GOLF CLUB COVER WITH REMOVABLY ATTACHED MULTI-TOOL

Abstract

A golf club assembly includes a golf club cover, a multi-tool, and means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover. The multi-tool can include a golf tool accessory specially-suited for use by a golfer on a golf course, such as a divot repair tool and a ball marker.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/228,473, filed Jul. 24, 2009, and entitled “Golf Club Cover With Golf Tool Accessory,” which is incorporated in its entirety herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates generally to golf equipment and, more particularly to a golf club assembly including a golf club cover with a removably attachable multi-tool.

BACKGROUND

The sport of golf requires accuracy and precision. Thus, many golfers protect their golf clubs with golf club covers or socks to protect from damage to the head of the golf club while it is not in use. Golf club covers can be used with all types of golf clubs including woods, irons, and putters. One example of such a golf club cover, specifically for a putter or iron, is U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,222 to Gaffney.

The sport of golf also includes some specially-designed tools. For example, many golfers carry a divot repair tool which is generally used to repair a divot made by a golf ball on a putting green. Golfers often also carry a golf ball marker which golfers use to mark their ball on the putting green. These and numerous other tools are used by golfers while on the golf course.

Multi-tools (also referred to as multi-function pocket knives and marketed as “Swiss Army” knives) often combine multiple tools into a single device. For example a multi-tool may combine any number of tools, including a knife, scissors, a toothpick, tweezers, a bottle opener, a can opener, a ruler, a corkscrew, a screwdriver, a flashlight, a saw, a spoon, a fork, and many others. Multi-tools specifically designed for golfers often include a divot repair tool, a removable ball marker, a knife, a file, and a club groove cleaner, among other tools. One example of such a golf multi-tool is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,173 to Müller et al.

Multi-tools, however, often can be bulky and heavy. In a sport such as golf where accuracy and precision are important, a player may not want to carry a bulky or heavy tool in a pants pocket or on a belt, for instance. For a multi-tool to be effective and useful to a golfer it is preferably easy to access so that the player can quickly use it to repair a divot, mark a ball, or perform any other task on the golf course.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the principles of the disclosure, a golf club assembly is disclosed which includes a golf club cover and a golf tool accessory, in one embodiment comprising a multi-tool. The golf tool accessory is removably attached to the golf club cover.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a golf club assembly includes a golf club cover, a multi-tool, and means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover. Examples of corresponding structure suitable for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover are discussed below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of a golf club assembly including a golf club cover, mounted to a golf club, and a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the golf club cover of FIG. 1 with the multi-tool detached.

FIG. 3A is a rear elevational view of the multi-tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the multi-tool of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the golf club assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club cover and a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure, which illustrates a hook-and-loop fastener in an enlarged scale for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club cover and a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure, which illustrates a hook-and-loop fastener in an enlarged scale for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club cover and a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a golf club cover and a multi-tool in accordance with the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the principles of the present disclosure, a golf club assembly, including a golf club cover and a multi-tool, is provided wherein the multi-tool is removably attached to the golf club cover. The golf club cover can be adapted for use with any selected type of golf club, including a driver, other woods, irons, or a putter, for example. The multi-tool can include in some embodiments at least one golf tool, including a divot repair tool and a ball marker, for example. Examples of suitable means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club are discussed below. In other embodiments, equivalent means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club can also be used.

Turning now to the Figures, there is shown in FIG. 1 a golf club assembly 100 which includes a golf club cover 102 and a multi-tool 104 that is removably attached to the golf club cover 102. Means for removably attaching the multi-tool 104 to the golf club cover 102 are provided. The golf club cover 102 is mounted to a golf club 106 so that the head of the golf club 106 is disposed within the golf club cover 102. The multi-tool can include at least one golf tool accessory specially-suited for use by a golfer on a golf course, such as a divot repair tool, a ball marker, a club groove cleaner, etc.

The golf club cover 102 can be any suitable shape and can be adapted to cover any type of golf club 106. The illustrative golf club cover 102 in FIG. 1 is adapted to cover a putter. The golf club cover can have any number of different shapes in other embodiments and can be used to cover woods, irons, or any other type of golf equipment. For example, the golf club cover 102 can have a shape similar to any of the golf club cover designs disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,222 to Gaffney.

Referring to FIG. 2, the golf club cover 102 can include an opening 107 at one end, such that it can easily be taken off of and put back on the golf club 106. Numerous other golf club cover designs are possible. For example, the golf club cover can include an opening in a rear end 108 of the cover 102 of the golf club which can facilitate the removal of the golf club cover from the golf club.

The means for removably attaching the multi-tool 104 to the golf club cover 102 can include a slit 109 provided in the golf club cover 102. The slit 109 can be adapted to receive therethrough a clip mounted to the multi-tool, which also comprises a part of the means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover 102.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the multi-tool 104 includes a body 111 which can store a plurality of different tools which are moveable over a range of travel between a stored position, wherein the tool is folded into the body 111 of the multi-tool, and an operating position, wherein the tool is disposed in a position suitable for a user to use the tool. The tools of the multi-tool 104 conveniently can be housed in a stored position within the multi-tool body 111 to conserve space and reduce the overall size of the multi-tool. The multi-tool 104 can include a scissors 114, a knife 116, a bottle opener 118, tweezers 119, a toothpick 120, and a divot repair tool 121. The multi-tool 104 also includes a removable ball marker 122 (see FIG. 1).

Many of the tools of the multi-tool 104 are pivotally mounted to the body 111 such that each tool can independently rotate about a pivot point disposed within the body 111, allowing the tool to rotate between a stored position and an extended, operating position. In the closed position, the tool is substantially within the multi-tool body 109 (see FIG. 1), and in the extended position the tool is substantially outside of the multi-tool body 109. Examples of tools pivotally mounted to the body 111 include the scissors 114, the knife 116, the bottle opener 118, and the divot repair tool 121.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the divot repair tool 121 includes a first arm 124 and a second arm 125. The arms 124, 125 can fold out of opposing sides of the multi-tool body 109. Once in the extended position, the arms 124, 125 are in substantially abutting relationship with each other to form the divot repair tool 121.

Other tools, such as the tweezers 119, the toothpick 120, and the ball marker 122, can be fully removed from the multi-tool body 109 by sliding or pulling them from the multi-tool body 111. Tools that can be fully removed from the body 109 to be used, such as the tweezers 116, the toothpick 118, and the ball marker 122, can be removably mounted to the body 109 by any suitable means, such as, a recess in the body or a detent, for example.

The multi-tool 104 can be removably attached to the golf club cover 102 by any suitable means. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the multi-tool 104 is connected to the golf club cover 102 using a resiliently flexible clip 126 on the multi-tool 104 and the corresponding slit 109 on the golf club cover 104. The clip 126 has a fixed end 130 and a distal free end 132. The fixed end 130 is attached to the back of the multi-tool by any suitable means.

Referring to FIG. 5, the clip 126 extends through the slit 109, thereby removably attaching the multi-tool 104 to the golf club cover 102. The clip 126 is resiliently flexible such that the free end 132 of the clip can be moved away from the body 111 of the multi-tool (see FIG. 4) to allow the free end 132 of the clip to be passed through the slit 109 in the golf club cover 104. When the free end 132 is released, the resiliently flexible clip returns toward its normal position such that the golf club cover 102 is retentively engaged between the body 111 of the multi-tool 104 and the clip 126. To remove the multi-tool 104 from the golf club cover 102, the multi-tool 104 can be moved, relative to the golf club cover 102 as shown in FIG. 5, up and away from the golf club cover 102 to remove the clip 126 from the slit 109.

Referring to FIG. 3B, another embodiment of a multi-tool 204 is shown which includes a divot repair tool 221 that is a unitary piece. The divot repair tool 221 of FIG. 3B includes a bifurcated distal free end 222 that defines a pair of arms 224, 225. In still other embodiments, the multi-tool can include a different arrangement for a divot repair tool. For example, in other embodiments, the divot repair tool can slide out of the multi-tool body as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,173 to Müller et al.

In yet other embodiments, the multi-tool can include any number of additional possible tools, such as, for example, a can opener, a ruler, a corkscrew, a screwdriver, a flashlight, a saw, a spoon, a fork, a golf tee punch, a golf club groove cleaner, a nail file, and many others. For example, in some embodiments, the multi-tool can be similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,173 to Müller et al.

In still other embodiments, different structure can be provided to act as means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover. For example, in one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a multi-tool 304 can be removably attached to a golf club cover 302 using a hook and loop type fastener 334, such as a suitable hook and loop fastener commercially marketed under the trade name Velcro® by Velcro USA Inc. in the United States.

The multi-tool 304 and the golf club cover 302 can each include a mating strip 335, 336 which when pressed together form a hook-and-loop connection. In the illustrated embodiment, the multi-tool 304 includes a strip 335 of loops, and the golf club cover 302 includes a strip 336 of hooks (shown in enlarged fashion in FIG. 6 for illustrative purposes). In other embodiments, the strip arrangement can be varied.

Referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment, means for removably attaching the multi-tool 404 to a golf club cover 402 include a pocket 436 in the golf club cover 402. The pocket 436 can be sized to accommodate the multi-tool 404 within the pocket 436. The multi-tool 404 can be passed through an opening 437 of the pocket so that it is housed within the pocket.

The golf club cover 402 can also include a flap 438 which can be used to cover the opening 437 of the pocket 436 and help retain the multi-tool 404 within the pocket 436. The flap 437 can be held in a closed position by a hook and loop fastener 440 (shown in enlarged fashion in FIG. 6 for illustrative purposes). In other embodiments, other suitable means such as, for example, magnets, a button and a button hole, or a clip and socket, for example, can be used to selectively secure the flap over the opening 437 of the pocket 436. In yet other embodiments, the opening of the pocket can be selectively occluded using a zipper.

Referring to FIG. 8, in still another embodiment, means for removably attaching a multi-tool 504 to a golf club cover 502 include a clip 542 that is rotatably mounted to the multi-tool 504 and a mounting ring 544 that is mounted to the golf club cover 502. The clip 542 can include a hook 545 and a resiliently flexible gate 546. The gate 546 is adapted to allow the ring 544 to pass therethrough and to return to its normal position against the hook, thereby encircling the ring to removably mount the multi-tool 504 to the golf club cover 502. In other embodiment, the clip can be mounted to the golf club cover, and the mounting ring can be attached to the multi-tool.

Referring to FIG. 9, in yet another embodiment, means for removably attaching a multi-tool 604 to a golf club cover 602 include a pair of snap buttons 646, 648. In other embodiments, a single snap button or a different number of snap buttons can be used.

In still other embodiments, means for removably attaching a multi-tool to a golf club cover include at least one magnet. In one arrangement, the multi-tool can be removably attached to the golf club cover using at least a pair of magnets with different polarities such that they magnets are magnetically attractive to each other wherein one magnet of a first polarity is mounted to the mutli-tool and a second magnet of a second polarity is mounted to the golf club cover.

In yet another arrangement, the body of the multi-tool can be constructed from a metal that is magnetically attractable. A magnet, adapted to attract the material from which the body of the multi-tool is constructed, can be mounted to the golf club cover. Numerous other equivalent means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover can also be used in other embodiments.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A golf club assembly comprising:

a golf club cover; and

a multi-tool, the multi-tool being removably attached to the golf club cover.

2. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein the golf club cover includes an opening and wherein the multi-tool includes a clip, the opening adapted to receive the clip therethrough such that the multi-tool is removably attached to the golf club cover.

3. The golf club assembly of claim 1, the multi-tool is removably attached to the golf club cover via a hook-and-loop fastener.

4. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein the golf club cover includes a pocket with an opening that is sized to hold the multi-tool thereby removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover.

5. The golf club assembly of claim 4, wherein the golf club cover includes a flap adapted to selectively occlude the opening of the pocket.

6. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein the golf club cover includes one of a ring and a clip, and the multi-tool includes the other of the ring and the clip, the clip being adapted to removably attach to the ring.

7. The golf club assembly of claim 6, wherein the golf club cover includes the ring, and the multi-tool includes the clip.

8. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein the golf club cover includes a portion of a snap button and the multi-tool includes a complementary portion of the snap button, the snap button adapted to removably attach the multi-tool to the golf club cover.

9. The golf club assembly of claim 1, wherein the multi-tool includes at least one golf tool.

10. The golf club assembly of claim 9, wherein the multi-tool includes a removable ball marker.

11. The golf club assembly of claim 9, wherein the multi-tool includes a divot repair tool pivotally movable between a closed position and an operating position.

12. A golf club assembly comprising:

a golf club cover;

a multi-tool; and

means for removably attaching the multi-tool to the golf club cover.