Golf tee
United States Patent 3907289
An improved golf tee having a tubular, elongated body form, the body having at one end a planar cross-sectional end surface cut at approximately a 45° angle to the longitudinal axis of the tee body and a pointed, solid opposite end portion which may be received into the earth. In use the tee is positioned in the earth at approximately a 45° angle with the sharp pointed end capable of being driven into hard turf, while the planar 45° cross-sectional end forms a ball receiving surface adapted to receive and support a golf ball thereon. The tee provides driving alignment for the player by exposing a portion of the tee body, the longitudinal axis being directed along the intended flight path of the ball. The angular disposition with the turf reduces tee breakage by allowing the club face to strike the surface body of the tee obliquely. Increased ball driving distance is achieved due to direct ball, club face contact.
Application Number:
05/470204
Publication Date:
09/23/1975
Filing Date:
05/15/1974
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A63B57/00; A63B57/00
Field of Search:
273/33,202-212
Primary Examiner:
Pinkham, Richard C.
Assistant Examiner:
Strappello, Harry G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Malin & Haley
Claims:
What I claim is
1. A golf tee comprising:
2. A golf tee, as in claim 1, wherein:
1. A golf tee comprising:
2. A golf tee, as in claim 1, wherein:
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an improved golfing tee which is utilized to position a ball above the surface of the earth allowing a player to drive a golf ball from a particular position on a golf course.
In the past, golf tees have been utilized positioned perpendicularly into the earth which support the golf ball on the top portion of the tee. Contact with the club face while driving oftentimes breaks the tee or causes the tee to take flight resulting in a loss of the tee. Applicant's device overcomes these problems by providing a tee that is positioned substantially at a 45° angle to the earth, exposing the tee body which is longitudinally positioned in the direction of the intended flight path of the ball. By providing a tee which supports the ball at this angle, as shown by Applicant, contact with the club face is oblique and thus does not cause a sheer force across the body of the tee which would otherwise destroy the tee. The Applicant has also discovered that such positioning can actually increase the distance which the ball travels due to either the particular spin placed on the ball or the reduced contact with the tee resulting in more momentum from the club face itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An improved golf tee comprising a tubular body, said tubular body having a first end face substantially cut at a 45° angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, the opposite end being substantially reduced in diameter and solid, having a pointed end portion for receipt into the earth. The body portion is elongated so that receipt into the earth will expose the outer circumference of the tee which may be aligned in the direction of the flight of the ball. The planar end which receives the ball is cut relative to the tee longitudinal axis so that in operation it is disposed horizontal to the earth for receiving a ball to be driven.
In operation, the player determines the direction of the flight of the ball, places the tee into the earth at a 45° angle, and places the ball upon the cross-sectional end surface. The ball is then supported thereupon above the earth's surface. The player drives the golf ball in the normal manner utilizing the tee as a direction indicating means.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved golfing tee.
And yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved golfing tee which reduces or eliminates damage to the tee, increases the driving distance of the ball supported thereon, and provides an alignment feature for the player while driving a golf ball.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of Applicant's invention.
FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of Applicant's invention with a ball (dotted) supported thereon.
FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of Applicant's invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, Applicant's improved golf tee is shown generally at 10 comprising a tubular body portion 12 having a hollow interior 18 with the upper end surface being cut at a 45° plane to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body portion 12, as shown by surface 16. Surface 16 is adapted to receive a golf ball which is positioned thereupon by the player. The lower end of the tee is comprised of a solid, tubular portion 14 having a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter of the upper tubular portion 12 with the solid cylindrical portion 14 terminating in a spiked point 22.
FIG. 2 shows Applicant's tee disposed in the earth with a dotted golf ball 20 positioned upon upper tee surface 16 as would be utilized for driving a golf ball. The tee 10 is shown disposed in the surface of the earth which may be turf or grass or the like with the solid portion 14 being firmly wedged into the earth's surface at approximately a 45° angle. The spiked point 22 allows the tee to be positioned within hardened soil without excess physical force required by the player when positioning the tee. The upper tubular portion of the tee body is shown with tubular portion 12 having a hollow interior and terminating at its upper surface in the obliquely and angularly cut end face 16. A vertical plane passing through the tee will represent the desired direction and flight path of the ball so that the upper tubular portion 12 is exposed beyond the outer surface of the ball when viewed by an observer from above which helps provide alignment to the player. The solid lower portion of the tee may be extended upward to include a wider, diametrial section of the tubular body 12 to improve the structural rigidity of the tee. The tubular hollow portion allows for increased flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the tee when being struck by a golf club face.
FIG. 3 shows a view of Applicant's tee without a golf ball disposed thereon as it would appear when directed along the flight of the ball prior to placing the ball thereupon and prior to placing it into the earth. The upper ball receiving surface 16 is sized so that it may receive and support a conventional golf ball so that the ball will rest on the surface face 16 itself.
Referring back to FIG. 2, in operation, the ball 20 is positioned upon the tee 10 which is disposed in the earth at approximately a 45° angle. By positioning the tee in the earth at this angle, the upper surface face 16 will then be substantially parallel to the surface of the earth, thus allowing for the ball to rest in a stable condition atop the tee. When the tee is placed in the earth, the vertical plane through the tee allows the tee to be aligned in the direction which it is desired for the player to position and strike the ball. When the ball is struck by a player, should the driver face of the golf club strike the tee, it will do so at a glancing or oblique angle thus minimalizing the possibility of damage to the tee. Also with the tee positioned at this angle, the possibility of the tee itself taking flight is also minimalized so that the tee does not become lost. The angular disposition provides other benefits to the player which include, as is believed by Applicant, to provide particular spin characteristics on the ball which is desirable to improve the flight characteristics.
The golf tee is constructed of a flexible, resilient material which is sturdy enough to support the golf ball but which can be struck by a golf club face without shattering or destroying the material. In the preferred embodiment, the material is shown as plastic.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
This invention relates generally to an improved golfing tee which is utilized to position a ball above the surface of the earth allowing a player to drive a golf ball from a particular position on a golf course.
In the past, golf tees have been utilized positioned perpendicularly into the earth which support the golf ball on the top portion of the tee. Contact with the club face while driving oftentimes breaks the tee or causes the tee to take flight resulting in a loss of the tee. Applicant's device overcomes these problems by providing a tee that is positioned substantially at a 45° angle to the earth, exposing the tee body which is longitudinally positioned in the direction of the intended flight path of the ball. By providing a tee which supports the ball at this angle, as shown by Applicant, contact with the club face is oblique and thus does not cause a sheer force across the body of the tee which would otherwise destroy the tee. The Applicant has also discovered that such positioning can actually increase the distance which the ball travels due to either the particular spin placed on the ball or the reduced contact with the tee resulting in more momentum from the club face itself.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An improved golf tee comprising a tubular body, said tubular body having a first end face substantially cut at a 45° angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body, the opposite end being substantially reduced in diameter and solid, having a pointed end portion for receipt into the earth. The body portion is elongated so that receipt into the earth will expose the outer circumference of the tee which may be aligned in the direction of the flight of the ball. The planar end which receives the ball is cut relative to the tee longitudinal axis so that in operation it is disposed horizontal to the earth for receiving a ball to be driven.
In operation, the player determines the direction of the flight of the ball, places the tee into the earth at a 45° angle, and places the ball upon the cross-sectional end surface. The ball is then supported thereupon above the earth's surface. The player drives the golf ball in the normal manner utilizing the tee as a direction indicating means.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved golfing tee.
And yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved golfing tee which reduces or eliminates damage to the tee, increases the driving distance of the ball supported thereon, and provides an alignment feature for the player while driving a golf ball.
In accordance with these and other objects which will be apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of Applicant's invention.
FIG. 2 shows a side cross-sectional view of Applicant's invention with a ball (dotted) supported thereon.
FIG. 3 shows a front elevational view of Applicant's invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, Applicant's improved golf tee is shown generally at 10 comprising a tubular body portion 12 having a hollow interior 18 with the upper end surface being cut at a 45° plane to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body portion 12, as shown by surface 16. Surface 16 is adapted to receive a golf ball which is positioned thereupon by the player. The lower end of the tee is comprised of a solid, tubular portion 14 having a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter of the upper tubular portion 12 with the solid cylindrical portion 14 terminating in a spiked point 22.
FIG. 2 shows Applicant's tee disposed in the earth with a dotted golf ball 20 positioned upon upper tee surface 16 as would be utilized for driving a golf ball. The tee 10 is shown disposed in the surface of the earth which may be turf or grass or the like with the solid portion 14 being firmly wedged into the earth's surface at approximately a 45° angle. The spiked point 22 allows the tee to be positioned within hardened soil without excess physical force required by the player when positioning the tee. The upper tubular portion of the tee body is shown with tubular portion 12 having a hollow interior and terminating at its upper surface in the obliquely and angularly cut end face 16. A vertical plane passing through the tee will represent the desired direction and flight path of the ball so that the upper tubular portion 12 is exposed beyond the outer surface of the ball when viewed by an observer from above which helps provide alignment to the player. The solid lower portion of the tee may be extended upward to include a wider, diametrial section of the tubular body 12 to improve the structural rigidity of the tee. The tubular hollow portion allows for increased flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the tee when being struck by a golf club face.
FIG. 3 shows a view of Applicant's tee without a golf ball disposed thereon as it would appear when directed along the flight of the ball prior to placing the ball thereupon and prior to placing it into the earth. The upper ball receiving surface 16 is sized so that it may receive and support a conventional golf ball so that the ball will rest on the surface face 16 itself.
Referring back to FIG. 2, in operation, the ball 20 is positioned upon the tee 10 which is disposed in the earth at approximately a 45° angle. By positioning the tee in the earth at this angle, the upper surface face 16 will then be substantially parallel to the surface of the earth, thus allowing for the ball to rest in a stable condition atop the tee. When the tee is placed in the earth, the vertical plane through the tee allows the tee to be aligned in the direction which it is desired for the player to position and strike the ball. When the ball is struck by a player, should the driver face of the golf club strike the tee, it will do so at a glancing or oblique angle thus minimalizing the possibility of damage to the tee. Also with the tee positioned at this angle, the possibility of the tee itself taking flight is also minimalized so that the tee does not become lost. The angular disposition provides other benefits to the player which include, as is believed by Applicant, to provide particular spin characteristics on the ball which is desirable to improve the flight characteristics.
The golf tee is constructed of a flexible, resilient material which is sturdy enough to support the golf ball but which can be struck by a golf club face without shattering or destroying the material. In the preferred embodiment, the material is shown as plastic.
The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.