WO2006025671A1

WO2006025671A1 - Automatic washing device for golf club

Info

Publication number: WO2006025671A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/002824
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyun-Bo Jo; Yu-Jin Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-01
Filing date: 2005-08-25
Publication date: 2006-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2007-03-01
Also published as: KR200368549Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is an automatic washing device for a golf club. The device includes a body formed in a hollow box shape and accommodating diverse components therein, a washing chamber installed to an upper side of the body, a money counter for counting coins or notes inputted through a money receiving slot formed at a front side of the body, an advertising board attached to a rear side of the body and protruding from an upper surface of the body, an ultrasonic generator installed in the washing chamber for generating ultrasonic, a control unit for controlling the ultrasonic generator in accordance with a signal sent from the money counter, and a display screen installed to the body for displaying an operation state. When the golf club is put in the device, it is automatically washed by the device. Since the washing is performed not by a chemical cleaner which may pollute the environment, it can prevent the pollution of the environment. In particular, the device is installed in a golf course or driving range, so that if a player inputs a proper charge into the device, the device automatically washes the golf club.

Description

AUTOMATIC WASHING DEVICE FOR GOLF CLUB

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for automatically washing a golf club, and more particularly, to an automatic washing device for a golf club using ultrasonic to clearly eliminate dirt from the golf head, if a user inputs moneys into the device to pay a proper charge.

Background Art In general, golf is a play in which a player using special clubs attempts to hit and hole out a ball with as few strokes as possible into each of the 9 or 18 successive holes on a course. The gulf club used in the golf play includes a golf head for impacting a ball at one end and a grip at the other end. Since the golf club hits the ball positioned on a ground, the golf club is adhered with dirt or lawn. The golf head corrodes by the dirt adhered to the golf head, and the adhesion of the dirt causes discomfort. Hence, in order to eliminate the dirt from the golf head after the golf play, the player sprays a chemical cleaner onto the golf head, and wipes off the dirt with a brush or rag.

The above method is cumbersome since the player should clean the golf club individually with the rag. Also, the used cleaner may be sucked in the player, which may cause any medical problems.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the prior art, and to provide an automatic washing device for a golf club, in which the golf club is not washed by manual operation, but is automatically washed by the device, the washing is performed not by a chemical cleaner which may pollute the environment, but by cleaning water, and the device may be installed in a golf course or driving range, so that if a player inputs a proper charge in the device, the device automatically washes the golf club. In order to accomplish the above and other objects, there is provided an automatic washing device for a golf club comprising a body formed in a hollow box shape and accommodating diverse components therein, a washing chamber installed to an upper side of the body, a money counter for counting coins or notes inputted through a money receiving slot formed at a front side of the body, an advertising board attached to a rear side of the body and protruding from an upper surface of the body, an ultrasonic generator installed in the washing chamber for generating ultrasonic, a control unit for controlling the ultrasonic generator in accordance with a signal sent from the money counter, and a display screen installed to the body for displaying an operation state. The automatic washing device further comprises a dry chamber installed to the upper portion of the body for drying the washed golf club using a hot blast heater.

The upper surface of the body is forwardly inclined.

The washing chamber and the dry chamber are forwardly inclined.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view depicting an automatic washing device for a golf club according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional partially perspective view depicting the automatic washing device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram depicting a automatic washing device for a golf club.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view depicting an automatic washing device for a golf club according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the bath apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a pet dog, the bath apparatus may be applied any kinds of pets that are raised in a home. In the following description, the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals. Fig. 1 is a perspective view depicting an automatic washing device for a golf club according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional partially perspective view depicting the automatic washing device shown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the automatic washing device according to the present invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, includes a body 20, a washing chamber 30 installed in the body, a money receiving slot 80, a display screen 50, and an advertising board 70.

The body 20 is formed in a hollow box shape, and accommodates diverse components therein. The body 20 is provided with the washing chamber 30 at an upper side and the money receiving slot 80 for receiving coins or notes at a front side thereof. Also, the advertising board 70 is attached to the rear side of the body 20, and protrudes from the upper surface of the body. The automatic washing device for the golf club according to the present invention automatically washes the golf club of a user, if the user inputs a proper charge into the device. Since the device is installed in open places where many peoples come and go, such as a golf course or driving range, the attachment of the advertising board 70 to the proper position of the device 10 may increase the advertising efficiency.

The money receiving slot 80 for receiving coins or notes is installed to the front side of the body 10, and includes a money counter 85 for counting coins or notes.

The body 20 is provided with the washing chamber 30 for washing the golf club. The washing chamber 30 has a cylindrical shape with an opened upper portion for receiving the golf club. An ultrasonic generator 35 is installed in the washing chamber 30.

The ultrasonic generated from the ultrasonic wave generator 35 is an inaudible frequency, and is referred to as sound vibration of strong energy. The so-called ultrasonic cleaning washes an object using the vibration. When the ultrasonic is applied to the cleaning water, high pressure of about 1000 hPa is generated during repeated cavitation imploding countless cavities, thereby releasing the dirty from the object. Also the cavitation causes disturbing, degreasing, and emulsifying functions, thereby promoting a cleaning effect. Furthermore, the ultrasonic cleaning washes the object without leaving scratches on the surface of the object. Therefore, the ultrasonic cleaning is widely used to wash products required for precision cleaning or contactless parts, or is widely used before and after plating.

The automatic washing device 10 of the present invention employs the ultrasonic property. Specifically, the washing chamber 30 is filled with cleaning water such as running water, and the golf head of the golf club is put in the cleaning water, so that the dirt is eliminated from the golf head by the vibration of the ultrasonic.

Preferably, the upper surface of the body 20 is forwardly inclined at an angle of about 25 degrees so that the user easily introduces the golf club into or drawn it out from the washing chamber 30. Preferably, the cylindrical washing chamber 30 installed in the body 20 is forwardly inclined at an angle of about 25 degrees.

The washing chamber 30 is provided on a side wall thereof with a holder 25 for holding the golf club. The holder 25 is made of synthetic resin, as shown in the figures. If the holder 25 is mounted to an upper inner portion of the washing chamber 30, the holder 25 is formed along an inner periphery edge thereof with recessed portions for supporting the golf club. Hence, the user pushes the golf club into the recessed portion with slight force, and draws out the golf club from the recessed portion with slight force after the washing. Also, the washing chamber 30 is provided on a lower portion thereof with a drain valve (not shown) for discharging the cleaning water used to wash the golf club. Preferably, the washing chamber 30 is provided at an outer side thereof with a supply tube (not shown) for supplying the cleaning water. The valves mounted to the drain valve and the supply tube may be controlled by a control unit 60.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view depicting an automatic washing device for a golf club according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the automatic washing device 10 further includes a dry chamber 40, positioned adjacent to the washing chamber 30, for drying the washed golf club. The dry chamber 40 has the same shape as that of the washing chamber, and is provided at a side thereof with a hot blast heater 45 for supplying hot blast. The dry chamber 40 is formed on a side wall thereof with a plurality of vent holes through which the hot blast passes. Also, the dry chamber 40 may be formed on a bottom thereof with a plurality of discharge holes through which the cleaning water freely drops down from the golf club.

Operation of the automatic washing device according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to Fig. 3.

First, the user puts the golf club to be washed into the washing chamber 30, and pushes the golf club into the recessed portion of the holder 25. When the user puts the note or coin through the money receiving slot 80, the money counter 85 counters the note or coin to output the data to the control unit 60. Then, the control unit 60 inputted with the data from the money counter 85 determines whether a constant charge is paid. If given charge is input, the washing chamber is filled with the cleaning water, and the ultrasonic generator 35 is driven. The cleaning water may be introduced before the charge is put in or after the charge has been put in. The ultrasonic generated from the ultrasonic generator 35 vibrates the cleaning water to release the dirt from the golf club. After a constant time is lapsed, the ultrasonic generator 35 is stopped, and the hot blast heater 45 is driven to dry the golf club. In one embodiment, since the washing chamber is formed integral with the dry chamber 40, after the ultrasonic generator 35 is stopped, and then the cleaning water is discharged from the washing chamber 30. And, the hot blast heater 45 is driven. In the alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 4, if the operation of the ultrasonic generator 35 is completed, the display screen 50 guides the user to carry the golf club to the dry chamber. Then, the user carries the washed golf club to the adjacent dry chamber 40. When the golf club is moved to the dry chamber 40, the control unit 60 drives the hot blast heater 45 to supply the hot blast to the dry chamber 40. A desired portion of the washing chamber 30 and/or dry chamber 40 may be provided with a sensor (not shown) to verify the input of the gold club. The signal detected by the sensor is sent to the control unit 60.

When the dry of the gold club accommodated in the dry chamber 40 is completed after the lapse of given time, the control 60 notifies the user of the completion of the dry by displaying the completion mark on the display screen 50 or sounding an alarm signal.

Then, the user draws out the washed and dried golf club, and the device of the present invention is maintained in a standby state. As described above, according to the automatic washing device for the golf club, when the golf club is put in the device, it is automatically washed by the device. Since the washing is performed not by a chemical cleaner which may pollute the environment, it can prevent the pollution of the environment. In particular, the device is installed in a golf course or driving range, so that if a player inputs a proper charge into the device, the device automatically washes the golf club.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An automatic washing device for a golf club comprising: a body 20 formed in a hollow box shape and accommodating diverse components therein; a washing chamber 30 installed to an upper side of the body; a money counter 85 for counting money inputted through a money receiving slot 80 formed at a front side of the body 20; an advertising board 70 attached to a rear side of the body 20 and protruding from an upper surface of the body; an ultrasonic generator 35 installed in the washing chamber 30 for generating ultrasonic; a control unit 60 for controlling the ultrasonic generator 35 in accordance with a signal sent from the money counter 85; and a display screen 50 installed to the body 20 for displaying an operation state.

2. The automatic washing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a dry chamber installed to the upper portion of the body 20 for drying the washed golf club using a hot blast heater 45.

3. The automatic washing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the body 20 is forwardly inclined.

4. The automatic washing device as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein the washing chamber 30 and the dry chamber 40 are forwardly inclined.