GB2485802A

GB2485802A - A golf club cleaning case

Info

Publication number: GB2485802A
Application number: GB1019924.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth John Pye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-24
Filing date: 2010-11-24
Publication date: 2012-05-30
Also published as: GB201019924D0

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus comprising means to hold items 34 and a cleaning head wherein the cleaning head has a rotatable and translatable brush 42, a first jet to deposit cleaning fluid onto the items and a second jet arranged to direct a drying fluid at the items. The device may have a motor and a pinion and rack arrangement to move and rotate a spindle 44. Compressed air may be used to dry the items. The device may be arranged to hold golf clubs 14. There may also be means for recycling any water used and the device may be coin or token operated.

Description

CLEANING APPARATUS

This invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, and in particular, but without limitation to, an apparatus suitable for cleaning golf clubs.

Golf clubs can often become dirty during play, for example, with soil/mud if the player scoops a shot and creates a divot, or with sand, if play takes place in a bunker. Golf clubs, in particular, the striking faces thereof, must be kept clean if the ball is to be struck consistently. The striking face of a golf club often comprises surface grooves and undulations, which are designed to impart a particular type of spin to the ball, or to improve the club's contact with the ball during a stroke. It is these grooves and undulations, which can become clogged with debris, and which, if left un-cleaned, could have a detrimental effect on the player's performance.

Accordingly, golfers must maintain their clubs to ensure consistent performance, which means that a regular cleaning regime must be established.

Such a cleaning regime can be arduous and time-consuming, meaning that the regular cleaning of golf club heads is a task which can often be overlooked or omitted.

The situation can be made worse where a player's clubs are kept in a locker at his/her golf club, in which case, they are rarely taken home to be cleaned. Such a situation can lead to dirt build-up on the club faces and an incremental degradation in the player's performance.

A solution is therefore required for one or more of the above problems.

A known automated golf club cleaning apparatus, such as that described in United States patent No: U56,454,875, which comprises housing having an aperture into which the head of an individual golf club can be inserted. Within the housing, there is provided a motorised brush head and a water jet that cleans the head of the golf club, when inserted into the aperture. However, this device is time-consuming to use because each club needs to be cleaned individually and also requires a considerable amount of user intervention because each club needs to be cleaned and dried separately by the user. These drawbacks have resulted in poor uptake of such devices.

This invention aims to provide a solution to one or more of the above problems and/or to provide an alternative and/or improved cleaning apparatus, in particular for golf clubs.

According to the invention there is provided a cleaning apparatus comprising means for retaining a plurality of items to be cleaned and a cleaning head arranged to cooperate with the items to be cleaned, the cleaning head comprising a rotatable and translatable brush means, a first jet arranged to deposit a cleaning fluid onto the items to be cleaned, and a second jet arranged to direct a drying fluid at the item or items to be cleaned.

Cleaning of the items, e.g. the golf clubs, may be effected by a sequence comprising, in any order, any one of more of the group comprising: wetting the items to be cleaned using the first jet; brushing the items to be cleaned using the brush means; and blowing and/or drying the items to be cleaned using the second jet. Different combinations of cleaning regimes may be used in different circumstances.

The brush means may comprise a rotatable spindle onto which the brush head is detachably mountable and a linear actuator operable to translate the spindle relative to the item or items to be cleaned. A detachable brush head may facilitate cleaning and maintenance of the cleaning apparatus.

The spindle may be rotatable using an actuator, such as an electric motor, a pneumatic turbine or a hydraulic turbine. Alternatively, the spindle may be rotatable using a pinion gear rigidly affixed to the spindle and arranged to engage a rack, the spindle being operatively coupled to the linear actuator such that translation of the spindle relative to the items to be cleaned causes the pinion gear to roll along the rack, thereby rotating the spindle.

The linear actuator preferably comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator, although an electric motor-driven linear actuator may also be used, The linear actuator and/or the turbine may be driven by a supply of compressed air. An air compressor may be used to provide a ready supply of compressed air. Where provided, the air compressor may be operatively connected to any one or more of the linear actuator, the turbine and the second jet. The first and/or the second jet may comprise a nozzle. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, drying of the items is effected using an air blade.

The drying fluid may conveniently comprise compressed air. Additionally or alternatively, the drying fluid may comprise a relatively inert, volatile solvent, such as, for example, isopropanol (propan-2-ol).

In an alternative embodiment, the linear actuator and/or the turbine may be driven by a supply of water under pressure. In such a situation, the supply of water under pressure may be operatively connected to any one or more of the linear actuator, the turbine and the first jet. Where provided or necessary, the supply of water under pressure may comprise a mains water supply and/or a reservoir and/or a water pump.

The cleaning apparatus preferably comprises a housing. The housing preferably has a sealingly-closeable door. The door may be fitted with an interlock to prevent the apparatus from operating unless the door is securely closed.

The housing preferably comprises means for retaining a plurality of golf clubs with their striking faces arranged to face the cleaning head. The means for retaining the golf clubs may comprise a resiliently deformable foam block comprising a plurality of slits into which slits a shaft of a golf club can be press fitted. The means for retaining the golf clubs may additionally comprise a brush whose bristles are resiliently deformable to accommodate the heads of a golf clubs.

A sump is preferably provided within the housing for collecting used cleaning fluid. The used cleaning fluid is preferably recycled by the apparatus.

This may be achieved by providing a pump for pumping the used cleaning fluid from the sump (optionally via a reservoir) to the nozzle, and a filter means interposed between the sump and pump/reservoir/nozzle for filtering contaminants from the used cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid preferably comprises a water and soap solution. The cleaning apparatus may additionally comprise a heating element for warming/heating the cleaning fluid.

The cleaning apparatus may be coin-, code-or token-operated.

Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic front view of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the cleaning apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic system diagram for a cleaning apparatus according to the invention; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a brush head rotating mechanism of a second embodiment of the invention.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, a cleaning apparatus 5 comprises a generally housing 10 having a main body portion 12 in which a set of golf clubs 14 are receivable, a sump 16 and a cleaning head 18. In use, the golf clubs 14 are inserted by a user in an upright orientation with their striking faces 22 arranged to face towards the cleaning head 18. The cleaning head 18 is configured to move over the striking faces 22 to clean them.

The main body portion 12 of the housing 10 comprises a generally rectangular rear wall 24 onto which the retaining mechanism 20 for the clubs 14 is affixed. Side walls 26, a base wall 28 and a top wall 30 project at right angles to the rear wall 24 to form a hollow enclosure 31 for receiving the golf clubs 14.

A closeable door 15 having a viewing window 13 is also provided to sealingly close the front of the housing 10 and to prevent, in use, cleaning fluids from escaping and to guard the cleaning head 18 against accidental intrusion and obstruction. A pair of seals 17 are provided between the periphery of the door and the housing 10 to achieve this. As an additional safety feature, a door interlock 32 is interposed between the door 15 and the housing 10 such that the cleaning apparatus 5 will not function unless the door 15 is closed.

Located within, and at the bottom of, the housing 10 below the clubs 14, is a removable sump tray 16 for collecting the cleaning fluids 19.

The retaining mechanism 20 comprises a first block of resiliently deformable foam 34 located towards the top of the housing 10. The first foam block 34 has slits therein into which the shafts 38 of the clubs 14 can be pushed.

A complementary, second foam block 39 is also located on the inner surface of the door 15, which bears against the club shafts 38 and the first foam block 34 to clamp the club shafts 38 and to prevent the clubs 14 from moving when the door is closed.

The retaining mechanism 20 additionally comprises a removable, elongate brush 36 affixed to the rear wall 24 of the housing 10 adjacent the club heads 40. The bristles of the brush 36 are arranged to project perpendicularly from the rear wall 24 of the housing 10 and are resiliently deformable so as to spread and thus accommodate the club heads. The functions of the brush 36 are: to further retain the clubs 14 in situ; to bias them towards the cleaning head 18; and to prevent the clubs 14 from rotating about their shafts 38, in use. The brush 36 is subject to wear and can become dirty over time. Accordingly, the brush 36 is removably affixed, using, for example, bolts and wing nuts, to enable it to be removed during servicing and/or to facilitate replacement thereof.

The cleaning head 18 is located towards the bottom of the housing 10 above the sump tray 16. The cleaning head 18 comprises a generally cylindrical, rotatable brush head 42 that can rotate on a spindle 44. The spindle 44 is rotated, in use, by a pneumatic turbine 46 connected to an air compressor 48.

The spindle 44 is mounted in a bearing 50 that is affixed to a pneumatically-driven linear actuator 52, which is also connected to the air compressor 48. A pair of end-stop control valves 54, which are located at the extremities of travel of the linear actuator 52, and a pilot valve 53, control the direction of air flow within the linear actuator 52 thereby causing it to reciprocate along a track extending from one side of the housing 10 to the other.

As such, when the air compressor 48 is switched on, compressed air flows to the turbine 46 and the linear actuator 52 thereby causing the brush head 42 to rotate and to traverse the housing. Since the bristles of the brush head 42 are arranged to contact the striking faces of the golf clubs, the club heads 40 are brushed clean.

The cleaning head 18 additionally comprises a first jet 56 having a nozzle 57 arranged to spray cleaning fluid, such as a water and soap solution, towards the club heads 40.

The first jet 56 uses re-circulated cleaning fluid, which is drawn from the sump tray 16, via a filter 58 using a water pump 60 and thence to the nozzle 57.

The water pump can be a Venturi pump, also powered by the air compressor 48.

The filter 58 removes contaminants from the cleaning fluid enabling the cleaning fluid to be re-used. A reservoir of water and/or detergent/soap and/or a mains water supply 59 is used to top-up the sump and to maintain a desired water level. This can be achieved, for example, using a float valve 62. A control valve 63 is used to control the flow of cleaning fluid 19 from the first jet 56.

The cleaning head 18 additionally comprises a second jet 64 also connected to the air compressor 48 via a control valve 65. The second jet 64 comprises a nozzle 66 designed to create an "air blade" for wiping/drying the club heads dry after the washing and brushing operation. The air blade is angled downwardly so as to encourage water to be shed back into the sump tray 16 for re-use.

Finally, a control computer 68 is provided to enable the cleaning apparatus to operate in a number of different modes. The control computer 68 comprises a keypad 70 and a screen 71 to enable a user to enter a code to start the cleaning apparatus and to select a desired cleaning mode. Additionally or alternatively, the cleaning apparatus may be coin-or token-operated 73 and/or it may only have one or a limited number of cleaning modes. Possible cleaning modes are as follows: Dry brushing -the brush head 42 passes over the club heads 40 without the water 56 or air jets 64 being switched on. This mode may be suitable where the clubs are only slightly soiled and/or are contaminated with dry dirt only.

Dry brushing and blowing -the brush head 42 passes over the club heads 40 without the water jet 56, but with the air jet 64 being switched on. This mode may be suitable where the clubs are only slightly soiled and/or are contaminated with dry dirt only.

Wet brushing -the brush head 42 passes over the club heads 40 without the air jet 64, but with the water jet 56 being switched on. This mode may be suitable where the clubs are soiled and/or are contaminated with mud or wet dirt.

Wet brush and dry -the brush head 42 first passes over the club heads 40 with the water jet 56 switched on. It then passes over the club heads with the water jet 56 switched off, but the air jet 64 switched on to dry the clubs.

Intensive clean -the brush head 42 first passes over the club heads 40 a number of times with the water jet 56 switched on. It then passes over the club heads with neither jet switched on and then again with the water jet 56 switched on. The final stage involves drying using the air jet 64 only.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, in a first alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 5, the turbine 46 is omitted. In this case, the spindle 44 is affixed to a pinion gear 70 that rolls over a rack 72 affixed to the housing 10. Thus, as the linear actuator 52 causes the spindle 44 to traverse the housing 10, the pinion gear 70 rolls over the rack 72 causing the spindle 44, and thus the brush head 42 to rotate automatically.

A yet further alternative embodiment of the invention uses hydraulic, rather than pneumatic actuators, in which case the turbine 46 and linear actuator 52 would be connected to a water pump rather than to an air compressor.

Various possible advantages of the invention include the fact that a single air compressor can be used to drive the spindle, linear actuator, the air blade and the Venturi water pump of the invention. Additionally, a pneumatic system may be almost entirely pneumatically (i.e. non-electrically) controlled, e.g. as shown in Figure 4. Such a configuration may remove the need for there to be any electrical components in the "wet" compartment of the housing. :1.1

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: means for retaining a plurality of items to be cleaned; and a cleaning head arranged to cooperate with the items to be cleaned, wherein the cleaning head comprises: a rotatable and translatable brush means; a first jet arranged to deposit a cleaning fluid onto the items to be cleaned; and a second jet arranged to direct a drying fluid at the items to be cleaned.
2. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein cleaning of the items is effected by the sequence of wetting using the first jet, brushing using the brush means and drying using the second jet.
3. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the brush means comprises a rotatable spindle onto which the a brush head is mountable and a linear actuator operable to translate the spindle relative to the item or items to be cleaned.
4. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spindle is rotatable using an actuator.
5. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises an electric motor or a pneumatic or a hydraulic turbine.
6. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a pinion gear rigidly affixed to the spindle and arranged to engage a rack, the spindle being operatively coupled to the linear actuator such that translation of the spindle relative to the item or items to be cleaned causes the pinion to roll along the rack, thereby rotating the spindle.
7. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the linear actuator comprises a pneumatic or hydraulic linear actuator.
8. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the linear actuator and/or the turbine is driven by a supply of compressed air.
9. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 8, further comprising an air compressor operatively connected to any one or more of the linear actuator, the turbine and the second jet.
10. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the first and/or the second jet comprises a nozzle.
11. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the drying fluid comprises compressed air.
12. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second jet comprises an air blade.
13. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the drying fluid comprises a volatile solvent.
14. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the linear actuator and/or the turbine is driven by a supply of water under pressure.
15. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the supply of water under pressure comprises a mains water supply and/or a reservoir and/or a water pump.
16. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a housing.
17. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing comprises means for retaining a plurality of golf clubs with their striking faces facing the cleaning head.
18. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for retaining comprises a resiliently deformable block comprising a plurality of slits into which slits a shaft of a golf club are press-fittable.
19. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the means for retaining comprises a brush whose bristles are resiliently deformable to accommodate the heads of a golf clubs.
20. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the housing comprises a sump for collecting used cleaning fluid.
21. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means for recycling the used cleaning fluid, the means for recycling comprising a pump for pumping used cleaning fluid from the sump to the first jet.
22. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the means for recycling further comprises a filter.
23. A cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cleaning fluid comprises a water and soap solution.
24. A coin-or token-operated cleaning apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.
25. A cleaning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.