US3398961A - Golf club with weighted cover - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1968 M. A. HIGDON GOLF CLUB WITH WEIGHTED COVER Original Filed March 12, 1964 INVENTOR. M166 4. 19/600 BYW 147' IOF/VE Y6 United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf club device containing a cover means detachably mounted on the club head, connecting means holding the cover means to the club head, a pocket portion extending over the hitting surface of the club, and a substantially flat and narrow weight element in the pocket portion.

This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 351,422, filed Mar. 12, 1964, and now aban- I doned.

This invention relates to golf club covers and more particularly to golf club covers having weights associated therewith.

It is customary for a golfer to take many practice swings with a golf club prior to teeing off. These practice swings loosen up his tight muscles and relieve undesirable tension which is so often present at the first tee. Many golfers will take two or three golf clubs and swing them simultaneously as a unit much like a baseball player swings two or three bats prior to stepping into the batters box. It is extremely difiicult to swing two or three golf clubs simultaneously because of the combined total size of the grips. It is generally accepted that the practice of first swinging a heavy weight and then swinging a conventional golf club enables :a golfer to swing harder due to the lighter feel of the golf club.

The majority of golfers find that the iron clubs or irons in a golf set are the most diflicult to master. Iron shots must be hit crisply and sharply which requires a maximum amount of timing and wrist snap on the part of the golfer. Therefore, it enhances the golfers iron play if his body and more particularly his wrists are strong and supple. An excellent method of so strengthening the body and wrists is to swing a weighted golf club in the manner ordinarily employed during the execution of a complete swing.

Although means for weighting golf clubs have been previously devised such means are always designed for a No. 1 wood or the like. While the golfer may develop a feel for the No. 1 wood by swinging such a weighted wood it certainly does not give him the feel necessary for his irons. Therefore, it is a necessity that some means be available to give the golfer the feel of all of his irons. It is also desirable to have the additional weight placed as closely to the actual hitting area as possible to prevent possible errors caused by the weight to creep into a golfers swing. It is also desirable to have different amounts of weights for different classes of golfers such as children, women and men.

Many golfers find that their backs, shoulders, arms, wrists and hands are extremely weak after the winter months. It usually takes a considerable length of time for a golfer to re-develop these muscles during which time his golf score suffers.

It has been advanced by the leading proponents of systematic practice that fewer practice swings are necessary to strengthen the golfer when a weighted golf club is used as compared to using a conventional golf club. This is extremely important when a person has limited time available for practice.

Patented Aug. 27, 1968 "ice Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which readily loosens up a golfer prior to teeing off.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which permits a golfer to swing a single club while realizing the benefits of additional weight.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which strengthens the golfers back, shoulders, arms, wrists and hands while executing practice swings.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which allows a golfer to obtain the feel of each golf club while strengthening himself.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which permits different amounts of weight to be added thereto.

A further object of this invention to provide a weighted golf club cover which permits a golfer to retain his muscular strength during the off season utilizing systematic practice.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which will be interchangeable between all iron clubs.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which will not be accidentally detached during use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which places the weight as close to the actual hitting area of a golf club as possible.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which sufliciently strengthens a golfer in a limited amount of time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a weighted golf club cover which will be economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the device secured to a golf club;

FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the device secured to a golf club;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the device in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a back perspective view of the device illustrating an alternate means for securing said device to a golf club; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the device as seen on line 66 of FIG. 2.

The numeral 10 generally designates a golf club commonly referred to as an iron. Golf club 10 has a club head 11 secured to the lower end of an elongated shaft 13. Club head 11 is comprised of a substantially flat rearward portion 15, bottom portion 17, top portion 19, substantially fiat front portion 21 and hosel 23. The numeral 25 designates a golf club cover having a central portion 27; a first flap member 29 extending outwardly from one side of central portion 27; a second flap member 31 extending outwardly from the opposite side of central portion 27; and a thirdflap member 33 extending outwardly from one end of central portion 27. It will be noted that central portion 27 is substantially the same shape as front portion 21 of golf club 10. Golf club cover is comprised of an outer facing cover having an inner surface 37 and outer surface 39 which is constructed of leather, vinyl, canvas or other suitable material and has its outer edges folded 'back upon themselves as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. An elastic material 41 is secured at three of its four sides by sewing or the like to the inside surface 37 of facing cover 35 covering central portion 27 thereby forming pocket 43 between inside surface 37 of facing cover 35 and the inside surface of elastic material 41.

A flexible backing cover constructed of a cloth material or the like is also secured to the inside surface 37 of facing cover 35 by sewing or the like but does not cover the outside surface of pocket 43.

A plurality of grommets 47 are provided along the longitudinal edge of flaps 29 and 31. At least one grommet 47 is provided in flap member 33 adjacent its outer end. A plurality of grommets 47 are also provided in the free end of central portion 27.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, grommets 47 in flaps 29, 31 and 33 extend through outer facing cover 35 which is folded back upon itself and through backing cover 45. Grommets 47 in central portion 27 extend only through outer facing cover 35 which is folded back upon itself. Grommets 47 are adapted to receive lacing 49.

A metal weight 51 such as lead or the like is slidably inserted into pocket 43. It will be noted that weight -51 has a smooth surface 53 on one of its sides which engages the inner surface of elastic material 41. Weight 51 has substantially the same shape as central portion 27. It is generally preferred that cover 25 be placed on club head 11 so that pocket 43 is in contact with front portion 21.

The normal method of operation is as follows:

Metal weight 51 is slidably inserted into pocket 43 through its open end. While any weight may be utilized,

it is suggested that children use 8. 02., women and youths use 12 oz. and men use 16 oz. or more. Elastic material 41 will stretch considerably which allows the different weights to be inserted into pocket 43. Weight 51 is placed into pocket 43 so flat surface 53 will engage the inner surface of elastic material 41. Flap members 29, 31 and 33 are then folded inwardly and lacing 49 is then loosely laced through grommets 47 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Club head 11 is then inserted into the device so that front portion 21 of club head 11 engages the outer surface of elastic material 41. Lacing 49 is then tied into a knot and swung at will without fear of cover 25 disengaging from club head 11 as the rurique lacing and tying method illustrated in FIG. 2 positively prevents such a mishap.

Lacing 49 lends a good deal of versatility to cover 25. Lacing 49 is in fact a means for adjusting the relative positioning of flap members 29, 31 and 33. Such \a feature allows cover 25 to be satisfactorily interchanged on all irons from No. 1 to No. 9 and also on the pitching wedge. The precise location of weight 51 with respect to club head 11 places the weight adjacent the hitting area of the club. Such weight location prevents 'any distortion in the ordinary swinging sequence. The flat surface 53 closely engages the forward portion to prevent any undesirable play in the device during the practice swings.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 provides a quick method of securing cover 25 to a club head. Club head 11 is merely inserted into cover 25 and zipper means 55 closed. Lacing 49 is then tied around hosel 23 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Therefore, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a golf club having an elongated shaft,

a club head on one end of said shaft; said club head presenting a blade element having rearward, bottom and front portions with the thickness of said blade being substantially narrow between said front and rearward portions,

a golf ball hitting surface imposed on the front portion of said club head,

a cover means detachably mounted on said club head,

detachable connecting means securing said cover to said club head and holding said cover against movement with respect to said club head,

a pocket portion Within said cover means and extending over the hitting surface on the front portion of said club head,

and a substantially flat and narrow metal weight element in said pocket portion and being held by said pocket portion in a coextensive superimposed position over said golf ball hitting surface, with the center of gravity of the weight element disposed such that the center of gravity of the combined weight element and head is not substantially vertically displaced relative to the location of the head center of gravity.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pocket portion is formed between a facing cover of said cover means and an elastic material secured to the inner surface of said facing cover to more firmly grip said weight element and to permit alternate weight elements of the same general shape but of different Weight magnitudes to be inserted into said pocket portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,833 5/1941 Waller 272-57 2,447,967 8/ 1948 Stone 273-78 2,495,679 1/ 1950 Abreoht et a1 273-l94 2,676,803 4/1954 Damaske 273-194 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

R. J. APLEY, Assistant Examiner.

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