# US 5,704,475 A · Inflatable golf club protector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,475 A - Document ID: US5704475A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/636,868 - Filed: 1996-04-23 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1996-04-23 - Inventors: William Jack - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704475A ## CPC - A63B 55/406: {releasably attached} - A63B 60/62: specially adapted for clubs, e.g. head covers {, connector means therefor} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A protective device for covering and protecting golf clubs in a golf bag comprises an inflatable body portion, the body portion comprising a tubular sleeve having a closed end and an open end for slipping over the golf clubs, and a valve for inflating the body portion wherein the inner body portion is shaped to the contour of the clubs for enveloping and resiliently securing the head and upper shaft portions of the golf clubs against movement. The inner and outer walls of the body portion are sealed together at their peripheral edges, and at a plurality of points over their respective areas forming a plurality of fluid chambers, preferably in fluid communication with each other, for conforming to the clubs. The golf club protective device may also be secured to the inside of a conventional golf bag cover, whether the cover is of the travel bag type fully enclosing the golf bag, or a hood enclosing only the club heads and the upper end of the golf bag. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective device for covering and protecting golf clubs in a golf bag, the golf club protector comprising: an inflatable tubular body portion, the body portion comprising fluid impervious flexible inner and outer walls sealingly secured together to form an inflation chamber for receiving and holding a fluid, a closed end and an open end, the open end of the body portion adapted for receiving the golf clubs, and means for inflating the body portion, wherein the body portion, when inflated, is adapted to envelope and resiliently secure the golf clubs against movement relative to one another and cushion the clubs against outside forces, and, when deflated and not in use, the body portion is adapted for compacting by at least one of folding, rolling, or wadding up for storage in a pocket of the golf bag. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A golf club protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer walls are sealed together at a plurality of locations over their respective areas, thereby dividing the inflation chamber into a plurality of fluid chambers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A golf club protector as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of sealed locations are formed by stitched seams. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) A golf club protector as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of sealed locations are formed by discrete sealed points. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A golf club protector as recited in claim 2, wherein the plurality of fluid chambers are in fluid communication with each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A golf club protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the inflating means comprises a valve for inflating the tubular body portion with a fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A golf club protector as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for removably attaching the golf club protector to the bag. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A golf club protector as recited in claim 7, wherein the attaching means comprises a drawstring around the periphery of the open end of the body portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A golf club protector as recited in claim 7, wherein the attaching means comprises an elastic band around the periphery of the open end of the body portion, the band sized to be expanded to fit over the golf clubs and golf bag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A golf club protector as recited in claim 7, wherein the attaching means comprises a fastener material affixed to the open end of the body portion and the top of the golf bag for fastening the body portion to the golf bag. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The golf club protector as recited in claim 7, wherein the attaching means comprises snaps on the golf club protector cooperating with snaps on the golf bag. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A golf club protector as recited in claim 1, wherein the body portion is adapted to be secured to the inside of a golf bag cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A golf club protector as recited in claim 12, wherein the golf bag cover encloses the golf clubs and is removably attached to the upper end oft he golf bag. ### Claim 14 A golf bag cover for fully enclosing and protecting a golf bag and golf clubs in the golf bag, the golf bag cover comprising: an inflatable tubular body portion secured to the inside of the golf bag cover, the body portion having inner and outer walls defining an inflation chamber for receiving and holding a fluid, and means for inflating the body portion, wherein the body portion, when inflated, envelopes and resiliently secures the golf clubs against movement relative to one another and cushions the clubs against outside forces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A golf bag cover as recited in claim 14, wherein the inner and outer walls are sealed together at a plurality of locations over their respective areas, thereby dividing the inflation chamber into a plurality of fluid chambers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A golf bag cover as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of sealed locations are formed by stitch seams. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A golf bag cover as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of fluid chambers are in fluid communication with each other. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A golf bag cover as recited in claim 14, wherein the inflating means comprises a valve for inflating the tubular body portion with a fluid.