Patent Application
20060163093
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to golf equipment containers, such as receptacles for golf related products and golf club head covers and, more particularly, to a method of applying adornment thereon. The invention is also directed to such golf equipment containers having adornment thereon.
2. Background Art
Golf pro shops, and other establishments that sell golf-related equipment, generally offer a number of different containers for golf equipment and paraphernalia. Among these products are a) bags/receptacles for clubs, shoes, and accessories such as tees, balls, and markers, and b) golf club head covers.
More and more, golf courses, and particularly private golfing clubs, have been offering golf-related merchandise with identifying adornment thereon. It is common for these courses and golfing clubs to offer apparel, tee markers, etc. with a name, logo, or other material identifiable with the course or golfing club. On one level, this identifying material serves as an advertising means. At prestigious courses, and those that hold notable events, this “signature” merchandise becomes popular as souvenirs for those who have either played, or witnessed an event, at the particular course.
Heretofore, course/golfing club identification has generally been limited to articles that lend themselves to bulk production with the particular adornment thereon without any appreciable expense. This is not to say that expensive articles are not offered with such adornment. However, certain articles do not lend themselves to the application of affordable, relatively high end, adornment that would be appealing to club members and souvenir hunters.
Among this last category of golf equipment containers are golf club bags, head covers, and some receptacles such as for shoes and other paraphernalia. Professional golfers typically have personalized identifying adornment on their golf bags. However, this is commonly performed on a single bag at a relatively high cost. For the club player and souvenir hunter, bag adornment is usually in the nature of a “bag tag”, consisting of a flat component that is releasably secured to the bag through a strap with joinable parts. The flat component typically will bear the desired course identification as well as that of an individual that owns the bag.
The sale of adorned golf club head covers offers a unique challenge to merchandisers. In years past, stocking of head covers for clubs identified as “woods” was more manageable. Golf club sets typically came with the same number and type of woods. However, in recent years, golfers have selected many diverse combinations of woods to accommodate their golf game. As a result, most operations selling such head covers have been reluctant to offer high end, fixed adornment on such club covers that includes any type of identification for the club, i.e. “1, 3, 5, 7,” etc. for fear of ending up with an accumulation of customized inventory that must be sold at a substantial discount, or discarded.
The above problems have led those that offer head covers to generally provide stock with a relatively inexpensive adornment with club identification on the head covers. One known expedient that addresses inventory control is to provide pressed on patches for the head covers. A universal head cover is sold with a collection of the patches having different numbers. The appropriate patch can be pressed on to the head cover using hook and loop fastener components. While functional, this system is deficient in two regards. First of all, these patches are not normally made with high end adornment, given that the appeal thereof is generally to the casual golfer. Secondly, these patches are prone to falling off during transportation, or during a round of golf.
Ideally, high end adornment could be placed on the above type of golf equipment in a manner that would facilitate inventory control and thereby reduce the financial risk assumed by those establishments offering such products.
In one form, the invention is directed to a method of providing a golf equipment container to meet an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment container. The method includes the steps of: providing a golf equipment container having an exposed surface defined by at least one substrate layer; providing at least a first adornment fixedly secured on the substrate layer so that the golf equipment container has a first appearance and to meet an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment container with the first appearance; identifying an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment container having an appearance different than the first appearance; removing the at least first adornment from the at least one substrate layer; providing at least a second adornment on the at least one substrate layer so that the golf equipment container has a second appearance different than the first appearance and to meet an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment container with the second appearance; and making the golf equipment container with the second appearance available to meet an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment container with the second appearance.
The step of providing a golf equipment container may involve providing a cover for a golf club head or a bag for golf clubs.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a first patch.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve securing the first patch through sewn thread or, alternatively, an adhesive.
In one form, the step of providing a first patch involves preliminarily securing the first patch fixedly to the at least one substrate layer. The method may further include the steps of committing to provide the golf equipment container with the first appearance and thereafter performing a supplemental securing step to more permanently secure the first patch to the at least one substrate layer.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing the at least first adornment on the at least one substrate layer at a first location and the step of providing at least a second adornment may involve providing the at least second adornment on the at least one substrate layer at the first location.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing the at least first adornment on the at least one substrate layer at a first location, with the step of providing at least a second adornment involving providing the at least second adornment on the at least one substrate layer at a second location spaced at least partially from the first location.
The step of removing the at least first adornment may involve heating the adhesive.
In one form, the step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing the at least first adornment with an identification of a first golf club type, with the step of providing at least a second adornment involving providing at least a second adornment with an identification of a second golf club type.
The step of providing at least first and second adornments may involve providing the at least first and second adornments that at least one of a) are different in shape, b) have different information thereon, and c) are different in appearance.
The method may further include the step of displaying the golf equipment container with the second appearance for sale at a first site. The step of providing at least a second adornment may involve providing the at least second adornment at the first site.
In one form, the at least first adornment overlies a first area on the exposed surface on the at least one substrate layer and the step of providing the at least second adornment involves providing the at least second adornment so as to fully cover the first area.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a patch with a woven design thereon.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a patch having a substrate component and a design piece that is separately formed from and attached in relationship to the substrate component.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a patch having a substrate component and a design piece defined by thread that is formed to produce at least a part of a viewable design.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a patch comprising a substrate component and a design piece with a perimeter edge and having thread that is formed to produce at least a part of a viewable design, wherein the substrate component extends beyond the perimeter edge of the design piece to define a frame surface at least partially around the perimeter edge of the design piece.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing the identification of an individual on the frame surface.
The step of providing a patch may involve providing a patch with a substrate component that is made from a material that does not appreciably fray upon being cut.
The step of providing the at least first adornment may involve sewing the patch through the frame surface to the at least one substrate layer.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing an identification of a first golf club type, with the step of providing a second adornment involving providing a second patch with an identification of the individual and a second golf club type.
The step of providing at least a first adornment may involve providing a patch with an identification of a golf course/golfing club or a golfing event.
The invention is further directed to the combination of a golf equipment container having an exposed surface defined by at least one substrate layer, a first adornment that was initially fixedly attached to the at least one substrate layer to produce a golf equipment container having a first appearance and thereafter removed from the golf equipment container, and a second adornment fixedly attached to the at least one substrate layer so that the golf equipment container has a second appearance.
In one form, the first adornment is fixedly attached to the at least one substrate layer to cover a first area and the second adornment fully covers the first area.
In one form, the golf equipment container is one of a cover for a golf club head or a bag for golf clubs.
In one form, the golf equipment container has a residual alteration from at least one of sewn thread and an adhesive used to secure the first adornment to the substrate layer.
In one form, the first adornment has an identification of a first golf club type and the second adornment has an identification of a second golf club type.
In one form, the first adornment includes a patch.
The patch may be defined by a substrate component and a design piece separately formed from and applied over the substrate component.
The design piece may include woven thread.
In one form, the design piece has a perimeter edge and the substrate component extends beyond the perimeter edge of the design piece to define a frame surface at least partially around the perimeter edge of the design piece.
The first adornment may include the identification of a golf club type.
The first adornment may include an identification of an individual on the frame surface.
The second adornment may be in the form of a patch.
In one form, the first adornment has an identification of at least one of a golf course/golfing club and a golfing event.
The invention is further directed to the combination of a golf equipment container having an exposed surface defined by at least one substrate layer and first and second adornments. The first adornment is fixedly attached to the at least one substrate layer to produce a self-contained design and a golf equipment container having a first appearance. The second adornment consists of a patch fixedly attached to the at least one substrate layer at least partially over, so as to at least partially obscure, the first adornment, to produce a golf equipment container having a second appearance.
Referring initially to
The golf equipment container 12 can take virtually an unlimited number of different forms. In one form, as shown in
Another type of container for golf equipment, contemplated by the invention, is shown in different forms 12′, 12″, 12″′ in
The club head cover 12″ is designed to accept the head 30 of a golf club 32, conventionally identified as an “iron”. The club head cover 12″ has a substrate layer 18″ bounding a receptacle 34 for the club head 30.
The head 30 on the golf club 32 is moved in the direction of the arrow 36 through a bottom opening 38 in the club head cover 12″.
In
The invention contemplates use in conjunction with other types of golf equipment containers, such as that shown at 124x′ in
Representative golf related articles are shown in the receptacle 50, among which are a golf ball 58, a tee 60, a ball mark repair tool 62, and a golf shoe 64. As noted above, the golf equipment container 124x′ can be independently transported or permanently or releasably attached to the golf bag 12, as through an appropriate connector 66.
According to the invention, the first and second adornments 14, 16 are provided, in the nature of a kit form in conjunction with the golf equipment container 12 to be interchangeably attached, or attached, one over the other, to selectively create two different appearances for the golf equipment container 12. The first and second adornments 14, 16 may be different or the same. In the latter case, worn or faded information on the first adornment 14 can be replaced with like ornamentation on the second adornment 16, to provide an improved appearance.
The substrate layer 18, as shown in
In
In
Alternatively, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
Regardless of the manner of applying the adornment 14′, 16′, it is contemplated that the adornment 14′ initially be fixedly secured through the thread 68′, adhesive 70, or by other means, which includes, but is not limited to, a combination of thread 68′ and adhesive 70. Generally, a more positive fixing than results from the use of cooperating hook and loop type fastener on the adornment 14′, 16′ and golf equipment container 12 is contemplated.
The thread 68′ in
With the first adornment 14, 14′ applied to the golf equipment container 12, the golf equipment container 12 has a first appearance. With the second adornment 16, 16′ applied to the golf equipment container 12, the golf equipment container 12 has a second appearance. The difference in appearance may be attributable to a difference in the design, subject matter, or shape of the adornment 14, 14′, 16, 16′. Alternatively, the difference may be attributable to the state/quality of the adornment 14, 14′, 16, 16′.
In one preferred form, the adornment 14, 14′, 16, 16′ has “information” thereon, which may take virtually any shape or form and have any color or combination of colors. The information may be in the form of a decoration, an identification of a golf course/golfing club, a golf event, an individual participating in a competition, a logo, the depiction of an object or scene, etc.
With the structures described above, a method of providing golf equipment to meet an actual or anticipated demand for the golf equipment can be practiced for purposes of inventory control, as described in flow diagram form with respect to
In the event that thread 68, 68′ is utilized to form or fix the first adornment 14, 14′ to the golf equipment container 12, the removal thereof, shown at block 78, can be effected by severing the thread 68, 68′. In the event that the adhesive 70 is used as in
Once the first adornment 14, 14′ is removed, the second adornment 16, 16′ can be applied in any of the manners described above. The second adornment 16, 16′ may be provided at the location from which the first adornment 14, 14′ is removed. The second adornment 16, 16′ may fully cover that location and have a greater areal extent. Alternatively, the second adornment 16, 16′ may be provided at a location at least partially spaced from the first location at which the first adornment was initially located.
As a further variation of the method depicted in
By leaving the first adornment 14, 14′ potentially fully intact, the second adornment 16, 16′ may be applied to fully overlie the first adornment 14, 14′ so that the first adornment 14, 14′ becomes obscured.
In
With the above-described structure, inventory control is facilitated. For example, particular pieces of the golf equipment containers can be more liberally ordered with the understanding that the adornment can be changed, either on site or by shipping the same to a location or entity that effects the change of adornment. The purveyor of the golf equipment containers does not have to contend with throwing out excess inventory that has adornment that is inappropriate for the particular product, the point of sale, a particular event, a particular user, etc.
As just one example, as will be explained in greater detail hereafter, the first adornment 14, 14′ may have a combination of information relating to a particular golf event and/or golfing club/golf course, as well as the identification of a particular type of club. If, for whatever reason, the first adornment 14, 14′ is not appropriate, be it by reason of not identifying the required type of club or pertaining to an event, location, or individual that is inappropriate, the first adornment 14, 14′ can be removed and replaced by the second adornment 16, 16′. As noted above, other options are available, including partial removal of the first adornment 14, 14′ or complete obscuring of the first adornment 14, 14′ by overlaying the second adornment 16, 16′.
As shown in
Additional details of the structure hereinabove described are set out more specifically in co-pending application Ser. No. 11/043,002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Some potential configurations for self-contained elements/patches used for the adornment 14′, 16′, will now be described. Many different variations of this adornment 14′, 16′ are disclosed in application Ser. No. 11/053,964, the disclosure of which is likewise incorporated herein by reference.
In one preferred form, as shown schematically in
In one form, as shown in
The design piece 94 has a peripheral edge 100 that is smaller in effective diameter than the peripheral edge 101 of the substrate component 96. This leaves an exposed frame surface 102 upon which information, shown as “INFO” at 104, can be applied. The information 104 can be applied at one location, at several locations, or continuously over a substantial part, or all, of the frame surface 102.
Aside from providing a location to apply the information 104, the frame surface 102 also functions as a suitable location to accept thread 68′ that can be used to secure the adornment 14′ to the golf equipment container 12.
In this embodiment, the peripheral edge 100 of the design piece 94 is shown to be generally conforming to the shape of the peripheral edge 101 of the substrate component 96. This is not a requirement, however. It is preferred that there be some exposed frame surface 102, either partially or fully around the design piece 94, and that there be at least nominal conformity of shape of the peripheral edges 100, 101 around some, and preferably all, of the perimeter of the adornment 14′.
As previously noted, the information 98, 104 can be varied significantly in terms of its appearance and content. As one example, the information 98 may relate to a golf course, golfing club, or golf event. For example, the information 98 may contain the name of a golfing club, golf course, or location, or be a depiction of a person, place or thing associated with a particular venue.
The information 104 may be coordinated with the information 98 and/or have other significance. As one example, the information 104 may be customized information relating to the individual that purchases the golf equipment container, such as that individual's name or initials.
In the event that the adornment 14′ is provided on a club cover, the information 94, 104 may relate to the particular identity of the club type.
There is virtually no limit to the nature or type of information, or number of different combinations of information 94, 104 that may be provided on the adornment 14′ for the golfing environment.
While the information 98 has been described to be applied through the use of thread, this description is not intended to be limiting. The information 104 may be applied by any of a virtually limitless number of different methods, among which are embroidery, silk screen application, the application of a separate, self-contained element/patch, etc.
While the adornment 14′ may have an effective diameter of virtually any size, with the design piece 94 having woven thread to produce a viewable design, the adornment 14′ is particularly eye catching at a size less than 2″ and more preferably less than 1″ in diameter. Of course, as noted above, the particular shape and size of the adornment 14′, 16′, are not critical to the present invention.
While the invention has been described with particular reference to the drawings, it should be understood that various modifications could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 11/043,002 entitled “Method of Providing an Adorned Article and Adorned Article Made Using the Method” and Ser. No. 11/053,964 entitled “Ornamentation for Apparel Article”.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11043002 | Jan 2005 | US |
| Child | 11137733 | May 2005 | US |
| Parent | 11053964 | Feb 2005 | US |
| Child | 11137733 | May 2005 | US |
