AU2004200613A1 - Protective covers for golf clubs - Google Patents

Description

54376 HKS:MN P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: JULIE DIANNE LEWIS Name of inventor(s): JULIE DIANNE LEWIS Address for Service: COLLISON CO.,117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: PROTECTIVE COVERS FOR GOLF CLUBS Details of Associated Provisional Applications: AU2003900715 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: PROTECTIVE COVERS FOR GOLF CLUBS This invention relates to protective covers for golf clubs.

The problem to which this invention is directed is that effective participation in the game of golf requires the participant to possess a variety of golf clubs. These clubs are often made from exotic and semi-exotic materials such as metal alloys and composites, due to the need for golf clubs to be of high strength and low weight. As such, it is highly desirous to properly protect these clubs, due to the susceptibility of these materials to damage, and the high replacement costs of such clubs. This is of particular importance, as the general handling of clubs in a conventional golf bag can cause the clubs to rattle against one another increasing the likelihood of damage.

Furthermore, conventional closure means for such covers, such as zippers for instance, often feature prominently on the visibly prominent portions of the cover, and can be unsightly. They are commonly located in positions on the cover, which would be ideal for the placement of identifying indicia, such as around the head of the club.

An object of this invention therefore is to reduce the problems elucidated or at the least provide the public with a useful alternative.

In one form of this invention although this may not necessarily be the only or indeed the broadest form of this, there is proposed a protective golf club cover, which is constructed from at least one sheet of material that is joined along at least one seam for the length of the cover to provide a cylindrical body, and a further sheet of material joined around its periphery to a top edge of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a tapered shape so that it's top end is wider than its bottom end, and being characterised in that there is a closable aperture in the cylindrical body.

In preference, the cylindrical body is closed at its lower end, such that the cover encapsulates the club.

In preference, the opening forms part of the seam.

In preference, the opening is aligned with the seam, and is closable by reason that each respective side of the opening has an inter-relating closure means attached thereto.

In preference, the second, top sheet of material provides a smooth surface for the placement of externally visible indicia thereon.

In preference, the cylindrical body provides a smooth surface in the area diametrically opposite the seam, for the placement of externally visible indicia thereon.

In a further form, the invention may be said to lie in a protective cover for golf clubs that has a body, and a top, the body having a lower part to nest a shaft of a golf club and an upper part that is wider so as to nest a head of a golf club, and means to facilitate entry into and removal from the cover of a golf club, said means being an aperture which is located to a side of the cover and which is elongate in a direction substantially along the direction of elongation of the body, and there being a hook and loop fastening between respective lips of the aperture so as to effect a closure of the aperture.

In preference, the lower end of the cover is externally reinforced with a material of high durability.

In preference, the inside of the cover is lined with a material in at least the portion of the cover adapted to enclose the head of a club.

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described in relation to specific examples which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf club cover according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of the golf club cover illustrating the aperture open, and a golf club partially removed from the cover.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the golf club bag aperture according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a pattern from which a cover according to a first embodiment can be formed.

Now referring to the drawings in detail and specifically to the first embodiment, there will be seen a golf club cover 1, comprising a sheet of material 2 that is joined along a seam 3 which runs the length of the cover to provide a cylindrical body 4, and a further sheet of material 5 joined around its periphery to a top edge of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a tapered shape so that it's top end 6 is wider than its bottom end 7, and a closable aperture 8 in the cylindrical body.

At its lower end the cover 1 is reinforced with a boot of durable material 15 such as rubber or leather, which protects the cover when it is stood on its end in a golf bag.

Figure 2 illustrates the fashion in which identifying indicia such as 9 and 10, can be positioned on the top sheet 5, and along the body 4 of the cover 1 respectively.

Identifying indicia such as 'driver', 'putter', 'iron' and 'wedge' would help a golfer identify a desired club at first glance, even though all of the clubs are covered.

Furthermore, an owners name, company logo or trademark, or indeed any chosen design could be printed on the covers so that the owner of the clubs can identify their clubs from those of another person.

Figure 3 illustrates a golf club 11 partially removed from the cover 1 via the aperture 8.

Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the aperture 8 is aligned with the seam 3, and is closable by reason that each respective side of the opening, 12 in one case and 13 in the other have inter-relating closure means such as hook and loop fastener attached thereto to effect closure.

Aperture 8, when closed is inconspicuous, and positioned such that the most visible portions of the cover 1 around the head are un-interrupted, and free to accept identifying indicia.

The cover is lined with a material 16, so as to provide increased protection to a club placed therein.

Articles such as those described herein would prove to be of considerable benefit and convenience to those who participate in the game of golf and therefore wish to protect their clubs with an aesthetically pleasing cover, while being able to identify their clubs both collectively and individually.

Throughout this specification then the purpose of the description has been to illustrate the invention and not to limit this.

Claims (10)

1. A protective golf club cover, which is constructed from at least one sheet of material that is joined along at least one seam for the length of the cover to provide a cylindrical body, and a further sheet of material joined around its periphery to a top edge of the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having a tapered shape so that it's top end is wider than its bottom end, and being characterised in that there is a closable aperture in the cylindrical body.

2. The protective golf club cover as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the cylindrical body is closed at its lower end, such that the cover encapsulates the club.

3. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the opening forms part of the seam.

4. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the opening is aligned with the seam, and is closable by reason that each respective side of the opening has an inter-relating closure means attached thereto.

5. A protective golf club cover that has a body, and a top, the body having a lower part to nest a shaft of a golf club and an upper part that is wider so as to nest a head of a golf club, and means to facilitate entry into and removal from the cover of a golf club, said means being an aperture which is located to a side of the cover and which is elongate in a direction substantially along the direction of elongation of the body, and there being a hook and loop fastening between respective lips of the aperture so as to effect a closure of the aperture.

6. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the second, top sheet of material provides a smooth surface for the placement of externally visible indicia thereon.

7. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the body provides a smooth surface in the area diametrically opposite the seam, for the placement of externally visible indicia thereon.

8. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the lower end of the cover is externally reinforced with a material of high durability.

9. The golf club cover as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the inside of the cover is lined with a padding material in at least the portion of the cover adapted to enclose the head of a club.

10. The golf club cover substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying illustrations. Dated this 18th day of February 2004 JULIE DIANE LEWIS By her Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO