GB2254007A - Covers for golf clubs and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf bag cover comprises a central sleeve (2) for accommodating the projecting head (4) of a golf club or other vertical support and a skirt (6) extending around the sleeve (2). The hem (8) of the skirt (6) is weighted by an endless chain (10) so that the skirt hangs down over the upper part of the golf bag (14). Optionally the chain can be padlocked to an eye on the bag to prevent access to the clubs in the bag (14). When the chain is released different clubs can be individually removed by lifting up the hem of the skirt in the locality of the selected club. <IMAGE>

Description

COVERS The present invention relates to covers and in particular but not exclusively to covers for golf club bags.

With golf bags, golf clubs protrude from the bags so that they can easily be selected. Individual golf clubs have been provided with individual covers but to cover all the clubs with a single cover has generally thought to have been counter productive since it hinders and prevents the ready selection of a golf club from the bag when required. Nevertheless there is a need for a cover during inclement weather to protect the clubs and to prevent water accumulating in the bottom of the bag.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved cover in particular but not exclusively for a golf club bag.

According to the present invention there is provided a cover comprising a sleeve closed at its upper end for accommodating a generally vertical support, a skirt extending around said sleeve and weighting means secured to the hem of said skirt to draw said skirt downwardly.

According to the present invention there is further provided a golf bag having an open upper end, and a cover for draping over said upper end, said cover comprising a sleeve for accommodating a generally upright support, a skirt extending around said sleeve to drape over the rim of the open upper end of the golf bag, and weighting means secured to the hem of the skirt to draw said skirt downwardly, the hem of the skirt being liftable at different locations to provide access to different golf clubs housed within said bag.

A golf club bag cover embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary view a cover about to be placed onto a golf bag; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the cover of Figure 1 with its sleeve secured to a golf club; Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the cover of Figure 1 draped about the golf bag; Figure 4 is a view of the chain of the cover of Figure 1 in conjunction with an eye on the golf bag and a padlock for securing the chain to the eye; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a golf bag having an internal divider on which is supported a cover support.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3 the golf bag cover comprises a sleeve 2 arranged to accommodate the head of a golf club. The sleeve 2 is closed at its upper end and supports a skirt 6. The skirt 6 when laid flat is of circular configuration and is formed by sewing segments of different coloured material together. The material is shower proof but preferably waterproof.

The skirt 6 is provided with a hem 8. Sewn inside the hem 8 is an endless chain 10 (see Figure 4) of stainless steel or brass. The purpose of the chain is to weight the hem 8 of the skirt so that the skirt hangs down around the rim of a golf club bag 14. The bag 14 has a handle 16 and is preferably supported on a trolley (only the handle 18 is shown).

The sleeve is provided with one or more ties 20 so that the sleeve can be tightly secured around the head 4 of the golf club. The ties 20 can be tied together or instead they can be made of self fastening material such as Velcro".

The skirt 6 can be lined with towelling material so that heads of the golf clubs can be dried or cleaned.

In operation the cover is put in place in stages as shown in Figures 1 to 3. The hem 8 of the skirt can be lifted at any point to provide access to a particular club which can be removed and reinserted as required.

The cover thus keeps the bag and clubs dry and does not have to be removed when a club is required.

Because the golf clubs are covered their value cannot be ascertained and so this acts as a deterrent to the would be thief. As an added security feature the chain 10 can be provided with two large links 12 so that they can be padlocked to an eye 24 rigid with the golf club bag by means of a padlock 26. The loop formed by padlocking the two large links 12 to the eye 24 is made sufficiently small so that it just encircles the bag and cannot be lifted to the level of the rim of the bag.

Other ways of securing the chain 10 to the bag will be apparent.

In a modification (see Figure 5) the golf bag is provided with an internal divider 30 and a support member 32 adapted to be accommodated in sleeve. The support member 32 which has a lower bifurcated end 34 which is clamped to the divider. Thus the cover 6 is supported by the support 32 instead of a golf club.

The support 32 may be telescopic so that the cover can be raised well above the golf clubs during fine weather. Instead of being secured to the divider, the support 32 can be secured to the rim of the bag 14.

It will be appreciated that the cover can be used to provide a covering for other bags such as quivers.

volume of the bag into different compartments and wherein said upright support is secured to said divider.

11. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 9 or to Claim 10, wherein said upright support is telescopic.

12. A golf bag and a cover according to any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein said weighting means comprises an endless chain sewn into said hem.

13. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 12 wherein said golf bag comprises at least one engaging means, and a security device for securing said chain to said engaging means to prevent said hem being lifted sufficiently to allow access to a golf club within the bag.

14. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 13, wherein said security device comprises a padlock.

15. A golf bag and cover according to any one of Claims 7 to 14, wherein said skirt, when laid flat, is circular.

16. A golf bag and cover according to any one of Claims 7 to 15, wherein said skirt is of waterproof material.

17. A golf bag and cover according to any one of Claims 7 to 16, including fastening means for fastening said sleeve to said vertical support.

18. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 17, wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of ties secured to said sleeve.

19. A cover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A golf bag and cover therefor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims (10)

1. A cover comprising a sleeve closed at its upper end for accommodating a generally vertical support, a skirt extending around said sleeve and weighting means secured to the hem of said skirt to draw said skirt downwardly.

2. A cover according to Claim 1, wherein said weighting means comprises an endless metal chain.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or to Claim 2, wherein the material of said skirt is waterproof.

4. A cover according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said skirt has an inner lining of towelling material.

5. A cover according to any preceding claims including fastening means of securing said sleeve to said vertical support.

6. A cover according to Claim 5, wherein said fastening means comprises a pair of ties secured to said sleeve said ties having mating self fastening surfaces

7. A golf bag having an open upper end, and a cover for draping over said upper end, said cover comprising a sleeve for accommodating a generally upright support, a skirt extending around said sleeve to drape over the rim of the open upper end of the golf bag, and weighting means secured to the hem of the skirt to draw said skirt downwardly, the hem of the skirt being liftable at different locations to provide access to different golf clubs housed within said bag.

8. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 7, wherein said upright support comprises a golf club.

9. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 7, wherein said upright support comprises a member secured to the golf bag.

10. A golf bag and cover according to Claim 7, wherein said golf bag has a divider for dividing the