US20080105343A1

US20080105343A1 - Golf Club Head Cover with Trunk Handle

Info

Publication number: US20080105343A1
Application number: US11/557,459
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark Noyes; Catherine Brookshire-Herron
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp
Priority date: 2006-11-07
Filing date: 2006-11-07
Publication date: 2008-05-08

Abstract

A golf club head cover (10) with a trunk handle portion (30) for facilitating the removal of the golf club head cover (10) from a golf club with a large volume club head is disclosed herein. The head cover (10) preferably has a body (12) with a top section (28). The trunk handle portion (30) is attached to an exterior surface (58) of the top section (28). The body defines an interior chamber (26) which can accommodate a golf club with a club head having a volume of 460 cubic centimeters.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf club head covers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head covers for drivers and fairway woods.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today's drivers have golf club heads having a volume of approximately 460 cubic centimeters. Further, many of today's drivers have uncommon shapes. These two factors create a problem for many golfers when it comes to removing a head cover from a driver. Just grasping the surface of the head cover isn't sufficient for some golfers to remove the head cover from the golf club. This can often lead to an added distraction from the golfer's game.
Some head covers have tabs or extensions of cloth on the top of the head cover to provide a grasping means for removing the head cover. However, these solutions result in a force exerted on a single small region of the head cover, often resulting in the tearing of the head cover, or accidental removal of the tab or extension. Thus, golfers need another solution for facilitating the removal of a head cover from a golf club with a large volume club head.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution to the prior art problems associated with golf clubs having large volume club heads. The present invention provides a head cover with a trunk handle portion for facilitating the removal of the head cover from a golf club with a large volume club head. Further, the trunk handle portion allows for the removal force to be exerted over a wider area thereby reducing or even eliminating the tearing associated with prior art head covers.
One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head cover including a front portion having a top section, a first side portion attached to a first side of the front portion, a second side portion attached to a second side of the front portion, a back portion attached to each of the first side portion and the second side portion, a neck portion extending from back portion, and a trunk handle portion. The neck portion has an opening at a bottom end of the neck portion. The trunk handle portion is attached to the top section of the front portion. The trunk handle portion has an aperture for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club.
Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head cover comprising a body having an upper section, a middle section and a lower section with an opening. The body defines an interior chamber. The interior chamber is partitioned into a lower interior chamber defined by the lower section and the middle section, and an upper chamber defined by the upper section. The head cover has a trunk handle portion attached to an exterior surface of the upper section of the body. The trunk handle portion has an aperture for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head cover a front portion having a top section, a first side portion attached to a first side of the front portion, a second side portion attached to a second side of the front portion, a back portion attached to each of the first side portion and the second side portion, a neck portion extending from back portion, and a trunk handle portion. The neck portion has an opening at a bottom end of the neck portion. The trunk handle portion is attached to an exterior surface of the top section of the front portion. The trunk handle portion covers at least 50% of the exterior surface of the top section of the front portion. The trunk handle portion has an aperture leading to a recess defined by the trunk handle portion and the exterior surface of the top section of the front portion. The aperture and the recess allowing for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club. The front portion, the first side portion, the second side portion and the back portion define a top section of an interior chamber of the golf club head cover. The top section of the interior chamber can accommodate a golf club head having a volume of at least 460 cubic centimeters.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head cover of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf club head cover of FIG. 1 with a hand of a golfer using the trunk handle portion of the golf club head cover of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the golf club head cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the golf club head cover of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head cover of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the body of the trunk handle portion of the golf club head cover of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of a golf club head cover.

FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of a golf club head cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, a golf club head cover is generally designated 10. The head cover 10 has a body 12 which generally includes a front portion 14, a first side portion 16, a second side portion 18, a back portion 20 and a neck portion 22. The body 12 defines an interior chamber 26 for placement of a portion of a golf club therein. The interior chamber 26 is accessed through an opening 24 at a lower end of the neck portion 22. The front portion 14 has a top section 28 with an exterior surface 58.
The head cover 10 preferably has a length, L_H, as shown in FIG. 3, ranging from 30 centimeters to 60 centimeters, and more preferably from 35 centimeters to 45 centimeters, and most preferably 40 centimeters. The length, L_H, is measured from a upper forward edge 56 of the top section 28 of the front portion 14 to an opening edge 54 at the opening 24 of the neck portion 22. The neck portion 22 preferably has a length, L_N, that preferably ranges from 10 centimeters to 30 centimeters, and is most preferably 20 centimeters. The length, L_N, is measured from a lower edge 60 of the front portion 14 to the opening edge 54 of the neck portion 22 at the opening 24. A lateral distance, D₁, from the lower edge 60 to the upper forward edge 56 preferably ranges from 10 centimeters to 20 centimeters, and is most preferably 14 centimeters.
The materials utilized for the body 12 of the head cover 10 include natural fabrics, synthetic fabrics, metals, plastics, paperboard, and the like. Such materials can include leather, suede, nylon, cotton, wool, neoprene, latex, and the like. The neck portion 22 and the back portion 20 are both preferably composed of a natural fabric such as cotton or wool. The front portion 14, the first side portion 16 and the second side portion 18 are preferably composed of a rigid material such as leather or a rigid nylon material.
The head cover 10 is preferably designed for a driver, and most preferably for a driver having a golf club head with volume greater than 420 cubic centimeters, more preferably ranging from 450 cubic centimeters to 475 cubic centimeters, and most preferably approximately 460 cubic centimeters. In order to facilitate the removal of the head cover 10 from such a large golf club head, the head cover 10 has a trunk cover portion 30 to assist a golfer. The trunk cover portion 30 allows a golfer to place their fingers into a recess 38 of the trunk cover portion 30 through an aperture 36 and grasp the trunk handle portion 30 during the removal process. The head cover 10 alternatively is utilized with a fairway wood or golf club with a lesser volume golf club head.
The trunk handle portion 30 is attached to an exterior surface 58 of a top section 28 of the front portion 14. The trunk handle portion 30 has a curved edge 34 at the aperture 36 to the recess 38, and the curved edge 34 preferably has a length of curvature from point 34 a to point 34 b ranging from 5 centimeters to 15 centimeters, and most preferably 12 centimeters.
As shown in FIG. 6, a body 32 of the trunk handle portion 30 is preferably a layered structure having an outer layer 32 a, a middle layer 32 b and an inner layer 32 c. Each of the outer layer 32 a, the middle layer 32 b and the inner layer 32 c preferably has a thickness that ranges from 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. The middle layer 32 b is preferably composed of a rigid material such as a dense foam material or a paperboard material. Each of the outer layer 32 a and the inner layer 32 c is preferably composed of a synthetic fabric material, and preferably the same material as used for the front portion 14.
Preferably the trunk handle portion 30 is sewn onto the top section 28 of the front portion 14. The recess 38 is preferably defined by the exterior surface 58 of the top section 28 and the body 32 of the trunk handle portion 30. The recess preferably can accommodate all of a golfer's fingers, however, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the recess can be of varying size in volume as long as the recess 38 allows the trunk handle portion 30 achieve its purpose.
As shown in FIG. 3, the body 12 is alternatively partitioned into an upper section 70, a middle section 72 and a lower section 74. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper section 70 defines a top section 50 of an interior chamber 26 for placement of a golf club head therein. The middle section 72 and lower section 74 define a lower section 52 of the interior chamber 26 for placement of a shaft therein.
An alternative embodiment of a golf club head cover 10 is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the head cover 10 has an opening 24′ that extends along the second side portion 18.
Another alternative embodiment of a golf club head cover is shown in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the head cover 10 has an opening 24″ that extends along the back portion 20.
The golf club head cover 10 of the present invention is preferably designed for a driver-type golf club with a substantially square golf club head such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0148587 for a Golf Club Head, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A golf club head cover comprising:

a front portion having a top section;

a first side portion attached to a first side of the front portion;

a second side portion attached to a second side of the front portion;

a back portion attached to each of the first side portion and the second side portion;

a neck portion extending from back portion, the neck portion having an opening at a bottom end of the neck portion; and

a trunk handle portion attached to the top section of the front portion, the trunk handle portion having an aperture for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club.

2. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein each of the front portion, the first side portion and the second side portion is composed of a synthetic fabric material and each of the back portion and the neck portion is composed of a natural fabric material.

3. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein the front portion, the first side portion, the second side portion and the back portion define a top section of an interior chamber of the golf club head cover, and wherein the top section of the interior chamber can accommodate a golf club head having a volume of at least 460 cubic centimeters.

4. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein the trunk handle portion comprises a layered structure having an outer layer composed of a material similar to a material of the front wall portion, a middle layer composed of a rigid material, and an inner layer composed of a material similar to the material of the outer layer.

5. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein a length of the golf club head cover extending from an upper forward edge of the top section of the front portion to an opening edge at the opening of the neck portion ranges from 30 centimeters to 60 centimeters.

6. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein a length of the neck portion extending from an opening edge at the opening of the neck portion to a lower edge of the front portion has a length ranging from 10 centimeters to 30 centimeters.

7. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein the trunk handle portion has a curved edge at the aperture of the trunk handle portion and the curved edge has a length of curvature ranging from 5 centimeters to 15 centimeters.

8. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein a lateral distance, D₁, from a line tangent to a lower edge of the front portion to a line tangent to an upper forward edge ranges from 10 centimeters to 20 centimeters.

9. The golf club head cover according to claim 1 wherein back portion extends from an upper end of the neck portion to an upper forward edge of the front portion.

10. A golf club head cover comprising:

a body having an upper section, a middle section and a lower section, the body defining an interior chamber, the interior chamber partitioned into a lower interior chamber defined by the lower section and the middle section and an upper chamber defined by the upper section;

a trunk handle portion attached to an exterior surface of the upper section of the body, the trunk handle portion having an aperture for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club.

11. The golf club head cover according to claim 10 wherein the body has an opening extending from an end of the lower section to the upper section.

12. The golf club head cover according to claim 10 wherein the body has an opening in an end of the lower section.

13. The golf club head cover according to claim 10 wherein the body has an opening extending along a side portion of the body or along a back portion of the body.

14. The golf club head cover according to claim 12 where there is no other opening on the golf club head cover other than the opening and the aperture of the trunk handle portion.

15. A golf club head cover comprising:

a front portion having a top section;

a first side portion attached to a first side of the front portion;

a second side portion attached to a second side of the front portion;

a neck portion extending from back portion; and

a trunk handle portion attached to an exterior surface of the top section of the front portion, the trunk handle portion covering at least 50% of the exterior surface of the top section of the front portion, the trunk handle portion having an aperture leading to a recess defined by the trunk handle portion and the exterior surface of the top section of the front portion, the aperture and the recess allowing for placement of a user's fingers therein for pulling the golf club head cover off of a golf club;

wherein the front portion, the first side portion, the second side portion and the back portion define a top section of an interior chamber of the golf club head cover, and wherein the top section of the interior chamber can accommodate a golf club head having a volume of at least 460 cubic centimeters.

16. The golf club head cover according to claim 15 wherein the top section of the interior chamber can accommodate a golf club head that is substantially square.

17. The golf club head cover according to claim 15 wherein the trunk handle portion comprises a layered structure having an outer layer composed of a material similar to a material of the front wall portion, a middle layer composed of a rigid material, and an inner layer composed of a material similar to the material of the outer layer.

18. The golf club head cover according to claim 15 wherein the trunk handle portion has a curved edge at the aperture of the trunk handle portion and the curved edge has a length of curvature ranging from 5 centimeters to 15 centimeters.

19. The golf club head cover according to claim 15 wherein a length of the golf club head cover extending from an upper forward edge of the top section of the front portion to an opening edge at the opening of the neck portion ranges from 30 centimeters to 60 centimeters.

20. The golf club head cover according to claim 15 wherein a length of the neck portion extending from an opening edge at the opening of the neck portion to a lower edge of the front portion has a length ranging from 10 centimeters to 30 centimeters.