Patent Application
20220409968
The present invention relates to golf accessories, and more particularly to tee holders and ball markers.
Golf tees can be difficult for the golfer to carry while playing golf. While bulk supplies of golf tees may be carried in a pocket of the golfer's club bag, the golfer will typically carry one or more tees on his or her person for more ready accessibility during a round of golf. Makeshift holders for golf tees include an external pleat or flap of the golf bag, tucking beneath the hatband of a cap, and the like. These makeshift locations are susceptible to the golfer losing the tee. Intended tee holders may include those found on a golf cart, including motorized carts and hand carts.
Despite all these options, many golfers prefer to carry their golf tees and ball markers in their pocket. The ball markers may be difficult to retrieve from the pocket, particularly when trying to distinguish from change and other items that may be carried in the golfer's pocket. With respect to the golf tees, the pointed ground-penetrating tips of the golf tee can cause discomfort or pain when the golf tee is carried in the golfer's pocket.
Once on the putting green, golfers will also utilize a ball marker to mark the position of their golf ball on the putting green. Heretofore, golfers would have to manually grasp the ball marker once they have placed their golf ball back on the putting green surface. Striking or touching of the ball once placed, may result in the golfer incurring a penalty stroke. Likewise, if the ball marker is placed in the golfer's pocket, it may be difficult to retrieve if the golfer also carries loose change in their pockets, as the ball marker may be otherwise indistinguishable from the coins.
As can be seen, there is a need for a tee holder that allows the golfer to safely carry one or more golf tees in his or her pocket and, an apparatus for retrieval of the ball marker from the green surface, which reduces the possibility of striking the golf ball is a desirable item, and for retrieval of a ball marker from the golfer's pocket.
In one aspect of the present invention, a golf tee tool is disclosed. The golf tee tool includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. At least one channel is defined in a longitudinal length of the body. The at least one channel is dimensioned to removably receive a ground penetrating tip and a shaft of a golf tee through an opening at the proximal end of the body. A magnet is disposed at the distal end of the body.
In some embodiments, the opening is a fluted frusto conical opening dimensioned to receive a ball holding cup of the golf tee.
In some embodiments, the golf tee is received in the channel with an interference fit.
In some embodiments, the at least one channel includes a first channel and a second channel. The body includes a plate having a front face and a back face, with the plate disposed between the first channel and the second channel.
In some embodiments, a receiver is provided on the plate. The receiver is configured to releasably retain a ball marker. A second magnet may be carried in at least one of the front face and the back face of the plate. The second magnet is configured to magnetically retain a ferrous ball marker. In some embodiments, the receiver is an arcuate ridge that protrudes from at least one of the front face and the back face of the plate. The arcuate ridge defines a slot dimensioned to retain the ball marker. A lip extends from the arcuate ridge and is configured to abut with a face of the ball marker when the ball marker is received in the slot.
In some embodiments, a tab protrudes into the slot. The tab is configured to urge the front face of the ball marker in abutment with the lip when the ball marker is received in the slot. In some embodiments, the tab is resiliently disposed on the plate.
In some embodiments, the golf tee tool may also include one or more ridges protruding from one of the front face and the back face of the body. The one or more ridges configured for removably receiving a divot tool in a snap-fit engagement with the body. The one or more ridges may engage with an outer edge of spaced apart legs of the divot tool.
In some embodiments, a recess is defined in the plate. The recess is dimensioned to receive the golf tee at an intermediate position of the body. A ridge may extend along a length of the recess for retaining the golf tee in a snap-fit relation.
In yet other embodiments, the golf tee tool may also include a retaining clip having a proximal end and a distal end. A retaining hook is provided at the distal end. A retaining clip magnet is provided at the proximal end of the retaining clip and is configured to magnetically couple with the magnet at the distal end of the body.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
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 a golf tee tool for conveniently carrying one or more golf tees. Alternatively, or in addition, the golf tee tool may also conveniently carry a ball marker with provisions for retrieving the ball marker without risk of touching or striking a golf ball, once placed on a surface of a putting green, or retrieval of the ball marker from the golfer's pocket. In yet other embodiments, the golf tee tool may include a clip for retaining the golf tee tool.
As seen in reference to the drawings of
The proximal end of the channel 14 may have a fluted frusto conical opening 16 that is dimensioned to receive a ball-holding cup 32 of the golf tee 30. The elongated sleeve may be made of a rigid, semi-rigid, or resilient material, such as metal, plastics, rubber, composites, and the like. When the channel 14 is opened along a longitudinal length, the shaft 36 and ground-penetrating tip 34 of the golf tee 30 may be snap fitted laterally into the channel 14, and retained by a ridge 18 protruding into an opening of the channel 14. The channel may 14 also have a space to accommodate a rib or protrusion from the tee shaft 36. The rib or protrusion is defined at an intermediate portion of the tee shaft 36 to provide a predetermined tee elevation of the ball above the ground surface of the tee box.
In the embodiments shown in
A magnet 22 may be coupled with the distal end of the golf tee tool 10. The magnet 22 is oriented to retrieve and attract a ferrous ball marker via a magnetic attraction. The magnet 22 may be received in a receptacle 20 defined at the distal end of the golf tee tool.
In use, the golfer would hold the proximal end of the golf tee tool 10 and advance the distal end carrying the magnet 22 towards the ferrous ball marker 60. When the ferrous ball marker 60 has been attracted to and retained with the magnet 22, the golfer may retrieve the golf tee tool 10 and ferrous ball marker 60 from the putting green surface. Additionally, by placing the magnetic tip 22 into the golfer's pocket, the ferrous ball marker 60 may be retrieved from the golfer's pocket by the magnet 22, allowing the ferrous ball marker 60 to be readily segregated from loose coins that the golfer may be carrying in their pocket.
In some embodiments, the magnet 22 may be a cylindrical magnet 22 transversely mounted at the distal end of the golf tee tool 10. The cylindrical magnet 22 may be rotationally carried between opposed support arms disposed at the distal end of the golf tee tool 10. The rotation of the magnet 22 may provide a fidget for the golfer to rotate. In other embodiments, the magnet 22 may be coupled with the distal end of the golf tee tool 10. In the non-limiting embodiments shown, the magnet 22 may be received within a receptacle 20 disposed at the distal end of the golf tee tool 10.
In some embodiments, such as shown in
The second magnet 72 may extend between a front face and a back face of the golf tee tool 10 such that the second magnet 72 may be operable from either the front face or the back face of the golf tee tool 10. In this configuration, three points of magnetism are provided, the front surface and back surface of the body 12 of the golf tee tool 10 and the distal end of the golf tee tool 10.
In the embodiment shown in reference to
In the embodiment shown in
In one or more of the embodiments, the channel 14 may also include a cutout 89, preferably dimensioned to a finger's width, which allows the golfer to press on the golf tee 30 to facilitate extraction of the golf tee 30 from the channel 14.
In other embodiments, the golf tee tool 10 may also accommodate a divot tool 40 that is removably coupled with the golf tee tool 10. The golf tee tool 10 may be configured with a retaining clip or ridge 28 for removable attachment of the divot tool 40. In the case where the divot tool 40 includes a ferrous material, the divot tool may be removably coupled to the tee tool with the second magnet 72.
In embodiments where the second magnet 72 extends between the front and back surfaces of the golf tee tool 10, the tee tool may still be magnetically attached with a golf cart on a first side and the divot tool may be removably attached to a second side of the tee tool. In some embodiments a bridge of the divot tool may be coupled with the receiver protruding from the face of the divot tool.
In other embodiments, the body 12 of the golf tee tool 10 may include one or more ridges 28. The one or more ridges 28 protrude from one of the front or back surfaces of the body 12 and provide for a snap-fit engagement with the divot tool 40. In some embodiments, the one or more ridges 28 engage with an outer edge 46 of spaced apart legs 44 of the divot tool 40.
In some embodiments, the body 12 may include a recess 24 dimensioned to receive a golf tee 30 at an intermediate position of the body 12. The recess 24 may include a ridge 28 extending along a length thereof for retaining the golf tee 30 in a snap-fit relation. Typically, this configuration would be suitable for a shorter golf tee 30 for elevating the golf ball at a closer relationship with the ground surface. Advantageously, an opening 45 between the spaced apart legs 44 of the divot tool 40 may be dimensioned in the shape of the golf tee 30, permitting removal and insertion of the divot tool 40 from the golf tee tool 10 without disturbing the centrally located golf tee 30. Likewise, the golf tee 30 may be removed from the golf tee tool 10 without the need to remove the divot tool 40.
In a simplified embodiment of the golf tee tool 10 shown in reference to
The proximal end of the channel 14 will also have the fluted frusto conical opening 16 that is dimensioned to receive the ball-holding cup 32 of the golf tee 30. The elongated sleeve may be made of a rigid, semi-rigid, or resilient material, such as metal, plastics, rubber, composites, and the like. When the channel 14 is opened along a longitudinal length, the shaft 36 and ground-penetrating tip 34 of the golf tee 30 may be snap fitted laterally into the channel 14, and retained by a ridge 18 protruding into an opening of the channel 14. The channel 14 may also be dimensioned to encircle the shaft 36 of the golf tee 30. In the embodiment shown, a slit 19 may be defined along a length of the channel 14. A ring 17 may be provided at a base of the fluted frusto conical opening 16 to provide a cinching of the channel 14 about the shaft 36 of the golf tee 30.
The golf tee tool 10 of the present invention is not limited to use for carrying golf tees 30 in the golfer's pocket. Advantageously, one of the first magnet 22 at the distal end of the golf tee tool 10, or the second magnet 72 may be utilized to magnetically attach the golf tee tool 10 to a ferrous metallic surface of a golf cart. The other magnet may be utilized to retain the ferrous ball marker 60.
In yet other embodiments, a retaining clip 50 may be provided for removable securement of the golf tee tool 10 with a ring of the golf bag, a belt loop, or other suitable location. The retaining clip 50 includes a detachable hook 52 at a distal end thereof and a magnet (not seen) carried at a proximal end 54 of the retaining clip 50. A ring 55 may join the detachable hook 52 with the proximal end 54 of the retaining clip 50. The magnet carried at the proximal end 54 of the retaining clip 50 may be coupled with one or the first magnet 22 or the second magnet 72 of the golf tee tool.
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.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/202,780, filed Jun. 24, 2021, and U.S. provisional application No. 63/265,383, filed Dec. 14, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63265383 | Dec 2021 | US | |
| 63202780 | Jun 2021 | US |
