US1773149A - Golf-ball cleaner - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1930. E M AlNG '1,773,149

' GOLF BALL CLEANER Filed April l2, 1928 @www mys Patented Aug. 19, r1930 PATENT -oFFlcE EDWARD M. LAING, OFHTGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS 'applicativa med April 12,

This invention relates to a golf ball cleaner, and more particularly to an improved apparatus by Ameans Vof which a person may scrub a golf ball easily and eilieiently, without unduly soiling the hands or clothing.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatusl embodying a receptacle for holding water, in which is positioned` a pair of opposed brushes, and means for moving i *l -a golf ball back and forth between the brushes in such a manner that all portions of the brushes are utilized. v

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this type so assembled that the accumui lated dirt can be quickly removed.

Another object is to provide means for Aminimizing the splashing of water from the receptacle. v

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of the apparatus. v

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled apparatus. f

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa vertical sec-tion taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of one end portion of the apparatus, illustratingy one of the flatV closures.

Fig. 5 is a view Vsimilar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

The device comprises an outer receptacle Y brackets 3, secured in verticall position by bolts 4 to the top of posts 5, are adapted to bereceived in sockets formed by metal straps .or loops 6 secured to one side of the recepl5`0, taclel. Set screws 7 mounted in straps 6 are'ada-ptedto be tightened against the brackform, asshown in Fig. '3,'are secured against 192e. serial No. 269,512.

`1, 2, and 3 a second inner receptacle or brus holder 8 consists of a metal outer shell, some- '55 `what shallower than receptacle 1 and having an arcuate bottoni 9 formed with a plurality of perforations 10 so that vwateror other liquid held inreceptacle 1- may pass freely into and through the inner receptacle '30 8, and dirt from within receptacleS may be forced through perforations 10 into the outer receptacle 1. Preferably receptacle 8 is provided at the top with an outwardly and4 downwardly curved flange lladapted to rest upon the kupper edges-.2 of. receptacle 1 and thus support the' inner receptacle or brush holder in its normal position. A pair of spring locks or latches 12, mounted-one oneach side wall of receptacle .1, arej'adapted '70 to be sprung into and `out of mating openings in the two receptacles so as tov removably lock-the brush holder in position.

A pair of brushes 13,'preferably of arcuate the opposite side wallsy of receptacle 8 byany suitablel means, such as screws 14. The inner opposing ends of the bristles 15 of the two brushes 13 are spaced .apart a distance.VT substantiallyless than thediameter. of' a golf `80 ball, suoli as indicated at 16. j

The central portionsof the backs of brushes 13 extend upwardly at the center,l as indicated at 17, these upward extensions being,y

connected by a'bolt 18 on which is intermedil85 vately pivoted the ,ball-holding member v19.

Suitable blocks or spacing members l2O mou-nted between the/extensions 17 of brushes 13, serveto hold ythe member 19 in a. central posi- .-H tion along the pivot shaft or bolt 18. The 9( upper end of member 19 is formed as a handle 21whereby the member jmay be-conveni-ently swung fromside'to side. f. An elongated slot 22 is formed vin the lower portion ofmember 19, this slot being slightlvwiderthan kthe dii ameterof a golf. ball... j The slot is inclined at an angle of substantially .45 to the longl- .tudinal center linee-f member 19, or to the *arcuate path of travel of the lower kend of meir'iber 19'. The elongated slot 22 is of sufiicient length to extend substantially from one side to the other of the brushes 13, all as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 3.

'A ap or closure 23 is pivoted at 24 adjacent each end of the inner receptacle 8. "Springs normally holds these ilaps down so esto cover or enclose the end portions of theiifeceptacle. vIzlloweven-when the ballholdiig member 19`is swung down to the position, such as illustrated in dottedv lines in Fig. 3, the flap 23 opposite end of the receptacle will be swung up to theposip tion indicated in dotted lines to permit the ball-holding portion of `member 19 to be moved up out of the receptacle. When the .member 19 is again swun upwardly, the flapn23 will automaticallyc ose.

operation the parts are assembled as shown' inthe drawings, and the receptacles 1 and 8 filled` to, a convenient heightY with water. When the member 19 is swung down to ene end or the otherof its arcuate path of gtravel, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, a golf ball 16 may be placed within the slot 22. The member 19 is now oscillated back and forth, although preferably not to the extreme dotted line positions, so that the ball 16 will remain continuously between the brushes 13. It `will be noted that as the 'lower endof member 19 is moved downwardfl t (for example fromthe dottedrline tothe all line position, Fig. 3) ,z the inclination of Slot 22 will cause the 'ball 16 to work down toward the lower end of the slot. When the `member 19 is swung in the `opposite direction, the inclination ofslot 22 w11 cause the ball l'to move upwardly ftoward the other end ofthe slot. Consequently, as the member 19 is oscillated back and forth between. the brushes, the ball 16 will move alternately from y one end of slot 22 to the other, thus utilizing substantially all portions ofthe brushes durin this scrubbing process. The ball will ro freely within slot 22 in all directions, so that all portionsl of the ball will be quickly scrubbed. It will b e noted that as soon as the ball-holding end of member 19 has been moved down into the receptacles, the flap closure 23 at :that end of the device will immediately close so as to prevent the splashing ofwater from ,the receptacles. Both slots remain closed continuously until the member 19 is swung down far enoughto one side or the other to bring the' lower ballfholding portion of the member up'out of the receptacle. At such a time, the ball may be removed or inspected to seeif it is sufficiently clean.

`The greater of the .dirt that is refromthe `balls will eventually Vpass through perforatiollslfl V`(which may be quite lairgelinto the outer-receptacle 1. At suitable p iytuvals of time, thesgruwbbin'g assembly con- Y of the receptacle or brushfholder .tllblushejedballfholdn member .tt-eredehreba may 12e' .remove from ref -device is simplified by'feliminating the inner receptaclesv 8. The two brushes are connected by ya plurality of bolts, one of which is indicated at 26, and spacing members 27 serve to hold the brushes apart at the proper distance. Smaller spacing members or shims 28 may also be used, and by removing one or more of these shims the brushes may be brought closer together to` allow for wear of the brushes. The entirel brush-holding assembly issu ported within the upper portion of receptac e 1 by means of the outwardl curved hooks or flanges 29 secured to the backs of the brushes. The flaps or closures 23 will be pivotally mounted between the ends of the brushes as in the first described form. The operation of this form of the invention isin all respects the same as that of the firstdescribed form.

If desired, the inner scrubbing assembly (of either form above described) can Vbe hinged at one end Within thev outer receptacle and provided with a suitable clasp at the other end, instead of being entirely removable as in the preferred forms described. It will be apparent that many other ,changes vin design and proportions may be made without departing from the principles of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim: v A

1. A golf ball cleaner comprising a receptacle for holding liquid, a pair of opposed brushes mounted within the receptacle and a member pivoted intermediately of its length von a horizontal axis above thereceptacle and formed with an upwardlyextending handle portion, and a downwardlyextending portion of less thickness than the' diameter of a golf `ball adapted to swing between the brushes, the downwardly extending portion of the member being formed with an aperture for loosely receiving a golf ball.

2. A golf ball cleaner comprising a receptacle for holding liquid, a scrubbing 1assembly and means for removably supporting ythe assembly withinnthe upper portion of thereceptacle, the scrubbing assembly 'consisting of a pair of opposed brushes, means securing the brush-backs togetherin spaced parallel relation,l a flat member of substantiallyfless thickness than theV diameter of a golf-ball in-g termedi-ately pivotedbetween the uppercentral portion of the brushes, the upwardly extending portion ofthe member being in the form of a handle'andthe lower portion which swings between the 'brushes being formedzw with an aperture to loosely receive the golfball.

3. A golf ball cleaner comprising a receptacle for holding liquid, a scrubbing assembly and means for removably supporting the assembly within the upper portion of the re ceptacle, the scrubbing assembly consisting of a pair of opposed'brushes, means securing the brush-backs together in spaced parallel relation, a flat member of substantially less thickness than the diameter of a golf-ball intermediately pivoted between the upper central portion of the brushes, the upwardly eX- tending portion of the member being in the form of a handle and the lower portion which swings between the brushes being formed with an aperture to loosely receive the golf ball, and a pair of spring-held lap closures pivoted one at each end of the top of the scrubbing assembly and adapted to be lifted by the ball-holding'meinber when it is swung up from between the brushes.

4f. A golf ball cleaner comprising a receptacle for holding liquid, a scrubbing assembly consisting of a pair of opposed brushes of downwardly projecting arcuate contour, the central portions of the brush-backs projecting upwardly, a plurality of bolts connecting the l brush-backs, spacers on the bolts between the brushes to hold the brushes in spaced parallel relation, a flat member of substantially less thickness than the diameter of a golf ball intermediately pivoted between the upwardly extending central portions of the brushbacks, the upper portion of the member forming a handle and the lower portion which swings between the brushes being formed with an aperture to receive the golf ball, and means for suspending the scrubbing assembly within the upper portion of the receptacle.

5. A golf ball cleaner comprising a receptacle for holding liquid, a pair of opposed brushes mounted within the receptacle and a member pivoted intermediately above the receptacle and formed with an upper handle portion, and a lower portion of less thickness than the diameter of a golf ball adapted to swing between the brushes, the member being formed with an aperture for loosely receiving a golf ball, and a pair of flap closures for the opening in the upper portion of the receptacle, said closures positioned to be lifted by the lower ball-holding portion of the meinber as it is swung up out of the receptacle.

EDVARD M. LAING.

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