BALL CLEANING DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a ball cleaning device that may be used to clean, polish, or resurface sports balls or other suitable surfaces. A ball cleaning device comprises a top housing, a bottom housing, and a conditioning pad. The top and bottom housing can each have a pocket. The top housing can be removably mounted on the bottom housing. The pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing can align to form a cavity. The conditioning pad can be positioned inside the cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments relate to a ball cleaning device generally and methods of use thereof. More particularly, embodiments relate to a handheld, portable ball cleaning device for cleaning, polishing, or resurfacing sports balls and method of use thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From use, lacrosse balls and other sports balls can become worn, scuffed, and dirty, thereby changing the surface properties of the ball. Lacrosse balls, for example, lose their characteristic grippy surface and become “greasy” (i.e. slippery and smooth). This change is undesirable because it makes handling the ball more difficult (e.g. shooting, catching, throwing, etc.). Typical devices for cleaning, polishing, and resurfacing lacrosse balls and the like generally require large equipment which are operated using an electrical drill (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 9,802,290). Even hand-held devices can require the separate purchase of an electrical drill to operate the device. Other conventional devices for washing golf balls can be appreciated from U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,386. Accordingly, there is a clear need for a ball cleaning device that is more economical, user-friendly, and safe to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments relate to a ball cleaning device that may be used to clean, polish, or resurface sports balls or other suitable surfaces. A ball cleaning device comprises a top housing, a bottom housing, and a conditioning pad. The top and bottom housing can each have a pocket. The top housing can be removably mounted on the bottom housing. When the top housing is mounted to the bottom housing, the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing can align to form a cavity. The conditioning pad can be positioned inside the cavity.

In some embodiments, the top housing can have a handled portion and a mounting portion wherein the pocket of the top housing can be positioned on the mounting portion.

In some embodiments, the handled portion of the top housing can be in the shape of an avocado, egg, sphere, or ellipsoid.

In some embodiments, the bottom housing can have a handled portion and a mounting portion wherein the pocket of the bottom housing can be positioned on the mounting portion.

In some embodiments, the handled portion of the bottom housing can be in the shape of an avocado, egg, sphere, or ellipsoid.

In some embodiments, the top housing can be pivotally mounted to the bottom housing.

In some embodiments, each the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing can be hemispherical.

In some embodiments, the top housing can have a notch positioned adjacent to the pocket of the top housing.

In some embodiments, the bottom housing can have a notch positioned adjacent to the pocket of the bottom housing.

In some embodiments, the conditioning pad can be a scouring pad.

In some embodiments, the conditioning pad can be removably attached to the pocket of the top housing.

In some embodiments, the pocket of the top housing can have a surface and the conditioning pad can line at least a portion of the surface.

In some embodiments, the ball cleaning device can further comprise a second conditioning pad wherein the second conditioning pad can be attached to the pocket of the bottom housing.

In some embodiments, the second conditioning pad can be removably attached.

In some embodiments, the conditioning pad can be removably attached to the pocket of the bottom housing.

In some embodiments, the pocket of the bottom housing can have a surface and the conditioning pad can line at least a portion of the surface.

In some embodiments, the conditioning pad can have a border and a tab positioned on the border.

In some embodiments, the conditioning pad can be a strip with the conditioning pad having two longitudinal edges.

In some embodiments, at least one longitudinal edge can be concave.

An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of cleaning a ball using an embodiment of a ball cleaning device. The embodiment of the ball cleaning device can have a top housing, a bottom housing, and a conditioning pad. The top and bottom housing can each have a pocket. The top housing can be removably mounted on the bottom housing. When the top housing is mounted to the bottom housing, the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing can align to form a cavity. The conditioning pad can be positioned inside the cavity. The method can involve positioning a ball in the pocket of the bottom housing or the top housing. The method can involve attaching the top housing to the bottom housing, wherein the ball is contained inside the cavity of the top housing and bottom housing and the ball is in contact with the conditioning pad. The method can involve pivoting the top housing relative to the bottom housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, aspects, features, advantages, and possible applications of the present innovation will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings. Like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 2A is a top view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 2B is a bottom view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 3A is a bottom view of an embodiment of a top housing and conditioning pad.

FIG. 3B is a top view of an embodiment of a bottom housing and conditioning pad.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of an embodiment of a ball cleaning device.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a top housing or bottom housing and conditioning pad. The axis of the sectional view is depicted in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 11 is a top view of an embodiment of a conditioning pad.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of exemplary embodiments that are presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles and features of various aspects of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by this description.

As seen in FIG. 1, a ball cleaning device 100 comprises a top housing 102, a bottom housing 104, and a conditioning pad 108. The top 102 and bottom 104 housing can each have a pocket 106. The top housing 102 can be removably mounted on the bottom housing 104. The shape, size, and location of the pocket 106 of the top housing 102 and that of the pocket 106 of the bottom housing 104 can be such that the pockets 106 align when the top housing 102 is mounted on the bottom housing 104. The alignment of the pockets 106 can form a cavity. The conditioning pad 108 can be positioned inside the cavity. This can include positioning the conditioning pad 108 within any one of the pockets 106, within a volume of space defined by the cavity, etc.

As seen in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 5, the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can each have a portion 110 that is handled by the user as the user implements the device to treat a ball or balls. The handled portions 110 can be any shape (e.g. cone, pyramid, cylinder, prism, sphere, etc.). The top housing 102 can have a handled portion 110 that is identical to or different from the handled portion 110 of the bottom housing 104. In some embodiments, the handled portions 110 can be curved and can be avocado-, egg-, barrel- or ellipsoid-shaped. It is contemplated that the curved, handled portions 110 can be an ergonomic shape designed to allow the ball cleaning device 100 to fit comfortably within a user's hand or hands.

As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can each have a portion 112 for making contact with each other and removably mounting the top housing 102 to the bottom housing 104. The mounting portion 112 of the top housing 102 can be a curved or a flat surface. The mounting portion 112 of the bottom housing 104 can be a curved or flat surface. The mounting portion 112 of the top 102 housing can be identical to or different from the mounting portion 112 of the bottom housing 104. As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, the mounting portions 112 of the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can be complementary such that the two mounting portions 112 can fit snugly together when the top housing 102 is mounted to the bottom housing 104. Mounting can involve placing adjacent to, abutting against, coming in close proximity to, etc. When the top housing 102 is mounted on the bottom housing 104, the edges of mounting portions 112 can be contiguous such that the assembled ball cleaning device 100 forms a uniform shape. The assembled ball cleaning device 100 can be any shape (e.g. cone, pyramid, cylinder, prism, sphere, etc.). In some embodiments, the assembled ball cleaning device 100 can be avocado-, egg-, barrel- or ellipsoid-shaped. The dimensions of the device 100 can be set based on the size, weight, and shape of the ball the device 100 is used to condition. As seen in FIG. 5, with an exemplary intended use of the device 100 being for conditioning a lacrosse ball, the length L₁ of the ball cleaning device 100 can be about 6.5″.

As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can each have a pocket 106. The top housing 102 can have a pocket 106 that is identical to or different from the pocket 106 of the bottom housing 104. The pockets 106 can each be positioned on the mounting portion 112 of the top 102 and bottom 104 housing. It is contemplated that when the top housing 102 is mounted on the bottom housing 104, the edge or edges of each pocket 106 can align such that a cavity is formed within the ball cleaning device 100. The pockets 106 can be any shape and size thus dictating the shape and size of the cavity formed. In some embodiments, both pockets 106 can be hemispherical resulting in a spherical cavity within the assembled ball cleaning device 100. As seen in FIG. 10, with an exemplary intended use being for conditioning a lacrosse ball, the diameter D₁ of a pocket 106 can be about 2.7″. It is contemplated that the pockets 106 can complement the shape of a ball being treated. In some embodiments, a ball can fit snugly within the cavity. Alternatively, a ball can fit loosely within the cavity, such that multiple balls can be placed within a single cavity.

As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the top 102 and/or bottom 104 housing can have at least one notch 114 positioned adjacent to the pocket 106 of the respective housing. In some embodiments where the top 102 and bottom 104 housing each have at least one notch 114, the notches 114 of the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can be complementary such that when the top housing 102 is mounted on the bottom housing 104, the edges of the notches 114 are contiguous. The notch 114 can be any shape, e.g. circle, triangle, square, etc. As will be explained herein, the notch 114 can employed to secure the conditioning pad 108 to the top 102 or bottom 104 housing.

As seen FIGS. 3A and 3B, the top 102 and/or bottom 104 housing can have a conditioning pad 108. The selection of the conditioning pad 108 can depend on which type of surface processing or surface treatment is desired (e.g. cleaning, texturizing, polishing, burnishing, etc.), which type of material is being treated (e.g. synthetic leather, rubber, plastics, etc.), etc. The conditioning pad 108 can be made of any type of material (e.g. sponge, microfiber, pumice, etc.). The conditioning pad 108 can be coated with bristles. In some embodiments, the conditioning pad 108 can be a scouring pad. The composition of the scouring pad 108 can be similar to conventional scouring pads found in the art. The scouring pad 108 can include any type of abrasive material, such as metal (e.g. steel, copper, bronze, etc.) or fibers (e.g. cellulose, nylon, spun polypropylene etc.). The scouring pad 108 can further include other abrasive materials (e.g. aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, resins, etc.) to alter the scouring action of the scouring pad 108.

As noted herein, the ball cleaning device 100 is configured such that the conditioning pad 108 makes contact with the surface of the ball or balls being treated. Making contact can allow the conditioning pad 108 to perform work on the surface of the ball. Performing work can include grinding, abrading, cutting, scraping, scratching, heating (via friction), wearing, wiping, polishing, etc. As will be explained herein, pivoting the top housing 102 relative to the bottom housing 104 or shaking the ball cleaning device 100 causes the conditioning pad 108 to rub against or make contact with the surface of the ball and thus perform work on that surface.

As seen FIG. 10, a conditioning pad 108 can be attached to the surface 118 of the pocket 106. The conditioning pad 108 can line at least a portion of the pocket's surface 118. In some embodiments, the conditioning pad 108 can line the whole surface 118 of the pocket 106. The conditioning pad 108 can be any shape, e.g. circle, triangle, square, etc. It is contemplated that the shape of the conditioning pad 108 can be complementary to the pocket 106 such that the conditioning pad 108 lies flat against the surface 118 of the pocket 106. As seen in FIG. 11, in some embodiments, the shape of the conditioning pad 108 can be a strip with the conditioning pad 108 having two longitudinal edges 122. At least one longitudinal edge 122 can be concave such that the conditioning pad 108 can lie flat against a curved surface 118 of the pocket 106 and line at least a portion of the pocket 106.

The conditioning pad 108 can be attached to the pocket 106 using any suitable means, e.g. friction, hook and loop fasteners, straps, buttons, magnets, adhesives, etc. In some embodiments, the conditioning pad 108 can be removably attached. It is contemplated that the conditioning pad 108 can be disposable and be replaced with a new conditioning pad 108 after becoming worn from use. The conditioning pad 108 can also be washable such that a dirty conditioning pad 108 can be removed from the pocket 106, cleaned, and then refastened. Alternatively, the conditioning pad 108 can be interchangeable where the user choses a conditioning pad 108 based on the desired surface treatment (e.g. cleaning, texturizing, polishing, burnishing, etc.).

As seen in FIG. 11, the conditioning pad 108 can have a border 120 and at least one tab 116 positioned on the border 120. The tab 116 can have any type of shape, e.g. circle, triangle, square, etc. As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the shape of the tab 116 can complement the shape the notch 114 such that the tab 116 can be positioned within the notch 114. With the tab 116 positioned within the notch 114, the mounting portions 112 of the top 102 and bottom 104 housing can fit snugly together with the conditioning pad or pads 108 secured in place. The tab 116 can be further secured to the notch 114 using any suitable means, e.g. friction, hook and loop fasteners, straps, buttons, magnets, adhesives, etc.

An exemplary embodiment relates to a method of cleaning a ball using an embodiment of a ball cleaning device 100. The embodiment of the ball cleaning device 100 can have a top housing 102, a bottom housing 104, and at least one conditioning pad 108. The top 102 and bottom 104 housing can each have a pocket 106. The top housing 102 can be removably mounted on the bottom housing 104. The pocket 106 of the top housing 102 and the pocket 106 of the bottom housing 104 can align to form a cavity. The conditioning pad(s) 108 can be positioned inside the cavity. The method can involve positioning a ball in the pocket 106 of the bottom housing 104 or the top housing 102. Any type of ball can be placed within the pocket 106, e.g. lacrosse balls, golf balls, baseballs, etc. The method can involve attaching the top housing 102 to the bottom housing 104, wherein the ball is contained inside the cavity of the top housing 102 and bottom housing 104 and at least a portion of the ball is in contact with the conditioning pad(s) 108. In some embodiments, the entire surface of the ball can be in contact with the conditioning pad(s) 108. The method can involve pivoting the top housing 102 relative to the bottom housing 104. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 the top housing 102 can be rotated in a clockwise direction while the bottom housing 104 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (or visa-versa). Thus, pivotally mounted as used herein can refer to the ability to rotate one housing relative to the other housing. It is contemplated that the ball can fit snugly within the cavity of the assembled ball cleaning device 100 such that, as the user pivots the top 102 and bottom 104 housing, the pockets 106 of the top 102 and bottom 104 housing remained aligned. Alternatively, the ball can fit loosely within the cavity wherein shaking the ball cleaning device 100 causes the conditioning pad 108 to make contact with the surface of the ball and thus perform work on that surface. In some embodiments, more than one ball can be placed within the pocket 106.

It should be understood that modifications to the embodiments disclosed herein can be made to meet a particular set of design criteria. For instance, the number or configuration of components or parameters may be used to meet a particular objective.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teachings of the disclosure. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Other alternative embodiments may include some or all of the features of the various embodiments disclosed herein. For instance, it is contemplated that a particular feature described, either individually or as part of an embodiment, can be combined with other individually described features or parts of other embodiments. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described herein can therefore be combined to provide further embodiments.

It is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternative embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention, which is to be given the full breadth thereof. Additionally, the disclosure of a range of values is a disclosure of every numerical value within that range, including the end points. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of the device and methods of making and using the same have been discussed and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A ball cleaning device comprising: a top housing, the top housing having a pocket;a bottom housing, the bottom housing having a pocket; anda conditioning pad;wherein the top housing is removably mounted on the bottom housing;wherein, when the top housing is mounted on the bottom housing, the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing align to form a cavity;wherein the conditioning pad is positioned inside the cavity.

2. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the top housing has a handled portion and a mounting portion, wherein the pocket of the top housing is positioned on the mounting portion.

3. The ball cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the handled portion of the top housing is in a shape of an avocado, egg, sphere, or ellipsoid.

4. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the bottom housing has a handled portion and a mounting portion, wherein the pocket of the bottom housing is positioned on the mounting portion.

5. The ball cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the handled portion of the bottom housing is in a shape of an avocado, egg, sphere, or ellipsoid.

6. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the top housing is pivotally mounted to the bottom housing.

7. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein each of the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing is hemispherical.

8. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the top housing has a notch positioned adjacent to the pocket of the top housing.

9. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the bottom housing has a notch positioned adjacent to the pocket of the bottom housing.

10. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the conditioning pad is a scouring pad.

11. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the pocket of the top housing has a surface and the conditioning pad lines at least a portion of the surface.

12. The ball cleaning device of claim 11, wherein the conditioning pad is removably attached to the pocket of the top housing.

13. The ball cleaning device of claim 11, further comprising a second conditioning pad, the second conditioning pad attached to the pocket of the bottom housing.

14. The ball cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the second conditioning pad is removably attached.

15. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the pocket of the bottom housing has a surface and the conditioning pad lines at least a portion of the surface.

16. The ball cleaning device of claim 15, wherein the conditioning pad is removably attached to the pocket of the bottom housing.

17. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the conditioning pad has a border and a tab positioned on the border.

18. The ball cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the conditioning pad is a strip, the conditioning pad having two longitudinal edges.

19. The ball cleaning device of claim 18, wherein at least one longitudinal edge is concave.

20. A method of cleaning a ball with a ball cleaning device comprising: a top housing, the top housing having a pocket; a bottom housing, the bottom housing having a pocket; and a conditioning pad; wherein the top housing is removably mounted to the bottom housing; wherein, when the top housing is mounted to the bottom housing, the pocket of the top housing and the pocket of the bottom housing align to form a cavity; wherein the conditioning pad is positioned inside the cavity, the method comprising: positioning a ball in the pocket of the bottom housing or the top housing;attaching the top housing to the bottom housing, wherein the ball is contained inside the cavity of the top housing and bottom housing, wherein the ball is in contact with the conditioning pad; andpivoting the top housing relative to the bottom housing.