A golf club head cleaner

Abstract

A golf club head cleaner comprising: a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a pair of opposed sidewalls connected by end walls; wherein each sidewall includes a brush that extends across a major part of its inner surface so that the two brushes face each other within the container; and wherein the closed bottom is angled relative to one end wall at an obtuse angle to accommodate a golf club head. The golf club head cleaner includes an attachment means for attaching the cleaner to a golf club carrier at a defined orientation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from South African patent number 2023 / 06084 filed on 8 Jun. 2023, which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to golf club head cleaners. In particular, the invention relates to golf club head cleaners for attachment to a golf club carrier.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0003] Golf is played on grass, ground, muddy surfaces, wet surface, sand and overall dirty surfaces. Often when a golf club is swung, the head of the golf club impacts the surface a golf ball is resting on and a piece of the surface is removed with the swing. The aftermath of the removed piece of surface is called a “divot”. A piece of grass flying off into the air and landing a couple of meters away from a golfer after hitting a golf ball is iconic of taking a divot. Taking divots also means that the face of the golf club is dirty with sand, grass or ground stuck in the grooves of the golf club head.

[0004] It is necessary for the grooves of the golf club head to be clean for a golfer to have the best chance at a good strike at the golf ball. Often golfers take a towel with them when playing golf, and wet the towel before playing and after 9 holes. The golfer would wipe the face of the golf club head with the wet towel after each strike to ensure that the face stays clean for future strikes. However, the towel does not stay wet for too long in ideal golfing conditions as 9 holes typically last more than 2 hours. Furthermore, if a golf club is not cleaned and left for a while the dirt in the groove becomes dry and difficult to remove with the wet towel.

[0005] To combat the difficulty of cleaning dirty golf club faces, golfers often carry a cleaning tool such as a brush with them to scrape off the dirt before wiping the face with a towel. However, this adds to yet another golfing item golfers have to keep in their golf bags. Furthermore, cleaning tools are easily forgotten or lost.

[0006] Often golfers play golf courses with a golf cart. Many golf carts typically include a box cleaner containing a soapy liquid and brushes. The head of the golf club is inserted into the box cleaner after the golfer played a stroke. The golfer then moves the golf club up and down, with the face against brushes, to clean the face of the golf club. However, not all golfers play golf with a golf cart as it can be expensive to rent a golf cart. Golf carts are often shared between two golfers, and the golf cart may not always be near one golfer after the golfer has played a golf shot, making it easy for the golfer to forget to clean the face of the golf club.

[0007] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in the art as at the priority date of the application.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a golf club head cleaner comprising:

[0009] a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a pair of opposed sidewalls connected by end walls;

[0010] wherein each sidewall includes a brush that extends across a major part of its inner surface so that the two brushes face each other within the container; and

[0011] wherein the closed bottom is angled relative to one end wall at an obtuse angle to accommodate a heel of a golf club head.

[0012] The obtuse angle may be the supplementary angle of an average lie angle of a golf club head. The two end walls may be planar and parallel and the closed bottom may be planar and angled to the planes of the end walls, with the angle corresponding generally to a lie angle of a golf club head.

[0013] A first internal angle of the closed bottom and a first end wall may be configured to receive a distal end of a golf club head in use and may generally correspond to a lie angle of the golf club head and a second internal angle of the closed bottom and a second end wall may be the supplementary angle of the first internal angle.

[0014] The closed bottom may be angled relative to the open top such that at least one side wall may form a trapezium shape. The open top may be planar and perpendicular to each of the planes of the two parallel end walls. The container may be a trapezoidal prism with parallel sidewalls and parallel end walls. The open top may be angled between 20 and 40 degrees relative to the closed bottom.

[0015] The golf club head cleaner may include an attachment means on an outer surface of one of the sidewalls configured to releasably attach the container to a golf club carrier. The attachment means may include a clip and a cooperating clamp with the cooperating clamp configured to be attached to the golf club carrier.

[0016] The clip and the cooperating clamp may be configured such that when the cooperating clamp is attached to a leg of a wheeled golf club carrier the closed bottom of the container may be generally parallel to the ground and the end walls may be angled to the vertical.

[0017] The clip may be configured to be a sliding clip which may slide into the cooperating clamp in a direction of the closed bottom of the container and having a biased snap fit to secure the clip in the clamp.

[0018] The attachment means may also include a clip and a cooperating receiving portion for receiving the clip in secured a condition. The receiving portion may be configured to attach to a golf club carrier, such as a golf bag. The receiving portion my include clamping extensions for clamping onto the golf club carrier. The extensions may fold toward the backside of the receiving portion to form a clip arrangement configured to clip onto the golf club carrier. The extensions may be angled relative to a receiving direction of the clamp slot, the receiving direction may be a direction in which the clip slides when inserted in the receiving portion.

[0019] The extensions may have gripping surfaces on the internal surfaces thereof for gripping the golf club carrier. The extensions may be slightly flexible such that it can flex to accept a wall of the golf club carrier. The flexible extensions may be configured to in use impart a pressure onto the golf club carrier wall such that gripping surfaces grip onto the internal surface of the wall.

[0020] Tips of the brushes facing each other may be distanced from one another such that the tips contact the golf club head when the golf club head is inserted into the container. The two brushes may each be formed of multiple tufts with ends of the tufts of the two brushes opposing each other.

[0021] The container may be formed of a two-part construction that may clip together with a joint in the end walls and the closed bottom. The two-part construction may be formed of injection moulded plastic.

[0022] The container may be configured to provide sufficient space to allow a face of a golf club head having been inserted into the cleaner to move in a circular motion along a two-dimensional plane. The container may be configured to contain a liquid.

[0023] The golf club head cleaner may include a golf ball cleaning section for cleaning a golf ball, and a golf ball receiver configured to receive the golf ball, wherein the receiver is configured to slide along an axis within the golf ball cleaning section. The golf ball cleaning section may be disposed within the container. Alternatively, the golf ball cleaning section may be a separate compartment sharing a wall with the container.

[0024] The golf club head cleaner may include brushes extending over a major part of a curved internal wall of the golf ball cleaning section such that the brushes contact the received golf ball.

[0025] The receiver may divide the cleaner into the golf ball cleaning section and a golf club head cleaning section.

[0026] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In the drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional front view of an embodiment of a golf club head cleaner in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a sectioned front view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 with the cleaner attached to a golf club carrier and a golf club head inserted into the cleaner;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cleaner of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a top view of the cleaner of FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional rear view of the cleaner of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional rear view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 with a detached attachment means;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional front view of the cleaner of FIG. 6;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the cleaner of FIG. 1 attached to a golf club carrier;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of a golf club head cleaner, including a golf ball cleaning section, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

[0037] FIG. 10 is a top view of the cleaner of FIG. 9;

[0038] FIG. 11 is a front view of a golf ball receiver of the cleaner of FIG. 9;

[0039] FIG. 12 is a side view of the golf ball receiver of FIG. 11;

[0040] FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional view of a golf ball receiver of FIG. 11;

[0041] FIG. 14 is a top view of the cleaner of FIG. 9 with the golf ball receiver removed;

[0042] FIG. 15 is a section view of the cleaner of FIG. 9 with a golf ball receiver, having received a golf ball, and a golf club head, both, inserted into the cleaner;

[0043] FIG. 16 is a three-dimensional view of a further embodiment of a golf club head cleaner, including a golf ball cleaning section, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 17 is a side view of the golf club head cleaner of FIG. 16 attached to a golf bag;

[0045] FIG. 18 is a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of a golf club head cleaner including an attachment means for attachment to a golf bag, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 19 is a three-dimensional rear view of the cleaner of FIG. 18 with a detached portion of the attachment means;

[0047] FIG. 20 is a side view of the detached portion of the golf club head cleaner of FIG. 18 attached to a golf bag;

[0048] FIG. 21 is a side view of the golf club head cleaner of FIG. 18 attached to a golf bag;

[0049] FIG. 22 is a front view of another embodiment of a receiving portion of a golf club head cleaner for attaching a container to a golf club carrier;

[0050] FIG. 23 is a three-dimensional view of the receiving portion of FIG. 22;

[0051] FIG. 24 is a side view of the receiving portion of FIG. 22;

[0052] FIG. 25 is a top view of the receiving portion of FIG. 22;

[0053] FIG. 26 is a front view of the receiving portion of the golf club head cleaner of FIG. 22 attached to a bag;

[0054] FIG. 27 is an enlarged view of the receiving portion of FIG. 26;

[0055] FIG. 28 is a front view of a container of a golf club head cleaner attached to the receiving portion of FIG. 26; and

[0056] FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of the container of FIG. 28.DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Embodiments of the invention provide a cleaner for cleaning the head of a golf club. The cleaner may include a container with an opening for the insertion of the golf club head. The opening may be positioned at an upper portion of the container, and the container may be provided with a closed bottom. The opening and the bottom may be connected by a pair of opposing side walls with each sidewall including a plurality of brushes facing the opposing side wall such that the brushes are internally located in the container. The container may in use contain a liquid and the brushes and the liquid may be used to clean the golf club head.

[0058] The sidewalls may be connected by end walls. The end walls may be parallel. The closed bottom of the container may be angled relative to the end walls with one obtuse angle and one acute angle. The obtuse angle may accommodate a heel of a golf club head. In particular, this may accommodate a heel of golf club heads of irons. The angle of the closed bottom relative to one of the end walls may be configured to accommodate the lie angle that a shaft of a golf club creates with a leading toe of the head of the golf club. This angle may ensure that there is a predetermined and preferred orientation at which a dirty golf club head should be inserted into the container to be cleaned by the brushes. The grooves in a golf club head are generally parallel to the foot of the club head and therefore, as the golf club head is inserted into the container, the brushes scrape in line with the grooves to clean them. In other words, the brushes are configured to run along the grooves in a golf club head as the head is inserted into the cleaner.

[0059] The container may further include an attachment means arranged on an outer surface of one of the sidewalls. The attachment means may be configured to attach to a relatively stable body, such as a golf club carrier. The golf club carrier may be, for example, a golf bag, a golf push trolly, or a motorised buggy which receives and secures a golf bag. The attachment means may be configured to attach the container to a part of a golf club carrier. For example, this may attach to a lower part of a golf bag or to a leg of a golf push trolly. The container may be secured in a constant orientation relative to the golf club carrier and the orientation may take into account the movement of the golf club carrier between a moving orientation and a resting orientation such that the contain is provided in a generally upright orientation.

[0060] A golfer, holding onto the grip on the shaft of the golf club, may insert the head of the golf club into the container to clean the golf club head. The container, secured to the golf club carrier, may receive the head of the golf club with ease due to the stable securement to the golf club carrier and the angle of the closed bottom relative to the end walls. The closed bottom of the container may further accommodate containing a liquid which may aid the cleaning performance of the cleaner.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, there is provided an example embodiment of a golf club head cleaner (100) for cleaning a golf club head. As shown in FIG. 1, the cleaner (100) may include a container (110) consisting of two side walls, a first sidewall (120) operatively opposing a second sidewall (130). The container may further include a first end wall (114) opposing a second end wall (116), a closed bottom (140) and an open top (150). The end walls (114, 116), the closed bottom (140), and the sidewalls (120, 130) may be joined to form the container (110).

[0062] FIG. 2 represents an example embodiment in which a head (180) of a golf club is inserted into the container (110) of the cleaner (100). In the illustration, the closed bottom (140) may be angled relative to the first end wall (114) at an obtuse angle (S) (183). The obtuse angle (S) (183) may be supplementary to an average lie angle (L) (182) of a head of a golf club in relation to the shaft (181) of the golf club. The obtuse angle (S) (183) may be in the range of 100 to 140 degrees, preferable approximately 120 degrees. This arrangement may provide for a heel (185) of a golf club to fit within the obtuse angle (S) (183) within the container (110) when the head (180) of the golf club is inserted into the cleaner (100). Furthermore, this arrangement allows for a golfer to insert the head (180) of the golf club into the cleaner (100) with the golf club in a similar orientation to when the golfer addresses a golf ball. This arrangement accommodates effortlessness and ease of cleaning the golf club head (180) after a golf shot is made. The golfer may address the cleaner (100) similar to addressing the golf ball before a shot is made. Golf clubs may have different lie angles and variations in angles may be accommodated by standing further or close to the cleaner (100).

[0063] As shown in FIG. 2, grooves (186) are provided in a golf club head (180) generally parallel to the foot of the club head and therefore, as the golf club head (180) is inserted into the container (100) in a direction parallel to the end walls (114, 116), the brushes (131, 121) scrape in line with the grooves (186) to clean them. In other words, the brushes (131, 121) are configured to run along the grooves in a golf club head (180) as the head (180) is inserted into the cleaner (180). The first end wall (114) may be planar in a first end wall plane. The second end wall (116) may be planar in a second end wall plane. Furthermore, the close bottom (140) may be planar in a bottom plane. The obtuse angle (S) (183) between the closed bottom (140) and the first end wall (114) may be an internal angle within the container (110). The obtuse angle (S) (183) represents the angle between the first end wall plane and the bottom plane, namely the first internal angle (S). In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the closed bottom (140) and the second end wall (116), together, may create an acute angle (L) (182). The acute angle (L) (182) represents a second internal angle between the second end wall plane and the closed bottom (140) which replicates the average lie angle (L) of the head of the golf club. The first internal angle (S) (183) and the second internal angle (L) (182) may be alternate interior angles when the first end wall plane and second end wall plane are parallel. It should be appreciated that the first end wall (114) and the second end wall (116) may not be parallel, for example, they may diverge slightly to provide more room for insertion of the gold club head. The end walls may be curved in cross section, in which case, the first end wall plane may be parallel to the second end wall plane.

[0064] A top (150) of the container may be open so as to receive the head of a golf club. The open top (150) may be formed by each of the first sidewall (120), second sidewall (130), first end wall (114), and second end wall (116) terminating in an open configuration. The closed bottom (140) may be angled relative to the open top (150) so as to ensure that the container (110) may contain a liquid substance irrespective of the angle, shape, or orientation of the open top (150). The open top (150) may be angled between 20 and 40 degrees relative to the closed bottom. Furthermore, this arrangement allows the closed bottom (140) to make sufficient ground clearance when attached to a golf club carrier. It should be understood that the ground clearance and liquid carrying capacity of the container (110) is dictated by the closed bottom (140) and not the open top (150). The closed bottom (140) angled relative to the open top (150) and the first end wall plane parallel to the second end wall plane may result in at least one side wall (120 or 130) having a trapezium shape. Furthermore, the container (110) may be a trapezoidal prism with parallel sidewalls (120, 130) and end walls (114, 116).

[0065] Furthermore, the open top (150) may be planar and may be perpendicular to at least one of the first end wall plane or second end wall plane. Preferably, in the case where the first end wall plane is parallel to the second end wall plane, the planar open top (150) may be perpendicular to both the first end wall plane and the second end wall plane. Having the open top (150) perpendicular to at least the first end wall plane, combined with the obtuse first internal angle(S), which may be supplementary to the lie angle (L) of a golf club head, increases the likelihood that the golf club head is inserted into the golf club head cleaner (100) according to a preferred and predetermined orientation. This renders the insertion of the golf club head into the cleaner (100) rather predictable and the brushes (131, 121) may be positioned in the ideal location and orientation to sufficiently clean grooves of the golf club head.

[0066] The sidewalls (120, 130) may include an engagement means (112) (as shown in FIG. 4) configured to releasably engage to assemble and disassemble the container. This may be in a two-part construction with a join provided in the end walls (114, 116) and the closed bottom (140). The sidewalls (120, 130) each may include a flat body (122, 132) stretching across first and second sidewall planes and one or more lips (124, 134) extending from the flat body (122, 132) on three sides. The one or more lips (124) of the first sidewall (120) may terminate in one or more shoulders (126) configured to be complementary with one or more flanges (136) which terminates the one or more lips (134) of the second sidewall (130). The one or more shoulders (126) and one or more flanges (136) may be configured to conclude the engagement means (112) whereby the first sidewall (120) releasably engages with the second sidewall (130). The lips (124, 134) of the sidewalls (120, 130), when joined, may form the end walls (114, 116) and the closed bottom (140), as better shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The engagement means (112) may be a joint in the end walls (114, 116) and the closed bottom (140), resulting in the container (110) forming a two-part construction that clips together. The two-part construction may be formed of injection moulded plastic. It should be appreciated that the two-part construction should not be limited to being formed by injection moulded plastic and that there may be other methods of forming the two-part construction container (110).

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, each sidewall (120, 130) may include a brush (121, 131) extending across a major part of its inner surface so that the two brushes (121, 131) operatively face each other within the container (110) when the container (110) is assembled. When the container is assembled, the brushes (121, 131) may be configured to face each other such that a space (111) is created between the opposing tips of the brushes (121, 131). The space (111) may provide that the tips are distanced from one another such that the tips contact the golf club head when the golf club head is inserted into the container (110). This arrangement may ensure that a face of the golf club head contacts either the brushes (131) of the second sidewall (130) or the brushes (121) of the first sidewall (120). The brushes (121, 131) each may be formed of multiple tufts (133) with ends of the tuffs of the brushes (121, 131) opposing each other. The tufts (133) are shown as flared tufts, however, these may be tufts of a cylindrical form.

[0068] The shape of the container (110) may be configured to allow an inserted golf club head to move at least in a two-dimensional plane when cleaning. When the brushes (131, 121) contact a face of the golf club, the face is given room to move along an X-axis and a Y-axis while remaining in contact with the brushes (121, 131). Therefore, the face of the golf club may move in a substantially circular cleaning motion along a two-dimensional plane while contacting the brushes (121, 131).

[0069] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaner (100) may include an attachment means (160) configured to attach the container (110) to a golf club carrier. The golf club carrier may be a golf push trolly, a golf stand bag, a golf cart bag, or the like. A golf push trolly may be a trolly which is capable of carrying a golf club bag, whether the golf club bag is a golf stand bag or a golf cart bag. Furthermore, a golf push trolly should also be understood to include golf trollies which may have integral golf club holders and which do not carry golf bags. The attachment means (160) may be secured on an outer surface of one of the sidewalls (120 or 130) and the attachment means (160) may be configured to releasably attach the container (110) to the golf club carrier. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the attachment means (160) is attached to the second sidewall (130). However, it should be understood that the attachment means could be attached to either the first sidewall (120) or the second sidewall (130). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, with the open top (150) angled to the closed bottom (140), the open top perpendicular to at least the first end wall (114), and the first internal angle(S) supplementary to the average lie angle of the golf club head, attaching the attachment means (160) to the second sidewall (130) renders the cleaner (100) more suited for a right-handed golfer playing with right-handed golf clubs. Similarly, having a container (110) as described above but with the attachment means attached to the first sidewall (120) renders the cleaner (100) more suited for left-handed golfers playing with left-handed golf clubs.

[0070] When a right-handed golfer addresses a golf ball lying on the fairway, for instance, the golfer typically takes a stance on the left-hand side of the golf ball and parks the golf club carrier on the right-hand side of the golf ball. The carrier parked on the right-hand side of the golf ball ensures that the carrier is not obstructing the right-handed golfer's swing path. A left-handed golfer would typically mirror a right-handed golfer when addressing the golf ball lying on the fairway. The left-handed golfer would take a stance on the right-hand side of the golf ball and park the carrier on the left-hand side of the golf ball, ensuring that the golf club carrier does not obstruct the left-handed golfer's swing path. Therefore, the cleaner (100) may be attached to a left side of a carrier for a right-handed golfer and on the right side of a carrier for a left-handed carrier, with the open top (150) facing the golfer addressing the golf ball. This arrangement of the top (150), bottom (140), sidewalls (120, 130), and attachment means (160) ensures that a golfer can easily insert the golf club head into the cleaner (100), after completing a golf shot, to clean the golf club head.

[0071] In the exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the attachment means (160) may include a clip (164) and a cooperating clamp (162) arrangement. The clip (164) may be secured to the at least one side wall (120, 130) and the cooperating clamp (162) may be attached to the golf club carrier. The clamp (162) may use a thread and screw configuration (166) to attach to the golf club carrier. The clamp (162) may include a receiving portion (161) configured to receive a specific part of a golf club carrier. The golf cart carrier in the exemplary embodiment may include legs (172) attached to wheels (174). The legs (172) may be slanted such that it is angled upwards from the wheels to a golf bag carrying section, and the legs may have a rounded, oval, or curved cross-section. The receiving portion (161) may include a curved section (163) towards a first end and an open end (165) towards a second end. The open end (165) may be placed over the leg (172), for the receiving portion (161) to receive the leg (172), and the curved end (163) may accept the leg (172), the curved end (165) configured to match the profile of the leg (172). After the leg (172) is positioned within the receiving portion (161), the screw and thread configuration (166) may be tightened to secure the clamp (162) onto the leg (172).

[0072] Referring to FIG. 6, after the clamp (162) is attached to the golf club carrier, the clip (164) may be inserted into a clamp slot (168) until the clip (164) is secured in the clamp slot (168). The clip (164) may be a sliding clip which slides into the clamp slot (168) in a direction of the closed bottom (140) of the container (110) and having a biased snap fit to secure the clip (164) in the clamp (162). The snap fit engagement may consist of a tongue (164A), including a protrusion (164B), located on the clip (164) and a recess (168A) located in the clamp slot (168). The recess (168A) may be configured to receive the protrusion. The clamp slot (168) may further include guide slots (168B) configured to receive guide flanges (164C) located on the clip (164). The clip (164) may be inserted into the clamp slot (168) by inserting the guide flanges (164C) into the guide slots (168B). The clip (164) and tongue (164A) may slide deeper into the clamp slot (168), with the protrusion pressing on an opposing surface of the clamp slot (168), until the protrusion (164B) aligns with the recess (168A). Once the protrusion (164B) is aligned with the recess (168A) it may snap into the recess (168A) and prevent the clip (164) from moving relative to the clamp (162). Thereby, securing the clip (164) ad container (110) to the clamp (162). The clip (164) may be released from the clamp slot (168) by pressing on the tongue (164A) such that the protrusion (164B) is removed from the recess (168A) and sliding the clip (164) from the clamp slot (168). Therefore, the cooperating clamp (162) may remain attached to the golf club carrier while the container (110) and clip (164) may be placed somewhere else, making it easy to pack the carrier away. The removable container (110) also eases draining the container (110) of any liquid it was carrying after use.

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cooperating clamp (162) may be attached to a leg (172) of a golf trolly (170). In the example embodiment of FIG. 8, a right-handed golfer inserts the golf club head into the cleaner (100), the cleaner located on the left-hand side of the golf trolly. The golf club head may now be moved along at least a two-dimensional plane while the brushes (121, 131) contact the face of the golf club. The closed bottom (140) is angled in relation to the open top (150) such that the closed bottom can easily clear the ground when the golf trolly is moved and that the open top (150) faces the right-handed golfer. The closed bottom (140) ensures that the container (110) can contain a liquid to aid in cleaning the golf club head. After use, the container (110) and clip (164) can simply be unclipped from the clamp (162) by releasing the sliding clip from the clamp slot (168) and sliding the container (110) in a direction opposite to the closed bottom (140).

[0074] According to another embodiment of a golf club head cleaner (200), a container (210) and attachment means (260) are described as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 15. The golf club carrier may be a similar golf club carrier to the carrier described in the previous embodiment.

[0075] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10. The cleaner (200) may include an alternative embodiment of an attachment means (260) to attach the container (200) to a golf carrier. The golf carrier may be any carrier as described earlier in the description. In this embodiment, the attachment means includes a curved clamp (262) configured to attach to a curved surface, such as that of the side of a golf bag as shown in FIG. 17. This alternative embodiment of an attachment means (260) may equally be provided with the cleaner (100) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. The container is provided with a clip (264), corresponding to the curved clamp (262), which is of a similar design to the clip (164) described in the previous embodiment of the cleaner (100). Therefore, it should be noted a container (100, 200), having a common form of clip (164, 264) is capable of attaching to any one of the various clamp arrangements (162, 262) described herein. This may enable an interchangeable clamp (162, 262) for attachment to different golf club carriers.

[0076] The curved clamp (262) may include a clamp slot (268) which may receive the clip (264). It should be appreciated that the clamp slot (268) and clip (264) engagement configuration may be similar to the clamp slot (168) and clip (164) engagement configuration described earlier. The curved clamp (262) may include a belt slot (269) capable of receiving a tightening accessory such as a belt, strap, wire, cable, or the like. The belt slot (269) may receive an existing strap or belt provided on the golf bag. The belt slot may receive the tightening accessory, such as a belt, in order to attach to the golf bag. When the curved clamp (262) is attached to a golf bag, the clip (264) may be inserted into the clamp slot (268) to attach the container to the golf bag. A top of the clamp (262) and the open top (250) of the container may be angled such the end walls (214, 216) are angled to match the lie angle of the golf club when the golf club head in a striking position and the golf bag is in a standing position. The top of the clamp (262) and the open top (250) may be angled such that the closed bottom is horizontal with the general surface the golf back is standing on.

[0077] The embodiment of the golf club head cleaner (200) of FIGS. 9 to 15 may include a container (210) having a golf ball cleaning section (280) and a golf club cleaning section (290). The golf ball cleaning section (280) may be configured to clean a golf ball and the golf club cleaning section (290) may be configured to clean a golf club head. The container (210) may include a first sidewall (220) and a second sidewall (230), a first end wall (214) and a second end wall (216), a closed bottom (240) and an open top (150). The golf club cleaning section (290) may be similar to the container (110) as described in the previous embodiment of the cleaner (100), the addition that the sidewalls (230, 220) may be shared between the golf ball cleaning section (280) and the golf club cleaning section (290). The closed bottom (240) of the cleaner (200) may have an angled portion (242) providing the obtuse angle for accommodating the heel of the golf club with an outer end wall (214) and a flat portion (244) extending across the ball cleaning section (290) for receiving the golf ball.

[0078] There may be a golf ball receiver (282) configured to receive the golf ball. The receiver (282) may divide the container (210) into the golf ball cleaning section (280) and the golf club cleaning section (290), as shown in FIG. 15. The golf club cleaning section (290) may be formed from the first end wall (214), the receiver (282), part of the first sidewall (220), part of the second sidewall (230), and part of the closed bottom (240). Similarly, the golf ball cleaning section (280) may consist of the second end wall (216), the receiver (282), part of the first sidewall (220), part of the second sidewall (230), and part of the closed bottom (240). The second end wall (216) may have a curved cross-section according to the spherical shape of the golf ball, as shown more clearly in FIG. 14 with the receiver (282) removed from the container (210). The golf ball section may include brushes extending over a major part of a curved internal wall of the golf ball cleaning section (280) such that the brushes contact the received golf ball. The curved internal wall may include the second end wall (216), part of the first sidewall (220), and part of the second sidewall (230).

[0079] The receiver (282) may include a control means (281), a closure (283), and a body (284). The body may include a holder (285) receiving and holding the golf ball. The body may be a flat elongate portion having a hole providing the holder (285). The container (210) may include guide rails (286) to guide the body (284) into and out of the container (210). Each sidewall (220, 230) may include a guide rail (286) located on an internal wall. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the golf ball may fit snuggly within the holder (285). The closure (283) and control means (281) may be wider than the distance between the first and second sidewalls (220, 230) so as to prevent the receiver (282) from falling into the container (220).

[0080] Referring to FIG. 15, the receiver (282) holding the golf ball may be inserted into the container (210) to expose the golf ball to the golf ball cleaning section (280) and the golf club cleaning section (290). When the receiver (210) holding the golf ball is inserted into the container, a user may move the receiver along the length of the guide rails (286) in a removal and an insertion direction to clean the golf ball. The golf ball may contact the brushes and the brushes may roll the golf ball within the holder (285). The ball moving against the brushes and rolling may ensure that the entire ball is cleaned. The golf ball cleaning section (280) may further be in fluid communication with the golf club head cleaning section (290), allowing a cleaning substance to flow from one section to the other. The cleaning substance may be a soapy substance. This arrangement allows a golfer to pour the soapy substance into only one of the sections to fill both sections. Similarly, the golfer can drain both sections at the same time.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 16, a further embodiment of a golf club head cleaner (300) is shown. In this embodiment, a golf ball cleaning section (380) is provided as a separate enclosure adjacent the container (310) for cleaning the golf club head. The golf ball cleaning section (380) may share a common wall (370) with the container (310) for the golf club head. The closed bottom (340) of the cleaner (300) may have an angled portion (342) providing the obtuse angle for accommodating the heel of the golf club with an outer end wall (314) and a flat portion (344) extending across the separate ball enclosure (390) for receiving the golf ball.

[0082] In this embodiment, a golf ball receiver (382) may be provided configured to receive the golf ball. The receiver (382) may slide into the separate enclosure of the golf ball cleaning section (380). The receiver (382) may be received in the enclosure in an orientation perpendicular to the common wall (370). The golf ball receiver (382) may have a form as shown in the previous embodiment. The golf ball cleaning section (380) may include opposing brushes (382, 384) extending from the side walls (320, 330) for cleaning both sides of a golf ball as it is inserted into the cleaning section (380).

[0083] Referring to FIG. 17, an embodiment is shown with a cleaner (300) attached to a golf bag (400) in an example orientation. The cleaner (300) may be any of the forms of the different embodiments. The cleaner (300) may be attached by means of the attachment means (260) with the curved clamp (262) as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 for attachment to a curved surface of the golf bag (400).

[0084] According to another embodiment of a golf club head cleaner (500), a container (510) and attachment means (560) are described as illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 21.

[0085] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19. The cleaner (500) may include an alternative embodiment of an attachment means (560) to attach the container (510) to a golf carrier. The container (510) may be similar to the container (310, 210 or 110) of the previous embodiments. The golf carrier may be any carrier as described earlier in the description. In this embodiment, the attachment means (560) includes a substantially flat receiving portion referred to as a clamp (562) configured to attach to a surface, such as the side of a golf bag (400) as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. The clamp (562) may also be configured to attach to an already existing golf carrier attachment. For instance, the clamp may be integral to the side of a golf bag or it may attach to a hook formation hooking to the top of the golf bag. In some instances, the clamp may have a magnetic component configured to magnetically attach to a ferrous object or section of the golf carrier.

[0086] This alternative embodiment of an attachment means (560) may equally be provided with the cleaner (100) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the cleaner (200) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 15, or the cleaner (300) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The container (510) is provided with a clip (564), corresponding to the clamp (562), which is of a similar design to the clip (264) described in the previous embodiment of the cleaner (200). Therefore, it should be noted a container (100, 200, 300, or 500), having a common form of clip (164, 264, 364, 564) is capable of attaching to any one of the various clamp arrangements (162, 262, 362, or 562) described herein. This may enable an interchangeable clamp (162, 262, 362, or 562) for attachment to different golf club carriers. The clamp (562) may include a clamp slot (568) which may receive the clip (564) in a sliding arrangement. It should be appreciated that the clamp slot (568) and clip (564) engagement configuration may be similar to the clamp slot (168) and clip (164) engagement configuration described earlier.

[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 20 and 21, the clamp (562) may, in use, be attached to a golf club carrier such as a golf bag (400). The clamp (562) may be attached to the golf club carrier (400) such that a major axis (Z-Z) is angled relative to a major axis of the golf club carrier (Y-Y). Therefore, the clamp (564) may be arranged such that the container's (510) top is approximately level when the carrier is supported by its own bag stand or when a person carries the carrier (400) substantially horizontally. Having the clamp (562) and container (510) in such an arrangement prevents the liquid within the container (510) from being spilt when transporting the golf carrier (400).

[0088] Furthermore, the clip (564) and the container (510) may be arranged such that the general length of the clip (564) is slightly offset from the substantially planar end walls of the container (510). This allows for the top of the container (510) to be slightly offset from the top of the clip (564) and, therefore, the top of the clamp (562). In use, when the clamp (562) is approximately vertical, such as when the bag (400) is vertical, and the clip (564) is inserted into the clamp (562), the top of the container (510) may be slightly angled relative to the horizontal. The top may be angled away from the direction the bag (400) will be tilted when carried or when the bag (400) is supported by a bag stand. For example, if the bag (400) tilts clockwise when carried, the top is slightly offset from the horizontal counterclockwise such that when it tilts clockwise with the bag (400) it will tilt toward being level. This arrangement may significantly improve the ability of the container (510) to hold liquid with minimal spillage when the bag (400) is tilted and transported.

[0089] FIGS. 22 to 29 show another embodiment of a golf club head cleaner (600), including another exemplary attachment means (660) having a receiving portion (662) configured to be attached to a golf club carrier (400), similar to the golf club carrier previously mentioned. The receiving portion (662) is configured to receive the container (510) of the previous embodiment (500). In this embodiment, the receiving portion, referred to as a clamp (662), includes clamping extensions (670) for clamping onto the golf club carrier (400) as illustrated in FIGS. 26 to 29. The extensions (670) are shown as a pair of parallel clips, however, it should be appreciated that there may be any number of extensions and that the extensions do not have to be parallel relative to one another. The extensions (670) act as clips as they clip onto a wall of a golf bag as explained below.

[0090] As shown clearly in FIGS. 22 to 26, the clamping extensions (670) are angled relative to a receiving direction of the clamp's (662) clamp slot (668). The receiving direction is a direction in which the clip (564) slides when inserted in the receiving portion (662) to attach the container (510) to the clamp (662). The extensions (670) fold towards the backside of the clamp (662) to form a type of clip arrangement, where they execute in the angled manner. Before the extensions fold, they travel upward from the clamp slot (668). One of the extensions (670) may fold further away from the clamp slot (668) compared to the other. In FIG. 22, the left extension folds further away from the clamp slot (668) compared to the right extension. However, it could very well be that the right extension folds further away from the clamp slot (668) compared to the left extension. The extensions (670) also have gripping surfaces on the internal surfaces thereof for gripping the golf bag.

[0091] As shown in FIGS. 26 to 29, the clamp (662) may be attached to the golf bag (400) by sliding the clamp over a wall of the bag (400) such that the extensions (670) and the clamp slot (668) are positioned on either side of the wall. The extensions may be slightly flexible such that they can flex to accept the wall of the golf bag (400). For example, the extensions (670) may be a material such as a sprung plastic which may be able to flex such that the clamp (662) can slide onto the bag (400). The flexible nature will also impart a pressure onto the bag (400) wall such that gripping surface grips onto the internal surface of the wall. In use, the extensions (670) may be positioned on an internal surface of the bag (400) and the clamp slot (668) may be positioned on an external surface of the bag (400). The folds of the extensions (670) may abut an edge of the bag (400) wall such that the extensions are substantially in line with the general length of the bag (400) and the clamp slot (668) is angled relative to the general length of the bag (400). This configuration may be similar to the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the difference being that the clamp slot (668) can be slid off the bag (400) to be removed. Therefore, the golf club cleaner (600) can be retrofitted to fit onto any golf bag or any golf carrier.

[0092] The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure.

[0093] The language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

[0094] Finally, throughout the specification and accompanying claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word ‘comprise’ or variations such as ‘comprises’ or ‘comprising’ will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A golf club head cleaner comprising:a container with a closed bottom, an open top and a pair of opposed sidewalls connected by end walls;wherein each sidewall includes a brush that extends across a major part of its inner surface so that the two brushes face each other within the container; andwherein the closed bottom is angled relative to one end wall at an obtuse angle to accommodate a heel of a golf club head.

2. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obtuse angle is a supplementary angle of an average lie angle of a golf club head.

3. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein two end walls are planar and parallel and the closed bottom is planar and angled to the planes of the end walls, with the angle corresponding generally to a lie angle of a golf club head.

4. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first internal angle of the closed bottom and a first end wall is configured to receive a distal end of a golf club head in use and corresponds generally to a lie angle of the golf club head and a second internal angle of the closed bottom and a second end wall is a supplementary angle of the first internal angle.

5. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the closed bottom is angled relative to the open top such that at least one side wall forms a trapezium shape.

6. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the open top is planar and perpendicular to each of the planes of the two parallel end walls, and wherein the container is a trapezoidal prism with parallel sidewalls and parallel end walls.

7. (canceled)8. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, including an attachment device on an outer surface of one of the sidewalls configured to releasably attach the container to a golf club carrier.

9. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 8, wherein the attachment device includes a clip and a cooperating clamp with the cooperating clamp configured to be attached to the golf club carrier.

10. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the clip and the cooperating clamp are configured such that when the cooperating clamp is attached to a leg of a wheeled golf club carrier the closed bottom of the container is generally parallel to the ground and the end walls are angled to the vertical.

11. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the clip is configured to be a sliding clip which slides into the cooperating clamp in a direction of the closed bottom of the container and having a biased snap fit to secure the clip in the clamp.

12. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open top is angled between 20 and 40 degrees relative to the closed bottom.

13. (canceled)14. (canceled)15. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a two-part construction that clips together with a joint in the end walls and the closed bottom.

16. (canceled)17. (canceled)18. (canceled)19. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 1, including a golf ball cleaning section for cleaning a golf ball, and a golf ball receiver configured to receive the golf ball, wherein the receiver is configured to slide along an axis within the golf ball cleaning section.

20. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 19, wherein the golf ball cleaning section is disposed within the container.

21. The golf club head cleaner as claimed in claim 19, including brushes extending over a major part of a curved internal wall of the golf ball cleaning section such that the brushes are configured to contact a received golf ball.

22. (canceled)

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