Golf club head cover

Abstract

A protective covering device for a wood-type golf club head, which is designed to allow a golf club to be removed therefrom without removing the protective cover from the golf bag. In this respect, several embodiments of the protective cover include a slit or opening formed at a top portion of the cover to allow the golf club to be retrieved from the golf bag through the slit or opening. By keeping the cover in the bag, the risk of inadvertently losing or misplacing the cover is mitigated. Also, when the club is returned to the bag, the club is inserted through the opening in the cover, so as to keep the club covered during periods of non-use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover for a wood-type golf club having a club shaft and a club head, the cover comprising:
 a tube disposed about a tube axis to define a tube opening sized and configured to allow at least a portion of the club shaft to be received within the tube opening; and   a head cover body coupled to the tube and defining a head cover cavity in communication with the tube opening, the head cover cavity being sized and configured to receive the club head, the head cover body comprising:
 a proximal end portion having a proximal opening in communication with the head cover cavity and the tube opening; and 
 a distal end portion having a distal opening formed therein to define a first distal section and a second distal section, the distal end portion being transitional between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the size of the distal opening increases as the distal end portion transitions from the closed configuration toward the open configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the head cover body and the tube are configured to allow the club shaft to be advanced through the distal opening, proximal opening and tube opening along the tube axis, and the club head to be advanced through the distal opening and received within the head cover cavity when distal end portion is in the open position. 
     
     
         3 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tube is cylindrical. 
     
     
         4 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a tube fastener coupled to the tube and a head cover fastener coupled to the head cover body, the tube fastener being selectively engageable with the head cover fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The cover recited in  claim 4 , wherein the tube fastener is threadably engageable to the head cover fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the distal opening is spaced from the proximal opening. 
     
     
         7 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , wherein the head cover body includes a neck disposed about the tube axis and extending between the proximal opening and the distal opening. 
     
     
         8 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a first distal fastener coupled to the first distal section and second distal fastener coupled to the second distal section, the first distal fastener being engaged with the second distal fastener when the distal end portion is in the closed position, and the first distal fastener being disengaged from the second distal fastener when the distal end portion is in the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The cover recited in  claim 8 , wherein the first distal fastener and second distal fastener are complimentary zipper portions. 
     
     
         10 . The cover recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a support frame coupled to the head cover body, the support frame being configured to be disposable in compression. 
     
     
         11 . The cover recited in  claim 10 , the support frame being moveable relative to the tube as the distal end portion transitions between the closed configuration and the open configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The cover recited in  claim 11 , wherein the support frame is moveable between a support closed configuration and a support open configuration, the support frame moving from the support closed configuration and the support open configuration as the distal end portion transitions from the closed configuration toward the open configuration. 
     
     
         13 . A head cover for a wood-type golf club having a club shaft and a club head, the head cover comprising:
 a head cover body having a cavity sized to receive the club head, the head cover body further comprising:
 a proximal end portion having a proximal opening sized and configured to allow the club shaft to be advanceable therethrough; and 
 a distal end portion having a distal opening formed therein and spaced from the proximal opening, the distal opening defining a first distal section and a second distal section, the distal end portion being transitional between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the size of the distal opening increases as the distal end portion transitions from the closed configuration toward the open configuration. 
   
     
     
         14 . The cover recited in  claim 13 , wherein the head cover body is configured to allow the club shaft to be advanced through distal opening and proximal opening, and the club head to be advanced through the distal opening and received within the head cover cavity when distal end portion is in the open position. 
     
     
         15 . The cover recited in  claim 13 , wherein the distal opening is spaced from the proximal opening. 
     
     
         16 . The cover recited in  claim 13 , wherein the head cover body includes a neck disposed about the tube axis and extending between the proximal opening and the distal opening. 
     
     
         17 . The cover recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a first distal fastener coupled to the first distal section and second distal fastener coupled to the second distal section, the first distal fastener being engaged with the second distal fastener when the distal end portion is in the closed position, and the first distal fastener being disengaged from the second distal fastener when the distal end portion is in the open position. 
     
     
         18 . The cover recited in  claim 17 , wherein the first distal fastener and second distal fastener are complimentary zipper portions. 
     
     
         19 . The cover recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a support frame coupled to the head cover, the support frame being configured to be disposable in compression. 
     
     
         20 . The cover recited in  claim 19 , the support frame being moveable relative to the tube as the distal end portion transitions between the closed configuration and the open configuration.