Golf club head cover

Abstract

A golf club head cover is disclosed. The golf club head cover has a protective cover having an upper portion for protecting a club head, a lower portion, and a clip disposed about the lower portion of the protective cover. The clip is adapted for securing the protective cover to a golf club.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of golf accessories. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an improved golf club head cover.

[0003] 2) Problems in the Art

[0004] Golf club head covers have been widely used for some time to protect the heads of golf clubs. Using the cover protects a golf club head from marring, scratching or other damage often caused by contact with other clubs or club heads. The cover can also protect at least a portion of the golf club shaft from similar damage.

[0005] One problem with club head covers is that they tend not to stay secured to the club head and/or shaft. When a club head cover fails to maintain its position secured to a club head or shaft, it does not serve its intended function, as it is no longer protecting the club head. Prior art head covers, such as strings, cords, and straps are all susceptible to being undone, allowing the club head cover to become dislodged.

[0006] A further problem with golf club head covers is the amount of effort required to secure the head cover around the golf club when storing, as well as the time required to remove the golf club head cover when using the club. Prior art golf club head covers, such as those that use cords, straps, strings and socks, generally require some additional effort to both secure and unsecure the head cover from the golf club. If the amount of effort becomes too much, it is likely that the golfer will simply not use the head cover, particularly during a round of golf.

[0007] Therefore, problems remain in the art, and there exists a need in the art for an improved golf club head cover that easily secures to golf club heads and stays secured.

[0008] 3) Features of the Invention

[0009] A general feature of the present invention is the provision of an improved golf club head cover that overcomes the problems and deficiencies found in the prior art.

[0010] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf club head cover that protects a golf club head from marring and scratching.

[0011] Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf club head cover that also protects at least a portion of the golf shaft from damage.

[0012] Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf club head cover that is easily and quickly secured to a golf club.

[0013] A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf club head cover that is resistant to becoming accidentally unsecured.

[0014] A still further feature of the present invention is the provision of a golf club head cover that is durable in use and economical to manufacture.

[0015] These as well as other features and advantages of the present invention become apparent from the following specification and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The golf club head cover of the present invention includes a protective cover that can be easily secured to and removed from a golf club. The golf club head cover is not prone to becoming accidentally unsecured. The protective cover has an upper portion for protecting a club head and a lower portion for covering at least a portion of the hosel or shaft of the golf club. A clip is secured about the lower portion of the protective cover and is adapted for securing the protective cover to a golf club. The clip is preferably a resilient clip disposed within the lining of the lower portion of the protective cover in a position to fasten to the hosel or shaft of the golf club.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the golf club head cover.

[0018] FIG. 2 is another side elevational view of the golf club head cover.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of a clip for use with the golf club head cover.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 3.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the golf club head cover.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the golf club head cover.

[0023] FIG. 7 is another side elevational view of the golf club head cover of FIG. 6.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the golf club head cover of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present invention will now be described as it applies to its preferred embodiments. It is not intended that the present invention as claimed be limited to the described embodiments. It is intended that the invention cover all modifications and alternatives which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0026] FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings shows one embodiment of the golf club head cover 10, which is intended for use with a putter 12 (shown in dashed lines). The golf club head cover 10 includes an upper portion 14 which is in the form of a protective pocket or cavity adapted to fit the head of the putter 12. The golf club head cover 10 also includes a lower portion 16. The lower portion 16 is adapted to fit around a portion of the hosel or shaft of the putter 12. The lower portion 16 may be a collar. The lower portion or collar 16 is an open collar adjacent to the upper portion 14 that allows the putter head to be inserted into the golf club head cover 10 (see FIG. 1). The golf club head cover 10 also includes a lining 18 (see FIG. 5). The present invention contemplates that the golf club head cover 10, as well as the lining 18, may be made from a variety of materials, including leather, fabric, padding, and other materials. Methods of construction are well known in the art.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf club head cover 10 also includes a clip 20. The clip 20 is disposed about the lower portion 16 of the golf club head cover 10. The clip 20 is preferably a resilient, c-shaped clip that is partially open with inverted ends, such as the clip shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The clip 20 allows the golf club head cover 10 to fit around a golf club head and then to be secured to the hosel or shaft of the golf club by the clip 20. The clip 20 may be made from a variety of different materials, including metals, hard plastics or other resilient materials capable of receiving the hosel or shaft of the golf club and maintaining the golf club head cover in a secured position.

[0028] The clip 20 is preferably disposed within the interior lining 18 of the golf club head cover 10. When placed within the interior lining 18 of the golf club head cover 10, the clip 20 cannot damage the shaft or club head of the golf club. The present invention, however, also contemplates that the clip 20 need not be located in the interior lining, provided that it is attached to the lower portion 16 or collar of the golf club head cover 10.

[0029] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate one embodiment of the resilient, c-shaped clip 20. As shown in the figures, the clip 20 is adapted to receive the shaft of the putter 12 in order to secure the golf club head cover 10. The shape of the clip 20 shown allows a golfer to easily clip the golf club head cover 10 to the shaft and to easily unclip the golf club head cover 10 from the shaft. At the same time, however, the shape of the clip 20 also serves to retain or secure the golf club head cover 10 in position. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular shape or size of the clip 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, as it is exemplary only.

[0030] The intended use of the golf club head cover 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the head of the putter 12 is first inserted into the cavity formed by the upper portion 14 of the protective cover of the golf head cover 10. The golf head cover 10 is then rotated so that the lower portion 16 of the protective cover moves toward the shaft of the putter 12 until the clip 20 is secured about the shaft (see FIG. 2). To remove the golf club head cover 20, the golfer simply pulls up on the pull tab 21, which is sewn to the protective cover.

[0031] The present invention contemplates that the golf club head cover may be of various sizes and may be shaped to fit a variety of clubs, including putters, irons and woods, all of various sizes. For example, an alternative embodiment of the invention intended for use with a wood or metal driving club is shown in FIGS. 6-8. The golf club head cover 22 shown in FIG. 6 includes a protective cover having an upper portion 26 shaped to fit around a club head of the golf club 24. The protective cover also includes a lower portion 28 that includes the same resilient clip 20 (shown in dotted lines). The lining of the golf club head cover 22 is denoted by reference numeral 30. The lower portion 28 of the protective cover extends away from the upper portion 26 a sufficient distance to partially surround at least a portion of the shaft of the golf club.

[0032] FIGS. 6 and 7 again illustrate the intended use of the golf club head cover 22. As described previously, once the club head is inserted into the cavity of the upper portion 26, the lower portion 28 is rotated towards the shaft until the clip 20 is secured about the shaft of the golf club. The golf club head cover 22 is removed by simply pulling the lower portion 28 of the protective cover away from the shaft.

[0033] It can be appreciated that one difference between the two embodiments shown is the position of the lower portions (16, 28) and clip 20 relative to the shaft of the golf club (12, 24). In the first embodiment intended for use with a putter, the opening to the cavity in the golf club head cover is at the rear of the head cover; whereas, in the second embodiment, intended for wood and metal driving clubs, the opening to the cavity is disposed toward the front of the head cover.

[0034] From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention contemplates numerous variations in the location of the fastener, the shape of the fastener, the material used for the cover, the material used for the liner of the cover, the size of the golf club head cover and other variations.

Claims

1. A golf club head cover comprising: a protective cover having an upper portion for protecting a golf club head and a lower portion; and a clip disposed about the lower portion of the protective cover and adapted for securing the protective cover to a golf club.

2. The golf club head cover of claim 1 wherein the clip is a resilient clip.

3. The golf club head cover of claim 2 wherein the clip is c-shaped.

4. The golf club head cover of claim 1 wherein the clip is disposed within the lower portion of the protective cover.

5. A golf club head cover comprising: a protective pocket adapted for fitting over a head of a golf club; a partially open collar adjacent to the protective pocket; a resilient clip disposed within the open collar for retaining a shaft of the golf club.

6. The golf club head cover of claim 5 wherein the clip is c-shaped with inverted ends.

7. The golf club head cover of claim 5 wherein the clip is metal.

8. The golf club head cover of claim 5 wherein the protective pocket and the collar have an interior lining.

9. The golf club head cover of claim 8 wherein the clip is disposed within the interior lining of the collar.