GB2215619A

GB2215619A - Golf club cleaning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2215619A
Application number: GB8830212A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Desmond G O'donnell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-08
Filing date: 1988-12-23
Publication date: 1989-09-27
Also published as: GB8830212D0; IE880342L

Abstract

A golf club cleaning apparatus comprises a housing 11 having means for supporting a plurality of golf clubs 13 in a common orientation with their heads spaced apart in a cleaning compartment, and means for directing a fluid onto the heads of the clubs in the cleaning compartment. In particular, the support means comprises an upright shaft 14 rotatable about its own axis and two holding plates 15 and 16 fixed to the shaft at axially spaced locations, each holding plate having a set of apertures 17 surrounding the shaft, the sets of apertures being aligned to receive the shaft portions of golf clubs, and the cleaning compartment being located below the lower holding plate 16. <IMAGE>

Description

GOLF CLUB CLEANING APPARATUS The present invention relates to a golf club cleaning apparatus.

A known tedious problem for golf players is that of maintaining the golf clubs and irons in a clean condition. Generally, most golf enthusiasts prefer to maintain their clubs and irons in pristine condition.

However, during most golf games the playing heads of the clubs and irons usually become soiled by picking up earth and grass. Due to the large forces generated during many golf strokes, any earth, mud or grass collected on the playing head can be heavily compacted on the playing head and is usually difficult to remove completely because of the intricate nature of most golf clubs and irons.

Most players Ts l generally lean their clubs and irons with water and a cloth. However this is tedious and time consuming as a player will normally use up to twelve or thirteen different clubs/irons during the course of a game.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above problem of cleaning golf clubs/irons.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf club cleaning apparatus comprising a housing having means for supporting a plurality of golf clubs in a substantially common orientation with their heads spaced apart in a cleaning compartment, and means for directing a fluid onto the heads of the clubs in the cleaning compartment.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf club cleaning apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the lower region of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the cleaning brushes and head support members.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar numerals have been used to indicate like parts, there is shown therein a golf club cleaning apparatus generally indicated at 10 according to the invention. The apparatus 10 comprises an upright cyclindrical housing 11 having a door 12 pivotted thereon to facilitate insertion and removal of golf clubs/irons 13 to and from the housing. A substantially vertical support shaft 14 extends centrally through the housing 11 and carries fixed thereto upper and lower holding plates 15, 16 respectively, axially spaced along the shaft 14. The shaft i4 is rotatable about its own axis.

The upper holding plate 15 has a set of radially extending apertures or slots 17 surrounding the shaft for receiving the upper or handle part 18 of the shaft portion of the golf clubs 13. The lower holding plate 16 has a similar set of elongate slots which are aligned with the set of slots 17 in the plate 15. However, the slots in the plate 16 are closed by resilient rubber flaps 19 which are slit at 20 to open to enable entry of the shaft portion 21 of a golf club to a circular aperture 22 and then to close.

A plurality of club head support members 25 are fixed to and extend radially outwardly and downwardly from the shaft 14, each for holding the head 26 of a respective golf club 13. The members 25 are located below the lower holding plate 16 and in alignment with the apertures 22. Thus, the golf clubs 13 are supported in a common orientation in the housing 11, i.e.

generally in parallel around the central shaft 14 with the heads 26 resting on the members 25 below the holding plate 26.

The region of the housing 11 below the lower holding plate 16 is a cleaning compartment and has disposed around its interior wall a manifold 30 having a plurality of downwardly projecting jets 31 for directing water supplied to the manifold onto the heads 26 of the golf clubs. The manifold 30 is located slightly below the holding plate 16 and is supplied with water from a pump 32 via a valve 33. A circular seal 34 is provided around the inner wall 35 of the housing 11, the seal 34 having a slot 36 which accommodates the outer edge 37 of the holding plate 16. In addition, the inner surface 38 of the door 12 has a complementary seal 39 for sealing with the portion of the holding plate 16 in the region of the door 12.Thus, the seals 34, 39 together with the lower holding plate 16 effectively seal the cleaning compartment from the upper region of the housing to prevent the shaft portion 21 and handles 18 of the golf clubs becoming wet during washing of the club heads 26.

The slot 36 in the seal 34 however permits the holding plate 16 to be rotated, to bring the slots in the holding plates into the region of the door 12. The central shaft 14 is connected to a handle 40 on the top of the housing 11 to enable rotation of the shaft 14 and thus the plates 15, 16.

The cleaning compartment further includes a plurality of generally horizontal cleaning brushes 41 each of which extends radially between a respective pair of club head support members 25. The inner end 42 of each brush 41 may be supported on the central shaft 14, or on another bearing support, and adjacent the inner end 42 there is fixed a cogwheel 43 which is driven by an annular cogwheel 44. The cogwheel 44 is driven from a motor 45 located in a sealed compartment 46 below the cleaning compartment. The brushes 41 comprise an elongate hollow shaft 47 which engages over a support shaft (not shown) extending radially from the central shaft 14. The brushes 41 thus rotate with the central shaft 14. The valve 33 may be operated to select a water supply from the pump 32 or an air supply (which may be heated) from an air pump 48 and convey the water/air to manifold 30, via a conduit 49.

In use, a set of golf clubs/irons are arranged vertically in the housing 11 as described with theheads 26 resting on the members 25. The door 12 is closed and the valve 33 selected to receive water from the pump 32.

The pump 32 is energised causing pressurised water to be directed at the club heads 26 from the jets 31. The motor 45 is also energised causing the brushes 41 to rotate and clean the heads 26. As shown, the brushes 41 have a plurality of radial bristles 50 which brush against the club heads 26 as the brushes rotate. Each brush acts to clean one face of a respective club and the opposite face of an adjacent club 26. After a predetermined time, the water supply is stopped and the water can drain from the cleaning compartment via a drainage outlet 51. The air supply is then operated to complete the cleaning cycle, with the air also being directed at the club heads 26 via the jets 31 to dry off the club head for a predetermined period.

It will be appreciated that the cleaning cycle will preferably be operated automatically rather like a conventional washing machine and a variety of different pre-programmed cleaning cycles may be provided which can be selected by a user depending on the condition of the clubs. Advantageously, the cleaning cycle will be initiated by a signal from a coin-operated mechanism and this of course will provide an income for a golf club providing the apparatus.

Further, it will be appreciated that a variety of different arrangements of cleaning brushes and holding arrangements for the clubs may be provided within the scope of the invention and the invention is not in any way limited to the particular construction described herein by way of example. For example, an additional manifold may be located under the members 25 having jets which direct water/air upwards under the club heads.

Also, the member 25 need not be completely solid but may simply comprise one or more narrow flanges, or an open grid so that water/air may be directed to the underside of the club heads. Additional brushes may also be provided to clean the underside of the club heads.

Further, the members 25 could be dispensed with if other holding means is provided to secure the clubs in the upright position. In an alternative constrection the housing may be arranged to be fixed horizontally. It will also be appreciated that a detergent may be provided either in the water supply or separately. A number of the housings 11 may be mounted side by side at a suitable location in a golf club.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the outermost ends of the brushes 41 may be located in bearings fixed to the inner wall of the housing.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf club cleaning apparatus comprising a housing having means for supporting a plurality of golf clubs in a substantially common orientation with their heads spaced apart in a cleaning compartment, and means for directing fluid onto the heads of the clubs in the cleaning compartment.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support means is arranged to support the clubs generally in parallel around an upright axis.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing has a door to permit insertion and removal of the clubs, and the support means is rotatable about the said axis to permit successive clubs to be loaded into and removed from the support means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support means comprises an upright shaft rotatable about its own axis and two holding plates fixed to the shaft at axially spaced locations, each holding plate having a set of apertures surrounding the shaft, the sets of apertures being aligned to receive the shaft portions of golf clubs, and the cleaning compartment being located below the lower holding plate.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support means further comprises a plurality of club hèad support members fixed to and extending radially from the shaft below the lower holding plate, each plate being aligned with a respective pair of apertures in the holding plates.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further including a plurality of rotatable cleaning brushes each extending radially between a respective pair of club head support members, and drive means for rotating the brushes.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein sealing means are provided between the lower holding plate and the interior wall of the housing to prevent or substantially reduce the amount of water entering the region of the housing above the lower holding plate.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fluid-directing means comprises a water manifold disposed around the interior wall of the housing in the cleaning compartment, the manifold having a plurality of jets for directing water onto golf club heads resting on the club head support members.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical.

10. A golf club cleaning apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.