Multigolf cleaner

• US 5,983,432 A
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nathan Jones
• Original Assignee: Nathan Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/092,835
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 15/21.2, 15/104.92, 15/160, 134/84, 134/89, 134/92, 134/201, 206/209.1, 206/229, 206/315.9, 206/579, 220/505, 220/507, 220/553, 220/23.2, 220/23.83, 211/70.2, 401/9, 401/10, 401/17, 401/131, 401/139, 473/131, 473/282, 473/406-408
• US Class Current: 15/21.2
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/3073 Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/04 for cleaning balls apparatus for cleaning balls, as accessories for bowling- or table alleys A63D5/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/60 Cleaning or maintenance of golf clubs, putters, shoes or other golf accessories cleaning balls A63B47/04; devices for cleaning handles or grips of golf clubs or putters A63B60/36

Abstract

A portable, multigolf cleaner is provided having an enclosure which includes several fluid reservoirs for containing separate cleaning fluids for cleaning different types of golf equipment. The enclosure has three openings through which cleaning utensils are inserted into the cleaning fluids. The cleaning utensils have integral threaded caps for sealing respective ones of the three openings. Two of the cleaning utensils have integral cleaning brushes which are immersed in the cleaning fluids stored in respective ones of the reservoirs. The cleaning brushes have cleaning brush bristles of various stiffness and coarseness, for cleaning the different types of golf equipment. A third cleaning utensil is a ball washing fixture which is used for retaining a ball for reciprocation within a third one of the fluid reservoirs. The third fluid reservoir has a plurality of brush bristles mounted interiorly therein, which face radially inward into the reservoir for scrubbing the golf ball as the golf ball and the golf ball washing fixture are reciprocated within the third reservoir. The enclosure further includes a fourth fluid reservoir which contains water for moistening a cleaning towel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment, comprising:

an enclosure having interior and exterior surfaces, and openings which extend through said interior and exterior surfaces;

partitions extending within said enclosure to define four separate fluid reservoirs, wherein a first one of said fluid reservoirs is disposed within a second one of said fluid reservoirs, and said second one of said fluid reservoirs is defined, at least in part, by said interior surface of said enclosure;

each of said openings in said enclosure corresponding to one of said fluid reservoirs, and three of said openings each having a mounting section for engaging with respective ones of three caps for mounting said caps thereto to seal three of said reservoirs;

said three caps for sealing respective ones of said openings, one of said caps having a ball washing fixture and the other two of said caps having brush type cleaning utensils;

a water valve connected to a fourth one of said openings for selectively operating to control a liquid flow from within a corresponding one of said reservoirs;

brush bristles mounted interiorly within one of said reservoirs, facing radially inward in an alignment for engaging against the exterior surface of a golf ball being retained within said ball washing fixture as said ball washing fixture is operatively moved to move the golf ball within said one of said reservoirs; and

grip means defined for each of said caps, on an opposite side of said respective ones of said three caps from respective ones of said ball washing fixture and said cleaning utensils.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mounting bracket having a support member portion and a retaining portion for engaging a rim and a sidewall of a golf bag to secure said mounting bracket to the golf bag, with said support member portion engaging the rim of said golf bag and said retaining portion engaging the sidewall of the golf bag.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

said mounting bracket further including a tee retaining portion having a plurality of apertures for storing the tees therein;

said support member portion of said mounting bracket having a hole extending therethrough for passage of a mounting post; and

said mounting post having a lowermost section which has a pointed lower end, an intermediate section having a foot stop extending laterally outward from a lower end portion thereof, and an upper section which defines a ledge for supporting a lower facing portion of said periphery of said enclosure and which extends upward from said ledge for engaging within said hole of said mounting bracket such that said upper section is retained within said hole.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a towel clip bracket for engaging a clip thereto to exteriorly secure a towel to said enclosure.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible sheet having first and second sides, and a thickness which extends therebetween, said first side having said brush bristles mounted thereto for extending in from said thickness and radially inward within the said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a plurality of spacers which extend radially outward of said flexible sheet, and between said flexible sheet and said ones of said partitions and said interior surfaces of said enclosure which define said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball; and

said flexible sheet having a plurality of holes which are spaced apart in two directions across said flexible sheet, and which extending through a thickness of said flexible sheet for passing fluid therethrough for passing debris cleaned from the golf ball into a spaced defined radially outward from said flexible sheet by said spacers.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of spacers are integrally formed, as one piece with said flexible sheet, and said flexible sheet is formed with four separate edges which are not joined to one another.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a club holder member defined to extend from said enclosure, and having a plurality of notches formed into an edge thereof, such that said club holder and said enclosure are mounted with said notches spaced apart from the ground surface for receiving the upper portions of golf clubs to retain said golf clubs in an upright position.

9. An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment, comprising:

an enclosure having interior and exterior surfaces, and openings which extend through said interior and exterior surfaces;

partitions extending within said enclosure to define separate fluid reservoirs;

each of said openings in said enclosure corresponding to one of said fluid reservoirs, and a portion of said openings each having a mounting section for engaging with respective ones of sealing members to seal said portions of said reservoirs;

said sealing members for sealing respective ones of said openings, one of said sealing members having a ball washing fixture and at least one other of said sealing members having a brush cleaning utensil;

brush bristles mounted interiorly within one of said reservoirs, facing radially inward in an alignment for engaging against the exterior surface of a golf ball being retained within said ball washing fixture as said ball washing fixture is operatively moved to move the golf ball within said one of said reservoirs; and

a flexible sheet having first and second sides, and a thickness which extends therebetween, said first side having said brush bristles mounted thereto for extending radially inward within the said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of spacers which extend radially outward of said flexible sheet, and between said flexible sheet and said interiors surfaces of said enclosure which define said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball; and

said flexible sheet having a plurality of holes which are spaced apart in two directions across said flexible sheet, and which extending through a thickness of said flexible sheet for passing fluid therethrough for passing debris cleaned from the golf ball into a spaced defined radially outward from said flexible sheet by said spacers.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said flexible sheet is formed with four separate edges which are not joined to one another.

12. An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment, comprising:

an enclosure having interior and exterior surfaces, and openings which extend through said interior and exterior surfaces;

partitions extending within said enclosure to define separate fluid reservoirs, wherein a first one of said fluid reservoirs is disposed within a second one of said fluid reservoirs, and said second one of said fluid reservoirs is defined, at least in part, by said interior surface of said enclosure;

each of said openings in said enclosure corresponding to one of said fluid reservoirs, and a plurality of said openings each having a mounting section for securing with respective ones of sealing members thereto;

said sealing members for sealing respective ones of said openings, one of said sealing members having a ball washing fixture and the other two of said sealing members having cleaning utensils;

brush bristles mounted interiorly within one of said reservoirs, facing radially inward in an alignment for engaging against the exterior surface of a golf ball being retained within said ball washing fixture as said ball washing fixture is operatively moved to move the golf ball within said one of said reservoirs;

a mounting bracket having a support member portion and a retaining portion for engaging a rim and a sidewall of a golf bag to secure said mounting bracket to the golf bag, with said support member portion engaging the rim of said golf bag and said retaining portion engaging the sidewall of the golf bag;

said support member portion of said mounting bracket having a hole extending therethrough for passage of a mounting post; and

said mounting post having a lowermost section which has a pointed lower end, an intermediate section having a foot stop extending laterally outward from a lower end portion thereof, and an upper section which defines a ledge for supporting a lower facing portion of said periphery of said enclosure and which extends upward from said ledge for engaging within said hole of said mounting bracket such that said upper section is retained within said hole.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising:

said mounting bracket further including a tee retaining portion having a plurality of apertures for storing the tees therein.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

a towel clip bracket for engaging a clip thereto to exteriorly secure a towel to said enclosure.

15. An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment, comprising:

an enclosure having interior and exterior surfaces, and openings which extend through said interior and exterior surfaces;

partitions extending within said enclosure to define four separate fluid reservoirs, wherein a first one of said fluid reservoirs is disposed within a second one of said fluid reservoirs, and said second one of said fluid reservoirs is defined, at least in part, by said interior surface of said enclosure;

each of said openings in said enclosure corresponding to one of said fluid reservoirs, and three of said openings each having a cylindrically shaped section for threadingly engaging with respective ones of three threaded caps to seal three of said reservoirs;

said three threaded caps for sealing respective ones of said openings, one of said threaded caps having a ball washing fixture and the other two of said threaded caps having cleaning utensils;

a water valve connected to a fourth one of said openings for selectively operating to control a liquid flow from within a corresponding one of said reservoirs;

brush bristles mounted interiorly within one of said reservoirs, facing radially inward in an alignment for engaging against the exterior surface of a golf ball being retained within said ball washing fixture as said ball washing fixture is operatively moved to move the golf ball within said one of said reservoirs;

grip handles, one mounted to each of said three threaded caps, on an opposite side of said respective ones of said three threaded caps from respective ones of said ball washing fixture and said cleaning utensils; and

a mounting bracket having a support member portion and a retaining portion for engaging a rim and a sidewall of a golf bag to secure said mounting bracket to the golf bag, with said support member portion engaging the rim of said golf bag and said retaining portion engaging the sidewall of the golf bag.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

said mounting bracket further including a tee retaining portion having a plurality of apertures for storing the tees therein;

said support member portion of said mounting bracket having a hole extending therethrough for passage of a mounting post; and

said mounting post having a lowermost section which has a pointed lower end, an intermediate section having a foot stop extending laterally outward from a lower end portion thereof, and an upper section which defines a ledge for supporting a lower facing portion of said periphery of said enclosure and which extends upward from said ledge for engaging within said hole of said mounting bracket such that said upper section is retained within said hole.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a towel clip bracket for engaging a clip thereto to exteriorly secure a towel to said enclosure.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a flexible sheet having first and second sides, and a thickness which extends therebetween, said first side having said brush bristles mounted thereto for extending from said thickness radially inward within the said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of spacers which extend radially outward of said flexible sheet, and between said flexible sheet and said ones of said partitions and said interior surfaces of said enclosure which define said one of said reservoirs within which the golf ball and said ball washing fixture are operatively moved for washing the golf ball; and

said flexible sheet having a plurality of holes which are spaced apart in two directions across said flexible sheet, and which extending through a thickness of said flexible sheet for passing fluid therethrough for passing debris cleaned from the golf ball into a spaced defined radially outward from said flexible sheet by said spacers.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising:

a plate having a plurality of notches formed into an edge thereof, an aperture for receiving said mounting post, and an upper surface for fitting beneath said enclosure with said plate spaced apart from the ground surface and said notches positioned for receiving the upper portions of golf clubs to retain said golf clubs in an upright position.

21. An apparatus for cleaning golf equipment, comprising:

an enclosure having interior and exterior surfaces, and openings which extend through said interior and exterior surfaces;

partitions extending within said enclosure to define separate fluid reservoirs;

said openings in said enclosure corresponding to said fluid reservoirs, and a portion of said openings each having a mounting section for engaging with respective ones of sealing members to seal said portions of said reservoirs;

sealing members for sealing respective ones of said openings;

a mounting bracket mounted to said enclosure for securing said enclosure to at least one of a mounting post and a sidewall of a golf bag, such that said enclosure is spaced apart from a ground surface; and

a club holder member defined to extend from said enclosure, and having a plurality of recesses formed into an edge thereof, such that said club holder and said enclosure are mounted with said recesses disposed above and spaced apart from the ground surface for receiving the upper portions of golf clubs to retain the golf clubs in an upright position.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said mounting post has a lowermost section which has a pointed lower end, an intermediate section having a foot stop extending laterally outward from a lower end portion thereof, and an upper section which defines a ledge for supporting a lower facing portion of a periphery of said enclosure and which extends upward from said ledge for engaging within a hole of said mounting bracket and an aperture in said club holder member, such that said mounting bracket, said enclosure and said club holder are slidably secured to said mounting post.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said club holder member comprises a plate having a plurality of notches formed into an edge thereof to define said recesses, an aperture for receiving said mounting post, and an upper surface for fitting beneath said enclosure with said plate spaced apart from the ground surface and said notches positioned for receiving the upper portions of golf clubs to retain said golf clubs in an upright position.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising:

said sealing, members for sealing respective ones of said openings, one of said sealing members having a ball washing fixture and at least one other of said sealing members having a brush cleaning utensil; and

brush bristles mounted interiorly within one of said reservoirs, facing radially inward in an alignment for engaging against the exterior surface of a golf ball being retained within said ball washing fixture as said ball washing fixture is operatively moved to move the golf ball within said one of said reservoirs.