RELATED APPLICATIONS This present application is related to a provisional application Ser. No. 60/930,552 filed on May 17, 2007, entitled “Cleat Pro 3 N1”, by Joseph De Leon, et al., currently pending, for which the priority date for this application is hereby claimed.
BACKGROUND In many sports, there is often the need to maintain sporting equipment while engaged in the sporting activity. Golf is no exception in that much of the equipment required by golfers requires maintenance and cleaning during the activity. For example, avid golfers may need to replace cleats on their shoes as the cleats become worn during the course of play. Likewise, cleats on golf shoes may become dirty and as a result become less effective. The golf clubs themselves may require periodic cleaning, especially on the contact portion of the club head. Dirt and other debris can become lodged in the fine grooves typically found on such club heads. Such debris again interferes with the performance of the golf club.
Unlike many other sports, golfers need to carry their sporting gear along with them. In the game of golf, a golfer needs an entire cadre of golf clubs in order to be an effective player. Of course, some golfers will use a caddy or a golf-car in order to avoid the need to shoulder the weight of their golf clubs and golf bag. However, many golfers will carry their golf clubs over their shoulder and walk the entire course as a form of exercise. In such case, even the most fit and trim individuals would not want to carry additional weight, especially when the weight is in the form of tools necessary maintain their equipment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing aspects are better understood from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram that illustrates one example embodiment of a golf equipment cleaning and maintenance tool;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram that depicts one example placement of a cleat removal tool;
FIGS. 3 and 4A are cross section diagrams that depict how the elongated brush is stored in a storage cavity in one example embodiment of a golf equipment cleaning and maintenance tool;
FIG. 4B is a pictorial diagram that illustrates how, according to one example embodiment, the brush unit and the cleat removal fixture are coupled together;
FIGS. 5 and 6 of our pictorial diagram is that illustrate the union of the cleat removal fixture and the brush unit; and
FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are various pictorial illustrations that depicts how, according to one illustrative embodiment, various cleat removal tools are attached to a cleat removal fixture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram that illustrates one example embodiment of a golf equipment cleaning and maintenance tool. In this example embodiment, a cleaning and maintenance tool comprises two parts. A first part comprises a brush unit 15 and a second part comprises a cleat a removal fixture 10. In one example embodiment, the brush unit 15 includes an elongated brush 30 that is mounted on a stem 25. In this example embodiment, the stem 25 emanates from a first side of the brush unit 15. Typically, the elongated brush 30 is used for cleaning the face of a golf club. In yet another example embodiment, the brush unit 15 includes a plurality of bristles 20 emanating from a second a side of the brush unit 15. In yet another alternative embodiment, the bristles 20 are surrounded by a shroud 22 in order to prevent the bristles 20 from causing injury to a human user. Typically, the bristles 20 emanating from the second side of the brush unit 15 are used to clean cleats on the bottom of a shoe. In yet another alternative example embodiment, the plurality of bristles 20 emanating from the second side of the brush unit 15 are grouped in clusters. The clusters 27 are disposed on the second side of the brush unit 15 in a manner so as to coincide with prongs 43 integral to a cleat 41 intended to be cleaned by these bristles 20. Accordingly, in such an alternative embodiment, a cluster of bristles 27 will typically be disposed on the second side of the brush unit chose to coincide with a gap 47 in a cleat. This allows the cluster of bristles 27 to more effectively engage with the cleat 41. Once engaged with the cleat 41, the brush unit 15 can be rotated 37 back and forth around the cleat in order to remove debris therefrom.
FIG. 2 is a pictorial diagram that depicts one example placement of a cleat removal tool. According to one alternative example embodiment, a cleat removal tool 50 is disposed on a second side 45 of the cleat removal fixture 10.
It should be appreciated that the cleat removal tool 50, according to one illustrative example embodiment, is integral to the cleat removal fixture 10. In other embodiments, as introduced infra, the cleat removal tool 50 is a separate assembly that is affixed to the cleat removal fixture 10. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the cleat removal fixture 10 also provides storage and protection from the elongated brush 30 included in the brush unit 15.
FIGS. 3 and 4A are cross section diagrams that depict how the elongated brush is stored in a storage cavity in one example embodiment of a golf equipment cleaning and maintenance tool. As illustrated in this diagram, one illustrative embodiment provides a storage cavity 60, which is created by walls 12 that are included in the cleat removal fixture 10.
FIG. 4B is a pictorial diagram that illustrates how, according to one example embodiment, the brush unit and the cleat removal fixture are coupled together. In this example embodiment, the elongated brush 30 included in the brush unit 15 is inserted into the cavity 60 provided by the cleat removal fixture 10. Once the brush unit 15 and the cleat removal fixture 10 are brought together, they are held together by one or more friction devices 75. In one alternative example embodiment, a groove 77 is provided about the periphery of the cleat removal fixture 10. In this example embodiment, a rubber seal ring (commonly referred to as an “O” ring) is disposed in the groove 77. As the inner wall 83 of the brush unit 15 makes contact with the O-ring 80, a friction contact is developed. Accordingly, a force 88 is needed to overcome the friction contact so as to unite the brush unit 15 with the cleat removal fixture 10. Likewise a force 89 is required to overcome the friction contact so as to separate the brush unit 15 from the cleat removal fixture 10.
FIGS. 5 and 6 of our pictorial diagram is that illustrate the union of the cleat removal fixture and the brush unit. In this example embodiment, when the brush unit 15 is denied with the cleat removal fixture 10, a compact and lightweight tool assembly is realized. The cleat removal tool 50 is readily useful without disassembly of the apparatus described herein. And the bristles organized as clusters 27 are readily available to clean cleats, also without disassembly of the apparatus. When the elongated brush 30 is required, the cleat removal fixture 10 to separated from the brush unit 15 in order to expose the elongated brush 30, which can then be used to clean golf clubs. It should further be appreciated that the bristles organized as clusters 27 or the elongated brush 30, according to various alternative example vitamins, may be made out of any suitable brush material including nylon, wire, steel, brass and the like. It should be appreciated that this enumeration of example brush materials is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto.
FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are various pictorial illustrations that depicts how, according to one illustrative embodiment, various cleat removal tools are attached to a cleat removal fixture. It should be appreciated that various styles of shoe cleats are utilized not only in the sport of golf, but in other sports as well. Accordingly, an apparatus as described herein, according to one alternative example embodiment, should be able to accommodate various cleat designs. For example, in FIG. 7, a first type of cleat 90 requires a particular pattern 95 for engagement with a first type of cleat removal tool 100. In FIG. 8, yet a second type of cleat 110 would require a different pattern 112 in yet a second type of cleat removal tool 105. Accordingly, various types of engagement patterns would be provided by various types of cleat removal tools and the scope of the claims appended hereto is not intended to be limited to any particular type of cleat engagement pattern that may be depicted in the figures referenced herein. As illustrated in FIG. 9, any particular cleat removal tool 105, according to this example embodiment, is attached to the cleat removal fixture 10 by a fastener 120. The faster 120 is received by a fastener receiver 140 included in the cleat removal fixture 10. A fastener receiver 140, according to one example embodiment, comprises a threaded hole. In this example embodiment, the faster comprises a threaded faster. In yet another alternative example embodiment, an anti-twist mechanism is provided so as to preclude rotation of the cleat removal tool 105 relative to the cleat removal fixture 10. In one example embodiment, the anti-twist mechanism comprises one or more prongs 125 that are received in receptacles included in the cleat removal tool 105.
FIG. 1 further illustrates that, according to one alternative embodiment, an apparatus for cleaning and maintenance of golf equipment further includes a clasp ring 12 for attachment of a lanyard.
While this invention has been described in terms of several preferred embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the present invention include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents. Some, but by no means all of the possible alternatives are described herein.
