U.S. patent application number 11/032260 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for golf jacket with grip pocket.
Invention is credited to Andy Jones.
Application Number | 20060150298 11/032260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36651666 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060150298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Andy |
July 13, 2006 |
Golf jacket with grip pocket
Abstract
A garment including an outer shell, an inner liner, and a pocket
extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club,
the pocket being disposed between the outer shell and the
liner.
Inventors: |
Jones; Andy; (East Falmouth,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ACUSHNET COMPANY
333 BRIDGE STREET
P. O. BOX 965
FAIRHAVEN
MA
02719
US
|
Family ID: |
36651666 |
Appl. No.: |
11/032260 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 3/00 20130101; A41D
27/20 20130101; A41D 27/208 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/093 |
International
Class: |
A41D 3/02 20060101
A41D003/02 |
Claims
1. A garment comprising an outer shell, an inner liner, and a
pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf
club, the pocket being disposed between the outer shell and the
liner.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pocket comprises a sheath
comprising a closed end and an open end.
3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the open end is attached to a
downward-facing aperture in the shell or the liner.
4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the aperture comprises a
closure.
5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a sleeve
covering a portion of a wearer's arm.
6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the sleeve covers the wearer's
entire arm.
7. The garment of claim 5, wherein the sleeve is removable.
8. The garment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pocket and
the outer shell are substantially waterproof.
9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises an
outside facing away from the liner and an inside facing the liner
to define an inner space therebetween, the shell including first
and second anchored portions and defining an opening in the first
anchored portion, the shell also including a tensionable portion
disposed between the anchored portions, wherein the shell and liner
are configured for encircling the wearer.
10. The garment of claim 9, further comprising a cinch comprising
an elastic band disposed in the inner space and attached to first
and second ends which are anchorable to the first and second
anchored portions, respectively, such that a closed path encircling
the wearer is defined through the cinch and the tensionable
portion.
11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the tensionable portion is
located at a front of the abdomen section.
12. The garment of claim 10, wherein the cinch includes an anchor
securable to the first end and dimensioned larger than the first
opening such that the anchor is prevented from passing through the
first opening.
13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the shell includes a pocket on
the outside thereof; and the first opening is disposed inside the
pocket such that the first end and the anchor are operable for
releasably securing to each other from inside the pocket.
14. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a
windbreaker, a 3/4-length parka, a vest, a short-sleeve pullover, a
wind shirt, or a full-length coat.
15. The garment of claim 1, wherein the sheath has a length
sufficient to receive the entire length of a golf grip.
16. The garment of claim 1, wherein sheath comprises synthetic
fibers, natural fibers, fleece, plush materials, or waterproof
materials.
17. A garment comprising a pocket extending vertically upward for
receiving a grip of a golf club.
18. The garment of claim 17, wherein the pocket comprises a sheath
comprising a closed end and an open end, the open end being secured
to a downward-facing aperture in the garment.
19. The garment of claim 17, wherein the garment comprises a jacket
or a pullover.
20. A golf jacket comprising: an outer shell, an inner liner,
configured to circumscribe the torso of a person and to define a
gap between the shell and the liner; a vertically-extending zipper;
and a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a
golf club, the pocket being disposed in the gap between the shell
and the liner.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a jacket and, in
particular, a golf jacket including a pouch for protecting the grip
of a golf club during inclement weather.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] All-weather jackets typically have a variety of
constructions, such as an inner liner and an outer shell, to help
insulate the wearer and keep out water and wind, respectively.
Jackets generally include a torso portion and sleeves that are
designed to fit smoothly on a wearer when they are standing
upright. When the wearer is a golfer, however, the wearer may
experience a number of shortcomings associated with conventional
jackets.
[0003] Because proper golf stance requires the wearer to bend
forward at the waist and abdominal sections of the body, most
jackets tend to `bunch up` at undesirable locations when the
posture of the wearer is other than upright. This `bunching`
interferes with a golf swing as fabric of the jacket protrudes into
the arcuate path through which the arms of the golfer must travel
during the golf swinging motion.
[0004] Additionally, while many jackets sufficiently protect the
wearer from the elements, golf is a unique sport in that it is
often played in inclement weather, requiring substantial protection
from outerwear. Conventional golf outerwear, however, does not
adequately protect the golfer's equipment, in particular, the grips
of the club. The golf grip is the critical link between the
golfer's hands and the club--if the grips get wet, the grip surface
can become quite slippery, making it difficult at best for the
golfer to make a proper golf swing without losing grip on the club.
When playing in the rain, many golfers try to carry a towel over
the grip or hold the grip against the shaft of an umbrella to
protect the grip from getting wet. These attempted solutions,
however, are cumbersome and the extraneous items certainly must be
discarded prior to making the golf shot. Typically, the time
between discarding any protective items and actually making the
golf shot is more than sufficient for the grip to get wet. Some
golfers even awkwardly attempt to `hide` the grip from the elements
under a shirt or jacket. Since shirts are generally tucked into the
golfer's pants and many jackets are relatively form fitting and
provide little room for the protection of golf club grips, there
remains a need, therefore, for a manner of keeping a golf grip dry
during inclement weather that is simple, easy to use, and doesn't
require any hindering protective items, such as a towel or an
umbrella.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to a garment including an
outer shell, an inner liner, and a pocket extending vertically
upward for receiving a grip of a golf club, the pocket being
disposed between the outer shell and the liner. In a preferred
embodiment, the pocket includes a sheath including a closed end and
an open end, the open end being attached to a downward-facing
aperture in the shell or the liner. The aperture typically includes
a closure, such as a snap, hook-and-loop (Velcro.RTM.), or a
zipper.
[0006] The garment may include sleeves for covering a wearer's arms
(or a portion of the arms, such as in a vest). Preferably, the
sleeves cover the wearer's entire arms. The sleeves may also be
removable, such as by snaps or zippers circumscribing the arm near
the shoulder of the wearer resulting in a vest-type garment once
the sleeves are removed.
[0007] So that the garment is suitable for use in extreme weather,
at least one of the pocket and the outer shell should be
substantially waterproof, such that the golf grip remains dry while
being protected within the sheath.
[0008] The outer shell, when present, typically includes an outside
surface facing away from the liner and an inside surface facing the
liner so as to define an inner space therebetween, the shell
including first and second anchored portions and defining an
opening in the first anchored portion, the shell also including a
tensionable portion disposed between the anchored portions, wherein
the shell and liner are configured for encircling the wearer.
[0009] Additionally, the garment may further include a cinch, such
as an elastic band disposed in the inner space and attached to
first and second ends which are anchored to the first and second
anchored portions, respectively, such that a closed path encircling
the wearer is defined through the cinch and the tensionable
portion. Preferably, the tensionable portion is located at a front
of the abdomen section. The cinch may also include an anchor
securable to the first end and dimensioned larger than the first
opening such that the anchor is prevented from passing through the
first opening.
[0010] In one embodiment, the shell includes a pocket on the
outside thereof; and the first opening is disposed inside the
pocket such that the first end and the anchor are operable for
releasably securing to each other from inside the pocket.
Generally, the anchor is attached to the shell to retain the anchor
when the first end is pulled from outside the shell. The elastic
band typically has a band length between the ends and a band height
perpendicular thereto and the inner space has a space height
parallel to the band height and at least three times as large as
the band height.
[0011] The garment may further include a closure attached to the
liner and the shell in the tensionable portion, the closed path
being defined when the closure is closed. The cinch may include an
anchor anchored to the first end and the first anchored portion,
and the anchor is connected with the first end and the first
anchored portion such that the anchor remains associated therewith
when the closure is open for automatically stretching the elastic
band around a wearer when the closure is closed.
[0012] The garment also typically includes an upper body section
including a torso portion and a sleeve having a shoulder, an elbow,
and a wrist. Together these include a plurality of panels including
first and second panels that extend from the shoulder to the wrist
and are attached to each other by a back seam. The shoulder is
generally attached to the torso portion such that the back seam
runs from a back of the shoulder to a back of the elbow to a back
of the wrist, and the first and second panels have back edges
joined at the back seam, each back edge having a convex curvature
of a radius that decreases towards the elbow.
[0013] The present invention is also directed to a garment
including a pocket extending vertically upward for receiving a grip
of a golf club. In one embodiment, the pocket includes a sheath
including a closed end and an open end, the open end being secured
to a downward-facing aperture in the garment.
[0014] The present invention is further directed to a golf jacket
including an outer shell, an inner liner, configured to
circumscribe the torso of a person and to define a gap between the
shell and the liner; a vertically-extending zipper; and a pocket
extending vertically upward for receiving a grip of a golf club,
the pocket being disposed in the gap between the shell and the
liner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cutaway front view of a preferred embodiment of
a jacket constructed according to the invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cutaway back view of the jacket;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the
jacket;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a blown up cross-sectional view of a portion of
the front of the jacket;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the
back of the jacket;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional top view of a portion of the
jacket with an open pocket; and
[0021] FIG. 7 is a cutaway front view of an alternative embodiment
of a jacket constructed according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-7 and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 7,
the garment of the present invention, while preferably a jacket,
can be any type of garment, such as a windbreaker, a 3/4-length
parka, a vest, a short-sleeve pullover, a wind shirt, or a
full-length coat. More preferably, the garment is a jacket 10
including an outer shell 12, an inner liner 14. Most preferably,
the garment is a jacket having a plurality of liners and an outer
shell, configured for a golfer, such that it includes a pocket 11
extending vertically upward for receiving the grip of a golf club
19 to protect the grip from the elements prior to the golfer making
a golf swing.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the pocket comprises a sheath 13
comprising a closed distal end 15 and an open proximate end 17, the
proximate end being vertically below and substantially collinear to
an axis defined by the closed end, the open end, and the sheath
connecting the two. The sheath can be made of any material
including, but not limited to, synthetic or natural fibers, fleece,
plush, or waterproof materials. Preferably, the sheath has a length
sufficiently long enough to receive and cover an entire golf grip.
The open end is preferably attached to a downward-facing aperture
such that the sheath is exposed to the outside of the garment. If
the jacket includes a liner and an outer shell, the pocket is
preferably disposed between the outer shell and the liner.
Preferably, the aperture is in the shell, liner, or both. The
aperture preferably includes a closure including, but not limited
to, snaps, hook-and-loop (Velcro.RTM.), or zippers. Unlike
conventional pockets, the pocket extending vertically upward for
receiving the grip of a golf club would not be suitable for
carrying items (i.e., items would fall out given the vertical
orientation of the pocket combined with the effect of gravity).
[0024] The garment can be of any design, but preferably includes
sleeves covering a portion of a wearer's arm. Preferably, the
sleeves are of a length sufficient to cover the entire length of
the wearer's arms. In one embodiment, the sleeves are removable,
such as by snaps or zippers circumscribing the arm near the
shoulder of the wearer resulting in a vest-type garment once the
sleeves are removed. The garment may also have a plurality of
pockets positioned at a variety of locations. Preferably, the
garment has two pockets, in addition to the sheath, positioned on
the front of the jacket for receiving the wearer's hands. The
garment, if a jacket-type garment, preferably has closures, such as
snaps, buttons, Velcro.RTM., or a zipper. The garment, if a
pullover-type garment, preferably has no full-length closures, but
may have a partial opening having closures near the top of the
garment.
[0025] So that the garment is suitable for use in extreme weather,
at least one of the sheath and the outer shell should be
substantially waterproof, such that the golf grip remains dry while
being protected within the sheath. For example, the jacket outer
liner or the sheath may include a waterproof barrier layer such as
Gore-Tex.RTM..
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, jacket 10 includes a shell 12
and a liner 14, which is preferably water resistant. Forming a
torso portion of the jacket 10 are front and back shell panels 16
and 18 of the shell 12 and front and back liner panels 20 and 22 of
the liner 14. Each of the panels 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the torso
preferably includes a plurality of smaller panels selected for
styling of the jacket 10 and to provide a desired shape. A closure,
preferably a main zipper 24, is attached to the liner 14 and shell
12 and extends down the center of the front of the jacket 10 to
separably join the front panels 16 and 20. At the bottom of the
torso portion is bottom hem 26 that includes an elastic portion 28
to drawl the bottom hem 26 snugly around the wearer. When the main
zipper 24 is closed, the shell 12 and the liner 14 are configured
to encircle a wearer.
[0027] Jacket 10 has sleeves 30 which include sleeve portions 32
and 34 of the shell 12 and liner 14. Cuffs 36 attached to the ends
of the sleeves are preferably adjustable in circumference to fit
various wrist sizes. Thus, cuffs 36 preferably are elastic and have
flaps 38 that snap to one of at least two locations in the cuff 36
to vary the size thereof.
[0028] The liner 14 and shell 12 are sewn together at edges 40
thereof. Sewn edges 40 are located where the sleeves 30 meet the
cuffs 36, on each side of the main zipper 24, around the collar 41
of the jacket 10, and at the bottom hem 26. Between the sewn edges
40, the shell 12 and the liner 14 are substantially free from each
other. The inside of the shell 12 and liner 14 thus define an inner
space 42 therebetween.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, on the inside of the shell 12, which
faces the liner 14, and within the inner space 42, the shell
includes reinforcing webs 44. The webs 44 are substantially
triangularly shaped, preferably pie-slice shaped, with a convexly
curved base and are sewn to the front shell panels 16 along the
curved bases 46, with the bases 46 facing the main zipper 24. The
webs 44 have web openings 48 about which are attached eyelets 50.
The curved bases 46 are wider than the web openings 48. Shell
openings 52 defined in the front shell panels 16 are also
reinforced by eyelets 50 and are substantially aligned with the web
openings 48.
[0030] On the outside of the shell 12, which faces away from the
liner 14, straps 54 are sewn to the front shell panels 16, opposite
the centers of the curved bases 46 of the webs 44. The straps 54
are attached to anchors, which are preferably chordlocks 56.
Chordlocks 56 each include a housing 58 and a clamping portion 60,
which together define a chordlock opening 62 and which are biased
relative to each other towards a clamping position by spring 64,
positioned therebetween. When tensioned away from the main zipper
24, the web opening 48, the shell opening 52, and the chordlock
opening 62 are substantially aligned with each other.
[0031] The shell 12 additionally includes pockets 66 formed by
pocket covers 68. The shell openings 52 are disposed within the
pockets 66. Pocket zippers 70 of the shell 12 selectively open or
close the pockets 66. A pocket flap 72 on the outside of the shell
72 covers each pocket zipper 70.
[0032] The jacket 10 also has a cinch 74, including an elastic band
76 and draw chords 78, which is also preferably elastic. The
elastic band 76 is disposed in the inner space 42. The draw chords
78 are passed through eyelets 79 in the ends of the elastic band 76
and sewn back upon themselves. The draw chords 78 are received
through the web opening 48, shell opening 52, and chordlock opening
62.
[0033] The elastic band 76 has a band height 80 perpendicular to
the length of the band between the eyelets 79. The inner space 42
has a height 81, which is preferably at least three times as large
as the band height 80. This retains maximum mobility when a wearer
is practicing a sport such as golf.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a loop 82 of fabric is sewn
to the liner at stitching 84 located at the top of the loop 82. The
elastic band 76 is received through the loop 82 and sewn thereto at
stitching 88. The loop 82 fixes the elastic band 76 to the liner 14
to retain the cinch 74 around the abdomen portion of the jacket 10,
preventing the cinch 74 from sliding vertically from its ideal
position.
[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 show the one of the draw chords 78 anchored to
the shell 12 by one of the chordlocks 56. The chordlock 56 is
dimensioned larger than the shell opening 52 and is thus prevented
from passing therethrough. The chordlock 56 is clamped to the
drawchord 78 and the strap 54. The elastic band 76 is stretched by
a distance from a naturally assumed length, and the drawchord 78
pulls the chordlock 56 against the shell opening 52. As the
chordlock 56 is not receivable through the shell opening 52, the
drawchord 78 is anchored to the shell 12 in a first position
relative thereto. The area about the shell opening 52 thus forms an
anchored portion of the jacket 10. The portion of the drawchord 78
on the outside of the shell 12 remains inside the pocket 66 and
hidden from view. The drawchord 78 also pulls against the web 44,
which reinforces the shell 12. A similar arrangement is present on
the other side of the jacket 10.
[0036] A closed path extending around the abdomen portion of the
jacket 10 and encircling the abdomen of the wearer 92 is defined by
the cinch 74 and by a tensionable portion 94 of the shell 12, which
is located at the front of the jacket 10 between the locations at
which the drawchords 78 are anchored. The tensionable portion 94
preferably extends across more than a third of the front of the
jacket 10. The closed path extends across the zipper 24. As the
elastic band 76 and sections of the drawchords 78 are stretched,
tension is produced along the closed path. As a result, the liner
14 and the tensionable front portion 94 of the shell 12 are drawn
against the wearer 92. The wide base 46 of the web 44 effectively
widens the closed path by spreading the tension produced by the
stretched cinch 74 across a greater area of the front of the shell
12, widening the tensionable portion 94. Preferably, the base 46 of
the web 44 is at least about three times wider than drawchord 78,
the shell and web openings 48 and 52, or the eyelets 50.
[0037] As a result, fullness is removed from the front of the shell
12, which is pulled out of the way of the wearer's golf swing. The
remainder of the shell 12 on the sides and back of the jacket 10 is
free from the tension of the cinch 74 and thus remains full.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates how the cinch 74 is adjusted. The main
zipper 24 is still closed and the jacket 10 is still being worn.
The pocket zipper 70, however, is opened so that the drawchord 78
and the chordlock 56 are manipulable from the outside of the jacket
10. The drawchord 78 is pulled out from the pocket 66 as
illustrated by arrow 96.
[0039] The strap 54 retains the chordlock 56 in the pocket 66 and
relatively near the shell and web openings 52 and 48. The
configuration of the clamping portion 60 and the stiffness of the
spring 64 are such that the chordlock 56 resists displacement of
the drawchord 78 therethrough resulting from the cinch 74 tension,
but such that the drawchord 78 may be pulled further through the
chordlock 56 when biased with a force greater than achievable by
the cinch 74. Thus, by pulling the drawchord 78 out from the
pocket, as shown, the elastic band 76 is further stretch. When the
cinch 74 is being stretched as shown by pulling the drawchords 78,
the chordlock 56 and the tensionable portion 94 of the shell 12,
including the web 44, resist the pulling.
[0040] In FIG. 6, the chordlock 56 is shown stretched by a greater
distance than it is in FIG. 3. When the drawchord 78 is released by
the wearer, the chordlock 56 again clamps against the drawchord 78
and anchors the drawchord 78 to the shell 12 in a second position
relative to thereto. With the drawchord 78 anchored in the second
position, the cinch 74 pulled tighter about the abdomen of the
wearer than when the drawchord 8 is in the first position relative
to the shell 12.
[0041] To loosen the cinch 74, the wearer opens the pocket 66 and
presses the top 98 of the chordlock clamping portion 60 into the
housing 58, releasing the grip of the chordlock 56 on the drawchord
78 and allowing the elastic member 76 to contract, drawing the
drawchord 78 back through the chordlock 56 to a looser
position.
[0042] When the wearer unzips the main zipper 24 and removes the
jacket 10, opening the previously closed path, the chordlocks 56
remain associated with the drawchord 78 and the shell 12 such that
no adjustments need to be completed prior to reclosing the main
zipper 24. In the preferred embodiment, the chordlocks 56 remain
secured to the drawchord 78 so that the elastic band 76 is
automatically stretched when the main zipper 24 is again closed
about wearer.
[0043] Furthermore, any cinch 74 adjustments can be performed while
the jacket 10 is being worn. Consequently, the wearer can feel
changes is cinch 74 tension as they are made, and need not engage
in a trial-and-error iterative approach that would be required if
the jacket needed to be removed for adjustments. In addition, the
cinch 74 tension is infinitely variable.
[0044] Referring to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 7, jacket
100 includes resilient tension-spreading vertical bars 102 sewn to
the inside of the shell 12 on each side of the main zipper 24.
Thus, bars 102 are disposed in series with each other along the
closed path. For clarity, the jacket pockets are not shown in FIG.
7. The bars 102 distribute the tensile force of the cinch 74 over a
large tensionable portion 104 of the jacket 100 as the cinch 74
pulls the shell eyelets 50 away from each other.
[0045] One of ordinary skill in the art can envision numerous
variations and modifications. For example, the cinch may be
anchored to the shell by hook and loop fasteners permitting the
cinch to be anchored at a plurality of locations on the shell. All
of these modifications are contemplated by the true spirit and
scope of the following claims.
[0046] As used herein, the term "about," used in connection with
one or more numbers or numerical ranges, should be understood to
refer to all such numbers, including all numbers in a range.
[0047] Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise
expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values
and percentages such as those for amounts of materials, and others
in the specification may be read as if prefaced by the word "about"
even though the term "about" may not expressly appear with the
value, amount or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the
contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification
and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon
the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present
invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the
application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the
claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in
light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying
ordinary rounding techniques.
[0048] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters
setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations,
the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are
reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however,
inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the
standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth
herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values
inclusive of the recited values may be used.
[0049] The invention described and claimed herein is not to be
limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed,
since these embodiments are intended solely as illustrations of
several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are
intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various
modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and
described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also
intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *