Patent Publication Number: US-7584844-B2

Title: Golf club protection system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a continuation in part application claiming priority to U.S. utility application Ser. No. 11/533,630 filed Sep. 20, 2006, pending, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention generally relates to a golf club protection system. In particular, the invention relates to systems and methods for protecting a golf club head region. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The sport of golf is played with a set of golf clubs that are utilized to strike a ball with varying performance characteristics. These clubs generally include woods, irons, putters, and various hybrids. The clubs all include a shaft, a grip and a head. The shaft is an elongated tube section that extends between the grip and the head. The grip is the interface between the user&#39;s hands and the club. The grip is generally located at the top of the shaft, while the head is oppositely located at the bottom of the shaft. The head includes one or two striking faces which are designed to make contact with the ball during use. The striking face is oriented so as to create a particular loft angle. The loft angle of the striking face corresponds to the upward lift imparted on a ball. Various grooves or patterns on the club&#39;s striking face impart a spin on the ball that affects the balls overall trajectory. The accuracy and performance of a club depends in large part on the striking face. 
   The striking face of a club is vulnerable to dents, dings, debris, and other objects which may cause a loss of overall club performance. For example, clubs are commonly stored in a bag with the head facing up. During transportation, the heads of the clubs often bump into one another as the bag is jarred. This incidental bumping can cause damage to the striking face of one or more of the clubs. In addition, clubs may be damaged as a result of exposure to weather or other elements such as rain or sunlight. For these reasons, various club head covers have been developed to individually protect the head region of a club from damage. 
   Unfortunately, existing club head covers suffer from various efficiency, manufacturing, or operational limitations. For example, many conventional covers require complex multi-step processes to cover and uncover the head of a club. Likewise, the manufacturing process associated with many club covers requires that they be sold for unreasonable prices. And further, other covers are designed in a manner that does not ensure reliable engagement with the head of a club. These covers may easily slip off or misalign from the club during transportation thereby exposing the club head region to damage. Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for an improved golf club protection system that overcomes these limitations in a cost effective and utilitarian manner. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting a golf club head region. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a golf club protection system that protects the head region of a golf club from incidental damage. The system includes a first and second member. The first and second members are shaped to include a combined internal region corresponding to the shape of a golf club head. The first and second members are also moveably coupled to one another to enable the insertion and removal of a golf club from the system. The first member may further include a releasable shaft coupling system that releasably engages the shaft in response to a coupling force between the shaft and the first member. The nature of the moveable coupling between the first and second member may enable the second member to internally move within or overlap the first member. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for releasably coupling a golf protection system to a golf club. The method may be performed with one hand on the club and one hand supporting the golf club protection system. Alternatively, the method may be performed with only one hand when the golf club protection system is disposed on the ground. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a profile view of a golf club protection system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the system is in a closed configuration with a golf club releasably coupled within; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate a series of profile views in which a golf club is inserted into a golf club protection system in accordance with a second method embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate a series of perspective views in which a golf club is inserted into a golf club protection system in accordance with a third method embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIGS. 5A-5H  illustrate a series of operational perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 6A-6D  illustrate a series of operational perspective views of an another alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 7A-7C  illustrate a series of operational perspective views of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
   The present invention relates to systems and methods for protecting a golf club head region. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a golf club protection system that protects the head region of a golf club from incidental damage. The system includes a first and second member. The first and second members are shaped to include a combined internal region corresponding to the shape of a golf club head. The first and second members are also moveably coupled to one another to enable the insertion and removal of a golf club from the system. The first member may further include a releasable shaft coupling system that releasably engages the shaft in response to a coupling force between the shaft and the first member. The nature of the moveable coupling between the first and second member may enable the second member to internally move within or overlap the first member. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for releasably coupling a golf protection system to a golf club. The method may be performed with one hand on the club and one hand supporting the golf club protection system. Alternatively, the method may be performed with only one hand when the golf club protection system is disposed on the ground. While embodiments of the present invention are directed at systems and methods for protecting a golf club head region, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other fields. 
   The following terms are defined: 
   Golf club—a golfing device that includes an elongated shaft and a head. 
   Moveable coupling—a coupling between two members in which the members are able to move with respect to one another. For example, two members could be rotatably moveably coupled such that the two members may rotate with respect to one another. 
   Internal moveable coupling—a type of moveable coupling in which one of the coupled members is coupled within the other in a manner that allows for overlapping. 
   Chocking—a type of coupling in which a particularly sized object is positioned over an opening of a smaller size. For example, a wedge shaped door stop utilizes chocking to prevent a door from closing/opening because the wedge shaped door stop is larger in size than the opening under a door. 
   Reference is initially made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which illustrates a golf club protection system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, designated generally at  100 . The system  100  generally includes a first cover member  110  and a second cover member  150 . The system  100  may be used to protect the head region of a golf club  180  as illustrated. The head region of a golf club may include the golf club&#39;s head and a portion of the shaft. It should be noted that various sized and shaped components may be utilized to protect alternative types of golf clubs. System embodiments of the present invention relate to the interoperability of the system components and are not limited to a particular size, material composition, or shape. The illustrated first cover member  110  is composed of materials including rubber and plastic. The illustrated second cover member  150  is composed of materials including molded EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam. While this set of composition materials provides particular manufacturing and performance characteristics, it will be appreciated that other materials may be used while remaining consistent with the present invention. 
   The first cover member  110  further includes an elongated shaft cover  120 , an internal shaft channel  124  (see  FIG. 4A ), a plurality of teeth  122 , a head cover  130 , an internal head region  134  (see  FIG. 4A ), and a rotatable coupling area  132 . The elongated shaft cover  120  is an elongated concave member configured to extend down a portion of a golf club&#39;s shaft  182  as illustrated. The internal shaft channel  124  is a hollow interior region within the elongated shaft cover  120 . The internal shaft channel  124  is cupped or substantially enclosed by the elongated shaft cover  120 . The plurality of teeth  122  are disposed on the internal sides of the internal shaft channel  125  as illustrated. The plurality of teeth  122  are oriented perpendicular to the longest dimension of the elongated shaft cover  120 . The plurality of teeth  122  are flexible or bendable with respect to the first cover member  110 . The plurality of teeth  122  are positioned and sized so as to form an opening narrower than the diameter of the golf club shaft  182 . The shape, material, and positioning of the internal shaft channel  124  and the plurality of teeth form a releasable coupling system configured to releasably engage a golf club shaft utilizing the principle of chocking. Alternative releasable coupling systems may be utilized and remain consistent with the present invention. The head cover  130  is positioned on one of the lengthwise ends of the elongated shaft cover  120 . The head cover  130  is also a concave member shaped to conform to the enlarged head region of the golf club  180 . The internal head region  134  is disposed on the interior side of the head cover. The rotatable coupling area  132  extends perpendicularly away from the head cover  130  in a direction perpendicular to the longest axis of the elongated shaft cover  120 . A similarly shaped rotatable coupling area is disposed on either side of the head cover  130  to facilitate a rotatable coupling between the first and second cover members  110 ,  150  in the illustrated embodiment. 
   The second cover member  150  further includes an upper region  170 , an internal upper region  174  (see  FIG. 4A ), a lower region  160 , an internal lower region  164  (see  FIG. 3A ), lower point  162 , and a coupler  165 . The upper and lower regions  170 ,  160  are coupled together to form a concave shape corresponding to the size and shape of a golf club head. The internal upper and lower regions  174 ,  164  likewise form an internal area corresponding to the size and shape of a golf club head. The upper and lower regions  170 ,  160  are rotatably internally coupled to the first cover member  110  via the coupler  165 . The coupling between the first and second cover members  110 ,  150  is positioned at a point substantially between the upper and lower regions  170 ,  160 . The coupler  165  may be a rivet or similar coupler that enables rotatable coupling. The coupler  165  may also facilitate releasable coupling to allow alternative second cover members  150  to be interchanged with the first cover member  110 , so as to accommodate different clubs, colors, patterns, etc. Further, the coupled  165  may utilize a living or compliant hinge to enable the rotable coupling between the first and second members  110 ,  150 . The lower region  160  includes a point  162  that protrudes away in an orientation consistent with the lengthwise length of the first cover member  110  when the second cover member  150  is positioned in the illustrated closed configuration. The internal region formed by the internal upper and lower regions  174 ,  164  is also shaped to correspond to the internal head region  130  of the first cover member  110  so as to provide a combined internal region  174 ,  164 ,  130  that substantially covers the head of a golf club. The upper and lower regions  170 ,  160  are also shaped to correspond to the exterior shape of the head cover  130  so that in a closed configuration (illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the edges of the internal regions correspond to one another. 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 3A-3C , which illustrate a series of profile views in which a golf club is inserted into a golf club protection system in accordance with a second method embodiment of the present invention. A golf club  180  is generally inserted into a golf club protection system after the club is used. The illustrated method embodiment utilizes the golf club protection system  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  but may also be performed with alternative golf club protection systems while remaining consistent with the present invention. The components of the golf club protection system  100  are illustrated and described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 3A  represents the initial orientation of the golf club  180  with respect to the golf club protection system  100 . The method is performed by a user in which the golf club protection system  100  is supported by one hand and the golf club  180  is supported by the user&#39;s second hand. The exact coupling point between the user&#39;s hands, the golf club protection system  100 , and the golf club  180  may be adjusted according to a user&#39;s preference. The head  184  of the golf club  180  is aligned with the lengthwise orientation of the first and second members  110 ,  150 . The head  184  is then directed toward the second cover member  150 . As illustrated, the second cover member  150  is rotated with respect to the first cover member  110  in an open configuration, such that the internal regions  174 ,  164  are exposed. The open configuration may include any rotatable position in which the internal regions  174 ,  164  are rotated away from the head cover  130 . A force  200  is directly or indirectly applied to the head  184  in the direction of the internal regions  174 ,  164  of the second cover member  150 . The directly applied force  200  may be a user&#39;s hand on the head  184 . The indirectly applied force  200  may be if the golf club  180  is rotated or pivoted in a manner that forces the head  184  in the direction described. 
     FIG. 3B  represents the golf club  180  head  184  properly positioned within the second cover member  150  as a result of the force  200 . The golf club  180  shaft  182  is then rotated toward the elongated shaft cover  120  of the first cover member  110 . The shaft  182  is rotated about the head  184  of the golf club  180  such that the head  184  is substantially positionally fixed as the shaft  182  rotates toward the first cover member  110 . Rotation of the shaft  182  toward the first cover member  110  may naturally be performed by moving the first cover member  110 , the shaft  182 , or a combination of both. The first cover member  110  may be rotated about the second cover member  150  according to force  220 . Alternatively or in addition, the shaft  182  may be rotated toward the first cover member  110  according to force  210 . The shaft  182  is releasably coupled to the first cover member using a releasable coupling system. The illustrated releasable coupling system includes an internal channel  124  and a plurality of teeth  122 , which are flexible and form a lengthwise opening narrower than the diameter of the shaft  182 . The force(s)  220 ,  210  cause the shaft  182  to bend the plurality of teeth  122  in a manner that forces the shaft through the opening between the opposing rows of teeth  122 . The plurality of teeth  122  may be shaped to include an internally wider region between the opposing rows. The plurality of teeth  122  are also are configured to include a resilient/compliant property so as to releasably engage the shaft  182  after it is forced through the opening between the rows. 
     FIG. 3C  represents a coupled configuration in which the golf club  180  is protected by the golf club protection system  100  and the golf club protection system  100  is in a closed configuration. As illustrated, the shaft  182  of the golf club  180  extends through the internal channel  124  of the first cover member  110  in an orientation substantially parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the elongated shaft cover  120 . The shaft  182  is also releasably coupled to the first cover member  110  via the releasable coupling system described above. The head  184  (not visible) is positioned within the internal regions of the head cover  130  of the first cover member  110  and the upper and lower internal regions of the second cover member  150 . The second cover member  150  is rotationally oriented with respect to the first cover member  110  so as to substantially enclose the head  184  of the golf club  180 . In this orientation, a user may release the golf club protection system  100  and manipulate or position the golf club  180  while the golf club protection system  100  automatically adheres to the golf club  180  in a manner that protects the head region of the golf club. 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 4A-4C , which illustrate a series of perspective views in which a golf club is inserted into a golf club protection system in accordance with a third method embodiment of the present invention. This alternative method embodiment may be performed with the illustrated golf club protection system  100  disposed on the ground in an otherwise unsupported configuration. For example, a user may remove the golf club protection system  100  from a correspond club  180  and drop the golf club protection system  100  while the club  180  is being used. It should also be noted that the shape of the illustrated golf club protection system  100  is configured so as to encourage automatically rotating into the proper position in response to being dropped. The following method may then be performed by the user with a single hand coupled to the golf club  180  so as to reunite the golf club  180  and the golf club protection system  100 . 
   The illustrated method embodiment utilizes the golf club protection system  100  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  but may also be performed with alternative golf club protection systems and remain consistent with the present invention. The components of the golf club protection system  100  are illustrated and described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 4A  represents the initial orientation of the golf club  180  with respect to the golf club protection system  100 . The head  184  of the golf club  180  is aligned with the lengthwise orientation of the first and second members  110 ,  150 . The head  184  is then directed toward the second cover member  150 . As illustrated, the second cover member  150  is rotated with respect to the first cover member  110  in an open configuration, such that the internal regions  174 ,  164  are exposed. The open configuration may include any rotatable position in which the internal regions  174 ,  164  are rotated away from the head cover  130 . A force  300  is directly or indirectly applied to the head  184  in the direction of the internal regions  174 ,  164  of the second cover member  150 . The force  200  may be applied directly when a user&#39;s hand is on the head  184  or indirectly when the golf club  180  is rotated or pivoted in a manner that forces the head  184  in the direction described. 
     FIG. 4B  represents the golf club  180  head  184  properly positioned within the second cover member  150  as a result of the force  300 . The golf club  180  shaft  182  is directed downward by force  310  toward the second cover member  150  automatically rotating the elongated shaft cover  120  of the first cover member  110  toward the shaft  182  of the golf club  180  according to force  320 . This automatic response is accomplished by the rotatable coupling between the first and second cover members  110 ,  150  and the corresponding shapes therebetween. The automatic rotation force  320  of the first cover member  110  toward the shaft  182  forces the plurality of teeth  122  to bend in a manner that forces the shaft through the opening between the opposing rows of teeth  122 , thereby releasably engaging the shaft  182  to the first cover member  110 . Additional manual acts may also be performed to couple the first cover member  110  to the shaft  182  while remaining consistent with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4C  represents a coupled configuration in which the golf club  180  is protected by the golf club protection system  100  and the golf club protection system  100  is in a closed configuration. As illustrated, the shaft  182  of the golf club  180  extends through the internal channel  124  of the first cover member  110  in an orientation substantially parallel to the lengthwise dimension of the elongated shaft cover  120 . The shaft  182  is also releasably coupled to the first cover member  110  via the releasable coupling system described above. The head  184  (not visible) is positioned within the internal regions of the head cover  130  of the first cover member  110  and the upper and lower internal regions of the second cover member  150 . The second cover member  150  is rotationally oriented with respect to the first cover member  110  so as to substantially enclose the head  184  of the golf club  180 . In this orientation, a user may manipulate or position the golf club  180  while the golf club protection system  100  automatically adheres to the golf club  180  in a manner that protects the head region of the golf club. 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 5A-5H , which illustrate a series of operational perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated golf club protection system  500  includes a first cover member  510 ,  520  and a second cover member  530 . The first cover member includes an elongated shaft region  510  and a head cover region  520 . The second cover member  530  is moveably coupled to the head cover region  520  via a pivoting hinge in which a portion of the second cover member  530  is within the head cover region  520 , as illustrated in cross sectional  FIGS. 5E and 5F . This configuration biases the second cover member  530  toward an open configuration with respect to the head cover region  720 . In particular, the second cover member  530  is moveably coupled to the head cover region  520  at a lengthwise location distal of the middle with respect to the first cover member. This coupling allows a portion of the second cover member  530  to move within the head cover region  520 . 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 6A-6D , which illustrate a series of operational perspective views of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The golf club protection system  600  includes a first cover member  610 ,  620  and a second cover member  630 . The first cover member includes an elongated shaft region  610  and a head cover region  620 . The upper portion of the head cover region  620  is moveably coupled to the elongated shaft region  610  so as to articulate during operation; this articulation is illustrated in  FIGS. 6B and 6C . The second cover member  630  is moveably coupled to the head cover region  620  between two extension members  625  and rivet couplings. The moveable coupling configuration enables the second cover member  630  to rotate within the head cover region  620  so as to move between the open configuration illustrated in  FIG. 6B  and the closed configuration illustrated in  FIG. 6D . The second cover member  630  is biased towards a rotated open configuration with respect to the head cover region  620 . 
   Reference is next made to  FIGS. 7A-7C , which illustrate a series of operational perspective views of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated golf club protection system  700  includes a first cover member  710 ,  720  and a second cover member  730 ,  735 . The first cover member includes an elongated shaft region  710  and a head cover region  720 . The second cover member includes a proximal cover region  730  and a distal weighted region  735 . The second cover member  730 ,  735  is moveably coupled to the head cover region  720  via a pivoting hinge in which the proximal cover region  730  of the second cover member is within the head cover region  720 , as illustrated in cross sectional  FIG. 7A . This moveable coupling configuration biases the proximal cover region  730  to be in an open configuration with respect to the head cover region  720 . In particular, the relative weight of the distal weighted region  735  forces the proximal cover region  730  to rotate away from the head cover region  720 . A club head  750  may then push against the weight distal region  735  overcoming the biasing and causing the proximal cover region  730  to close over the club head  750  creating the closed configuration illustrated in  FIG. 7C . Alternatively, an elastic member or other compliant spring technology may be utilized to provide the functionality of the distal weighted region  735 . 
   Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for protecting a golf club head region. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.