Ball Cleaner Patents (Class 15/21.2)
  • Patent number: 11850107
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices and medical device accessories. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a tool or accessory for cleaning a medical device. For example, the tool or accessory may clean a fluid delivery lumen of an endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) knife. The tool or accessory may include a housing with a first portion of an elongate member secured within a first portion of the housing and a second portion of the elongate member extending into a chamber of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Allyn N. Jensrud, Todd M. Pfizenmaier, Kathleen M. Laliberte, Rachael Campion
  • Patent number: 11844985
    Abstract: A touch-free solar powered golf ball washer (1) includes a housing (4) a conduit having an inlet (7), a porous conduit section (6) containing brushes (2) immersed in a cleaning fluid solution (9), an air blowing motor (3), the motor configured to blow air through an air flow tube (20) into the conduit porous section (6) and a non-porous conduit section (15) at through which a golf ball passes on its way to an outlet (8). The washer motor is preferably powered by a solar power circuit (10) in electrical communication with a solar panel (11). The motor can be activated by waiving one's hands proximate a touch-free activator panel (17) on the housing of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Inventor: Sean C. Welch
  • Patent number: 11772140
    Abstract: A cleaner device is adapted to clean a blood vessel sealer device. The cleaner device includes a series of brushes that can move relative to blood vessel sealer device to scrub and clean the blood vessel sealer device when coupled to the cleaner device. The brushes can be made of any material that is adapted to clean the blood vessel sealer device. The cleaner device can also be motorized to facilitate cleaning of the blood vessel sealer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: City of Hope
    Inventor: Gagandeep Singh
  • Patent number: 11684826
    Abstract: A golf ball washer that is configured to be located on a golf course wherein the present invention allows a golfer to clean their golf ball without engaging the present invention with their hands. The golf ball washer of the present invention includes a support frame having a support pole member and a base member. The support pole member has a housing secured thereto distal to the base member. The housing is cylindrical in shape and has a hollow interior and further has a first end and a second end. A movement member is rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the housing and is configured to traverse a golf ball through the housing. A drive assembly is secured to the housing and movement member so as to provide rotational movement of the movement member. A foot pedal and drive cable are operably coupled to the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: John Romanelli
  • Patent number: 11242752
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a liquid taking device and a liquid taking method. The liquid taking device comprises a liquid taking bottle, a heavy ball and liquid taking ropes. The liquid taking bottle has a first mouth and a bottom opposite to the first mouth. The heavy ball is arranged in the liquid taking bottle. The liquid taking device can be controlled to reach different depths under the ground by the action of two liquid ropes. When the first mouth of the bottle is placed facing downward, the heavy ball blocks the first mouth of the bottle under its own gravity to prevent liquid leakage; when the first mouth of the bottle is turned upwards under the action of the liquid taking rope, the heavy ball falls onto the bottom of the bottle, such that an external liquid can flow into the liquid taking device, which has a good practical utility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventors: Hongling Ma, Yuhao Zhang, Xilin Shi, Chunhe Yang, Yinping Li, Hongwu Yin, Shuanglong Ding, Qingfeng Lu, Kai Liu
  • Patent number: 11077473
    Abstract: A cleaner device is adapted to clean a blood vessel sealer device. The cleaner device includes a series of brushes that can move relative to blood vessel sealer device to scrub and clean the blood vessel sealer device when coupled to the cleaner device. The brushes can be made of any material that is adapted to clean the blood vessel sealer device. The cleaner device can also be motorized to facilitate cleaning of the blood vessel sealer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: City of Hope
    Inventor: Gagandeep Singh
  • Patent number: 10828537
    Abstract: A portable device for cleaning golf balls and golf clubs is provided. The device may include a hollow, impermeable housing and an impermeable lid. Situated on the lid beneath the lid inner surface is a plunger with a saddle in which to rest a golf ball. The device also contains a plurality of cleaning mechanisms disposed within an inner cavity of the housing and arranged to form a channel, so that when a user submerges and reciprocates the plunger, the golf balls are cleaned. The device may further include a spray nozzle to dispense cleaning solution onto golf clubs. A tee holder, divot fixer holder, and towel holder may also be coupled to the exterior of the housing. The device is preferably sized and shaped to be disposed within or coupled to a golf bag or golf cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventor: Danny Warren Smith
  • Patent number: 10335643
    Abstract: An automatic golf ball washer includes a substantially enclosed body that can receive one or more golf balls onto a rotary carriage that spins the golf ball within a supply of washing fluid and contacts the moving golf ball with stationary brushes within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Arnstone Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Arnold, Daniel Johnstone
  • Patent number: 10245472
    Abstract: An agitator for use in agitating lightweight polymeric balls in conjunction with a ball washing device is disclosed and includes a base portion, a standing portion attached to the base portion, with the station portion oriented in a vertical direction and generally perpendicular to a horizontal plane formed by the base portion; a motor having a rotatable shaft, a linkage connected to the rotatable shaft, and a bumper connected to the linkage at a location different from the rotatable shaft; and a tubular member connected to the standing portion, the tubular member having an internal diameter that is generally free of obstructions, to facilitate passage of balls through said tubular member when the balls are subjected to a negative pressure differential within the tubular member for transport to a ball washer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Inventor: Jack W. Worsham
  • Patent number: 9802290
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resurfacing ball container for repeated removal of dirty, used or damaged surfaces from a plurality of India rubber type bounce balls. The resurfacing ball container also allows for easy transport and storage of balls during periods of non-use. The resurfacing ball container includes a cylinder with a lid and an abrasive surface rotating within the cylinder for resurfacing the contained balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Inventor: Evan Jones
  • Patent number: 9700178
    Abstract: Bowls and methods for scrubbing objects are disclosed. The bowls or optionally removable liners in the bowls include a plethora of bristles or mesh material which provides an abrasive surface against which objects can be scrubbed. The bowls may optionally incorporate extendable sections for the purpose of suspending the bowls from the sides of a sink. In one embodiment, a circular version of the bowl may be configured to double as a spinner bowl inside a salad spinner and in other embodiments apertures with abrasive material inside may be provided for scrubbing narrow items such as carrots. Larger industrial-size versions of the bowl may be constructed for use in restaurants, or for the purpose of scrubbing non-food products, such as mechanical parts. The shape, depth and diameter of the bowls as well as the type of abrasive materials used inside these bowls can vary to suit the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Rafael Vasquez, James Fisher
  • Patent number: 8550882
    Abstract: A game ball surface treatment apparatus for abrading, cleaning or polishing game balls includes an outer housing having a base portion and a side wall portion, an inner housing arranged within the outer housing and having a bottom portion and a circumferential wall portion extending upwards from the bottom portion, a damper arranged to interconnect the outer housing and the inner housing, an electric motor fixed to the bottom portion of the inner housing and having an output shaft extending upwards, a rotary disc fixed to the output shaft of the electric motor to support the game balls and provided with an abrading fabric making contact with the game balls, an impeller arranged above the rotary disc to accommodate the game balls in a mutually isolated state, and a lining attached to the circumferential wall portion of the inner housing to make contact with the game balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Sang-Bae Shim
  • Patent number: 8522390
    Abstract: An oral cleaning section is disclosed. The oral cleaning section includes a first carrier having a cleaning side on which at least a first cleaning element is mounted and a second side opposite to the cleaning side, a second carrier having a cleaning side on which at least a second cleaning element is mounted, at least one aperture being formed in the first carrier such that the aperture extends from the cleaning side to the second side, with the second cleaning element extending through the aperture. The second carrier is arranged underneath the first carrier such that the cleaning side of the second carrier is underneath the second side of the first carrier and laterally extends beyond the aperture in at least a first direction. The first carrier and the second carrier are arranged for relative movement to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Braun GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Stoerkel, Thomas Fritsch, Michael Stolper
  • Publication number: 20130055514
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motorized golf ball cleaning device which comprises: a lower housing with a cavity for holding a liquid; an upper housing which contains electrical components, control components, and cleaning brushes; means to connect the upper housing to the lower housing; a feeder capable of holding a golf ball and feeding it into the liquid; a stand which is connected to the bottom of the lower housing; and means for powering the cleaning brushes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventor: Markus Grötsch
  • Patent number: 8336147
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning (washing) spherical objects, preferably golf balls, includes two substantially round disks which are disposed in register with one another with an interspace which is less than the diameter of the spherical objects, at least the one disk being rotary and provided with a device for guiding the spherical objects out towards the periphery of the disk, and the second disk has a centrally located infeed opening and is provided with a brush which extends from the surface of the disk at an angle of less than 90° to the surface of the disk from the center of the disk out towards the periphery of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Jordan Knez
  • Patent number: 8196250
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning heads of golf clubs has a substantially upstanding housing having an upper end, a lower end and a wall structure interconnecting the two and defining a chamber. At least one portal is formed in the wall structure. The portals may be slot-like or may have a curvilinear configuration such as a circle or ellipse. A set of brushes extends from the interior of the upper end into the chamber. An opposing set of brushes extends from the interior of the lower end into the chamber. The terminal ends of the two sets of brushes define a substantially narrow passageway in alignment with the portals. At least one of the upper and lower sets of brushes has a plurality of bristle zones wherein the brush bristles of one bristle zone are of a different length and rigidity than the brush bristles of a different bristle zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventor: Richard Dean Kawka
  • Patent number: 8151395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motorized golf ball cleaning device which comprises: a lower housing with a cavity for holding a liquid; an upper housing which contains electrical components, control components, and cleaning brushes; means to connect the upper housing to the lower housing; a feeder capable of holding a golf ball and feeding it into the liquid; a stand which is connected to the bottom of the lower housing; and means for powering the cleaning brushes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Markus Grötsch
  • Publication number: 20110302730
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motorized golf ball cleaning device which comprises: a lower housing with a cavity for holding a liquid; an upper housing which contains electrical components, control components, and cleaning brushes; means to connect the upper housing to the lower housing; a feeder capable of holding a golf ball and feeding it into the liquid; a stand which is connected to the bottom of the lower housing; and means for powering the cleaning brushes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Markus Gr+e,uml o+ee tsch
  • Patent number: 7975758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a condenser tubes cleaning system for alleviating the common disadvantage of the prior arts includes a flow diverter, a first branch pipe, a second branch pipe, a three-way valve, a first one-way valve, a bypass pipe, a ball barrel, a liquid supply pipe, a cleaning ball supply pipe, a cleaning ball return pipe, a liquid return pipe, a second one-way valve, a normally open two-way valve, and a ball trap. Thus, the flow diverter is provided with the three-way valve, and the ball trap is provided with the normally open two-way valve, so that the flow diverter and the ball trap have a bypass function that the prior arts do not have, to maintain the constant flow rate in the main supply pipe and the main return pipe without increasing the electrical power load of the main circulating pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventor: Chung-Yueh Ho
  • Patent number: 7971308
    Abstract: A grip cleaning and rising devices includes a dual tubular body having a closed lower end for holding separately both soapy and rinsing fluid, and an open upper end for receiving the grips or handles to be cleaned longitudinally therein. Cleaning is effected by a single helical brush with multiple turns that is simply threaded into position in the washing body. A splash guard is also provided as an impinging lip that extends into the receiving orifice. A smaller diameter rinsing tube is in fluid isolation from the cleaning solution. A cap may optionally be provided to close the top of the grip washer when not in use or for transportation from one place to another. The simple tubular construction enables the grip washer adapted for use as a mobile unit, with a laterally extending base to allow the user to stabilize the device by placing his or her feet over the base edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Like New, LLC
    Inventor: Mike Lawson
  • Patent number: 7892073
    Abstract: A bowling ball abrader and polisher utilizes cooperative rotational inter-engagement between a cup-shaped abrading an polishing tool and a non-motorized rotating ball holder assembly to obtain even, concentric abrasion patterns on a bowling ball surface. Upon placement of a bowling ball in a ball cradling surface formed in the rotating ball holder, application of the rotating abrading and polishing tool on the surface of the bowling ball causes a corresponding rotation of the bowling ball using the non-motorized rotating ball holder, which enables the outer surface of the bowling ball to be more uniformly abraded and polished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventors: Gary Louis Smania, John M. Brandt
  • Publication number: 20100088831
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning (washing) spherical objects, preferably golf balls, the apparatus comprising two substantially round disks (11, 13) which are disposed in register with one another with an interspace which is less than the diameter of the spherical objects, at least the one disk (11) being rotary and provided with means (19) for guiding the spherical objects out towards the periphery of the disk (11), and the second disk (13) has a centrally located infeed opening (15) and is provided with a brush (14) which extends from the surface of the disk (13) at an angle of less than 90° to the surface of the disk (13) from the centre of the disk (13) out towards the periphery of the disk (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Jordan Knez
  • Patent number: 7546659
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable golf ball cleaner to wipe off dirt attached to a surface of a golf ball during playing of golf. The golf ball cleaner comprises a cleaner body including a concave portion having a curved surface, a wipe-off part formed on an inner wall surface of the concave portion, and a lid to open and close the concave portion of the cleaner body. Because the golf ball cleaner can be easily carried by a golf player, by putting it in a pocket or hanging it from the waist, and the player is capable of rotating the golf ball in the concave portion having the curved surface while securely holding the golf bail by hand, the dirt attached to the surface of the golf ball can be thoroughly wiped off by the wipe-off part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Tatsuzawa Kasei Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Tatsuzawa, Takenori Tatsuzawa
  • Patent number: 7389556
    Abstract: A golf ball cleaning machine is provided that is either a fixed mount or portable design and which includes a housing of two hinged halves that open and close. The upper housing includes a feeder tube with a ball inlet and the lower housing including a ball scrubbing material as well as an auger mechanism. Cleaning action results from an external hand cranking of the auger which moves the ball while it is engaged with the scrubbing material. A plurality of balls may be located within the feeder tube and which are sequentially cleaned in the lower housing. Cleaned balls are retains in a cleaning compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Inventor: James Donald Parton
  • Publication number: 20080000036
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically cleaning and drying balls, including golf balls. The apparatus comprises a housing that contains a cleaning liquid, scrubbing channel, drying section, and rotator. An electric motor, which rotates the rotator, is switched “on” in response to a sensor detecting a ball in an entry chute. The rotator moves a ball carrying means (preferably including a wheel for spinning the ball) for receiving the ball from the entry chute and moving the ball through the scrubbing channel and drying section to a point for the ball to exit. The motor is switched “off” in response to a sensor (which can comprise a cam and limit switch) detecting, directly or indirectly, that the rotator has rotated at least enough for the ball to exit. Alternative embodiments may comprise ball counting means and/or biasing means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Sung Yol Yun
  • Patent number: 6789287
    Abstract: A portable billiard ball polishing device configured for use with a buffing pad comprising a generally hollow body having a closed bottom surface, arcuate sidewalls and an open upper surface. The hollow body sidewalls are segmented to provide lower and upper cavities of varying diameter, to receive a first resilient pad in the lower cavity, and a second resilient pad in the upper cavity of the device, and a sleeve-shaped inner liner configured to the sidewalls of the hollow body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Calabrese
  • Patent number: 6745424
    Abstract: A portable golf ball and club cleaning device that includes an elongated housing having sidewalls forming a chamber therein and a lid hingedly connected to the housing is disclosed. The chamber holds a cleaning medium and a plurality of brushes extend inwardly into the chamber from the sidewalls. An opening is formed between the brushes through which a golf club is adapted to fit. An elongated panel member with a hole and cut-out portions is releasably attached to the interior surface of the lid and acts as a ball holder. In order to clean a ball, the panel member is removed from the lid. A ball is inserted through the hole and cut-out portions and is placed into the opening of the housing so that the ball contacts the cleaning medium. The device also includes a clip for securing the housing to a golf bag or other golf equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: CluBall Cleaner LLC
    Inventors: Franklin A. Pimentel, Peter Zielinski, Richard A. Lappine
  • Patent number: 6695509
    Abstract: A golf ball cleaning apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical chambers defined as an upper chamber removably attachable to a lower chamber. The lower chamber is provided within an internal golf ball cleaning fluid reservoir bounded upwardly by a lower surface of a semi-porous floor. The lower chamber further includes a half-spherical cavity embedded with semi-rigid scouring bristles. The upper chamber is of a generally hollow configuration and includes a half-spherical cavity embedded with semi-rigid scouring bristles. The semi-rigid scouring bristles snugly engage an entire standard dimpled golf ball surface when the upper and lower chambers are coupled together. The upper chamber is snapped to the lower chamber in a semi-interference-type fit. A fastener is mounted atop the upper chamber to facilitate removable connection of the golf ball cleaning apparatus to a standard golf bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Alfonzo Dowe, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6662396
    Abstract: A golf ball cleaner includes a housing having an open channel into which a golf ball is inserted. Bristles on both sides of the channel engage the golf ball and the golf ball rests on a supporting platform that is moved back and forth in the channel. A cleaner liquid-containing compartment is located on one side of the housing and openings in an inner planar wall on which bristles are supported allow golf ball cleaner to be applied to the golf ball as that ball is moved in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventors: Carmine Scarpelli, Sr., Regina M. Scarpelli
  • Patent number: 6643881
    Abstract: A ball cleaning and polishing machine is provided comprising a housing, a cleaning barrel extending vertically upwards from the housing and having a cylindrical interior surface, a turntable adapted to support a plurality of game balls within the cleaning barrel and provided with a cleaning fabric remaining in contact with the game balls, an impeller coaxially mounted above the turntable for rotation relative to the turntable and for keeping the game balls isolated from one another, and an electric motor drivingly connected to the turntable for causing the turntable to rotate such that the game balls can be rubbed with the cleaning fabric. Provided on the interior surface of the cleaning barrel is a cushion lining which has a plurality of protuberances each substantially uniformly spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the lining. The machine also employs a squeezable see-through fluid container which can be replaced with a new one when the cleaning fluid runs dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Sang Bae Shim
  • Publication number: 20030121115
    Abstract: A portable billiard ball polishing device configured for use with a buffing pad comprising a generally hollow body having a closed bottom surface, arcuate sidewalls and an open upper surface. The hollow body sidewalls are segmented to provide lower and upper cavities of varying diameter, to receive a first resilient pad in the lower cavity, and a second resilient pad in the upper cavity of the device, and a sleeve-shaped inner liner configured to the sidewalls of the hollow body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Peter A. Calabrese
  • Patent number: 6553598
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a hand-operated golf ball 18 cleaning device comprising a housing 22 having bristles 34 located therein, wherein the bristle ends being configured to form a circular, semi-spherical entrainment groove 35 into which the golf balls 18 to be cleaned are placed for cleaning. Also shown are a hinged 26, securable cover 24 with a central recess for accommodating a shaft member 36, a shaft member 36 having a handle 14 portion on the exterior distal end, a ball entrainment block 30 on the distal end facing the housing, and a means therebetween for rotatably securing the shaft member within the shaft recess of the cover. The entrainment block 30 has two recesses 32 of a diameter similar to that of a golf ball 18 and sized to receive approximately one-third of each ball therein when the cover 24 is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: Gary R Sansotta
  • Patent number: 6491590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a storage device including a container having a first opening. An optional cover is in releasable engagement with a container to cover the first opening. The storage device additionally includes a base having a target for receiving an object and a member having a first end attached to the container and a second end attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventors: Joseph Vigorita, David Newns
  • Patent number: 6457198
    Abstract: A portable golf ball cleaning device including a housing having a hollow interior. The housing has an opening therein exposing the hollow interior. The opening is dimensioned for receiving a golf ball therethrough. The housing has a plurality of bristles disposed thereon on an interior surface thereof. The hollow interior holds a quantity of a soap and water solution therein. A ball receiving portion is rotatably disposed within the hollow interior of the housing. The ball receiving portion is dimensioned for receiving the golf ball therein. The ball receiving portion is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing whereby a golf ball positioned therein will be in contact with the plurality of bristles of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Jones
  • Publication number: 20020108192
    Abstract: A portable golf ball cleaning device including a housing having a hollow interior. The housing has an opening therein exposing the hollow interior. The opening is dimensioned for receiving a golf ball therethrough. The housing has a plurality of bristles disposed thereon on an interior surface thereof. The hollow interior holds a quantity of a soap and water solution therein. A ball receiving portion is rotatably disposed within the hollow interior of the housing. The ball receiving portion is dimensioned for receiving the golf ball therein. The ball receiving portion is positioned within the hollow interior of the housing whereby a golf ball positioned therein will be in contact with the plurality of bristles of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Jones
  • Patent number: 6389639
    Abstract: A ball washing apparatus and method for children's play pools includes a venturi assembly having a high pressure air line which brush, diaphragm and air dry balls passing through. A divider at the air line junction of the venturi assembly prevents clogging and jamming as the balls rapidly exit the ball washer through a ball return conduit. Preferably an ultraviolet light source acts as a germicide treatment for the water and balls contained within the washing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Intertech Corporation
    Inventor: Jack W. Worsham
  • Patent number: 6269509
    Abstract: An automated apparatus for cleaning golf balls constructed of light weight, portable type material and operable via standard battery power. The apparatus utilizes a housing having a fluid reservoir in the lower portion for holding a cleaning fluid, and a screw-type driven auger along with a pair of driven brushes and a fluid spray nozzle in the upper portion. A driven pump transports the cleaning fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle, which sprays the cleaning fluid on the golf ball as the auger and brushes engage the ball and remove the soil, respectively. Multiple sensing means are employed to energize and disable the apparatus upon the occurrence of predetermined events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Audie L. Mays
  • Patent number: 6264756
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for computer pointer devices having a standard ball contacting input rollers has an abradant ball mounted to a rotary shaft in a manner that the abradant ball may be brought into contact with rollers of the pointer device with the standard ball removed, the position of the abradant ball such that rotating the shaft will rotate the abradant ball in a manner that the abradant ball will both abrade and turn the rollers. The cleaning apparatus may be a hand-held device, built into a free-standing housing, or into a housing as a part of another computer housing, such as a computer or display. In some cases there is a variable speed drive with user settable speed, and in some cases there is a vacuuming system for removing abraded matter from a pointer device while cleaning takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: Mark A. Boys
  • Publication number: 20010005915
    Abstract: A computer mouse cleaner and method for cleaning a computer mouse device with a computer mouse ball located in an interior ball cavity that has a plurality of mouse contact rollers and a plurality of mechanical parts. The mouse cleaner includes a motor, a shaft rotatably driven by the motor, and a cleaning surface connected to the shaft for rotatable movement therewith for cleaning the plurality of mouse contact rollers and the plurality of mechanical parts in the interior ball cavity. The method includes removing the computer mouse ball from the interior ball cavity; inserting the cleaning surface of the mouse cleaner into the interior ball cavity; and rotating the cleaning surface with the motor of the mouse cleaner so as to cause one or more of the plurality of mouse contact rollers to roll and thereby be cleaned by the cleaning surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 5, 2001
    Applicant: Technology Creations, Inc.
    Inventors: David Naghi, Herschel Naghi, Eric A. Hanscom
  • Patent number: 6216305
    Abstract: A washing apparatus for golfers, comprises: a flexible container for containing washing liquid and for receiving objects to be washed therein, a handle connected to the container for manipulating same; and a support mechanism for suspending the container and the handle from a golf bag and for restricting movement of the container relative to the golf bag when suspended therefrom. The container includes an access opening defined therein through which objects such as golf club heads may be inserted, a closure for selectively sealing the opening, at least one flap extending away from the closure, a brush disposed within said container for scrubbing against objects inserted into the container during a washing operation, and (optionally) a baffle for baffling movement of the washing liquid toward the opening after the liquid is placed in the container. The handle is operatively connected to the container flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: William K. Joh