GOLF TEE INSERTION TOOL

Abstract

An insertion tool having an upper section and an insertion section coupled to the upper section and configured to be inserted into a teeing ground to create a depression for insertion of a golf tee. The upper section and insertion section may be a unitary body or may be coupled via a threaded connection.

Description

BACKGROUND

In golf, a tee is normally used (and is beneficial to use) for the first stroke of each hole, and the area from which this first stroke is hit is informally known as the tee box, also known as the teeing ground. Normally, teeing the ball is allowed only on the first shot of a hole, called the tee shot, and teeing up usually not allowed for any other shot. Teeing gives a considerable advantage for drive shots, so it is highly desirable whenever allowed. A standard golf tee is 2.750″ (two and three quarter inches) long, but both longer and shorter tees are permitted and are preferred by some players.

A standard golf tee is constructed of wood, plastic or synthetic material and has a pointed end for insertion into the ground. However, there are also other types of tees such as the golf tee described in U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 12/956,310 that may or may not include such a pointed end for insertion into the ground.

SUMMARY

An insertion tool having an upper section and an insertion section coupled to the upper section and configured to be inserted into a teeing ground to create a depression for insertion of a golf tee. The upper section and insertion section may be a unitary body or may be coupled via a threaded connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an insertion tool for a golf tee according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the insertion tool according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the same cross-sectional side view of the insertion tool shown in FIG. 2, but further includes exemplary dimensions according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the insertion tool according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe a golf tee insertion tool that prepares the teeing ground to receive a golf tee.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an insertion tool 1 for a golf tee. The insertion tool 1 is designed, for example, for use with the golf tee described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/956,310. The exemplary insertion tool 1 may be used to prepare the ground to receive this golf tee. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the insertion tool 1 may be modified for use with any type of golf tees. The function of the insertion tool 1 may be generally described as preparing the teeing ground (e.g., the tee box) to receive the tee. The golf tee described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/956,310 includes various components that are generally cylindrical hollow tubes. The hollow tubes are designed for direct insertion into the teeing ground. However, in some instances, the golfer may desire to prepare the teeing ground prior to inserting the tee into the ground. For example, the teeing ground may be harder than expected, the golfer may have weak fingers or hands making it difficult to push the tee into the teeing ground without first preparing the teeing ground, etc. The insertion tool 1 functions to prepare the teeing ground to receive the tee.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional side view of the insertion tool 1. It is noted that FIG. 2 and the subsequent figures show various dimensions for the insertion tool 1. These dimensions are only meant to be exemplary and it is possible for an insertion tool 1 to be manufactured having different dimensions. In addition, the insertion tool 1 may be constructed from any rigid or semi-rigid material that will enable the insertion tool 1 to perform the function of preparing the ground as described herein. For example, the insertion tool 1 may be constructed from plastic, metal, composite material, a combination thereof, etc. The first described embodiment of the insertion tool 1 is described as having a unitary body. Thus, if the insertion tool 1 is constructed of plastic, the unitary body of the insertion tool 1 may be molded. In the example of the insertion tool 1 being constructed from metal, the unitary body may be stamped, milled and/or formed into the shape as described herein. However, as will be described in a further embodiment below, it is not a requirement that the insertion tool 1 have a unitary body.

The insertion tool 1 will now be described with reference to the views of FIGS. 1 and 2. Initially, the insertion tool 1 has an insertion section 10 and upper section 20. The insertion section 10 is the portion of the insertion tool 1 that is designed for insertion into the teeing ground to prepare the ground. The upper section 20 is designed to allow the golfer to easily push the insertion section 10 into the teeing ground and retrieve the insertion tool 1 from the teeing ground 1. The insertion section 10 is generally cylindrical and includes wall 14 that surrounds a hollow core 12. In the example of FIG. 2, the wall 14 is shown as having a tapered diameter. This is not a requirement of the insertion section 10. In addition, the example of FIG. 2 shows the wall 14 enclosing the hollow core 12 in the area of wall section 16. It is also noted that it is not necessary for the wall 14 to enclose the hollow core 12 in this area. In fact, it may be advantageous to not include the wall section 16 because it may make it easier to push the insertion section 10 into the teeing ground if there is no resistance from the wall section 16.

The length of the insertion section 10 from where it joins the upper section 20 to the location generally shown as wall section 16 is approximately ½″. The diameter of the insertion section 10 should be substantially the diameter of the golf tee that is going to be inserted into the teeing ground. As should be readily apparent from these dimensions, after the insertion section 10 is removed from the teeing ground, a ring-like depression having a diameter that is substantially equal to the insertion section and corresponding tee that is approximately ¼″ deep remains. The golfer may then easily insert the tee into this depression in the teeing ground. Those of skill in the art will understand that the shape of the insertion section 10 may be varied to match the shape of the golf tee that is going to be inserted. For example, if instead of having a circular cross-section, the insertion portion of the tee had an octagon shaped cross-section, the insertion section 10 may also be designed with an octagon shaped cross-section.

The upper section 20 is a substantially circular section that, as described above, is designed to allow the golfer to push the insertion section into the teeing ground. The design of the upper section 20 allows the golfer to push the upper section 20 using their hands and or fingers or their foot, either by themselves or in combination with a golf ball as will be described in greater detail below. The upper section 20 includes an outer edge 22 that is designed to remain above the teeing ground when the insertion section 10 is pressed into the teeing ground to allow the golfer to pull the insertion tool 1 out of the ground. This edge may include a taper or other device that allows the golfer to pull the insertion tool 1 out of the teeing ground.

The upper section 20 also includes a cup formed by ridge 24 and wall 26. The wall 26 tapers toward the section 28 where the upper section 20 meets the insertion section 10. This taper and the depth of the taper generally match the taper of a golf ball, while the diameter of the ridge 24 matches the diameter of the golf ball in an area where the golf ball would contact the ridge 24. Thus, the cup formed by the ridge 24 and wall 26 may hold a golf ball.

As described above, a golfer may place the insertion tool 1 onto the teeing ground with a golf ball in the cup. The golfer may then press down on the golf ball using their hands or foot or even a golf club to press the insertion section 10 into the teeing ground. In the alternative, the golfer may decide not to place a golf ball in the cup, but rather just press down on the upper section 20 using their hand or foot or golf club to press the insertion section into the teeing ground. The golfer may then pull the insertion tool 1 out of the ground, e.g., by gripping the edge 22 and pulling. As described above, the tee may then be inserted into the depression in the teeing ground left by the insertion section 10.

FIG. 3 shows the same cross-sectional side view of the insertion tool 1 as FIG. 2, but further including some exemplary dimensions.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of insertion tool 1. The top view shows the edge 22, the ridge 24, the wall 26 and the section 28 as concentric circles with the overall diameter of the circular upper section 20 being 1.5″. Again, it is noted that while the upper section 20 is shown as a generally circular section, other shapes are also possible, e.g., square, octagonal, etc.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the insertion tool 1 may include a threaded portion in the area of section 28 in both the upper section 20 and the insertion section 10. Thus, the insertion tool 1 may have two discrete parts, the upper section 20 and the insertion section 10 with each having corresponding threaded portions. The insertion section 10 may be screwed into the upper section 20 to form the insertion tool 1. This design would allow the golfer to vary the depth that the insertion section 10 goes into the ground. As described above, an exemplary length of the insertion section 10 is approximately ½″. However, creating an insertion section that is slightly longer and then threading the insertion section 10 either more or less into the upper section 20, the golfer may create depressions having varying depths. This allows the golfer to use the same length tee, but because the depth of insertion is varied, the height of the tee may be varied.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An insertion tool, comprising: an upper section; andan insertion section coupled to the upper section and configured to be inserted into a teeing ground to create a depression for insertion of a golf tee.

2. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the upper section and insertion section is a unitary body.

3. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the upper section and insertion section are coupled via a threaded connection.

4. The insertion tool of claim 3, wherein a depth of insertion of the insertion section is variable based on the threaded connection.

5. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the upper section includes a cup for receiving a golf ball.

6. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the upper section includes an edge configured to allow a golfer to retrieve the insertion tool from the teeing ground after the insertion section is inserted into the teeing ground.

7. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the insertion tool is constructed from one of a plastic, a metal, and a composite material.

8. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein the insertion section includes a wall that is generally cylindrical and tapers as the wall extends away from the upper section.

9. The insertion tool of claim 8, wherein the wall surrounds a hollow core.

10. The insertion tool of claim 9, wherein the wall at an end away from the upper section encloses the hollow core.

11. The insertion tool of claim 1, wherein a length of the insertion section is substantially one-half inch.