Cleat Cleaner

Abstract

A device connectable to a vehicle bumper for cleaning shoes includes a rigid angle bracket, a clamp connected to the rigid angle bracket for clamping to a bumper of a vehicle and a plurality of bristles connected to the rigid angle bracket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to device for cleaning dirt and grass from shoes. More particularly, the invention is directed to a portable cleat cleaner for golf shoes.

2. Description of Prior Art

Golf spikes are designed with a bottom cleat surface to provide sure footing while making the golf shot. The cleat surface can become covered with mud and grass during play and can detract from the performance of the surface. Golf courses typically provide fixed cleat cleaners at the or near the proshop which are “scrub brush” type devices which allow the golfer to clean the dirt and debris from the soles of the golf shoes. Some golf carts are also equipped with rubber surfaces having protrusions on the deck of the seating area to aid in cleaning shoes. This however is not found to be a desirable place for cleaning shoes as it leaves the debris on the deck near the seating area.

One apparatus for cleaning spikes is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,917. As this patent noted, it is a common for golfers drive up in their vehicles, open the trunk of the car, take out their golf shoes and then proceed to remove their conventional shoes and put on the cleated golf shoes. In doing this the golfers frequently will place their foot with the shoe on the bumper of the vehicle, first to remove their street shoes and then to lace up the golf shoes. The presence of the cleats on the sole and heel of a golf shoe can, of course, very easily scratch or mar the surface of the vehicle's bumper, particularly the bumpers of some newer cars which are frequently provided with a plastic covering. That cleaner provided a flexible base with bristles which wrapped about a bumper of a golf cart. The base included hooks which hooked to edges of the bumper. This design however is lacking in that its attachment is awkward and the bristles adjacent the corner of the bumper wore out quickly as they took the bulk of the wear and substantially rendered the device useless.

Additionally, U.S. Pat. NO. 5,479,764 shows a cleat cleaner attached to a golf bag. This shows another awkward attachment of a cleaner which is less desirable and is limited in ease of access to the bristles with respect to the shoes with the bag being in the way when trying to clean one's shoes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object to improve cleat cleaners.

It is another object to provide a versatile cleat cleaner.

It is still another object to provide a cleat cleaner which provides for a quick and easy attachment to various sized vehicle bumpers.

It is another object to provide a more user friendly cleat cleaner.

It is yet another object to provide a portable cleat cleaner.

It is still another object to provide a cleat cleaner which can be mounted to a vehicle bumper quickly and to protect the bumper against possible marring by the cleats of sport shoes such as golf shoes as well as provide improving the cleaner configuration to permit easier cleaning of the shoe sole and heel.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cleat cleaner which is portable. The cleat cleaner includes a rigid angle bracket having a clamp connected thereto for clamping to a bumper of a vehicle. The angle bracket includes a support plate which when the bracket is connected to the bumper, extends down and away from an upper portion of the bumper. Connected to the support plate are a plurality of bristles which extend upward from the support plate preferably in a generally normal relation thereto. The bristles can preferably cover a significant portion of the support plate.

The device of this invention provides the advantages by the aforesaid structure to more easily clean a shoe sole and heel and to reduce the wear on a particular spot of the bristle permitting the entire bristle surface to be more readily accessed. Further, the invention provides an easy attachment for securing the device on a variety of bumper sizes and shapes and for protecting the finish of the bumper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a device of this invention as it would be mounted to a vehicle bumper; and

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing another embodiment of the device of this invention as it would be mounted to a vehicle bumper; and FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the embodiment FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the components of the device for cleaning shoes, particularly golf shoes, as taught by the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The device 10 is portable includes a rigid angle bracket 12 having a clamp 14 connected thereto for clamping to a bumper B of a vehicle.

The angle bracket 12 can be made of stainless steel or plastic of a sufficient rigidity so that force may be applied thereto to enable the intended function to be performed. The angle bracket 12 includes a V-shaped support plate 16 having sides 18 and 20 which join together. In addition, plate portion 22 can be integrally extending from end of side 18 in a common direction such that plate portion 22 is generally parallel to side 20 and overlie each other.

A protective insert 24, such as a rubber stop, can be mounted to the side 20 in the overlying area. Opposing the insert 24 is an opening 26 through which a clamping part 28 extends and is operably connected to the plate portion 22 (i.e., a threaded member 28 as seen in FIG. 1 extends through threaded opening 26). An end 30 of the clamping part 28 can include a protective coating such as a rubber.

In an embodiment seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the device 28 can include a cam or ratchet type connection 32 wherein an arm 34 advances the end 30 up and down such that the end 30 and insert 24 serve as a means for clamping bumper B in a manner which diminishes the risk of damage to the surface of the bumper B. In this case, the cam or ratchet connection 32 can include a spring clip which can release by depression to release clamping force. It is also contemplated that a conventional screw type mechanism having a rubber tip can be employed to perform the clamping function. In addition, the bracket 12 here can be modified to include a plate 19 connecting plate portion 22 and side 20. In addition side 22 connects to side portion 18B and side 20 connects to side portion 18A.

When the angle bracket 12 is connected to the bumper B, side 18 (or sides 18A and 18B as seen in FIG. 3) extends down and away from an upper portion of the bumper B. The angle can be about 45 degrees for example. Connected to the support plate side 18 are a plurality of bristles 36 which extend upward from the support plate side 18 preferably in a generally normal relation thereto. The bristles 36 can preferably cover a significant portion of the support plate side 18 as seen in FIG. 2. Additionally, the bristles 36 can be part of an intermediate removable plate 38 which is removably connected to the support plate side 18 by way of threaded means 40 which extend through coaxially aligned openings 42 in support plate side 18 and openings 44 in intermediate removable plate 38. This provides for changing out the bristles 36 when wearing without the need to replace other components of the device 10.

The bristles 36 may be made from nylon or other materials customarily used in the manufacture of such cleaners. As shown, intermediate removable plate 38 is generally rectangular in shape and of sufficient length to provide enough surface to give adequate cleaning of the sole and heel of golf shoes.

The device 10 of this invention is designed to be portably connectable to a variety of vehicle bumpers. Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A device connectable to a vehicle bumper for cleaning shoes, which includes:

a rigid angle bracket;

a clamp connected to said rigid angle bracket for clamping to a bumper of a vehicle; and

a plurality of bristles connected to said rigid angle bracket.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is portably connectable to a variety of various vehicle sized bumpers by said clamp.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said angle bracket includes a side plate which when said device is connected to the vehicle bumper, said side plate extends down and away from an upper portion of the vehicle bumper.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said side plate has said plurality of bristles connected thereto which extend upward from said side plate preferably in a generally normal relation thereto.

5. The device of claim 5, wherein said bristles cover a significant portion of said side plate.

6. The device of claim 1, which includes a removable plate having said bristles formed thereto, said plate being removably connectable to said rigid angle bracket.

7. The device of claim 3, which includes a removable intermediate plate having said bristles formed thereto, said intermediate plate being removably connectable to said side plate.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said plurality of bristles extends upward from said removable intermediate plate preferably in a generally normal relation thereto.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said bristles cover a significant portion of said removable intermediate plate.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said clamp includes means for preventing damage to the bumper.