Golf club cover

Abstract

A golf club cover having a cover element with a configuration corresponding generally to the configuration of the head of the golf club. The cover element contains an entrance aperture of sufficient size to accept the golf head. A golf club head engaging member is positioned within the cover element. Preferably, the golfclub head engaging member is compressible and of sufficient size to accommodate the club head and it has a shape retaining memory. A plurality of flexible flaps define the entrance aperture. Upon insertion of the golf club head, these flaps can remain in contact with the club head or return to their position prior to insertion of the golf club head.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application relates to Provisional Application Serial No. 60/273,698 filed Mar. 6, 2001 by David S. Noyes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the sport of golf and, more particularly to covers for golf clubs.

[0003] It is desirable to protect at least the head of the golf club and, at times a portion of the golf club shaft during a round of golf. The same is true during transportation to and from the golf course as well as during storage of the golf clubs in a golf bag. The art reflects a variety of golf club covers and is well cataloged in Int. Class 206/315.2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A golf club cover has a cover element with a configuration corresponding generally to the configuration of the head of a golf club. The cover element contains an entrance aperture of sufficient size to accept the golf club head. A golf club head engaging member is positioned within the cover element. Preferably, the golfclub head engaging member is compressible and of sufficient size to accommodate the club head and has a shape retaining memory. A plurality of flexible flaps define the entrance aperture. Upon insertion of the golf club head, these flaps can remain in contact with the club head or return to their position prior to insertion of the golf club head. Additional cover protection for the club shaft can be provided as an extention to the cover itself.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in section of the cover element with a compressible head engaging member;

[0006] FIG. 2. is the diagrammatic view of FIG. 1 showing a golf club head inserted there with compression of the head engaging member;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the club cover including an absorbent material positioned therein for engagement with a portion of the golf club shaft;

[0008] FIG. 4 is the diagrammatic view of FIG. 3 illustrating a golf club shaft positioned therein;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view in partial section of the cover showing the flexible flaps in position prior to the insertion of the club head;

[0010] FIG. 6 is the view of FIG. 5 showing the club head after insertion with the flexible flaps remaining in an open, but engaged position with respect to the club head;

[0011] FIG. 7 is the view of FIG. 5 showing the club head after insertion with the flexible flaps remaining in a closed position with respect to the club head;

[0012] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic top view of the golf club cover with a plurality of flexible flaps in the club head and neck/club shaft areas;

[0013] FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5 depicting and alternative configuration for the plurality of flexible flaps;

[0014] FIGS. 10 through 13 illustrate various configurations for the flexible flaps

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a golf club cover indicated generally by the referrence numeral 10 The cover 10 comprises a cover element 12 having an entrance aperture 14 and a club head engaging member 16. Preferably, the club head engaging member 16 is formed from a compressible synthetic foam 18 although it can be molded to accommodate club head 20. In the foam version it is preferable to have the foam have a shape retaining memory. The foam can be open or closed cell with the open cell foam providing a degree of absorbency for liquids that might be on the club head.

[0016] It should be understood that club head 20 is illustrative of and represents many different types of golf club heads such as, drivers, putters, fairway woods, irons and hybrids.

[0017] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the use of a absorbent material 22 surrounding club shaft 24.

[0018] FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 depict the golf club cover with a plurality of flexible flaps 26 that define another version of the entrance aperture 14. The flaps 26 bend inwardly as viewed in FIG. 6 upon insertion of the golf club head. The flaps can remain in contact with the club head or return to their original position before club insertion as shown in FIG. 7. It will be appreciated that the flaps 26 can be considered as a bi-directional “valve” in configuration shown in FIG. 7.

[0019] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate different geometrical forms for the flaps 26 in conjunction with an extension member 28 that covers a portion of the club shaft 24 (FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7). The flaps 26 are separated from each other by a substantially linear opening 30 as best seen in FIGS. 8 through 13. The substantially linear opening can be substantially straight (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10-12) or substantially arcuate (FIG. 13)

Claims

1. a cover for a golf club having a head and a shaft attached thereto, said cover comprising:

a cover element having a configuration corresponding generally to the configuration of the golf club head, said cover element having an entrance aperture of sufficient size to accept the golf club head; and,

a golf club head engaging member positioned within said cover element.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein said golf club head engaging member has sufficient compressibility to accommodate the head of the golf club.

3. The cover of claim 1 wherein said golf club head engaging member is absorbent.

4. The cover of claim 1 wherein said compressible golf club head engaging member is a synthetic foam.

5. The cover of claim 4 wherein said synthetic foam has a shape retaining memory.

6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover element has the configuration of a driver golf club head.

7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover element has the configuration of a putter golf club head.

8. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover element has the configuration of a hybrid golf club head.

9. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover element has the configuration of a fairway wood golf club head.

10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover element has the configuration of an iron golf club head.

11. The cover of claim 1 wherein said entrance aperture is defined by a plurality of flexible flaps each separated from another flap by a substantially linear opening.

12. The cover of claim 11 wherein said linear opening is substantially straight.

13. The cover of claim 11 wherein said linear opening is substantially arcuate.

14. The cover of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of flaps remains in contact with the head of the golf club when the golf club head is inserted in the cover.

15. The cover of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of flaps returns to its pre golf club insertion entrance aperture defining configuration after insertion of the golf club head in said golf club cover.

16. The cover of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of flaps remains in contact with the shaft of the golf club when the golf club head is inserted in the cover.

17. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a golf club shaft extension member having an absorbent material positioned therein.

18. The cover of claim 1 further comprising a golf club shaft extension member having a plurality of flexible flaps each separated from another flap by a substantially linear opening.

19. A cover for a golf club having a head and a shaft attached thereto, said cover comprising:

a cover element having a configuration corresponding generally to the configuration of the golf club head and a portion of the shaft, said cover element having an entrance aperture of sufficient size to accept the golf club head the shaft portion; and,

a golf club shaft portion engaging member positioned within said cover element.

20. The cover of claim 19 wherein said golf club shaft portion engaging member has sufficient compressibility to accommodate the shaft portion of the golf club.

21. The cover of claim 19 wherein said golf club shaft portion engaging member is absorbent.

22. The cover of claim 19 wherein said compressible golf club shaft portion engaging member is a synthetic foam.

23. The cover of claim 22 wherein said synthetic foam has a shape retaining memory.

24. The cover of claim 19 wherein said entrance aperture is defined by a plurality of flexible flaps each separated from another flap by a substantially linear opening.

25. The cover of claim 19 wherein said linear opening is substantially straight.

26. The cover of claim 19 wherein said linear opening is substantially arcuate.

27. The cover of claim 19 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of flaps remains in contact with the shaft portion of the golf club when the golf club shaft portion is inserted in the cover.

28. The cover of claim 19 wherein at least a portion of said plurality of flaps returns to its pre golf club insertion entrance aperture defining configuration after insertion of the golf club shaft portion in said golf club cover.