Customizable sporting equipment cover and method of manufacture

Abstract

A sporting equipment cover consisting of a custom three-dimensional printed figurehead attached to a cover portion. The printed figurehead is fabricated from a three-dimensional scanned image of an individual using a three-dimensional ink jet printing process. The printed figurehead can be coated with one or more layers of a clear protective coating to increase the longevity of the printed figurehead. A mounting flange is formed about a mounting edge of the three-dimensional printed figurehead. The mounting flange is attached to the cover portion using a mounting bracket, a mechanical fastener, or other fastening interface. The cover portion can be designed to cover any sporting equipment, including golf clubs, racquets, etc. Alternatively, the printed figurehead can be a complete head and attached using a bobble head styled interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head, the sports equipment cover assembly comprising:
 a flexible first covering constructed for being snugly fitted over an end portion of said sports equipment;   a unitary three-dimensional article comprised of a plurality of successively joined particles of material creating a front facial portion contoured to match said facial features and contours of said corresponding preselected actual human or animal head, via a three-dimensional digital file representative of said preselected actual human or animal head and respective three-dimensional printing process; and   a mechanical attachment interface for attaching said unitary three-dimensional article to said flexible first covering, in a manner wherein said unitary three-dimensional article is prominently displayed when said sports equipment cover assembly is disposed upon said end portion of said sports equipment.   
     
     
         2 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , the mechanical attachment interface further comprising:
 an interface subassembly including a first interface subassembly portion fixedly attached to said exterior surface of said flexible first covering, and a second interface subassembly integrated with said three-dimensional article, wherein said first and second interface subassemblies can be selectively engaged with one another to attached said three-dimensional article to said flexible first covering, and can be selectively disengaged to remove said three-dimensional article therefrom.   
     
     
         3 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , the mechanical attachment interface further comprising at least one mechanical fastener. 
     
     
         4 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , the mechanical attachment interface further comprising a spring. 
     
     
         5 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of successively joined particles of material are colored in accordance with a color layout of said preselected actual human or animal head during said joining process to provide a colored three-dimensional article, wherein said coloring more clearly defines facial and head features of said unitary three-dimensional article. 
     
     
         6 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , said three-dimensional article further comprises a hollowed out interior forming an interior void. 
     
     
         7 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 1 , said three-dimensional article further comprises at least one layer of clear protectant applied to an exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head, the sports equipment cover assembly comprising:
 a unitary three-dimensional article comprised of a plurality of successively joined particles of material creating a front facial portion contoured to match said facial features and contours of said corresponding preselected actual human or animal head, via a three-dimensional digital file representative of said preselected actual human or animal head and respective three-dimensional printing process   said unitary three-dimensional article having an exterior surface contour conforming to said contour of said preselected actual head, and said article having an interior surface defining an interior cavity conforming to an exterior surface of said exposed end of said sports equipment such that said article fits snugly upon said exposed sports equipment end when said cover assembly is attached thereto.   
     
     
         9 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 8 , said unitary three-dimensional article is sectioned into a figurehead facial portion and a figurehead rear portion, said figurehead facial portion comprising a front portion mating edge and said figurehead rear portion comprising a rear portion mating edge, wherein said front portion mating edge and said rear portion mating edge engage can be selectively engaged with one another to attached said three-dimensional article to said flexible first covering, and can be selectively disengaged to remove said three-dimensional article therefrom. 
     
     
         10 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 9 , said unitary three-dimensional article further comprising a hinge provided between said front portion mating edge and said rear portion mating edge. 
     
     
         11 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 8 , said unitary three-dimensional article further comprising a pliant material disposed within said article interior surface, wherein said pliant material is shaped conforming to an exterior surface of said exposed end of said sports equipment. 
     
     
         12 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of successively joined particles of material are colored in accordance with a color layout of said preselected actual human or animal head during said joining process to provide a colored three-dimensional article, wherein said coloring more clearly defines facial and head features of said unitary three-dimensional article. 
     
     
         13 . A sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 8 , said three-dimensional article further comprises at least one layer of clear protectant applied to an exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head, the method comprising steps of:
 obtaining an image of one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head;   creating unitary three-dimensional article having a front facial portion contoured to match said facial features and contours of said corresponding preselected actual human or animal head;   defining a volumetric void for removable attachment of said unitary three-dimensional article to an end portion of said sports equipment; and   combining said unitary three-dimensional article and said volumetric void in a manner wherein said unitary three-dimensional article is prominently displayed when said end portion of said sports equipment is inserted into said volumetric void.   
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 14 , the method comprising additional steps of:
 forming a hollowed interior section of said unitary three-dimensional article, wherein said hollowed interior section defines an interior cavity that conforms to an exterior surface of said exposed end of said sports equipment such that said article fits snugly upon said exposed sports equipment end when said cover assembly is attached thereto.   
     
     
         16 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 14 , the method comprising additional steps of:
 programming a three-dimensional printing device; and   creating said unitary three-dimensional article using said three-dimensional printing device by successively joining particles of a material.   
     
     
         17 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 16 , the method comprising additional step of:
 introducing color to said unitary three-dimensional article by applying color to said particles of a material during said step of successively joining particles of a material.   
     
     
         18 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 14 , the method comprising additional step of:
 sectioning said unitary three-dimensional article into a figurehead facial portion and a figurehead rear portion, said figurehead facial portion comprising a front portion mating edge and said figurehead rear portion comprising a rear portion mating edge, wherein said front portion mating edge and said rear portion mating edge engage can be selectively engaged with one another to attached said three-dimensional article to said flexible first covering, and can be selectively disengaged to remove said three-dimensional article therefrom.   
     
     
         19 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 18 , the method comprising additional step of:
 integrating an attachment interface between said front portion mating edge and said rear portion mating edge, wherein said attachment interface enables engagement and disengagement between said front portion mating edge and said rear portion mating edge.   
     
     
         20 . A method of fabricating a sports equipment cover assembly displaying at least a portion of a three-dimensional head bearing striking similarity to one of a corresponding preselected actual human or animal head as recited in  claim 14 , the method comprising additional steps of:
 obtaining a sports equipment cover comprising said volumetric void; and   attaching said unitary three-dimensional article to said sports equipment cover in a manner wherein said unitary three-dimensional article is prominently displayed when said sports equipment cover assembly is disposed upon said end portion of said sports equipment.