US20060081494A1

US20060081494A1 - Golf wipe container

Info

Publication number: US20060081494A1
Application number: US10/965,438
Authority: US
Inventors: Man Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-14
Filing date: 2004-10-14
Publication date: 2006-04-20

Abstract

A ball wipe container is disclosed that comprises a cylindrical housing body that holds a plurality of ball wipes. A belt clip is formed on one side of the housing. A top opening is formed on a top surface of the housing body that allows access to the ball wipes therein. A lid is attached to the housing body in such a way as to, in a closed position, cover the top opening. Preferably, the lid further includes a ball marker post so that the lid may also be used as a ball marker. In such an embodiment, the housing body further includes a lid retainer point formed through the housing body adjacent to the top opening that receives and frictionally retains the ball marker post of the lid. As such, the lid may be rotated away from the top opening about the ball marker post in the case where the user does not wish to mark the position of his golf ball, or, the lid may be entirely removed from the housing body by pulling upward and away from the opening so as disengage the ball marker post from the lid retainer point, making the lid available for marking the position of the user's golf ball. The lid may further include a marker indicator for providing a more accurate golf ball position marker.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to ball cleaning devices, and, more particularly, to a golf ball and club head wipe container.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

During a game of golf, dirt and other debris often becomes attached to a player's golf ball, and it is advantageous to remove such dirt or debris before continuing play since such debris can detrimentally affect the flight or roll path of the ball. Likewise, dirt and grass often becomes attached to the face of a golfer's clubs during use. It is desirable, therefore, to have a towel or other cleaning implement at hand while golfing so as to remove unwanted dirt and debris from both golf balls and clubs.
In the prior art there are many golf towel holders, ball cleaners, and the like that aim to provide an easy-to-use means for cleaning a golf ball. Many golf courses have fixed golf ball cleaners located along a golf course, such as at every forth or fifth hole. A dry towel is usually attached thereto to provide a means by which to dry the golf ball and to wipe dirt off of a golf club head. Yet such fixed-position cleaning devices are not always close-by when needed.
Other devices are portable and are designed to be carried along with the golfer or the golfer's golf bag. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,773 to Robinett on Jan. 7, 1997, discloses a towel container for attaching to a golf bag. Moist wipes are stored within this device, such wipes being particularly effective at removing dirt, grass stains, and the like. The Robinett device, however, is designed to attach to a golf bag and would impede a golfer during his golf swing if such a device were to be attached to the golfer's belt or other article of clothing. Yet, it is often when a golfer is away from his golf bag, such as on the green or away from the golf cart, that the golfer needs to clean his ball or club face.
Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive and portable golf wipe container that can be carried with a golfer while not impeding the golfer during play. Such a needed device would easily dispense a moist wipe when needed, yet prevent the remainder of the wipes in the container from drying out. The present invention accomplishes these and other objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is ball wipe container comprising a housing body that holds a plurality of ball wipes. A belt clip is formed on one side of the housing body such that a user can clip the device onto a belt or the like. As such, the device is portable and yet will not interfere with the user's golf swing or otherwise impede the golfer during the golf game.
The housing body further includes a top opening formed on the housing body that allows access to the ball wipes within the housing body. A lid is attached to the housing body in such a way as to, in a closed position, cover the top opening. In an open position, with the lid disengaged from the housing body, the opening is uncovered and the user may pull one of the ball wipes therethrough manually. Preferably, the lid further includes a ball marker post so that the lid may also be used as a ball marker. In use the golfer pulls the lid away from the housing body and then inserts the ball marker post into the ground adjacent to his ball on the golf green. As such, the location of the user's golf ball may be marked while the user is then free to pull a wipe from the housing body and clean his golf ball and/or golf clubs.
In such an embodiment, the housing body further includes a lid retainer point, such as a hole formed through the housing body adjacent to the top opening, that receives and frictionally retains the ball marker post of the lid. As such, the lid may be rotated away from the top opening about the ball marker post in the case where the user does not wish to mark the position of his golf ball. Alternatively, the lid may be entirely removed from the housing body by pulling upward and away from the opening so as disengage the ball marker post from the lid retainer point, making the lid available for marking the position of the user's golf ball. The lid may further include a marker indicator for providing a more accurate golf ball position marker.
The present device provides a wipe storage means that allows readily dispensing a moist wipe while preventing the remaining stored wipes from drying out. Further, such a device is conveniently attached to a user's belt or other article of clothing, and does not interfere with the user's golf game or swing in any way. As such, the mobility of the present invention allows a user to clean his golf ball or clubs even while away from his golf bag or golf cart, which is often the case when putting on a golf green. Further, the present invention provides an easy-to-remember and easy-to-use ball marker integrated with a lid of the device. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention, illustrating a ball wiper container and a ball marker lid thereof;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, illustrating a ball wipe stored within the ball wiper container;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention, illustrating the ball marker lid as engaged with the ball wiper container in a closed position;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the invention, illustrating the ball wiper container in an open position and the ball marker lid disengaged therefrom;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the ball marker lid of the invention, illustrating a marker indicator formed on a top surface thereof;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ball marker lid of the invention, illustrating a ball marker post thereof; and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the ball marker lid of the invention, further illustrating the marker indicator thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a ball wipe container comprising a ball wiper container housing body 10 that holds a plurality of ball wipes 250 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The housing body 10 is preferably made from plastic, metal, or other suitably rigid and leak-proof material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing body 10 is cylindrical in shape, and the ball wipes 250 are stored in a rolled configuration. However, the housing body 10 may be in the form of a rectangular box (not shown). In such an embodiment, the ball wipes 250 may be stored in a stacked configuration.
A belt clip 230 is formed on the housing body 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) such that a user can clip the device onto a belt or the like (not shown). As such, the device is portable and will not interfere with the user's golf swing or otherwise impede the golfer during the golf game. Preferably the belt clip 230 is formed from the same material as the housing body 10, but the belt clip 230 may be made from any suitable material that flexes enough to allow passage of a belt or the like between the belt clip 230 and the housing body 10 while still holding the device to the belt securely.
The housing body 10 further includes a top opening 220 formed on the housing body 10 that allows access to the ball wipes 250 within the housing body 10 (FIGS. 2 and 4). A lid 100 is attached to the housing body 10 in such a way as to, in a closed position, cover the top opening 220 (FIG. 3). In an open position, with the lid 100 disengaged from the housing body 10, the opening 220 is exposed and the user may pull one of the ball wipes 250 therethrough manually. The lid 100 is preferably made from the same material as is the housing body 10, but may be made from a different material as long as it is rigid so as to form a suitable cover for the opening 220.
Preferably, the lid 100 further includes a ball marker post 150 attached to the lid 100 so that the lid 100 may be used as a ball marker (FIG. 1). As such, in use the golfer pulls the lid 100 away from the housing body 10 so that the lid 100 and its ball maker post 150 are completely disengaged from the housing body 10, and then inserts the ball marker post 150 into the ground adjacent to his ball on the golf green (not shown). As such, the location of the user's golf ball may be marked while the user is then free to pull a wipe 250 from the housing body 10 and clean the golf ball and/or golf clubs.
In such an embodiment, the housing body 10 further includes a lid retainer point 210, such as a hole formed through the housing body 10 adjacent to the top opening 220, that receives and frictionally retains the ball marker post 150 of the lid 100. As such, the lid 100 may be rotated away from the top opening 220 about the ball marker post 150 in the case where the user does not wish to mark the position of his golf ball. Alternatively, the Id 100 may be entirely removed from the housing body 10 by pulling upward and away from the opening 220 so as disengage the ball marker post 150 from the lid retainer point 210, making the lid 100 available for marking the position of the user's golf ball.
The lid 100 may further include a marker indicator 120 (FIGS. 5-7) for providing a more accurate golf ball position marker. Such an indicator 120 may be a mark made on a top surface of the lid 100, or in fact may be formed integral to the top surface of the lid 100.
Not shown is the means by which moist wipes 250 may be inserted into the housing body 10. Preferably the opening 220 is large enough to accept a roll of between thirty and forty wipes 250. However, the housing body 10 may further include a separate housing body top 240 (FIG. 1) frictionally held within the top portion of the housing body 10. As such, the housing body top 240 may be removed from the housing body 10 (not shown) in order to provide full access to the interior of the housing body 10 for inserting new wipes 250.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the means by which the lid 100 is retained in the housing body 10 may be snaps, hook-and-loop type fastener, or other means. Likewise, the belt clip 230 may be attached to the housing body 10 by a leather strap, or the like. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wipe container comprising:

a) a wiper container housing body, the housing body containing wipes;

b) a belt clip formed on the housing body, whereby a user can clip the device on a belt;

c) a top opening formed on the housing body allowing access to wipes within the housing body;

d) a lid disposed on the wiper container housing body covering the top opening in a closed position and uncovering the top opening in an open position.

2. The wipe container of claim 1 wherein the lid further comprises: a ball marker post attached to the lid wherein the lid, when removed, can be used as a ball marker, whereby a user removes the lid and pushes the lid into the ground and the post retains the ball marker lid in the ground.

3. The wipe container of claim 1, further comprising: a lid retainer point retaining the lid when the lid is in the closed position.

4. The wipe container of claim 3, wherein the lid further comprises: a ball marker post attached to the lid wherein the lid, when removed, can be used as a ball marker; further comprising a marker indicator on the ball marker lid; wherein the post is retained in the lid retainer point when the lid is in the closed position.

5. The wipe container of claim 1 wherein the ball wipes are stored in a cylindrical roll, wherein the ball wiper container is cylindrical.

6. The wipe container of claim 1 wherein the ball wipes are stored in stacked configuration, wherein the ball wiper container is rectangular.