Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

This invention relates to a portable golf ball cleaning device to be carried in a golfer's pocket.
Golf balls are designed with aerodynamic surface characteristics, which can be altered by the presence of dirt or other surface contaminants thereby changing flight trajectory or distance qualities. The accurate roll of the ball on the green is also affected by dirt or debris on the ball. Additionally, dirt or stains on the ball are distracting when focusing on the ball during putting. The golf ball becomes dirty when coming into contact with the turf during play. According to the rules of golf, normally the ball may only be cleaned before putting on the green or before teeing off on the tee. Since putting accounts for over forty percent of all strokes in a golfer's score, a clean ball for putting is especially important. Also, if cleaned on the green before putting, the ball does not require further cleaning before teeing off on the next hole. Therefore, the green is considered the optimum point for cleaning a golf ball during play.
In order to clean the ball on the green, some golfers carry a wet towel on the cart or bag and carry the towel on the green. Most golfers clean the ball on the green by wiping it with their fingers or wiping it on their clothing or licking it. These methods are not only messy and ineffective but can be harmful to the health of the golfer due to chemicals on the green. Therefore, a portable device is needed for cleaning a golf ball on the green.
A number of portable devices have been developed for cleaning a golf ball during play, which are known in the art.
Cart ball washers have been designed to be located on a riding golf cart. U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,906 to Mauro discloses an example of such a device. However, a cart is not allowed on the green.
Bag ball washers have been designed to be located on or in a golf bag. U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,252 to Sundquist, U.S. Pat. No. 2,622,257 to Lemonds et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,705 to Duff and U.S. Pat. No. 1,710,816 to Evans, disclose examples of such devices. However, a bag is not allowed on the green.
Belt ball washers have been designed to be located on a golfer's belt. U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,464 to Shioda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,287 to Ingram et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,675 to Barton et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,349 to Kaplan, disclose examples of such devices. Although, these devices can be carried on the green, the belt location interferes with the swing and movement of arms and hands during play and also detracts from a golfer's appearance.
The only practical location for carrying a golf ball cleaning device on the green is in a golfer's pocket.
The Cart, Bag and Belt devices in the prior art have problems and disadvantages, including but not limited to one or more of the following:
(a) the device cannot be carried in a golfer's pocket due to a large size which cannot be reduced sufficiently without changing the technology;
(b) the device cannot be carried dryly in a golfer's pocket due to a design allowing liquid to leak into the pocket or allowing a wet cleaning means to come into prolonged contact with the pocket.
(c) the device is not economical to produce due to the design complexity, the number of parts, the assembly process and the cost of materials.
Pocket Closed Container ball washers have been designed to be carried in a golfer's pocket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,040 to Sharrow et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,750,219 to MacConnell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,578,224 to Cadman and U.S. Pat. No. 1,565,414 to Byrne, disclose examples of such devices. These devices require a sealed lid in order to prevent cleaning liquid from leaking into a golfer's pocket.
The Pocket Closed Container devices in the prior art have problems and disadvantages, including but not limited to one or more of the following:
(d) the device cannot be carried comfortably in a golfer's pocket due to rigid or heavy structure required to meet strength needs of a sealed lid;
(e) the device cannot be carried quietly in the pocket due to rigid or hard structure required to meet strength needs of a sealed lid, thereby rattling against other objects carried in the pocket;
(f) the device does not provide quick ball cleaning due to a lid which must be removed before cleaning and replaced after cleaning;
A Pocket Open Container ball washer has been designed to be carried in a golfer's pocket. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,603 to Purlia et al. discloses this device. The device consists of an only partially absorbent cleaning means and a holder means having an opening with an inwardly extending lip to prevent cleaning liquid from leaking into the pocket.
The Pocket Open Container device in the prior art has problems and disadvantages, including but not limited to the following:
(g) the device does not provide effective ball cleaning due to an inwardly extending lip above the upper surface of the cleaning means thereby limiting ball wiping area on the upper surface of the cleaning means;
(h) the device does not provide effective ball cleaning due to a cleaning means utilizing a non-absorbent material for ball contact, which provides for brushing and scrubbing, but not for wiping and absorbing;
(i) the device is not easy to adjust for the degree of wetness due to a cleaning means consisting only partially of absorbent material and due to an inwardly extending lip above the upper surface of the cleaning means, thereby limiting wetness adjustment to an opening facing down position in which all unabsorbed cleaning liquid flows from the device in an uncontrolled manner;
(j) the device is not easy to keep clean due to an inwardly extending lip above the upper surface of the cleaning means, which creates spaces in which dirt and debris can accumulate with no easy means of removal.