Patent Publication Number: US-2011048595-A1

Title: Moisture-resistant golf club grip cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Summary of the Prior Art 
     This invention relates to a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover, and more particularly to a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover that is removed in order to perform a golf stroke. The function of the grip cover is to preserve a dry condition on golf club grips when a golfer lays several clubs directly on wet or damp ground. The golf club grip cover is a fabric construction of a closed tapered tubular shape; an inch or two longer than a golf grip; larger at the open end; has a snap or hook-and-loop closure at and/or near the open end; and may have a stiffening member located around the perimeter of the open end in order to urge it into an open condition. After being placed on the golf club, the open end of the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover is squeezed flat and secured by the snap (or hook-and-loop) closure. The moisture-resistant golf club grip cover is intended to be used in a set, where every golf club in a golf bag is fitted with a grip cover. 
     Taking a selection of clubs to the golf ball is ordinary usage for a cart golfer, who must leave the cart (and the full selection of golf clubs) in order to approach the ball and take his or her next stroke or strokes. Even a walking golfer may choose several clubs rather than carry the golf bag as he or she approaches the green, taking a chipping wedge, an iron, and a putter. A golfer will endeavor to keep the grips of this selection of golf clubs off of damp or wet grass, perhaps by elevating the grip or finding a location to lean the clubs, or otherwise keep the clean and dry grips away from moisture and soil. 
     Once at the scene of his or her next shot, the golfer will select a single-club and remove the grip cover. The grip cover can be pocketed, and any additional clubs brought to the scene may be laid directly on the ground. Golf grips that have been protected by a grip cover of the present invention need not be kept elevated, as the water resistant or repellent fabric will keep moisture and soil from reaching the golf club grip. 
     After making the shot, the golfer replaces the grip cover over the golf club, pulls the open end of the grip cover so that one long edge of the grip cover is tight against the golf club grip and shaft, then squeezes the open end flat until the snap closes or the hook-and-loop materials are compressed into engagement. 
     The use of brightly colored fabrics for the grip covers facilitates the golfer&#39;s visual survey of the scene, to locate any and all golf clubs that were brought from the golf bag. The use of bright colors for grip covers reduces the chance of forgetting about a golf club, and inadvertently leaving it behind. 
     A further benefit of using the smooth fabric grip covers on every club in a set is that golf clubs more easily slide into the golf bag, compared with the effort and resistance encountered when uncovered golf grips develop friction and interference as they meet near the bottom of a golf bag. The grip covers slide easily past each other, even when in direct contact; in contrast with uncovered grips, which develop substantial friction. 
     The selection of fabric in combination with selection of non-snagging closure means (either smooth such as a snap, or located inside the grip cover such as hook-and-loop fasteners) results in little to no chance of a golf club grip cover of an “in bag” club interfering with and being dislodged when the golfer returns another grip-covered club to the bag. 
     The moisture-resistant golf club grip cover is inexpensively fabricated from a waterproof fabric or fabric-like material, where the grip cover is a tapered tubular shape that is an inch or two longer than a golf club grip, and the open end of the grip cover is larger than the closed end. 
     The open end of the grip cover may be reinforced, either with a separate piece of material or by multiple folds and hemming. The objective in reinforcement of the open end is to cause the grip cover to tend to be open when relaxed, rather than flat. The open end being urged open facilitates one handed placement of the grip cover over the golf club grip. 
     Numerous US patents disclose various embodiments of and uses for golf club grip covers. One family of golf club grip covers is intended to be placed on a club, and remain in place through the golf swing. See, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 587,956 to Rawlings et al, disclosing an elastically-fitting tubular handle; U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,617,972 to Wallace and 5,118,107 to Bucher disclosing grip covers with a zipper closure; US Patent Application Publication 2005/79,924 to Heinecke disclosing a grip cover that is slit at the open end to facilitate a tight wrapping to the golf club grip; U.S. Pat. Des. 319,677 to Rendall disclosing an ornamental zippered cover; and U.S. Pat. Des. 519,591 to Marcoux which discloses a cover that conforms to the golf grip, appears to have a slit at its open end to facilitate fitting over the large end of a tapered grip then being wrapped tight at the open/smaller end, has finger-grip or hanging loops at its closed and open ends, and having the open (smaller end) completely encircled with what appears to be wrapping and gripping means in the form of a hook-and-loop material. 
     In contrast to the stay-in-place covers noted above, other embodiments of golf club grip covers are, like the present invention, intended to be removed before the golfer uses the golf club. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,390 to Eckstein discloses a fabric sleeve with a moisture absorbent (terrycloth) interior, and alternative closures including a drawstring closure ( FIG. 2 ), a flap and snap closure ( FIG. 5 ) and a flap and hook-and-loop closure ( FIG. 6 ) as means to secure the grip cover to a golf club. There is no suggestion to use a tapered tubular shape that is larger at the open end. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,415 to Proutt also discloses a golf club grip cover that is intended to be removed before making a golf swing or stroke. This grip cover is described as having a waterproof exterior and a moisture absorbent liner, with the open end (or opening) being “sealed” to the golf club when fitted to protect the grip, in order to inhibit all ingress of moisture. 
     The current invention differs from both Eckstein and Proutt by not including a water-absorbent liner (making a much simpler and lighter weight construction), and from Proutt by making no attempt to obtain a tight seal against the golf club shaft. 
     US Patent Application Publication 2004/266,547 to Nercessian discloses a grip cover that is removed before taking a golf swing, but is only placed over the golf club grip after a golfer removes the golf club from the golf bag. The grip cover of Nercessian has no means of retention to the golf club (i.e., no closure means on the open end), and is not kept on a golf club grip when the golf club is returned to the golf bag. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. 356,617 to Teskey discloses an ornamental tubular hook-and-loop-closed golf club grip cover with a hemispherical top and where one end of the hook-and-loop closure is on an elongated tab of material. 
     U.S. Pat. Des. 423,596 to Morrison, discloses an ornamental flattened hook-and-loop closed golf club grip cover, which, similar to Teskey, has one end of the hook-and-loop closure located on an elongated tab of material. 
     Both Tesky and Morrison show a grip cover having a constant cross-section, circular in the case of Teskey (as noted above, producing a tube), and roughly rectangular in the case of Morrison, a shape that may be useful to contain multiple grips within a single cover. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,954 to Gentellalli discloses the use of stainless steel bands to urge a fabric bag into an open, circular condition to limit the force of contact between the disclosed covering bag and a bundle of covered fletchings of archery arrows, to facilitate removal of a single arrow from the bundle. 
     One significant distinguishing attribute of the present invention is its “reverse taper,” with the body of the golf club grip cover being larger at its open end (where the covered grip is smaller), and smaller at its closed end (where the covered grip is largest). 
     In addition to the difference of general shape, the use of the present invention teaches away from “wrapping” or otherwise making the open end of the grip cover tight, or otherwise conforming fully to the golf club shaft. Rather, the grip cover is secured to the golf club shaft by squeezing, or “closing flat,” the part of its open end that is not surrounding the club shaft. None of the references listed above shows or suggests either the “reverse taper” or a “squeezed flat” method of securing a grip cover to a golf club shaft. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention contemplates a fabric construction of a tapered tubular body, having a size that will surround a golf grip, with the open end being larger than the closed end (e.g., perhaps 60% larger in diameter/perimeter), and the open end having both a facility to urge it into the open position and a closure means that when closed, divides the single opening into two smaller openings, or one smaller opening. 
     The golf club grip cover is made from a woven waterproof fabric material, such as a treated nylon. A medium weight and colorful material is useful in order to maintain the roughly cylindrical, tapered shape, and to provide sufficient weight so that the grip cover is not wrinkled when temporarily pocketed for the purpose of taking a golf swing. 
     A closure means such as a snap or opposing patches of hook-and-loop fabrics is provided at the open end of the grip cover, so that when the open end is squeezed, the closure means will engage. When a snap is used for closure means, the open end will be divided into two smaller openings; and when hook and loop closure means are used (and fully engaged), the open end could be configured into a smaller opening (for the golf club shaft) with the balance of the width of the open end being held flattened. 
     In use, a set of multiple grip covers is brought to a set of golf clubs, with one grip cover being applied to each club, and then each club (with protected grip) is placed in a golf bag. 
     The present invention relates to a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover that may be adapted and adjusted to suit various closure means, various means to urge the opening end into an “open” condition, and ornamental appearance such as use of bright colors or multi-colored banding. Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the above and from the following description of the illustrative embodiments when considered with the attached drawings and the appended claims. 
     In summary, and in accordance with the above discussion, the foregoing objectives are achieved in the following embodiments. 
     A. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip comprising: 
     a flexible tapered hollow cylindrical body having a length that is longer than the golf club grip, a closed upper end with a perimeter slightly longer than the perimeter of the large end of the golf club grip, and an open lower end with a perimeter that is longer than the perimeter of the closed upper end; and 
     closure means attached to the body at a location near the open lower end. 
     B. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph A, further comprising a stiffening member locate near the open lower end of the body, where the stiffening member urges the open end into an open condition. 
     C. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph A, where the body is made from a water-resistant nylon fabric. 
     D. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph A, where the closure means is a snap fastener. 
     E. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph A, where the closure means is hook and loop fabric. 
     F. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph A, where the length of the body is about eleven and a half inches; the width of the closed upper end when the body is flattened is about one and a half inch; and the width of the open lower end when the body is flattened is about two and a half inches. 
     G. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph F, where the closure means is a snap fastener. 
     H. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph F, where the closure means is hook-and-loop fabric. 
     I. A moisture-resistant cover for a tapered golf club grip as described in Paragraph B, where the stiffening member is a strip of plastic with a width of about three-quarters of an inch, and a length of about five inches. 
     J. A method of golfing, using a golf bag and a set of golf clubs having a tapered grips, comprising the steps of:
         1) providing a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover comprising a flexible tapered hollow cylindrical body having a length that is longer than a golf club grip, a closed upper end with a perimeter slightly longer than the perimeter of the large end of the golf club grip, an open lower end with a perimeter that is longer than the perimeter of the closed upper end, and closure means attached to the body at a location near the open lower end;   2) taking a golf club and placing its tapered grip in the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover;   3) squeezing the open lower end of the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover until its closure means become engaged;   4) placing the golf club with attached moisture-resistant golf club grip cover into the golf bag; and   5) repeating steps 1-4 for each club in the set of golf clubs.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover, covering a golf club grip. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the preferred moisture-resistant golf club grip cover in a flattened condition. 
         FIG. 3A  is a plan view of the golf club grip cover body material before any folds have been made and before any stitching has been performed. 
         FIG. 3B  is a plan view of the golf club grip cover body material folded, stitched, and the golf club grip in an “inside out” condition. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover with a snap closure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover with a hook-and-loop closure for its open end. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover, covering a golf club grip. 
     Moisture-resistant golf club grip cover ( 100 ) is shown covering the grip of golf club ( 200 ). Closed end ( 140 ) rests against or is very near the end of the golf club grip (not shown), and the length of grip cover ( 100 ) is such that open end ( 150 ) lies beyond the golf club grip, and proximate to the golf club shank. 
     Open end ( 150 ) is seen as larger than closed end ( 140 ), that is, the overall shape of the grip cover is tapered opposite the direction of taper of the grip being covered. Open end ( 150 ) is also is seen as partially “flattened” to prevent the grip of golf club ( 200 ) from leaving grip cover ( 100 ). 
     Open end ( 150 ) is held in the partially flattened condition by snap closure ( 190 ), such that the opening admitting the golf club shank (part of open end  150 ) is too small to admit the large end of the golf club grip. 
     In the preferred usage, seam edge ( 160 ) is against the golf club grip, and the space in the grip cover adjacent to folded edge ( 170 ) is vacant. 
     In the preferred embodiment, grip cover ( 100 ) is made from a woven nylon fabric, with Codura brand nylon in about 210 denier being found to be an appropriate and preferred material to obtain the uses and advantages described above. 
     As one useful function of the grip covers is to provide visibility, the preferred embodiment uses “fluorescent” colors. It is foreseen that a construction of colored bands might be commercially attractive, as a means of providing a wide range of possible “personalized” grip covers to reduce the possibility of golfers confusing their clubs with those belonging to golf partners. 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the preferred moisture-resistant golf club grip cover in a flattened condition. 
     Moisture-resistant golf club grip cover ( 100 ) may be generally described (in a flattened condition) as having a closed end ( 140 ) about one and a half inch wide, a larger open end ( 150 ) about two and a half inches wide, a seam edge ( 160 ) about eleven and a half inches long, and a folded edge ( 170 ), slightly shorter than seam edge ( 160 ) because it (folded edge ( 170 )) is perpendicular to both closed end ( 140 ) and open end ( 150 ). Snap closure ( 190 ) is located near open end ( 150 ), about midway between seam edge ( 160 ) and folded edge ( 170 ). 
     Dashed lines ( 145 ), ( 155 ), and ( 165 ) represent fabric edges hidden inside grip cover ( 100 ), while closed end (and edge) ( 140 ) and seam edge ( 160 ) represent lines established by stitching, as discussed below. 
     Dash-dotted lines ( 156 ) and ( 158 ) represent stitching adjacent to open end ( 150 ). In the preferred embodiment, the volume defined by the two pieces of folded fabric bounded by the stitching at lines ( 156 ) and ( 158 ) is occupied by a flat stiffening member that tends to urge open end ( 150 ) into an open shape. 
     The preferred stiffening member is a spring-like strip of thin plastic, about 0.015 inch thick, 0.75 inch wide, and of a length that matches the perimeter of open end ( 150 ). 
     While a thin, flat plastic part is the preferred material for a stiffening member, a similar function can be obtained by using a length of spring wire (although wire may tend to puncture the fabric) or sheet of spring-tempered metal. 
     Similarly, while the preferred embodiment of stiffening member has its length run the full perimeter of the open end, the current invention can also be practiced with a stiffening member having a length that covers, for example, half of the perimeter of the open end, leaving the other half of the open end more easily pressed into a flat condition. 
       FIG. 3A  is a plan view of the golf club grip cover body material before any folds have been made and before any stitching has been performed. 
     The grip cover body can be made from a piece of fabric cut in a trapezoidal shape with a top edge (eventually near closed end) ( 145 ) being substantially shorter than a bottom edge (eventually near open end) ( 155 ), and lengthwise line ( 170 ) between stitchline ( 140 ) and foldline ( 150  or  150   a ) being the length of a golf club grip plus one or two inches. 
     The perimeter of the fabric that will make the body of a grip cover is defined by edges ( 145 )-( 165 )-( 155 )-( 165 ). A single piece of fabric is folded along dashed line ( 150 ) or ( 150   a ), facilitating the sewing of one or two lines of stitching adjacent to what will become the open end of a grip cover. Folding along dashed line ( 150 ) will provide sufficient space to contain a flat stiffening member between two lines of stitching, while folding along line ( 150   a ) and sewing a single line of stitching along a line intermediate to fold line ( 150   a ) and fabric edge ( 155 ) results in protecting fabric edge ( 155 ) from fraying, but not providing sufficient space for a flat stiffening member. 
     After the open edge ( 150  or  150   a ) has been created by folding (and after the optional and preferred reinforcing member is contained by folding at line ( 150 ) and sewing along stitchlines ( 156 ) and ( 158 )), the body is “folded” in half (without creasing) along lengthwise line ( 170 ), then sewn along lines ( 140 ) and ( 160 ). Sewn line ( 140 ) is preferably parallel to and about 0.25 inch from fabric edge ( 145 ), and sewn line ( 160 ) is preferably parallel to and about 0.25 inch from fabric edge ( 165 ). Sewing is done with a conventional lock-stitch using any suitable thread, and with a selection of thread color(s) being made to suit aesthetic sense. The grip cover is, at this point, inside-out. 
       FIG. 3B  is a plan view of the golf club grip cover body material folded, stitched, and the golf club grip in an “inside out” condition. 
     Open end (and fabric fold edge) ( 150  or  150   a ) may be closely adjacent to fabric edge ( 155   a ), providing insufficient volume to contain a flat stiffening member, or may be distant from fabric edge ( 155 ), with the distance between folded edge ( 150 ) and fabric edge ( 155 ) being greater than the width of a flat stiffening member. 
     When the grip cover is turned inside-in, sewing lines ( 140 ) and ( 160 ) become part of the outside perimeter of the grip cover, along with folded edge ( 150  or  150   a ) which forms the open end of the grip cover, and lengthwise line ( 170 ) which is one element of the length of the tapered tubular grip cover. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover with a snap closure. 
     The grip cover is depicted in an inside-in condition with folded edge ( 150 ) in a generally open condition. Opposing and cooperating snap closure parts ( 190 ) are shown located near the open end, and about midway between sewing line ( 160 ) and lengthwise line ( 170 ). 
     Snap closure parts ( 190 ) may be of any convenient size and style, but the preferred embodiment uses nickel finished, 10 mm diameter snap hardware, with “open prong” style and staked fastenment being used for both the socket and cooperating stud parts of the snap closure. The “open prong” style results in a minimal showing of metal parts on the outside of the finished grip cover, and also provides visual and tactile indications to the golfer as to the location of the snap parts. 
       FIG. 4  also shows the relationship between folded edge ( 150 ), fabric edge ( 155 ), and stitchlines ( 156 ) and ( 158 ), where a flat stiffening member may be located between layers of fabric bounded by stitchlines ( 156 ) and ( 158 ).  FIG. 4  also depicts the appearance of fabric internal to the grip cover bounded by fabric edge ( 165 ). In the preferred embodiment, a similar internal piece of fabric exists between stitchline (and closed end) ( 140 ) and fabric edge ( 145 ). 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover with a hook-and-loop closure for its open end. 
     Folded edge and open end ( 150 ) of grip cover ( 100 ) may, in an alternative to a snap closure, be fitted with mating hook-and-loop fabric pieces ( 195  and  196 ) located so as to provide an open zone, when the hook-and-loop pieces ( 195  and  196 ) are pressed into engagement, that permits a golf club shank, but denies a golf club grip, to penetrate the remaining opening in open end ( 150 ) grip cover. 
     While hook and loop fastenment is seen as within the scope of the present invention, closure means that require deliberate action in order to engage are preferred. For example, a mechanical snap closure is unlikely to be inadvertently engaged while a grip cover is pocketed, so a golfer will not have to “unsnap” (or otherwise undo) the snap closure means in preparation of covering a golf grip, after using a golf club. In contrast, patches of hook-and-loop material are apt to come in contact while the grip cover is pocketed, and thereby require the additional step of disengaging the hook-and-loop closure means in order to fit the grip cover over the club grip. 
     The drawings necessarily show specific structural arrangements embodying the invention. However, it will be appreciated that the invention can be practiced in various forms and structural combinations. 
     The present invention, described above, relates to a moisture-resistant golf club grip cover. Features of the present invention are recited in the appended claims. The drawings contained herein necessarily depict structural features and embodiments of the moisture-resistant golf club grip cover, useful in the practice of the present invention. 
     However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the arts pertaining thereto, that the present invention can be practiced in various alternate forms, proportions, and configurations. Further, the previous detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are presented for purposes of clarity of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be implied therefrom. Finally, all appropriate mechanical and functional equivalents to the above, which may be obvious to those skilled in the arts pertaining thereto, are considered to be encompassed within the claims of the present invention.