TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to golf accessories, and more particularly to golf towels. BACKGROUND

[0002] In golf, it is not uncommon to use a towel or cleaning pad to wipe dirt, grass and moisture from the head of a golf club. To this end, various types of specialized golf towels have been developed.

[0003] U.S. Patents No. 5,765,233 and 5,893,190 disclose disposable club head wiping patches that can be removably stuck to the lower portion of a golfer's trouser leg, and U.S. Patent No. D414645 discloses an ornamental design for a sports towel. U.S. Patents No. 5,797,142 and 4,403,366 teach golf towels that can be attached to a user's belt, and U.S. Patent No. D339496 discloses the ornamental design for a golf towel having a handheld brush dangling from its corner, with the brush being attached by a keychain-type loop. U.S. Patent No. 5,147,703 teaches a golf towel that can be attached to a golf bag and which includes a main towel and an accessory towel. U.S. Patent Application Publication No.

2009/0144874 teaches a wearable towel.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 6,003,190 to Knudsen discloses a cleaning pad which can be secured to the leg of a player, and describes an embodiment in which bristles extend through the surface of the cleaning pad. This bristled cleaning pad, however, does not allow a user to brush dirt or other debris out of the grooves on the head of a golf club before wiping the head of the golf club. [0005] U.S. Patent No. 4,912,800 to Zeltner describes a cleaning device for golfers that has a towel body and a brush member secured at one corner thereof. In one embodiment, the brush member includes a mounting plate that is mechanically fused to the fibers of the towel body and a brush element is releasably secured to the mounting plate. A clip may be mounted on a corner of the towel body, opposite the brush member, to hang the cleaning device on a golf bag.

SUMMARY

[0006] A wearable golf towel can be secured around a golfer's lower leg and can carry a bristled brush so that the head of a golf club can be independently brushed and then wiped after brushing. In some embodiments, an adjustable strap system enables a golf towel of a single size to accommodate golfers having various lower leg heights.

[0007] In one aspect, a wearable golf towel comprises a textile substrate having a wiping surface, at least one first brush mounting fixture on the textile substrate for removably mounting a brush to the textile substrate and supporting the brush for brushing, with the at least one brush mounting fixture leaving a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping, and at least one strap on the textile substrate for securing the textile substrate about a leg of a user.

[0008] The wearable golf towel may further comprise a brush having a bristled surface and a mounting surface opposite the bristled surface, with the brush having at least one second brush mounting fixture on the mounting surface. The at least one second brush mounting fixture is complementary to and interengageable with the at least one first brush mounting fixture so that the brush is removably mountable to the textile substrate with the bristled surface facing outwardly. When the brush is mounted to the textile substrate, the brush leaves a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping. In a particular embodiment, the at least one first brush mounting fixture is one of a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement and the at least one second brush mounting fixture is the other of the hook surface or the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement. In another particular embodiment, the at least one first brush mounting fixture comprises a plurality of first snap fastener portions and the at least one second brush mounting fixture comprises a plurality of correspondingly positioned second snap fastener portions that are complementary to and interengageable with the first snap fastener portions.

[0009] In some embodiments the at least one strap comprises two straps.

[0010] In one embodiment in which the at least one strap comprises two straps, the two straps comprise a fixed position strap secured to the textile substrate to have a fixed position on one edge of the textile substrate and an adjustable position strap selectively positionable on the edge of the textile substrate, relative to the fixed position strap and spaced from the fixed position strap. Fastener strips may extend along at least corresponding portions of opposed edges of the textile substrate, with the adjustable position strap being

interengageable with the fastener strips so that the fastener strips can securingly receive the adjustable position strap. In a particular embodiment, the adjustable position strap has a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and the fastener strips expose the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the adjustable position strap. [001 1] In another embodiment in which the at least one strap comprises two straps, the two straps comprise first and second fixed position straps each secured at one end thereof to the textile substrate so that each fixed position strap has a fixed position relative to an edge of the textile substrate, with the first and second fixed position straps being spaced from one another. In a particular embodiment, each of the first and second fixed position straps is removably fastenable to the textile substrate opposite the fixed position of the respective one of the first and second fixed position straps on the edge of the textile substrate. The first and second fixed position straps may each have a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and the golf towel may further comprise first and second fastener patches each secured to the textile substrate opposite the fixed position of the respective one of the first and second fixed position straps on the edge of the textile substrate, with the first and second fastener patches each exposing the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the respective first and second fixed position straps.

[0012] In another aspect, a wearable golf towel comprises a textile substrate having a wiping surface. The wearable golf towel further comprises a brush having a bristled surface and which is secured to the textile substrate with the bristled surface facing outwardly, with the brush being supported for brushing by the textile substrate and leaving a majority of the wiping surface exposed for wiping. There is at least one strap on the textile substrate for securing the textile substrate about a leg of a user. [0013] In one embodiment, the at least one strap comprises a fixed position strap secured to the textile substrate to have a fixed position on one edge of the textile substrate and an adjustable position strap selectively positionable on the one edge of the textile substrate, relative to the fixed position strap and spaced from the fixed position strap. In a particular implementation, fastener strips extend along at least corresponding portions of opposed edges of the textile substrate and the adjustable position strap is interengageable with the fastener strips so that the fastener strips can securingly receive the adjustable position strap. The adjustable position strap may have a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement and the fastener strips may expose the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the adjustable position strap.

[0014] In another embodiment, the at least one strap comprises first and second fixed position straps each secured at one end thereof to the textile substrate so that each fixed position strap has a fixed position relative to an edge of the textile substrate, with the first and second fixed position straps being spaced from one another. In a particular implementation, each of the first and second fixed position straps is removably fastenable to the textile substrate opposite the fixed position of the respective one of the first and second fixed position straps on the edge of the textile substrate. The first and second fixed position straps may each have a fastening surface extending therealong and comprising one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and first and second fastener patches may be secured to the textile substrate opposite the fixed position of the respective one of the first and second fixed position straps on the edge of the textile substrate, with the first and second fastener patches each exposing the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the respective first and second fixed position straps. The brush may be removably secured to the textile substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

[0016] FIGURE 1 is an exploded front perspective view of a first exemplary wearable golf towel, showing mounting of the brush on a textile substrate of the golf towel and securing of the golf towel about a lower leg of a golfer;

[0017] FIGURE 2 is a front perspective view of the golf towel of Figure 1 secured about the lower leg of the golfer, with the brush mounted to the textile substrate;

[0018] FIGURE 3 is a rear perspective view of the golf towel of Figure 1 secured about the lower leg of the golfer, with the brush mounted to the textile substrate;

[0019] FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the golf towel of Figure 1 , with the brush mounted to the textile substrate;

[0020] FIGURE 5 is a detailed perspective view showing first and second brush mounting fixtures of a second exemplary wearable golf towel;

[0021] FIGURE 6 is an exploded front perspective view of a third exemplary wearable golf towel, showing mounting of the brush on a textile substrate of the golf towel and securing of the golf towel about a lower leg of a golfer; [0022] FIGURE 7 is a front perspective view of the golf towel of Figure 6 secured about the lower leg of the golfer, with the brush mounted to the textile substrate;

[0023] FIGURE 8 is a rear perspective view of the golf towel of Figure 6 secured about the lower leg of a golfer, with the brush mounted to the textile substrate; and

[0024] FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the golf towel of Figure 6, with the brush mounted to the textile substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Referring now to Figure 1, a first exemplary wearable golf towel is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and the lower leg of a golfer is shown transparently in dashed lines and indicated generally by the reference numeral 12. The golf towel 10 comprises a textile substrate 14 having a wiping surface 16 suitable for wiping the head of a golf club, a first brush mounting fixture 18 disposed on the textile substrate 14 for removably mounting a brush 20 to the textile substrate 14 and supporting the brush 20 for brushing, and straps 30, 32 on the textile substrate 14 for securing the textile substrate 14 about the golfer's lower leg 12.

[0026] The textile substrate 14 may be made from any suitable textile material, and may comprise a multi-layered substrate, for example a first outer layer comprising fabric, such as viscose from bamboo or another suitable material, an inner layer comprising a waterproof or water-resistant membrane, and a second outer layer, which may also comprise fabric made from viscose from bamboo or another suitable material.

[0027] As can be seen in Figure 1, the first brush mounting fixture 18 leaves a majority of the wiping surface 16 exposed for wiping and the exposed wiping surface 16 is substantially free of bristles. The brush 20 has a bristled surface 22 from which a plurality of bristles 24 extend and also has a mounting surface 26 opposite the bristled surface 22, with a second brush mounting fixture 28 disposed on the mounting surface 26 of the brush 20. The second brush mounting fixture 28 is complementary to and interengageable with the first brush mounting fixture 18 so that the brush 20 can be removably mounted to the textile substrate 14 with the bristled surface facing outwardly, as shown in Figure 2. As can be seen in Figure 2, when the brush 20 is mounted to the textile substrate 14, the brush 20 leaves a majority of the wiping surface 16 exposed for wiping and the exposed wiping surface 16 is substantially free of bristles.

[0028] In the first exemplary golf towel 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4, the first brush mounting fixture 18 comprises either a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, e.g. Velcro®-type hook-and-loop straps, and the second brush mounting fixture 28 comprises the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement. Thus, if the first brush mounting fixture 18 comprises a hook surface then the second brush mounting fixture 28 would comprise a loop surface, and vice versa.

[0029] Figure 5 shows a portion of a second exemplary golf towel which is identical to the first exemplary golf towel 10 except that instead of using a hook and loop fastener arrangement, a brush 520 is removably mounted to the textile substrate 514 by a plurality of snap fasteners. Specifically, in the second exemplary golf towel shown in Figure 5, a plurality of first snap fastener portions 518 are secured to the textile substrate 514 to serve as the first brush mounting fixtures and a plurality of correspondingly positioned second snap fastener portions 528 are secured to the mounting surface 526 of the brush 520 to serve as the second brush mounting fixtures, with the first and second snap fastener portions 518, 528 being complementary to and interengageable with one another.

[0030] Referring now to Figure 4, it can be seen that the textile substrate 14 of the exemplary golf towel 10 is generally rectangular and has a length L and a width W that is less than the length L, and has opposed lengthwise edges 36. As noted above, the golf towel 10 comprises straps 30, 32; these comprise a fixed position strap 30 and an adjustable position strap 32. The fixed position strap 30 is secured to the textile substrate 14 to have a fixed position on one of the lengthwise edges 36, and the adjustable position strap 32 is selectively positionable on that lengthwise edge 36, relative to the fixed position strap 30 and spaced from the fixed position strap 30.

[0031] As best seen in Figure 1, each of the straps 30, 32 has a fastening surface 30F, 32F, respectively, extending therealong. The fastening surfaces 3 OF, 32F comprise either a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, e.g. Velcro®-type hook- and-loop straps. Referring again to Figure 4, one end 40 of the fixed position strap 30 is secured to the textile substrate 14 at one of the lengthwise edges 36 thereof, and a fastener patch 42, comprising the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to that of the fastener surface 3 OF of the fixed position strap 30, is secured to the textile substrate 14 at the other lengthwise edge 36 thereof. The fastener patch 42 is secured to the textile substrate 14 at a longitudinal position corresponding to the longitudinal position of the fixed position strap 30, so that the fixed position strap 30 can be wrapped around a user's lower leg 12 and then secured to the fastener patch 42 by interengaging the fastening surface 3 OF of the fixed position strap 30 with the fastener patch 42, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. [0032] Unlike the fixed position strap 30, the adjustable position strap 32 is not permanently secured to the textile substrate 14. Fastener strips 44 extend along corresponding portions of the opposed lengthwise edges 36 to securingly receive the adjustable position strap 32, and the adjustable position strap 32 is interengageable with the fastener strips 44. In the illustrated embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, in which the fastener surface 32F of the adjustable position strap 32 is part of a hook-and-loop fastener arrangement, the fastener strips 44 expose the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to that of the fastener surface 32F of the adjustable position strap 32. In particular, if the fastener surface 32F of the adjustable position strap 32 comprises a hook surface then the fastener strips 44 would comprise a loop surface, and vice versa. The adjustable position strap 32 can be secured anywhere on the portions of the opposed lengthwise edges 36 along which the fastener strips 44 extend by interengaging the fastening surface 32F of the adjustable position strap 32 with the fastener strips 44, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and as indicated by the arrows A in Figures 1 and 4. The adjustable position strap 32 can thus be positioned, relative to the fixed position strap 30, to comfortably accommodate golfers having various lower leg heights.

[0033] In this regard, it can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 that in an advantageous positioning of the golf towel 10 on a golfer's lower leg 12, the textile substrate 14 will be on the outside of the lower leg 12, with the upper end 14U of the textile substrate 14 positioned at the user's mid-calf or upper calf, with the lower end 14L of the textile substrate 14 extending below the golfer's ankle to cover the outside of the user's foot. This assists in keeping grass and dirt out of a golfer's cuff and shoe. The adjustable strap 32 and the fastener strips 44 assist in enabling a single size of textile substrate 14 to accommodate this positioning for a variety of lower leg sizes.

[0034] Reference is now made to Figures 6 to 9, in which a third exemplary golf towel is indicated generally by the reference numeral 310. The third exemplary golf towel 310 is similar to the first exemplary golf towel 10, and hence corresponding reference numerals are used to refer to corresponding features, except with the prefix "3". Thus, the golf towel 310 shown in Figures 6 to 9 comprises a textile substrate 314 having a ribbed wiping surface 316 for wiping the head of a golf club and a first brush mounting fixture 318 disposed on the textile substrate 314 for removably mounting a brush 320 to the textile substrate 314 and supporting the brush 320 for brushing. As with the first exemplary golf towel 10, in the third exemplary golf towel 310 the first brush mounting fixture 318 leaves a majority of the wiping surface 316, which is substantially free of bristles, exposed for wiping. The brush 320 has a mounting surface 326 opposite its bristled surface 322, and the second brush mounting fixture 328 on the mounting surface 326 of the brush 320 is complementary to and interengageable with the first brush mounting fixture 318; as shown, the first brush mounting fixture 318 comprises either a hook surface or a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, e.g. Velcro®-type hook-and-loop straps, and the second brush mounting fixture 328 comprises the opposite surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement. This enables the brush 320 to be removably mounted to the textile substrate 314 with the bristled surface 322 facing outwardly, as shown in Figure 7, with a majority of the wiping surface 316 exposed for wiping. [0035] In the third exemplary golf towel 310, which is longer than the width at its widest point, the opposed lengthwise edges 336 are outwardly bowed rather than straight as in the first exemplary golf towel 10. As a result, the textile substrate 314 has, in plan view, a generally truncated scaphoid or truncated naviform shape, rather than the generally rectangular shape of the textile substrate 14 of the first exemplary golf towel 10.

[0036] Similarly to the first exemplary golf towel 10, the third exemplary golf towel 310 also includes two straps 330, 334 to secure the textile substrate 314 about the golfer's lower leg 312. However, unlike the first exemplary golf towel 10, the two straps 330, 334 forming part of the third exemplary golf towel 310 are both fixed position straps. Specifically, the two straps 330, 334 comprise a first fixed position strap 330 and a second fixed position strap 334 each secured at one end 340, 341 to the textile substrate 314 so that each fixed position strap 330, 334 has a fixed position on one of the lengthwise edges 336 and the fixed position straps 330, 334 are spaced longitudinally from one another along the lengthwise edge 336. As can be seen in Figures 6 to 8, the first fixed position strap 330 and the second fixed position strap 334 are each removably fastenable opposite the fixed position of the respective one of the first and second fixed position straps 330, 334 on the lengthwise edge 336 of the textile substrate 314. In the illustrated embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9, the first fixed position strap 330 and the second fixed position strap 334 are each removably fastenable, by way of corresponding first and second fastener patches 342, 346, at the lengthwise edge 336 opposite to the lengthwise edge 336 to which the respective first fixed position strap 330 and the second fixed position strap 334 is secured. Each of the first and second fastener patches 342, 346 is secured to the textile substrate 316 adjacent the lengthwise edge 336 that is opposite to the lengthwise edge 336 to which the corresponding fixed position strap 330, 334 is secured, at a longitudinal position matching the longitudinal position of the corresponding fixed position strap 330, 334. In the exemplary third golf towel 310, the fixed position straps 330, 334 each have fastening surfaces 330F, 334F that expose one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement, and the fastener patches 342, 346 each expose the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement to securingly receive the respective fixed position straps 330, 334.

[0037] Although in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 9 both of the fixed position straps 330, 334 extend outwardly from one lengthwise edge 336 and both of the fastener patches 342, 346 are secured adjacent the opposite lengthwise edge 336, in other embodiments one of the fixed position straps may extend from one of the lengthwise edges and the other one of the fixed position straps may extend from the opposite lengthwise edge, with the fastener patches being correspondingly positioned.

[0038] The exemplary third golf towel 310 also includes a loop 348 secured to the textile substrate 316 adjacent the upper end 314U thereof (i.e. one of the widthwise edges) for hanging the golf towel 310.

[0039] A golf towel as described herein can advantageously be used on a driving range, since it allows a golfer to first brush dirt out of the grooves of the head of the golf club using the brush 20, 520, 320 and then wipe away the remaining dirt, as well as any moisture on the head of the golf club, using the wiping surface 16. The brush 20, 520, 320 and the textile substrate 14, 314 can be separated for cleaning, i.e. washing the textile substrate 14, 314, and the brush 20, 520, 320 can be replaced with a new brush without discarding the rest of the golf towel 10, 310.

[0040] As can be seen in Figures 6 and 9, the longitudinal position of the brush mounting fixture 318, and hence of the brush 320, relative to the lengthwise edges 36, is aligned with the longitudinal position of the first fixed position strap 330 so that the fixed position strap 330 assists in stabilizing the brush 320 during brushing.

[0041] One or more currently preferred embodiments have been described by way of example. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[0042] For example, in addition to using snap fasteners to secure the brush 520 to the textile substrate as shown in Figure 5, the fastener patches 42, 342, 346 may be replaced with a snap fastener portion, and the fastener strips 44 may comprise a series of snap fastener portions extending along a portion of the opposed lengthwise edges 36, with the fastening surfaces 30F, 32F, of the straps 30, 32 or the fastening surfaces 330F, 334F of the straps 330, 332 comprising complementary snap fastener portions. In addition, the fixed position straps may alternatively have one of a hook surface and a loop surface of a hook and loop fastener arrangement on one side and the other of the hook surface and the loop surface of the hook and loop fastener arrangement on the other side, so that each fixed position strap is removably securable to itself, rather than to the textile substrate, for securing the textile substrate about a leg of a user. Other removable fastening arrangements, such as buckles or the like, may also be used for the straps. The straps may comprise an elastic material for improved fit. Moreover, the shapes of the illustrated textile substrates 14, 314 are exemplary only, and textile substrates for wearable golf towels of the type described herein may have other shapes, including without limitation circular, oval, hexagon, octagon as well as other regular geometric shapes and also suitable irregular shapes.

[0043] In one embodiment, the brush may be permanently secured to the textile substrate, rather than removably securable.

[0044] The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Variations to the exact embodiments described may be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set out below. It is intended that any such variations be deemed within the scope of this patent.