Special receptacle or package – For a sport implement – exercise device – or game – For a golf club
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-13
2001-02-06
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Special receptacle or package
For a sport implement, exercise device, or game
For a golf club
C206S522000, C383S003000, C150S159000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182826
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates generally to protective covers for golf club bags and, more particularly, to a multi-chambered inflatable protective cover which enhances protection of golf clubs and other items carried in a golf club bag covered thereby.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of protective covers which protect golf clubs have been disclosed. Many such covers protect a golf club by fitting over a head portion thereof. While such conventional covers constructed of a layer of cloth, canvas or other similar material can protect the golf clubs from damage which may result when a golf club bag holding the clubs is jostled while being carried, addition protection is needed when the golf club bag and clubs are transported greater distances, for example, by an airplane or other motorized conveyance. When a golf club bag is used to transport golf clubs over long distances, a protective cover which generally resembles a “hood” is often used to protect and retain the golf clubs within the bag. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,704,563 to Henrich and U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,594 to Rupe. Like golf club covers, protective covers for the golf club bag are typically constructed of cloth, canvas or other similar material.
Typically, the protective cover is positioned over the ends of the clubs protruding from a generally cylindrical opening located at the top of the golf club bag and secured firmly to the sides of the golf club bag. In this manner, the clubs are retained within the bag and will not slid out of the bag if dropped or thrown, for example, when loaded onto a conveyor system which transports the golf clubs to a baggage claim area within an airport. However, while protective covers will often successfully retain golf clubs within a golf club bag, they provide little, if any, protection from damage due to sharp blows or strikes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,475 to Jack discloses an inflatable protective cover suitable for attachment to a golf club bag. While the inflatable protective cover disclosed in Jack will likely provide greater protection than prior, non-inflatable, protective covers, it is contemplated that the protective cover disclosed in Jack is susceptible to unnecessarily high failure rates under certain conditions. As those conditions most often arise while the golf club bag is being transported, the inflatable protective cover will most likely fail when it is needed most. More specifically, a conventionally designed inflatable protective cover is susceptible to changes in air pressure within the inflatable air bladder, relative to the air pressure outside the bladder. For example, a sudden drop in outside pressure, for example, due to an altitude change, can cause the protective cover incorporating the air bladder to literally “pop off” the golf club bag to which it is attached. Increases in temperature which cause the air within the inflatable air bladder to expand may also have the same effect. Finally, exterior objects, when pressed against the inflatable protective cover are also cause for concern. For example, if the golf club bag is stored under cramped conditions where the attached inflatable protective cover is pressed against a wall or other items being stored, a compressive force applied to the protective cover may cause air within one part of the inflatable bladder to be forced into another part of the bladder. The increased pressure within one portion of the air bladder may cause it to deform in a manner which would cause the protective cover to detach from the golf club bag or, under severe compressive compressions, to result in a decompressive structural failure of the inflatable air bladder itself.
Therefore, what is needed is an inflatable protective cover for golf club bags which is specially designed to handle changes in air pressure. It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide such an inflatable protective cover for golf club bags.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, the present invention is of a protective cover comprised of an inflatable body portion and an attachment member. When the attachment member biases the inflatable body portion into frictional engagement with a side surface of a golf club bag, the inflatable body portion, which is secured to the attachment member, covers both an opening in the golf club bag as well as a portion of each golf club which projects from the opening. The inflatable body portion includes a first, inner, bladder and a second, outer, bladder generally coextensive with the first bladder. In one aspect thereof, the first bladder communicates with the second bladder via a pressure relief valve. When inflated, the first bladder protects the golf clubs in the golf club bag from outside forces. If, however, an excess pressure condition develops within the first bladder, a flow of air into the second bladder relieves the excess pressure condition within the first bladder without reducing the total amount of air maintained within the inflatable body portion. In another aspect, an air supply system provides air to the interior of the first bladder via an inlet/outlet valve in communication with the interior of the first bladder. The air supply system may be configured as a pump bulb coupled to the inlet/outlet valve by a flexible tube.
In a further aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the protective cover may include an outer cover member covering the inflatable body portion and secured to the inflatable body portion and the attachment member. In this aspect, the pump bulb may be positioned between an outer side surface of the inflatable body portion and an inner side surface of outer cover member by inserting the pump bulb through an aperture formed in the outer cover member.
In still further aspects of this embodiment of the invention, a primary air release valve, coupled to the air supply system, provides an exit path for air in the interior of the first bladder while a secondary air release valve provides an exit path for air in the interior of the second bladder. The primary air release valve may be coupled to the flexible tube of the air supply system while the secondary air release valve is in communication with the interior of the second bladder.
In still other further aspects of this embodiment of the invention, the attachment member includes a securing strap, coupled to the attachment member, for biasing the inflatable body portion into frictional engagement with the golf club bag. The interior side surface of the securing strap and the exterior side surface of the attachment member may have complementary hook and pile surfaces for removable engagement therebetween.
In another embodiment, the present invention is of a protective cover, suitable for attachment to a golf club bag having a golf club receiving opening formed along a top side thereof, which includes first, second and third flexible walls. A lower part of the first wall frictionally engages the golf club bag while an upper part thereof covers the opening in the golf club bag. A lower part of the second flexible wall is sealingly attached to the lower part of the first wall while an upper part thereof overlays the upper part of the first wall to form a first, normally inflated, air bladder therebetween. Similarly, a lower part of the third flexible wall is sealingly attached to the lower part of the second wall while an upper part thereof to form a second, normally deflated, air bladder therebetween. An air supply system in communication with the first air bladder provides a quantity of air to the protective cover by inflating the first air bladder with the quantity of air. Excess pressure conditions in the first air bladder are relieved by a flow of a portion of the quantity of air, through a pressure relief valve, into the second air bladder. In this manner, excess pressure conditions within the first air bladder may be relieved without removing air from the protective cover.
In one aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the air supply system includes an air conduit having one end in communication with the
Haynes and Boone LLP
Mai Tri M.
Shoap Allan N.
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