BACKGROUND

[0001 ] The present invention relates to improvements in ball washing apparatuses and particularly though not exclusively apparatuses suitable for washing golf balls. The invention further relates to a ball washing apparatus in which the ball is isolated during cleaning from contaminated dirty water. The invention further relates to an improved washing apparatus in which a ball is continually flushed with clean water while contaminated water is discharged away from a cleaning chamber.

PRIOR ART [0002] There are in existence a variety of ball washing apparatuses used in such locations as golf courses for the purpose of cleaning dirt and debris from the surface of balls before play. Typically, these devices include a cleaning reservoir having water therein and which receives and retains a ball in the reservoir. Typically a ball is placed in the reservoir and eventually cleaned by movement of brushes inside the reservoir. As the ball is brushed and the debris falls from the ball surfaces, the debris contaminates the washing water with the result that the ball ends the cleaning process submerged in contaminated water. This causes the ball emerging from the cleaning process, to have a layer of dirty water which compromises the surface of the ball. The known ball washing apparatuses suffer from the problem that washing takes place in contaminated water. The contamination increases the more balls are washed until the contaminated water is drained from the cleaning reservoir. There are a wide variety of devices which have been conceived for cleaning or washing golf balls including hand held and bench mounted varieties. [0003] By way of example, United States Patent 2008209655 [4/9/08] discloses 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 ball by hand, the dirt attached to the surface of the golf ball can be thoroughly wiped off by the wipe-off part.

[0004] Another portable golf ball cleaner is disclosed in WO 2007085647 /28/8/07] This invention relates to a golf ball cleaner comprising a hand-held body portion defining a. golf ball receiving aperture, ΰ cleaning member housed within the body portion and accessible through the golf ball receiving aperture. There is a reservoir for cleaning liquid internal of the body portion., the reservoir and the cleaning member being in liquid communication with each other. The body portion is configured to allow only partial insertion of a golf ball into the body portion so that part of the golf ball protrudes out from the body portion to allow external manipulation of the golf ball. The cleaning member has a relatively low coefficient of friction which facilitates rotation of a golf ball against the cleaning member and adequate cleaning of a golf ball is achieved. The golf ball cleaner disclosed in this patent is intended primarily to be a portable device which may be carried on a golf bag or golf trolley or the like, but may in certain constructions form part of a fixed installation.

[0005] Also known are devices which use brushes and cleaning fluids for cleaning golf balls. For example GB 2430382 28/3/07] discloses a device for cleaning balls, e.g. a golf ball and which comprises a container, a first cleaning brush rotatably mounted relative to the container about first axis, a second brush rotatably mounted relative to container about a second axis transverse to first axis 6, the brushes defining a ball-receiving space, and means, teeth for example, intercormecting the brushes such that rotation of one brush causes rotation of the other. The Second brush may be mounted on an axle which extends out of the container and is provided with a handle or golf trolley attachment bracket. The container may include a lid upon which the first brush is mounted, with the second brus btiny supported within the container such that the container is rotatablc around a second axis. Apex-luces are provided within a ball support to allow passage of fluid, and lid may form a fluid-tight seal with the container. A method of using the ball cleaning device is also disclosed.

[0006] Other devices use purely mechanical action to abrade the surface of the ball for cleaning purposes. CA 2284309 [15/3/2000] and its counterpart US 5806122; see also CA 2184415 . CA 2284309 discloses a Golf Ball Cleaner device in which the ball is placed in a receiving chamber by means of a cradle. This chamber has brushes strategically placed as to promote effective ball rotation. The cleaning action is realized by the ball travelling upward and downward by a motor, shaft and a spring. The ball is rubbed against the imbedded brushes causing a leaning action. Another mechanical action golf ball cleaning device is disclosed in JP 6285184 which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0007] In another example of the prior art, .IP 10033718 discloses an apparatus to enable cleaning of a mass of golf balls by spirally rotating and guiding golf balls using an agitating means linked with cleaning brushes. This golf ball cleaner rotates two rotation shafts by only turning the power source of the driving device on to send dirty balls supplied from a supply port to a discharge port side at the opposite position. Utilizing rotating force by both rotation shafts and an up-lifting force by a cleaning brush, a mass of golf balls consecutively retained in a tank main body is spirally agitated around the central rotation shaft toward the proceeding direction. Thus, golf balls are rubbed together to clean off dirt on the surface by effect of flowing- in of a detergent and water respectively from a detergent supply means and a cleaning water supply means.

[0008] In a further example of a brush cleaner apparatus for golf balls GB 255318 [Dec. 28, 1925] discloses a golf-ball cleaner of the type in which a brush carrier is rotatable relative to a ball carrier. The ball carrier comprises a separate receptacle for each ball, and the ball is given a laterally alternating movement between the ends of its receptacle. A lid carrying a brush fits within the top of the container and provides a bearing for an operating-shaft. The liJ is Jvpi¾ssed fey hand, and th* shaft is rotated alternately ill opposite directions. Further examples of golf ball washing apparatuses using brushes or cleaning pads are disclosed in JP 6285184, JP 5317460 f 3/12/93] and US 5339486 which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0009] The prior art devices suffer from the disadvantage that they allow a ball being cleaned to remain in contact with dirty or contaminated wash water as the ball is cleaned. There is a need to provide improvements in the known ball washing apparatuses to ensure that when balls are removed from a cleaning chamber, there is no residual film of dirty water on the ball surface, here is also a need to ensure mat balls are washed in clean water and that contaminated water is not washing over balls at the end of cleaning. There is a need to ensure that balls are flushed with clean water and that waste water is flushed away from the surface of the cleaned ball. There is also a need to ensure that contaminated wash water is drained away from the washing chamber and from contact with the ball surface during cleaning.

INVENTION

[0010 ] The present invention seeks to ameliorate the above disadvantages of the prior art by providing an improved ball washing apparatus in which contaminated water is isolated from the ball and the ball is continually flushed with clean water until termination of cleaning. The present invention further provides a ball washing apparatus in which the ball is continually flushed with clean water while contaminated water is dischaiged away from a cleaning chamber.

[001 1 ] In one broad form the present invention comprises:

a washing apparatus for washing an object retained therein, the apparatus comprising;

a support having a first end for ground mounting and a second end which receives and retains a housing; a reservoir in said housing including an inlet which delivers a water to said reservoir from a water supply;

an outlet to said reservoir which discharges water from the reservoir, wherein the water delivered to the reservoir exits upon cleaning the object so that the object is not washed with contaminated water.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the support stand includes an internal space through which travels a water supply line for delivering clean water to the reservoir and a discharge line for discharging contaminated water once the object has been flushed with clean water. Preferably the water supply is delivered under the assistance of a pump which includes a shaft which contacts the ball, Supply water entering the reservoir gravitates through the reservoir and flushes debris washed from the object with the assistance of mechanical brushing.

[0O13 ] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that as an alternative to a pump actuated supply, water can be delivered by mains pressure or from an external gravity reservoir. In that case rotation of the brushes relative to the object or rotation of the object relative to the brushes may be actuated by water pressure impacting on a rotatable vane.

[0014] Preferably the housing is integrally attached to a ground mounted support stand. It will be appreciated that the housing and its support may be bench mounted provided there is a connection to a water supply. The housing can according to one embodiment be provided without a stand provided there is a means for delivery of clean water to the inside of the housing and means for drainage of contaminated waste water after washing. .

[0015] According to one embodiment the support stand houses a water delivery pipe and discbarge pipes which respectively deliver water to and discharge water from the housing. Preferably the stand comprises a peripheral wall which defines an internal space which holds a preferably self contained clean water supply . Alternatively the clean water supply can be derived from an external source such as but not limited to mains supply. A water supply line is connected to the water supply and feeds supply water into a reservoir a clean water pump which delivers water under pressure to the reservoir. The reservoir preferably comprises a helical pump handle which facilitates the operation of a washing brush. The washing brush can be rotated relative to a stationary object such as a golf ball or the object can be rotated relative to a fixed brush. As the relative motion takes place the brush abrades the surface of the object to remove debris therefrom. For example, a ball is inserted into the reservoir and seats near the base of the reservoir. Preferably a helical pump handle extends from the pump and engages the ball. According to one embodiment, as the pump rotates this drives shaft transmitting a rotation to the ball . The bristles on the brush assist in the removal of any debris on the ball. This flushes debris from ball following which waste water is discharged via gravity through an outlet so there is no washing of the ball with dirty and contaminated water. According to one embodiment, outer surface 24 of housing 2 includes an advertising panel 26 which is capable of receiving and retaining advertising or like indicia.

Γ0016] In its broadest form the present invention comprises:

a washing apparatus including a housing mounted on a support, the bousing comprising a wall defining an internal space; the internal space of the housing including therein, a washing chamber having an internal space which receives and retains therein a ball and an inlet which delivers clean water to the reservoir; the stand comprising a peripheral wall defining an internal space which receives and retains a clean water supply line which communicates with the inlet to said washing reservoir;

the internal space of the housing further comprising a drain which receives used wash water from the washing reservoir after the ball is flushed with said clean water.

[0017] According to one embodiment the clean water supply is self contained. According to an alternative embodiment the clean water supply is delivered from an external water supply. Preferably the clean water is delivered under gravity via a pressure pump. Preferably there is provided a washing brush which connects to a pump handle to facilitate washing of the ball. [0018] Preferably, the helical pump handle engages and rotates against the washing brush thereby abrading the surface of the ball during cleaning. According to one embodiment a pump imparts rotation to the ball via a drive shaft.

[0019] In another broad from the present invention comprises:

a washing apparatus for washing a golf ball retained therein, the apparatus comprising;

a housing including a reservoir in said housing having an inlet and an outlet for respectively receiving water from a water supply and discharging waste water therefrom, wherein, the water delivered to the reservoir washes the ball when in the reservoir and allows waste water to exit the reservoir without contacting the ball after washing of the surface of the ball.

According to a preferred embodiment the housing is mounted on a ground engaging support having a first end for ground mounting and a second end which receives and retains a housing;

[0020 ] Although the invention will be predominantly described with reference to its application to a cleaning apparatus for golf balls it will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that the invention has a wide variety of applications and with different working ends beyond those to be described by way of example. These and other objects of this invention, which will become more apparent upon consideration of the attached claims and drawings and of the following detailed description, are provided in accordance with preferred embodiments of this invention illustrated herein.

[0021 J The present invention provides an alternative to the known prior art and the shortcomings identified. The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying representations, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying illustrations, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred but non limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation view of a washing apparatus according to a referred embodiment including a washing chamber mounted on a stand.

Figure 2 shows a long sectional view through the apparatus of figure J .

Figure 3 shows with abbreviated support stand, an enlarged long sectional view, of the internal mechanisms of the washing apparatus housing according to a preferred embodiment. Figure 4 shows a plan view of the apparatus of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to its application to cleaning of golf balls but it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to that application and may be adapted to alternative applications and constructions including articles other than golf balls. The assembly described herein has advantages over the known art including improved washing efficiency.

[0024] Figure .1 shows a side elevation view of a washing apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment including a housing 2 mounted on a stand 3. Housing 2 is preferably integrally attached to stmd 3. Figure 3 abowo a long scrtinnnl view through the apparatus of figure 1. Figure 3 shows with abbreviated support stand, an enlarged long sectional view, of the internal mechanisms of the washing apparatus housing according to a preferred embodiment.

[0025] Referring to figure 3 there is shown a cross sectional view with abbreviated support stand of the internal mechanisms of the washing apparatus housing according to one embodiment. Figure 3 shows a side elevation view of a washing apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment including a housing 2 mounted on a stand 3. Housing 2 is integrally attached to stand 3 and comprises a wall 4 defining an internal space 5.

[0026] Stand 3 comprises a peripheral wall 6 which defines an internal space 7 which receives and retains a clean water supply 8. This clean water supply 8 is self contained but can according to an alternative embodiment be supplied from an external source as required. Located in internal space 7 is a water supply line 9 which is connected to a water supply 8 and which feeds supply water into reservoir 10 via inlet line 1 1. Inlet line 1 1 is charged by a clean water pump 12 which delivers water under pressure to reservoir 10. Washing reservoir 10 is defined by wall 3 which defines an internal space 14 which receives supply water. Reservoir 10 fijrther comprises a helical pump handle 15 which facilitates the operation of washing brush 16. As ball 17 rotates against washing brush 16, brush 16 abrades the external surface J 9 of ball 17. In use, a ball 1 7 is inserted into internal space 14 and placed at a bottom end 20 of reservoir 10 so that it seats near the base 18 of wall 13.

[0027J Helical pump handle 15 is seated on and engages ball 17. Helical handle shaft 21 extends from pump 12 and engages ball 17. A pump 12 delivers rotation to drive shaft 21 which transmits rotation to ball 17. As ball 17 spins, bristles on brush 16 abrade the outer surface 19 of ball 17. As this occurs water which is delivered from inlet line 1 1 passes through internal space 14 and is eventually discharged via reservoir outlet 27 after flushing external surface 19 of ball 15. This arrangement flushes debris from ball 17 which is discharged via gravity through outlet 27 and ensures that water which contacts the ball is clean. This provides optimal cleaning quality for the ball 17. When waste water from reservoir 10 exits via outlet 32 it gravitates into internal space 5 and eventually is discharged from internal srtarx. 1 via discharge lines 31 and 35. Prcferab reservoir 10 is integrally formed by a continuation of wall 4 of housing 2 forming recess 14. According to one embodiment, outer surface 24 of housing 2 includes an advertising panel 26 which is capable of receiving and retaining advertising or like indicia. Figure 4 shows a plan view of the apparatus 1 figure 1. From this view an entrance 30 to reservoir 10 for entry of a ball can be seen which receives helical pump handle 15 .

[0028] The embodiments previously described are examples only and it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the configuration may be adjusted to accommodate a work tool assembly of different sizes, modes of operation, and configurations. For example the housing may have different externals shapes for example, a hexagonal, polygonal or other suitable cross sectional geometrical profile. The brush 16 according to one embodiment is fixed against wall 13 with ball 15 rotatable relative to the brush. Alternatively the brush 16 is adapted to rotate and the ball 15 is fixed. In each case clean wash water from inlet line 1 1 flushes the surface 19 of ball 15 facilitating debridement and discharge of contaminated water away from ball 15 avoiding any residue which was the case in apparatuses where the ball is submerged for washing.

[0029] The present invention obviates the disadvantages of the prior art and provides other advantages which are apparent from the description herein.. In certain cases the invention will be adapted to accommodate prescribed requirements and applications. It will be appreciated that the apparatus described herein, can be manufactured with a variety of materials of construction and working stands providing ground mounted options, Each support stand and housing can be provided in various sizes.

[0030] H will be further appreciated that the above description relates to the preferred embodiment by way of example only. Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those knowledgeable in the field, and such obvious variations are within the scope of the invention as described and claimed, whether or not expressly described. Therefore it will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention .