Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – Brushing
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-06
2003-04-29
Chin, Randall E. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
Brushing
C015S021100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553598
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf ball cleaners, and more specifically, to a hand operated golf ball cleaning device comprising: a housing having bristles located therein, the bristle ends being configured to form a circular, semi-spherical entrainment groove into which the golf balls to be cleaned are placed for cleaning; a hinged, securable cover with a central recess for accommodating a shaft member; a shaft member having a handle portion on the exterior distal end, a ball entrainment block on the distal end facing said housing, and a means therebetween for rotatably securing the shaft member within the shaft recess of the cover. The entrainment block has two recesses of a diameter similar to that of a golf ball and sized to receive approximately one third of each ball therein when the cover is closed. The turning of the handle rotates the shaft and the entrainment block with the golf balls rotatably secured therein meanwhile applying sufficient pressure to the balls so they remain frictionally engaged with the bristle ends as the bristle ends dislodge dirt and debris from the dimples and rotate the balls inside the recesses of the spinning entrainment block as they travel along the entrainment groove formed by the bristle ends.
Golf balls have improved aerodynamic properties due to their dimpled surface. The dimples often accumulate dirt, mud and other such debris once the ball is in play due the nature of a golf course and thereby hinder the golfer by not allowing the ball to fly right. Many golf courses don't have golf ball cleaning devices and the ones that do have them may not have enough or don't have them located where they are needed. The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a portable, hand-operated golf ball cleaning device that is fast, thorough and easy to use and has means for clipping onto a golf bag so as to always be readily available when needed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other cleaning devices designed for removing dirt and debris from golf balls and other such small spherical objects. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,602,016 issued to James E. Harrington on Oct. 5, 1926.
Another patent was issued to Charles F. Henrizi on Oct. 8, 1929 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,730,973. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 1,792,211 was issued to Edward Brewer on Feb. 10, 1931 and still yet another was issued to Luigi Signorini on Jun. 7, 1932 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,862,437.
Another patent was issued to Lobegott Mollart on Apr. 23, 1940 as U.S. Pat. No. 2,198,441. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,626 was issued to D. P. McDonald Thomson on Feb. 19, 1963. Another was issued to Louis B. Smith on July 3, 1962 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,645 and still yet another was issued on Sep. 21, 1976 to Joel D. Rumph as U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,039. A patent was issued on Aug. 7, 1979 to Alex J. Duda as U.S. Pat. No. 4,163,299 and on Aug. 17, 1982 U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,203 was issued to Richard L. Gerrick.
Another patent was issued to Norman Crossley on Mar. 28, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,455 and on Jun. 2, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,379 was issued to Vahank Stephan Hovnanian.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,602,016
Inventor: James E. Hamilton
Issued: Oct. 5, 1926
A ball cleaner including a ball carrier; a brush carrier abreast of the ball carrier and defining therewith a ball zone; a brush upon the brush carrier projecting into the ball zone; a container enclosing one of said brush carriers and the brush, the other carrier constituting a lid for the container; a rotatable shaft supporting said enclosed carrier; and a sleeve bearing for this shaft and supported by the carrier that constitutes a lid.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,730,973
Inventor: Charles F. Henrizi
Issued: Oct. 8, 1929
A golf ball cleaner comprising a two part casing, including a lower water compartment and an upper cover portion, laterally projecting bearings at the central portion of said casing, a rotatable shaft mounted in the bearings and extending transversely of the casing, a disc fixed on the shaft rotatable within the casing, said disc having a plurality of apertures therethrough arranged circumferentially thereof, laterally projecting flanges surrounding said apertures for receiving therein golf balls, a crank attached to one end of the shaft for rotating the disc, opposed brush members arranged in the water compartment and between which the disc passes, the upper portion of said casing having an opening in one side thereof, a movable flap normally closing the opening for receiving therethrough an object to engage the golf balls to remove them from the disc through the opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,261
Inventor: Edward Godfrey Brewer
Issued: Feb. 10, 1931
A machine for cleaning golf and like balls comprising in combination, a cylindrical casing, a base to such cylindrical casing containing a circular groove eccentrically arranged relatively to the axis of said cylindrical casing, a brush rotatably mounted and adapted to contact with the upper surface of balls contained in the circular groove, a cage having radial openings for separating the balls, being suitably mounted between the base and the brush, a brake engaging the cage, and means for rotating said brush.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,862,437
Inventor: Luigi Signorini
Issued: Jun. 7, 1932
A golf ball cleaning device, comprising a water container, a pair of vertically disposed circular brushes, one of which is moving relatively to the other, the bristles sides of said brushes being arranged in opposed relation and spaced from each other less than the diameter of a golf ball so as to receive therebetween a golf ball to be cleaned, means for actuating said movable brush thereby causing said golf ball to be acted upon by said brushes during it's travel about the axes thereof, and a guard for encircling the lower parts of said brushes to prevent accidental disengagement of the golf ball therefrom, said guard being open on top.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,198,441
Inventor: Lobegott Mollart
Issued: Apr. 23, 1940
In a device of the character described: a liquid receptacle open at its top and comprising side, end, and bottom walls; a rotatable brush in the receptacle; a shaft for the brush journalled in one side wall of the receptacle, the ends of the bristles of the brush being spaced from one side wall of the receptacle; a member in the receptacle between the ends of the bristles of the brush and the side wall of the receptacle from which the same are spaced, said member having a part forming a cover for the open top of the receptacle and being bodily removable therethrough; means on said member defining a tortuous passageway which is open throughout its length at its side facing the brush so that a ball deposited in the passageway will be subjected to a scrubbing action by the brush and advanced thereby through the tortuous passageway as the brush is rotated; and means yieldingly urging said member laterally toward the brush to insure the continuance of the proper contact of the brush bristles with a ball in the passageway as the bristles become worn.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,626
Inventor: David Peter McDonald Thompson
Issued: Feb. 19, 1963
In a device for use in cleaning golf balls comprising a drum-shaped casing having an opening through which a golf ball may be inserted, a carrier member within the casing having a recess for the golf ball when so inserted, and rotatable for the entrainment of the ball within the casing, opposed front and rear walls forming part of said casing, sponge linings fixed to said walls for frictionally engaging the ball and cleaning same when the ball is so entrained; said carrier member being located nearer the lining on one wall than the lining on the other wall, whereby rotation of the ball about its own centre is promoted, and an annular peripheral portion on the lining further from the carrier stepped nearer the carrier member than the remainder of said lining, whereby rotation of said ball around its center is still promoted.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,645
Inventor: Louis B. Smith
I
Chin Randall E.
Kroll Michael I
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