GOLF TEE FOR A SWING PRACTICE TRAINING MAT

Abstract

A golf tee for a swing practice training mat is disclosed. The golf tee is designed for playing a golf ball off of a mat, at a desired elevation, without the need to lift the mat and change the tee. The present invention allows for replacement of the tee from a top surface of the mat. The golf tee is formed as a cylindrical body having an axial bore for retaining a shaft end of a conventional tee therein. A plurality of raised ridges are disposed at a radially offset angle along a longitudinal length of the cylindrical body. The plurality of ridges may be configured for threaded engagement with a hole in the swing practice training mat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates the game of golf, and more particularly to training equipment for the game of golf.

Golfers spend a great deal of time at driving ranges to practice their golf swing. These driving ranges typically utilize a mat to support a golf ball and on which the golfer strikes the golf ball during practice. The ball may be supported directly on the mat or it may be elevated from the mat by a tee.

Most practice mat tees are a flexible cylindrical element with a wide base at a bottom end. The golf ball is carried on the top end. A body of the tee is carried through a hole in the mat such that the wide base retains the tee with the mat when the ball, and coincidentally, the tee are struck by the golf club.

While these tees may have various lengths so that the golfer may practice their swing with a particular club, these tees can be difficult to change. The golfer must lift the mat, find an appropriate hole through which to put the tee, and lower the mat while attempting to retain the tee in the hole. Depending upon its size, the mat may be quite heavy. Likewise, the mat may be dirty, and the underside of the mat often makes a habitat for bugs and spiders.

Even though the length of the tee may be changed, as described, the golfer is unable to adjust the elevation of the tee to a precise or desired elevation.

As can be seen, there is a need for improved golf tee for a swing practice training mat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf tee for use with a swing practice training mat is disclosed. The golf tee includes a cylindrical body made of a resilient elastomeric material. The cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end. A bore at the top end of the cylindrical body extends longitudinally through at least a majority of the cylindrical body. The bore is dimensioned to receive a shaft of a conventional golf tee. A plurality of ridges are defined about a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body in a spaced apart relation along a longitudinal length of the lateral sidewall. The plurality of ridges are configured for a thread like engagement with a hole defined in the swing practice training mat.

In some embodiments, a rounded converging tip is defined at the bottom end of the cylindrical body. The rounded converging tip is dimensioned for alignment of the cylindrical body when inserted into the hole.

In some embodiments, the bore is aligned with an axial centerline of the cylindrical body.

In some embodiments, a depression is defined in a top face of the cylindrical body. The depression is dimensioned to support a golf ball therein. The depression may be spheroidal to support a spheroidal surface of the golf ball supported therein.

In some embodiments, the bore is dimensioned to receive the shaft of the conventional golf tee with an interference fit.

In some embodiments, the shaft of the conventional golf tee is adjustably received in the bore to allow a vertical adjustment in a height of a head of the conventional golf tee.

In some embodiment, the plurality of ridges define a helical thread along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical body.

In other aspects of the invention, a golf tee for use with a swing practice training mat is disclosed. The golf tee includes a cylindrical body made of a resilient elastomeric material. A depression is defined in a top surface of the cylindrical body and is dimensioned to support a golf ball thereon. A plurality of ridges are defined along a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body in a spaced apart relation along the lateral sidewall. The plurality of ridges are configured for adjustably coupling the golf tee with a hole defined in the swing practice training mat to set the top surface of the cylindrical body at a desired supported ball height relative an upper surface of the swing practice training mat.

In some embodiments, a bore, defined in the top surface the cylindrical body, extends longitudinally into the cylindrical body. The bore is dimensioned to receive a shaft of a conventional golf tee with an interference fit.

In some embodiments, the bore is dimensioned to adjustably receive the shaft of the conventional golf tee to set a head of the conventional golf tee at the desired supported ball height, with the golf ball supported on the head.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf mat tee holder shown in use engaged with a golf mat and holding a golf tee .

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf mat tee holder.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the golf mat tee holder.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the golf mat tee holder shown in use, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved a golf tee for use with a swing practice training mat. As seen in FIGS. 1-4, the golf tee includes a cylindrical body 10 made of a resilient elastomeric material, such as rubber. The cylindrical body 10 includes a bore 14 that extends longitudinally through at least a majority of the cylindrical body 10. The bore 14 is dimensioned to receive a shaft of a conventional golf tee 18. Preferably, the bore 14 is aligned with an axial centerline of the cylindrical body 10.

A plurality of ridges 12 are defined about a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body 10. The plurality of ridges 12 are disposed in a spaced apart relation along a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body 10. The plurality of ridges 12 are aligned at an angle that is radially offset along a longitudinal length of the of the cylindrical body 10. The ridges 12 are oriented for a thread like engagement with a hole 22 defined through the golf mat 20. In some embodiments, the plurality of ridges 12 only partially circumscribe the lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body 10. In other embodiments the plurality of ridges 12 define a helical thread.

A bottom end of the cylindrical body 10 may include a converging tip. The converging tip is dimensioned for alignment of the cylindrical body 10 as it is initially inserted into the hole 22 and terminates prior to the plurality of ridges 12. A top face of the cylindrical body includes a depression 16. The depression 16 is preferably spheroidal to support the spheroidal surface of a golf ball supported therein. The depression 16 may have a depth to contain a head of a conventional golf tee 18 therein.

As indicated, the cylindrical body 10 is threading received within the hole 22 in the golf mat 20 with the golf mat supported on a ground surface 24. Advantageously, the golfer may insert the cylindrical body 10 into the hole 22 from a top surface of the mat 20, without the need to lift the mat 20 from the ground surface 24 for placement of the tee 18. Engagement of the plurality of ridges 12 with the hole 22 will secure the tee holder within the hole 22. The golfer may adjust the vertical elevation of the top face by a selected thread depth of the cylindrical body 10 into the hole 22.

The golfer may also obtain a desired supported vertical elevation of their golf ball by inserting a conventional tee 18 within the bore 14 such that the head end of the conventional tee 18 is positioned at the desired supported vertical elevation. The shaft end of the tee 18 is resiliently retained within the bore 14 with a close interference fit. If the golfer desires a higher or a lower supported vertical elevation, they can simply extend the shaft of the conventional tee 18 into the bore or retract the shaft therefrom.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A golf tee for use with a swing practice training mat, comprising: a cylindrical body made of a resilient elastomeric material, the cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end;a bore at the top end of the cylindrical body, extends longitudinally through at least a majority of the cylindrical body, the bore is dimensioned to receive a shaft of a conventional golf tee; anda plurality of ridges defined about a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body in a spaced apart relation along a longitudinal length of a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body, the plurality of ridges configured for a thread like engagement with a hole defined in the swing practice training mat.

2. A golf tee of claim 1, further comprising: a rounded converging tip defined at the bottom end of the cylindrical body, the rounded converging tip is dimensioned for alignment of the cylindrical body when inserted into the hole.

3. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the bore is aligned with an axial centerline of the cylindrical body.

4. The golf tee of claim 1, further comprising: a depression defined in a top face of the cylindrical body, the depression dimensioned to support a golf ball therein.

5. The golf tee of claim 4, wherein the depression is spheroidal to support a spheroidal surface of the golf ball supported therein.

6. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the bore is dimensioned to receive the shaft of the conventional golf tee with an interference fit.

7. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the shaft of the conventional golf tee is adjustably received in the bore to allow a vertical adjustment in a height of a head of the conventional golf tee.

8. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridges define a helical thread along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical body.

9. A golf tee for use with a swing practice training mat, comprising: a cylindrical body made of a resilient elastomeric material;a depression defined in a top surface of the cylindrical body dimensioned to support a golf ball thereon; anda plurality of ridges defined along a lateral sidewall of the cylindrical body in a spaced apart relation along the lateral sidewall, the plurality of ridges configured for adjustably coupling the golf tee with a hole defined in the swing practice training mat to set the top surface of the cylindrical body at a desired supported ball height relative an upper surface of the swing practice training mat.

10. The golf tee of claim 9, further comprising: a bore, defined in the top surface the cylindrical body, extends longitudinally into the cylindrical body, the bore dimensioned to receive a shaft of a conventional golf tee with an interference fit.

11. The golf tee of claim 10, wherein the bore is dimensioned to adjustably receive the shaft of the conventional golf tee to set a head of the conventional golf tee at the desired supported ball height, with the golf ball supported on the head.