US20050187040A1

US20050187040A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: US20050187040A1
Application number: US10/784,010
Authority: US
Inventors: Scott Sarem
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-02-23
Filing date: 2004-02-23
Publication date: 2005-08-25

Abstract

This invention relates to a golf tee having a ground penetration stopping means disposed on its shaft. The purpose of the ground penetration stopping means is stopping the ground penetration of the golf tee at a predetermined depth, thus permitting consistent placement of a golf ball above the ground on the golf tee corresponding to the specifications of a specific driver.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a golf tee, and more specifically, a golf tee that permits to make every tee shot consistent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, when a golf tee is planted into the ground, a golfer eyeballs the depth to which the golf tee penetrates the ground, thus determining the height of the golf ball above the ground for a tee shot. However, depending on the size of the driver head, a different height of the golf ball above the ground for a tee shot is required. For example, an oversized driver head calls for a higher placement of a golf ball above the ground than the normal sized driver head. A particular golf club used to strike a golf ball may work best with a specific height of the golf ball above the ground placed on a golf tee. Merely eyeballing this height causes inconsistent shots.
What is needed is a simple and inexpensive golf tee that insures consistent placement of a golf ball above the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention satisfies this need. Specifically, the golf tee according to this invention comprises a concave ball support surface on one end and a ground penetrating point at its other end. Also provided is ground penetration stopping means disposed on its shaft. The purpose of the ground penetration stopping means is stopping the ground penetrating point at a predetermined depth, thus permitting consistent placement of a golf ball above the ground on the golf tee, corresponding to the specifications of a specific driver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an isometric and side elevational views of the golf tee according to this invention;
FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view of the golf tee according to this invention inserted into the ground and holding a golf ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention will be better understood with the reference to the drawing figures FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The same numerals indicate the same elements in all views and drawing figures. Viewing FIG. 1, there is shown a golf tee. Numeral 10 indicates a shaft. Shaft 10 has elongated shape and comprises a concave ball support surface indicated by numeral 20 on one end. Shaft 10 terminates in a ground penetrating point, indicated by numeral 30, at its other end.
Numeral 40 indicates a ground penetration stopping means. Ground penetration stopping means 40 is disposed on shaft 10 and its purpose is stopping ground penetrating point 30 at a predetermined depth.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, ground penetration stopping means 40 is a disk having a top surface indicated by numeral 40 a and a bottom surface indicated by numeral 40 b. Top surface 40 a and bottom surface 40 b are substantially perpendicular to the axis of shaft 10. The axis of ground penetration stopping means 40 (the disk) coincides with the axis of shaft 10.
Numeral 50 indicates the distance from top surface 40 a to ball support surface 20. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, distance 50 is shown as 35 millimeters. However, distance 50 ranges from about 25 millimeters to about 40 millimeters, and may be about 30 millimeters specifically. Distance 50 depends on the specifications of a specific driver as it defines the specific height of the golf ball above the ground placed on the golf tee according to this invention.
Numeral 60 indicates the diameter of the disk that forms ground penetration stopping means 40. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, diameter 60 is about 10 millimeters. However, diameter 60 ranges from about 5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.
Viewing now FIG. 2, numeral 70 indicates a golf ball. Golf ball 70 sits atop ball support surface 20. Ground penetrating point 30 is inserted into the ground until bottom surface 40 b abuts the ground and prevents further penetration of ground penetrating point 30 into the ground. Accordingly, golf ball 70 sits at the specific height above the ground, determined by distance 50, thus permitting consistent placement of golf ball 70 corresponding to the specifications of the specific driver.
The golf tee according to this invention may be formed from plastic or other suitable material known to the persons knowledgeable in the pertinent arts by a compression molding process, a transfer molding process, a casting process, an injection molding process, or similar process known to persons knowledgeable in the relevant arts.
While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiments of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.

Claims

1. A golf tee comprising:

(a) an elongated shaft having a concave ball support surface on one end and terminating in a ground penetrating point at its other end;

(b) a ground penetration stopping means disposed on the shaft for stopping the ground penetrating point at a predetermined depth, wherein the elongated shaft and the around penetration stopping means comprise a unitary piece of plastic material formed by way of a process selected from the group consisting of a compression molding process, a transfer molding process, a casting process, an injection molding process.

2. A golf tee as in claim 1, wherein the ground penetration stopping means is a disk having a top surface and a bottom surface, such that the top and bottom surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, and such that the axis of the disk coincides with the axis of the shaft.

3. A golf tee as in claim 2, wherein the distance from the top surface to the ball support surface is about 37 millimeters.

4. A golf tee as in claim 2, wherein the distance from the top surface to the ball support surface is about 38 millimeters.

5. A golf tee as in claim 2, wherein the distance from the top surface to the ball support surface is about 40 millimeters.

6. A golf tee as in claim 5, wherein the diameter of the disk is ranging from about 5 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.

7. A golf tee as in claim 5, wherein the diameter of the disk is about 10 millimeters.