Golf Club Head Cover for Irons and Wedges

Abstract

A head cover that provides protection for golf club irons and wedges and includes a positive locking mechanism. Multi-piece design of the present invention emulates the contours of the face, back, sole, crown, toe, and heel of irons and wedges as well as providing a tab comprised of positive and negative magnetic clasps for securely locking the head cover to the golf club. Back and face panels extend to provide protection for the hosel and ferrule. The wear pad located at the joining point of the base, back, and face panel gives strength to the location where they are attached. An integral anti-slip feature aids head cover security. The invention achieves a positive lock using a mechanism comprised of a tab with a magnetic clasp that prevents the head cover from falling off. A multi-layer binding design with topstitching is implemented.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need for golf club hosel and ferrule protection design, incorporating a positive locking mechanism, to aid in the protection and security, and contoured to the loft and lie of irons and wedges that is aesthetically appealing with easily identifiable enumeration. Golf club head covers are primarily designed for fairway woods: driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, etc. There are a scarce number of head covers for irons and wedges and even fewer head covers designed to match the contoured shape of irons and wedges. A head cover with multi piece construction can be easily manufactured and used without complicated locking mechanism and provide for a secure form fit.

None of the existing head covers include protection for the hosel and ferrule. These designs: (1) do not include a magnetic clasp positive locking mechanism; (2) do not match the loft and lie of irons and wedges; (3) do not provide an anti-slip mechanism; and (4) do not follow the contours of the face, the back, the sole, the toe, the heel and the crown of irons and wedges.

Existing attachment mechanisms and locking means are ineffective, heavy, and difficult to use or fail to improve the overall design and functionality of the head cover. Functionality problems result from the incorporation of zippers, snaps, hook-and-loop fasteners and interlocking wedges made of plastic and rubber. The use of these locking mechanisms prevents the head cover from matching the loft and lie of irons and wedges.

Prior designs only provide protection for the face and back of irons and wedges while leaving the hosel and ferrule unprotected. 66716A is a “single sheet of fabric-like material.” The preferred embodiment of USD446270S1 (Expired Aug. 7, 2015) does not cover the hosel and ferrule and there is no magnetic positive locking mechanism. One embodiment of the invention uses “hook & loop” closure but still does not cover hosel and ferrule. The preferred embodiment of USRE35596E (Expired Dec. 28, 2013), does not cover hosel & ferrule, the device merely covers the head of the club. The preferred embodiment U.S. Pat. No. 3,478,799A (Expired Nov. 18, 1986) is merely a plastic cover for the head of an iron, but does not offer protection for the hosel and ferrule.

Prior designs that attempt to match the loft and lie of irons and wedges are prone to fall off or slip off during normal use and storage. Incorporating a metallic tab and magnetic clasp like the U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,891A Magnetic Lock Closure, ensure that the cover stays in place. U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,222A cannot provide a secure closure because it uses a hook and loop closure and is made to fit vastly different shaped club heads, in putters and irons. The use of hook-and-loop fabric fasteners attempts to match the loft and lie of each club but isn't fixed during operation.

Prior designs are specifically made for either drivers or putters. The preferred embodiments of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,898,222A, 3,117,609A, US20050016648A1 (Application) are all designed to match the shape, loft and lie of drivers and fairway woods. That means those devices are neither intended for nor suitable to be used with irons. The preferred embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 3,664,399A Club head cover/case for drivers/woods that interacts with a tube in a golf bag to keep the clubs at the same height level within the bag. The preferred embodiment of US20090242089A1 (Expires Apr. 13, 2028), is a putter cover “with snap closure” similar to the positive locking mechanism, however the preferred embodiment relies on the “cover cavity” to secure the club head rather than the “snap closure.”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the invention combines protection for the face, back, hosel and ferrule of irons and wedges with a contour matching design and positive locking mechanism. The multi piece design of the preferred embodiment of the invention emulates the contours of the face, back, sole, crown, toe and heel of irons and wedges and includes a magnetic clasp for securely locking the head cover to the golf club.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is composed of a back panel, face panel, and base. The dimensions and proportions of the panels create a contoured assembly that closely resembles the irons and wedges it protects. Back and face panels extend to provide protection for the hosel and ferrule of irons and wedges. An alternate embodiment of the invention combines the back and face panels into one piece, simplifying the manufacture and assembly of the club head cover. A second alternate embodiment of the invention allows its use for left and right handed golf club irons and wedges.

Security and protection of the head cover is achieved through the positive locking mechanism and anti-slip feature of the invention. The positive locking mechanism is composed of a tab, with a magnetic clasp. A positive lock is achieved because the tab is attached to the back panel when wrapped around and engaged with the part of the clasp attached to the face panel. This positive lock prevents the invention from falling off of the iron or wedge golf club.

The security and protection that the anti-slip feature provides is an integral part of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Where the back panel, face panel, base panel and binding meet to cover the crown of an iron or wedge the additional layers of construction form a tight seal to the golf club reducing any slippage between the invention and golf club during use and storage.

Durability of the invention is achieved through a wear pad located at the rear joining edges of the base panel, back panel, and face panel. The wear pad created strengthens the location where the three panels are attached to each other. To protect the body of the invention during the insertion and withdrawal of the iron or wedge, a topstitched multi-layer binding design is added. The binding gives an added layer of protection to the iron or wedge above its hosel and ferrule.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is a positive locking, secure, and protective head cover for irons and wedges that follows the loft and lie angles of a golf club while protecting the face, back, hosel and ferrule of irons and wedges. The features of the preferred embodiment of the invention prevent it from falling off of the golf club head resulting in a secure and protective head cover for irons and wedges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a back panel (right side) view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club wedge inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place. The view shows the golf club enumeration.

FIG. 2 is a face panel (left side) view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club wedge inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place.

FIG. 3 is a face panel (left side) view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with the positive locking mechanism unlatched.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club wedge inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club wedge inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place. The view shows the gusset and separate back and face panels.

FIG. 6 is a face panel (left side) view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club iron inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place. The view shows the hosel and ferrule protection.

FIG. 7 is a back panel (right side) view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club iron inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place. The view shows the golf club enumeration.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the invention illustrating the alternate method of construction a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club iron inserted inside. The view shows the gusset, combined back and face panel, and the positive locking mechanism latched.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club iron inserted inside, the anti-slip feature, and the positive locking mechanism in place.

FIG. 10 is a partial flattened interior view of the invention illustrating a golf club head cover for irons and wedges with a golf club wedge inserted inside and the positive locking mechanism in place.

FIG. 11 is a partial flattened exterior view of the invention illustrating the hosel and ferrule protection features of the golf club head cover for irons and wedges. The view shows the tab, gusset, and wear pad.

FIG. 12 is a partial flattened interior view of the invention illustrating the anti-slip feature of the golf club head cover for irons and wedges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 illustrated is the (back view) right side view of a golf club head cover 9 for a golf club wedge 19 with the following features: hosel and ferrule protector 12, anti-slip component 14, monogrammed enumeration 13, binding 18, back panel 10, and base panel 21. FIG. 1 also indicates the location of the positive locking device 15, 16, 17 and the gusset 11 of the golf club head cover.

Referring to FIG. 2 illustrated is the (face view) left side view of the golf club head cover 9 shows the face panel 20, the binding 18 and positive locking mechanism 15, 16, 17 in the latched position. FIG. 2 illustrates how the golf club head cover matches the lie of the golf club wedge 19 inserted inside.

Referring to FIG. 3 illustrated is the (face view) left side view of a golf club head cover for irons and wedges without the golf club inserted and in the unlatched position with the following features shown in detail: the face panel 20, the positive locking mechanism 15, 16, 17 that includes a tab 15 with the male part of the magnetic clasp 16 mounted. The female part of the magnetic clasp 17 is shown as it is attached to the face panel of the golf club head cover. FIG. 3 shows how the base panel 21 with gusset 11 follows the contour of the face panel to the anti-slip component 14 and forms the third part of the three-piece design as the contour of a golf club iron and wedge. The binding 18 is also shown as a continuous piece that circumscribes the opening of the golf club head cover.

Referring to FIG. 4 illustrated is the (top view) front view of the golf club head cover 9 for irons and wedges with the golf club wedge 19 inserted and in the latched position showing in detail how the golf club head cover design emulates the loft of a golf club iron and wedge, the positive locking mechanism comprised of 15, 16, 17 is shown wrapped around the binding 18 and latched in place to the face panel 20. FIG. 4 illustrates how the back panel 10 also matches the loft of the golf club iron and wedge in addition to the base panel 21.

Referring to FIG. 5 illustrated is the (heel view) rear view of the golf club head cover 9 for irons and wedges with the golf club wedge 19 inserted and in the latched position showing in detail how the face panel 20, back panel 10, and base panel 21 form the hosel protection 12 of the golf club head cover 9 above the gusset 11. FIG. 5 illustrates how the golf club enumeration 13 and binding 18 will appear when viewed from the rear. The latched position of the magnetic clasp comprised of 15, 16, and 17 is shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6 illustrated is the (face view) left side view of a golf club head cover 29 for irons and wedges with the golf club iron 23 inserted and the positive locking mechanism comprised of 15, 16, 17 in the latched position with the following features shown in detail: the face panel 20, the positive locking mechanism 15, 16, 17 that includes a tab 15 with the male part of the magnetic clasp 16 mounted. FIG. 6 shows how the binding 18 with face panel 20 follows the contour of the golf clubface to the anti-slip component 14 and forms the second part of the two-piece design as the contour of a golf club iron and wedge.

Referring to FIG. 7 illustrated is the (back view) right side view of a golf club head cover 29 for a golf club iron 23 with the following features: hosel and ferrule protector 12, anti-slip component 14, enumeration 13, binding 18, back panel 10, and base panel 21. FIG. 7 also indicates the location of the positive locking device 15, 16, 17 and the gusset 11 of the golf club head cover base panel 21.

Referring to FIG. 8 illustrated is the (spine view) bottom view of the golf club head cover 29 for irons and wedges with the golf club iron 23 inserted and the head cover in the latched position showing in detail how the face panel 20, back panel 10, and base panel 21 conform to the shape of the sole of the golf club. The hosel protection 12 of the golf club head cover 29 above the gusset 11 is formed by combining face 20 and back 10 panels of the two piece alternate construction method shown. FIG. 8 illustrates how the golf club enumeration 13 and binding 18 will appear when viewed from the bottom. The latched position of the magnetic clasp comprised of 15, 16, and 17 is shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9 illustrated is the top view of a golf club head cover for irons and wedges 29 with the golf club iron 23 inserted and in the latched position with the following features shown in detail: the face panel 20, the positive locking mechanism 15, 16, 17. FIG. 9 shows how the binding 18 follows the contour of the face panel 20 to the anti-slip component 14 of the two-piece design golf club head cover 29. The binding 18 is shown as a continuous piece that circumscribes the opening of the golf club head cover.

Referring to FIG. 10 illustrated is a partial view of the flattened golf club head cover inside hosel and ferrule protector for irons and wedges. FIG. 10 shows how the gusset 11, wear pad 22, and tab 15 are attached to the interior of the hosel and ferrule protector and how the binding 18 follows its exterior edge. FIG. 10 shows the male part of the magnetic clasp 16 attached to the tab 15.

Referring to FIG. 11 illustrated is a partial view of the flattened outside of the golf club head cover hosel and ferrule protector 12 for irons and wedges. FIG. 11 shows the exterior of the gusset 11, face panel 20, back panel 10, and tab 15 with attached magnetic clasps 16 and 17, as well as how the binding 18 follows the exterior edge.

Referring to FIG. 12 illustrated is a partial flattened internal view of the golf club head cover components that make up the anti-slip mechanism 14 for irons and wedges. FIG. 12 shows how the back panel 10 and face panel 20 and base panel 21 and binding 18 meet and form the anti-slip mechanism 14. The enumeration 13 for the golf club head cover can be seen from the inside of the back panel 10.

Claims

1. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system comprising:

a. A multiple panel cover body formed of flexible, non-rigid material, the cover body defining an inner compartment to house the head of an iron or wedge golf club and defining an opening of sufficient size for the head of the iron or wedge golf club to be positioned into and removed from the inner compartment, and a positive locking magnetic mechanism positioned about the opening to secure the iron or wedge golf club within the head cover.

2. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. The face panel is composed of flexible, non-rigid material that matches the loft and lie angles of the iron and wedge clubface.

3. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. The rear panel is composed of flexible, non-rigid material that matches the loft and lie angles of the iron and wedge club.

4. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. The base panel composed of flexible, non-rigid material connects the face and real panels through a plurality of intermediate support thread.

5. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. A positive locking magnetic mechanism is composed of a metallic tab and clasp.

6. An iron and wedge golf club head covering system as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. The magnetic fastener includes a first magnet disposed in the flap and a second magnet disposed in the fastener region such that the first and second magnets engage one another to at least partially shut the opening.