Golf ball cleaner

Abstract

The golf ball cleaner as disclosed is completely portable and which enables a user to clean their ball at any point on a golf course, and particularly when putting on a green. The cleaner is configured in a ring shape and includes an outer ring of bristles and an optional centrally disposed pad such that all cleaning bristles or pads contact no more than 25% of the ball surface at any one time, and in some instance, less than 10% of the ball surface is contacted by the cleaner bristles or pads. A cleaning solution can be provided in a centrally disposed pad or the outer ring of bristles which is activated either by pressure from the ball or by puncturing.

1 . A golf ball cleaner comprising:
 a cleaning element having an concave ball receiving portion configured to receive and support less than half of the golf ball sphere, the concave ball receiving portion having an upper edge and a bottom; and   a cleaning pad disposed at the bottom of the cleaning element such that the cleaning pad contacts less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising cleaning bristles disposed around the upper edge of the concave ball receiving portion of the cleaning element. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 1 , wherein said cleaning pad further comprises cleaning solution contained therein, said cleaning solution being selectively dispensed from the cleaning pad under pressure from the gold ball. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for receiving the cleaning element, said housing having connection means for connecting the golf ball cleaner to one of a users golf bag or a user's belt. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 4 , further comprising a golf ball marker releasably attached to the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 4 , further comprising a ball mark repair tool having a belt clip on one side and flat receiving area on an opposing side, said housing being configured to be releasably attached to the flat receiving area of the ball mark repair tool. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for receiving the cleaning element, and means for securing the cleaning element into the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said securing means comprises a snap fit. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball cleaner of  claim 8 , wherein said securing means comprises a mating threaded configuration on the cleaning element and the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball cleaner comprising:
 a housing; and   a cleaning element configured to be inserted and retained within said housing, said cleaning element having a cleaning pad disposed at the bottom of the cleaning element such that the cleaning pad contacts less than 25% of an overall surface area of the golf ball, said cleaning element having a circumference defining a ball receiving portion, the ball receiving portion being configured to receive and support less than half of the surface area of the golf ball.