US20080264534A1

US20080264534A1 - Cover for sports equipment

Info

Publication number: US20080264534A1
Application number: US12/082,004
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric C. Carey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-27
Filing date: 2008-04-08
Publication date: 2008-10-30

Abstract

A sports equipment cover includes an elongated housing for storing a piece of sports equipment. Such housing is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. Such housing has an opening at a predetermined location thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment. A fastening mechanism is operably connected to such housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent to such opening for removably securing such opening in a closed position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/914,519 filed Apr. 8, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to sports equipment covers and, more particularly, this invention relates to golf club covers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, sports equipment such as golf clubs, as are generally well known in the prior art, have been used for playing sports, for the enjoyment of a user and during competitions. On occasion, inclement weather such as rain interferes with the use of such sports equipment.
Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Bright, U.S. Pat. No. 1,886,464 discloses an individual case for a golf club for protecting a golf club from scratches during travel. In order to view the golf club, the case may be opened.
Clark, U.S. Pat. No. 6,298,987 provides a golf club protection system which includes a plurality of hollow tubes with head covers for holding golf clubs.
Sung, U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,624 provides a golf club protector that includes a rigid tube sized to house the shaft section of an individual golf club, and a flexible hollow cover attached to the upper end of the tube to surround the hitting head of the club. An elongated slot-like opening is formed in the cover to permit the club to be moved into or out of the protector.
Moore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,395 provides a golf club protector in the form of a hollow, tubular sleeve constructed from a single, elongated piece of material folded lengthwise and secured together along the elongated edges and one end of the tube.
Malkoff, U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,063 provides a golf club protective cover which provides a semi-rigid upper enclosure to protect the club head and a sock-like lower enclosure attached to the upper enclosure for protection of the club shaft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a sports equipment cover. Such sports equipment cover includes an elongated housing for storing a piece of sports equipment. The housing is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape. The housing has an opening at a predetermined location thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment. A fastening means is operably connected to the housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent to such opening for removably securing such opening in a closed position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a protective covering for sports equipment such as golf clubs that will keep such equipment dry during inclement weather.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a covering for sports equipment such as golf clubs that includes a transparent portion thereby enabling a user to quickly and easily find the desired piece of sports equipment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for sports equipment, such as a golf club, that is easy to use and is lightweight.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a covering means for individual items of sports equipment which will protect such equipment during travel and storage.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a covering means for individual golf clubs which takes up very little space thereby enabling a user to pack a plurality of covered golf clubs into a golf club carrying device with ease.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide golf club covers that are thin and flexible and may be easily and compactly stored when not in use.
In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention includes a zipper type fastening means and a transparent window.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a plurality of sports equipment covers have been placed on golf clubs and such golf clubs have been placed in a golf bag.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention includes a zipper type fastening means and a transparent window and such invention is being used to house a golf club.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention includes carrying case.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the invention includes indicia disposed thereon.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which the housing is manufactured from a transparent material and a golf club is housed within the sports equipment cover.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which a golf club is being inserted into the housing through zippered opening.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the invention according to one embodiment of the invention in which such invention includes indicia disposed thereon and a zipper type fastening means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.
Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-8.
Referring to FIGS. 1-8, A sports equipment cover, generally designated 10, is provided. Such sports equipment cover 10 includes an elongated housing 12 for storing a piece of sports equipment 14.
The housing 12 is manufactured from a predetermined material and has a predetermined size, a predetermined shape, and a predetermined thickness.
It is presently preferred that such predetermined material is flexible and waterproof. It is further presently preferred that such predetermined material is at least one of plastic, vinyl, canvas, and leather. It is presently most preferred that such predetermined material is vinyl.
It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape is substantially similar to a shape of at least one of a golf club 15, a hockey stick, a baseball bat, a softball bat, and a tennis racket.
It is presently preferred that the housing 12 includes at least one transparent portion 16 operably connected thereto at a predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to see at least a portion of a piece of sports equipment 14 housed within such sports equipment cover 10.
The housing 12 further includes an opening 23 at a predetermined location thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment 14. It is presently preferred that such predetermined location is located adjacent a first predetermined end 24 of the housing 12.
It is further presently preferred that such first predetermined end 24 is substantially wider than an opposite second predetermined end 26 of the housing 12 such that the first predetermined 24 end is capable of housing a head 28 of a golf club 15 in a substantially form fitting manner and such opposite second predetermined end 26 is capable of housing a handle 34 of such golf club 15 in a substantially form fitting manner.
A fastening means 36 is operably connected to the housing 12 at a predetermined location thereon adjacent to such opening 23 for removably securing such opening 23 in a closed position.
It is presently preferred that such fastening means 36 is at least one of string, elastic, a zipper type fastening means 38, and a hook and loop type fastening means. It is presently most preferred that such fastening means is a zipper type fastening means 38.
The opening and the fastening means may be located on the housing at various positions to facilitate the removal and covering of whichever type sports equipment is to be housed within such device.
It is presently preferred that such sports equipment cover 10 weighs between about 2.0 ounces and 3.0 ounces.
Referring to FIG. 5, it is presently preferred that the housing 12 includes indicia 42 disposed on the housing 12 at a predetermined location thereon, such indicia 42 indicating predetermined information relating to at least one of such sports equipment and a user. It is presently preferred that such indicia 42 includes at least one of letters, words, figures, numbers, pictoral images, and shapes.
Referring to FIG. 4, it is presently preferred that such sports equipment cover 10 further includes a carrying case 44 for storing a plurality of such sports equipment covers when such sports equipment covers are not being used to cover sports equipment.
Referring to FIG. 2, it is presently preferred that such predetermined thickness of such housing is such that a predetermined plurality of golf clubs may be individually covered with such sports equipment covers and such plurality of covered golf clubs may be placed within a golf bag, all fitting within such golf bag with ease.
According to another embodiment of the invention, it is presently preferred that such predetermined material comprising the housing is plastic. In this embodiment is it presently most preferred that such plastic is transparent. An embodiment of the invention in which the housing is manufactured from a transparent material is illustrated in FIG. 6.
While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sports equipment cover comprising:

a. an elongated housing for storing a piece of sports equipment, said housing being manufactured from a predetermined material and having a predetermined size, a predetermined shape, and a predetermined thickness, said housing further including an opening at a predetermined location thereon for permitting insertion and removal of such piece of sports equipment; and

b. a fastening means operably connected to said housing at a predetermined location thereon adjacent to said opening for removably securing said opening in a closed position.

2. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined shape is substantially similar to a shape of at least one of a golf club, a hockey stick, a baseball bat, a softball bat, and a tennis racket.

3. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined location is located adjacent a first predetermined end of said housing.

4. A sports equipment cover according to claim 3 wherein said first predetermined end is substantially wider than an opposite second predetermined end of said housing such that said first predetermined end is capable of housing a head of a golf club in a substantially form fitting manner and said opposite second predetermined end is capable of housing a handle of such golf club in a substantially form fitting manner.

5. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said fastening means is at least one of string, elastic, a zipper type fastening means, and a hook and loop type fastening means.

6. A sports equipment cover according to claim 5 wherein said fastening means is a zipper type fastening means.

7. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is at least one of plastic, vinyl, canvas, and leather.

8. A sports equipment cover according to claim 7 wherein said predetermined material is vinyl.

9. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is plastic.

10. A sports equipment cover according to claim 9 wherein said plastic is transparent.

11. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes at least one transparent portion operably connected thereto at a predetermined location thereon for enabling a user to see at least a portion of at least one of an object and a piece of sports equipment housed within said sports equipment cover.

12. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is flexible.

13. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes indicia disposed on said housing at a predetermined location thereon, said indicia indicating predetermined information relating to at least one of such sports equipment and a user.

14. A sports equipment cover according to claim 13 wherein said indicia includes at least one of letters, words, figures, numbers, pictoral images, and shapes.

15. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined material is waterproof.

16. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said sports equipment cover further includes a carrying case for storing a plurality of said sports equipment covers when said sports equipment covers are not being used to cover sports equipment.

17. A sports equipment cover according to claim 1 wherein said sports equipment cover weighs between about 2.0 ounces and 3.0 ounces.