Patent Application
20180236328
The present device relates to golf tees. More particularly, the present invention relates to trajectory correcting golf tees.
When a golf club of a golf player does not properly hit a golf ball supported by a golf tee, the golf ball is typically deviated from a proper trajectory. Indeed, it may take several years for one practising the sport of golf to develop the required technique or expertise to properly hit the ball to give a desired trajectory. The required time investment dedicated to practising a swing and the resulting frustration of not hitting a ball properly are main causes for which many people quickly quit playing golf.
It is now known in the art that the swing path of a golfer and the angle at which the golf club hits a golf ball are considered majors parameters impacting the trajectory of the golf ball being hit. Thus, some researches shown that 80% of the unintentional veering of the golf ball is related to the face of a driver club hitting the ball at an angle other than 90 degrees. Furthermore, the said researches also revealed that only about 20% of unintentional veering is due to a misaligned swing path of a golf club. The combination of these two factors tends to induce a side spin about a vertical axis of the ball. Such side spin generally results in a curved flight path and a reduction of a ball's roll distance.
Generally, the tee golf includes a body having a pointed tip and a concave head.
Hence, there is a need for an improved golf tee which mitigates the shortcomings of prior art golf tees.
The aforesaid and other objectives of the present invention are realized by generally providing a golf tee aiming at improving the addressing of a golf ball and aiming at improving a golf ball's trajectory by imparting proper spin allowing the ball to remain longer in the air, typically by increasing back spin effect, while following a straighter flight path.
In another aspect of the invention, the tee golf aims at improving a golf ball's launch angle upon a missed ball-hitting angle. At the time of present writing, the official USGA regulations (Appendix IV—Devices and other equipment) stipulate, among other things, that “A tee must not be designed or manufactured in such a way that it could indicate line of play or unduly influence the movement of the ball.” The said rule has been unchanged for decades and still applies to professional and/or generally to amateur golfers. In the last years, the said amateur golfers evolved from individuals dedicated to improving their game to individual playing only to enjoy the game or to have fun on the golf course without aiming at becoming good and/or better players.
Furthermore, the present invention aims at reducing at least one of the forces responsible for a curved flight path of a golf ball. It is believed that such reduction of the forces responsible for curved trajectory might reduce the learning curve of golf players and thus aiming at improving the level of fun among amateur golfers.
Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
A novel golf tee for guiding a ball will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
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The launch ramp 132 further comprises a retainer portion 134 adapted to hold or retain a golf ball. In a preferred embodiment, the retainer portion 134 is concave or curved portion having a radius adapted to the used golf ball. The launch ramp 132 further comprises a curved bottom edge 135 creating an angle between the retainer portion 134 and the remaining of the launch ramp 132.
The side edges 136 and 137 are preferably adapted to allow guiding of the golf ball once the ball is hit by a golf club. The surface extending between both side edges 136 and 137 and being limited by the bottom edge 135 and a top edge 139 defines a laterally curved section 138 aiming at improving the trajectory of the golf ball by imparting proper spin which allows the ball to remain longer in the air while following a straighter flight path.
In a preferred embodiment, the laterally curved section 138 is calculated using the radius of a golf ball, aiming at maximizing contact during launch.
The top portion of the stem 122 preferably comprises an elongated member 123, such as a protrusion or extension, adapted to attach the launch platform 130 to the stem 120. In a preferred embodiment, the elongated member 123 is integral with the stem 120. When manufacturing the golf tee 100, the launch platform 130 is moulded over the elongated member 123, aiming at providing a durable and integral construction. while following a straighter flight path
In a preferred embodiment, launch ramp 132 is shaped to form a depression 131 or at least part of a depression 131 (see
In other embodiments, the launch platform 130 and the stem 120 may be integral and form a single rigid structure.
In yet other embodiments, the launch platform 130 may be attached or fixed to the elongated member 123 and/or to the stem 120 to provide a durable and integral construction.
In a preferred embodiment, the stem 120 is made with a rigid and impact resistant material, such as, but not limited to an impact resistant polymer, wood, metal or composite material, and the launch platform 130 is preferably made of any type of material having rubber-like characteristics, such as but not limited to polymer.
The launch ramp is generally inclined about an angle a with regard to the ground or a horizontal axis. In some embodiments, the angle a may be between 10 and 30 degrees and in a preferred embodiment, the angle α is about 20 degrees. The angle is preferably selected to maximize the correction of the direction of the golf ball toward the target and the support or holding property of the golf tee 100.
In a preferred embodiment, the stem 120 is preferably made of polycarbonate.
The golf tee 100 is generally used as other prior art golf tees. As such, the golf player inserts the bottom portion 110 in the ground. In a preferred embodiment, the golf tee is inserted at about 90-degree angle with the ground surface so that the launch ramp 132 is oriented towards the target. The golf player then pushes the golf tee into the ground until a desired remainder height of the stem 120 is obtained. The golf player may then position the ball on the launch platform and use a golf club, such as a driver club, to hit the positioned ball. Thus, the ball, initially retained at the depression 131, slides over the launch ramp before launching in the air. During the sliding of the ball from the lower curved or rounded edge 133 to a top edge 139 of the launch ramp, the side edges 136 and 137 reduce the side spin of the golf ball.
Understandably, in another embodiment where the stem has a shape allowing rotation, such as a cylindrical shape, the golf tee is inserted at about 90-degree angle with the ground surface. The golf player then pushes the golf tee into the ground until a desired remainder height of the stem is obtained. If not well aligned, the golf tee may then be rotated about a vertical axis so that the launch ramp 132 is oriented towards the target.
In yet another embodiment, the inclined launch ramp 132 creates friction which reduces the side spin of the golf ball when hit. In such an embodiment, at least some energy is transferred to or absorbed by the rubber-like material of the launch platform 130 and the concaved launch ramp 132 aims at correcting the trajectory of the golf ball by guiding the ball towards the target.
In still another embodiment, the penetrating element 110 may have any shape allowing an appropriate insertion of the tee to the ground.
In another embodiment, the stem 120 may have any shape allowing an appropriate hitting of the golf ball and an appropriate insertion of the tee to the ground.
In a further embodiment, the launch platform 130 may be made of any resistant impact material, which is adapted to absorb some impact energy, such as but not limited to rubber-like material.
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While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.
The present patent application claims the benefits of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/460,681, entitled “GOLF TEE FOR GUIDING A BALL”, and filed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 17, 2017, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62460681 | Feb 2017 | US |
