U.S. patent application number 11/156035 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for golf shoe with integrated golf club cleaner.
Invention is credited to Steven Stuart Huseby.
Application Number | 20060283049 11/156035 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37571927 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060283049 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huseby; Steven Stuart |
December 21, 2006 |
Golf shoe with integrated golf club cleaner
Abstract
The invention is a unique golf club cleaner integrated into the
sole of a golf shoe. In one embodiment of the invention the club
cleaner is integrated with the golf shoe sole in a single injection
mold shank. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
the sole of the golf shoe comprises holes that matingly engage and
secure individual, removable cleats or spikes. The club face
cleaner is adapted to matingly and removably engage with any one of
the holes. In both embodiments, the club face cleaner is positioned
in any one of several areas on the sole of the right or left golf
shoe, such as the arch side of the shoe, proximate to the toe end
or the heel end of the shoe, or the external (i.e., small toe side)
of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the
shoe.
Inventors: |
Huseby; Steven Stuart;
(Roswell, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Matthew D. Durell
Suite 800
3350 Riverwood Parkway
Atlanta
GA
30339
US
|
Family ID: |
37571927 |
Appl. No.: |
11/156035 |
Filed: |
June 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/127 ; 36/103;
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/001 20130101;
A43B 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/127 ;
036/103; 036/025.00R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/14 20060101
A43B013/14; A43B 13/00 20060101 A43B013/00; A43B 5/00 20060101
A43B005/00 |
Claims
1. A shoe having a toe end, a heel end, an arch side and an
external (i.e., small toe) side, wherein the sole includes a
protrusion extending from one of either the arch side or the
external side of the shoe and suitable for removing debris from the
face of a golf club.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is continuous with
the sole of the shoe.
3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole further includes a
plurality of holes for matingly engaging and securing individual
spike or cleat units.
4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the protrusion is matingly engaged
with and secured by one of the plurality of holes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a golf shoe
wherein the sole of the golf shoe includes an integrated golf club
cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In the sport of golf, a club is used to strike a ball lying
upon a surface, or slightly elevated by a golf tee. Accordingly,
the head of the golf club often becomes soiled with pieces of
vegetation, soil, and/or other debris when the club strikes the
ball. This problem is heightened where the golf club is used on a
golf course or driving range and multiples of ball strikes occur
within a short period of time. Consequently, soiling of the club
head presents a persistent annoyance to golfers, affecting the use
and accuracy of the soiled clubs. Therefore, the club head must
regularly be cleaned.
[0005] Golfers typically employ a plurality of techniques for
cleaning various types of debris from golf clubs. For example, some
golfers may carry a towel that is used to wipe down the golf club
face. However, this technique is of limited utility. First, since
it is cumbersome and unsightly to carry such towels on ones person,
these towels are usually affixed to the users golf club bag or golf
club bag carrier, such as a pull cart or golf cart. As a result, it
is common for the towel to be lost on a golf course or driving
range during play or inadvertently left behind on the rented golf
club bag carriers, causing disruption in play and persistent
aggravation. More significantly, however, such towels are easily
soiled, particularly where golf balls are struck off of wet or
muddy surfaces. After limited use, the towel is typically soiled to
a point where it cannot effectively remove debris from the golf
club face.
[0006] Other golfers prefer to use a handheld golf brush to clean
the face of their golf clubs. Such brushes typically consist of a
handle having a wide base with a large number of bristles. As with
the towels discussed above, these brushes are usually attached to
the users golf club bag or bag carrier. Consequently, handheld
brushes are, likewise, frequently lost or misplaced during play or
left behind after play has concluded. Unlike a towel, however, it
is not uncommon for a golfer to carry the brush in his or her
pocket during play. While this may reduce the risk of loss or
misplacement, carrying the brush in a pocket presents other
problems for the typical golfer, such as causing distraction or
discomfort during the golf swing or causing clothing to become
overly soiled and unsightly.
[0007] Furthermore, the use of a handheld brush to clean the face
of a golf club presents additional problems for the user. First,
using the brush is often awkward or difficult, particularly for
smaller or handicapped golfers. The user is required to hold and
stabilize the club in one hand and the brush in the other hand
while scrubbing the clubface. Where the club is wet or muddy, this
is not always an easy task. Additionally, brushes are typically
ineffective and inconvenient for removing some types of debris. For
example, where the club face is soiled with dew or grass, the
golfer is often forced to resort to a secondary measure for
cleaning the club face, such as hand or foot.
[0008] Not surprisingly then, another method that many golfers
employ in cleaning a golf club face is wiping the club face with
the toe or heel of the golfer's golf shoe in a gentle kicking or
rubbing motion. Unlike the above-described methods, use of the golf
shoe in cleaning a soiled club face is typically consistently
effective. The risk of loss or misplacement of the cleaning
implement is virtually eliminated and the golf shoe is easily
accessible to the golfer, thereby reducing delays or disruption of
play. And while the spikes or softspikes.RTM. found on most golf
shoes often prove effective in removing most types of debris from
the club face, the golf shoes presently available are not designed
for use in cleaning the face of a soiled golf club.
[0009] What is needed then is an improved device for efficiently
and effectively cleaning the face of a soiled golf club that
capitalizes on the accessibility and durability of the typical golf
shoe. More specifically, what is needed is an improvement over the
prior art that is abrasive enough to effectively remove all types
of debris from a club head, provides convenient access for the
golfer, and is easy and uncumbersome to use. The present invention
achieves these goals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, a unique golf club
face cleaner integrated into the sole of a golf shoe is presented.
In one embodiment of the invention the club face cleaner is
integrated with the golf shoe sole in a single injection mold
shank. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the
sole of the golf shoe comprises holes that matingly engage and
secure individual, removable cleats or spikes. The club face
cleaner is adapted to matingly and removably engage with any one of
the holes. In both embodiments, the club face cleaner is positioned
in any one of several areas on the sole of the right or left golf
shoe, such as the arch side of the shoe, proximate to the toe end
or the heel end of the shoe, or the external (i.e., small toe side)
of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the
shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is herein described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a golf shoe with integrated club
face cleaner according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a bottom, angled view of a golf shoe with
integrated club face cleaner according to one embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, the shoe is generally an ordinary golf
shoe, made of any appropriate material, comprising a top portion
and a sole 2. The club face cleaner is the extended toe portion or
protrusion 1, which extends, in the preferred embodiment, from the
side of the toe end of the shoe. As shown in FIG. 1, the club face
cleaner 1 extends from the arch side of the sole of the right shoe,
as would be most appropriate for a right-handed golfer. However,
though not illustrated, the club face cleaner 1 may also extend
from the arch side of the sole of the left shoe, proximate to the
toe end of the shoe for a left-handed golfer. Additionally, the
club face cleaner 1 may alternatively extend from the external side
of the sole of the right or left shoe proximate to the toe end of
the shoe. Likewise, though not depicted, the club face cleaner 1
may extend from the arch side or external side of the sole
proximate to the heel end of the shoe, as appropriate for the left
or right-handed golfer.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the club face
cleaner 1 is continuous with the sole 2, created in the mold from
which the sole 2 is produced. The cleaner 1 will, in the preferred
embodiment have the same or similar cleating (i.e., surface
structure) as the remainder of sole 2. The sole 2 of the golf shoe
will be made of any industry appropriate material, including but
not limited to rubber, injection molded shank, or including holes
capable of matingly engaging with individual cleat or spike
units.
[0016] Though not depicted, where the sole 2 of the shoe comprises
holes for matingly engaging individual spike or cleat units, the
club face cleaner 1 may be integrated with the sole in the same
manner as the individual spike or cleat units. That is to say,
instead of being continuous with the molded sole, the club face
cleaner 1 is suited to be integrated with the sole by matingly
engaging with one of the above-described holes in the sole. Of
course the top portion of the golf shoe may be comprised of any
appropriate materials and embody any style of shoe, including but
not limited to a traditional lace up shoe, a sandal or a
slip-on.
[0017] Of course, those skilled in the art will immediately
recognize that there are other ways that the golf show with
integrated club face cleaner can be created to meet the objectives
of the invention. The description of the preferred embodiment is
therefore not in any way intended to limit the scope of the
invention. Likewise, characteristics of the embodiments described
herein are not in any way intended to limit the claims unless the
characteristic is explicitly described within the body of the claim
itself. The wording of the claims of the invention and that alone
defines the scope of the invention, and it is the inventor's
intention to use words in the claims to express their plain and
ordinary meaning from the perspective of one or ordinary skill in
the art of the invention, contemplating expressly that said meaning
is broader than the characteristics of the preferred embodiment
described herein.
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