Golf tee structure with adjustable height

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6811499
  • Patent Number
    6,811,499
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, April 9, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 2, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A golf tee structure includes a lower body, and an upper body. The lower body has an inside formed with a hollow portion. The upper body is adjustably mounted on the lower body and has a lower portion formed with an adjusting rod retractably mounted in the hollow portion of the lower body. Thus, the height of the golf tee structure can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit the requirement of users of different stature. In addition, the adjusting rod of the upper body can be locked on the hollow portion of the lower body rigidly and stably.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a golf tee structure, and more particularly to a golf tee structure with an adjustable height.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional golf tee has a lower end formed with a pointed portion that can be inserted into the earth and an upper portion formed with a cone-shaped ball seat for receiving a golf ball. Thus, the conventional golf tee can be used to support the golf ball. However, the height of the conventional golf tee is fixed and cannot be adjusted to fit the requirement of users of different statures, thereby causing inconvenience to the user, and thereby limiting the versatility of the conventional golf tee.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a golf tee structure, wherein the height of the golf tee structure can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit the requirement of users of different statures.




Another objective of the present invention is to provide a golf tee structure that can be positioned rigidly and stably.




A further objective of the present invention is to provide a golf tee structure, wherein the adjusting rod of the upper body can be locked on the hollow portion of the lower body rigidly and stably.




In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf tee structure, comprising a lower body, and an upper body, wherein:




the lower body has an inside formed with a hollow portion; and




the upper body is adjustably mounted on the lower body and has a lower portion formed with an adjusting rod retractably mounted in the hollow portion of the lower body.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded perspective view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a perspective assembly view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a side plan cross-sectional view of the golf tee structure as shown in.

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a schematic operational view of the golf tee structure as shown in

FIG. 3

in adjustment;





FIG. 5

is a schematic operational view of the golf tee structure as shown in

FIG. 3

in adjustment;





FIG. 6

is a side plan cross-sectional view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is a side plan cross-sectional view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view of the golf tee structure in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention; and





FIG. 11

is a side plan partially cross-sectional view of the golf tee structure as shown in FIG.


10


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, a golf tee structure


10


in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a lower body


40


, and an upper body


20


.




The lower body


40


has a lower end formed with a pointed portion


41


that can be inserted into the earth. The lower body


40


has an inside formed with a hollow portion


42


. The hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


has a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes


421


which are arranged in line with each other.




The upper body


20


has a horn shape. The upper body


20


is adjustably mounted on the lower body


40


. The upper body


20


has an upper portion formed with a cone shaped ball seat


21


. The ball seat


21


of the upper body


20


has a top face formed with a concave portion


210


for receiving a golf ball


50


(see FIG.


3


). The ball seat


21


of the upper body


20


has a side formed with a protruding pointer


22


. Preferably, the pointer


22


of the upper body


20


has a sharp conic shape. In addition, the pointer


22


of the upper body


20


points to the travel direction of the golf ball


50


, so as to provide in indication function to the golfer. The upper body


20


has a lower portion formed with a cylindrical adjusting rod


23


retractably mounted in the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


. The adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


has a periphery formed with a receiving hole


231


.




The golf tee structure


10


further comprises an adjusting mechanism


30


mounted between the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


and the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


to adjust a relative position between the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


and the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


. The adjusting mechanism


30


includes a positioning ball


31


mounted in the receiving hole


231


of the upper body


20


and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes


421


of the lower body


40


, and an elastic member


32


mounted in the receiving hole


23


of the upper body


20


and urged between the positioning ball


31


and a wall of the receiving hole


231


of the upper body


20


.




In adjustment, the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


can be moved in the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


from the position as shown in

FIG. 3

to the position as shown in

FIG. 4

, so that the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


is fully retracted into the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


. Alternatively, the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


can be moved in the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


from the position as shown in

FIG. 4

to the position as shown in

FIG. 5

or to the position as shown in

FIG. 3

, so that the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


is extended outward from the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


.




Thus, the relative position between the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


and the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


can be adjusted arbitrarily, so that the height of the golf tee structure


10


can be adjusted arbitrarily so as to fit the requirement of users of different stature. In addition, the positioning ball


31


is locked in one of the positioning holes


421


of the lower body


40


, so that the adjusting rod


23


of the upper body


20


can be locked on the hollow portion


42


of the lower body


40


rigidly and stably.




Referring to

FIG. 6

, the golf tee structure in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the adjusting mechanism


30


A includes a positioning block


31


A mounted in the receiving hole


231


of the upper body


20


and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes


421


of the lower body


40


, and an elastic member


32


A mounted in the receiving hole


231


of the upper body


20


and urged between the positioning block


31


A and a wall of the receiving hole


231


of the upper body


20


. Preferably, the positioning block


31


A has a first side formed with an arcuate positioning boss


311


A locked in one of the positioning holes


421


of the lower body


40


and a second side formed with a stub


312


A secured on an end of the elastic member


32


A.




Referring to

FIG. 7

, the golf tee structure in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the adjusting rod


23


B of the upper body


20


B is formed with a receiving hole


231


B extended through the adjusting rod


23


B, the hollow portion


42


B of the lower body


40


B has two opposite sides each formed with a plurality of positioning holes


421


B, and the adjusting mechanism


30


B includes two opposite positioning balls


31


B each mounted in the receiving hole


231


B of the upper body


20


B and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes


421


B of the lower body


40


B, and an elastic member


3213


mounted in the receiving hole


231


B of the upper body


20


B and urged between the two positioning balls


31


B.




Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, the golf tee structure in accordance with the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention is shown, wherein the pointer


22


of the upper body


20


has different configuration and is provided with an indication line


221


, so that the user can control the travel direction of the golf ball


50


.




Referring to

FIGS. 10 and 11

, the golf tee structure in accordance with the sixth embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the hollow portion


42


C of the lower body


40


C has an outer wall formed with a plurality of barb-shaped locking portions


43


C, so that the lower body


40


C can be secured in the earth rigidly and stably.




Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing tom the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A golf tee structure, comprising a lower body, and an upper body, wherein:the lower body has an inside formed with a hollow portion; the upper body is adjustably mounted on the lower body and has a lower portion formed with an adjusting member retractably mounted in the hollow portion of the lower body; the adjusting member of the upper body has a periphery formed with a receiving hole; the hollow portion of the lower body has a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes; a positioning ball is mounted in the receiving hole of the adjusting member of the upper body and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes of the lower body; and an elastic member is mounted in the receiving hole of the adjusting member of the upper body and urged between the positioning ball and a wall of the receiving hole of the upper body.
  • 2. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lower body has a lower end formed with a pointed portion.
  • 3. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper body has a horn shape.
  • 4. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper body has an upper portion formed with a cone-shaped ball seat.
  • 5. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein the ball seat of the upper body has a top face formed with a concave portion.
  • 6. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 4, wherein the ball seat of the upper body has a side formed with a protruding pointer.
  • 7. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein the pointer of the upper body is provided with an indication line.
  • 8. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hollow portion of the lower body has an outer wall formed with a plurality of barb-shaped locking portions.
  • 9. A golf tee structure, comprising a lower body, and an upper body, wherein:the lower body has an inside formed with a hollow portion; the upper body is adjustably mounted on the lower body and has a lower portion formed with an adjusting member retractably mounted in the hollow portion of the lower body; the adjusting member of the upper body has a periphery formed with a receiving hole; the hollow portion of the lower body has a periphery formed with a plurality of positioning holes; a positioning block is mounted in the receiving hole of the adjusting member of the upper body and detachably locked in one of the positioning holes of the lower body; and an elastic member is mounted in the receiving bole of the adjusting member of the upper body and urged between the positioning block and a wall of the receiving hole of the upper body.
  • 10. A golf tee structure, comprising a lower body, and an upper body, wherein:the lower body has an inside formed with a hollow portion; the upper body is adjustably mounted on the lower body and has a lower portion formed with an adjusting member retractably mounted in the hollow portion of the lower body; the adjusting member of the upper body is formed with a receiving hole extended through the adjusting rod; the hollow portion of the lower body has two opposite sides each formed with a plurality of positioning holes; two opposite positioning balls are mounted in the receiving hole of the adjusting member of the upper body and each of the two opposite positioning balls is detachably locked in one of the positioning holes of the lower body; and an elastic member mounted in the receiving hole of the adjusting member of the upper body and urged between the two positioning balls.
  • 11. The golf tee structure in accordance with claim 9, wherein the positioning block has a first side formed with an arcuate positioning boss locked in one of the positioning holes of the lower body and a second side formed with a stub secured on an end of the elastic member.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
1783211 Baldwin Dec 1930 A
3406977 Voelkerding Oct 1968 A
4017087 Bruno Apr 1977 A
4516780 Tabet May 1985 A
4905999 Voinovich et al. Mar 1990 A
5738598 Wu Apr 1998 A
6083121 Hovey Jul 2000 A