GOLF CLUB GROOVE CLEANING AND DEBURRING TOOL

Abstract

A golf club groove cleaning and deburring tool that includes a base portion having a grip affixed to its top side and a blade attached to its substantially planar bottom side. The blade extends substantially normal in relation to the planar bottom side of the base portion and includes substantially planar sides and a bottom cutting edge, a maximum width equal to or less than 0.035 inches (0.9 mm) and a depth equal to or less than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm), and wherein the substantially planar sides are either substantially straight and parallel from the base portion to the bottom cutting edge or taper from the base portion to the bottom cutting edge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/310,926, filed Mar. 5, 2010 (Mar. 5, 2010).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OR PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to golf club cleaning tools, and more specifically to a groove cleaning and deburring tool.

2. Discussion of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR §§1.97, 1.98

High speed video analysis shows that when a golf ball is struck by a golf club, the ball remains in contact with the club for slightly over 1/2000th of a second. During that time the ball first deforms by flattening slightly against the club face, but it quickly begins to rebound off the club face at a rate determined by its coefficient of restitution. During that rebound period, and while the ball is still in contact with the club face, the ball begins to slide very slightly up the club face. Further, just prior to leaving contact with the club face, the ball commences a back rotation about its lateral axis (i.e., to back spin), such that immediately after leaving the club face the ball may be spinning backwards at extremely high rates, in some instances approaching 3,600 rpm in the case of balls struck by woods (metal woods) and long irons, and up to and exceeding 6,000 rpm in the case of balls struck by the higher irons and wedges.

Back spin produces lift as the air passing over the top surface of the ball (in the same direction as that of the rotating dimples) is accelerated, while the air passing under the ball is compressed and decelerated so as to create a pressure differential, much as in the manner of a wing. Spin also reduces the effect of side spin (hook and slice spins) and is therefore advantageous for hitting straighter shots. Finally, spin facilitates good ball behavior upon landing—the ball bites (stops quickly without much roll) and thus tends to stay closer to its landing place.

Spin is produced primarily by the difference between the club face angle and the angle of attack of the club head as it strikes the ball. But spin is significantly augmented by the effect of the club face grooves on the ball as the ball interacts with the club face during impact—specifically that moment during impact when it tends to slide up the club face. The grooves have two principal effects: Firstly, the edges of the grooves reduce the degree to which the ball slides up the club face during impact by digging into the side of the deformable ball cover material while the groove openings accommodate and hold the captured material in place; and secondly, the groove channels function to channel away water or slippery turf grass trapped between the ball and club.

In recent years some controversy among golfers and within golf rule making bodies has arisen as groove designs have become increasingly effective in imparting spin. Groove design improvements are such that players of lesser skill have been able to control balls quite well even when hitting from wet rough. In consequence, and so as to restore the punitive purpose of “rough,” the United States Golf Association (USGA) revised the Rules of Golf, effective Jan. 1, 2010, to impose restrictions on groove cross-sectional shape, edge sharpness, and groove width and depth. Paragraph 5c(i) of Appendix II to the Rules of Golf now includes the following limitations: (a) Grooves must not have sharp edges or raised lips (test on file); (b) grooves must be straight and parallel; (c) grooves must have a symmetrical cross-section and have sides which do not converge; (d) the width, spacing and cross-section of the grooves must be consistent throughout the impact area; (e) any rounding of groove edges must be in the form of a radius which does not exceed 0.020 inches (0.508 mm); (f) the width of each groove must not exceed 0.035 inches (0.9 mm), using the 30 degree method of measurement on file with the USGA; (g) the distance between edges of adjacent grooves must not be less than three times the width of the grooves, and not less than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm); and (h) the depth of each groove must not exceed 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

It will be a natural design choice preference to manufacture clubs up to the allowed USGA maximums and to maintain grooves in such condition as long as possible during use. As golfers know, however, grooves deteriorate over time, largely due to repeated impacts with balls and abrasive turf and soils. Indeed, the repetitive impacts with the ball and turf essentially effect a plastic deformation process that causes the edges of the groove to flatten and flow into the groove space, thus dulling the edge of the grooves, narrowing the groove opening, and compromising club performance characteristics.

Accordingly, it is desirable to have a groove cleaning and deburring tool that keeps grooves free of dirt and debris and addresses the deformation of repeated impact by reconditioning and reshaping the grooves to their optimum dimensions, shape, and condition.

Several prior art devices have been directed to similar or related purposes, though with inferior results. Exemplary patent references are described in the following paragraphs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,513, to Gervais teaches a tool body having a pair of prongs at one end for repairing ball marks and cleaning shoes, and a club face and groove cleaning blade at the other end. The blade is curved and extends laterally across the width of such body, such that the body is moved laterally to clean grooves.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,112,364, to Myers shows a comb-like groove cleaner having tool body having a plurality of spaced apart flexible tine members, each with a downwardly angled finger portion which terminates in a sharpened tooth element.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,743, to Walsh, Jr. discloses a cleaning tool fashioned from a modified golf ball tee. The top or head of the golf tee is made square or other sharp cornered configuration rather than round, and the disc or head of a marker is made into a square. This provides straight edges on each of four sides of the tee and of the marker that allow a scraping action of the face of a dirtied club by either object. Penetration of the club face grooves is obtained by inserting the sharp corners formed by the intersecting straight edges of the objects in the grooves.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,519, to Haugom describes a groove cleaner having a series of small evenly spaced fixed teeth with reinforcing ribs to minimize the risk of breaking teeth during use.

The teeth are spaced, but the device can be twisted to fit differently spaced parallel grooves. The device includes a pair of large sharp prongs on its opposite end to clean golf shoes and to repair divots and golf ball marks in the turf on golf course greens.

And U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,129, to Hainey, which teaches a pocket-knife type cleaning tool that employs cleaning element resembling a short piece of hacksaw blade. It is used to clean the grooves and faces of golf clubs and can also be used to roughen the grips of such clubs. The advantage of the tool is that it is small enough for golfers to carry comfortably in a pocket during a round of golf and includes a replaceable cleaning element.

The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein. Most notably, none of the references provide suitable means to control the depth of any cutting or deburring provided by the cleaning tool, thereby creating a risk that repeated cleaning will cut a groove deeper than that allowed under the rules. Furthermore, none of the references show a cleaning tool that provides sufficient lateral stability to prevent inadvertent deformation of the groove edges and widening of the groove channel beyond the rule limits.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is compact golf club groove cleaning tool that encourages routine and repeated cleaning of golf club face grooves so as to optimize club performance characteristics without creating any risk that such maintenance actions will in any way take the club out of compliance with the USGA rules restricting groove shapes and dimensions. While this concise and simple summary broadly sets out the more important features of the present invention, there are additional features of the invention that will be described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which form the subject matter of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is lower perspective view of the inventive golf club groove cleaning and deburring tool of the present invention, showing a V-shaped cutting blade conforming to USGA rules;

FIG. 1B is a lower perspective view showing is lower perspective view of the inventive golf club groove cleaning and deburring tool of the present invention showing a box-shaped cutting blade conforming to USGA rules;

FIG. 2 is a schematic upper perspective view showing the tool in use;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional end view in elevation showing the tool of FIG. 1A in use (as viewed from the toe end of the club head);

FIG. 3B is cross-sectional end view in elevation showing the tool of FIG. 1B in use (also as viewed from the toe end of the club head);

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side in elevation of the tool in use, as shown along section line 4-4 of FIG. 3B (thus, as viewed from the top of the club head);

FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 5, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and improved golf club groove cleaning and deburring tool, generally denominated 10 herein. These views collectively show a first preferred embodiment, which comprises a gripping portion 12, preferably including a pedestal or column with depressions 14 on its sides to accommodate a user's finger and thumb so as to prevent slipping and facilitate a firm hold during use. The gripping portion is integrally connected to a rigid base 16 having a top side 18, a substantially planar bottom side 20, and a perimeter 22. An elongate blade 24 is longitudinally disposed along the longitudinal center axis 26 of the base in a normal orientation relative to the plane of the base bottom side. The blade is firmly attached either by being molded into the base at the time of manufacture, or by being captured and clamped in a well known manner so as not to permit the blade to wobble or move side-to-side during use. The cutting portion of the blade 28 (that exposed under the base bottom side) is sized with a width and depth, and it is also shaped, in exact conformity with any of the permitted groove sizes and shapes as set out in Appendix II, Paragraph 5(c)(i) of the USGA Rules of Golf, and as shown in Figs. XI-XIII of that section, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, these being V-shaped and box-shaped, respectively.

The Rules of Golf now provide that effective Jan. 1, 2010, if a club has grooves in the impact area they must be straight and parallel, have a plain, symmetrical cross-section, and have sides that do not converge from the base of the groove as the sides approach the clubface surface. The width, spacing and cross-section of the grooves must be consistent throughout the impact area, the width not to exceed 0.035 inches (0.9 mm), using the 30 degree method of measurement on file with the USGA, the distance between edges of adjacent grooves not to be less than three times the width of the grooves, and not less than 0.075 inches (1.905 mm), and the depth of each groove not to exceed 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

Further, grooves must not have sharp edges or raised lips. For clubs with a loft angle greater than or equal to 25 degrees, groove edges as they level and merge into the clubface surface must be substantially in the form of a round having an effective radius which is not less than 0.010 inches (0.254 mm) and not greater than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

Accordingly, the blade used in the present invention is dimensioned so as to clean and debur only to the depth and width, and in the shape, permitted under the rules. Indeed, the blade may be sized very slightly smaller in each dimension than the size permitted under the rules so as to eliminate any risk of taking the club out of conformity after use of the tool. The blade must therefore have either straight and parallel planar sides 30, or planar sides that converge or taper 32, from the base portion to the bottom cutting edge 34a, 34b, and must have a plain, symmetrical cross-section. The blade width 36 (at its widest section) is equal to or less than 0.035 inches (0.9 mm) and a depth equal to or less than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

All or a portion of the of the blade is fabricated from a material that provides wear resistance and corrosion resistance to keep a high quality edge over prolonged use. Examples include 1095 carbon steel, heat treated stainless steels, diamond embedded steels, high speed steels, tool steels, tungsten carbide, zirconia ceramic, and the like. The particular blade and blade edge materials can be selected according to the material from which club heads to be cleaned are fabricated.

The base 16 is sized with a width dimension sufficient to span across several of the parallel spaced apart grooves 36 of a conventional golf club 38. The length of the base may be any dimension slightly greater than its width, but it is kept reasonably small to ensure convenience for the user; most importantly, it is sized so that it can be carried in a pocket without becoming noticeable or distracting.

As shown in FIG. 2, in use, the blade is simply inserted into a groove and translated laterally across the club face the entire length of the groove. In this manner, dirt and debris are removed and any peened or burr material that has migrated into the groove opening is trimmed back into conformity allowed groove shapes. Additionally, the groove trough is conditioned and reshaped, again only in an amount that conforms to the allowed limitations.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment 50 that includes a shaped base 52 having at least one of its ends 54 provided with elongate points 56 suitable for use in repairing ball marks and tightening shoe spikes. The grip 58, moreover, is provided with a through hole 60 that allows the tool to be held on a chain or ring, such as on a key ring or for attachment to a golf towel having a corner grommet. The blade in this embodiment is shown with an alternative edge shape, illustrating the simple concept that all conforming shapes may be provided in this inventive apparatus.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which are defined by the claims to the invention set out herein below.

Claims

1. A golf club groove cleaning and deburring tool, comprising:

a gripping portion;

a base portion having a top side to which said gripping portion is attached and a substantially planar bottom side;

a blade extending from and disposed substantially normal to said planar bottom side of said base portion, said blade having a cutting edge with sides and a bottom cutting edge.

2. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said gripping portion is integral with said base portion.

3. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade is elongate and is disposed along a longitudinal axis of said base portion.

4. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade has a cutting edge with a depth and a width sized to conform to the permitted groove sizes and shapes defined by the Rules of Golf.

5. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said cutting edge has a width equal to or less than 0.035 inches (0.9 mm) and a depth equal to or less than 0.020 inches (0.508 mm).

6. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 5, wherein said blade has substantially planar sides that are substantially straight and substantially parallel from said base portion to said bottom cutting edge.

7. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 5, wherein said blade has substantially planar sides that taper from said base portion to said bottom cutting edge.

8. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade has substantially planar sides that are substantially straight and substantially parallel from said base portion to said bottom cutting edge.

9. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade has substantially planar sides that taper from said base portion to said bottom cutting edge.

10. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 9, wherein said base portion includes at least one end shaped with a pair of elongate points for repairing ball marks and tightening shoe spikes.

11. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes at least one end having a pair of elongate points for repairing ball marks and tightening shoe spikes.

12. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said gripping portion includes a through hole for passage of a retention apparatus.

13. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said gripping portion includes a pedestal with sides having finger and thumb depressions.

14. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade is molded into said base portion.

15. The golf club cleaning and deburring tool of claim 1, wherein said blade is removably captured and clamped in said base portion.