GOLF CLUB HEAD COVER

Abstract

A golf club head cover (10) includes: a cover main body (11) formed so as to house a head (H) of a golf club, the cover main body (11) having an opening (11a) that allows a shaft (S) of the golf club to protrude outside in a state in which the head (H) is housed; a lid part (12) that opens and closes the opening (11a); and an attaching means (13, 14) for attaching a peripheral edge portion of the lid part (12) to a peripheral edge portion of the opening (11a) so as to bring the peripheral edge portion of the lid part (12) into close contact with the peripheral edge portion of the opening (11a), the attaching means (13, 14) being configured such that a close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part (12) with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening (11a) varies in accordance with the position of the shaft (S) protruding from the opening (11a). The head cover (10) can be easily attached to any of the heads (H) of various types of golf clubs having different positions of the shafts (S) with respect to the heads (H).

Claims

1. A golf club head cover comprising: a cover main body formed so as to house a head of a golf club, the cover main body having an opening that allows a shaft of the golf club to protrude outside in a state in which the head is housed; a lid part that opens and closes the opening; and an attaching means for attaching a peripheral edge portion of the lid part to a peripheral edge portion of the opening so as to bring the peripheral edge portion of the lid part into close contact with the peripheral edge portion of the opening, the attaching means being configured such that a close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening varies in accordance with a position of the shaft protruding from the opening.

2. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means comprises: a first magnet provided on one of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part and the peripheral edge portion of the opening; and a second magnet or magnetic body provided on another of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part and the peripheral edge portion of the opening, the second magnet or magnet body being attracted by the first magnet.

3. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed so as to be opened in a direction approximately perpendicular to an extending direction of the shaft.

4. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head cover is a head cover for a putter.

5. The golf club head cover according to claim 2, wherein the opening is formed so as to be opened in a direction approximately perpendicular to an extending direction of the shaft.

6. The golf club head cover according to claim 2, wherein the golf club head cover is a head cover for a putter.

7. The golf club head cover according to claim 3, wherein the golf club head cover is a head cover for a putter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating the basic configuration of a golf club head cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the golf club head cover in a state in which the opening is opened, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view of the golf club head cover in a state in which the opening is opened.

[0018] FIG. 3(a) is a front view of the golf club head cover in a state in which the opening is closed, and FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the golf club head cover in a state in which the opening is closed.

[0019] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are views for describing an example of the case in which the close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening varies in accordance with the position of the shaft when the head of the golf club is housed.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the appended drawings. Note, however, that this embodiment is merely an example and the present invention is not limited to this.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating the basic configuration of a golf club head cover (referred to as a “head cover,” hereinafter) according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(a) is a front view of the head cover in a state in which the opening is opened, and FIG. 2(b) is a side view of the head cover in a state in which the opening is opened. FIG. 3(a) is a front view of the head cover in a state in which the opening is closed and FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the head cover in a state in which the opening is closed. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are views for describing an example of the case in which the close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening varies in accordance with the position of the shaft when the head of the golf club is housed.

[0022] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a head cover 10 according to the present embodiment is to protect a head H of a golf club (such as a wood, iron, utility, or putter, for example) and includes a bag-like cover main body 11 and a lid part 12. The cover main body 11 may be formed such that a storage space for housing the head H extends in the length direction (Y direction in the figure). The lid part 12 is configured to open and close an opening 11a that is formed on one end side in the length direction of the cover main body 11 for the head H to be inserted into the storage space.

[0023] The peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a of the cover main body 11 and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 may be provided with a plurality of first magnets 13 and a plurality of second magnets (illustrated in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b)) for attaching the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a. Here, the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 represent an example of the “attaching means” of the present invention.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the lid part 12 may be integrally formed with the cover main body 11 at the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a of the cover main body 11. The present embodiment will be described with an exemplary case in which the head cover 10 is a head cover for a putter (a mallet-type putter, for example).

[0025] The cover main body 11 may have a shape and sizes (width (dimension in the X direction in the figure), length (dimension in the Y direction in the figure), and height (dimension in the Z direction in the figure) that allow the head H to be housed in the internal storage space. The cover main body 11 may be formed so as to house only the head H or may also be formed so as to house not only the head H but also the neck (not illustrated) of the golf club and the base portion (portion on the head H side) of a shaft S.

[0026] The width (dimension in the X direction in the figure) and height (dimension in the Z direction in the figure) of the opening 11a may be set to dimensions that allow the head H to be inserted through the opening 11a. In the present embodiment, when the head H of the golf club is housed in the storage space in the cover main body 11, the shaft S of the golf club protrudes from the opening 11a to the outside of the cover main body 11. Here, the opening 11a may be formed so as to be opened in a direction (Y direction in the figure) approximately perpendicular to the extending direction (Z direction in the figure) of the shaft S. This allows the lid part 12 to be attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a so as not to be interrupted with the shaft S as compared, for example, with the case in which the opening 11a is formed so as to be opened in the same direction (Z direction in the figure) as the extending direction of the shaft S.

[0027] The lid part 12 has a shape and sizes that allow its peripheral edge portion to be attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a. In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the case in which the lid part 12 is formed in a flat plate shape will be described as an example, but embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this case. For example, the lid part 12 may be formed with a recessed portion that can accommodate a part of the head H of the golf club.

[0028] Examples of the material of the cover main body 11 and the lid part 12 include, but are not limited to, materials having a cushioning property (e.g., leather, synthetic leather, cloth, non-woven fabric, knit, etc.). The cover main body 11 may be formed of different materials on the outside and the inside (e.g., synthetic leather on the outside and raised fabric on the inside, etc.), and a cushioning material, for example, may be provided between the material on the outside and the material on the inside in order to enhance the effect of protecting the head H.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), a plurality of first magnets 13 may be provided at intervals on the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a of the cover main body 11. The number and magnetic force of the first magnets 13 may be appropriately set in accordance, for example, with the ease of opening and closing operations for the lid part 12.

[0030] In addition, a plurality of second magnets 14 that attract the plurality of corresponding first magnets 13 may be provided on the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), each of the plurality of second magnets 14 may be provided at a position facing each of the plurality of first magnets 13 when the lid part 12 is attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a so as to close the opening 11a. This allows the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 to be attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a in close contact with each other by the attractive magnetic force between the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14. The number and magnetic force of the plurality of second magnets 14 may be appropriately set in the same manner as that for the first magnets 13.

[0031] In the present embodiment, the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 are provided at respective intervals, so that, as will be described later, the close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a varies in accordance with the position of the shaft S protruding from the opening 11a.

[0032] A method of attaching the head cover 10 configured as described above to the head H of the golf club will be described. First, when the opening 11a is opened as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the head H of the golf club is inserted into the cover main body 11 through the opening 11a. Here, the head H of the golf club is inserted into the cover main body 11 in a state in which the shaft S of the golf club extends in a direction (Z direction in the figure) approximately perpendicular to the opening direction (Y direction in the figure) of the opening 11a.

[0033] Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), when the lid part 12 is moved so as to close the opening 11a, the plurality of second magnets 14 provided on the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 attracts the plurality of first magnets 13 provided on the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a, and the lid part 12 is thereby attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a so that the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 comes into close contact with the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a.

[0034] Here, as illustrated in FIG. 4(a), the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 are not in close contact with each other at a place at which the shaft S is interposed between the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12, but at other places, the plurality of second magnets 14 attracts the plurality of first magnets 13 thereby to bring the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 into close contact with each other; therefore, the lid part 12 can be prevented from being easily detached from the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a, and the head cover 10 can be stably attached to the head H of the golf club.

[0035] Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 4(b), even when the head cover 10 is attached to another type of golf club with a different position of the shaft S with respect to the head H, the place at which the shaft S is interposed between the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 is different from the place in the case of FIG. 4(a), but at other places, the plurality of second magnets 14 attracts the plurality of first magnets 13 thereby to bring the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a and the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 into close contact with each other (i.e., the close contact position varies as compared with the case of FIG. 4(a)); therefore, the lid part 12 can be prevented from being easily detached from the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a, and the head cover 10 can be stably attached to the head H of the golf club.

[0036] Thus, the head cover 10 according to the present embodiment can be easily attached to any of the heads H of various types of golf clubs having different positions of the shafts S with respect to the heads H.

[0037] When the head cover 10 is released from the head H, the peripheral portion of the lid part 12 is pulled away from the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a thereby to put the opening 11a into a state of being opened, and the head H is taken out from the cover main body 11. This allows the head cover 10 to be easily released from the head H.

[0038] As described above, according to the head cover 10 of the present embodiment, the close contact position of the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 with respect to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a can be varied in accordance with the position of the shaft S protruding from the opening 11a; therefore, even when the head H of a type of golf club is housed in the cover main body 11, for example, the peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12 can be attached to the peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a in a state in which the close contact position varies in accordance with the position of the shaft S of the golf club. Thus, the head cover 10 can be easily attached to any of the heads H of various types of golf clubs having different positions of the shafts S with respect to the heads H.

[0039] The head cover 10 of the present embodiment may be used for any of golf clubs such as a wood, an iron, a utility, and a putter, for example, but it is effective to use the configuration of the present embodiment particularly when the head cover 10 is a head cover for a putter. That is, there are various types of putters having different positions of the shafts S with respect to the heads H, for example, such as a putter with a center shaft and a right-handed or left-handed L-shaped putter, but as described above, the head cover 10 of the present embodiment can be easily attached, for example, to the head H of each of a putter with a center shaft, a right-handed L-shaped putter, a left-handed L-shaped putter, and the like; therefore, it is extremely effective to use the configuration of the present embodiment for the head cover for a putter.

[0040] The embodiment heretofore explained is described to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not described to limit the present invention. It is therefore intended that the elements disclosed in the above embodiments include all design changes and equivalents to fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the description has been made for an exemplary case in which the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this case. For example, as substitute for one of the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14, magnetic bodies (such as iron plates, for example) that are attracted by the other of the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 may be provided.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the description has been made for an exemplary case in which the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 are provided, but the number of the first magnets 13 and/or the second magnets 14 may be one. In this case, the first magnet 13 may be continuously provided over the entire peripheral edge portion of the opening 11a, and/or the second magnet 14 may be continuously provided over the entire peripheral edge portion of the lid part 12.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the description has been made for an exemplary case in which the plurality of first magnets 13 and the plurality of second magnets 14 are provided as the attaching means, but the attaching means may also be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a seal, a button, a hook, or the like.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the description has been made for an exemplary case in which the lid part 12 is formed integrally with the cover main body 11, but the lid part 12 may also be formed separately from the cover main body 11.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the description has been made for an exemplary case in which the cover main body 11 is formed such that the head H of the golf club is inserted through the opening 11a, but, for example, the cover main body 11 may also be provided with a slit for inserting the head H of the golf club separately from the opening 11a.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0046] The golf club head cover of the present invention can be suitably used as a golf club head cover that can be easily attached to any of the heads of various types of golf clubs having different shaft positions with respect to the heads, and the industrial applicability thereof is very high.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 10 Golf club head cover [0048] 11 Cover main body [0049] 11a Opening [0050] 12 Lid part [0051] 13 First magnet [0052] 14 Second magnet [0053] H Head [0054] S Shaft