DUAL PURPOSE COVER DEVICE

A dual purpose cover device is provided. The cover device may have a generally cylindrical shaped sleeve configuration having a body providing a closed bottom end and a generally circular top end sleeve opening. The exterior surface of the body may provide two fasteners near the sleeve opening, wherein the two fasteners are disposed a predetermined distance apart when the cover device is in an open position, wherein the body defines a cavity adapted to slidably receive and snugly secure a beverage container or, separately, receive a golf club head. The cover design may be configured into a closed position by connecting the two fasteners so that a portion of the body extending over the predetermined distance is urged to into the cavity and the sleeve opening area of the open position, thereby pinching and/or clasping the sleeve opening. Said pinching and/or clasping of the sleeve opening secures the golf head club within the cavity while allowing the club shaft to protrude through the sleeve opening.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application number 61/858,471, filed 26 Jul. 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cover devices and, more particularly, to a unitary device that is configurable to protectively cover a golf club head or provide coverage for a beverage container as a portable cooler/beverage holder.

Conventional beverage covers and/or insulators, commonly referred to as “koozies,” are used to thermally insulate a hot or cold beverage and allow a user to comfortably grasp the container regardless of the temperature of the beverage and container. Koozie is a trademark of Norwood Promotional Products, LLC for a portable cooler.

Golfer's frequently forget to pack a koozie when golfing, which in a game played under the sun can be problematic, where cold beverages are critical for hydration and making the game more enjoyable. As golfers almost never leave behind a golf club head cover, the combination of the two would be advantageous.

Golf club head-cover and beverage insulator combinations are known in the art. However, these prior inventions are comprised of a large sleeve or cylinder with sock, combined into one unit. The mechanics of these prior inventions require a cumbersome amount of material, take longer to transform between uses, which are both impracticalities active golfers are averse to.

As can be seen, there is a need for a unitary device that is easily configurable from a koozie to a golf club head cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a dual purpose cover device comprises: a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface; a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end; and two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart, whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dual purpose cover device comprises: a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface; a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end; two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart; a back plate integrated in a portion of the interior surface that vertically extends near the bottom end to near a portion of the circumferential lip; a front notch along a portion of the circumferential lip diametrically opposed to the back plate; and a pull tab on the exterior surface of the body, whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of using a unitary cover device configured to separately hold a beverage container and a golf head club, comprises: providing a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface; a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end; and two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart; slidably removing the beverage container from the cavity; placing the golf club head into the cavity; and interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance so as to secure the golf head cover within the cavity by urging the portion of the exterior surface of the body into the cavity, whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use as a beverage holder;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating use as a golf club head cover;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating coverage of a beverage container;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating coverage of a golf club head;

FIG. 7 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in an open position;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a closed position;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a back plate;

FIG. 12 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along 13-13 in FIG. 12.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a cover device. The cover device may have a generally cylindrical shaped sleeve configuration having a body providing a closed bottom end and a generally circular top end sleeve opening. The exterior surface of the body may provide two fasteners near the sleeve opening, wherein the two fasteners are disposed a predetermined distance apart when the cover device is in an open position, wherein the body defines a cavity adapted to slidably receive and snugly secure a beverage container or, separately, receive a golf club head. The cover design may be configured into a closed position by connecting the two fasteners so that a portion of the body extending over the predetermined distance is urged to into the cavity and the sleeve opening area of the open position, thereby pinching and/or clasping the sleeve opening. Said pinching and/or clasping of the sleeve opening secures the golf head club within the cavity while allowing the club shaft to protrude through the sleeve opening.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13, the present invention may include a cover device 10. The cover device 10 may have a generally cylindrical shaped sleeve configuration having generally circular ends. The cover device 10 may have a body 12, a closed bottom end 16 and a top end 34 forming a sleeve opening 14. The sleeve opening 14 may be defined by a circumferential lip 32. A front notch 20 may be formed in a portion of the circumferential lip 32. The front notch 20 may be sized and shaped to keep the drinker's lips from touching the cover device 10 when drinking from the covered beverage container 28, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The body 12 may form a cavity defined by an interior surface of the cover device 10. The cover device 10 may provide a back plate 18 extending along the interior surface of the body 12; horizontally on the bottom end 16 and extending therefrom vertically along a portion of the body 12 to the circumferential lip 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The back plate 18 may terminate near a portion of the circumferential lip 32 diametrically opposite the front notch 20. In certain embodiments, the vertical portion of the back plate 18 may form a pedestal-like shape, as illustrated in FIG. 8, as it extends from the bottom end 16 to the circumferential lip 32. In certain embodiments, the horizontal portion of the back plate 18 may thicken along the bottom end 16 as it nears its vertical portion so as to form a wedge-shaped standing surface, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The back plate 18 may be made of material that can be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl, rubber, various impregnated or laminated fibrous materials, various plasticized materials, thermoplastic rubber, combinations thereof and the like. The back plate 18 may be integrated into the interior surface of the cover device 10 so as to provide a structural element for the cover device 10: as a golf head club cover the back plate 18 may provide added protection to portions of the club that are vulnerable damage when in transport and storage; and as a koozie the back plate 18 provides firmness (possibly necessary since the product is designed large enough to sufficiently cover a golf club) so as to permit the cover device 10 to stand upright on a surface and retain its generally cylindrical shape with or without the beverage container 28 disposed within the cover device 10. The back plate 18 may also provide a non-slip bottom along the interior surface of the bottom end 16. The cover device 10 may provide a pull tab 22 disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body 12 associated with the interior surface supporting the back plate 18.

In an alternative embodiment, the horizontal portion of the back plate 18 may form the bottom end 16, whereby the body 12 is a tubular element that attaches along the periphery of said horizontal portion, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. In either embodiment, the back plate 18 may be slidably received by the body 12 when making the cover device 10.

The cover device 10 may provide a female fastener 26 and a male fastener 24 disposed along the exterior side of the body 12 near the top end 34. The fasteners 24, 26 may be disposed a predetermined distance apart when the cover device is in an open position. In certain embodiments, the fasteners 24, 26 may be disposed to on opposing sides of the front notch 20, or in other words, the front notch is incorporated by the predetermined distance. It should be understood that the fasteners 24, 26 may be any fastener known in the art for removably fastening or securing one object to another including, for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesive substances, combinations thereof, and the like. It should also be that the fasteners 24, 26 may be configured in any array and/or number, so long as the fasteners 24, 26 function in accordance with the present invention as described herein.

In the open position, the cavity may be adapted to slidably receive and snugly secure to a beverage container 28, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, so as to provide a better grip and as well as insulate the temperature of the beverage container 28. The body 12 may be made from flexible insulative material, such as, but not limited to, polychloroprene, thermoplastic rubber, Lycra, styrene-buradiene rubber (SBR), various plasticized materials, combinations thereof and/or the like. Such body 12 material can permit the cover device 10 to stand upright on a surface and to retain the generally cylindrical shape with or without the beverage container 28 disposed within the cover device 10.

The cover device 10 may be configurable from the open position to a closed position, and vice versa. The female fastener 26 and the male fastener 24 are adapted to interconnect so as to configure the cover device 10 to the closed position by urging a portion of the top end 34, the circumferential lip 32 and the body 12 provided by the predetermined distance to be pinched into the cavity and the sleeve opening 14 (as defined in the open position), thereby decreasing the surface areas of the sleeve opening 14 in the closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 10, relative to the open position, as illustrated in FIG. 9. In certain embodiments, the predetermined distance includes the front notch 20 portion of the circumferential lip 32. Said pinching or clasping of the sleeve opening 14 secures the golf club head 30 within the cavity yet allows the club shaft to protrude through the sleeve opening 14.

In the open position, the cavity may be adapted to receive a conventionally sized golf club head 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. In the closed position, the interconnected fasteners 24, 26 may pinch the portion of the top end 34, the circumferential lip 32 and the body 12 so as to securely retain the golf club head 30 within in the cavity, yet allow the club shaft to protrude through the sleeve opening 14. The shape and disposition of the back plate 18 may be adapted to assist in the clasping of the sleeve opening 14 by allowing the fasteners 24, 26 to more naturally combine.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The cover device 10 disclosed above may be provided. When interested in slaking their thirst, a user may cover the beverage container 28 by sliding the cover device 10 in the open position upwardly, sleeve opening 14 first, over the bottom of the beverage container 28, so that the front notch 20 is operably dispose adjacent to the beverage container 28 opening, as illustrated in FIG. 5. When not in use as a beverage holder, the cover device 10 may slidably receive the golf club head 30 in a manner similar to the one just described, and as illustrated in FIG. 6. To secure the cover device 10 so that the retained golf club head 30 will not be dislodged therefrom, the user would interconnect the fasteners 24, 26 so as to configure the cover device 10 into the closed position. When removing the cover device 10, the user would configure the fasteners 24, 26 to the open position and manually pull on the pull tab 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A dual purpose cover device comprising:

a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface;
a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end; and
two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart,
whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.

2. The dual purpose cover device of claim 1, further providing a back plate integrated in a portion of the interior surface, wherein the back plate comprises:

a horizontal portion extending along the bottom end; and
a vertical portion perpendicularly joined to the horizontal end, wherein the vertical portion extends from the bottom end up a portion of the body to near the circumferential lip.

3. The dual purpose cover device of claim 2, wherein the horizontal portion of the back plate thickens as it extends toward the vertical portion thereof.

4. The dual purpose cover device of claim 1, further providing a front notch along a portion of the circumferential lip diametrically opposed to the vertical portion of the back plate.

5. The dual purpose cover device of claim 4, wherein the predetermined distance circumscribes the front notch.

6. The dual purpose cover device of claim 1, further providing a pull tab on the exterior surface of the body.

7. A dual purpose cover device comprising:

a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface;
a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end;
two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart;
a back plate integrated in a portion of the interior surface, wherein the back plate comprises: a horizontal portion extending along the bottom end; and a vertical portion perpendicularly joined to the horizontal end, wherein the vertical portion extends from the bottom end up a portion of the body to near the circumferential lip;
a front notch along a portion of the circumferential lip diametrically opposed to the back plate; and
a pull tab on the exterior surface of the body,
whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.

8. The dual purpose cover device of claim 7, wherein the horizontal portion of the back plate thickens as it extends toward the vertical portion thereof.

9. A method of using a unitary cover device configured to separately hold a beverage container and a golf head club, comprising:

providing a generally tubular shaped body having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the body forms a cavity defined by a closed bottom end, an open top end, and the interior surface; a sleeve opening defined by a circumferential lip along the top end; and two fasteners disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the body near the top end, wherein the two fasteners are a predetermined distance apart;
slidably removing the beverage container from the cavity;
placing the golf club head into the cavity; and
interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance so as to secure the golf head cover within the cavity by urging the portion of the exterior surface of the body into the cavity,
whereby the cover device moves from an open position to a closed position when interconnecting the two fasteners across the predetermined distance.
Patent History
Publication number: 20150027604
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 28, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 29, 2015
Inventor: Paul Thomas JAMES (Wilmington, NC)
Application Number: 14/444,478
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: For A Golf Club (e.g., Head Cover) (150/160); Insulation Forms Removable Outer Jacket (220/592.24)
International Classification: A63B 55/00 (20060101); A47G 19/22 (20060101);