U.S. patent application number 11/527231 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for combination golf club grip cover and cleaner.
Invention is credited to Allen Potter.
Application Number | 20070068612 11/527231 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37892424 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Potter; Allen |
March 29, 2007 |
Combination golf club grip cover and cleaner
Abstract
A golf club grip cover that is fully reversible and can function
as a standard golf towel. One surface of the cover is constructed
of a water resistant fabric and the other surface is constructed of
an absorbent fabric. When in its forward orientation, the cover's
water resistant exterior protects the golf club grips and the
golfer's glove from wet playing conditions. When in its reverse
orientation, the cover's absorbent exterior allows the golfer to
wipe away any moisture or other substance that collected on the
golf club grips and the golfer's glove while in use.
Inventors: |
Potter; Allen; (Julian,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCQUAIDE BLASKO
811 UNIVERSITY DRIVE
STATE COLLEGE
PA
16801
US
|
Family ID: |
37892424 |
Appl. No.: |
11/527231 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60720422 |
Sep 26, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/60 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/160 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02 |
Claims
1. A reversible cover and cleaner combination for golf club grips,
comprising a generally rectangular pouch open along one width, with
two juxtaposed surfaces combined in such a manner to allow each
surface to individually serve as the exterior surface of said cover
and cleaner combination depending on the orientation of said cover
and cleaner combination; one said surface being constructed of a
water resistant fabric; the other said surface being constructed of
an absorbent fabric; said pouch being large enough to envelop at
least one standard golf club grip.
2. A fully reversible cover and cleaner combination for golf club
grips, comprising a generally rectangular pouch open along one
width, with two juxtaposed surfaces combined in such a manner to
allow each surface to individually serve as the exterior surface of
said cover and cleaner combination depending on the orientation of
said cover and cleaner combination; one said surface being
constructed of a water resistant fabric; the other said surface
being constructed of an absorbent fabric; said pouch being large
enough to envelop at least one standard golf club grip.
3. The cover and cleaner combination of claim 1 or 2, wherein the
closed comers of said cover and cleaner combination are
rounded.
4. The cover and cleaner combination of claim 1 or 2, wherein the
width of said cover and cleaner combination is between
approximately four and ten inches.
5. The cover and cleaner combination of claim 1 or 2, wherein the
length of said cover and cleaner combination is between
approximately ten and twenty-four inches.
6. The cover and cleaner combination of claim 1 or 2, wherein the
seam along one of the two lengths of said cover and cleaner
combination is sealed halfway along the length.
7. The cover and cleaner combination of claim 1 or 2, further
comprising an opening at one corner of said cover and cleaner
combination that is large enough for an attachment system to
completely pass through said exterior surface when reversing the
orientation of said cover and cleaner combination.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/720,422 filed Sep. 26, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a fully reversible cover
for both protecting golf club grips from moisture and
cleaning/drying the grips when they become wet or soiled.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] During a game of golf, golfers frequently encounter
conditions wherein the grips on their golf clubs become damp or
wet. In particular, when golfers ride in a cart under cart path
only rules, or when approaching a putting green, they are
frequently required to remove two or more clubs from their golf bag
or cart to approach their ball by foot on or near the green. While
using one of the clubs, the golfer must set the other club(s) in
the fairway grass or surrounding high grass areas. Particularly on
dewy mornings, and also in light rain, drizzle, or other
precipitation, the resting golf club grips will thus become wet,
which makes play more difficult and decreases the accuracy of the
golfer's swing and putting stroke. Not only may the golf club grips
become wet during poor playing conditions, but the golfer's glove
may also become slick with moisture while the golfer waits his turn
to play at the tee or on the course. During rainy conditions,
carrying a standard golf towel (or similar item) to the green will
not protect the club, and also results in a wet golf glove. Playing
with wet golf club grips and/or a wet golf glove creates two
separate and distinct problems and corresponding needs: (1) the
need to protect golf club grips and/or the golf glove from moisture
and precipitation; and (2) the need to quickly dry golf club grips,
the golf glove and/or the golfer's hand that have become even
partially moist or wet during play.
[0006] It is a further need of golfers to have a method of
addressing the above-identified needs in a simple and portable
fashion. There is need for a method that does not interfere with
their customary golfing routines on or around the putting green,
and otherwise on the golf course. Currently, the inventor is not
aware of any invention, device or product that fully addresses
these needs in a user-friendly way. The typical golfer currently
uses a standard golf towel for this purpose. However, a standard
golf towel has no water repellant properties and will quickly
become saturated with moisture in rainy conditions. The inventions
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,508,721, 6,419,592, and 5,575,721 do
not protect golf club grips from moisture when the clubs are not
being used, nor do they offer the convenience of quickly cleaning
and drying the grips of golf clubs that have been unsheathed
therefrom. The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,999 does
not protect golf club grips from accumulating moisture. The
invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,390 does not allow for
the convenience of quickly cleaning or drying the grips of a golf
club that has been unsheathed therefrom. The inventions disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,463,971 and 5,769,141, as well as other
inventions related thereto, do not provide protection for golf club
grips. Thus, current practice and available products provide an
extremely poor solution to a ubiquitous problem among golfers. As a
result, there is a demonstrated need for a product that will
adequately protect a golf club grip from moisture, protect the
golfer's hand and glove from moisture, allows the golfer to dry
accumulated moisture from club or hand, and is easily portable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention comprises a pouch-like cover that is
generally rectangular, with its length sufficient to accommodate
the length of a standard golf club grip and a width sufficient to
accommodate at least one golf club grip. The cover is reversible,
with one surface being constructed of an absorbent fabric and the
reverse surface being constructed of a water-proof or
water-resistant fabric. The cover includes rounded corners to
facilitate easy reversal. Preferably, the cover also includes a
pass-through or a detachable and moveable attachment system that
allows the cover to be attached to and removed from a golf bag or
golf car in either orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows the cover in its forward orientation with the
water-proof or water-resistant fabric facing outward, and
illustrates the orientation of golf club grips inside the
cover.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows the cover in its reverse orientation with the
absorbent fabric facing outward, and clipped to a golf bag in the
fashion of a standard golf towel.
[0010] FIG. 3 shows the use of the cover to protect the golfer's
gloved hand and golf club grip during damp playing conditions.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a side release buckle system which is a
preferred system for attaching the cover to a golf bag or cart.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is a reversible, multi-function
pouch-like cover that can appear in normal usage to be similar to
an ordinary golf towel. The invention solves separate and distinct
needs of a golfer. It provides: (1) a water-proof or
water-resistant cover for golf club grips and/or the golfer's glove
hand while awaiting play (such as on the tee or before making an
approach shot); (2) a water-proof or water-resistant cover for golf
club grips and/or the golfer's glove hand as he walks to his ball;
(3) a water-proof or water-resistant cover for golf club grips
while the golfer is away from his golf cart or golf bag and hitting
an approach shot to the green or putting on the green; (4) a means
of cleaning and drying golf club grips and golf gloves that have
been subjected to wet conditions during play; and (5) a
user-friendly mode of operation that does not alter the customary
routine of the golfer while he is hitting approach shots, chipping
or putting.
[0013] The cover is constructed of at least two separate fabrics.
The first fabric is preferably a water resistant fabric. As used
herein, "water resistant fabric" includes both water-proof fabrics
as well as those that are designed to repel moisture for a given
period of time. They may include water-proof material such as
polyester, nylon or GORE-TEX.RTM.. The second fabric is an
absorbent fabric, preferably a highly water-absorbent fabric such
as a "microfiber" manufactured by DuPont.RTM.. Suitable absorbent
fabrics should have high absorption properties, such as standard
"microfiber" materials, as measured by change in reflectance from
color depth when wet, or in weight increase from absorbed water (at
least three times its weight in water), and be at least as
absorbent as required under ASTM D 4772-97. But the absorbent
fabric can also be constructed of standard cotton "terrycloth"
fabrics associated with standard golf towels. An example of such an
absorbent fabric is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,564.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows the cover 16 completely enveloping the grips of
three golf clubs 18. As depicted in FIG. 1, the two fabrics are
sewn or otherwise bonded in a pouch-like shape that forms the cover
16. The cover 16 is constructed in such a fashion that allows for
its complete inversion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the "closed" comers of the cover 16 are rounded, as is depicted in
FIG. 1, to allow easier inversion of the cover 16 while a golfer is
in the field of play.
[0015] Although the cover 16 can be of various sizes and
dimensions, the preferred embodiment (which approximates the size
of a standard golf towel) has a length 10 of approximately 18'' and
a width 12 of approximately 8''. To allow for easier placement and
removal of golf clubs 18 from the cover 16, preferably only a
portion of one of the two 18'' seams is sealed (the preferred
length of the seal is 10''), thereby creating a flap 14 in the
cover 16 to facilitate golf club 18 insertion and removal.
[0016] The cover's 16 forward orientation is shown in FIG. 1. In
the cover's 16 forward orientation, the water resistant fabric
faces outward and the absorbent fabric faces inwards. The cover's
16 forward orientation is used whenever the golfer is transporting
his golf clubs 18 either while riding in a golf cart, carrying golf
clubs 18 in his bag, or carrying golf clubs 18 to the playing
surface. The forward orientation protects the golf club grips from
precipitation and moisture, even when the cover 16 is set down in
wet grass. After the golf club 18 has been used and its grip is wet
as a result, the forward orientation of the cover 16, with the
absorbent fabric on the interior, may be utilized to dry the grip
when the golf club 18 is placed back inside the cover 16.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts the cover's 16 reverse orientation. In the
reverse orientation, the absorbent fabric faces outwards and the
water-proof or water-resistant fabric faces inwards. The cover's 16
reverse orientation may be used whenever the golfer desires to dry
a golf club grip that has become wet from precipitation,
perspiration or otherwise. The reverse orientation, with the
absorbent fabric facing outward, allows the golfer to use the cover
16 similar to a standard golf towel, including to wipe off any
collected moisture or other substance from the golf club grip and
glove.
[0018] FIG. 2 also depicts a manner in which the cover 16 may be
attached to a standard golf bag 22. In a preferred embodiment of
the invention, an attachment system 20 is connected to a corner of
the cover 16 and allows the cover 16 to hang from the bag 22,
similar to an ordinary golf towel.
[0019] FIG. 3 depicts the cover 16 in its forward orientation
protecting the golfer's glove 26 from wet playing conditions. The
cover 16 provides this protection by allowing the glove 26 to be
positioned inside the cover's 16 flap 24. This insures the golfer's
glove 26 and golf club grip will be dry while awaiting play.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the attachment system 20 that
allows for the cover 16 to be attached to a golf bag 22 or cart.
The attachment system depicted in FIG. 4 is a standard side release
buckle system (such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,800,629), with a male member 32 and female member 34 which are
mutually detachable. The side release buckle system can be easily
attached and detached with one hand, thereby allowing for easy
removal of the cover 16 from the golf bag 22 or cart. The male 32
and female members 34 can each be hooked to the cover 16, golf bag
22, or cart via clips 30 that are attached to the opposite end of
each buckle member 32, 34 by a strap. So that the cover 16 may be
clipped to the bag or cart in either orientation.
[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, the attachment
system 20 is comprised of a standard carabiner. The carabiner clips
onto loops fastened to the corner of the cover 16 and to the golf
bag 22 or cart.
[0022] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover
16 contains an opening at one of its "closed" comers of sufficient
size to allow the attachment system 20 to pass through the cover
16. By allowing the attachment system 20 to pass through the cover
16, the single attachment system 20 can be utilized in both the
forward and reverse orientations of the cover 16.
[0023] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various alterations
in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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