Golf club cover

Abstract

The present invention is directed at a humorous club head cover. The club head cover is designed to resemble the rear end of an animal. Therefore, when a golfer places the club head cover on a golf club stored in a golf bag, the animal appears to be jumping into the golf bag with the animal's rear quarters in full view.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf club cover that protects a golf club from damage when not in use. This invention particularly relates to a golf club cover that is designed to mimic the rear end of an animal so as to be entertaining to the golfer and others.

BACKGROUND

Golfers carry a set of golf clubs that comprises a collection of woods, irons, a putter, and often a pitching wedge or a sand wedge. All of these clubs are usually carried in a golf bag. Unfortunately, the clubs can be damaged because they rub against one another in the bag as the golfer moves from hole to hole on the course. Additionally, the golf clubs may become dusty when they are stored.

To prevent this type of damage, club head covers are placed over the club heads when the clubs are not in use. A typical club head cover resembles a sock and is simply slid over the club head portion of the golf club. Another known club head cover utilizes two plastic pieces that are connected together with a hinge that enables the cover to securely fit around a club head.

While known club head covers protect the clubs from damage, they have numerous drawbacks. -For example,-some club head covers do not fit snugly around the club. They tend to flop around as the golfer carries his bag, which can lead to the covers falling off the club. Additionally, known club head covers come in several different sizes which limits their usability with several different golf clubs. Another problem with known club head covers is their overall bland design. Most covers are nothing more than an unadorned piece of fabric. The plastic covers are not any more attractive, as they too are unadorned plastic shells that surround each club head.

With the advent of Tiger Woods as the preeminent golfer, at least one club head cover has been developed that mimics the eponymous tiger, which adds some humor to the club head cover market (not to mention further branding for Mr. Woods). These club head covers feature fabric designed to mimic the anterior portion of an animal's body, with the head of the animal creating an illusion of an animal peaking over the edge of the golf bag. While aesthetically pleasing to some, these club head covers have become well known and add little excitement to the game of golf. What is really needed is a club head cover that cracks the traditional mold for golf club accessories.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new club head cover that fits securely around a club head and that can accommodate club heads of various sizes. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a club head cover that that does not flop around once it is slid over the club head. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a club head cover that is humorous and decorative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a club head cover that is designed to mimic the posterior end of an animal. Specifically, the club head cover includes structural features peculiar to a given species to mimic the posterior end of an animal, including where appropriate, buttocks, legs, or a tail, constructed from material that resembles fur or skin. When placed over a club head on a golf club that is in a golf bag, the club head cover gives the illusion of the animal jumping or burrowing into the golf bag with its rear end in the air. The present invention also contemplates that any type of animal can be used, including mammals, fish, insects, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a club head cover;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a club head cover placed on a golf club;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a club head cover taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of a club head cover taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a club head cover that is structured to resemble the posterior end of an animal. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the club head cover comprises a club head portion 10 connected to a shaft portion 12 to protect a golf club 14 from damage. Club head portion 10 is made from fabric in one embodiment and covers a club head 18. Shaft portion 12 is constructed from a piece of stretchable fabric in one embodiment and is attached to club head portion 10 to cover a shaft 16. Club head portion 10 can be made large enough to cover club heads of various sizes for all known golf clubs. Other embodiments enable shaft portion 12 to be constructed from any type of fabric or even a hard material such as plastic if desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, club head portion 10 is constructed from a material 19 to enable it to resemble the posterior portion (i.e. rear end) of the animal. To this end, one embodiment of the club head portion 10 further comprises buttocks 17, legs 20 and a tail 22 to mimic a horse as shown. But any type of animal, including a human or other mammal, fish, or insect etc., can be depicted by club head portion 10 and fall within the scope of the invention. Depending on the species, legs 20 should be eliminated and another part substituted therefore if the particular animal sought to be mimicked does not have legs. For example, a fin is used instead of legs if the animal is a fish and a stinger is used when the animal is a bee. If appropriate, (such as in the case of a fish), club head portion 10 can comprise the entire animal, including the head as long as the posterior portion is sticking up out of a golf bag during use.

Animals that can be mimicked include (but are in no way limited to): a frog, cat, cow, baboon, cougar, duck, rabbit, pig, alligator, penguin, turkey, dog, zebra, rat, possum, deer, beaver, sheep, kangaroo, lion, bee, skunk, jaguar, bird, turtle, camel, squirrel, panda, tiger, ostrich, raccoon, goldfish, flamingo, donkey, bear, lady bug, chicken, giraffe, macaw, scorpion, polar bear, crab, black panther, bison, and a rattlesnake.

Club head portion 10 is shaped and constructed to resemble any of these animals, in a manner similar to a stuffed animal. Along these lines, material 19 either already resembles an animal or is adorned with various other structural elements to do so. The shape and appearance of material 19 will vary depending on which type of animal is being depicted. Therefore, orange fabric with black stripes is used for material 19 to represent a Bengal tiger. A club head cover depicting a Bengal tiger also has a tail formed directly from material 19. Alternatively, black and white spotted fabric is used to depict a cow. Examples of acceptable material to function as material 19 include plush, fabric, fur, suede, or vinyl. But any type of material can be used as long as it enables club head portion 10 to resemble an animal. Examples of other acceptable materials include hard materials such as plastics or metals. Specifically, if the animal sought to be represented is a bug or other insect, using plastic as material 19 is appropriate because insects typically have a hard exoskeleton that is represented well by plastic or another hard material.

For certain animals, other structural element(s) are incorporated within material 19 or attached to it. For example, a cover depicting a cow likely comprises a separate structural element that represents an udder attached to the belly portion of the cow. A bird has feathers and a scorpion has claws, while a horse has a tail 22 as shown. In the end, any type of appendage can be applied to club head portion 10 to enable it to resemble the posterior portion of an animal.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-3, the interior of club head portion 10 will be discussed. A liner 24 is sewn to the material 19 or attached to it by other methods including adhesives. In one embodiment, padding 26 is placed in one or more pockets that are formed between liner 24 and material 19 to create the external shape. For example, a cow's udder is made by constructing material 19 in a first shape and the liner 24 in a second shape, and filling the interstitial spaces created therebetween with padding. Additionally, a band 28 is concentric with and is attached to liner 24. Band 28 is generally constructed from a stretchable material such as elastic and causes liner 24 to fit snugly against club head 18. Preferably the band 28 is positioned on the liner such that, when the club is inserted in the cover, the band rests below the club head and contracts to hold the liner snug around the shaft.

To ensure that appendages maintain a life-like appearance, a wire 30 may be inserted within each appendage as shown in FIG. 4. Wire 30 enables legs 20 to be erect to simulate how animal legs appear in real life. In one embodiment, wire 30 is constructed from a bendable material such as metal to allow the golfer to bend each leg 20 to a desired position and remain in that position until bent to another one. If appropriate, another wire 30 may be inserted into the tail to be used to enable tail 22 to be bent and retain its shape. Alternatively, wire 30 can be inserted within wings to give them rigidity if the animal represented is a bird. As shown, wire 30 has a circular cross-section, but any shape can be utilized for wire 30 and fall within the scope of the present invention, including flat or rectangular wires.

In one embodiment, wire 30 is coated so that it does not rust or protrude through material 19. Any type of plastics, rubbers or similar materials can be used to coat wire 30. One acceptable material is polyvinyl chloride or PVC. In one embodiment, wire 30 disposed within legs 20 and tail 22 is directly surrounded by padding 26. But, in other embodiments, liner 24 could be extended into legs 20 and tail 22 to contact wire 30.

In certain embodiments, wire 30 can be completely eliminated so that legs 20 and tail 22 are limp. Or, other types of devices can be used besides wire 30 to make legs 20 and tail 22 more rigid. Some examples include constructing appendages from plastic, metal, or rubber rods, tubes or coils.

As we reach the end of this description, it is apparent that the club head cover of the present invention is an effective and humorous device to protect golf club 14 from damage. Besides protecting club 14 from damage, the club head cover(s) of the present invention also enable a golfer to easily identify which club 14 is covered by a particular club head cover. Specifically, a user can “assign” a particular animal to a club and easily remember which club 14 is beneath the myriad of club head covers in his golf bag. For example, a golfer might decide to only use a club head cover that resembles a horse for his 3-wood and another club head cover that resembles a cow for his driver. This enables the golfer to easily select the club he needs even if all the clubs are covered in his golf bag.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A club head cover comprising a club head portion that has a shape of the posterior end of an animal.

2. The club head cover according to claim 1 further comprising a shaft portion attached to the club head portion.

3. The club head cover according to claim 1 further comprising a liner that is attached to the club head portion and contacts the club head.

4. The club head cover according to claim 3 wherein the club head portion further comprises material, the material having a first shape and the liner having a second shape, and the liner placed within the material to create one or more interstitial spaces between the material and the liner to create the shape of the posterior end of the animal.

5. The club head cover according to claim 3 further comprising an elastic band that is concentric with and is attached to the liner.

6. The club head cover according to claim 1 further comprising at least one appendage attached to the club head portion.

7. The club head cover according to claim 6 wherein the appendage is supported by a bendable wire.

8. A club head cover comprising:

a) a shaft portion;

b) a club head portion attached to the shaft portion comprising material that defines two legs and a tail to enable the club head portion to have the shape of the posterior end of an animal; and

c) wire placed within each leg and the tail to enable the legs and tail to be bent to a desired position and retain that position.

9. The club head cover according to claim 8 further comprising a liner that is attached to the material and contacts the club head portion.

10. The club head cover according to claim 9 further comprising an elastic band that is concentric with the liner.

11. The club head cover according to claim 8 further comprising an additional structural element attached to the material that mimics an anatomical feature of the animal that the club head portion resembles.

12. The club head cover according to claim 11 wherein the additional structural element is hair.

13. The club head cover according to claim 11 wherein the additional structural element is an udder.

14. The club head cover according to claim 8 wherein the animal is a mammal.

15. The club head cover according to claim 8 wherein the animal is a bird.

16. The club head cover according to claim 8 wherein the animal is an insect.

17. A club head cover comprising:

a) a shaft portion capable of covering a portion of the shaft of a golf club;

b) a club head portion attached to the shaft portion that is capable of covering a club head of a golf club and comprises material that defines two legs and a tail to enable the club head portion to resemble the posterior end of an animal;

c) a liner attached to the shaft portion that is covered by the material and directly contacts a club head;

d) an elastic band attached to the liner;

e) padding placed between the liner and the material; and

f) bendable wire placed within each leg and the tail to enable the legs and tail to be bent to a desired shape and retain that shape.

18. The club head cover according to claim 17 wherein the bendable wire is covered with a plastic coating.

19. The club head cover according to claim 17 wherein the material resembles fur.

20. The club head cover according to claim 17 wherein the material resembles skin.