Patent Publication Number: US-2011073227-A1

Title: Golf club head cover and method of use

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     Any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents, hard copy or electronic, cited or referred to in this application are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. 
     DEFINITIONS 
     The words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. 
     The word “rectangular” includes square. 
     The words “substantially” and “essentially” have equivalent meanings. 
     BACKGROUND 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,832 discloses a manually operated golf club head cover comprising a pair of sections connected by a series of double action-spring loaded hinges along a longitudinal axis. A user needs both hands to open and close this head cover. Consequently, it is inconvenient to use. 
     SUMMARY 
     Our golf club head cover and method of use has one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” Our head cover is opened with one hand, is maintained open with this one hand, and, as the case may be, the golf club head is removed from or inserted into our opened head cover. Consequently, the user opens our head cover with one hand and, while open, inserts or removes the golf club head with the other hand. Our head cover automatically closes upon release of the user&#39;s grip. The claims that follow define our golf club head cover and method of use, distinguishing them from the prior art; however, without limiting the scope of our golf club head cover and method of use as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of their features are. 
     One, our golf club head cover comprises body including a pair of cover sections and a clip member connecting the cover sections. The clip member has a manually operable actuator mechanism such as handle elements that project from the connected cover sections. The body has an open condition enabling it to receive the head of a golf club and a closed condition substantially enclosing the club head therein. Each cover section has a predetermined configuration and each includes a perimeter. These perimeters abut when the body is in the closed condition. The cover sections may be connected to pivot about a longitudinal centerline along a backside of the body. 
     Two, the clip member has an open position and a closed position, and it includes a pair of arms hinged together and a spring element connected to the arms to normally bias the clip member into the closed position. Each arm includes a mounting element and a handle element. One cover section is connected to the mounting element of one arm and the other cover section is connected to the mounting element of the other arm. The handle elements may be positioned opposite each other along a portion of the abutting perimeters. They are oriented so that manually gripping and depressing the handle elements using only one hand overcomes the bias of the spring element. Depressing the handle elements moves the clip member to the open position by pivoting the hinged together arms to separate the cover sections to form the open condition of the body so long as the handle elements are manually depressed. Upon release of manually gripping the handle elements, the spring element moves the separated cover sections together to rejoin the cover sections along the perimeters to form the closed condition of the body. In other words the chip member functions as a single action hinge, namely, only urges the hinge into a closed condition. In one embodiment, only a single clip member is used and it may be positioned substantially centrally a longitudinal centerline in a backside of the enclosure. 
     Three, each cover section may include a frame covered by a flexible sheet material or each cover section may be molded from a plastic and are substantially rigid. In the case of the sheet covered frame, the frame forms a substantial portion of the perimeter of its corresponding cover section. In either case, the perimeters of each cover section may include a mating segment that mates with a complementary mating segment of the other cover section. For example, in one frame its perimeter has a male cross section, and in the other frame its perimeter has a female cross section, allowing the two cover sections to come together in alignment upon closure. 
     Four, the body has a topside, and one cover section may have along a segment of its perimeter in the topside a laterally projecting portion. The other cover section may have along a segment of its perimeter in the topside a recess portion that is aligned with and that receives the laterally projecting portion when the body is in the closed condition. The laterally projecting portion and the recess portion may each be substantially semi-circular shaped and they may have a common center when the body is in the closed condition. 
     Five, our method of covering and uncovering the head of a golf club employs our golf club head cover, which forms an enclosure by the mating of the pair of complementary cover sections. Importantly, the pair of handle elements are accessible, for example, they may be along the longitudinal centerline in a backside of the enclosure, and adapted to be gripped between the thumb and one or more fingers by a user and depressed towards each other to move the cover sections so they pivot and spread apart into an open condition. According to our method, the user with one hand grips the handle elements and depresses them so the enclosure is in the open condition, maintains the grip on the handle elements to keep the enclosure in the open condition while placing the head of a golf club between the spread apart cover sections, or removing it. While in the open condition, with the head of a golf club between the spread apart cover sections, or removed therefrom, the user releases the grip on the handle elements so the cover sections come together. This opening and closing is done with only one hand of the user, while the user with the other hand places or removes the head of the club into or from, as the case may be, our opened head cover. 
     These features are not listed in any rank order nor is this list intended to be exhaustive. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Some embodiments of our golf club head cover and method of use are discussed in detail in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of our golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view, with sections broken away, of the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of one alternate embodiment of our golf club head cover having a circular topside. 
         FIG. 3C  is a top plan view of another alternate embodiment of our golf club head cover having a substantially rectangular topside. 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of a pair of frames, shown in an open condition, forming in part a pair of cover sections of the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the pair of frames in the open condition depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the pair of frames depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  shown in a closed condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the pair of frames depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  shown in a closed condition. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the pair of frames depicted in  FIG. 7  in a closed condition. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of the pair of frames depicted in  FIG. 7  in a closed condition. 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded rear perspective view of the pair of frames depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  facing each other. 
         FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 A- 10 A of  FIG. 10  depicting the concave configuration of the perimeter of one frame. 
         FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 B- 10 B of  FIG. 10  depicting the convex configuration of the perimeter of the other frame. 
         FIG. 10C  is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the perimeters of the pair of frames engage and mate along their respective perimeters. 
         FIG. 11A  is a top plan view showing a user gripping the handle elements of the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11B  is a top plan view similar to that of  FIG. 11A  showing the user depressing the handle elements to place our golf club head cover in the open condition, and while maintaining the grip on the handle elements, inserting the head of a golf club between the partially separated cover sections of our golf club head cover. 
         FIG. 12A  is a front view of yet another embodiment of our golf club head cover in the open condition. 
         FIG. 12B  is a rear view of the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 12A  in the open condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     General 
     As disclosed herein, our golf club head cover may have several different embodiments. The numeral  10  designates the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3A  and  FIGS. 4 through 11B ; the numeral  10   a  designates the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 3B ; the numeral  10   b  designates the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIG. 3C ; and the numeral  10   c  designates the embodiment of our golf club head cover shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B . These embodiments are not in all respects equivalent. 
     All the embodiments include a body B comprising a pair of cover sections S 1  and S 2  and a manually actuated spring-biased clip member CM that normally holds the cover sections in a closed condition ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A through  3 C, and  11 A). The cover sections S 1  and S 2  each have a predetermined configuration so that, in the closed condition, the body B is adapted to substantially enclose a head H (phantom lines  FIG. 11B ) of a golf club. The body B has an open condition ( FIGS. 11B and 12A  and  12 B) enabling the body the head H to be received within or withdrawn from our open head cover. Each cover section S 1  and S 2  includes a perimeter P 1  and P 2 , respectively. These perimeters P 1  and P 2  abut substantially along their entire extend when the body B is in the closed condition. A manually operable actuator mechanism, for example, a pair of handle elements H 1  and H 2  operably connected to and an integral part of a hinge  12  ( FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  10 , and  12 A) of the clip member CM, projects outward from the exterior of the body B to enable a user with one hand to grip and operate the actuator mechanism, causing the cover sections S 1  and S 2  to at least partially separate and move into the open condition when depressed. Upon the user releasing his or her grip of the actuator mechanism, a spring element (leaf spring  30   a    FIGS. 6 and 10  and coiled spring  30   b    FIG. 12A ) of the clip member CM rejoins the partially separated cover sections S 1  and S 2  to return the body B to its normally closed condition. 
       FIGS. 1 through 3A , and  FIGS. 4 through 11B   
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3A  and  FIGS. 4 through 11B , in the embodiment of our golf head cover designated by the numeral  10 , the cover sections S 1  and S 2  each includes a frame F 1  and F 2 , respectively. The frames F 1  and F 2  are covered by a flexible sheet material  14  that is shaped into the predetermined configuration of each cover section S 1  and S 2 . This sheet material  14  may be a fabric, plastic or any suitable flexible material and it is bonded with an adhesive or otherwise attached to the frames F 1  and F 2 . The sheet material  14  may be formed into any suitable shape that corresponds to the shape of the golf club head H being covered so the cover section S 1  and S 2  are complementary and each constitutes substantially half of the body B. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the body B in the closed condition thus forms an enclosure for the golf head H that has a front side  18   a , a backside  18   b , topside  18   c , and a bottom side  18   d.    
     The cover section S 1  and S 2  are substantially mirror images of each other except for their central top segments. As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cover section S 1  has along its top central segment of its perimeter P 1  a laterally projecting portion  16   a  and the cover section S 2  has along its top central segment of its perimeter P 1  a recess portion  16   b  that is aligned with and that receives the laterally projecting portion  16   b  when the body B is in the closed condition. The laterally projecting portion  16   a  and the recess portion  16   b  are each substantially semi-circular shaped and they have a common center C ( FIG. 3A ) when the body B is in the closed condition. The cover sections S 1  and S 2  are connected by the clip member CM, which is in the backside  18   b  and positioned to pivot about a longitudinal centerline CL along the backside of the body B. In the closed condition, the body B forms in an upper portion  11  an enlarged upper interior for a head of a golf club and in a lower portion  12  a lower reduced sized interior for a hosel of a golf club. 
     The frames F 1  and F 2  are components that respectively form the perimeters P 1  and P 2  of the cover sections S 1  and S 2  of this embodiment cover  10 . These frames F 1  and F 2  may be molded from a plastic and each includes a rear portion  12   a  and  12   b , respectively, forming a mounting element of an arm of the hinge  12 . These arm portions  12   a  and  12   b  are hinged together substantially along the centerline CL in the backside  18   b  of the cover  10  and a leaf spring element  30   a  is connected to the arms in a manner that normally biases the clip member CM into a closed position ( FIGS. 6 through 9 ), moving the cover sections  51  and S 2  into the closed condition. Since each mounting element of an arm of the hinge  12  is integral with one frame F 1  or F 2 , as the case may be, the cover section  51  is connected to one arm portion  12   a  and the other cover section S 2  is connected to the other arm portion  12   b.    
     The handle elements H 1  and H 2  project from the connected cover sections S 1  and S 2  and are positioned opposite each other along a portion of the abutting perimeters P 1  and P 2 . These handle elements H 1  and H 2  are oriented so that manually gripping and depressing them using only one hand overcomes the bias of the leaf spring element  30   a  to move the clip member CM to the open position by pivoting the hinged together arm portions  12   a  and  12   b  to separate the cover sections S 1  and S 2 . This produces the open condition of the body B, which is maintained so long as the handle elements H 1  and H 2  are manually depressed. Upon release of manually gripping the handle elements H 1  and H 2  the leaf spring element  30   a  moves the partially separated cover sections S 1  and S 2  together to rejoin them along essentially the entire perimeters P 1  and P 2  to form the closed condition of the body B. As shown in  FIGS. 10A through 10C , the perimeters P 1  and P 2  of each cover section  51  and S 2  includes a mating segment, for example, the edge ED 1  of the frame F 1  may have a concave cross-sectional configuration and the edge ED 2  of the frame F 2  may have a convex cross-sectional configuration. These complementary mating segments mate when the body B is in the closed condition as depicted in  FIG. 10C . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B 
     The embodiment of our golf club head cover designated by the numeral  10   a  depicts a body B′ where its topside  18   c ′ has a circular configuration and the embodiment of our golf club head cover designated by the numeral  10   b  depicts a body B″ where its topside  18   c ″ has a substantially rectangular configuration. Otherwise these cover members  10   a  and  10   b  are essentially the same as the cover member  10 . 
     FIGS. 12A and 12B 
     The embodiment of our golf club head cover designated by the numeral  10   c  depicts a cover member CM′ having its cover sections S 1 ′ and S 2 ′ each molded from a plastic. The cover sections S 1 ′ and S 2 ′ are substantially rigid and the hinge H has a coiled spring  30   b  oriented lengthwise along the centerline CL of the backside  18   b.    
     Method of Use 
     All the embodiments of our golf head cover member as discussed above are used in the same way, namely, a user inserts or removes the golf club head H from between the separated cover sections using only one hand to hold the cover member in the open position. The handle elements H 1  and H 2  projecting outward from the backside  18   b  of the body B are easily accessible by the user and are adapted to be gripped between the user&#39;s thumb and one or more fingers. The user grips the handle elements H 1  and H 2  with one hand as depicted in  FIG. 11A , and then using only the one hand depresses these handle elements towards each other as depicted in  FIG. 11B . Depressing the handle elements H 1  and H 2  moves the cover sections S 1  and S 2  so they pivot about the centerline CL and spread apart into the open condition adapted to receive or withdraw the head H of a golf club. While the user maintains his or her grip on the handle elements H 1  and H 2  to keep the body B in the open condition, the user with his or her other hand places the head of a golf club between the spread apart cover sections S 1  and S 2 , or withdraws it. When the head of a golf club is between the spread apart cover sections S 1  and S 2 , or removed therefrom, the user releases his or her grip on the handle elements H 1  and H 2  so the leaf spring  30   a  or the coiled spring  30   b , as the case may be, urges the cover sections to come together into the closed condition. Thus, with only one hand and with a single grip-hold-release action is able to manipulate our golf club head cover and open and close it. 
     SCOPE OF THE INVENTION 
     The above presents a description of the best mode we contemplate of carrying out our golf club head cover, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use our golf club head cover. Our golf club head cover is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from the illustrative embodiments discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit our golf club head cover to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, our intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of our golf club head cover as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of our invention: