Patent Publication Number: US-2018050247-A1

Title: Golf club head cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to protective covers for golf clubs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golf clubs are traditionally carried in a golf bag that typically holds the permitted fourteen golf clubs to be used in a round of golf. The clubs are in fairly close proximity to one another, and can swivel or jostle in the bag so that the club heads of clubs can contact the club head, shafts, or hozzle of other nearby clubs. Likewise, during transport the clubs may bump against other objects, potentially causing damage or at least generating an annoying clanging sound. For these or other reasons, golfers commonly use a head cover for some or perhaps all of their clubs. Most commonly, golfers use covers for larger clubs such as drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids. 
     The most common golf club head cover is formed from a cloth material, often woven, and frequently incorporating some foam or other padding. The cloth-type cover works reasonably well to dampen noise and protect against minor impacts, but works less well for a more significant shock. The cloth head cover is also typically created with an extension that covers the hozzle and a portion of the shaft, creating a snug fit that can pose a challenge to attach to or remove from the club. In general, the process of inserting the club or removing the club is a two-handed operation while simultaneously securing the club within the bag or between the golfer&#39;s knees or between an arm and the body. 
     Some have tried to create a more rigid or clamshell type of golf head cover, but without much success. U.S. Pat. No. 2,705,039 to Halter describes a golf head cover made from a wire frame that is then covered with material described as being flexible, resilient, or rigid. A back part of the cover, positioned along the shank of the golf club when a club is inserted, includes a spring hinge, placing the hinge at an awkward location for grasping and removal of the club. US patent application publication 2011/0073227 describes a similar arrangement, again with the spring at the shank or hozzle. Several other prior patents have incorporated a similar hinged design, uniformly placing the hinge along the shank or hozzle. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,760; U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,609; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,267. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,307 describes a spring-loaded golf club head cover in which the spring is placed at the top (as viewed from the position of a golf club when stored in a bag). In this case, however, in order to incorporate the top-mounted spring the cover itself is open and has a C-shaped profile, thereby limiting its use to putters or similarly small clubs. In this case there is also no tubular shaft covering portion. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,508,525, places the hinge at the toe of the club. This arrangement is particularly awkward, requiring a greater force to pry the cover open and remove the club. Despite significant effort over the years to create a suitable clamshell hinged golf club head cover, prior efforts have consistently failed as applied to head covers for drivers and fairway woods. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A preferred version of a golf club head cover is formed in two halves, including a first half pivotally attached to a second half at a pivot location and moveable between a closed position in which the first half abuts the second half along a seam, and an open position in which the first half is pivoted apart from the second half at the pivot location. 
     The first half and the second half combine to define a bulbous head covering portion and a tubular shaft covering portion (that is, generally elongated and extending along an axis) when in the closed position. The head covering portion and the shaft covering portion combining to define an interior cavity that terminates at an opening at a proximal end of the shaft covering portion when in the closed position. 
     In most versions, the seam extends along a path that bifurcates the head covering portion and the shaft covering portion. 
     Preferably, the head covering portion includes a toe region, a heel region, and a sole region, in which the shaft covering portion extends from the heel region of the head covering portion and the seam extends through the toe region, the heel region, the sole region, and the shaft covering portion. 
     Most preferably, a clip is attached to the sole region and not the heel or toe, with the clip being operable by a user to move the golf club head cover between the open position and the closed position. 
     In some examples, the seam further comprises a first seam segment lying in a first plane along the shaft covering portion and a second seam segment lying in a second plane along the head covering portion, the first plane being transverse to the second plane. 
     The head cover may further include one or more tee holders attached to the golf club head cover. 
     In some examples, the first half terminates in a first planar rim and the second half terminates in a second planar rim, the first planar rim abutting the second planar rim in the closed position. 
     The golf club head cover preferably includes a mounting plate attached to the first shaft covering portion, the clip being secured to the mounting plate. 
     In some versions, the first half and the second half are each integrally formed from a polyurethane foam material. 
     Most preferably, the clip biases the first half and the second half in the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a preferred golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a preferred golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view of a preferred golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 4  is a right front perspective view of a preferred golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a preferred golf club head cover, shown with the cover pivoted to an open position, whereas the golf club head covers of  FIGS. 1-4  were illustrated in a closed position. 
         FIG. 6  is a top left perspective view of a preferred golf club head cover, shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 7  is a top right perspective view of a preferred golf club head cover, shown in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred golf club head cover  100  is shown in a front view in  FIG. 1 . In a preferred version, the head cover  100  is formed with a clamshell configuration having a first half and a second half separated by a seam  40 . The first half includes a first head covering portion  12  and a first shaft covering portion  22 , and in the illustrated example the first head covering portion and the first shaft covering portion are integrally formed from a single material. In one version, each of the first half and the second half are formed from a castable flexible urethane foam. In other versions, it may be made from other more rigid plastic materials, or other resilient materials such as silicone. Most preferably, the particular version of foam is rated as a semi-rigid material such that it will not collapse under its own weight. The second half likewise includes a second head covering portion  14  and a second shaft covering portion  24 , preferably integrally formed from a common material. 
     The first and second halves are separable from one another but joined along the seam  40  such that the first and second halves form an enclosed interior volume when they abut one another along the seam. The head covering portions define a bulbous shape configured to cover a golf club, preferably a driver or fairway wood. The shaft covering portions define an elongated tube shape configured to cover a portion of a golf club shaft. 
     Most preferably, the interface along the seam creates close contact and a snug fit along the entire seam, such that there are no gaps or openings other than at a distal end  60 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The opening at the distal end allows the club shaft to extend through the opening when the club head is stored within the club cover. In the illustrated example, each half terminates in a planar rim that abuts the opposing planar rim of the other half. In other versions, the first and second halves may form a mating interface such as a tongue and groove arrangement (with a tongue formed on one of the first or second half, and a groove formed on the other of the first and second half), or other abutment features to ensure that the rim of each half properly aligns with the opposing rim and remains in alignment. 
     In the illustrated example, the first and second halves are biased toward one another and can be pivoted away from one another through the use of a top-mounted hinge  30 . In one version, the hinge is configured as a butterfly clip having a first wing or handle  32  and a second wing or handle  34  joined at a pivot location  31  by a pin or axle. The first wing is mounted to the first head covering portion  12 , preferably through a mounting plate  38 . The wing and mounting plate may be integrally formed, or the wing may be separately constructed and attached to the mounting plate. In one version, the wing and mounting plate are both formed from aluminum to provide lightweight strength and rigidity. In other versions either component may be formed from other metals or yet other materials such as plastics, though preferably both components are formed from a material that is rigid when in use. A second wing  34  is similarly attached to a second mounting plate  37 , attached to the second head covering portion  14 , and preferably made from the same materials as with the first wing and first mounting plate. 
     In some versions, the head cover may include one or more tee holders  35 ,  36 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the tee holders may be attached to outer faces of the first wing  32  and second wing  34 . Each may be formed as a C-shaped clip for receiving a golf tee, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . In some versions the tee holders may be enclosed rings or holes rather than C-shaped with an outer opening. In yet other versions, one or more tee holders may be mounted on either of the head covering portions or shaft covering portions. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a preferred golf club head cover, including hinge or clip  30  joining the first half (with first head covering portion  12  and first shaft covering portion  22 ) to the second half (with second head covering portion  14  and second shaft covering portion  24 ). In this top view, the pin  31  is visible, which carries a coil spring  33  having opposing ends that press against the first and second wings  32 ,  34  in order to urge them into the closed position. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the seam  40  is preferably formed so that it does not lie in a single plane. Rather, the seam is formed so that it follows two planes, so that in the illustrated version there is a first seam segment  42  and a second seam segment  44 . The first seam segment  42  divides the shaft covering portion  20 , and extends along a first plane and at least partly into the golf head covering portion  10  before diverging along a second plane illustrated by the seam line  44  which divides the majority of the head covering portion  10 . The first seam segment  42  and second seam segment  44  are transverse to one another and meet at an apex  46  positioned at a heel  15  of the head covering portion, opposite a toe portion  16 , best seen in  FIG. 3 . The intersection of the first seam segment and second seam segment at the apex  46  defines an angle α, and in the illustrated example the angle is less than 180 degrees and greater than 135 degrees. More preferably, the angle is between 145 and 175 degrees. 
       FIGS. 5-7  illustrate a preferred golf club head cover in an open position, in which the opposing wings or handles of the spring clip  30  are urged toward one another in order to pry the two halves apart from one another in order to insert or release a golf club from the cover. Most preferably, the clip  30  is biased to urge the first and second halves toward another in the resting position, requiring the application of a force to separate the two halves along the seam. 
     Each of the first half and the second half is formed as a portion of a shell, defining an interior cavity that includes a golf head cavity (e.g.,  64  in  FIG. 7 ) and a golf shaft cavity (e.g.,  62  in  FIG. 7 ). Though a cavity for the first half is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cavity in the second half is similarly arranged so that the first and second halves define an interior volume when pivoted toward one another along the seam. As illustrated, the seam dividing the first half and the second half creates two halves of substantially equal volume. The two halves are not identically shaped, and therefore the volumes may not be perfectly equal, but in the context of this invention “substantially equal volume” means that each half defines at least 40% of the total volume of the head cover. 
     One advantage of the illustrated invention is that the clip  30  is placed at an upper region of the head cover, with reference to the orientation of the head cover when attached to a golf club and positioned in a golf bag. The preferred orientation is best seen with respect to  FIG. 3 . In the case of a typical golf bag which is resting on a horizontal ground surface represented by plane H in  FIG. 3 , the golf bag may be inclined at an angle and resting on the legs of the bag in a tripod configuration. In such a case, the clubs are typically inclined along an angle with respect to the horizontal represented by axis S in  FIG. 3 . As illustrated, the axis S extends centrally through the shaft covering portion  20 , forming an angle θ with respect to the horizontal. Most preferably, the angle θ is in the range of 35 to 60 degrees, and more preferably about 45 degrees. A tangent line T 1  through the top of the golf club cover (when in the orientation of  FIG. 3 ) is substantially parallel to the horizontal. A second line T 2  generally defines the region of the head covering portion (that is, between T 1  and T 2 ) that surrounds the sole of a golf club (such as a driver, or fairway wood) when in position within the cover. In a preferred version, the clip  30  is positioned along the tangent line (or plane), and most preferably the clip  30  is positioned along the distal end defining a sole region  70  (opposite the proximal end  72 ) of the club cover, in which the sole region is the region between planes T 1  and T 2 . As noted above, the distal end of the club cover is not at the toe  16 , nor at the heel  15 , but rather positioned centrally between the heel and the toe. 
     In the orientation as described above, the clip should be positioned for grasping in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 3 , so that the clip is substantially at the top of the golf club head cover as it rests in the golf bag. This position allows the club head cover to be grasped by a user by squeezing the clip  30  to both lift the cover and open the two halves at substantially the same time. Consequently, a single-handed removal technique is possible, allowing the cover to be opened and removed with one hand while reaching for the club itself with the other hand. The vertical orientation similarly allows the user to grip the clip and raise the club out of the bag to any distance needed, and then to squeeze the clip to separate the two halves once the cover is clear of the other clubs in the bag. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.