Portable golf ball damage repair device

Abstract

A tool is provided for repairing or restoring the surface of a golf ball. A portable, hand-held, lightweight tool comprises one or more abrasive surfaces for repairing or lessening burs, gouges, scratches and other damage from the cover of a golf ball. The tool may be made from a pliable, deformable material, such as foam rubber, to conform to the curved surface of a golf ball. The tool may include a fastener so that the tool may be attached to a belt loop, golf bag, key chain, golf cart, or the like. In other exemplary embodiments, the tool may be an article of clothing or other golf equipment, such as a glove, towel, or golf club cover.

1 . A portable tool for modifying a surface of a golf ball, the tool comprising:
 a three-dimensional core of material having at least one exterior surface; and   at least one abrasive surface portion attached to the at least one exterior surface, wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion has a grade of granularity such that application of the at least one abrasive surface portion to an exterior surface of a golf ball modifies material of the exterior surface of the golf ball to lessen negative effects on dynamic properties caused by surface damage.   
   
   
       2 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises:
 a first surface portion having a first grade of granularity such that the first surface portion is used to remove or lessen burs from a surface of the golf ball;   a second surface portion having a second grade of granularity such that the second surface portion is used to smooth damage from the surface of the golf ball;   a third surface portion having a third grade of granularity such that the third surface portion is used to buff the surface of the golf ball; and   a fourth surface portion having a fourth grade of granularity such that the fourth surface portion is used to shine the surface of the golf ball.   
   
   
       3 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion is concave. 
   
   
       4 . The portable tool of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one surface portion has a concavity that substantially matches a curvature of the exterior surface of the golf ball. 
   
   
       5 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional core of material comprises a deformable material. 
   
   
       6 . The portable tool of  claim 5 , wherein the deformable material is foam rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises a plurality of abrasive surface portions that are labeled to indicate grade of granularity. 
   
   
       8 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener.   
   
   
       9 . The portable tool of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a towel attached to the three-dimensional deformable core of material.   
   
   
       10 . A tool for modifying a surface of a golf ball, the tool comprising:
 a core of material having at least one exterior surface;   at least one abrasive surface portion attached to the at least one exterior surface, wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion has a grade of granularity such that application of the at least one abrasive surface portion to the exterior surface of a golf ball modifies material of the exterior surface of the golf ball to lessen negative effects on dynamic properties of the golf ball caused by surface damage; and   a backing, wherein the core of pliable material is affixed to the backing and wherein the backing slides into a mounting bracket.   
   
   
       11 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting bracket is affixed to a ball washer. 
   
   
       12 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting bracket is affixed to a golf cart. 
   
   
       13 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises:
 a first surface portion having a first grade of granularity such that the first surface portion is used to remove or lessen burs from a surface of the golf ball;   a second surface portion having a second grade of granularity such that the second surface portion is used to smooth damage from the surface of the golf ball;   a third surface portion having a third grade of granularity such that the third surface portion is used to buff the surface of the golf ball; and   a fourth surface portion having a fourth grade of granularity such that the fourth surface portion is used to shine the surface of the golf ball.   
   
   
       14 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion is concave. 
   
   
       15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one surface portion has a concavity that substantially matches a curvature of the exterior surface of the golf ball. 
   
   
       16 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the three-dimensional core of material comprises a deformable material. 
   
   
       17 . The tool of  claim 16 , wherein the deformable material is foam rubber. 
   
   
       18 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises a plurality of abrasive surface portions that are labeled to indicate grade of granularity. 
   
   
       19 . A ball washer, comprising:
 an exterior housing;   an interior ball washing mechanism;   a mounting bracket;   a core of material having at least one exterior surface;   at least one abrasive surface portion attached to the at least one exterior surface, wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion has a grade of granularity such that application of the at least one abrasive surface portion to the exterior surface of a golf ball modifies material of the exterior surface of the golf ball to lessen negative effects on dynamic properties of the golf ball caused by surface damage; and   a backing, wherein the core of material is affixed to the backing and wherein the backing slides into the mounting bracket.   
   
   
       20 . The ball washer of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises:
 a first surface portion having a first grade of granularity such that the first surface portion is used to remove or lessen burs from a surface of the golf ball;   a second surface portion having a second grade of granularity such that the second surface portion is used to smooth damage from the surface of the golf ball;   a third surface portion having a third grade of granularity such that the third surface portion is used to buff the surface of the golf ball; and   a fourth surface portion having a fourth grade of granularity such that the fourth surface portion is used to shine the surface of the golf ball.   
   
   
       21 . The ball washer of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion is concave. 
   
   
       22 . The ball washer of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one surface portion has a concavity that substantially matches a curvature of the exterior surface of the golf ball. 
   
   
       23 . The ball washer of  claim 19 , wherein the core of material comprises a deformable material. 
   
   
       24 . The ball washer of  claim 23 , wherein the deformable material is foam rubber. 
   
   
       25 . The ball washer of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one abrasive surface portion comprises a plurality of abrasive surface portions that are labeled to indicate grade of granularity. 
   
   
       26 . A golf club grip, comprising:
 a tactile cover that fits over a handle portion of a golf club on a first end of the golf club grip;   a golf ball repair tool on a second end of the golf club grip, wherein the golf ball repair tool comprises an abrasive surface portion, wherein the abrasive surface portion has a grade of granularity such that application of the at least one abrasive surface portion to an exterior surface of a golf ball modifies material of the exterior surface of the golf ball to lessen negative effects on dynamic properties of the golf ball caused by surface damage.