EP0484397B1

EP0484397B1 - A golf club/shoe cleaning device

Info

Publication number: EP0484397B1
Application number: EP90911489A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philip John Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: HARRIS, PHILIP JOHN
Priority date: 1989-07-26
Filing date: 1990-07-26
Publication date: 1996-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-26
Also published as: AU6145990A; DE69025613D1; WO1991001777A1; ATE134527T1; AU643697B2; CA2064102A1; EP0484397A1

Abstract

A hand held cleaning device is described for cleaning golf club heads and golf shoes, comprising a handle, a shaft projecting from the handle with means, a metal point or a tuft of hard bristles at or near its end to clean the club faces or shoes. A series of bristles forming a brush extending along one edge of the shaft and a blade extending along the other edge of the shaft. The metal point or tuft of bristles may extend axially of the shaft or at right angles thereto. Two embodiments are described and shown a one piece moulding or a moulded handle with a retractable shaft brush and blade.

Description

This invention relates to a cleaning device and more particularly to a device for cleaning golf club heads and golf shoes.
One of the problems experienced by most golfers, particularly on wet and muddy golf courses, is to keep the grooves in the club face clean and free from dirt and grass. The grooves in the club head impart "spin" to the golf ball when hit to accurately control the shot. Similarly, if the golfer's shoe spikes become clogged up with mud and grass, the golfer can not take up a firm stance and make an accurate stroke.
An aim of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for cleaning golf club heads and golf shoes which overcomes the above mentioned problems hitherto experienced by golfers.
According to the present invention there is provided a hand held golf club/shoe cleaning device, comprising a handle, a shaft projecting from the handle characterised by a tuft of bristles located at or near the end of the shaft, a series of bristles extending from one edge of the shaft, a blade projecting from the handle and extending from the opposite edge of the shaft and wherein the handle is hollow for holding golf accessories and is closed by a lid.
In one construction the shaft blade and bristles are integrally formed in one piece.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning device, according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front end view of the cleaning device shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified construction of the cleaning device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

An embodiment of the cleaning device is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a one piece moulding of plastics material such as polypropylene with 20 percent glass filling. The handle 21 is moulded with a finger recess 22 and a thumb recess 23 at each side to suit a left or right handed user. The handle is moulded integrally with a shaft 24 formed as a blade 25 and with a series of bristles 26 to form a brush along one edge of the shaft. At the leading end of the shaft 24 is a tuft of hard bristle 27 moulded integrally with the shaft and lying at right angles to the shaft's longitudinal axis. A hole 28 is formed in the shaft blade to facilitate attachment of the cleaning device to the person using the device by, for example, a latch type key ring (not shown).
The handle 21 of the cleaning device is hollow and can house golf implements such as a cleaning pin 29, a ball marker 30 and a pitch mark repairer 31. The handle is then closed by a dome-shaped cover 32 clipping in a recess in the handle. Additional metal rings 33 may be provided to facilitate stowing of the device when not in use. A modified construction of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown in Fig. 3 where a thumb grip 34 having a pin 35 is mounted to slide in a slot 36 formed in the rear of the hollow handle. A recess 37 is mounted in the handle end so that sliding the thumb grip 34 rewarwards causes the pin 35 to bridge the recess. A split ring 38 may be provided to secure the device to the user or an article such as a golf bag or golf trolley when not in use.
Various modifications may be made to the cleaning device. For example, a sheath may be provided to enclose the shaft end of the one piece device shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The sheath is held to the device by a series of small pimple projections around the inside of the sheath opening which locate on the device handle to hold the two parts firmly in place. In a preferred embodiment the sheath may be moulded with a loop so that it may be suspended from the belt of a user. The cleaning device can thus be readily removed from its sheath and replaced after use.
In use the stiff tuft of bristles is used to clean the grooves in the golf club face to remove any dirt or grass after which the brush is used to brush the loose particles away. If the club face becomes clogged with mud as may be the case when taking a "divot", then the shaft blade can be used to scrape the face clean.

Claims

A hand held golf club/shoe cleaning device, comprising a handle (21), a shaft (24) projecting from the handle (21) characterised by a tuft of bristles (27) located at or near the end of the shaft (24), a series of bristles (26) extending from one edge of the shaft (24), a blade (25) projecting from the handle (21) and extending from the opposite edge of the shaft (24) and wherein the handle is hollow for holding golf accessories and is closed by a lid (32).
A hand held cleaning device as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the shaft (24), blade (25) and bristles (26) are integrally formed in one piece.
A hand held cleaning device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the tuft of hard bristles (27) extends at right angles to the shaft (24).
A hand held cleaning device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the handle (21) is formed with undulations to form finger gripping means (23).
A hand held cleaning device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the free end of the handle (21) has a recess (37) which is bridged by a pin (35) projecting from the rear of the shaft (24) to form a releasable catch to secure the cleaning device to the user of the device or to an article.
A hand held cleaning device as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the cleaning device is provided with at least one hole (28) to facilitate attachment of the device to the user of the device or to an article.