GB2357250A

GB2357250A - Golf club cover

Info

Publication number: GB2357250A
Application number: GB9929506A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Townsend
Original assignee: OLYMPIC PROMOTIONAL WATCHES LT
Current assignee: OLYMPIC PROMOTIONAL WATCHES LT
Priority date: 1999-12-15
Filing date: 1999-12-15
Publication date: 2001-06-20
Also published as: GB9929506D0

Abstract

A golf club cover 12 is disclosed that incorporates a timepiece 18. The timepiece fits in a cut-out in the top surface of the cover to be visible when the golf trolley is being wheeled and to protect it from impact with other golf clubs. The timepiece can include a device for measuring lapsed time and can include an electronic calculator for score-keeping.

Description

2357250 GOLF CLUB COVER

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a cover for a golf club.

Background of the invention

It is common to protect the heads of golf clubs, especially the woods, as they are being transported. Such covers are often shaped like a sock that is slipped over the head of the club after it has been replaced in the golf bag and serves to protect the head.

The present invention is concerned with such a golf club cover that serves a dual purpose.

Some golfers prefer not to wear a watch when playing because the reaction shock from hitting a golf ball can damage the delicate watch mechanism. Some golfers also find that wearing a wrist watch interferes with their stroke.

Summary of the invention

With a view to mitigating the foregoing problem, therefore, the present invention provides a golf club cover that incorporates a timepiece.

By incorporating a timepiece into a club cover, the invention allows the golfer to be made constantly aware of the time without wearing a wrist watch.

Preferably, the timepiece is mounted on the top surface of the club cover so that it should not be damaged by contact with other clubs carried in the same bag.

2 The club cover is preferably made of a flexible fabric that has a cut-out for receiving the timepiece. The edge of the cut-out may conveniently be reinforced and clamped between the timepiece and a mounting ring or bezel that is secured to the perimeter of the timepiece.

The edge of the cut-out may be reinforced by means of a crimped metal ring, similar to a metal eyelet, or by means of a ring of rubber or plastics material that is secured to the edge by sewing or bonding.

When playing golf, there are occasions when a time limit must be observed. For example, a period of five minutes is allowed to find a lost ball. To measure lapsed time, it is convenient to provide the timepiece with a rotatable bezel that surrounds the face.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf club cover of the invention, and Figures 2a to 2e show different stages in fitting a timepiece to the base of a golf club cover.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows a golf club cover 10 having a head 12 of a non-elastic fabric material that fits over the head of a golf club and a knitted neck 14 that may be stretched and fits over the base of the shaft of the club. Because of the stretchy or elasticated nature of the neck 14, the cover can be fitted over the head of the golf club in the same manner as a sock. A timepiece 18 is fitted in the top surface 16 of the head 12.

3 In this way, when a golf bag trolley containing the protected golf club is wheeled, the face of the timepiece will be clearly visible to the golfer, avoiding the need for the golfer to wear a wrist watch. Furthermore, because of the location of the timepiece, the golfer will constantly be made aware of the time, preventing him or her from missing any engagement after the golf round. The placing of the timepiece 18 on the top surface 16 of the cover 12 also ensures that it is not damaged by being knocked against other clubs when the trolley is being wheeled.

The top face 16 of the cover has a cut-out 20, as shown in Figure 2a, for receiving the timepiece 18. The edge of the cut-out 20 has a reinforcement ring 22 which may be made of rubber or other suitable material. The ring 22 is stitched or bonded to the edge of the cut-out 20 in order to provide a degree of stiffness and to prevent the fabric from fraying. It would be alternatively possible to protect the edge of the cutout by means of a metal eyelet.

Figures 2b and 2c show the insertion of a mounting ring 24 into the cut-out 20. The mounting ring 24 has a flange 26 that protrudes beyond the cut-out 20 in the top surface 16.

The mounting ring 24 is internally threaded so that the body of the timepiece 18 may be screwed into it as shown in Figures 2d and 2e. The body of the timepiece 18 also protrudes beyond the outer diameter of the threaded portion, to define a shoulder 28. The timepiece 18 is retained on the top surface 16 of the cover 12 in that the ring 22 is sandwiched between the flange 26 and the shoulder 28.

The mounting ring 24 need not necessarily be screwed to the body of the timepiece 18, it being possible alternatively to form it as a bayonet. Furthermore, it need not be a complete backing plate and it could instead be formed as a bezel or nut fitting around the circumference of the body of the timepiece.

4 While the timepiece may comprise a conventional watch mechanism, it may if desired comprise an electronic calculator for score keeping and memorising information, such as previous scores.

It is also preferred to provide means on the timepiece for measuring lapsed time. Such a function can be incorporated into a digital timepiece and in the case of a timepiece with an analogue display this may be achieved by providing a rotatable bezel with suitable marking around the face.

The back of a timepiece mounted in the manner illustrated in the drawings contacts the head of the golf club and this may in some cases be undesirable, for example if the back is made of metal and risks damaging the head.

This can of course be prevented by providing a protective layer, which may be padded if desired, between the back of the timepiece and the head of the club. Such a layer may be held in position by a releasable fastening, such as Velcroo, to allow access to the back of the timepiece, for example to facilitate battery replacement.

Claims

1. A golf club cover that incorporates a timepiece.

2. A golf club cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the timepiece is mounted on the top surface of the club cover.

3. A golf club cover as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover is made of a flexible fabric that has a cut-out for receiving the timepiece.

4. A golf club cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein the edge of the cut-out is reinforced and is sandwiched is between the timepiece and a mounting ring or bezel that is secured to the perimeter of the timepiece.

5. A golf club cover as claimed in claim 4, wherein the edge of the cut-out is reinforced by means of a ring that is secured to the edge of the cut-out.

6. A golf club cover as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ring is formed of a rubber and is secured to the edge of the cut-out by sewing or bonding.

7. A gold club as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein means are provided on the timepiece to enable the measurement of lapsed time.

8. A golf club cover as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a protective layer is provided in the cover to separate the back of the timepiece from the head of the golf club.

9. A golf club cover substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.