservoir  22  using suitable fasteners  36 . It can therefore be seen that the reservoir  22  and the lid  34  together define a confined space for holding a suitable cleaning solution  38  as shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , an agitator  40  is mounted for reciprocating motion (up and down) within the lid  34 . The agitator  40  includes an aperture  42 , sized to receive a conventional golf ball  44 , and a handle  46  (see  FIG. 1 ) to facilitate the reciprocating motion. The agitator  40  is preferably helically shaped including flutes  48  (see  FIG. 1 ) to partially rotate the golf ball  44  during reciprocation to allow for cleaning of its entire outer surface. Brushes  50  having suitably abrasive surfaces are provided within the reservoir  22  so that when the agitator  40  is reciprocated within the reservoir  22 , the golf ball  44  is engaged against the brushes  50 . A centering rod  51  extends downward from the agitator  40  and through an elastomeric grommet  53 . While not depicted, it is to be understood that the present invention also encompasses known rotational types of washers wherein the golf ball  44  is not reciprocated but rather is rotated relative to an abrasive surface.  
         [0031]     Turning now to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , within the reservoir  22  is placed a flexible liner  52  which is shaped congruently with the interior surface of the reservoir  22 . More specifically, the liner  52 , in a preferred embodiment, includes a substantially cylindrical section  54 , along with an integral, reduced diameter mounting appendage  56 . The liner  52  can be manufactured from a variety of flexible or elastomeric materials but is preferably manufactured from polypropylene plastic through an injection molding process. In many embodiments, the liner  52  provides a flexible, imperforated material suitable for retaining the cleaning solution  38 . The brushes  50  and the agitator  40  easily fit within the liner  52 , and the liner  52  itself easily fits within the reservoir  22 .  
         [0032]     As illustrated by  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the liner  52 , in one embodiment, provides for the aforementioned volumetric expansion capability through the use of bellowed or ridged sections  58  connected at hinge points  59 . The sections  58  are normally biased radially inward in a concave orientation so that the liner  52  normally has a relatively reduced volumetric capacity. However, upon freezing of the cleaning solution  38  at approximately 32° F., the cleaning solution  38  enlarges in volume causing the bellowed sections  58  to be pushed radially outward into a convex configuration. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the frozen and unfrozen volumetric capacities of the liner  52  is approximately fifteen percent, although it is to be understood that the present invention encompasses wider and narrower ranges of volumetric capacities.  
         [0033]     It can therefore be seen by one of ordinary skill in the art, specifically with reference to  FIG. 4 , that even when the solution  38  is frozen and the liner  52  expands, radially outwardly directed force is not imparted to the cylindrical wall  24  of the reservoir  22 . This therefore minimizes the stress directed to the reservoir  22  to avoid cracking.  
         [0034]     Moreover, through the use of the liner  52 , anti-freeze can be combined with the cleaning solution  38  without destructively corroding the reservoir  22 . In other words, cleaning solution and anti-freeze can be held within the liner  52  for cleaning purposes and to avoid having the solution  38  reach a frozen state. After a suitable time period, the cleaning solution  38  can be easily replaced simply by removing the lid  34  and by removing the liner  52  from the reservoir  22 . A new liner  52  and new solution  38  are added. The unpleasant chores associated with cleaning and emptying foul smelling and stagnating solution can therefore be avoided.  
         [0035]     In addition, when the reservoir  22  is attached to a mounting post  32  with a fastener  30 , puncture of the mounted neck  28  by the fastener  30  will not result in a leak. Rather, the appendage  56  will simply be elastically deformed inwardly with the liner  52  remaining intact.  
         [0036]     In special situations, other ways may be used to provide the liner  52 . A plastic material can be sprayed into the reservoir  22 . The plastic then dries and forms the liner  52 . Because the plastic does not strongly adhere to the inside wall of the reservoir  22 , this spray-on liner  52  can be peeled out and discarded when necessary. Also, the liner  52  can be heat-sealed to the rim of the reservoir  22 . These two techniques can be very useful for oddly shaped, or uncommon, reservoirs  22  where it is uneconomical to manufacture a specific, close-fitting liner  52 .  
         [0037]     While not depicted, it is to be understood that the present invention can be used in conjunction with variously sized and shaped golf ball washers, including rectangular or cubic washers, and washers designed to clean more than one ball. In addition, the present invention can be incorporated into golf club and shoe washers which would necessarily be subject to the same problems associated with golf ball washers if left in the ambient temperature of the golf course.  
         [0038]     From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved golf equipment cleaning device which substantially reduces the effort and associated costs of periodic cleaning. When the cleaning solution is to be changed, the liner can simply be removed from the reservoir, the old solution discarded, a new liner inserted, and new solution added. In addition, the liner eliminates the possibility of cracking or other damage to a metal reservoir by allowing the cleaning solution to expand upon freezing without placing stress on the reservoir. Finally, by containing the solution within the liner, anti-freeze or other elements within the solution will not be able to contact and corrode the reservoir.