"Golf Equipment Cleaning Wipe"

The present invention relates to a golf equipment cleaning wipe and to its use in cleaning golf equipment. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to its use in cleaning golf club heads.

During a game of golf, dirt, grime and other foreign materials accumulate on surfaces and in grooves of a golf club. In particular, the faces of golf club heads comprise a number of grooves or recesses which pick up dirt and other foreign materials during the course of play.

The presence of these foreign materials, for example dirt, grit and grass, on the surfaces and in the grooves of a golf club is highly undesirable and can detract from a golfer's performance on the golf course. This is because the efficiency of contact between the face of the golf club head and a golf ball is reduced due to the presence of these materials.

Regular cleaning of a golf club head is required to remove these foreign materials.

One means of cleaning golf clubs is to use a towel dampened with water to clean the surfaces of the club. However, this method is not sufficient to remove foreign materials from the grooves of the club head.

In order to remove unwanted foreign materials from the grooves of the golf club head, a wire or nylon brush is often used. Brushes have bristles that remove the unwanted foreign materials from the grooves of the club head.

Brushes may be cumbersome and can occupy significant space in a golf bag. Furthermore, the use of a wire or nylon brush results in damage to the golf club head. For example, the rear of the golf club head is often coated with a lacquer which may sometimes be damaged and/or partially removed by the use of a brush. Furthermore, the well-defined edges of the grooves in the face of the golf club head may become worn when a brush is regularly used to clean the club head.

A variety of larger devices are available for cleaning golf club heads. However, due to the size of these devices, they are not suitable for carrying around the golf course and thus are not suited for use during a round of golf.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf equipment cleaning wipe comprising a carrier material and a solution applied to the carrier material wherein the golf equipment cleaning wipe is adapted to remove unwanted foreign materials from the grooves of golf equipment.

The provision of a golf equipment cleaning wipe which is capable of removing unwanted foreign materials from the grooves of golf equipment provides an improved means for cleaning golf equipment. In particular, use of the wipe allows unwanted foreign materials to be easily and quickly removed from the grooves without the requirement for the use of a brush or golf tee to access the grooves. The golf equipment is therefore not damaged during cleaning.

The golf equipment cleaning wipes obviate the requirement for the use of a brush to access the grooves as the solution is capable of entering into

the grooves and carrying dirt and other foreign material from the club face. Also, the use of a wire or nylon brush results in damage to the golf club head and, particularly, to the lacquer which is present on the rear surface of a wood's head. The solution is non-abrasive and does not cause any damage to the golf club head or to the lacquer present thereon. In addition, the use of the golf equipment cleaning wipe in place of a brush prevents the well-defined edges of the grooves of the golf club head from being damaged. This ensures a more efficient impact between the golf club head and the golf ball.

Lacquer on the surfaces of the golf club is maintained in order by the use of a wipe. This results in an improved performance on the golf course and also enhances the resale value of the club.

Typically, the solution is adapted to access the grooves of the golf equipment and to remove the unwanted foreign materials present therein.

Preferably, the solution is adapted to dissolve the unwanted foreign materials.

Preferably, the solution is quick-drying.

This allows a golfer to clean the golf club head during the course of a round of golf without having to delay the course of play while waiting for the golf club head to dry.

Preferably, the solution is non-abrasive.

This prevents damage to the golf equipment when cleaning. In particular, the lacquer on golf club heads remains intact following use of the golf equipment cleaning wipe.

In one embodiment, the solution comprises a 2 to 10%, preferably 5 %, w/v micro emulsion solution.

Typically, the micro emulsion comprises:

- 10-25% C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (4);

- 5-10% C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (6);

- 0-10%, preferably 5%, isopropyl alcohol and/or ethanol;

- 0 -5%, preferably 2%, EDTA sodium salt;

- 30-50%, preferably 40%, liquor; - 0-0.5%, preferably 0.2% preservative; and water.

Preferably, water comprises the balance of the solution.

In one embodiment, the solution is scented.

The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found that this solution is capable of accessing the grooves of golf equipment and, in particular, the grooves of golf club heads. Furthermore, the solution has been shown to carry unwanted foreign materials away from the golf club, either in solution or as solids. This allows the golf equipment to be cleaned easily and efficiently.

Typically, the carrier material comprises a non-woven fabric. However, any material suitable for use in wipes may be used.

Preferably, the golf equipment cleaning wipe is biodegradable.

Preferably, the golf equipment cleaning wipe is disposable.

In one embodiment, the golf equipment cleaning wipe is provided with an individual external wrapping which encloses the golf equipment cleaning wipe. Various types of external packaging are envisaged, for example, plastic or paper.

Preferably, the external wrapping is bio-degradable.

Preferably, the external wrapping is disposable.

The external wrapping prevents or reduces loss of moisture from the golf equipment cleaning wipe.

The golf equipment cleaning wipe of the first aspect of the present invention may be sold individually or in the form of a pack comprising more than one golf equipment cleaning wipe.

Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention provides a pack comprising a plurality of golf equipment cleaning wipes according to the first aspect of the present invention.

Preferably, the pack may be sealed when not in use to prevent loss of moisture from the golf equipment cleaning wipes.

The golf equipment cleaning wipe of the first aspect of the present invention may be used to remove dirt, grime and other foreign material

from the surfaces of golf equipment and, in particular, from the grooves present in the face of golf club heads.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf equipment cleaning wipe comprising a fibrous material and a solution applied to the fibrous material wherein the solution comprises a micro emulsion, typically 0-10%, preferably 5%, w/v comprising :

- 10-25% C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (4);

- 5-10%C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (6); - 0-10%, preferably 5%, isopropyl alcohol and/or ethanol;

- 0 -5%, preferably 2%, EDTA sodium salt;

- 30-50%, preferably 40%, liquor;

- 0-0.5%, preferably 0.2%, preservative; and water.

Typically, water comprises the balance of the solution.

The term "golf equipment" as used herein is understood to include, but is not limited to, golf clubs including golf club shafts, golf club grips and golf club heads, golf balls, golf shoes, golf bags and golf carts.

The term "unwanted foreign materials" as used herein is understood to include, but is not limited to, dirt, grime, grease, oil, sand, grass and human sweat.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a golf club and a golf equipment cleaning wipe according to an aspect of the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a pack of the golf equipment cleaning wipes of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1 , a golf club 2 comprises a head 4, a grip 6 and a shaft 8 which joins the head 4 to the grip 6. In use, a golfer holds the golf club 2 using the grip 6. The golf club head 4 is rotated by the golfer in order to bring the head 4 into contact with a golf ball (not shown). The face of the golf club head 4 which contacts the golf ball comprises a number of grooves (not shown).

During a round of golf, and particularly when striking a golf ball, the golf club head 4 comes into contact with grass, sand and other foreign materials. These materials accumulate on the surface and in the grooves of the ball-striking face of the golf club head 4 and affect the ball-striking efficiency of the golf club head 4. Further, when playing golf, the golf grip 6 becomes coated with grime, sweat and other foreign materials which affect the golfer's ability to grip and accurately swing the golf club 2.

Also shown in Figure 1 is a golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 suitable for cleaning the golf club head 4. The golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 comprises a carrier material 12 and a solution 14 applied to the carrier material 12. The carrier material 12 is a non-woven fibrous material such as that generally used for wipes. Typically, the solution 14 is a 5% micro emulsion comprising: - 10-25% C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (4);

- 5-10% C9-C11 fatty alcohol ethoxylate (6);

- 5% isopropyl alcohol and/or ethanol;

- 2% EDTA sodium salt;

- 40% liquor; - 0.2 % preservative ; and

a balance of water.

Referring now to Figure 2, golf equipment cleaning wipes 10 are packaged in a pack 16. The pack 16 has a lid 18. The lid 18 is re-sealable after opening to prevent loss of moisture from the unused golf equipment cleaning wipes 10. The pack 16 is of a size and weight suitable for carrying around a golf course. For example, the pack 16 may be carried in a golf bag (not shown) so that the golfer has access to the golf equipment cleaning wipes 10 when needed during the course of a round of golf.

In use, the lid 18 of the pack 16 is opened and a golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 is removed. The pack 16 is then resealed to reduce loss of moisture from the remaining golf equipment cleaning wipes 10. The golf club 2, and in particular the grip 6 and the head 4, is then cleaned using the golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 which was removed from the pack 16. Generally, a wiping motion is used to clean the golf club 2. Due to the ability of the golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 to dissolve or carry unwanted foreign materials away from the club head. This is particularly due to the ability of the solution 14 to access the grooves and either dissolve or loosen unwanted foreign materials present therein. Thus, only minimal pressure need be applied when cleaning the golf club head 4 reducing the chances of damage of the club head 4 further.

Following use, the golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 is disposed of in a suitable manner.

The golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 provides an improved means of cleaning golf equipment allowing dirt, grime, grease, oil, sand, grass and other unwanted foreign materials to be easily removed from the surfaces and grooves of the golf equipment. In some cases, these materials have

been accumulating for some time and are difficult to remove. However, the golf equipment cleaning wipe 10 and, in particular the solution 14, are capable of dislodging such material.

Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention.