Golf club cover

A cover for the head of a golf club, especially a putter, has a pair of elongated jaws which each have a C-shape profile viewed perpendicular to the axis of jaw elongation. The jaws face each other to define an interior, open ended, tubular cavity adapted to accept the head of the putter. A handle is attached to each jaw cooperatively forming a V-shaped orientation at adjacent top jaw edges. The jaws are pivotally connected proximate the handles and a manually releasable spring cooperates with the pivotal connector to urge the bottom edges of the opposing jaws toward each other in a normally closed position of the cover about the club head. The jaws are lined inside the cavity with a soft, resilient material adapted to firmly grip and cushion the head against potential impact damage. The cover is suitable for many different club head shapes. Also, the jaws have linear bottom edges which adapt the cover to T style, L style and intermediate shaft-to-head connection point putters. The cover is quickly and easily deployed onto the head of a club and can be conveniently clamped temporarily to a golf cart or bag which prevents losing the cover while the club is played.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to golf club covers and more specifically relates to 
removable golf club head covers. 
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Golf club covers historically have been found very useful for protecting 
club heads from dirt, damage due to accidental impact with other clubs or 
objects, and adverse environmental effects, such as exposure to sun and 
rain. Stocking cap type covers have been available for a long time. These 
are typically made of fabric and generally have a sleeve that slides over 
the head and extends a short distance along the shaft. Although functional 
and inexpensive stocking cap covers are inconvenient to use in that they 
are easily lost when removed from a club and take considerable time to 
replace on the club. Proper use of stocking cap covers thus delays 
progress of the game which detracts from the enjoyment of the players. 
A variety of fixed shape golf club covers have been disclosed in the art. 
Examples include club covers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,508,525; 
3,117,609; 3,664,399; and 4,278,832. These covers primarily are intended 
for protecting wooden head clubs which are most susceptible to damage. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,655 discloses a fixed shape head cover for a metal 
head club (i.e., an iron). These fixed shape covers commonly feature near 
complete encapsulation of the head to protect against intrusion of foreign 
matter as well as against impact damage. Due lo the variety of club 
shapes, fixed shape covers either must be fitted to a particular club or 
be oversized to accept the largest in a selection of clubs. Either way, 
the covers occupy a large volume, are somewhat cumbersome and are 
inconvenient for temporary storage while the club is in use. 
Despite the extensive historical development of golf club accessories, 
there remains a need for a golf club cover especially adapted for 
protection of the putter. Modern putters are normally made of metal, 
including often expensive alloys. They are used for strokes which demand 
utmost in precision of projecting the ball upon impact with the club. 
Therefore maintaining cleanliness and freedom from nicks, dents and 
scratches, particularly on the club face, is extremely important. 
Putters usually have an elongated, narrow head with a flat face aligned 
perpendicular to the ground surface. A variety of styles have evolved. 
These include "T" and "L" styles. The shaft of the T style connects to 
about the center of the head. In the L style, the shaft connects near one 
end of the head. Variations exist in which the shaft connects to the head 
at positions intermediate the center and the end of the head. It is 
desirable to have a cover which can accommodate the many geometric 
configurations of modern putters. 
Additionally, there is a current need for a golf club cover which is quick 
to remove, easy and convenient to store temporarily while the club is in 
use, and simple and fast to replace. 
Accordingly, there is now provided a cover for the head of a golf club 
comprising 
a pair of elongated jaws which define an axis of elongation, each jaw 
having a C-shaped profile perpendicular to the axis to define an open 
ended, tubular cavity, a top edge, and a bottom edge diametrically across 
the cavity from the top edge; 
means for pivotally connecting the jaws at the top edges; 
a handle affixed to each jaw, which handles are aligned in relation to each 
other in a V-shape orientation; and 
manually releasable spring means for urging the bottom edges toward each 
other in a normally closed position of the cover about the head of the 
club 
In an embodiment, at least the interior of the club cover is provided with 
a layer of soft, resilient material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
As shown in FIGS. 1-3 in which the same parts are given the same reference 
numbers, the novel golf club cover includes a pair of elongated jaws 2 and 
4 which preferably are constructed from rigid support members 6 and 8. In 
side view, the jaws define an axis of elongation in direction shown by 
arrow E, FIG. 1, so as to be capable of encasing a long and narrow club 
head such as the putter head 10 within cavity 12 defined by jaws 2 and 4. 
Viewed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of elongation, the jaws 
exhibit a C-shaped profile with the concave sides facing each other. The 
C-shaped profile provides the advantageous feature that a single cover can 
accommodate a wide variety of elongated club head shapes. Hence, it is 
significant that the jaws do not very closely conform to the shape of any 
one particular club head. Additionally, the cavity defined by the opposing 
C-shaped profile jaws is generally tubular and is open at both ends 14 and 
16. 
Adopting the convention that the jaws have top edges 18 and bottom edges 20 
disposed diametrically opposite the top edges across the tubular cavity as 
shown in FIG. 2, it is seen that a handle 22 is affixed to each jaw near 
the top edge. The shape of the handles is not critical except that the two 
handles are generally aligned in relation to each other in a V-shape 
orientation, seen to advantage in FIGS. 2 and 3. For example, the handle 
cross sections may be curved. Also, the shape of the rectangular profile 
of handle 22 seen in FIG. 1 should not be considered limiting. Any handle 
profile adapted to provide structural strength and leverage to operate the 
cover will be suitable. 
A means for pivotally connecting the jaws at the top edges is provided. The 
novel club cover also includes a manually releasable spring means which 
cooperates with the pivotal connection means to urge the bottom edges of 
opposing jaws toward each other in a normally closed position of the cover 
about the head of the club. Any device well known in the art which is 
useful for making a pivotal connection can be used in this invention. 
Similarly, any well known manual spring means can be used. In the 
illustrated embodiment, the pivotal connection means comprises a pin 24 
disposed within a cylindrical bearing formed by extensions of struts 25 
and 26. The struts are respectively affixed to support members 6 and 8. 
Hence, the jaws are permitted to rotate toward and away from each other 
about the central axis of the pin. The bottom edges are urged toward each 
other by action of a spiral spring 28 the extended ends 29 of which are 
biased against the handles 22. 
Additional representative pivotal connection and spring devices suitable 
for use in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,508,525; 
2,705,039; 3,613,760; and 3,892,267, which are hereby incorporated by 
reference herein. 
In one embodiment, each jaw includes a liner 3 of a soft, resilient 
material within the cavity 12. This soft, resilient material compresses 
between the club head 10 and the support member 8 when the cover is closed 
about the head. By resilient it is meant that the material is elastically 
deformable, like a sponge, i.e., it deforms under pressure and 
substantially returns to original shape upon release of the pressure. 
Because the material can conform to the shape of a rigid object with which 
it is placed in contact, the liner further assists the cover to firmly 
hold many different shaped club heads. The liner also prevents the head 
surface from directly touching the rigid support members 6 and 8 of the 
jaws. This protects the head from mar and scratch damage which might 
otherwise result from contact with the members. Hence, the liner should 
have a substantial thickness prior to deployment so as to allow the soft, 
resilient material to compress about the club head upon closing the jaws. 
Preferably, the liner should cover the bottom edges of the jaws to 
eliminate or at least to minimize potential scratching of the club shaft 
by the rigid, support members. 
Any soft and resilient material well known for cushioning delicate objects 
can be used. Of course, the material preferably should be durable to 
withstand wear and tear of repeated and long term use. That is, the 
material should be puncture and abrasion resistant and not adversely 
affected by exposure to water. For example the soft, resilient material 
can be a polymeric foam, a deep-tufted pile or plush fabric, a thin fabric 
such as felt or leather over a thick layer of padding, and the like. 
Preferably, the overall, uncompressed thickness of the liner should be 
about 1/16-3/8 inch, and more preferably about 1/8-1/4 inch. 
In another embodiment, the novel club cover includes an external layer 5 of 
a soft, resilient material on the outside of the jaws. The external layer 
can be of the same or different material as the liner. Although the 
external layer may partially have a cosmetic purpose, it also protects the 
cover from damage due to contact with other clubs in a golf bag while 
deployed on the club. In view that the protective function primarily is 
directed toward fending off contact with other objects, the thickness of 
the external layer should be at least about 1/16 inch. Optionally, the 
external layer of soft material can also be placed on the handles 22. 
A variety of geometric configurations for the C-shaped jaws are 
contemplated to fall within the concept of the novel club cover. In one 
example, the jaws can have a smoothly curved concave profile as seen in 
FIG. 3. In a particular aspect, the curvature of the jaws can be circular 
arcs. In another example, the jaws can be comprised of a plurality of 
axially intersecting planar panels 52 (FIG. 5). In a particular aspect, 
each jaw comprises about 2 to 4 intersecting planer panels. The jaws 
should be slightly longer than the club head. Preferably jaw length should 
be at least about 5 inches and more preferably about 5-6 inches. The 
C-shaped curvature of the jaws in closed position without a club head 
inside should preferably be about 1 inch in diameter. 
In initial condition, spring tension forces the bottom edges into abutting 
contact. The novel club cover is operated by manually squeezing the 
handles 22 toward each other to counteract the tension of spring 29. This 
causes the jaws to rotate outwardly about the axis of the pivotal 
connection means 24 thereby creating a wide gap between the bottom edges. 
Preferably this gap should be at least about 2 inches, more preferably 
about 2-3 inches, and most preferably about 21/2 inches. While maintaining 
manual pressure on the handles, the cover can be easily slipped over the 
head of a golf club. With the club head situated centrally within the 
tubular cavity between the jaws, handle pressure is removed. Spring force 
closes the jaws about the head until the head is firmly grasped by the 
compressed liner of soft, resilient material, and/or the shaft is pinched 
between bottom edges of the cover. Preferably, the bottom edges are linear 
along the length of the cover. Consequently, the cover is adapted to grasp 
T style, L style or intermediately positioned shafts. With the novel cover 
thus deployed on the club head, the club can be stored in a bag with 
assurance that the head will be protected from damage by impact with other 
clubs or objects. 
At time to play the club, the cover can be easily and quickly removed from 
the head by squeezing the handles to expand the opening between the jaws 
and lifting the cover away from the head. The cover can be removed before 
or after withdrawing the club from the bag. 
Before playing the club, the cover can be simply, rapidly and securely 
stored. The user again squeezes the handles to spread the jaws, and then 
deploys the cover on any nearby stationary tube or tab shaped object. The 
open ended, tubular shape of the cover renders it especially well adapted 
to mounting on tubular structures found on many common golf accessories. 
FIG. 4A shows typical alternative places to store a novel cover 46 on a 
manual golf cart and bag 43. For example, the cover 45, 47 and 49, can be 
stored on bag handle 44, bag lip, 48, or cart handle 42, respectively. 
Similarly FIG. 4B shows that a cover 88 can be temporarily stored at 
position 87 on the frame 86 or at position 85 of handle 84 of a motorized 
golf cart 82. 
Frequently, the novel club cover can be deployed in the storage position in 
a single, continuous motion at the time the user removes the cover from 
the club. That is, as the cover is removed from the club, the user 
maintains handle pressure to keep the jaws spread while relocating the 
cover to a storage support object. Similarly, the cover can be retrieved 
from storage and redeployed onto the club at end of play with an economy 
of effort and time. Furthermore, while the club is played, the cover 
remains securely and prominently attached to the bag or cart without being 
tethered thereto by a rope. Although the cover is not secured by a tether, 
the likelihood that the cover will be misplaced or lost is reduced. 
Although specific forms of the invention have been selected for 
illustration in the drawings, and the preceding description is drawn in 
specific terms for the purpose of describing these forms of the invention, 
this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which 
is defined in the claims.