Background Art Golf clubs are manufactured with grooves on the club face (the area of the club where contact is made with the ball) to enable better ball control. However, where grass, dirt or other matter collects on the club face of the club, this can severely affect ball control. When the club face hits the ball, any grass, dirt or any matter can be trapped between the ball and the club face and this can affect the friction that occurs on impact, with subsequent loss of control over the flight of the golf ball.

For example, a golfer may wish to impart a high degree of spin to the golf ball, in order to stop it quickly on its landing on the green. To achieve this, it is desirable to have maximum, predictable friction on contact between the club face and the ball, which in turn requires a clean club face without any foreign matter which can come between the club face and ball at the time of contact.

Golf balls are manufactured with a plurality of dimples, often designed to achieve certain effects in height, shape and/or distance of ball flight. As in the case of golf clubs, if any of the dimples on a golf ball contains any foreign matter, this can affect the flight of the ball after it leaves the club face. Thus it is highly desirable that balls in play are maintained in a clean state without any foreign matter. Some golf courses provide ball cleaners to assist golfers in this regard. Unfortunately, some of these ball cleaners do not work well or lack the necessary fluid required to allow them to operate properly.

Other golf apparatus, such as golf shoes, collect debris during the golf game and from time to time a golfer may desire to clean one or both of the golfer's shoes. At present, some golf courses provide fixed golf shoe scrubbers, usually located at the club house. However, generally there is no facility for cleaning apparatus such as golf shoes on the course.

Disclosure of the Invention It is an object of the present invention, at least in some embodiments, to provide a cleaning device which is readily available to the golfer, for the purpose of cleaning golf apparatus such as clubs, balls and shoes.

In one version, it is an object of this invention to provide a cleaning device which can be mounted on a cart or buggy which carries golf clubs around the course.

Accordingly, this invention may provide a cleaning device for golf apparatus, the cleaning device including a rotatable cleaning means, a drive means adapted to rotate the cleaning means and a power source for the drive means. Preferably, the cleaning device of the invention also includes mounting means.

In another aspect, there is provided a cleaning device for cleaning an item of golf apparatus, said device including: cleaning means; a retaining means spaced from the cleaning means; a drive means adapted to rotate the cleaning means; and a power source for the drive means, wherein said cleaning means is mounted to impart rotational motion to the item causing the item to bounce or dance whereby to agitate and dislodge foreign matter from the item whilst the item is retained by the device in intermittent direct contact with the cleaning means and the retaining means.

The cleaning means may be adapted to rotate about a spindle mounted for rotation on and extending from the drive means.

The cleaning means may be adapted to impart transverse vibratory motion to the item whereby to cause the item to bounce or dance.

The cleaning device may used to clean golf apparatus with or without the aid of a washing liquid such as water, solvent or a detergent solution.

The retaining means may be any suitable retaining member capable of permitting the item to be subjected to the desired rotational and vibratory motion. The

retaining means may include a bracket or bar spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the cleaning means.

The retaining means may include a bridge extending between the ends of the device. The cleaning means may extend between the drive means and the power source. The retaining means may include a bridge likewise extending between the drive means and the power source and parallel to the cleaning means.

The retaining means may include a bridge structure adapted to bridge the power source and the drive means. The retaining means may be of a flat surfaced configuration. Preferably, the retaining means is of a curved configuration. The central region of the retaining means may curve downwardly and/or outwardly, relative to the cleaning means. Preferably, the retaining means is shaped to include a central recessed area flanked by raised end regions to facilitate the urging of the item towards the centre of the cleaning means.

The golf apparatus in connection with which the cleaning device of the invention is intended to be used includes all appropriate golf apparatus, including those already mentioned, namely golf clubs (both woods and irons), golf balls and golf shoes.

The rotatable cleaning means is preferably an elongated brush, the longitudinal axis of which is horizontal in use. The brush may have any suitable bristles but these are preferably nylon or other strong material. The cleaning means may have a diameter greater in its central region and may decrease gradually towards its ends, whereby, in longitudinal cross-section, the cleaning means resembles a shallow ellipse. The transverse cross-sectional configuration of the cleaning means may be non-circular. For example, the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the cleaning means may be elliptical, triangular, cruciform, square or star shaped.

The drive means is preferably a geared motor. Suitable geared motors are available "off the shelf', as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The power source for the drive means preferably comprises one or more batteries.

In one version, the cleaning device of the invention has the cleaning means (a brush) driven by a geared motor which is powered by six AAA batteries.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to this version and the power source may comprise other battery arrangements or, in a suitable situation, an alternating mains current or direct current electrical connection.

It is particularly preferred that the cleaning device of the invention is adapted to be mounted on a golf bag, a manual push golf buggy, a power driven push golf buggy or a ride-on cart. It is of course within the scope of this invention that the cleaning device of the invention can be mounted elsewhere. In the preferred embodiment, the cleaning device of the invention incorporates mounting means which can take any desired form. By way of example, the mounting means may provide a clamp, spring loaded or otherwise, for clamping onto a suitable location. It is also within the scope of the invention that the cleaning device of the invention is permanently attached to a golf bag, buggy, etc. For example, in the case of a ride-on cart, the cleaning device of the invention may form part of the dashboard moulding.

To use the cleaning device of the invention, the cleaning means is caused to rotate by switching on the device, whereby the power source activates the drive means which in turn rotates the cleaning means. Where the cleaning means is a brush, the face of a golf club may be pressed against the bristles which may then be able to clean the golf club head grooves as the bristles rotate. No water or other fluid is required. To clean a golf ball, the cleaning means, especially where it comprises an elongated brush mounted horizontally, with a bracket spaced from the brush, is caused to rotate and a golf ball (or more than one golf ball if desired) placed on the brush. Rotation of the brush causes the golf ball to also rotate and"dance"on the brush, cleaning the golf ball dimples.

This"dancing"or transverse vibratory motion may be caused in any of a number of ways. For example, as described above, the transverse cross-sectional configuration of the cleaning means may be irregular. In another version, the transverse vibratory motion may be caused by mounting the cleaning means offset relative to the spindle's axis of rotation. The items to be cleaned may therefore be retained in intermittent direct contact with the cleaning means and the bridge such that foreign matter may be agitated and dislodged from the item.

The internal cleaning means may be oversized relative to the external diameter of the core and/or the spindle, as the case may be. The core may be mounted on the spindle in offset axial relationship. As the core rotates about the spindle, the loosely fitting sleeve of the cleaning means may be caused to transversely vibrate in addition to rotating about the spindle and/or the core.

The retaining means may be spaced from the brush so that the golf ball is prevented from falling off the top of the brush. Preferably, the device means rotates

the brush towards the bracket whereby to better retain the ball between the brush and the bracket.

Shoes or other golf apparatus may be cleaned in a similar way, especially with reference to the cleaning of golf club heads.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described with reference to the following non-limiting description of the preferred embodiment, in which: Figure 1 a is a side elevation of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cleaning device according to a preferred embodiment; Figure 2 is a left hand side view of the cleaning device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a right hand side view of the cleaning device shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a rear view of the cleaning device; Figure 5 is a front view of the cleaning device; Figure 6 is a front view of the cleaning device showing hidden detail; Figure 7 shows section AA of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows section BB of Figure 5 ; Figure 9 shows section CC of Figure 5; and Figure 10 is a plan view showing hidden detail of the cleaning device and the means of attachment thereof to golf bags of various sizes.

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention In Figure la, a cleaning device is indicated generally at 10. The cleaning device 10 has brush 12 with bristles 14 mounted on central shaft 16. Central shaft 16 is supported at either end by bushes 18 and 20.

Central shaft 16 is able to be rotated via geared motor 22 which is powered by AAA batteries, three of which are located in compartment 24 and three more in compartment 26.

Bristles 14 of brush 12 are shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 and may be spiral or any other suitable configuration.

Cleaning device 10 includes housing 28 which links battery compartment 26 to motor compartment 22. Mounted on housing 28 is clamp 30 which is adapted to be connected to a golf bag, golf buggy, golf cart or the like.

Activation of switch 32 on motor 22 causes shaft 16 to rotate and hence bristles 14 which are fixed to shaft 16 to also rotate. An item pressed against rotating bristles 14 will be subject to a brushing action.

Bar 34 is configured so as to join the rear of battery compartment 26 to motor housing 22 and to provide a desired gap between brush 12 and bar 34 when viewed in plan. This assists a golf ball (not shown), when placed on bristles 14, to be maintained on cleaning device 10.

As already mentioned, when bristles 14 rotate around shaft 16, a golf ball will be caused to"dance"on bristles 14 while being cleaned. There is no need to hold the golf ball.

Figures 1 to 10 show a preferred embodiment of the invention. Where possible, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to equivalent components in the embodiments shown in Figure 1 a and Figures 1 to 10.

In Figure 1 there is shown a cleaning device 10 including a battery compartment 26 and a motor compartment 24, each compartment 24,26 being at either end of the cleaning device 10 and spaced from one another by a bridge 34. Interposed between the compartments 24,26 is a cleaning means in the form of a roller brush 12.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cleaning device 10 includes a clamp 30 attached to the bridge 34 which enables the device to be attached to a golf bag, a user's belt or bag or to enable the device 10 to be mounted on a cart or buggy (not shown).

The battery compartment 26 includes a battery cover 27.

The rear of the cleaning device 10 is shown in Figure 4. The clamp 30 comprises a spring attachment to the bridge 34, whereby the clamp 30 is made of memory material, such as a suitable elastic plastic, capable of deforming to accommodate, for example, the lip of a golf bag, and capable of returning to its original shape upon removal from the golf bag. The clamp 30 includes two arms 36, 38 adapted to grip the substrate to which the device 10 is to be attached. The bridge 34 can be

seen to be marginally depressed towards its centre whereby to urge the item to be cleaning towards the centre of the brush 12.

Figure 5 shows the grips 40 adapted to grip the substrate to which the device 10 is to be attached in frictional engagement. A thumb grip 42 is also provided on the top edge of the battery cover 27 for easy removal of cover 27.

Figure 6 is a front view of device 10 showing hidden detail that would be seen if the front cover 27 and the front walls of compartments 24,26 were removed, as well as a longitudinal transverse section through the brush 12.

Compartment 24 includes a battery pack 44 for receiving 6 AA size batteries (see also Figure 7) providing power in the form of direct current for a small electric motor 46. A pair of wires (not shown) connect the battery pack 44 to the motor 46 through the bridge 34.

The motor 46 is a commercially available unit which is securely mounted by standard means such as screw fasteners within compartment 26. Screw fasteners 52 also secure back panels 48,50 of compartments 24,26 (most clearly shown in Figure 4).

Extending axially through one end of the brush 12 is a spindle 54 adapted to rotate the brush 12 upon activating the motor 46. Coaxial to the spindle 54 and mounted on, and extending from, the battery compartment 26 is an axle 56.

As shown in Figure 8, the brush 12 includes a cylinder 58 from which the bristles (not explicitly shown) radially extend. The internal diameter of the cylinder 58 is oversized and loosely a core 55 mounted to the spindle 54 in offset relationship.

The core 55 is mounted off-set whereby to impart a transverse vibratory motion to the brush 12 as it rotates about the spindle 54 and axle 56.

The vibratory motion imparted to the brush 12 causes an item to be cleaned, such as the golf ball 60 to"dance"on and between the brush 12 and the bridge 34. The item is therefore in intermittent contact with the rotating brush 12 and/or the bridge 34 whereby to agitate and remove foreign matter from the item without the need for water or another washing liquid.

As shown in Figure 8 and with reference to Figure 5, the bridge 34 has a curved configuration with a narrow centre 62 and widening at its extremities where it joins to the compartments 24,26. The shape of the bridge 34 enables the use of minimum material without sacrificing strength and rigidity. The depressed top of

the bridge 34, as mentioned previously, also urges the agitated item towards the narrow centre during use whereby to retain same on the device 10 for maximum effectiveness.

The clamp 30 includes leg 66 integrally formed with, and extending substantially parallel to, the arms 36,38, the leg 66 and arms 36,38 being bridged at their upper ends by connecting member 68.

The clamp 30 is located in friction fit engagement to the bridge 34 by the dual bracing action of ramp 64 and flange 70. Ramp 64 in the leg 66 is located in notch 72 in the lower rear region of bridge 34. The flange 70 extending upwardly from the connecting member 68 is retained behind a downwardly depending, rearward extending lip 74 of the bridge 34. The bridge 34 and clamp 30 may optionally be further engaged by fasteners as is standard in the art.

Figure 10 shows the clamp 30 is capable of attaching to a range of substrates varying in size and shape. In the example shown, the clamp 30 is shown to be attachable to the upper lip of large and small golf bags 78.

In a preferred embodiment, the bristles 14 are longest at the centre point of the brush 12 and gradually reduce in length towards either end of the brush 12.

Accordingly, the greatest agitatory action of the brush 12 is imparted to the item towards the centre of the brush 12 where the item is urged by the effect of the contours of the bridge along its upper region.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.