Shoe cleaning sand rake

Abstract

A sand rake which serves two purposes: 1) raking the sand in a bunker to provide a smooth sand surface; and 2) efficient and safe removal of the sand trapped or lodged on or near the soles of a player's golf shoes. The dual purpose sand rake may be used to conveniently clean the player's shoes before stepping foot on the putting green, thereby reducing the amount of sand and other debris tracked onto the green, or, alternatively, before the player attempts another shot, thereby enhancing the player's footing. The sand rake removes the need for the player to walk to the next tee box or wait until the round is finished to clean his or her shoes. Moreover, the sand rake removes the need for the player to tap his or her shoes with the golf club to clean his or her shoes, thereby eliminating the risk of injury to the player's ankle or foot as well as damage to the shoes.

1 . A sand rake adapted for cleaning shoes, comprising: 
 a handle; and    a rake head connected to said handle, said rake head including a plurality of tines connected to and extending from said rake head in a first direction, and at least one brush extending from said rake head in a second direction different from said first direction.    
   
   
       2 . The sand rake of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one brush is integrally formed with said rake head.  
   
   
       3 . The sand rake of  claim 1 , wherein said rake head further comprises a brush attachment structure, said brush attachment structure including said at least one brush, said brush attachment structure selectively connected to said rake head.  
   
   
       4 . The sand rake of  claim 3 , wherein said brush attachment structure is connected to said rake head via a friction-fit engagement between said brush attachment structure and said rake head.  
   
   
       5 . The sand rake of  claim 3 , wherein said brush attachment structure is connected to said rake head with at least one fastener.  
   
   
       6 . The sand rake of  claim 3 , wherein said brush attachment structure comprises a surface contoured to match a surface of said rake head.  
   
   
       7 . The sand rake of  claim 3 , wherein said brush attachment structure further comprises an extended portion, said extended portion including at least one brush.  
   
   
       8 . The sand rake of  claim 7 , wherein said extended portion includes a throughbore and extends along at least a portion of said handle, said handle extending through said throughbore.  
   
   
       9 . The sand rake of  claim 1 , wherein said first direction and said second direction form an angle therebetween, said angle measuring between approximately 45° and 180°.  
   
   
       10 . The sand rake of  claim 1 , wherein said handle includes a longitudinal axis and said rake head includes an axis perpendicular to said handle longitudinal axis, said second direction and said rake head axis forming an angle therebetween, said angle measuring between approximately 0° and 90°.  
   
   
       11 . A sand rake adapted for cleaning shoes encumbered with sand or other debris, comprising: 
 a handle; and    a rake head connected to said handle, said rake head including raking means for raking the sand connected to and extending from said rake head in a first direction, and cleaning means for removing sand or other debris from the shoes, said cleaning means connected to said rake head, said cleaning means extending from said rake head in a second direction different from said first direction.    
   
   
       12 . The sand rake of  claim 11 , wherein said cleaning means is integrally formed with said rake head.  
   
   
       13 . The sand rake of  claim 11 , wherein said rake head further comprises a cleaning means attachment structure, said attachment structure including said cleaning means, said attachment structure selectively connected to said rake head.  
   
   
       14 . The sand rake of  claim 13 , wherein said attachment structure is connected to said rake head via a friction-fit engagement between said attachment structure and said rake head.  
   
   
       15 . The sand rake of  claim 13 , wherein said attachment structure is connected to said rake head with at least one fastener.  
   
   
       16 . The sand rake of  claim 13 , wherein said attachment structure comprises a surface contoured to match a surface of said rake head.  
   
   
       17 . The sand rake of  claim 13 , wherein said attachment structure further comprises an extended portion, said extended portion including cleaning means.  
   
   
       18 . The sand rake of  claim 11 , wherein said first direction and said second direction form an angle therebetween, said angle measuring between approximately 45° and 180°.  
   
   
       19 . The sand rake of  claim 11 , wherein said handle includes a longitudinal axis and said rake head includes an axis perpendicular to said handle longitudinal axis, said second direction and said rake head axis forming an angle therebetween, said angle measuring between approximately 0° and 90°.  
   
   
       20 . A method for preventing sand from being tracked from a bunker to a green in a golf course environment, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a sand rake adapted for cleaning shoes, the rake including a handle and a rake head connected to the handle, the rake head including a plurality of tines connected to and extending from the rake head in a first direction, and at least one brush extending from the rake head in a second direction different from the first direction; and    subsequent to stepping in the bunker and prior to stepping on the green, brushing a sole portion of a shoe with the at least one brush of the sand rake to dislodge sand particles from the sole portion.