Golf Club Cover

This invention relates generally to golf club covers and in particular to an improved golf club cover for covering both the head and shaft portions of a golf club.

Golf club covers of various types are known in the art. One type of cover is made in the form of an inverted pouch which fits loosely over the golf club head, but does not cover the club shaft. Another type of cover includes a flexible sock-like shaft cover portion depending from the head cover portion for covering the club shaft. The cover is applied to the golf club by placing the shaft cover portion over the club head and then pulling the shaft cover portion downwardly along a longitudinal axis of the club shaft so that the shaft cover portion is pulled over the club head and then onto the club shaft. A bottom part of the shaft cover portion is preferably flared to accommodate the club head.

The process of applying the cover is cumbersome and inconvenient because the club head must be pulled through shaft cover portion before the club shaft can be received in the shaft cover portion. There is therefore a need for an improved golf club cover which can be applied easily and conveniently to both the head and shaft of a golf club.

In accordance with the present invention, a golf club cover is provided having a first cover member for receiving the head of the golf club and a second cover member depending from the first cover member for receiving the club shaft. The first cover member has an open end through which the club head is insertable into the first cover member. The second cover member is open at both ends and has a slot extending between the open ends which communicates with the interior of the shaft cover member. The shaft is insertable into the second cover member by penetrating movement of the club shaft through the slot in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the club shaft.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the second cover member is essentially tubular and has a substantially cylindrical wall terminating with flared first and second edge portions on respective opposite sides of the slot for urging the club shaft through the slot. Respective inner surfaces of the first and second edge portions are curved to facilitate penetration of the club shaft through the slot.

In accordance with another feather of the invention, the second cover member has a predetermined resiliency such that the first and second edge portions are laterally spreadable by penetrating movement of the club shaft through the slot. The width of the slot is insufficient to accommodate passage of the shaft therethrough without spreading the first and second, edge portions to widen the slot. The resiliency of the second cover member returns the first and second edge portions to their respective non-spread positions to capture at least an upper portion of the club shaft within the second cover member. The shaft portion is disengaged from the second cover member by exerting a force on the club shaft in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the club shaft to spread the first and second edge portions sufficiently to allow the club shaft portion to be retracted from the second cover member through the slot in an opposite direction from the direction in which the club shaft was inserted into the second cover member.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall of the second cover member, including the first and second edge portions, is made of plastic and is covered inside and out with a soft flexible material (e.g., a synthetic fur-like material such that the wall is substantially and completely enveloped by the flexible material. The first cover member is also preferably made of the same soft flexible material. The flexible cover member has a closed end opposite from the open end thereof and a substantially cylindrical deformable body extending between the closed and open ends for fitting loosely over the club head. The second cover member is adapted to be applied directly to the club shaft. The flexible material is interposed between the plastic wall of the second cover member and the club shaft to prevent direct contact between the plastic wall and the club shaft.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club cover, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a bottom cross-sectional view thereof, showing the cover applied to a golf club shaft;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the golf club cover with the head portion of a golf club received therein.

FIG. 9 is an elevation view showing the insertion of a golf club shaft into a shaft cover portion of the cover; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views showing the insertion of the golf club shaft into the shaft cover portion.

In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a golf club cover 10 according to the present invention includes a first cover member 12 and a second cover member 14 depending from first cover member 12. First cover member 12 is made of a soft, flexible material, such as a synthetic fur-like material. First cover member 12 has a closed end 15, an open end 16 in opposed relationship with closed end 14 and a substantially cylindrical deformable body 18 extending between closed and open ends 14 and 16. Closed end 14 and body 18 define a first enclosure 19 inside body 18 for receiving a head portion 20a of a golf club 20, as shown in FIG. 8.

Second cover member 14 is essentially tubular and includes a substantially cylindrical wall 22 made of a lightweight material such as plastic. Wall 22 is open at both ends and terminates with opposed first and second edge portions 24 and 26. Edge portions 24 and 26 define an elongated slot 28, which extends between the open ends of second cover member 14.

Wall 22 defines a second enclosure 23 inside of wall 22 for receiving at least the upper part of shaft portion 20b of golf club 20. The length of shaft portion 20b covered by second cover member 14 depends on the length of second cover member 14. Wall 22 is lined both inside and outside with a soft flexible material 30 such as the synthetic fur-like material of which first cover member 12 is made. As can be best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7, the flexible material 30 substantially envelopes wall 22. Inner surfaces 24a and 26a of respective first and second edge portions 24 and 26 are curved and edge portions 24 and 26 are flared to facilitate the penetration of shaft portion 20b through slot 28. Curved surfaces 24a and 26a urge shaft portion 20b through slot 28 and into second enclosure 23. The width of slot 28 is not normally sufficient to accommodate the insertion of shaft portion 20b. In order to accommodate shaft portion 20b, first and second edge portions 24 and 26 must be spread apart to widen slot 28. This is accomplished by exerting a force on shaft portion 20b to move shaft portion 20b in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of shaft portion 20b, which is also generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of slot 28, as can be best seen in FIG. 9. Shaft portion 20b is inserted into enclosure 23 by first bringing shaft portion 20b into pressure engagement with inner surfaces 24a and 26a, as can be best seen in FIG. 10A. Wall 22 has a predetermined resiliency, such that the penetrating movement of shaft portion 20b through slot 28 spreads first and second edge portions 24 and 26 apart to widen slot 28 and allow shaft portion 20b to penetrate through slot 28 into enclosure 23, as can be best seen in FIG. 10B. After shaft portion 20b has penetrated through slot 28, the resiliency of tubular member 22 returns first and second edge portions 24 and 26 to their respective non-spread positions, thereby retaining shaft portion 20b snugly within enclosure 23, as can be best seen in FIG. 7.

In order to disengage shaft portion 20b from second cover member 14, a force is exerted to move shaft portion 20b in an opposite direction from the direction in which shaft portion 20b was inserted into enclosure 23, thereby bringing shaft portion 20b into pressure engagement with surfaces 24a and 26a and spreading first and second edge portions 24 and 26 to allow shaft portion 20b to be disengaged from second cover member 14.

One skilled in the art will recognize that first cover member 12 and second cover member 14 may be applied independently to head portion 20a and shaft portion 20b, respectively. Second cover member 14 is adapted to be applied directly to shaft portion 20b without having to first pull second cover member 14 over head portion 20b, as is required in prior art golf club covers having shaft cover portions. By the same token, first cover member 12 may be applied to head portion 20a without having to apply second cover member 14 to shaft portion 20b. When second cover member 14 is applied to shaft portion 20b, shaft portion 20b is retained securely within second cover member 14. The flexible lining material 30 is interposed between shaft portion 20b (which is preferably of a lightweight material such as aluminum or graphite) and the plastic material of wall 22, thereby protecting shaft portion 20b against damage. Second cover member 14 is engageable with shaft portion 20b by moving second cover member 14 or shaft portion 20b, or both of them, in a direction generally transverse to the respective longitudinal axes of shaft portion 20b and slot 28, as indicated by arrows 40 in FIG. 9, so that shaft portion 20b snaps into second cover member 14 by penetrating movement of shaft portion 20b through slot 28.

Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail. Since changes in and/or additions to the above-described best mode may be made without departing from the nature, spirit and scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to the above-described embodiments.