Blade scraper and shoe

Abstract

The present invention provides a golf shoe that incorporates a blade scraper that may be used to scrape and clean debris from the blade of a golf club. The present invention provides a blade scraper that is a permanent part of a golf shoe or may be removeably attached to an off-the-shelf golf shoe. With minimal effort, and without having to bend over or reach for a cleaning cloth, a golfer may swipe the blade of a club across the blade scraper to clean off debris. If a golfer needs a divot tool and/or ball marker during the course of play, the golfer need only reach to the shoe rather than hunt through a golf bag for such accessories.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for cleaning a golf club, comprising: 
 a base having an aperture; and    an open slot extending from the aperture to an edge of the base.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a closed slot in the base.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an alignment channel in the base.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a divot tool.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the divot tool comprises: 
 a U-shaped end at one end of the divot tool;    a recess at another end of the divot tool; and    a stud between the U-shaped end and the recess.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a ball marker that includes a stem.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the stem passes through the stud.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one edge of the base is tapered.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for cleaning a golf club, comprising: 
 a golf shoe;    a base attached to the golf shoe; and    an open slot extending to an edge of the base.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a closed slot.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises an alignment channel.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base is permanently attached to the golf shoe.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the base is permanently attached to an upper of the golf shoe.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base is removeably attached to the golf shoe.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the base is removeably attached to an upper of the golf shoe.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for cleaning a golf club, comprising: 
 a golf shoe;    a base attached to an upper of the golf shoe;    the base includes: 
 an aperture;  
 an open slot extending from the aperture to an edge of the base; and  
 an alignment channel.  
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a closed slot in the base.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a divot tool.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the divot tool includes a stud for insertion into the closed slot in the base.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a ball marker.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein one edge of the base is tapered.  
     
     
         22 . A golf shoe, comprising: 
 an upper;    a base attached to the upper;    the base includes: 
 an aperture;  
 an open slot extending from the aperture to an edge of the base;  
 a closed slot;  
 an alignment channel;  
   a divot tool removeably attached to the base; and    a ball marker removeably attached to the base.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a shoelace that passes through the open slot and into the aperture.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the divot tool includes a stud.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the ball marker includes a stem that passes through the stud.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein one edge of the base is tapered.  
     
     
         27 . A method for cleaning a golf club, comprising: 
 moving a blade of a golf club relative to a blade scraper; and    removing debris from the blade of the golf club;    wherein the blade scraper comprises: 
 a base having: 
 an aperture;  
 an open slot extending from the aperture to an edge of the base;  
 a closed slot; and  
 an alignment channel.  
 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the base is permanently attached to an upper of the golf shoe.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the base is removeably attached to an upper of the golf shoe.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein a shoelace passes through the open slot and into the aperture.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of moving comprises the blade being in a fixed position.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of moving comprises the scraper being in a fixed position.