U.S. patent application number 11/519699 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for golf club head cover.
Invention is credited to Andrew Joseph Hydorn, Peter John Skurla.
Application Number | 20080060731 11/519699 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39168377 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080060731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hydorn; Andrew Joseph ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Golf club head cover
Abstract
A golf club head cover includes a club sleeve and a pom-pom. The
club sleeve includes a head pocket and a club shaft cover portion.
The club sleeve includes both stretchable and relatively less
stretchable or non-stretchable fabric strategically configured to
allow for the insertion of a golf club into the club sleeve. The
non-stretchable material is suitable to receive labeling such as
embroidery or silk-screening.
Inventors: |
Hydorn; Andrew Joseph;
(Houston, TX) ; Skurla; Peter John; (Newtonville,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
39168377 |
Appl. No.: |
11/519699 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
150/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/62 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/160 |
International
Class: |
B65D 65/02 20060101
B65D065/02; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club head cover comprising; a club sleeve adapted to
cover a portion of a golf club, comprising; a club head portion
defining a club head pocket configured to receive a club head; and
a club shaft portion extending from said club head portion and
defining an elongate space communicating with said club head pocket
and configured to surround a portion of a club shaft; and a pom-pom
secured to said club head portion of said club sleeve; wherein said
club sleeve is comprised of a first fabric and a second fabric, and
said first fabric being less stretchable than said second
fabric.
2. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein said first fabric
defines a substantial length of said club shaft portion.
3. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein the stretchable
percent of said second fabric is low enough such that said second
fabric can successfully receive embroidery labeling.
4. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein said first fabric is
knit.
5. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein said pom-pom is
connected to said first fabric.
6. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein said pom-pom is made
of pieces of yarn.
7. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein said pom-pom is
generally spherical.
8. A golf club head cover of claim 1, wherein the connection of
said second fabric and said first fabric includes fabric
piping.
9. A golf club head cover comprising; a club sleeve adapted to
cover a portion of a golf club, comprising; a club head portion
defining a club head pocket configured to receive a club head; and
a club shaft portion extending from said club head portion and
defining an elongate space communicating with said club head pocket
and configured to surround a portion of a club shaft; and a pom-pom
secured to said club head portion of said club sleeve; wherein said
club sleeve is comprised of at least a first panel and a second
panel, and said first panel being less stretchable than said second
panel.
10. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein said first panel
defines a substantial length of said club shaft portion.
11. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein the stretchable
percent of said second panel is low enough such that said second
panel can successfully receive embroidery labeling.
12. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein said first panel is
knit.
13. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein said pom-pom is
connected to said first panel.
14. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein said pom-pom is made
of pieces of yarn.
15. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein said pom-pom is
generally spherical.
16. A golf club head cover of claim 9, wherein the connection of
said second fabric and said first fabric includes fabric
piping.
17. A golf club head cover comprising; a club sleeve adapted to
cover a portion of a golf club, comprising; a club head portion
defining a club head pocket configured to receive a club head; and
a club shaft portion extending from said club head portion and
defining an elongate space communicating with said club head pocket
and configured to surround a portion of a club shaft; and a pom-pom
secured to said club head portion of said club sleeve; said pom-pom
being generally spherical in shape and being larger than said club
head portion; wherein said club sleeve is comprised of a first
panel and a second panel, and said first panel being less
stretchable than said second panel; wherein said first panel
extends over a substantial portion of said golf club head cover and
said second panel extends the entire length of said club shaft
portion and a portion of said club head portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to golf accessories.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved
golf club head cover.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Golfers commonly desire their golf clubs to be covered for
various reasons including protection, golf club identification,
decoration etc. The club covers are quite often made from a variety
of materials including both stretchable and non-stretchable fabrics
configured to stretch or slip over a club head and a portion of the
club shaft.
[0005] In the past the only commonly available golf club head
covers that have included pom-poms are those that are made of
entirely of stretchable fabric. Although this type of head cover
has a classic look that is highly desirable. The knit fabric is not
well suited for labeling. Quite often the stretchable fabric is a
knit wool material and only allows very simplistic labeling to be
applied. Not only is the labeling very simplistic, but the labeling
has to be an integral part of the fabric of the golf club head
cover. That is, the labeling has to be knit directly into the head
cover by using different color yam or thread during the making of
the club head cover.
[0006] It is presently desirable to provide head covers that can
successfully receive embroidery which can yield much more detailed
and visually appealing labels. Not only can modern head covers
receive embroidery but they can receive the embroidery after the
club cover has been made. That is, the club covers can be made and
then sent to different distributors to later add the
advertising/identifying marks. However, these club covers do not
have the classic appearance of the knit head cover including an
attached pom-pom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A preferred embodiment is a golf club head cover including a
club sleeve adapted to cover a portion of a golf club. The club
sleeve includes a club head portion defining a club head pocket
configured to receive a club head portion and a club shaft portion
extending from the club head portion. The club shaft portion
defines an elongate space communicating with the club head pocket
and configured to surround a portion of a club shaft. The club head
cover also includes a pom-pom secured to the club head portion of
the club sleeve where the club sleeve is made of a first fabric and
a second fabric, and the first fabric is less stretchable than the
second fabric.
[0008] Yet another preferred embodiment is golf club head cover
including a club sleeve adapted to cover a portion of a golf club.
The club sleeve includes a club head portion defining a club head
pocket configured to receive a club head portion and a club shaft
portion extending from the club head portion. The club shaft
portion defines an elongate space communicating with the club head
pocket and configured to surround a portion of a club shaft. The
club head cover also includes a pom-pom secured to the club head
portion of the club sleeve where the club sleeve is made of a first
panel and a second panel, and the first panel is less stretchable
than the second panel.
[0009] Still another preferred embodiment is a golf club head cover
including a club sleeve adapted to cover a portion of a golf club.
The club sleeve includes a club head portion defining a club head
pocket configured to receive a club head and a club shaft portion
extending from the club head portion and defining an elongate space
communicating with the club head pocket. The club shaft portion is
configured to surround a portion of a club shaft. Also, a pom-pom
secured to the club head portion of the club sleeve. The pom-pom is
generally spherical in shape and is larger than the club head
portion. The club sleeve includes a first panel and a second panel,
and the first panel being less stretchable than the second panel.
The first panel extends over a substantial portion of the golf club
head cover and the second panel extends the entire length of the
club shaft portion and a portion of the club head portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present golf club head cover are described below with reference to
drawings of preferred embodiments which are intended to illustrate
but not to limit the present invention. The drawings contain ten
(10) figures.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head cover which
includes certain features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a back view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a left side view of the golf club head cover of
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the golf club head cover of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a top view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
1.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
1.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a front view of another embodiment of a golf club
head cover which includes certain features, aspects and advantages
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a back view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
8.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a side view of the golf club head cover of FIG.
8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] The golf club head cover described herein is done so with
reference to relative positions and directions within the
particular positions and orientations reflected in the drawings.
These relative positions and directions are for convenience and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a golf club head cover 20 that includes
certain features and aspects of the present invention. The golf
club head cover 20 includes a pom-pom 22 and a club sleeve 34,
which includes a club head cover portion 24 and a club shaft cover
portion 28.
[0023] The club head cover portion 24 and the club shaft cover
portion 28 combine to form the club sleeve 34. The club sleeve 34
is a material tube with one closed end and one open end. The club
sleeve 34 is configured for insertion of a golf club into the open
end 32 and encapsulation of the head in the club head cover portion
24.
[0024] The pom-pom 22 illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 is preferably
constructed of similar length pieces of wool yarn or string like
fabric. The wool yarn pieces are preferably connected and cinched
together to one central location 21 by their midpoints as to create
a generally spherical shaped pom-pom 22 with a diameter
approximately equal to the length of one of the string elements.
The diameter of the generally spherical pom-pom 22 preferably is
greater than that of the club head cover portion 24 of the club
sleeve 34. The yarn pieces may be of various colors as to add to
the decorative effect of the pom-pom 22. The pom-pom 22 is
preferably soft and malleable to the touch and can be substantially
deformed with little force. The pom-pom 22 is preferably secured to
the club sleeve 34, on the club head cover portion 24, at a single
point 21 by a thread, or string or other suitable connector or
connection method.
[0025] Although the pom-pom 22 of FIGS. 1-7 is shown in attachment
to a point at the top of the golf club head cover 20 by a thread or
string, other suitable attachment points along the club sleeve 34
or attachment methods may be used. Also, although the pom-pom of
FIGS. 1-7 is made of wool yarn and is a spherical shape, any
suitable fabric or string pieces may be used to form a sphere or
any other desired shaped pom-pom such as a tassel-type decorative
attachment, for example.
[0026] The club sleeve 34 is preferably a flexible fabric sock with
an enlarged club head cover portion 24 and a diametrically
expandable club shaft portion 28. The club sleeve 34 is made of
multiple fabric panels that are preferably connected by thread
stitching or other suitable methods such as adhesives, for example.
The club head cover portion 24 is made of substantially
non-stretchable fabric and defines a sufficient volume as to cover
the head of a golf club. The club sleeve 34 is configured to slip
over the head of a golf club and a portion of the shaft of a golf
club by an opening portion 32 at the base of the club shaft portion
28. The club sleeve 34 preferably includes a front panel 36 made of
substantially non-stretchable fabric that extends over a
substantial face or side of the club sleeve 34.
[0027] The club head cover portion 24 of the club sleeve 34
preferably includes a front panel 36, two side gussets 38, and a
back panel 40. The back panel 40 extends over the head cover
portion 24 and the front panel 36 extends over the opposing side of
the head cover portion 24 and continues down the club shaft portion
28 by a tapered transition to the opening 32 at the bottom of the
club sleeve 34. However, the front panel 36 may extend only
partially down the club shaft portion 28.
[0028] The panels are connected by thread stitching, or other
suitable method, and are made of substantially non-stretchable
fabric. Although the club head cover portion 24 preferably includes
a non-stretchable fabric, the club head cover portion 24 can be
made entirely of stretchable material or a suitable combination of
stretchable and non-stretchable material.
[0029] The club head cover portion 24 defines a pocket
approximately sized and shaped to encapsulate a golf club head. The
illustrated front panel 36 and the back panel 40 are of a
substantially circular shape and are connected to one another by
side gussets 38 which are attached to the corresponding edges of
the front panel 36 and the back panel 40 as illustrated in FIGS. 4
and 5. The side gussets 38 taper near the top of the club head
cover portion 24 so as to allow the front panel 36 and the back
panel 40 to come in direct contact at an intersection 21, which may
be a line or a point. The side gussets 38 also taper near the
bottom of the club head cover portion 24 so as to allow the front
panel 36 and the back panel 40 to be directly connected at two
intersections on opposing sides of the tapered transition between
the circular head portion 42 of the front panel 36 and the elongate
rectangular portion 44 of the front panel 36. The side gussets 38
serve to increase the volume of the club head cover portion 24 so
as to allow the club head cover portion 24 to fit over the head of
a golf club so as to not require the fabric of the club head cover
portion 24 to substantially stretch. In other arrangements,
however, the club head cover portion may be configured to
stretch.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front panel 36 includes
a circular portion 42 that defines a face of the club head cover
portion 24 and an elongated rectangular portion 44 that is
connected with the circular portion 42 by a tapered transition.
Although the front panel 36 is preferably made of one piece it
could be made of two or multiple pieces as well. The diameter of
the circular portion 42 is preferably larger than the small leg of
the elongated rectangular portion 44. The shape of the front panel
36 effectively provides an ample space for any desired labeling or
identification marking. The front panel 36 is preferably made of
substantially non-stretchable fabric suitable to successfully
receive labeling such as silk-screening, embroidery or other
printing process. The edge of the front panel 36 is preferably
connected to the club sleeve 34 by thread stitching and, desirably,
incorporates decorative fabric piping 46 in the connection.
[0031] The club shaft cover portion 28 of the club sleeve 34 is
substantially made of a stretchable fabric panel and includes the
non-stretchable panel 44. Although the club shaft cover portion 28
includes a non-stretchable fabric portion, it can be made entirely
of stretchable material, if desired. Including a non-stretchable
portion on the club shaft portion 28 does increase the area for
substantial labeling. The fabric defines an elongated cylindrical
space with a diameter that is preferably smaller than the head of
the intended golf club to be covered. The portion of the club shaft
cover portion 28, that is preferably made of a substantially
stretchable fabric 30, allows the club shaft cover portion 28 to
diametrically expand over the head of a golf club in order to allow
the head of a golf club to pass through the club shaft cover
portion 28 during insertion into the club sleeve 34. The
stretchable fabric 30 is configured to contract, after passage of
golf club head through club shaft cover portion 28, and to inhibit
the unintended removal of the golf club head from the golf club
head cover 20.
[0032] FIG. 3 specifically illustrates the substantial portion of
the circumference of the club shaft cover portion 28 that
preferably is made of a stretchable fabric 30 extending a length of
the club shaft cover portion 28. FIG. 2 shows a portion of the club
shaft cover portion 28 made of a substantially non-stretchable
fabric configured as a longitudinal strip incorporated into the
circumference of the club shaft cover portion 28. The longitudinal
strip is preferably the elongated rectangular portion 44 of the
front panel 36. FIG. 7 further illustrates a portion of the club
shaft cover portion 28 to be made of, in part, a substantially
stretchable fabric 30 and, in part, the substantially
non-stretchable fabric of the elongated rectangular portion 44 of
the front panel 36.
[0033] The stretchable fabric 30 used in the club sleeve 34 is
preferably a knit fabric that is at least somewhat stretchable in
one or multiple directions. The non-stretchable fabric used in the
club sleeve 34 is preferably less stretchable than the stretchable
fabric and, in some arrangements is substantially non-stretchable
in any direction. Preferably the non-stretchable fabric is less
than seven (7) percent stretchable with a target less than three
(3) percent stretchable so that it can successfully receive
labeling such as embroidering, silk-screening or other types of
labeling. The percent stretchability is the strethability in a
given direction as an additional percentage of length added to the
original length. The percent stretchability preferably measures the
stretch of a fabric in a given directions so as it can return to
its original length with substantially little or no damage.
[0034] The non-stretchable fabric also preferably contains a
compressible foam layer that is compressible about the thickness of
the non-stretchable fabric in order to add impact absorption to the
head of the golf club. Although the club head cover 20 of FIGS. 1-7
incorporates a knit stretchable fabric, any other suitable flexible
materials may be used. Similarly, any suitable non-stretchable
material may be used in a location noting a substantially
non-stretchable fabric.
[0035] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate a golf club head cover that is similar
to the golf club head cover of FIGS. 1-7 in at least some respects.
For convenience, similar components in FIGS. 8-10 will be referred
to by the same reference numerals of the corresponding components
in FIGS. 1-7.
[0036] The golf club head cover of FIGS. 8-10 includes
substantially the same components including a pom-pom 22, a club
sleeve 34, a club head cover portion 24 and a club shaft cover
portion 28. The club sleeve 34 includes both substantially
stretchable and substantially non-stretchable fabric.
[0037] The club sleeve 34 of FIGS. 8-10 includes a front panel 36,
a back panel 40, and two stretchable side gussets 50. The front
panel 36 and back panel 40 preferably are made of substantially
non-stretchable fabric suitable for labeling and include a circular
portion 42 connected by a tapered transition to an elongated
rectangular portion 44. The circular portion 42 of the front panel
36 and the back panel 40 both preferably have a diameter that is
relatively larger than the smaller dimension of the elongated
rectangular portion 44. Unlike the club sleeve 34 of FIGS. 1-7, the
front panel 36 and the back panel 40 of the club sleeve 34 of FIGS.
8-10 are substantially similar in shape and both the front panel 36
and the back panel 40 extend the entire length of the club sleeve
34.
[0038] The front panel 36 and the back panel 40 are connected by
the stretchable side gussets 50 that taper at the top of the club
head cover portion 24 to allow the front panel 36 and the back
panel 40 to come into direct contact at a point 21. The connections
are preferably threaded stitching and include fabric piping 46 for
additional decoration. The thread stitching connections can be any
suitable connection and my not include fabric piping.
[0039] The side gussets 50 are made from stretchable fabric and
configured so as to expand to pass the head of the golf club
through the club shaft cover portion 28 and into the club head
cover portion 24. The stretchable side gussets 50 are configured to
contract after passage of golf club head through club shaft cover
portion 28 and inhibit the intended removal of the golf club head
from the golf club head cover 20.
[0040] The stretchable fabric 30 used in the club sleeve 34 is
preferably a knit fabric that is at least somewhat stretchable in
one or multiple directions. The non-stretchable fabric used in the
club sleeve 34 is preferably less stretchable than the stretchable
fabric and, in some arrangements is substantially non-stretchable
in any direction. Preferably the non-stretchable material is less
than seven (7) percent stretchable with a target less than three
(3) percent stretchable so that it can successfully receive
labeling such as embroidering, silk-screening or other types of
labeling
[0041] The non-stretchable fabric also preferably contains a
compressible foam layer that is compressible about the thickness of
the non-stretchable fabric in order to add impact absorption to the
head of the golf club. Although the club head cover 20 of FIGS. 1-7
incorporates a knit stretchable fabric, any other suitable flexible
materials may be used. Similarly, any suitable non-stretchable
materials may be used in a location noting a substantially
non-stretchable fabric.
[0042] Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of
a certain preferred embodiment and examples, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends
beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative
embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications
and equivalents thereof. In particular, while the present golf club
head cover has been described in the context of a particularly
preferred embodiment, the skilled artisan will appreciate, in view
of the present disclosure, that certain advantages, features and
aspects of the system may be realized in a variety of other
applications, many of which have been noted above. Additionally, it
is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention
described can be practiced separately, combined together, or
substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and
subcombinations of the features and aspects can be made and still
fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that
the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be
limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above,
but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.
* * * * *