GOLF CLUB HEAD COVER APPARATUS

Abstract

A golf club head cover apparatus for protecting golf club heads and storing golf supplies includes a sleeve shaped to receive a head of a golf club. The sleeve has an opening to facilitate insertion of the head into the sleeve and permit a shaft of the golf club to extend through the opening when the sleeve covers the head. A pocket is mounted to an exterior of the sleeve and defines an aperture which extends therein. A storage magnet is mounted on an interior surface of the pocket and is configured to secure ferromagnetic items within the pocket. A cleaning towel is removably mounted to the sleeve. The cleaning towel may be attachable to the sleeve such that it secures items in the pocket by covering the aperture.

Claims

1. A golf club head cover apparatus comprising: a sleeve shaped to receive a head of a golf club therein, the sleeve having an opening to facilitate insertion of the head into the sleeve and permit a shaft of the golf club to extend therethrough when the sleeve covers the head; a pocket mounted to an exterior of the sleeve, the pocket defining an aperture which extends therein; and a storage magnet mounted on an interior surface of the pocket, the storage magnet being configured to secure ferromagnetic items within the pocket.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a flexible material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture is positioned adjacent to the sleeve and extending substantially parallel or tangent to the exterior of the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a substantially rectangular shape, the sleeve having a top panel, a bottom panel, and a perimeter panel, the perimeter panel being coupled to and extending between the top and bottom panels, the opening of the sleeve extending through one side of the perimeter panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has an L-shape, the opening of the sleeve being positioned at one end of the L-shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve closure operable to selectively close the opening of the sleeve around the golf club, the sleeve closure comprising: a sleeve flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a covering position to cover a portion of the opening; and a sleeve flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the covering position, the sleeve flap fastener including a first mating member and a second mating member, the first mating member being coupled to the sleeve flap, the second mating member being coupled to the sleeve, the first and second mating members being removably couplable to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first and second mating members are magnetically adherable to each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sleeve flap tapers away from the sleeve to a distal end with respect to the sleeve, the sleeve flap covering a central portion of the opening and leaving opposite end portions of the opening open when positioned to cover the opening to permit the shaft of the golf club through one of the opposite end portions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pocket closure operable to selectively close the aperture of the pocket, the pocket closure comprising: a pocket flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a closed position to cover the aperture; and a pocket flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the closed position, the pocket flap fastener including a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member being coupled to the pocket flap, the second coupling member being coupled to the pocket, the first and second coupling members being removably couplable to each other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second coupling members are magnetically adherable to each other.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning towel removably coupled to the exterior of the sleeve.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a clip removably coupling the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the clip being interlocked with the cleaning towel and the sleeve, the clip having a gate that is movable to alternately open and close.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a pair of towel fasteners, each towel fastener having a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member being mounted to the cleaning towel, the second connecting member being mounted to the sleeve, the first and second connecting members being couplable to each other to removably attach the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the cleaning towel covering the aperture of the pocket when attached to the sleeve first and second cleaning members being magnetically adherable to each other.

14. A golf club head cover apparatus comprising: a sleeve shaped to receive a head of a golf club therein, the sleeve having an opening to facilitate insertion of the head into the sleeve and permit a shaft of the golf club to extend therethrough when the sleeve covers the head, the sleeve comprising a flexible material; a pocket mounted to an exterior of the sleeve, the pocket defining an aperture which extends therein, the aperture being positioned adjacent to the sleeve and extending substantially parallel or tangent to the exterior of the sleeve; a storage magnet mounted on an interior surface of the pocket, the storage magnet being configured to secure ferromagnetic items within the pocket; and a cleaning towel removably coupled to the exterior of the sleeve.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sleeve has a substantially rectangular shape, the sleeve having a top panel, a bottom panel, and a perimeter panel, the perimeter panel being coupled to and extending between the top and bottom panels, the opening of the sleeve extending through one side of the perimeter panel, further comprising: a sleeve closure operable to selectively close the opening of the sleeve around the golf club, the sleeve closure comprising: a sleeve flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a covering position to cover a portion of the opening, the sleeve flap tapering away from the sleeve to a distal end with respect to the sleeve, the sleeve flap covering a central portion of the opening and leaving opposite end portions of the opening open when positioned to cover the opening to permit the shaft of the golf club through one of the opposite end portions; and a sleeve flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the covering position, the sleeve flap fastener including a first mating member and a second mating member, the first mating member being coupled to the sleeve flap, the second mating member being coupled to the sleeve, the first and second mating members being magnetically adherable to each other.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a pocket closure operable to selectively close the aperture of the pocket, the pocket closure comprising: a pocket flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a closed position to cover the aperture; and a pocket flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the closed position, the pocket flap fastener including a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member being coupled to the pocket flap, the second coupling member being coupled to the pocket, the first and second coupling members being magnetically adherable to each other; a clip removably coupling the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the clip being interlocked with the cleaning towel and the sleeve, the clip having a gate that is movable to alternately open and close.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a pair of towel fasteners, each towel fastener having a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member being mounted to the cleaning towel, the second connecting member being mounted to the sleeve, the first and second connecting members being couplable to each other to removably attach the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the cleaning towel covering the aperture of the pocket when attached to the sleeve first and second cleaning members being magnetically adherable to each other.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sleeve has an L-shape, the opening of the sleeve being positioned at one end of the L-shape, further comprising: a sleeve closure operable to selectively close the opening of the sleeve around the golf club, the sleeve closure comprising: a sleeve flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a covering position to cover a portion of the opening, the sleeve flap tapering away from the sleeve to a distal end with respect to the sleeve, the sleeve flap covering a central portion of the opening and leaving opposite end portions of the opening open when positioned to cover the opening to permit the shaft of the golf club through one of the opposite end portions; and a sleeve flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the covering position, the sleeve flap fastener including a first mating member and a second mating member, the first mating member being coupled to the sleeve flap, the second mating member being coupled to the sleeve, the first and second mating members being magnetically adherable to each other.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: a pocket closure operable to selectively close the aperture of the pocket, the pocket closure comprising: a pocket flap coupled to the sleeve and positionable in a closed position to cover the aperture; and a pocket flap fastener operable to secure the flap in the closed position, the pocket flap fastener including a first coupling member and a second coupling member, the first coupling member being coupled to the pocket flap, the second coupling member being coupled to the pocket, the first and second coupling members being magnetically adherable to each other; a clip removably coupling the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the clip being interlocked with the cleaning towel and the sleeve, the clip having a gate that is movable to alternately open and close.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a pair of towel fasteners, each towel fastener having a first connecting member and a second connecting member, the first connecting member being mounted to the cleaning towel, the second connecting member being mounted to the sleeve, the first and second connecting members being couplable to each other to removably attach the cleaning towel to the sleeve, the cleaning towel covering the aperture of the pocket when attached to the sleeve first and second cleaning members being magnetically adherable to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head cover apparatus according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective in-use view of the first embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the first embodiment of the disclosure depicting a pocket of the embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure with a pocket positioned on a perimeter panel of a sleeve

[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new golf club head cover embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0021] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the golf club head cover apparatus 10 generally comprises a sleeve 12 which is shaped to receive a head of a golf club therein. The sleeve 12 has an opening 22 which facilitates insertion of the head into the sleeve 12 and permits a shaft 76 to extend therethrough when the sleeve 12 covers the head. The sleeve 12 comprises a flexible material such as a fabric material. The flexible material may be waterproof or water-resistant in some embodiments. The flexible material may comprise, for example, a closely woven polyester or nylon may be used, which acts to propel water away from the head of the golf club when covering the head.

[0022] A pocket 26 is mounted to an exterior of the sleeve 12 and defines an aperture 28 which extends therein. The aperture 28 is positioned adjacent to the sleeve 12 and extends substantially parallel or tangent to the exterior of the sleeve 12. A storage magnet 32 mounted on an interior surface 30 of the pocket 26 which is configured to secure ferromagnetic items within the pocket 26. A cleaning towel 34 is removably coupled to the exterior of the sleeve 12. The cleaning towel 34 comprises a microfiber material or other material suitable for cleaning golf balls.

[0023] The sleeve 12 may have any of a variety of shapes, including those which are adapted to closely surround a particular shape of golf club head. For example, FIGS. 1 through 6 depict embodiments in which the sleeve 12 has a substantially rectangular shape 14 sufficient to cover a head 74 of a mallet putter 72. The sleeve 12 has a top panel 16, a bottom panel 18, and a perimeter panel 20. The perimeter panel 20 is coupled to and extends between the top and bottom panel 18s. The opening 22 of the sleeve 12 extends through one side of the perimeter panel 20. FIGS. 7 and 8 depict embodiments in which the sleeve 12 has an L-shape 24 adapted to receive a head of a blade putter.

[0024] In reference to FIGS. 1 through 6, embodiments in which the sleeve 12 has the substantially regular shape are presented having a sleeve closure 36 which is operable to selectively close the opening 22 of the sleeve 12 around a shaft 76 of the mallet putter 72. The sleeve closure 36 comprises a sleeve flap 38 and a sleeve flap fastener 44. The sleeve flap 38 is coupled to the sleeve 12 and is positionable in a covering position 42 to cover a portion of the opening 22. The sleeve flap 38 tapers away from the sleeve 12 to a distal end 40 with respect to the sleeve 12. The sleeve flap 38 covers a central portion of the opening 22 and leaves opposite end portions of the opening 22 open when positioned to cover the opening 22 to permit the shaft 76 of the golf club through one of the opposite end portions depending on whether a left-handed putter or a right-handed putter is used. The sleeve flap fastener 44 includes a first mating member 46 coupled to the sleeve flap 38 and a second mating member 48 coupled to the sleeve 12. The first and second mating members 46, 48 are removably couplable to each other to secure the sleeve flap 38 in the covering position 42. The first and second mating members 46, 48 magnetically adhere to each other. Both of the first and second mating members 46, 48 may be magnets, or one of the first and second mating members 46, 48 may be a magnet while the other is a ferromagnetic material. The sleeve flap fastener 44 may also comprise a snap fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like.

[0025] Various embodiments, including those shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and 7, depict a pocket closure 50 which is operable to selectively close the aperture 28 of the pocket 26. The pocket closure 50 comprises a pocket flap 52 and a pocket flap fastener 56. The pocket flap 52 is coupled to the sleeve 12 and is positionable in a closed position 54 to cover the aperture 28. The pocket flap fastener 56 includes a first coupling member 58 coupled to the pocket flap 52 and a second coupling member 60 coupled to the pocket 26. The first and second coupling members 58, 60 are removably couplable to each other to secure the pocket flap 52 in the closed position 54. The first and second coupling members 58, 60 magnetically adhere to each other. Both of the first and second coupling members 58, 60 may be magnets, or one of the first and second mating members 46, 48 may be a magnet while the other is a ferromagnetic material. The pocket flap fastener 56 may also comprise a snap fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, or the like.

[0026] It is also noted that FIG. 7 depicts multiple pockets 26 with associated ones of multiple pocket closures 50. Each pocket-pocket closure 50 arrangement is shaped and positioned as described above. Various other embodiments may position the pocket 26 in various locations on the exterior of the sleeve 12 and may use a plurality of pockets 26 and a plurality of pocket closures 50 of similar description to that given above.

[0027] In reference to FIGS. 1 through 3 and 7, embodiments are shown in which the cleaning towel 34 is removably coupled to the sleeve 12 via a clip 62 interlocking with the cleaning towel 34 and the sleeve 12. The clip 62 has a gate 64 which may be opened to remove the cleaning towel 34 from the sleeve 12 as desired. The clip 62 is a carabiner but may be any suitable type of clip 62 in other embodiments. Other fasteners may removably couple the cleaning towel 34 to the sleeve 12, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap connector, or the like.

[0028] In reference to FIGS. 5 and 8, the cleaning towel 34 may instead be removably attached to the sleeve 12 such that the cleaning towel 34 covers the aperture 28 to the pocket 26. In such embodiments, a pair of towel fasteners 66 removably attach the cleaning towel 34 to the sleeve 12. Each towel fastener 66 comprises a first connecting member 68 mounted to the cleaning towel 34 and a second connecting member 70 mounted to the sleeve 12. The first connecting members 68 magnetically adhere to the second connecting members 70 to attach the cleaning towel 34 to the sleeve 12 and prevent objects from falling out of the pocket 26. The towel fasteners 66 may also be snap connectors, hook-and-loop fasteners, or the like.

[0029] In use, the sleeve 12 may be placed on the head of the golf club to protect the head from damage. The golf club head cover apparatus 10 also keeps the cleaning towel 34 on hand and stores other items in the pocket 26. Common items that may be stored in the pocket 26 include ball marker 82s, divot repair tool 84s, and tees. When these items are ferromagnetic, the storage magnet 32s help secure them within the pocket 26 by magnetically attracting them. As further described above, the cleaning towel 34 may also be used to secure these items in the pocket 26 by attaching to the sleeve 12 and covering the aperture 28 of the pocket 26.

[0030] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0031] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.