GOLF CLUB COVER WITH VOIDS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to covers for golf club heads.

BACKGROUND

Golf club head covers are a popular way to protect and store golf clubs. Covers keep dirt and grime off of clubs, and prevent scratching and marring of the surfaces. There are loose-fitting, sock-type covers as well as fitted covers made from stiff materials that define a three-dimensional shape to enclose a golf club head.

Some golfers experience annoyance with their covers. For instance, a cover hides which club is being covered. If a wet club is covered, it dries slowly, resulting in mildew and bad odors. Further, golfers may desire products with environmentally-friendly designs that incorporate fewer chemicals, less materials, and sustainable components.

Sock-type covers offer only limited protection from impact. Such covers tend to impart a skimpy and cheap appearance. They are also unable to maintain their form upon removal from a club head and are therefore less appealing than a fitted head cover.

Fitted covers are difficult to put on and take off, particularly when made with stiffer materials such as neoprene, leather, vinyl, and the like. A rigid material resists the folding and deformation necessary for the large head of a driver-type club to be removed.

Adding a handle is not an optimum solution. Adding another component to a product requires additional material, steps, and cost in manufacturing. Some methods of attaching a handle involve chemical glues that can be bad for the environment. Additional components also increase product weight, thereby increasing shipping costs and fuel consumption. Also, some golfers do not like the appearance of a handle protruding from what would otherwise be a streamlined and attractive cover.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a cover for a golf club having a void in the material allowing some deformation, thus making a stiff-material cover easy to put on and take off. One or more voids further provide a convenient handle as well as a view of the covered club and ease of drying of the inside. By providing a void, for example, as a cutaway in a panel of material from which a cover is assembled, manufacturing is simplified, minimizing costs.

The cover of the invention provides good protection of a golf club. The cover avoids a protruding pull-tab or external dongle, thereby avoiding excessive clutter in a golf bag and presenting one less thing to get snagged on, for example, metal parts of a car trunk lid or other environmental clutter. Head covers according to the invention avoid additional tabs, straps, or other parts that may need to be cemented on with environmentally harmful chemical glues. Covers of the invention avoid additional straps or tabs of material that need to be stitched on, for example, by hand, thereby decreasing labor demand and assembly complexity.

A void in a cover allows a golfer to see what club is covered. One or more voids can optionally be filled with a see-through material to provide visibility while protecting the club. For example, a void can be positioned to reveal a manufacturer's logo to provide the functional benefit of aiding a golfer pick the right club from a bag. A void can be positioned to allow a golfer to see an adjustable setting mechanism on a club head or similar.

Two voids can be placed such that a bridge-like strap of material separates them and provides a comfortable handle for gripping the cover. By providing voids, a strap-like handle can thus be provided without requiring additional material during manufacturing.

A void can be provided that supplies any of the functional advantages here, and further supplies design advantages. A void can engage a viewer by mimicking or subtly suggesting the appearance of, for example, nostrils or eyes. A void can be designed in harmony with a design of a company's logo on their golf clubs as an aesthetic, design, or marketing benefit. For example, a void can be positioned to reveal or accentuate the appearance of a portion of a covered club.

A void can be provided that supplies a seed region for folding or deformation. When a cover is pulled on to or off of a club head, as the large club head pushes past the narrower neck, material of the head smoothly rearranges itself without creasing across panels of the material. A cover can be made incorporating a resilient material, such as a corrugated material, that deforms and returns to its original shape. A resilient material and a void can cooperatively contribute to good deformation resilience, thereby enhancing and prolonging the usefulness and attractiveness of a cover.

A void can further provide a convenient place for a tether to either pass through the cover or reach to the club head. A tether can keep a cover from flying away when a golf bag is in the back seat of an open convertible out on the highway. A cover of the invention can include a tether, such as a nylon or hemp cord, either attached to the cover at one end, integrally formed with the cover, or configured to be passed through a void. A tether can have a clip, loop, or other mechanism or feature at either end for attaching, for instance, to a co-designed golf bag. A tether can be designed in harmony with a cover, continuing a line of material pattern or sharing a color with the cover, and offer the desirable benefit of keeping the cover with a golf cart or golf bag.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a cover for a golf club made from at least one piece of material shaped to define a head region. The head region is materially connected to a sleeve member, which has an opening at a bottom end. The head region can generally be described as having a crown area, a left cheek area, a right cheek area, a snout area, a chin area, and a nape area. The head region transitions to the sleeve member through a throat area. The sleeve member terminates at a distal (e.g., the bottom end) end at a cuff area defining the opening.

The cover is configured to receive a golf club so that the head of the club sits within the head region, and the shaft of the club protrudes from the opening. The cover has at least one void through the piece of material. As with the opening, from which the shaft protrudes, the void is an opening through the material and thus provides a spatial connection between the space outside of the cover and the space inside.

A cover of the invention can include one or more panels of material assembled together. For example, a cover can be made by cutting panels having a particular shape, for instance according to a pattern. The panels can be joined at edges to form seams. A void can be supplied by cutting away material from a panel of material before or during assembly. In some embodiments, a void is provided in the form of a cutaway, for instance, abutting an edge of a panel. In this manner, a void can be provided by cutting into a panel from an edge rather than cutting a hole through a panel—although either embodiment, as well as others, are contemplated by the invention. When a void is defined by cutting into a panel from the edge, a result can be that, after assembly, one edge of the void is provided by the cut edge of that panel, and another edge of the void is provided by another edge of material (e.g., a distal edge of the same panel or an edge of another panel). As a result, an edge of the void and an adjacent portion of the seam can define a line that is substantially straight or a substantially smooth curve. In some embodiments, a portion of a seam and an edge of a void together define a line having no visible points or visible inflexion points.

In some embodiments, a void is provided in the form of a cutout, such as would be made by a cookie cutter. A cutout, generally, provides a hole cut through a piece of material such that the perimeter of the void is all of one contiguous piece of material.

Two voids can be included in a cover. The two voids can be positioned near each other. Two voids can present two edges that are substantially parallel for a distance and a distance apart such that the material between them takes a form of a strap or a bridge of material. While not being limited to a perfectly rectangular geometry, a bridge of material can be described in terms of a length and a width. A width of a bridge can be between about half an inch and about three inches. A length of a bridge can be between about two inches and about six inches. In some embodiments, a length of a bridge is between about one inch and about ten inches. In some embodiments, length of a bridge is between about four inches and about seven inches. In some embodiments, a length of a bridge is between about three and about five inches.

Two voids can be provided that are symmetrically opposed to each other in shape, size, and disposition.

By including a void, a cover according to the invention provides environmental benefits. The void itself decreases the amount of material used. Where a piece of material is cutaway during manufacturing, that piece can be used elsewhere, for example, to provide an accessory pocket on a surface of the cover, or to make a useful golf accessory such as a floating key fob. Where a cover is made from a synthetic material such as neoprene—or assembled from smaller pieces, such as panels of leather—less total material can be consumed, supporting an Earth-friendly view of the cover. A void further decreases an amount of material used in a cover by avoiding the need to add additional material to form a handle or pull-tab. Where a cover employs a stocking design, the need for Velcro or magnets (and cement to hold it them place) for a closure is avoided. Beyond just savings in material resource consumption, material savings translate into further environmental benefits. By decreasing a weight of a cover, even by an ounce, a case of a gross of covers is made 9 pounds lighter. Thus a palate of cases can be shipped with significantly lower weight, cost, and fuel consumption.

In some embodiments, a cover includes a window. A window can be a void or a void having a see-through material filling it all or in-part. For example, a cover of the invention can have an open void in one place and a void comprising a see-through material in another place. A see through material can be a mesh, a net, a clear transparent material, a translucent material, a web, or a scrim. In certain embodiments, a cover has two open voids defining a bridge and a window filled with a see-through material. In some embodiments, the bridge is generally along the nape area of the cover and the window is an inset in the crown area of the cover.

A void can be described in terms of size. One way to describe the size is by the minimum amount of a two-dimensional inelastic material that it would take to cover the void. A minimum amount of material necessary to close the void can be between about 3 cm²and about 75 cm². In some embodiments, it is desired that a minimum amount of material necessary to close the void is between about 25 cm²and about 60 cm². A void can be provided that is generally approximately the size to allow one adult finger to be inserted therein. In some embodiments, two adult fingers fit through a void. In certain embodiments, a void is sized to allow an adult had, up to a base of a thumb, to be inserted therein. In certain embodiments, an edge of a void is finished. An edge of a void can be finished with a seam, for example, stitched, fused, or cemented. An edge can be finished with a grommet. In some embodiments a circular void is provided. In some embodiments, a circular void is provided ringed with a grommet, for example, a metal or plastic grommet.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a cover for a golf club including material disposed to define a right cheek area, a left cheek area, a crown area, a chin area, a nape area, and a sleeve area with an opening configured to receive a golf club head-first and at least one void through the material. The cover can include a second void.

A void of the invention can be described in terms of its shape. A void can have a shape with an irregular geometry. A void can have a shape that mimics or suggests some other objects (e.g., an eye, a miniature golf club, a rocket ship, a snake, a star, etc.). A shape of a void can be elongated, including either precisely or generally rectangular, oblong, elliptical, or round. An elongated void can be described in terms of a ratio of a length to width. A length or a width can refer to either a predominant, average, or maximum length or a width, or can refer to a length or a width at specific point, such as a center. For example, a length can be measured at the middle of a width while a width is measured at a middle of a length. A length and width can be measured on a rectangle defined as having a same area of a void and located to have maximum overlap with the void. In some embodiments, a void has a length greater than a width, e.g., greater than about 110% or 125% of a width. In some embodiments, void has a length that is more than about 150% of its length, or optionally a length more than double a width.

A void of the invention can be near, or abutting, the nape area. In certain embodiments, two voids abut the nape, such that the nape defines a bridge of material. In some embodiments, the cover includes a window of transparent material, translucent material, mesh, web, or void space. The window can optionally be provided in the crown area.

A cover of the invention can generally include, but is not limited to, an elastic material in the sleeve area and a non-elastic material in the crown area and the nape area. One suitable elastic material includes spandex or a knit fabric, for example, knit acrylic or polyester. In some embodiments, an area of the cover is two-ply or reinforced, for example, a bridge area or an area along an edge of a void.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a cover for a golf club having a generally bulbous head area and an elongated sleeve area configured to fit over a golf club head and cover at least a portion of a shaft of the golf club. The cover includes an opening through which a shaft protrudes when the cover is on a golf club and at least one void through the cover. The cover can optionally include a second void, for example, disposed symmetrically to the first void and defining a handle therewith.

In some embodiments, the sleeve area or head area includes a stretchable material.

In certain embodiments, a sleeve of a cover of the invention includes an opening that further has a slash-style detail. A slash opening generally includes at least two flaps of material each with an edge, the edges generally parallel each other and capable of being brought together or pushed apart, somewhat like curtains joined at the top. A slash opening can optionally be structured like a placket. A slash opening can optionally include a fastening mechanism. Suitable fastening mechanisms include one or more of a button, zipper, Velcro, magnet, hook-and-eye, lace, and draw-string, solely or in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a back view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention generally provides a cover for a golf club. FIG. 1 shows golf club cover 101 of certain embodiments of the invention. Cover 101 can generally be described as having a crown 107, cheek 111, chin 113, nape 125, and a sleeve 119. Sleeve area generally terminates at a cuff area 121 defining opening 118 configured to receive a golf club head-first. Cover 101 includes at least one void 115 through the material. Cover 101 can include a second void 115.

FIG. 2 shows a surface of chin 113 seen from beneath cover 101.

A crown 107 can include any manner of adornment, such as a pattern as shown in FIG. 3, or a logo, or other decoration. Crown 107, like any other area of cover 101, can include assembly seams where two edges of one or more panels of material are joined, or can include a single piece of material.

In certain embodiments, an area of the cover includes a window 103 for viewing something inside of the cover. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an outer perimeter of crown 107 can define window 103. Window 103 can include a see-through material. FIG. 4 shows window 103 including a transparent material such as a plastic as a see-through material. FIG. 5 shows window 103 including a mesh as a see-through material. Any material that can be looked through can provide see-through material, such as mesh or web, for example, as soccer-ball bags are made from.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention. In certain embodiments, void 115 can have a shape that is generally elongated including, either precisely or generally, a rectangular, oblong, or elliptical perimeter. An elongated void can have a length that is more than about 150% of its width, or optionally a length more than double a width. Cover 101 can include two of void 115 positioned to define bridge 123. In some embodiments, void 115 is generally positioned near a convergence of sleeve 119 and cheek 111. As shown in FIG. 7, in this disposition nape 125 generally supplies bridge 123. As shown in FIG. 8, void 115 does not have to be visible from all views. For example, viewing snout 129 reveals no voids. It is to be noted that no two figures in this application are limited to necessarily being illustrations of a single embodiment. Thus, FIG. 8 generally shows a front view of a cover of certain embodiments, and FIG. 7 generally shows a back view of a cover of certain embodiments, and some embodiments may be illustrated by both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in certain embodiments, a cover 101 may have features or aspects illustrated by one of FIG. 7 or FIG. 8 without conforming to the other figure, and so for all figures of the application.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of cover 101 according to certain embodiments. Void 115 can be generally about 8 cm to about 10 cm long by about 2 cm to about 6 cm wide, while optionally being not strictly a rectangle or being a rectangle. In certain embodiments, void 115 can be large, about 15 cm to about 20 cm long by about 10 cm to about 15 cm wide. As shown in FIG. 10, two of void 15 can define bridge 123 spanning generally from the direction of sleeve area 119 in the direction of crown area 107 through nape area 125. For aesthetic or functional reasons bridge 123 can be tapered or curved or angled.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a cover for a golf club having a head area and a sleeve area configured to fit over a golf club head and cover at least a portion of a shaft of the golf club. The cover includes opening 118 through which a shaft protrudes when the cover is on a golf club and at least one void 115 through the cover. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 1 or FIG. 9, for example, in some embodiments cover 101 generally defines a surface from which no material protrudes. To provide a trim or pleasing appearance and to prevent annoying snags, cover 101—compared to a cover that has no void and is otherwise similar—according to certain embodiments of the invention has no additional material protruding from it or defining a feature. In some embodiments, one or more of void 115 and opening 118 present the only exposed material edge of cover 101. An exposed material edge generally refers to the exposed edge of a piece of material or the exposed edges of two pieces of material which are joined surface-to-surface over an area greater than a seam to form one generally flat piece of material (e.g., a shell and a lining). In some embodiments, every exposed material edge of cover 101 define a perimeter around either one or more of void 115, window 103, or opening 118 spatially connecting an interior space of cover 101 to an exterior space. As such, cover 101 need not present any loop or loop-like structure or strap-like piece of material fixed to cover 101, which does not also participate in defining one or more void 115 through the material of cover 101. Similarly, cover 101 need not present any material structure which defines a pocket and which does not also participate in defining one or more void 115 through the material of cover 101. Because the requirement of an external loop or pocket is avoided by void 115, additional material cost or manufacturing complexity is avoided. Further, a functional element is provided incorporated into the structure of cover 101 in a smooth and pleasing way. Thus it can be seen that cover 101 includes at least one void 115 defining a spatial opening between an interior volume of club 101 and the exterior space, such that at least one void 115 is independent of, or spaced away from, opening 118.

As shown in FIG. 11, cover 101 can cover a golf club. In certain embodiments, cover 101 is made large enough to enclose a driver with a head having a 460 cm³volume. Cover 101 can also be made smaller, for example, to cover a hybrid or a wedge or a putter. In FIG. 11, a golf club is shown with a dotted line where a view of it is blocked by material of cover 101. Thus, crown area 107 is shown as including opaque material. In some embodiments (not shown in FIG. 11), crown area is window 103 including see-through material, and a golf club would be visible through window 103.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a cover of certain embodiments of the invention. As can be seen in FIG. 12, void 115 can be positioned anywhere on cover 101. As shown in FIG. 12, void 115 has a generally triangular shape with rounded corners. As shown in FIG. 12, void 115 is provided by a cutaway through a panel of material (e.g., void 115 does not abut an edge of a panel).

It can seen that cover 101 can generally include panels of material joined at edges to define seams. In some embodiments, cover 101 includes one or more dummy seam areas—features fabricated to create the appearance of a seam (or piping) and overlaying a contiguous portion of a panel of material. A dummy seam may be included to create a visual continuation of a seam. A dummy seam may be included on a seamless club head for aesthetic purposes, for example, to create a vintage or hand-crafted appearance.

Turning now to FIG. 13, void 115 having a generally round morphology is shown. Void 115 can optionally be precisely round, hexagonal, or a hexagon with rounded corners or any other shape including regular or irregular polygons with rounded or true corners. As shown in FIG. 13, void 115 can be supplied by more than one cutaway into an edge of a panel of material, such that when two panels are joined at their two edges, two cutaways come together to define void 115. As shown in FIG. 13, an edge of a void or a seam can optionally be finished or adorned, for example, with visible stitching or piping. As shown in FIG. 13, a void can have a portion of an edge adorned with piping while also having a portion of an edge adorned with stitching.

In certain embodiments, function of void 115 is supplemented by an aesthetic appeal. For example, void 115 can be positioned to look like a grill or vent from an antique airplane or car. As shown in FIG. 13, two of void 115 can be provided disposed to cooperate with an overall shape of cover 101 to create a subtle suggestion of an animal head, for example, along with snout 129 and crown 107. As shown in FIG. 13, an area of material spanning crown 107 and snout 129 provides bridge 123, positioned to be gripped by a thumb and a pinky of a hand of an adult.

Two of void 115 can be disposed symmetrically on cover 101. As shown, for example, in FIG. 14, where no club is inside of cover 101, two of void 115 cooperate to provide a view through cover 101 to the far side. In certain embodiments, two of void 115 symmetrically disposed are positioned to augment their function as a pass-through for a tether, for example, to keep cover 101 with a club bag for example, in the back seat of a convertible out on a highway. In certain embodiments, cover 101 includes a tether. A tether, generally, is a string-like or strap-like portion of material either provided along with, fastened to, or integrally formed with cover 101. A tether can include an extension of material, for example, material of a panel of cover 101. A tether can include a cord or string-like member, for example of wire, nylon, wool, leather, hemp, or other material. It can be advantageous to provide a tether with cover 101, for if cover 101 is designed for optimum performance or consumer appeal, a golfer would not want to drop or loose the cover from a golf bag or golf cart. Further, by supplying tether with cover 101 it can be ensured that cover 101 and the tether match or complement one another, in color or material choice, for example. In some embodiments, a tether has a hook or fastening mechanism at either or both ends or is designed to pass through void 115.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary window 103 according to certain embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG. 15, crown area 107 includes window 103 set therein. Window 103 is formed of a clear flexible material such as a transparent plastic. It will be appreciated that window 103 as shown in FIG. 15 can be provided with any combination of any one or more void 115, bridge 123, or any combination thereof. Window 103 can have any shape, size, or position on cover 101, and can include any see-through material.

In certain embodiments, void 115 is disposed to augment a handle-like appearance of bridge 123. This can, for example, provide the subtle visual suggestion to a golfer to use void 115 has a handle for taking cover 101 off of a club, as shown, for example, in FIG. 16.

In general, for all examples or embodiments, cover 101 may protect a golf club, for example a wood type club, or a club of virtually any configuration may be encompassed by the features of the present invention, for example hybrids, putters or irons. Generally, regardless of club type, a golf club will generally have a head, and a shaft. The shaft may be generally attached to the head by means of a hosel. Further, the club head can be described as having a heel, a toe, a crown, a face, and a sole as well as optionally a skirt generally separating the crown and sole along a rear periphery of the head. Optionally, the club may further incorporate a ferrule.

Regardless of club type, the cover 101 may surround the club head and a predetermined length of the shaft. Cover 101 may also surround the hosel or the ferrule, if provided. It is common for certain golf club types, e.g. woods and putters, to utilize hosel-less construction, thus it should be appreciated that, as with the ferrule, the hosel feature need not necessarily be present on the club.

It may be appreciated that cover 101 is described in certain embodiments as having a fitted shape by way of example only, where the head area may be shaped to correspond to that of the head of the golf club. More specifically, the head area may include a variety of panels shaped to substantially surround the club head. Such features may include at least one upper panel substantially provided to cover the sole (see, e.g., FIG. 11) of the wood type club, at least one lower panel substantially provided to cover the crown, and cheek panels joining the upper and lower panels. The shape of the panels will be dependent upon the shape of the club for which they are constructed, design objectives, fabrication constraints, or other factors, but in any event may form a cover to surround the club head.

Cover 101 can include a variety of design features in various combinations. For example, in FIG. 12, crown 107 is shown to include an inverted arcuate surface contour. In certain embodiments, cover 101 is further provided with an accessory, such as a pocket or enclosure, for example, to hold keys or an electronic device. Cover 101 could include a solar panel or a mechanism for fastening an accessory such as a solar panel, for instance, to provide a charge to an electronic accessory or to charge a battery. Cover 101 can include a pocket with a clear panel, or window 103 can be provided to reveal an enclosure, such that, for example, an identification card or a screen of an electronic device can be presented therein.

Void 115 according to the invention can be supplied by a an opening through a surface at which a flap of material remains. While voids, generally, are described as openings through a surface having a perimeter exposing an edge of material, in certain embodiments, a void is formed by cutting less than entire perimeter into material (e.g., two or three “sides” of a shape), leaving a flap, or providing a full void and adding a flap to create a similar affect. In some embodiments, a void has an openable and closeable mechanism, such as a shutter, Velcro flap, sliding panel, or other mechanism. Void 115 generally includes any feature capable of providing a spatial connection between an interior volume of cover 101 and an exterior volume.

Further as shown, for example, in FIG. 12, cover 101 can include an upper panel that may taper to a reduced tail end over any or all of a hosel-area. By this shaping of the upper panel, the shape of cover 101 may follow the form of the club itself, and may inherently lend protection to the sole and hosel of a club. Similarly, the shape of a lower panel may be defined by the shape and size of a crown, for example, by being substantially disc shaped or oblong disc shaped as is shown for chin area 113 in FIG. 2. Again, the inherent configuration of chin 113 lends protection to the crown of a club head. While cheek 111 may include a side panel having any of a number of shapes, a side panel may be generally laterally oriented with respect to the upper and lower panels and may provide height or dimension to cover 101 and may aid in shaping cover 101.

Sleeve 119 may include an opening 118 through which the club passes. Sleeve 119 may include an expansible material to facilitate sliding of cover 101 over a maximum girth of a club head. Further, as may be seen in FIG. 9, the expansible material may partially extend into chin 113, cooperating with void 115 to define an expansible region. Sleeve 119 may, for example, include a generally cylindrical tube including expansible material. Accordingly, the throat area of cover 101 may expand at a location where the club head slides through this relatively narrow portion, yet may still include a relatively more rigid or less resilient material for its construction. Alternatively, the throat area may be provided with more than one expansible region 15 (not shown) made from, for example, a material that is more resilient than the material used to form other parts of the club head, thus achieving the same goal. In some embodiments all or part of a throat area, all or part of sleeve 119, or both are provided by a material in a gusset form, including accordion folds. In certain embodiments, a void 115 is provided filled with a expandable or compressible gusset including, for example, fabric, TYVEK, or other material. In certain embodiments, a gusset is provided as a panel of cover 101, generally near the throat area. A gusset, generally, includes a zigzag, or accordion, folding area and defines a first area at rest, and can be expanded to define a larger area or compressed to define a smaller area.

These constructions may, for example, enable the insertion of even jumbo club heads into cover 101 while maintaining a streamlined and appealing appearance that protects the club head. The materials used to form the head region of cover 101 may thus be chosen over any range of stiffness, resiliency, and/or elasticity that, for example, provides sufficient protection to the club housed therein, and remains easy to slide on and off of the club during use while providing any desired shape or cosmetic appearance.

Further, should cover 101 incorporate panel construction, bridge 123 may be, for example, substantially completely formed using the material of an individual panel, as shown in FIG. 1. Further still, bridge 123 may be, for example, partially formed using the material of an individual panel. Bridge 123 may be formed, for example, from a separate piece of material appended to or attached to one or more panels. In some embodiments, one end of bridge 123 is appended to or attached to one or more other panels, for example, as shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the overlap may be sewn or otherwise fixed. If panel construction is used, exemplary materials for panels may include fabric, reinforced fabric, elasticized fabric, leather, neoprene, vinyl, and/or any other appropriate material.

It will be appreciated that one or more of void 115 or bridge 123 may be advantageously positioned to provide substantially maximum pull or leverage with substantially minimal effort. In other words, the location of one or more of void 115 or bridge 123 may be such that the frictional resistance between cover 101 and the club head may be overcome with a reduced amount of effort when removing cover 101 from the golf club, compared to an amount of effort required to remove a conventional head cover.

In certain embodiments, one or more of void 115 allow a portion of a golf club to protrude out of a predominant volume of cover 101. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of void 115 are positioned so that a heel sole corner of a face, a heel sole region of a back of a club head, or both protrude out through the one or more of void 115 at some stage during the covering or uncovering of a golf club with cover 101. For example, in some embodiments, a driver type club will have a large head, and while cover 101 is being pulled over the head, a portion of the head will pass through the voids temporarily, thereby avoiding a stress or resistance that would be encountered in a void-less cover.

In certain embodiments, one or more of void 115 is designed so that a portion of a golf club protrudes through the void while the club is covered by cover 101. For example, a designer may provide a club and cover 101 wherein the club has a protruding-out portion, such as a curved corner-area of a head, and cover 101 has void 115 in a corresponding place such that when the head is covered, the protruding-out portion projects outward through void 115.

Void 115 can be designed, for example, with a design of a golf club in mind, to reveal a portion of a golf club such as mark. A mark can include a graphic or a logo, such as a corporate trademark or functional indicia, such as a scale or other indicia associated with a setting in an adjustable club head. In some embodiments, a logo or graphic is printed on a portion of the club head, such that it appears through void 115.

In certain embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 15, bridge 123 occupies nape area 125 and provides functionality as a handle. Due to the exemplary provision of an expansible throat area as provided by sleeve 119, void 115, choice of materials, a gusset, or any combination thereof, this location for bridge 123 may render removal of cover 101 from the club more efficient, that is, for example, requiring a lesser amount of effort from the end-user compared to an amount of effort required to remove a conventional head cover.

Additionally, any panel of material or portion of cover 101 may be tactually distinguishable from a remainder of cover 101. For example, bridge 123 may be texturized, rubberized, and/or otherwise made to have increased tackiness to provide a good hand-grip. In certain embodiments, an inside of bridge 123 has a grip member mounted thereto, the grip member optionally including divots, ridges, or other elements. In some embodiments, a grip member includes a protruding ridge-like element with one or more crescent hollows. A crescent hollow can have a radius substantially similar to the cross section of a finger of a human hand. By presenting a ridge having a row of crescent hollows, for example, four crescent hollows, the grip member can offer a useful handgrip, a visual communication to a user that bridge 123 is intended as a handgrip, or both. It will be appreciated—for the purposes of illustration and analogy and without limit—that a grip member with a series of four crescent hollows may generally present an appearance similar to a part of a handgrip on the handlebars of a bicycle. A grip member of the invention can comprise rubber, plastic, leather, neoprene, any other material known in the art, or a combination thereof.

All elements shown and described in connection with the above examples are intended to be interchangeable. A gusset, window 103, void 115, bridge 123, a panel of material, grip member, and slash opening may be used in any number and in any combination with each other.

Further, it will be appreciated that the connection of club head cover components, if so required, may vary to include, for example, stitching, riveting, welding, stapling, adhesive bonding, hook and loop type fasteners, and/or any other suitable joining technology.

Typical materials for cover 101 may include, for example, molded polymers, plastics, neoprene, mesh, leather, vinyl, fabric, reinforced fabric, or any combination thereof. Optionally, a knit or ribbed elastic material may be used for the sleeve portion such as from neoprene, elasticized fabric, a ribbed and elasticized fabric, and/or similar expansible material. In some embodiments, a cover according to the invention is made with recycled material, thereby increasing an appeal to the environmentally minded consumer while also offering the manufacturer a sustainable product to make and sell, allowing the manufacturer to provide products for longer into the future. Material for a cover can be renewable or organic, such as hemp fiber. Hemp fiber and similar materials are durable, light, and popular, offering a cover that is light and durable with sales appeal. Covers according to the invention can further be made with material that decomposes readily or harmlessly, such as photodegradable or biodegradable materials. In some embodiments, cover 101 includes a photodegradable material, for example, on the inside surface, or as a rigid panel insert into a thin (e.g., nylon, cotton, polyester, leather, etc.) outer fabric part. An exemplary photodegradable material for incorporation into cover 101 is low-density polyethylene, although any photodegradable material may be used, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,042,765, incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In certain embodiments, cover 101 includes biodegradable material, including, for example, cotton, hemp, cellophane, biodegradable plastic, Polyhydroxybutyrate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polyglycolide, Polycaprolactone, Plga, Polylactic Acid, or similar. In some embodiments, cover 101 includes a bioplastic or organic plastic such as a plastic derived from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oil, corn starch, pea starch, or microbiota, rather than fossil-fuel plastics which are derived from petroleum. Window 103 can optionally include cellophane. Materials used may, for example, provide protection to the club head and hosel while enabling secure engagement of the club cover with the club head, hosel and a portion of the shaft. In some embodiments, a corrugated material is used to increase resiliency or decrease material. Exemplary corrugated materials include cardboards, fiberboards, plastics (e.g., Coroplast, IntePro, Correx, Twinplast, Corriflute, or Corflute), and stiff fabrics and can include any of A-Flute through F-Flute construction. In some embodiments, a plastic material is included having an SPI resin identification code of 5 or lower, or 4 or lower. In some embodiments, polylactic acid (e.g., made from corn starch or cane sugar) is used in making cover 101. Since void 115 decreases a total amount of material consumed in making cover 101, further including recycled, recyclable, compostable, degradable, or other environmentally-friendly materials naturally complements the decreased consumption of resources, providing cover 101 with an optimized consumer appeal.

Any documents referenced in the disclosure are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. Various modifications of the invention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document, including references to the scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.

GOLF CLUB COVER WITH VOIDS

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