Golf Club Head Covers

Abstract

To provide a head cover which is easily attached to and detached from a club head, is unlikely to come off inadvertently from the club head, and is unlikely to lose its shape. [Solution] The head protection part that covers the club head and the shaft protection part that covers the base of the shaft are continuous. The head protection part is hollow and large enough to cover the outer periphery of the head. The shaft protection part is elongated and hollow and open at the tip. From the top surface of the tip of the shaft protection part to the top and bottom surfaces of the head protection part, it is continuously separated in the width direction and is in a half-split state in the width direction. A hinge connects from the bottom surface of the shaft protection part to the end of the separated part of the head protection part, and the hinge acts as an opening / closing axis to allow the part to be opened in a half-split state in the width direction from the top surface of the head protection part to the top and bottom surfaces of the shaft protection part. It is flexible, has shape recovery properties, and is shape-retaining properties.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a head cover for a golf club (hereinafter simply referred to as a "head cover"). [Background technology]

[0002] Head covers are placed over the head of a golf club (hereinafter simply referred to as "club head") to protect (prevent damage to) the club head and shaft, and are available in a variety of materials, structures and designs (Patent Documents 1 to 7).

[0003] It is desirable for the head cover to be easy to put on and take off the club head (easy to put on and take off). However, if it is easy to put on and take off, it may accidentally fall off the club head and get lost. This is especially true when the caddy bag is carried on a cart. From the viewpoint of preventing it from falling off, it is desirable for it to not come off accidentally. From the viewpoint of long-term use, it is desirable for it to be resistant to deformation and damage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 52-15964 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 62-48371 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-137671 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 3,613,760 [Patent Document 5] JP 2016-202745 A [Patent Document 6] JP 2018-153609 A [Patent Document 7] Patent No. 5554443 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a head cover which is easy to attach to and detach from a club head, but which is difficult to come off accidentally from the club head and is difficult to lose its shape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The head cover of the present invention is made up of a head protection part that covers the club head and a shaft protection part that covers the base of the shaft attached to the club head. The head protection part is hollow and large enough to be placed over the outer periphery of the head. The shaft protection part is elongated and hollow and has an open tip that can be placed over the outer periphery of the shaft.

[0007] The top surface of the shaft protection part and the top and bottom surfaces of the head protection part are separated in a continuous manner in the width direction to form a half-split state. The bottom surface of the shaft protection part is connected by a hinge (opening / closing connection part) so that it can be opened and closed. The part from the top surface of the shaft protection part, which is separated in a continuous manner, to the top and bottom surfaces of the head protection part can be opened and closed in a half-split state in the width direction with the hinge as an opening / closing axis.

[0008] The head cover of the present invention is desirably made of a soft material such as soft resin or rubber, and is flexible, has shape recovery properties, and has shape retention properties. Effect of the Invention

[0009] The head cover of the present invention has the following effects. (1) The hinges allow the helmet to be easily opened into a split shape, and the shape retention allows the helmet to maintain its shape even when opened without losing its shape. The helmet can also be quickly and easily attached to and detached from the club head, which is useful for play-first. (2) Since there are no parts protruding from the inside of the head cover, it can be made smaller and more compact. (3) Because the protective sheet has shape recovery properties, even if it bends when it is placed over the club head, it recovers its shape to fit the outer periphery of the club head, making it easy to fit to the outer periphery of the club head. (4) Since there are no protruding members (components) on the outer surface of the head cover, the golf club can be easily taken in and out of the caddy bag, the golf club does not take up much space in the caddy bag, and the caddy bag cover can be easily closed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a club head stored in the head cover of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1A is an explanatory front (inner) view of the head cover of the present invention in an open state, FIG. 1B is an end view of the shaft protection part in an open state, and FIG. 1C is an end view of the shaft protection part in a closed state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the rear (outer) side of the head cover of the present invention in an open state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a club head stored in the head cover of the present invention is removed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a case where a club head is stored in the head cover of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram for making the head cover of the present invention, in which a single core material made of hard resin that is continuous so that it can be opened and closed with a hinge is covered with a surface material, and a magnet is attached to the separating edge of the core material. [Figure 8] This is another explanatory diagram for the production of the head cover of the present invention, in which two separately molded core members are covered with a covering material to connect the two core members so that they can be opened and closed, and a magnet is attached to the separated edge of the covered core members. [Figure 9] This is another explanatory diagram for making the head cover of the present invention, in which cushioning material is placed on the inner surface of two separated core members, an outer material is attached on top of the cushioning material to connect the two core members so that they can be opened and closed, and a magnet is attached to the separated edge of the core members. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] (Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the head cover of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The illustrated head cover 1 has a head protection part 2 that is continuous with a shaft protection part 3. The head protection part 2 is adapted to cover a club head H (Fig. 1), and the shaft protection part 3 is adapted to cover the vicinity of the base of a shaft S (Fig. 1) attached to the club head H.

[0012] [Head protection part] The head protection part 2 is hollow and sized to cover the outer circumference of the crown C and sole L of the club head 1 as shown in Fig. 1. The head protection part 2 has an upper surface 2a that covers the crown C side of the club head H to protect the crown C side, and a bottom surface 2b that covers the sole L side of the club head H to protect the sole L side.

[0013] The top surface 2a and the bottom surface 2b of the head protection part 2 in Fig. 1 are continuously separated at their widthwise center (including the approximate center: the same applies below) and divided into two in the widthwise direction. The separation point may be a location to the left or right of the widthwise center of the top surface 2a and the bottom surface 2b. The half-split head protection part 2 divided in the widthwise direction is bowl-shaped.

[0014] [Shaft protection part] The shaft protection part 3 is elongated and hollow as shown in Fig. 4, and has an open tip 3a. The shaft protection part 3 has an upper surface 3b (Fig. 1) that covers the upper surface side Su (Fig. 1) of the shaft S, and a bottom surface 3c (Fig. 1) that covers the bottom surface side of the shaft S (the back surface side of the upper surface side Su in Fig. 1).

[0015] The top surface 3b of the shaft protection part 3 in Fig. 1 is divided in half in a continuous manner from the tip 3a of the shaft protection part 3 to the top surface 2a of the head protection part 2, and can be opened and closed to the left and right. As a result, the head protection part 2 and the shaft protection part 3 are divided in half in their width direction from the tip 3a of the shaft protection part 3 through the top surface 3b of the shaft protection part 3 and the top surface 2a of the head protection part 2 to the bottom surface 2b of the head protection part 2 (Figs. 2 and 3) as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

[0016] [Hinge] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a hinge (opening / closing connection part) 4 connects the bottom surface 3c of the shaft protection part 3 to the separation part end 2c of the head protection part 2, and when the top surface 3b of the shaft protection part 3 is opened as shown in Figure 4 using the hinge 4 as the opening / closing axis, the part from the top surface 2a of the head protection part 2 to the bottom surface 2b of the head protection part 2 is opened in a continuous half-split shape as shown in Figure 2.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3, a stopper 5 is sewn to the end 2c of the separated part of the head protection part 2 (the upper end of the hinge 4) to prevent the end 2c of the separated part from fraying or tearing. The stopper 5 can be made of cloth, synthetic leather, or any other material.

[0018] 1, the shaft protection part 3 is divided into two at the center (including the approximate center: the same applies below) of the width direction of the upper surface 3b of the shaft protection part 3, but the shaft protection part 3 may be separated at a location to the left or right of the center of the width direction of the upper surface 3b. The separated left and right shaft protection parts 3 are in the shape of a half-split cylinder.

[0019] [Obstruct: Magnet] As shown in Fig. 7, a blocking device, for example, a magnet 7 is attached to the opposing separation edges (opening edges) 6 of the head protection part 2 and the shaft protection part 3. The magnets 7 in Fig. 7 are arranged in a line, each about several centimeters long, and rod-shaped fillers (not shown) made of resin or other material are placed between the magnets 7. The outer periphery of the magnets 7 and the fillers is covered with a cover 8 made of cloth or other material to prevent them from being exposed to the outside and to prevent them from shifting out of position, and this cover 8 is attached to the separation edge 6. The shape, number, arrangement, etc. of the magnets 7 may be other configurations. Also, the magnets 7 may be attached directly to the separation edge 6 without being covered with the cover 8.

[0020] By attaching a magnet 7 to the separating edge 6, when the left and right head covers (hereinafter referred to as "half-split covers") 1a, 1b, which are opened in half as shown in Figure 1, are closed as shown in Figure 4, both separating edges 6 are attracted by the magnet 7 and held in a closed state.

[0021] The closure 7 may be something other than a magnet as long as it can maintain the head cover 1, which is open in half as shown in Figure 1, in a closed state as shown in Figure 4.For example, it may be a hook-and-loop fastener, an opening and closing method similar to the clasp of a purse, a hinge method that opens and closes with a spring, or some other method.

[0022] [Opening of half-broken cover] The separating edges 6 of the half-split covers 1a, 1b are opened nearly 180 degrees or more as shown in Figure 2(b) with the hinge 4 as the opening and closing axis, so that the head protection part 2 and the shaft protection part 3 are maintained in a half-split open state facing upward (including diagonally upward: the same applies below) as shown in Figure 2.

[0023] [Head cover material and characteristics] The head cover 1 of Figs. 1 to 5 is made of a soft material such as resin or rubber, and is suitable for being soft and elastic so as not to scratch the club head H and shaft S, flexible (soft) enough to bend and deform when held in one hand and pressed with a finger as shown in Fig. 4, shape restoring enough to restore the original shape even if it is deformed or crushed, and shape retaining enough to retain the shape in a half-split open state as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Also, it is desirable for the head cover 1 to have impact resistance, elasticity, thickness, etc. that can withstand impact applied from the outside and prevent the club head H and shaft S from being scratched. EVA resin is suitable as a resin with such characteristics. In the present invention, other resins with similar characteristics to EVA resin can also be used. As rubber, natural rubber, silicone rubber, and others are suitable.

[0024] [Head cover molding] The head cover 1 in Fig. 1 can be manufactured by molding soft materials such as resin and rubber by general-purpose injection molding or other molding methods. For molding, a lower mold 9a and an upper mold 9b as shown in Fig. 6 can be used.

[0025] [Club head storage] To cover (store) the head cover 1 over the club head H, the head cover 1, which is closed when empty, is opened into the split halves as shown in Fig. 5, the club head H is placed between the left and right halves 1a and 1b, and then the halves 1a and 1b are closed as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the halves 1a and 1b are closed around the hinge 4 as shown in Fig. 2(c), and the opposing separating edges 6 of the halves 1a and 1b are attracted by the magnets 7 to hold them in the closed state.

[0026] [Removing the club head] As shown in Figure 4, to remove the head cover 1 that is placed over the club head H, hold the connecting part 10 of the head protection part 2 and the shaft protection part 3 of the head cover 1 with one hand (the left hand in Figure 4), lift the shaft S upward with the other hand (the right hand in Figure 4), and push open the separating edge 6 of the head protection part 2 and the shaft protection part 3 to open them into a split state as shown in Figure 1. In this state, remove the club head H from between the split covers 1a and 1b (remove the club head H from the head cover 1).

[0027] The head cover 1 removed from the club head H opens to about 180 degrees around the hinge 4 as shown in Fig. 2(b), so it remains open in a split state as shown in Fig. 2(a). In this state, the head cover 1 can be held in one hand (the left hand in Fig. 5) as shown in Fig. 5, and the club head H held in the other hand (the right hand, not shown in Fig. 5) can be inserted between the open split covers 1a and 1b (the head cover 1 can be placed over the club head H).

[0028] (Embodiment 2) The head cover in embodiment 1 is molded such that the half covers 1a, 1b are connected by a hinge 4 so that they can be opened and closed. However, the head cover 1 of the present invention may be molded such that the half covers 1a, 1b are molded separately and the two half covers 1a, 1b are arranged side by side with the connecting part acting as a hinge so that they can be opened and closed from the left to the right.

[0029] (Embodiment 3) The head covers of the first and second embodiments are made of a soft material and are thickly molded to have flexibility, restorability, and shape retention, whereas the head cover of the third embodiment is made by covering a core material 11 with a surface material 12. Specifically, the left and right core materials 11 are molded in a half-split shape that are connected to each other by a hinge 4 so as to be openable and closable, as shown in FIG. 7, and both the outer peripheral surface and the inner surface of the core material 11 are covered with the surface material 12. The core material 11 covered with the surface material 12 has an openable hinge 4 formed thereon. Once the hinge 4 is formed, it is also possible to cover only one of the outer peripheral surface and the inner surface of the core material 11 with the surface material 12. The surface material 12 is a sheet having a size and shape that can cover the core material 11, and is made of various materials such as cloth and synthetic leather, and has an arbitrary thickness (the same applies to the following embodiments).

[0030] The core material 11 is made of hard resin, but has a thickness of about 0.1 to several mm, and is flexible enough to bend and deform when held in one hand and pressed with a finger as shown in Fig. 4, has shape restoring ability to return to its original shape even if it is deformed or crushed, and has shape retention ability to maintain its shape in a half-split open state. It also has impact resistance that can withstand external impacts and prevent damage to the club head H and shaft S.

[0031] In this embodiment, magnets 7 are attached to the respective separation edges 6 of the core materials 11 that are covered and connected with the outer materials 12, so that when both core materials 11 are closed, the separation edges 6 are attracted by the magnets 7. In this case, the magnets 7 are also covered with a cover 8, with an interposer (not shown) placed between the magnets 7, and the cover 8 is attached to the separation edges 6.

[0032] (Embodiment 4) As shown in Fig. 8, the head cover of the fourth embodiment is formed by splitting a thin core material 11 made of hard resin into a halved shape, covering and connecting both the outer and inner surfaces of two core materials 11 arranged side by side with a surface material 12, and using a hinge 4 to connect the two core materials 11 in the halved state so that they can be opened and closed. If the hinge 4 can be formed, it is also possible to cover only one of the outer or inner surfaces of the two core materials 11 arranged side by side with the surface material 12. In addition, magnets 7 are attached to the separating edges 6 of both core materials 11, so that when the two core materials 11 are closed, the separating edges 6 are attracted by the magnets 7 and closed. The magnets 7 are the same as those in Fig. 7.

[0033] (Embodiment 5) The head cover of the fifth embodiment is formed by dividing a thin core material 11 made of hard resin into two halves as shown in FIG. 9, disposing an elastic material 13 on the inner surface of the two core materials 11 arranged side by side, covering and connecting both the outer and inner surfaces of the two core materials 11 with a surface material 12, and wrapping the elastic material 13 inside the surface material 12. In this case, the connecting portion of the wrapped core materials 11 becomes a hinge 4, and the two half-split core materials 11 can be opened and closed to the left and right. If the hinge 4 can be formed, it is also possible to cover only one of the outer and inner surfaces of the two core materials 11 with the surface material 12. In addition, a magnet 7 is attached to the separating edge 6 of both core materials 11, so that when the two core materials 11 are closed, the separating edge 6 is attracted by the magnet 7. This magnet 7 is the same as that in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. The elastic material 13 may be a long one that continues from the head protection part 2 to the inner surface of the shaft protection part 3.

[0034] (Embodiment 6) In the third to fifth embodiments, both or either of the outer peripheral surface and inner surface of the core material 11 is covered with the sheet-like surface material 12, but in the present invention, the surface material 12 may be made of an elastic material. In this case, an elastic resin may be sprayed onto both or at least the inner surface of the core material 11, or an elastic sheet-like elastic material may be attached. In addition, magnets 7 are attached to the separating edges 6 of both core materials 11, so that when the core materials 11 are closed, the separating edges 6 are attracted to the magnets 7 and closed. The magnets 7 are also the same as those in the cases of Figs. 7 to 9. In this case, the elastic material 13 may also be a long material that continues from the head protection part 2 to the inner surface of the shaft protection part 3. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] The illustrated embodiment is merely one example of the present invention, and other shapes, structures, sizes, materials, etc. may be used as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1 Head cover 1a, 1b Half-broken cover 2 Head protection part 2a (Head protection part) Top surface 2b (Head protection part) bottom surface 2c (Head protection part) separation part end 3 Shaft protection part 3a (Shaft protection part) tip 3b (Shaft protection part) Top surface 3c Bottom surface (of shaft protection part) 4 Hinge (opening and closing connection) 5 Fastener 6 Separation Edge 7 Obturator (magnet) 8 Cover 9a Lower mold 9b upper mold 10 Continuous section 11 Core material 12 Surface material 13 Elastic material (cushioning material) B. Back (of crown) C Crown F Face H Club Head L Sole S shaft Su (of the shaft) top side

Claims

1. The head protection part that covers the club head is connected to the shaft protection part that covers the base of the shaft attached to the club head. the head protection part is hollow and of a size that allows it to be fitted over the outer periphery of the club head, the shaft protection part is elongated and hollow and allows it to be fitted over the outer periphery of the shaft, and the tip of the shaft protection part is open, The upper surface of the shaft protection part and the upper and bottom surfaces of the head protection part are separated in a continuous manner in the width direction to form a half-split state, and the bottom surface of the shaft protection part is connected to the hinge so that the half-split state can be opened and closed with the hinge as an opening / closing axis, There are closing devices at the separation edges of the head protection part and the shaft protection part, and the closing devices can close the separation edges of the head protection part and the separation edges of the shaft protection part, Both the head protection part and the shaft protection part are flexible enough to bend and deform when pressed with a finger, have shape restoring properties that allow them to return to their original shape even if they are deformed or crushed, and have shape retention properties that allow them to maintain their shape in a half-split open or closed state. A head cover for a golf club.

2. 2. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, The head protection part and the shaft protection part are molded products made of soft resin or rubber. A head cover for a golf club.

3. 2. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, The head protection part and the shaft protection part are connected by a hinge and can be opened and closed in a half-split manner. Both or either of the outer and inner surfaces of the core material made of hard resin are covered with a surface material, and the head protection part and the shaft protection part are connected so as to be openable and closable. A head cover for a golf club.

4. 2. The golf club head cover according to claim 1, The head protection part and the shaft protection part are configured such that both or either of the outer peripheral surface and inner surface of two half-split core materials arranged side by side are covered with a surface material to connect the two core materials, and the connection part of the two core materials can be opened and closed in a half-split state using the connection part of the two core materials as a hinge. A head cover for a golf club.

5. 5. The golf club head cover according to claim 3, The surface material is made of elastic material. A head cover for a golf club.

6. 5. The golf club head cover according to claim 3, An elastic material is disposed inside a surface material that covers at least the inner surfaces of the head protection part and the shaft protection part. A head cover for a golf club.

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