Golf club head cover

Abstract

A golf club head cover comprising a chamber adapted to receive the head of a golf club, a shell depending from the chamber adapted to receive the shaft of a golf club, a means for selectively opening and closing the head cover, axial stiffening members and longitudinal stiffening members.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cover for protecting a head, hosel and a portion of a shaft of a golf club comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive the head of the golf club, the housing comprised of a pliable material;    a shell having a general u-shaped cross section in an open position depending from the housing, the shell having sidewalls, a first open end and an opposed end connected to the housing;    stiffening members forming an element of the sidewalls; and    a means for selectively opening and closing the cover.    
     
     
         2 . The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffening members are longitudinally oriented.  
     
     
         3 . The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffening members are comprised of ethylene vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         4 . The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the stiffening members extend substantially the entire length of the sidewall.  
     
     
         5 . The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the means for selectively opening and closing the cover comprises a zipper.  
     
     
         6 . The cover according to  claim 1  further comprising stiffening members forming an element of the housing adapted to provide axial stiffness.  
     
     
         7 . The cover according to  claim 1  wherein the shell comprises a more rigid material than the housing.  
     
     
         8 . A head cover for a golf club comprising: 
 a chamber;    a shell depending from the chamber, the shell comprising stiffeners and legs connected at one edge having opposed free edges, wherein the legs progressively narrow in diameter away from the chamber and wherein an imaginary line extending parallel to the free edges approximately bisects the chamber; and    a means for selectively fastening the free edges.    
     
     
         9 . A head cover according to  claim 8  further comprising axial stiffeners forming an element of the chamber.  
     
     
         10 . A head cover according to  claim 8  wherein the chamber comprises opposed free edges in line with the free edges of the shell.  
     
     
         11  A head cover according to  claim 10  wherein the means for selectively fastening the free edges of the shell also selectively fastens the free edges of the chamber.  
     
     
         12  A head cover according to  claim 8  wherein the chamber has a relatively planar top.  
     
     
         13 . A head cover according to  claim 8  wherein the legs are substantially planar.  
     
     
         14 . A head cover according to  claim 8  wherein the legs are arcuate.  
     
     
         15 . A head cover according to  claim 8  wherein the stiffeners are longitudinally oriented on the shell.  
     
     
         16 . A head cover comprising: 
 a housing adapted to receive at least a portion of a head of an associated golf club, the housing comprised of a first material; and    a hollow neck portion depending from the housing, the neck portion comprised of a second less pliable material than the first material, the neck portion having a seam and stiffening members; and    a means for selectively fastening the seam.    
     
     
         17 . A head cover according to  claim 16  wherein the stiffening members extend substantially the entire length of the neck portion.  
     
     
         18 . A head cover according to  claim 16  wherein the seam extends into the housing.  
     
     
         19 . A head cover according to  claim 18  wherein the means for selectively fastening the neck seam also selectively fastens the housing seam.  
     
     
         20 . A head cover comprising: 
 a means for receiving a head of an associated golf club;    a means for receiving a shaft of the associated golf club, the means for receiving the shaft attached to the means for receiving the head;    a means for opening and closing the means for receiving the shaft; and    a means for providing longitudinal stiffness to the means for receiving the shaft.    
     
     
         21 . A head cover according to  claim 20  further comprising a means for providing axial stiffness to the means for receiving the head of the golf club.