Portable device for washing golf balls

Abstract

A golf ball cleaning apparatus includes a housing having an internal cavity configured to retain a golf ball and cleaning liquid. The apparatus further includes a water jet system and a power source compartment. The water jet system is in the internal cavity of the housing and includes a pump and a water jet opening through which cleaning liquid is directed to engage a golf ball placed within the housing. The power source compartment is integrated within the housing and configured for housing a power source. The apparatus may further include a pump chamber for housing the pump and a golf ball holder having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface may be in direct contact with the golf ball during cleaning. The water jet opening may extend between the inner surface and the outer surface, and may be in fluid communication with the pump chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball cleaning apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an internal cavity configured to retain a golf ball and cleaning liquid;   a water jet system in the internal cavity, wherein the water jet system comprises a pump and a water jet opening through which cleaning liquid is directed to engage a golf ball placed within the housing; and   a power source compartment integrated within the housing and configured for housing a power source.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a bowl positioned within the internal cavity of the housing, wherein the bowl is sized and shaped for holding the golf ball, and wherein the water jet opening extends through the bowl. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump chamber for housing the pump; and   a golf ball holder having an inner surface and an outer surface,   wherein the inner surface is configured for being in direct contact with the golf ball during cleaning,   wherein the water jet opening extends between the inner surface and the outer surface, and   wherein the water jet opening is in fluid communication with the pump chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a bottom housing portion and a top housing portion, wherein the top housing portion is attached to the bottom housing portion in a closed configuration, and wherein the top housing portion is at least partially removed to provide access to the internal cavity when the housing is in an open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the top housing portion is configured to swivel relative to the bottom housing portion such that the top housing portion swivels away from the bottom housing portion in the open configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the water jet system further comprises a filter configured to prevent debris from entering the pump. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the filter is a removable mesh screen adapted for easy maintenance and cleaning. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is sized and shaped to be portable and fit within a cup holder of a vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of a dishwasher safe material for easy cleaning of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an activation switch operatively coupled to the power source compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the power source compartment is in the top housing portion. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a conduit that is sized and shaped for housing wires that extend between the power source compartment and the pump. 
     
     
         13 . A golf ball cleaning apparatus comprising:
 an enclosed housing having a bottom portion, a top portion removably coupled to the bottom portion, and an internal cavity that is sized and shaped for holding a golf ball and cleaning liquid;   a golf ball holder positioned in the bottom portion of the housing, wherein the golf ball holder comprises an inner surface having a water jet outlet opening, an outer surface having a water jet inlet opening, and an internal passageway that extends between the water jet inlet opening and the water jet outlet opening;   a pump positioned in the bottom portion of the housing; and   a power source positioned in the top portion of the housing, wherein the pump is operatively coupled to the power source.   
     
     
         14 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is configured for directing cleaning fluid through the water jet inlet opening. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a pump chamber for housing the pump, wherein the golf ball holder is positioned between the pump chamber and the top portion of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein of the golf ball holder further comprises:
 a debris inlet opening in the inner surface;   a debris outlet opening in the the outer surface of the golf ball holder; and   an internal debris pathway extending between the debris inlet opening and the debris outlet opening.   
     
     
         17 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising an outer chamber surrounding the pump chamber, wherein the outer chamber and the pump chamber are separated by a wall, wherein the debris outlet opening is in fluid communication with the outer chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the inner surface of the golf ball holder is in a shape of a bowl having a bottom surface and a curved sidewall extending upwards from the bottom surface, and wherein the debris inlet opening is adjacent to the bottom surface of the bowl, and wherein the water jet outlet opening is in the curved sidewall of the bowl such that the debris inlet opening is positioned between the bottom surface of the bowl and the water jet outlet opening. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the golf ball holder is positioned atop the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball cleaning apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising an activation switch operatively coupled to the power source.