US20130255108A1 - Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof - Google Patents
Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130255108A1 US20130255108A1 US13/906,729 US201313906729A US2013255108A1 US 20130255108 A1 US20130255108 A1 US 20130255108A1 US 201313906729 A US201313906729 A US 201313906729A US 2013255108 A1 US2013255108 A1 US 2013255108A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- footwear
- cleaning device
- attachment portion
- sole
- mounting device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/16—Overshoes
- A43B3/163—Overshoes specially adapted for health or hygienic purposes, e.g. comprising electrically conductive material allowing the discharge of electrostatic charges
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
- A43B5/001—Golf shoes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B7/00—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body
- A46B7/04—Bristle carriers arranged in the brush body interchangeably removable bristle carriers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L13/00—Implements for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
- A47L13/10—Scrubbing; Scouring; Cleaning; Polishing
- A47L13/28—Polishing implements
- A47L13/282—Polishing implements mounted under footwear
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B57/00—Golfing accessories
- A63B57/60—Cleaning or maintenance of golf clubs, putters, shoes or other golf accessories
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B2200/00—Brushes characterized by their functions, uses or applications
- A46B2200/30—Brushes for cleaning or polishing
- A46B2200/3073—Brush for cleaning specific unusual places not otherwise covered, e.g. gutters, golf clubs, tops of tin cans, corners
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an apparatus and method of mounting a cleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, onto a piece of footwear.
- the participant must either break the rules by returning to the golf cart to use a brush, which halts play and decreases the pace of play, or attempt a golf shot with a dirty, debris-covered golf club, which usually negatively alters the accuracy, contact, and trajectory of the golf ball.
- a first aspect of the present invention provides a device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment.
- a second aspect of the present invention provides a golf club cleaning device comprising a mounting plated coupling a footwear, the mounting plate having at least one opening therethrough, an attachment device on the mounting plate, the attachment device being receptive to a first end of a cleaning device to releasably secure the cleaning device to the mounting plate, wherein a first surface of the attachment device corresponds to a mating surface of the first end of the cleaning device and a second end of a cleaning device configured to contact a golf club, the second end protruding from the footwear.
- a third aspect of the present invention provides A method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear.
- FIG. 1 depicts a perspective, partially cut-away view of an embodiment of a mounting device, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 2A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 2B depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 2C depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting device positioned alongside a footwear, wherein the footwear is hidden, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 4 depicts a side, cross-section view of an embodiment of a mounting plat having an adhesive layer and a non-adhesive cover, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting device and a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting device and a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a brush portion attached to a side of a footwear, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a method of slidably attaching a cleaning device to a mounting device, in accordance with the present invention.
- FIG. 10 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the mounting device molded as part of a sole of a footwear.
- FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a mounting device 50 .
- a mounting device may have, inter alia, a first end 51 , a second end 52 , a mounting plate 20 , an attachment device 30 proximate the second end 52 , at least one opening 35 located on the attachment device 30 , and at least one opening 25 located on the mounting plate 20 .
- the mounting device 50 may also be a brace, rack, unit, member, support, bracket, clamp, or any device that facilitates the engagement of a footwear 90 , which is also capable of accepting a and supporting a cleaning device 40 .
- the mounting device 50 may include a mounting plate 20 and an attachment device 30 , which may form the mounting device 50 configured to engage a footwear 90 .
- the mounting device 50 may be one, solid, uniform, consistent member, piece, structure, component, etc., wherein the mounting plate 20 forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of the mounting device 50 , and the attachment device 30 also forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of the mounting device 50 .
- the mounting device 50 may also be hollowed out, or may be constructed by injection molding, or other various means of fabrication.
- the mounting device 50 may be formed by two separate parts, for example, the attachment device 30 may be attached, affixed, glued, bonded, connected, screwed, bolted, welded, etc., to the mounting plate 20 .
- the shape of the mounting device 50 may vary, but in many embodiments, may be curvilinear, or circular, to conform to most designs of footwear 90 .
- a typical footwear 90 may be curvilinear around the toes, or front of the footwear 90 . Therefore, the mounting device 50 may be shaped, generally, to conform to the shape of the footwear 90 , and in many embodiments, may be rounded, or curvilinear.
- the mounting device 50 may be configured to engage a piece of footwear 90 . Moreover, the mounting device 50 may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., a footwear 90 .
- the mounting device 50 may also be capable of engaging a footwear 90 , may be positioned alongside a footwear 90 , and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with a footwear 90 or a portion of a footwear 90 .
- the mounting device 50 may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece of footwear 90 through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art.
- the mounting device 50 may be coupled, or adhered, to a footwear 90 by any adhesive, specifically, by a thin, adhesive layer 26 , or film, placed on a top surface 21 of the mounting plate 20 .
- the adhesive layer 26 may come with a non-adhesive cover 27 that may be peeled away to reveal the adhesive layer 26 .
- glue, epoxy, rubber cement, or any other adhesive may be applied to the mounting device 50 immediately prior to attachment to a footwear 90 .
- the mounting device 50 may be fastened to the footwear 90 by at least one small fastener 85 , as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the small fasteners 85 may be any fastening device, such as a nail or screw, and described as small only for the purpose and understanding that the length of the small fasteners 85 may be smaller than other fasteners used throughout the device 100 .
- the small fasteners 85 may be made of metal, composites, wood, or hard plastic; however, if the small fasteners 85 should be constructed of metal, they must not be exposed a distance below the footwear 90 to cause any damage to any surface, such as a green or fairway of a golf course, any interior surface, for example, in a clubhouse.
- the small fasteners 85 may be driven through the mounting plate 20 , starting from the bottom surface 22 through the top surface 21 to secure the mounting device 50 to an underside of the footwear, or the sole 95 of the footwear 90 .
- the length of the small fasteners 85 should be a length such that after engaging the sole 95 , they do not extend completely through the sole 95 and into the interior of the footwear to avoid injury to a foot, and should not extend a distance below the bottom surface 22 of the mounting plate 20 such that they contact the ground or potentially expose sharp edges.
- the mounting device 50 may be both adhered to the sole 95 of the footwear 90 and secured by at least one small fastener 85 . FIG.
- FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment, wherein the mounting device 50 may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear 90 when the footwear 90 is made.
- This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to the device 100 , and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike 92 locations at the same point in the manufacturing process.
- the mounting device 50 may engage a footwear 90 , or a portion of a footwear 90 , wherein a footwear 90 may include any style of footwear 90 , and may be a single shoe.
- footwear 90 may include a low-top, high-top, a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a running shoe, a work boot, a combat boot, an open toed shoe, such as a sandal, and any piece of footwear 90 that includes a sole 95 , or a substantial portion of a sole 95 .
- the mounting device 50 may best engage, affix to, attach to, couple with, etc., a footwear that is raised a distance above the ground surface to allow the mounting device 50 , in particular, the mounting plate 20 to fit underneath the sole 95 without impacting the landing of the footwear 90 .
- a footwear 90 having spikes such as a golf shoe, may raise the sole 95 of a footwear 90 a distance above the ground to sufficiently allow the mounting plate 20 to fit underneath the sole 95 .
- Any footwear 90 having a space between the sole 95 and the ground surface may best accommodate the mounting device 50 .
- mounting plate 20 may be configured to engage a footwear 90 , in particular, an underside or sole 95 of a footwear. Moreover, the mounting plate 20 may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., a footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may also be capable of engaging a footwear 90 , may be positioned alongside a footwear 90 , and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with a footwear 90 or a portion of a footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece of footwear 90 through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art.
- the mounting plate 20 may also be a flat portion, a disc, a slab, a stratum, a planar member, or any substantially flat member capable of fitting substantially flat against a sole 95 of a footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate may have at least one opening 25 located on its surface, the at least one opening 25 extending the entire height of the mounting plate 20 , from the top surface 21 to the bottom surface 22 .
- the openings 25 may allow a spike 92 , such as a golf spike, to pass through the mounting plate 20 .
- any spike 92 located on the sole 95 may be removed from the footwear 90 .
- the spikes 92 may be re-attached through the openings 25 located on the mounting plate 20 .
- the location of the openings 25 may correspond to the locations of the spikes 92 on the sole 95 , and their respective spike cavities, such that the openings 25 will allow access to replace the spike 92 onto the footwear 90 .
- the location of the openings 25 may be predetermined to fit a particular design, make, or model footwear.
- the mounting plate 20 may have a thin film, or adhesive layer 26 spread across the top surface 21 , or spread substantially across the sop surface 21 to bond, adhere, secure, couple, etc., the top surface 21 of the mounting plate 20 to a portion of the sole 95 , or footwear 90 , as shown in FIG. 4 .
- a non-adhesive cover 27 may be placed over the adhesive layer 26 to avoid unintentionally bonding and/or convenience during packaging, transport, handling, etc.
- the non-adhesive cover 27 may be peeled back and removed, exposing the adhesive layer 26 .
- the openings 25 should first be aligned with the spike cavities, and then the mounting plate 20 may be pressed onto a portion of the sole 95 of the footwear 90 to secure, bond, adhere, etc., it to the footwear 90 .
- the spikes 92 may fit through the openings 25 and may be replaced. The replacement of the spikes 92 may assist and/or facilitate the fastening of the mounting device 20 to the footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 to the sole 95 it may be placed proximate to the edge of the footwear 90 , wherein the mounting plate 20 being located underneath the footwear 90 , and the attachment device 30 being located on the side of the footwear 90 , as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C
- the attachment device 30 may be located on the side of footwear 90 , such that it rests against an outer surface 96 of the sole 95 , and may be accessible without removing the footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 need not have an adhesive layer 26 , nor be bonded or adhered by an adhesive to secure it to the sole 95 of a footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may also be secured to the sole 95 of footwear 90 using at least one small fastener 85 , at least one large fastener 65 , or a combination thereof.
- the placement and location of the mounting plate 20 underneath the footwear 90 may be the same as if adhering it using the adhesive layer 26 , except one or more small or large fasteners, 85 , 65 may be driven through the mounting plate 20 to engage the sole 95 of the footwear 90 .
- the large fastener 65 may be driven through the top of the device 100 .
- the large fastener 65 may be driven from the front of the device proximate the cleaning device 40 .
- the fasteners 65 , 85 may have a length such that they do not extend through the sole 95 and extend into the interior of the footwear 90 , which may cause injury to a foot inside the footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may be both adhered, bonded, etc., to the sole 95 using the adhesive layer 26 and secured to the sole 95 by using at least one small or large fastener 85 , 65 . In both of these embodiments, the mounting plate 20 may be removable from the footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may be peeled off the sole 95 and/or fasteners 65 , 85 removed, and be re-attached using one or more small or large fasteners 85 , 65 or additional adhesives.
- the mounting plate 20 may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear as a portion, or part, of the sole 95 when the footwear 90 is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to the device 100 , and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike 92 locations at the same point in the manufacturing process. Being molded or incorporated into the footwear 90 may prevent the mounting plate and/or mounting device 50 from being removable.
- the mounting plate 20 may be curvilinear in shape, such as a circle. In many embodiments, the mounting plate 20 may be shaped to correspond to the curvature of the sole 95 . Moreover, the mounting plate 20 is configured to engage only a portion of the sole 95 of the footwear 90 . Because the mounting plate 20 is configured to engage only a portion of the sole 95 , the shape of the mounting plate 20 may vary. For instance, the end of the mounting plate 20 proximate the attachment device 30 , or proximate the second end 52 of the mounting device 50 , may be curvilinear and correspond to the curvature of the sole 95 .
- the end of the mounting plate 20 distal to the attachment device 30 , or proximate the first end 51 of the mounting device 50 may also be curvilinear, but may also be any desirable shape, such as rectangular, polygonal, and the like.
- the end of the mounting plate 20 distal to the attachment device 30 , or proximate the first end 51 of the mounting device 50 may be designed to appropriately and efficiently conform to the design and/or model of the particular footwear 90 .
- the mounting plate 20 may be reversible, wherein the mounting plate 20 may be placed on either the left oriented footwear 90 or the right oriented footwear 90 .
- a mounting plate may be attached to a left golf shoe and between holes, may be removed and attached to a right golf shoe without any alterations needed.
- the mounting plate 20 may be constructed out of material that is resilient, flexible, semi-rigid, and the like, to conform to the sole 95 , as well as to remain lightweight.
- the mounting plate 20 may also be constructed out of a rigid material. Therefore, the mounting plate 20 may be constructed out of, inter alia, metal, composites, hard plastic, rubber, nylon, vinyl, combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear.
- an attachment device 30 may be located proximate the second end 52 of the mounting device, the attachment device 30 being receptive to a first end 41 , or base member 43 , of a cleaning device 40 to releasably secure the cleaning device 40 to the mounting plate 20 , wherein a groove surface 38 , or first surface, of the attachment device 30 corresponds to a mating surface 48 of the first end 41 of the cleaning device 40 .
- the attachment device 30 may also be a groove, a receptor, a clip-in device, a slide-in device, or any device capable of receiving a cleaning device 40 and removably securing it to the mounting plate 20 .
- the attachment device 30 may be a component of the mounting plate 20 and/or it may be a component of the mounting device 50 .
- the attachment device 30 and the mounting plate 20 together may form, or represent, the mounting device 50 .
- the attachment device 30 may be a portion or component of the mounting plate 20 .
- the attachment device 30 and the mounting plate 20 are comprised of the same material, which may be a flexible, resilient, semi-rigid, or rigid material such as, inter alia, metal, composite, hard plastic, rubber, vinyl, nylon, a combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear.
- the attachment device 30 may include a back surface 33 , a flange 34 , a top surface 36 , at least one opening 35 located on the top surface 36 , and a groove 37 running horizontally therethrough.
- the back surface 33 may contact a side of the footwear 90 when the mounting device 50 is affixed to the footwear 90 .
- Located adjacent to the back surface 33 may be a top surface 36 , wherein at least one opening 35 may be located.
- the top surface 36 may be pitched, or sloped, to facilitate the angling of the cleaning device 40 .
- the top surface 36 may be angled to allow the cleaning device 40 to be upwardly angled from a ground surface.
- the openings 35 located on the top surface 36 may accept, receive, accommodate, etc., at least one locking pin 39 , and may be horizontally aligned across the top surface 36 of the attachment device 30 .
- One or more locking pins 39 may be inserted into the openings 35 to removably secure the cleaning device 40 into its place within groove 37 .
- the cleaning device 40 may have one or more openings, or detents, 45 located thereon, wherein the cleaning device openings 45 are aligned with the attachment device openings 35 , and accommodate, accept, receive, etc., the at least one locking pin 39 which may be inserted to secure the cleaning device 40 .
- the locking pin 39 may or may not be needed or required to removably secure the cleaning device 40 , and the decision whether to utilize a locking pin 39 may depend on the friction coefficient of the materials used to manufacture the components. For example, a locking pin 39 may be useful if the cleaning device 40 may be likely to slide loose from groove 37 .
- the locking pin 39 may be any tubular object, such as a pin, needle, screw, bolt, nail, and the like. In one embodiment, more than one locking pin 39 may be coextensively connected together by a horizontal member, forming a “pitchfork” to lock the cleaning device 40 into place within the groove 37 in more than one of the openings 35 .
- a flange 34 Located adjacent to the back surface 33 and distal to the top surface 36 may be a flange 34 .
- Flange 34 may create a space, channel, opening, or a place where the sole 95 may fit into when the mounting device 50 is affixed to the footwear, as shown in FIG. 3 . This may allow the mounting device 50 to fit against the footwear 90 as snugly as possible to help support the cleaning device 40 and help prevent any undue deflection of the mounting plate 20 .
- Running horizontally through the attachment device 30 may be a groove 37 having a groove surface 38 , or first surface, which may correspond with a mating surface 48 of a first end 41 , or base member 43 , of the cleaning device 40 .
- the groove 37 may be an opening, a channel, a gap, a cavity, a keyway, and the like.
- the groove 37 may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like.
- the profile created by the groove surface 38 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of the mating surface 48 of the cleaning device 40 .
- the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of the attachment device 30 in particular, the groove 37 , may correspond to the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of the first end 41 , and/or base member 43 , of the cleaning device 40 .
- the attachment device 30 , and/or groove 37 may accept, accommodate, receive, mate, interlock, couple, house, engage, secure, interlock, and/or accept the cleaning device 30 .
- a cleaning device 40 may be operably attached to a mounting device 50 . Additionally, the cleaning device 40 may be operably attached to the attachment device 30 .
- the cleaning device 40 may have a first end 41 , a second end 42 , a dimple 44 located thereon, a base member 43 proximate the first end 41 , and a brush portion 46 proximate the second end 42 , wherein the brush portion 46 may be attached to the base member 43 .
- the cleaning device 40 may angularly protrude from a footwear 90 .
- the cleaning device 40 may angularly protrude away from the footwear 90 at an angle between 0° to 70° with respect to a ground surface Proximate the first end 41 , the cleaning device 40 may have a mating surface 48 that may correspond to the groove surface 38 of the attachment device 30 , such that the mating surface 48 of the cleaning device 40 may mate, interlock, communicate, contact, and/or couple with the groove surface 38 to removably secure the cleaning device 30 to the attachment device 30 within the groove 37 .
- the base member 43 may have a mating surface 48 that corresponds with the groove surface 38 , and the base member 43 may be dimensioned such that it fits within the groove 37 to removably secure the cleaning device 30 into the attachment device 30 .
- the cleaning device 40 should be secured strongly enough and/or fit snugly enough that the cleaning device 40 may sustain any resistance or applied mechanical forces from the cleaning a piece of sport equipment, such as a golf club, and not unintentionally become dislodged.
- the base member 43 may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like.
- the profile of the mating surface 48 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of the groove surface 38 of the attachment device 30 .
- the cleaning device may have a brush portion 46 attached, affixed, bonded, etc., to the base member 43 .
- the brush portion 46 may be attached to the attachment device 30 by thermal molding, injection molding, an adhesive, plug ports, or any other method of securing brush-like components to another structure.
- the combination of the brush portion 46 and the base member 43 may comprise, generally, the cleaning device 40 .
- the brush portion 46 may be made of interlocked bristles, wire bristles, wire mesh, copper mesh, steel mesh, brass mesh, steel bristles, brass bristles, horse hair, synthetic, nylon, similar brush materials, and any other brush/cleaning materials that may facilitate the removal of dirt, golf course debris, mud, grass, and the like.
- the brush portion 46 may comprise a layer of sandpaper, sandpaper having various grit sizes, a plurality of beads, said beads being rubber, composites, hard plastic, metal, or any suitable material.
- the brush portion 46 may protrude or extend a distance from the base member 43 . In many embodiment, the brush portion 46 may protrude or extend anywhere from 0.1 to 5 centimeters (0.01 to 2 inches). Those in the art should appreciate that the length of the brush portion 46 may vary, and may be any length outside 0.1 to 5 cm.
- the brush portion 46 may be long enough to clean a piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club face, but may also be short enough to remain unobtrusive to lessen the possibility of snagging clothes or debris, and avoid becoming a tripping hazard. Furthermore, the brush portion 46 may cover, or substantially cover, the face of the cleaning device 40 , the face being located proximate the second end 42 , and facing away from the attachment device 30 .
- the cleaning device 40 may slidably engage the mounting device 50 .
- a method of slidably engaging a cleaning device 40 with a mounting device 50 , or an attachment device 30 may include positioning the cleaning device 40 alongside the attachment device 30 , aligning the mating surface 48 of the cleaning device 40 with the groove surface 38 , and sliding the cleaning device 40 through the groove 37 .
- the golfer may slide the cleaning device 40 into the attachment device 30 , which is mounted on one of his or her shoes 90 .
- the golfer may remove the cleaning device 40 from the attachment device 30 and store it in his or her golf bag.
- a dimple 44 located somewhere on the cleaning device 40 , or located somewhere on the base member 43 , may be a dimple 44 .
- the dimple 44 may be an indentation, detent, recession, crater, depression, and the like.
- An object, such as a golf tee, may engage the dimple 44 , and help slide the cleaning device 40 along the groove 37 to facilitate the easy removal or attachment of the cleaning device 40 to and from the attachment device 30 .
- FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 depict another embodiment of a method of operably attaching the cleaning device 140 to the mounting device 150 , or attachment device 130 , which may include snapping or clipping the cleaning device 140 , in particular, the base member 143 , into a keyway 139 .
- the keyway 139 may be similar to the groove 37 , yet may not extend the entire horizontal distance of the attachment device 130 and may or may not be angled.
- a base member 143 may include at least one pressure release button 149 on its sides to removably secure the cleaning device 140 to the attachment device 140 .
- the pressure release buttons 149 may be resilient, such that when depressed, they may return to their original position.
- the keyway 139 may include cut-outs 135 that correspond to the shape and volume of the pressure release buttons 149 located on the base member 143 .
- the pressure release button 149 may be depressed, allowing the cleaning device 140 to enter the keyway 139 .
- the pressure release buttons 149 may spring back against the walls of the keyway 139 , and may eventually fit within the cut-outs 135 to secure the cleaning device 140 into the attachment device 130 .
- the cut-outs 135 may house, accommodate, contain, receive, accept, etc., the pressure release buttons 149 .
- securing methods such as a hook, hook and fastener, ball and dimple, locking pins, detents, and other various securing methods which may removably secure the cleaning device 140 to the attachment device 130 .
- the cleaning device 40 may be coupled, bonded, attached, affixed, adhered, etc., to a footwear 90 , or a portion of a footwear 90 directly, as shown in FIG. 8 .
- a brush portion 46 may simply directly engage a portion of a footwear, such as the side, edge, or outer surface 96 of a sole 95 , without including the mounting device 50 .
- the brush portion 46 may be glued, bonded, or adhered with a glue, cement, epoxy, or any other means to bond a brush portion 46 to a footwear 90 .
- a method of cleaning a piece of sports equipment may include the steps of providing a cleaning device 40 , wherein the cleaning device 40 has a first end 41 and a second end 42 , coupling the first end 41 of the cleaning device 40 and an attachment device 30 , wherein the attachment device 30 and a mounting plate 20 form a mounting device 50 , wherein the mounting device 50 is configured to engage a footwear 90 .
- a method may further include placing a layer of adhesive on a top surface 21 of the mounting plate 20 for securing the mounting plate 20 to a sole 95 of the footwear 90 , securing the mounting plate 20 with at least one small fastener 85 and at least one large fastener 65 , positioning at least one opening 25 on the mounting plate 20 , and adjusting an angle of the cleaning device 30 .
- the method may further include molding the mounting plate 20 into a sole 95 of a footwear 90 to secure the mounting plate 20 to the sole 95 of a footwear 90 .
- the device 100 may be also be an apparatus and method for cleaning more than just sports equipment.
- the device 100 may be used to clean a piece of hardware, tools, such as a jack hammer or hammer drill, any work equipment, or any item that may appreciate hands-free cleaning.
- Each component of device 100 including, but not limited to, mounting device 50 , mounting plate 20 , attachment device 30 , groove 37 , keyway 139 , base member 43 , flange 34 , openings, 25 , 35 , 45 , and dimple 44 , may be fabrication and/or manufactured by the following methods: casting, extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injection molding, blow molding, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component.
Abstract
A footwear comprising a sole having an integral mounting device forming part of the sole, an attachment portion, the attachment portion forming a part of the integral mounting device, the attachment portion of the integral mounting device configured to removably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portion contacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on the footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
Description
- This application is a continuation application claiming the benefit of and priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/635,773, filed, Dec. 11, 2009, entitled “Cleaning Device Affixed to a Footwear and Method Thereof.”
- 1. Field of Technology
- The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of mounting a cleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, onto a piece of footwear.
- 2. Related Art
- As recreational sports, such as golf, become increasingly popular, the more crowded golf courses may become. Therefore, to allow as many participants as possible to play a round of golf in a given day, a certain pace of play must be maintained, or sometimes increased depending on the volume of participants on the golf course. One aspect of the game that may slow the pace of play is the need to have a clean club face, free from course debris. Each time a player takes a practice swing, uses, or sets down a club, the club face may need to be cleaned. Unfortunately, a golf club cleaner may not always be at arm's length to clean the club. Rules and etiquette of the game may not allow a participant to retrieve a golf club cleaner from a distant golf club bag or golf cart. Typically, the participant must either break the rules by returning to the golf cart to use a brush, which halts play and decreases the pace of play, or attempt a golf shot with a dirty, debris-covered golf club, which usually negatively alters the accuracy, contact, and trajectory of the golf ball.
- Thus, there is a need for a device and method which overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies in the art for affixing a cleaning device, in particular, a golf club cleaning brush, proximate a piece of footwear.
- A first aspect of the present invention provides a device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment.
- A second aspect of the present invention provides a golf club cleaning device comprising a mounting plated coupling a footwear, the mounting plate having at least one opening therethrough, an attachment device on the mounting plate, the attachment device being receptive to a first end of a cleaning device to releasably secure the cleaning device to the mounting plate, wherein a first surface of the attachment device corresponds to a mating surface of the first end of the cleaning device and a second end of a cleaning device configured to contact a golf club, the second end protruding from the footwear.
- A third aspect of the present invention provides A method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear.
- The foregoing and other features of construction and operation of the invention will be more readily understood and fully appreciated from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.
- Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members wherein:
-
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective, partially cut-away view of an embodiment of a mounting device, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 2A depicts a bottom view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 2B depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 2C depicts a top view of an embodiment of a mounting device positioned alongside a footwear, wherein the footwear is hidden, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting device engaging a footwear, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 4 depicts a side, cross-section view of an embodiment of a mounting plat having an adhesive layer and a non-adhesive cover, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting device and a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of a mounting device and a cleaning device, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a brush portion attached to a side of a footwear, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a method of slidably attaching a cleaning device to a mounting device, in accordance with the present invention; and -
FIG. 10 depicts a side view of an embodiment of the mounting device molded as part of a sole of a footwear. - Although certain embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of embodiments of the present invention.
- As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
- Referring now to the drawings,
FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of amounting device 50. A mounting device may have, inter alia, afirst end 51, asecond end 52, amounting plate 20, anattachment device 30 proximate thesecond end 52, at least one opening 35 located on theattachment device 30, and at least one opening 25 located on themounting plate 20. Themounting device 50 may also be a brace, rack, unit, member, support, bracket, clamp, or any device that facilitates the engagement of afootwear 90, which is also capable of accepting a and supporting acleaning device 40. Themounting device 50 may include amounting plate 20 and anattachment device 30, which may form themounting device 50 configured to engage afootwear 90. In one embodiment, themounting device 50 may be one, solid, uniform, consistent member, piece, structure, component, etc., wherein themounting plate 20 forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of themounting device 50, and theattachment device 30 also forms, or represents, a part, or portion, of themounting device 50. Themounting device 50 may also be hollowed out, or may be constructed by injection molding, or other various means of fabrication. In another embodiment, themounting device 50 may be formed by two separate parts, for example, theattachment device 30 may be attached, affixed, glued, bonded, connected, screwed, bolted, welded, etc., to themounting plate 20. The shape of themounting device 50 may vary, but in many embodiments, may be curvilinear, or circular, to conform to most designs offootwear 90. For example, atypical footwear 90 may be curvilinear around the toes, or front of thefootwear 90. Therefore, themounting device 50 may be shaped, generally, to conform to the shape of thefootwear 90, and in many embodiments, may be rounded, or curvilinear. - Referring now to
FIGS. 2A-2C , themounting device 50 may be configured to engage a piece offootwear 90. Moreover, themounting device 50 may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., afootwear 90. Themounting device 50 may also be capable of engaging afootwear 90, may be positioned alongside afootwear 90, and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with afootwear 90 or a portion of afootwear 90. For instance, themounting device 50 may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece offootwear 90 through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, themounting device 50 may be coupled, or adhered, to afootwear 90 by any adhesive, specifically, by a thin,adhesive layer 26, or film, placed on atop surface 21 of themounting plate 20. Theadhesive layer 26 may come with anon-adhesive cover 27 that may be peeled away to reveal theadhesive layer 26. In another embodiment, glue, epoxy, rubber cement, or any other adhesive may be applied to themounting device 50 immediately prior to attachment to afootwear 90. In another embodiment, themounting device 50 may be fastened to thefootwear 90 by at least onesmall fastener 85, as shown inFIG. 3 . Thesmall fasteners 85 may be any fastening device, such as a nail or screw, and described as small only for the purpose and understanding that the length of thesmall fasteners 85 may be smaller than other fasteners used throughout thedevice 100. Thesmall fasteners 85 may be made of metal, composites, wood, or hard plastic; however, if thesmall fasteners 85 should be constructed of metal, they must not be exposed a distance below thefootwear 90 to cause any damage to any surface, such as a green or fairway of a golf course, any interior surface, for example, in a clubhouse. Additionally, thesmall fasteners 85 may be driven through themounting plate 20, starting from thebottom surface 22 through thetop surface 21 to secure themounting device 50 to an underside of the footwear, or the sole 95 of thefootwear 90. Moreover, the length of thesmall fasteners 85 should be a length such that after engaging the sole 95, they do not extend completely through the sole 95 and into the interior of the footwear to avoid injury to a foot, and should not extend a distance below thebottom surface 22 of the mountingplate 20 such that they contact the ground or potentially expose sharp edges. In another embodiment, the mountingdevice 50 may be both adhered to the sole 95 of thefootwear 90 and secured by at least onesmall fastener 85.FIG. 10 depicts another embodiment, wherein the mountingdevice 50 may be molded into or incorporated into thefootwear 90 when thefootwear 90 is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to thedevice 100, and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike 92 locations at the same point in the manufacturing process. - The mounting
device 50 may engage afootwear 90, or a portion of afootwear 90, wherein afootwear 90 may include any style offootwear 90, and may be a single shoe. For example,footwear 90 may include a low-top, high-top, a tennis shoe, a golf shoe, a running shoe, a work boot, a combat boot, an open toed shoe, such as a sandal, and any piece offootwear 90 that includes a sole 95, or a substantial portion of a sole 95. The mountingdevice 50, including the mountingplate 20 and theattachment device 30, may best engage, affix to, attach to, couple with, etc., a footwear that is raised a distance above the ground surface to allow the mountingdevice 50, in particular, the mountingplate 20 to fit underneath the sole 95 without impacting the landing of thefootwear 90. For example, afootwear 90 having spikes, such as a golf shoe, may raise the sole 95 of a footwear 90 a distance above the ground to sufficiently allow the mountingplate 20 to fit underneath the sole 95. Anyfootwear 90 having a space between the sole 95 and the ground surface may best accommodate the mountingdevice 50. - Referring back to
FIG. 1 , mountingplate 20 may be configured to engage afootwear 90, in particular, an underside or sole 95 of a footwear. Moreover, the mountingplate 20 may directly contact, contact, bond, connect, mount, etc., afootwear 90. The mountingplate 20 may also be capable of engaging afootwear 90, may be positioned alongside afootwear 90, and/or may be shaped, constructed, designed, adapted, patterned, and/or shaped to engage, mount, bond, connect, rest against, directly contact, grip, couple, etc., with afootwear 90 or a portion of afootwear 90. For instance, the mountingplate 20 may be affixed, attached, glued, bonded, nailed, fastened, molded, or coupled to a piece offootwear 90 through various means described herein or otherwise known to those skilled in the art. Moreover, the mountingplate 20 may also be a flat portion, a disc, a slab, a stratum, a planar member, or any substantially flat member capable of fitting substantially flat against a sole 95 of afootwear 90. The mounting plate may have at least oneopening 25 located on its surface, the at least oneopening 25 extending the entire height of the mountingplate 20, from thetop surface 21 to thebottom surface 22. Theopenings 25 may allow aspike 92, such as a golf spike, to pass through the mountingplate 20. For instance, before adhering, fastening, coupling, attaching, or engaging afootwear 90, anyspike 92 located on the sole 95 may be removed from thefootwear 90. After the mountingplate 20 is secured to a sole 95, thespikes 92 may be re-attached through theopenings 25 located on the mountingplate 20. Those in the art will appreciate that the location of theopenings 25 may correspond to the locations of thespikes 92 on the sole 95, and their respective spike cavities, such that theopenings 25 will allow access to replace thespike 92 onto thefootwear 90. Moreover, the location of theopenings 25 may be predetermined to fit a particular design, make, or model footwear. - Additionally, the mounting
plate 20 may have a thin film, oradhesive layer 26 spread across thetop surface 21, or spread substantially across thesop surface 21 to bond, adhere, secure, couple, etc., thetop surface 21 of the mountingplate 20 to a portion of the sole 95, orfootwear 90, as shown inFIG. 4 . In many embodiments, anon-adhesive cover 27 may be placed over theadhesive layer 26 to avoid unintentionally bonding and/or convenience during packaging, transport, handling, etc. When the mountingplate 20 is ready to be secured to a portion of the sole 95 of thefootwear 90, thenon-adhesive cover 27 may be peeled back and removed, exposing theadhesive layer 26. Theopenings 25 should first be aligned with the spike cavities, and then the mountingplate 20 may be pressed onto a portion of the sole 95 of thefootwear 90 to secure, bond, adhere, etc., it to thefootwear 90. After the mountingplate 20 is attached to the sole 95, thespikes 92 may fit through theopenings 25 and may be replaced. The replacement of thespikes 92 may assist and/or facilitate the fastening of the mountingdevice 20 to thefootwear 90. Furthermore, when attaching the mountingplate 20 to the sole 95, it may be placed proximate to the edge of thefootwear 90, wherein the mountingplate 20 being located underneath thefootwear 90, and theattachment device 30 being located on the side of thefootwear 90, as shown inFIGS. 2A-2C In other words, theattachment device 30 may be located on the side offootwear 90, such that it rests against anouter surface 96 of the sole 95, and may be accessible without removing thefootwear 90. - Alternatively, the mounting
plate 20 need not have anadhesive layer 26, nor be bonded or adhered by an adhesive to secure it to the sole 95 of afootwear 90. The mountingplate 20 may also be secured to the sole 95 offootwear 90 using at least onesmall fastener 85, at least onelarge fastener 65, or a combination thereof. However, the placement and location of the mountingplate 20 underneath thefootwear 90 may be the same as if adhering it using theadhesive layer 26, except one or more small or large fasteners, 85, 65 may be driven through the mountingplate 20 to engage the sole 95 of thefootwear 90. In one embodiment, thelarge fastener 65 may be driven through the top of thedevice 100. In another embodiment, thelarge fastener 65 may be driven from the front of the device proximate thecleaning device 40. When securing the mountingplate 20 to thefootwear 90, thefasteners footwear 90, which may cause injury to a foot inside thefootwear 90. Furthermore, the mountingplate 20 may be both adhered, bonded, etc., to the sole 95 using theadhesive layer 26 and secured to the sole 95 by using at least one small orlarge fastener plate 20 may be removable from thefootwear 90. For example, the mountingplate 20 may be peeled off the sole 95 and/orfasteners large fasteners plate 20 may be molded into or incorporated into the footwear as a portion, or part, of the sole 95 when thefootwear 90 is made. This method of manufacture may provide stability and support to thedevice 100, and allow a manufacture to match colors, dyes, and spike 92 locations at the same point in the manufacturing process. Being molded or incorporated into thefootwear 90 may prevent the mounting plate and/or mountingdevice 50 from being removable. - The mounting
plate 20 may be curvilinear in shape, such as a circle. In many embodiments, the mountingplate 20 may be shaped to correspond to the curvature of the sole 95. Moreover, the mountingplate 20 is configured to engage only a portion of the sole 95 of thefootwear 90. Because the mountingplate 20 is configured to engage only a portion of the sole 95, the shape of the mountingplate 20 may vary. For instance, the end of the mountingplate 20 proximate theattachment device 30, or proximate thesecond end 52 of the mountingdevice 50, may be curvilinear and correspond to the curvature of the sole 95. However, the end of the mountingplate 20 distal to theattachment device 30, or proximate thefirst end 51 of the mountingdevice 50, may also be curvilinear, but may also be any desirable shape, such as rectangular, polygonal, and the like. In one embodiment, the end of the mountingplate 20 distal to theattachment device 30, or proximate thefirst end 51 of the mountingdevice 50, may be designed to appropriately and efficiently conform to the design and/or model of theparticular footwear 90. The mountingplate 20 may be reversible, wherein the mountingplate 20 may be placed on either the left orientedfootwear 90 or the right orientedfootwear 90. For example, a mounting plate may be attached to a left golf shoe and between holes, may be removed and attached to a right golf shoe without any alterations needed. Furthermore, the mountingplate 20 may be constructed out of material that is resilient, flexible, semi-rigid, and the like, to conform to the sole 95, as well as to remain lightweight. However, the mountingplate 20 may also be constructed out of a rigid material. Therefore, the mountingplate 20 may be constructed out of, inter alia, metal, composites, hard plastic, rubber, nylon, vinyl, combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear. - Referring again to
FIG. 1 , anattachment device 30 may be located proximate thesecond end 52 of the mounting device, theattachment device 30 being receptive to afirst end 41, orbase member 43, of acleaning device 40 to releasably secure thecleaning device 40 to the mountingplate 20, wherein agroove surface 38, or first surface, of theattachment device 30 corresponds to amating surface 48 of thefirst end 41 of thecleaning device 40. Theattachment device 30 may also be a groove, a receptor, a clip-in device, a slide-in device, or any device capable of receiving acleaning device 40 and removably securing it to the mountingplate 20. Theattachment device 30 may be a component of the mountingplate 20 and/or it may be a component of the mountingdevice 50. For example, theattachment device 30 and the mountingplate 20 together may form, or represent, the mountingdevice 50. In another example, theattachment device 30 may be a portion or component of the mountingplate 20. In many embodiments, theattachment device 30 and the mountingplate 20 are comprised of the same material, which may be a flexible, resilient, semi-rigid, or rigid material such as, inter alia, metal, composite, hard plastic, rubber, vinyl, nylon, a combination thereof, or any other suitable material commonly used in footwear. - Furthermore, the
attachment device 30 may include aback surface 33, aflange 34, atop surface 36, at least oneopening 35 located on thetop surface 36, and agroove 37 running horizontally therethrough. Theback surface 33 may contact a side of thefootwear 90 when the mountingdevice 50 is affixed to thefootwear 90. Located adjacent to theback surface 33 may be atop surface 36, wherein at least oneopening 35 may be located. Thetop surface 36 may be pitched, or sloped, to facilitate the angling of thecleaning device 40. Moreover, thetop surface 36 may be angled to allow thecleaning device 40 to be upwardly angled from a ground surface. Theopenings 35 located on thetop surface 36 may accept, receive, accommodate, etc., at least onelocking pin 39, and may be horizontally aligned across thetop surface 36 of theattachment device 30. One or more locking pins 39 may be inserted into theopenings 35 to removably secure thecleaning device 40 into its place withingroove 37. For instance, thecleaning device 40 may have one or more openings, or detents, 45 located thereon, wherein thecleaning device openings 45 are aligned with theattachment device openings 35, and accommodate, accept, receive, etc., the at least onelocking pin 39 which may be inserted to secure thecleaning device 40. The lockingpin 39 may or may not be needed or required to removably secure thecleaning device 40, and the decision whether to utilize alocking pin 39 may depend on the friction coefficient of the materials used to manufacture the components. For example, a lockingpin 39 may be useful if thecleaning device 40 may be likely to slide loose fromgroove 37. The lockingpin 39 may be any tubular object, such as a pin, needle, screw, bolt, nail, and the like. In one embodiment, more than one lockingpin 39 may be coextensively connected together by a horizontal member, forming a “pitchfork” to lock thecleaning device 40 into place within thegroove 37 in more than one of theopenings 35. - Located adjacent to the
back surface 33 and distal to thetop surface 36 may be aflange 34.Flange 34 may create a space, channel, opening, or a place where the sole 95 may fit into when the mountingdevice 50 is affixed to the footwear, as shown inFIG. 3 . This may allow the mountingdevice 50 to fit against thefootwear 90 as snugly as possible to help support thecleaning device 40 and help prevent any undue deflection of the mountingplate 20. Running horizontally through theattachment device 30 may be agroove 37 having agroove surface 38, or first surface, which may correspond with amating surface 48 of afirst end 41, orbase member 43, of thecleaning device 40. Thegroove 37 may be an opening, a channel, a gap, a cavity, a keyway, and the like. Thegroove 37 may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile created by thegroove surface 38 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of themating surface 48 of thecleaning device 40. Furthermore, the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of theattachment device 30, in particular, thegroove 37, may correspond to the shape, structure, frame, mold, contour, profile, surface, construction, or figure of thefirst end 41, and/orbase member 43, of thecleaning device 40. Thus, theattachment device 30, and/orgroove 37, may accept, accommodate, receive, mate, interlock, couple, house, engage, secure, interlock, and/or accept thecleaning device 30. - Referring now to
FIG. 5 , acleaning device 40 may be operably attached to a mountingdevice 50. Additionally, thecleaning device 40 may be operably attached to theattachment device 30. Thecleaning device 40 may have afirst end 41, asecond end 42, adimple 44 located thereon, abase member 43 proximate thefirst end 41, and abrush portion 46 proximate thesecond end 42, wherein thebrush portion 46 may be attached to thebase member 43. Thecleaning device 40 may angularly protrude from afootwear 90. In one embodiment, thecleaning device 40 may angularly protrude away from thefootwear 90 at an angle between 0° to 70° with respect to a ground surface Proximate thefirst end 41, thecleaning device 40 may have amating surface 48 that may correspond to thegroove surface 38 of theattachment device 30, such that themating surface 48 of thecleaning device 40 may mate, interlock, communicate, contact, and/or couple with thegroove surface 38 to removably secure thecleaning device 30 to theattachment device 30 within thegroove 37. For instance, thebase member 43 may have amating surface 48 that corresponds with thegroove surface 38, and thebase member 43 may be dimensioned such that it fits within thegroove 37 to removably secure thecleaning device 30 into theattachment device 30. Thecleaning device 40 should be secured strongly enough and/or fit snugly enough that thecleaning device 40 may sustain any resistance or applied mechanical forces from the cleaning a piece of sport equipment, such as a golf club, and not unintentionally become dislodged. Furthermore, thebase member 43 may have various cross-sections, including, but not limited to, rectangular, trapezoidal, dovetail, circular, polygonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, square, and the like. The profile of themating surface 48 may define the cross-section, and may correspond to the profile of thegroove surface 38 of theattachment device 30. - Moreover, the cleaning device may have a
brush portion 46 attached, affixed, bonded, etc., to thebase member 43. For example, thebrush portion 46 may be attached to theattachment device 30 by thermal molding, injection molding, an adhesive, plug ports, or any other method of securing brush-like components to another structure. The combination of thebrush portion 46 and thebase member 43 may comprise, generally, thecleaning device 40. Thebrush portion 46 may be made of interlocked bristles, wire bristles, wire mesh, copper mesh, steel mesh, brass mesh, steel bristles, brass bristles, horse hair, synthetic, nylon, similar brush materials, and any other brush/cleaning materials that may facilitate the removal of dirt, golf course debris, mud, grass, and the like. Alternatively, thebrush portion 46 may comprise a layer of sandpaper, sandpaper having various grit sizes, a plurality of beads, said beads being rubber, composites, hard plastic, metal, or any suitable material. Thebrush portion 46 may protrude or extend a distance from thebase member 43. In many embodiment, thebrush portion 46 may protrude or extend anywhere from 0.1 to 5 centimeters (0.01 to 2 inches). Those in the art should appreciate that the length of thebrush portion 46 may vary, and may be any length outside 0.1 to 5 cm. However, thebrush portion 46 may be long enough to clean a piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club face, but may also be short enough to remain unobtrusive to lessen the possibility of snagging clothes or debris, and avoid becoming a tripping hazard. Furthermore, thebrush portion 46 may cover, or substantially cover, the face of thecleaning device 40, the face being located proximate thesecond end 42, and facing away from theattachment device 30. - With continued reference to
FIG. 5 , there may be more than one method of operably attaching thecleaning device 40 to theattachment device 30. In one embodiment, thecleaning device 40 may slidably engage the mountingdevice 50. For instance, a method of slidably engaging acleaning device 40 with a mountingdevice 50, or anattachment device 30, may include positioning thecleaning device 40 alongside theattachment device 30, aligning themating surface 48 of thecleaning device 40 with thegroove surface 38, and sliding thecleaning device 40 through thegroove 37. For example, before a golfer starts a round of golf, the golfer may slide thecleaning device 40 into theattachment device 30, which is mounted on one of his or hershoes 90. Once the round is over, the golfer may remove thecleaning device 40 from theattachment device 30 and store it in his or her golf bag. Moreover, located somewhere on thecleaning device 40, or located somewhere on thebase member 43, may be adimple 44. Thedimple 44 may be an indentation, detent, recession, crater, depression, and the like. An object, such as a golf tee, may engage thedimple 44, and help slide thecleaning device 40 along thegroove 37 to facilitate the easy removal or attachment of thecleaning device 40 to and from theattachment device 30. -
FIG. 6 andFIG. 7 depict another embodiment of a method of operably attaching thecleaning device 140 to the mountingdevice 150, orattachment device 130, which may include snapping or clipping thecleaning device 140, in particular, thebase member 143, into akeyway 139. Thekeyway 139 may be similar to thegroove 37, yet may not extend the entire horizontal distance of theattachment device 130 and may or may not be angled. Abase member 143 may include at least onepressure release button 149 on its sides to removably secure thecleaning device 140 to theattachment device 140. Thepressure release buttons 149 may be resilient, such that when depressed, they may return to their original position. Thekeyway 139 may include cut-outs 135 that correspond to the shape and volume of thepressure release buttons 149 located on thebase member 143. Thus, thepressure release button 149 may be depressed, allowing thecleaning device 140 to enter thekeyway 139. Once inside thekeyway 139, thepressure release buttons 149 may spring back against the walls of thekeyway 139, and may eventually fit within the cut-outs 135 to secure thecleaning device 140 into theattachment device 130. The cut-outs 135 may house, accommodate, contain, receive, accept, etc., thepressure release buttons 149. Those in the art will appreciate that other securing methods may be used, such as a hook, hook and fastener, ball and dimple, locking pins, detents, and other various securing methods which may removably secure thecleaning device 140 to theattachment device 130. - Furthermore, the
cleaning device 40, or simply abrush portion 46 may be coupled, bonded, attached, affixed, adhered, etc., to afootwear 90, or a portion of afootwear 90 directly, as shown inFIG. 8 . For example, abrush portion 46 may simply directly engage a portion of a footwear, such as the side, edge, orouter surface 96 of a sole 95, without including the mountingdevice 50. Thebrush portion 46 may be glued, bonded, or adhered with a glue, cement, epoxy, or any other means to bond abrush portion 46 to afootwear 90. - With reference to
FIGS. 1-9 , in particular,FIG. 9 , a method of cleaning a piece of sports equipment, such as a golf club, may include the steps of providing acleaning device 40, wherein thecleaning device 40 has afirst end 41 and asecond end 42, coupling thefirst end 41 of thecleaning device 40 and anattachment device 30, wherein theattachment device 30 and a mountingplate 20 form a mountingdevice 50, wherein the mountingdevice 50 is configured to engage afootwear 90. A method may further include placing a layer of adhesive on atop surface 21 of the mountingplate 20 for securing the mountingplate 20 to a sole 95 of thefootwear 90, securing the mountingplate 20 with at least onesmall fastener 85 and at least onelarge fastener 65, positioning at least oneopening 25 on the mountingplate 20, and adjusting an angle of thecleaning device 30. Moreover, the method may further include molding the mountingplate 20 into a sole 95 of afootwear 90 to secure the mountingplate 20 to the sole 95 of afootwear 90. It should be understood that thedevice 100 may be also be an apparatus and method for cleaning more than just sports equipment. For example, thedevice 100 may be used to clean a piece of hardware, tools, such as a jack hammer or hammer drill, any work equipment, or any item that may appreciate hands-free cleaning. - Each component of
device 100, including, but not limited to, mountingdevice 50, mountingplate 20,attachment device 30,groove 37,keyway 139,base member 43,flange 34, openings, 25, 35, 45, anddimple 44, may be fabrication and/or manufactured by the following methods: casting, extruding, cutting, knurling, turning, tapping, drilling, injection molding, blow molding, or other fabrication methods that may provide efficient production of the component. - Various modifications and variations of the described apparatus and method will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although this invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, outlined above, it should be understood that the invention should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (17)
1. A footwear comprising:
a sole having an integral mounting device forming part of the sole;
an attachment portion, the attachment portion forming a part of the integral mounting device, the attachment portion of the integral mounting device configured to removably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portion contacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on the footwear;
wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment.
2. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device includes a brush.
3. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the mounting device is molded as part of the sole of the footwear.
4. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is slidably attached to the attachment portion.
5. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device is clipped onto the attachment portion.
6. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device angularly protrudes away from the footwear at an angle between 0° to 70° with respect to a ground surface.
7. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning device cleans a golf club.
8. A footwear comprising:
a mounting device forming a sole of a footwear, the mounting device having at least one opening therethrough, the mounting device having an attachment portion, the attachment portion being receptive to a first end of a cleaning device to releasably secure the cleaning device to the attachment portion, wherein a first surface of the attachment portion corresponds to a mating surface of the first end of the cleaning device, and a second end of the cleaning device is configured to contact a golf club, the second end protruding from the footwear;
wherein the attachment portion includes a footwear contacting side and a cleaning device contacting side, the footwear contacting side contacting a side of the footwear to hinder an entry of solids between the attachment portion and the side of the footwear.
wherein at least one opening is located on the attachment portion to removably secure the cleaning device.
9. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein the least one opening allows at least one locking pin to pass therethrough.
10. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein the mounting device is molded as part of the sole of the footwear.
11. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the cleaning device includes a brush portion for cleaning a contact surface of the golf club.
12. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein the cleaning device angularly protrudes from the side of the footwear.
13. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein a dimple is located on the cleaning device to assist removal of the cleaning device from the attachment portion.
14. A method comprising:
forming a sole of a footwear by molding a mounting device thereto, the mounting device having an attachment portion that forms a part of the mounting device, the attachment portion of the integral mounting device configured to removably accept a cleaning device, wherein the attachment portion contacts a side of the footwear when in an assembled position on the footwear; and
forming at least one opening on the attachment portion for removably securing the cleaning device;
wherein a first surface of the attachment portion corresponds to a mating surface of a first end of the cleaning device, and a second end of the cleaning device is configured to clean a contact surface of a golf club, the second end protruding from the footwear.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
securing the cleaning device with at least one fastener through the at least one opening on the attachment portion.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the cleaning device slidably engages the attachment portion of the mounting device forming part of the sole.
17. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cleaning device snaps into the attachment portion of the mounting device forming part of the sole.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/906,729 US20130255108A1 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2013-05-31 | Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/635,773 US8458847B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2009-12-11 | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
US13/906,729 US20130255108A1 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2013-05-31 | Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/635,773 Continuation US8458847B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2009-12-11 | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130255108A1 true US20130255108A1 (en) | 2013-10-03 |
Family
ID=44141280
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/635,773 Expired - Fee Related US8458847B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2009-12-11 | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
US13/906,729 Abandoned US20130255108A1 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2013-05-31 | Cleaning device for a footwear and method thereof |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/635,773 Expired - Fee Related US8458847B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2009-12-11 | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US8458847B2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101974751B1 (en) * | 2017-12-22 | 2019-05-02 | 정준우 | Golf club head cleaner |
Families Citing this family (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8458847B2 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2013-06-11 | Brent Herrmann | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
US9565912B2 (en) * | 2010-07-22 | 2017-02-14 | Edward Fatscher | Cement finishing tool cover |
US20140137440A1 (en) * | 2012-11-21 | 2014-05-22 | Car-Kor Enterprises Ltd. | Golf shoe mounting brush and scraper attachment and method of mounting same |
US20140259292A1 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2014-09-18 | Bernard Santamaria | One-handed cleaning apparatus for cleaning golf clubs during play |
US20140338142A1 (en) * | 2013-05-17 | 2014-11-20 | Robert Paul Pierce | Attachable brush for a golf shoe |
USD844794S1 (en) * | 2015-10-28 | 2019-04-02 | John R. Mitchell | Orthopaedic shoe mount |
US9908477B1 (en) * | 2016-04-26 | 2018-03-06 | Stanley Richard Glista | Cart mount for club and ball washer |
US10765197B2 (en) * | 2016-09-15 | 2020-09-08 | Ryan Curtis Peterson | Foot broom devices and methods |
US11167189B2 (en) | 2018-06-12 | 2021-11-09 | Rob McGarvin | Golf club cleaning aid |
US10722018B2 (en) * | 2018-07-31 | 2020-07-28 | John Alphonsus Kelly | Safety razor cleaning device |
US11951367B2 (en) * | 2020-04-03 | 2024-04-09 | Jerid Daron Patterson | Golf brush with ramp housing |
US11344174B2 (en) * | 2020-10-23 | 2022-05-31 | Korling Duren | Grout cleaning attachment for a shoe |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4122577A (en) * | 1976-06-24 | 1978-10-31 | Salvadore Catania | Golf shoe wiping attachment for golf club heads |
US4499674A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1985-02-19 | Icaro Olivieri & C. S.P.A. | Ski boot with a device for registering its axial orientation in regard to the ski |
US4712319A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-12-15 | Luigi Goria | Footwear with detachable visibility aids |
US6092313A (en) * | 1998-07-17 | 2000-07-25 | Dunlap; Gary Earnest | Apparatus for interchangeably affixing a tool to footwear |
US20030131500A1 (en) * | 2002-01-16 | 2003-07-17 | Richard Kline | Integral ClubScrub and the external ClubScrub |
US20030192206A1 (en) * | 2002-04-15 | 2003-10-16 | Ashton David Perry | Combined golf shoes and other golfing tools with method |
US20030208932A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe cleat brush |
US20030208868A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe brush |
US20030208869A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe brush |
US7313842B1 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2008-01-01 | Preciado Rene V | Shoe-mounted umpire's brush unit |
US7500324B1 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2009-03-10 | Kyle Power | Convertible therapeutic sandals |
US20110030159A1 (en) * | 2009-08-06 | 2011-02-10 | Terry Mullis | Attachable golf club brush |
US20110138557A1 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2011-06-16 | Brent Herrmann | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3751832A (en) * | 1972-06-14 | 1973-08-14 | Raymond Lee Organization Inc | Ski boot with cleaning device |
US3811207A (en) * | 1972-08-10 | 1974-05-21 | G Peis | Device for cleaning soles of shoes |
AU7959194A (en) * | 1994-09-27 | 1996-04-19 | Daniel E. Hage | Shoe having a golf club head cleaning device |
US5809669A (en) * | 1995-04-06 | 1998-09-22 | Hage; Daniel E. | Golf-club head cleaning device |
US6128801A (en) * | 1997-07-28 | 2000-10-10 | Winsor Corporation | Shoe sole cleaners |
JPH11151332A (en) * | 1997-11-25 | 1999-06-08 | Yasuki Matsuda | Golf club face cleaner |
US5979008A (en) * | 1998-01-08 | 1999-11-09 | Gordon Enterprises, Ltd. | Golf club cleaning apparatus |
US5930920A (en) * | 1998-03-27 | 1999-08-03 | Arnold; Douglas | Wiping device for a golf club face |
US6393648B1 (en) * | 2000-01-06 | 2002-05-28 | Reyntech Partnership | Resilient attachable tool cleaning apparatus |
US20060283049A1 (en) * | 2005-06-19 | 2006-12-21 | Huseby Steven S | Golf shoe with integrated golf club cleaner |
US20090293215A1 (en) * | 2008-05-28 | 2009-12-03 | Ke Zhou | Golf club cleaning pads attachable to shoes |
-
2009
- 2009-12-11 US US12/635,773 patent/US8458847B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2013
- 2013-05-31 US US13/906,729 patent/US20130255108A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4122577A (en) * | 1976-06-24 | 1978-10-31 | Salvadore Catania | Golf shoe wiping attachment for golf club heads |
US4499674A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1985-02-19 | Icaro Olivieri & C. S.P.A. | Ski boot with a device for registering its axial orientation in regard to the ski |
US4712319A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1987-12-15 | Luigi Goria | Footwear with detachable visibility aids |
US6092313A (en) * | 1998-07-17 | 2000-07-25 | Dunlap; Gary Earnest | Apparatus for interchangeably affixing a tool to footwear |
US20030131500A1 (en) * | 2002-01-16 | 2003-07-17 | Richard Kline | Integral ClubScrub and the external ClubScrub |
US20030192206A1 (en) * | 2002-04-15 | 2003-10-16 | Ashton David Perry | Combined golf shoes and other golfing tools with method |
US20030208932A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe cleat brush |
US20030208868A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe brush |
US20030208869A1 (en) * | 2002-05-13 | 2003-11-13 | Thompson Dean Jeffery | Golf shoe brush |
US7313842B1 (en) * | 2004-12-16 | 2008-01-01 | Preciado Rene V | Shoe-mounted umpire's brush unit |
US7500324B1 (en) * | 2005-11-30 | 2009-03-10 | Kyle Power | Convertible therapeutic sandals |
US20110030159A1 (en) * | 2009-08-06 | 2011-02-10 | Terry Mullis | Attachable golf club brush |
US20110138557A1 (en) * | 2009-12-11 | 2011-06-16 | Brent Herrmann | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101974751B1 (en) * | 2017-12-22 | 2019-05-02 | 정준우 | Golf club head cleaner |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20110138557A1 (en) | 2011-06-16 |
US8458847B2 (en) | 2013-06-11 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8458847B2 (en) | Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof | |
USD520586S1 (en) | Portion of golf club head sole plate | |
US7836610B2 (en) | Attachments for an item of footwear | |
US10828545B2 (en) | Footwear-based cleaning systems and methods | |
US8167746B2 (en) | Portable pitching rubber | |
USD512757S1 (en) | Iron-type golf club head | |
US7587780B2 (en) | Shoe cleaning sand rake | |
US7828670B1 (en) | Putter grip ball marker retention system | |
US7621819B1 (en) | Multiple purpose golf tool | |
US7527563B1 (en) | Golf tool storage on putter | |
JP2003052413A (en) | Footwear cleat | |
US20090270206A1 (en) | Portable Pitching Rubber | |
US20020020079A1 (en) | Structure for attaching and detaching attachment to/from shoe sole | |
US20030131500A1 (en) | Integral ClubScrub and the external ClubScrub | |
US8616467B1 (en) | Sprinkler head cover | |
US20060283049A1 (en) | Golf shoe with integrated golf club cleaner | |
US6872155B2 (en) | Turf divot fixer and golf tee holder with cover | |
US11951367B2 (en) | Golf brush with ramp housing | |
US6302269B1 (en) | Brush implement | |
WO2004077976A2 (en) | Tap shoe accessories | |
US20040063522A1 (en) | Attachment Mechanism for a Lacrosse Head | |
KR101974751B1 (en) | Golf club head cleaner | |
US20140137440A1 (en) | Golf shoe mounting brush and scraper attachment and method of mounting same | |
US20060059641A1 (en) | Pick brush | |
JPH09187307A (en) | Sports shoes traction system for use on lawn |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |