WO1999011334A1

WO1999011334A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: WO1999011334A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/018616
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claude Paul Davis; Claude Paul Davis, Jr.
Original assignee: Claude Paul Davis; Davis Claude Paul Jr
Priority date: 1997-09-05
Filing date: 1998-09-04
Publication date: 1999-03-11

Abstract

A golf tee is disclosed which is made of a strong, durable material for prolonged use. The golf tee incorporates one or more o-rings around the head portion of the tee to protect the soles and faces of golf clubs striking the tee. The tee has a plurality of prongs to ease insertion of the tee into the ground, with the prongs forming a saddle which causes the tee to consistently position a golf ball at the correct height above the ground. The prongs of the tee may also be utilized for repairing ball marks on greens and for cleaning the grooves on the faces of golf clubs. The design of the tee facilitates personalization of the tee or the incorporation of advertising for promotional purposes.

Description

GOLF TEE

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of our copending United States Provisional Application No. 60/058078 which was filed of September 5, 1997.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an improved golf tee made of a strong, durable material and which may also be used as "repair tool" for ball marks on the green, and for cleaning the grooves on the face of golf clubs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved golf tee made of a durable material and intended for long-term use, but which protects the faces and soles of golf clubs from damage upon contact;

It is a further object of the invention to provided a tee which is easily inserted into the ground, and which causes the golf ball to be consistently positioned at the correct height;

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tee which may also be used as a repair tool for ball marks on greens, and for cleaning the grooves on the faces of golf clubs, thereby reducing the number of small implements which must be carried by a golfer;

It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf tee having a contrasting color scheme, making the tee easier to find after being hit by a golf club;

It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf tee having a attractive tactile feel when being inserted into the ground, removed from the ground, or when used as a green repair tool;

It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf tee having surfaces which can easily incorporate personalization with names or initials, or promotional information;

It is a further object of the invention to provide a version of the golf tee having a shorter body length, whereby a golf ball is correctly positioned for hitting with golf club irons. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a perspective view of the golf tee;

Figure 2 is a front view of the golf tee;

Figure 3 is a side view of the golf tee;

Figure 4 is a top view of the golf tee;

Figure 5 is a vertical section view of the golf tee; Figures 6A through 6E are horizontal section views of the golf tee;

Figure 7 is a front view of the body piece of the golf tee;

Figure 8 is a side view of the body piece of the golf tee;

Figure 9 is a front view of the golf tee showing the tee inserted into the ground, with a golf ball placed atop the tee; Figure JO is a front view of the tee as it is contacted by the head of a golf club;

Figure JJ_. illustrates the use of the tee for cleaning the grooves on the face of a golf club.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Figures through 4, the preferred embodiment of the golf tee consists of a body piece 10 with an over-sized ball retention cup 12 at the top and bifurcated into two prongs 24 at the bottom. The body piece 10 of the preferred embodiment is formed of a high-impact composite material such as Cycoloy, a

PC/ABS blend (Figures 7 and 8). Alternate embodiments of the invention may have a body piece machined from a metal such as aluminum, a hardwood material, or any other durable high-strength material.

The upper portion of the tee at and directly below the ball retention cup is circular in cross section (Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C). Below the ball retention cup are o-rings 30 which circle the body of the tee resting in o-ring channels 14 formed in the body of the tee (Figures 5 and 7). The preferred embodiment is shown with three o-rings; a different number of o-rings may be also be used, including a single o-ring; it is the intent of the applicant that the invention include variations in the number of o-rings used.

The o-rings 30 serve to protect the face and sole of the golf club from damage when the golf club strikes the tee (Figure JO); the o-rings also provide a highly tactile grasping surface when inserting the tee into the ground, removing it from the ground, or using the tee as a green repair tool or club face cleaning tool. The o-rings 30 may be a contrasting color to the body 10 of the tee, making the tee easier to find after being hit by a golf club and to give the tee a distinctive appearance.

Below the o-rings 30 the body 10 of the tee transitions to a square cross section (Figure 6D) with rounded undercuts 16 on the four sides of the body again improving the tactile feel of the tee. The flat surfaces 18 and 20 of the tee allow for the tee to incorporate graphic designs, personalization with names or initials, or advertising for promotional purposes.

The lower portion of the tee body 10 splits into two prongs 24 which serve to make the tee easy to insert into the ground; the prongs join at a saddle 22 which determines the how far into the ground the tee can be inserted and consequently the height of the golf ball 40 above the ground 50 (Figure 9). The ends of the prongs terminate in flat chisel-like surfaces 26 to facilitate insertion into the ground; the chisel edges 28 of the prongs may be utilized to clean the grooves on the face of a golf club (Figure J ); the two prongs of the tee may also be used to repair ball marks on a green (not shown).

The tee of the present invention may also be made with bodies of different lengths; a shorter tee would hold a golf ball at an appropriate height for hitting with golf club irons. Many variations of the present invention are possible. The tee may incorporate a different number of o-rings; the body may be made of different materials; and details of the body design, such as the number and shape of the prongs, may be varied. It is the applicant's intent that the invention include any design variations which incorporate the combined features of a body piece of a durable material with one or more o-rings around the upper portion of the body piece to protect club faces from damage; multiple prongs forming a saddle to locate the ball retention cup at a fixed height when the tee is inserted into the ground; and pointed edges at the end of the prongs to permit the tee to be used as a green repair tool and for cleaning the grooves in golf club faces.

Claims

CLATMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A golf tee comprising: a) an elongated cylindrical head portion having a concave upper end operable to retain a golf ball sat thereon and a lower end; b) at least one resilient member encircling the cylindrical head; and c) a leg portion integral with the lower end of the cylindrical head, the leg portion operable for insertion into the ground.

2. The golf tee of Claim 1, wherein the cylindrical head further comprises annular slots of a number equal to the number of resilient members, the slots operable to receive the resilient members; and the resilient members encircling the cylindrical head comprising synthetic rubber O-rings.

3. In a golf tee having an elongated cylindrical head, at least one resilient member encircling the elongated head.

4. The golf tee of Claim 3, wherein the resilient members comprise synthetic rubber O-rings.

5. A golf tee comprising: a) an elongated cylindrical head portion having a concave upper end operable to retain a golf ball sat thereon and a lower end; b) at least one resilient member encircling the cylindrical head; c) a leg portion integral with the lower end of the cylindrical head, the leg portion having a monolithic section adjacent to the cylindrical head and bifurcating into a two independent legs below the monolithic section; the two legs being spaced apart such that they essentially enter the ground independently when the tee is positioned into the ground; the point of bifurcation acting to constrain further insertion of the tee into the ground; the point of bifurcation being spaced below the concave upper end of the head such that a golf ball placed on the tee is at a proper distance above the ground for driving.