GB2120948A

GB2120948A - Golf ball cleaning device

Info

Publication number: GB2120948A
Application number: GB08312605A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Winstanley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-24
Filing date: 1983-05-06
Publication date: 1983-12-14
Also published as: GB8312605D0; GB2120948B

Abstract

The device has two hemispheres (10,11) which are retained in rims (16, 17) so that the hemispheres can be contra-rotated to clean a golf ball held inside the device. The hemispheres are lined with sponge cleaning material which may also include bristles. The rims clip together when the device is closed and a hinge (14) joins the rims together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf ball cleaning device This invention relates to golf ball cleaning devices.

The commonly used form of golf ball cleaning device consists of a sponge body with a cup-shaped recess. In use the body is moistened and the ball to be cleaned is rotated in the recess. This device works quite well but it does tend to dry out and it cannot deal with firm deposits on the ball.

The present invention aims to avoid or mitigate these two disadvantages.

The golf ball cleaning device of the present invention comprises a two part body, each part defining a cup-shaped recess of approximately semi golf ball size, the recesses being lined with golf ball cleaning material and the two parts of the body being releasable from each other to open the device and engagable with each other to enclose a golf ball and when so engaged the parts are both rotatable to clean a golf ball inside the body.

Preferably the two parts of the body are co-joined hemispherical cups lined with sponge material.

When the parts are engaged together it is preferable that a seal is formed of a quality to avoid significant loss of moisture from the sponge. Bristles may be embedded in the inside walls of the two parts and the sponge material located around the bristles.

The sponge material is preferably of slit sheet form which can be easily removed and is self retained when pressed into the cup-shaped recesses.

One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a golf ball cleaning device in the closed position; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device in the open position; and Figure 2A in an enlarged fragmentary section on the line A-A of Figure 2.

The drawing shows parts 10, 11 of a two part body defining cup-shaped recesses 12, 13 of approximately semi golf ball size. The parts are co-joined at a hinge 14. The recesses are lined with a moulded sponge 15 in acup-shapeform.

Figure 2A shows the parts 10, 11 clipped into rims 16, 17 at recesses 18, 19 in the parts 10,11 respectively so as to be free to rotate in the rims whilst being otherwise firmly held. The rims each have a lip 20 and the rims clip together. When so clipped the parts 10,11 are rotatable relative to each other so that a golf ball inside the device can be cleaned by contrarotation of the parts. To aid grip during rotating the parts 10, 11 have projections 21.

One lip 20 has a hole 22 for attaching a carrying fastener.

In use, the sponges 15 in the parts 10 and 11 are moistened and then the parts are clipped together to retain the moisture. When it is required to clean a ball the parts are snapped apart and the ball confined in the two parts 10 and 11. The parts are then rotated in their rims 16 and 17 in opposite directions.

In a modification, one of the parts 10, 11 could be integrated with an aerosol head so that the head can discharge cleaning fluid liberally into the device.

In a further modification, to provide both moistening and scrubbing, the sponge 15 is replaced in some regions with bristles. When compressed by a golf ball inside the parts 10,11 the surfaces of both the sponge part and the bristle part then lie on the surface of the golf ball for cleaning it by moistening from the sponge and by rubbing with the bristles, Instead of making the cleaning material 15 in moulded hemispherical form it could be of slit sheet form when flat which forms itself into a cup when pressed in parts 10,11.

1. Golf ball cleaning device comprising atwo part (10, 11) body, each part defining a cup-shaped recess (12,13) of approximately semi golf ball size, the recesses being lined with golf ball cleaning material (15) and the two parts of the body being releasable from each other to open the device and engagablewith each other to enclose a golf ball and when so engaged the parts are both rotatable to clean a golf ball inside the body.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the two parts are co-joined hemispherical cups lined with sponge material.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which bristles exist in regions of the sponge material.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the sponge material is of slit sheet form when flat and forms itself into a cup when pressed into the cup-shaped recesses.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the body parts (10, 11) are clipped into rims (16,17) at recesses (18,19) in the body parts so asto be free to rotate in the rims whilst being otherwise firmly held.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 in which the rims clip together so as to be engageable with each other to enclose a golf ball.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which one of the body parts is associated with an aerosol head so that the head can discharge cleaning fluid into the device.

8. A golf ball cleaning device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf ball cleaning device This invention relates to golf ball cleaning devices. The commonly used form of golf ball cleaning device consists of a sponge body with a cup-shaped recess. In use the body is moistened and the ball to be cleaned is rotated in the recess. This device works quite well but it does tend to dry out and it cannot deal with firm deposits on the ball. The present invention aims to avoid or mitigate these two disadvantages. The golf ball cleaning device of the present invention comprises a two part body, each part defining a cup-shaped recess of approximately semi golf ball size, the recesses being lined with golf ball cleaning material and the two parts of the body being releasable from each other to open the device and engagable with each other to enclose a golf ball and when so engaged the parts are both rotatable to clean a golf ball inside the body. Preferably the two parts of the body are co-joined hemispherical cups lined with sponge material. When the parts are engaged together it is preferable that a seal is formed of a quality to avoid significant loss of moisture from the sponge. Bristles may be embedded in the inside walls of the two parts and the sponge material located around the bristles. The sponge material is preferably of slit sheet form which can be easily removed and is self retained when pressed into the cup-shaped recesses. One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a golf ball cleaning device in the closed position; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the device in the open position; and Figure 2A in an enlarged fragmentary section on the line A-A of Figure 2. The drawing shows parts 10, 11 of a two part body defining cup-shaped recesses 12, 13 of approximately semi golf ball size. The parts are co-joined at a hinge 14. The recesses are lined with a moulded sponge 15 in acup-shapeform. Figure 2A shows the parts 10, 11 clipped into rims 16, 17 at recesses 18, 19 in the parts 10,11 respectively so as to be free to rotate in the rims whilst being otherwise firmly held. The rims each have a lip 20 and the rims clip together. When so clipped the parts 10,11 are rotatable relative to each other so that a golf ball inside the device can be cleaned by contrarotation of the parts. To aid grip during rotating the parts 10, 11 have projections 21. One lip 20 has a hole 22 for attaching a carrying fastener. In use, the sponges 15 in the parts 10 and 11 are moistened and then the parts are clipped together to retain the moisture. When it is required to clean a ball the parts are snapped apart and the ball confined in the two parts 10 and 11. The parts are then rotated in their rims 16 and 17 in opposite directions. In a modification, one of the parts 10, 11 could be integrated with an aerosol head so that the head can discharge cleaning fluid liberally into the device. In a further modification, to provide both moistening and scrubbing, the sponge 15 is replaced in some regions with bristles. When compressed by a golf ball inside the parts 10,11 the surfaces of both the sponge part and the bristle part then lie on the surface of the golf ball for cleaning it by moistening from the sponge and by rubbing with the bristles, Instead of making the cleaning material 15 in moulded hemispherical form it could be of slit sheet form when flat which forms itself into a cup when pressed in parts 10,11. CLAIMS