Golf ball carrier and cleaner device

Abstract

A golf ball carrier and cleaning device comprising a piece of fabric material, having opposite sides and a top and bottom, the top and bottom provided with spaced securing means positioned and constructed so as releasably to secure together the top and bottom, when the piece is folded about a central portion, and the securing means are in secured position, to form an open ended sleeve and provide an opening between the securing means and top and bottom through which a golf ball may be inserted into the sleeve, the piece being of a size and the securing means being positioned so that a golf ball inserted into the sleeve may be forced from the sleeve through one of its ends by squeezing the sleeve beside the ball, the piece further provided with means to suspend the piece from a desired location.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable golf ball carrier and cleaner device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different portable devices have been developed for assisting golfers in cleaning their golf balls. For example U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,224 of Pacifico et al. issued Jun. 20, 2000 describes and illustrates a golf ball cleaning device including a sheet material casing which has releasably attached to it a length of towel. To be used, the casing must be moved from a folded position to a stretched out position exposing the towel.

U.S. Patent applications publication Nos. US 2003/0005535 A1, published Jan. 9, 2003, and US 2004/0211019 A1, published Oct. 28, 2004, of Hale, describe vertically mounted sleeves made from soft absorbent material through which a golf ball may be passed to clean it.

Other references of general background-interest relating to portable cleaning devices include U.S. Patent application publication Nos. US 2004/0016071 A1, published Jan. 29, 2004 of Ayala, US 2004/0255421 A1, published Dec. 23, 2004 of Kim, U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,851, issued Jul. 22, 2003 of Sprague, U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,827, issued May 8, 2001 of English Jr., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,825, issued Jan. 24, 1961 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,530,746, issued Nov. 21, 1950 of Wetherby.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative construction of golf ball cleaner which is convenient to carry and effective in use, and which will serve alternatively as a golf ball carrier.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a golf ball carrier and cleaning device comprising a piece of fabric material. The fabric material has opposite sides and a top and bottom. The top and bottom are provided with spaced securing means that are positioned and constructed so as to releasably secure together the top and bottom, when the piece is folded about a central portion and the securing means are in secured position, to form an open ended sleeve and provide an opening between the securing means and top and bottom through which a golf ball may be inserted into the sleeve. The piece is of a size and the securing means are positioned so that a golf ball inserted into the sleeve may be forced from the sleeve through one of its ends by squeezing the sleeve beside the ball. The piece is further provided with means to suspend the piece from a desired location.

In a preferred embodiment a piece of water-resistant material, of similar size and shape to that of the piece of fabric, is secured to the fabric in such a way that the fabric forms an inner lining of the sleeve when the securing means are in secured position.

The golf ball carrier and cleaner in accordance with the present invention permits a golf ball to be dried and cleaned, once it is inserted into the sleeve through the opening between the top and bottom of the fabric piece, while at the same time holding the ball securely as it is carried by the golfer, for example, from a hole to the next tee. Its simple design permits an inexpensive construction. It may be carried on the belt or belt loop of a golfer, or on the golfer's cart or golf bag, for easy accessibility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view elevation of the golf ball carrier and cleaner device according to the present invention, when in open, unfolded position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in folded, operational position.

FIG. 3 is a section view along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 there is illustrated, in unfolded position, a golf ball carrier and cleaner device 2 comprising a piece 4 of fabric material such as terry cloth, muslin, Micro-fiber, flannel, cotton or the like, of generally rectangular shape, having sides 6, a top 8 and bottom 10. Secured to fabric material piece 4 is a similarly sized and shaped piece 12 of water-resistant, preferably waterproof, material. When device 2 is in folded position (FIG. 2) water resistant piece 12 forms the outside of the device 2 and the piece 4 of fabric material forms the inside. Near each of the corners are positioned fastening means 14, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of snap fasteners 16, the lower left and lower right snap fasteners 16 releasably securably engagable with the corresponding upper left and upper right snap fasteners 16, when pieces 4 and 12 are folded about their central portions, to provide an open ended sleeve 18 (FIG. 2), with the top and bottom portions more or less fitting together. Between the left and right pairs of engaged snap fasteners 16, as seen in FIG. 2, an opening 20 is provided between top 8 and bottom 10, through which a golf ball 22 may be inserted into a central region of the sleeve 18. Pieces 4 and 12 are of a size and securing means 14 are positioned so that when golf ball 22 is inserted into the sleeve through opening 20, it is easily retained within the sleeve 18. As well, golf ball 22 may then be forced from within sleeve 18, by squeezing the material pieces 4 and 12, on one side of the ball, to force it out of the sleeve through one of the side openings. Movement of the ball within the sleeve when it is inserted and when it is forced out, causes the ball to be dried and cleaned by the piece 4 of fabric material. The exterior water-resistant material 12, when the device is in folded position being carried by a golfer as illustrated in FIG. 2, permits the golfer's clothing from attracting moisture or dirt built up within the sleeve 18.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the bottom 10 of each of material pieces 4 and 12 is of somewhat longer size than top 8. This gives the pieces of material a slightly rhomboid appearance and permits the bottom snap fasteners 16 to be spaced apart a somewhat greater distance than the top snap fasteners 16. When the fasteners are secured together as in FIG. 2, the greater spacing part of the lower snap fasteners permits an outward bulge in bottom 10 of the fabric and water-resistant materials, providing a larger opening 20 and facilitating the placing of the golf ball 22 into the sleeve 18.

An eyelet aperture 24 is provided centrally positioned along the top 10 of fabric piece 4 and water-resistant material piece 12, to which a ring 26 is attached. As can be seen in FIG. 1, aperture 24 is positioned slightly above the level of the upper snap fasteners 16. This provides unobstructed passage of ring 26 through aperture 24 when the device is in folded position (FIG. 2). A clip 28 such as a carabiner-type clip as illustrated, secured to ring 26, provides for releasable attachment of the device for example to a golfer's belt (as illustrated) or to an appropriate site on a golfer's golf bag or golf cart. This ring/carabiner construction, and the central positioning of aperture 24, minimizes swiveling of the sleeve 18 as the golfer walks (when attached to the belt or belt loop of the golfer's clothing). As well the sleeve 18 is held more or less in horizontal position to minimize the chance that the golf ball 22 carried within sleeve 18 might fall out.

After use, by unclipping fasteners 16 and opening pieces 4 and 12 (FIG. 1), the piece 4 of fabric material can be readily dried out, or, if necessary, cleaned. In this open position with the fabric material piece 4 being exposed, the device 2 can serve alternatively as a surface for cleaning or drying the face of a golf club or even the hands or fingers of the golfer.

It will be understood that the device according to the present invention is simple to construct and effective in use.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a golf ball carrier and cleaner device that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A golf ball carrier and cleaning device comprising a piece of fabric material, having opposite sides and a top and bottom, the top and bottom provided with spaced securing means positioned and constructed so as releasably to secure together the top and bottom, when the piece is folded about a central portion, and the securing means are in secured position, to form an open ended sleeve and provide an opening between the securing means and top and bottom through which a golf ball may be inserted into the sleeve, the piece being of a size and the securing means being positioned so that a golf ball inserted into the sleeve may be forced from the sleeve through one of its ends by squeezing the sleeve beside the ball, the piece further provided with means to suspend the piece from a desired location.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is of water-resistant material.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the fabric is of a soft absorbent material selected from the group comprising terrycloth, muslin, Micro-fiber, flannel and cotton.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein a piece of water-resistant material, of similar size and shape to that of the piece of fabric, is secured to the fabric in such a way that the fabric forms an inner lining of the sleeve when the pieces are folded and the securing means are in secured position.

5. A device according to claim 2, wherein a piece of water-resistant material, of similar size and shape to that of the piece of fabric, is secured to the fabric in such a way that the fabric forms an inner lining of the sleeve when the pieces are folded and the securing means are in secured position.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein the pieces of fabric and water resistant material are of generally rectangular shape with four corners, one of the securing means being positioned in each of the corners, the securing means in the bottom corners co-operating with corresponding securing means in the upper corners to releasably secure the tops and bottoms of the pieces.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the bottoms are longer than the tops and the securing means in the bottom corners are spaced farther apart from each other than those in the top corners, whereby, when the securing means are in secured position, an outward fold is provided in the bottoms to enlarge the opening through which the golf ball may be inserted into the sleeve.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the securing means are snap fasteners.

9. A device according to claim 4, wherein the securing means are snap fasteners.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein the securing means are snap fasteners.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein an aperture is centrally positioned in the piece adjacent the top through which aperture the suspension mean is attached to the piece.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein a ring is secured to the top of the piece through the aperture, and a clip is secured to the ring for releasable attachment to the desired location.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the clip is a carabiner clip.

14. A device according to claim 4, wherein an aperture is centrally positioned in the pieces adjacent the top of the pieces through which aperture the suspension means is attached to the pieces.

15. A device according to claim 6, wherein an aperture is centrally positioned in the pieces adjacent the top of the pieces through which aperture the suspension means is attached to the pieces.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the securing means in the top corners are located below the aperture to provide clear access for the ring in the aperture when the securing means are in secured position.

17. A device according to claim 7, wherein an aperture is centrally positioned in the pieces adjacent the top of the pieces through which aperture the suspension means is attached to the pieces.

18. A device according to claim 16, wherein the securing means in the top corners are located below the aperture to provide clear access for the ring in the aperture when the securing means are in secured position.