Protective cover for golf club grip

Abstract

A removable protective cover for covering and protecting a golf club grip from the elements, e.g., inclement weather, is provided and is intended for use prior the golfer taking a final swing with the club.

1 . A protector for a golf club grip for protection from inclement weather comprising:
 a flexible first collar that has an open portion to allow a golf club shaft to be received therein such that the first collar is supported by the golf club shaft;   a flexible second collar that has an open portion to allow the golf club shaft to be received therein such that the second collar is supported by the golf club shaft, the second collar being spaced from the first collar;   a protective flexible skin member that is attached at a first end to the first collar and at a second opposite end to the second collar, the skin member having a longitudinal slit formed therein to allow the golf club shaft to be received therethrough for positioning the skin member over the golf club grip for protecting the golf club grip from inclement weather.   
     
     
         2 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second collars comprises a split C-shaped resilient clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first collar includes an open first end that includes a top edge with a hook member integrally formed with the top edge and extending across the open first end. 
     
     
         5 . The protector of  claim 4 , wherein the hook member comprises a resilient cantilevered finger that includes an integral hook that extends outwardly therefrom to permit the protector to be hung therefrom, the finger for positioning over a closed end of the golf club grip. 
     
     
         6 . The protector of  claim 5 , wherein the hook opens towards the finger. 
     
     
         7 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first collar includes a closed first end that includes an integral hook that extends outwardly therefrom to permit the protector to be hung therefrom, the closed first end for positioning over a closed end of the golf club grip. 
     
     
         8 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the second collar includes a bottom pull tab that extends outwardly therefrom, the bottom pull tab being curved along its length. 
     
     
         9 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the skin member is attached to the first and second collars by means of a bond. 
     
     
         10 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the skin member is attached to the first and second collars by means of a mechanical coupling, the skin member being removable from the first and second collars. 
     
     
         11 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second collars each includes a slot formed therein and respective first and second ends of the skin member are received within the slots to form a frictional fit between the skin member and the first and second collars. 
     
     
         12 . The protector of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second ends of the skin member includes an O-ring segment that is frictionally held within the respective slot. 
     
     
         13 . The protector of  claim 1 , wherein the skin member is formed of a material that is selected from a list consisting of a water repellant material and a waterproof material. 
     
     
         14 . The protector of  claim 13 , wherein the skin member is formed of a synthetic material. 
     
     
         15 . A golf club grip protector comprising:
 a first collar that has a top wall at a first end and an open second end and an opening formed along a side wall thereof and along a length thereof, the opening being of sufficient size to permit a golf club grip to be received therethrough, the first collar having an integral hook member that is formed along and extends outwardly from the top wall;   a second collar that has an open first end and an open second end and an opening formed along a side wall thereof and along a length thereof, the opening being of sufficient size to permit the golf club grip to be received therethrough; and   a protective flexible skin member that is attached at a first end to the first collar and at a second opposite end to the second collar, the skin member having a longitudinal slit formed that is axially aligned with the openings formed in the side walls of the first and second collars, the longitudinal slit of sufficient size to allow the golf club grip to be received therethrough for positioning the skin member over the golf club grip for protecting the golf club grip from inclement weather.