Patent Application
20120028735
In golf, a tee is normally used for the first stroke of each hole, and the area from which this first stroke is hit is informally also known as the teeing 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 is 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 two-part golf tee having a core section with a substantially cylindrical tube, the core section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be inserted into a teeing ground. The two-part golf tee also includes an elevation section having a substantially cylindrical tube, the elevation section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the elevation section is coupleable to the second end of the core section via one of a friction fit or a mechanical fit, the second end of the elevation section being configured to hold a golf ball.
A two-part golf tee having a core component configured to be at least partially inserted into a teeing ground and an elevation component configured to be releasably coupled to the core component and further configured to hold a golf ball.
A system having a plurality of core sections, each core section comprising a substantially cylindrical tube, each core section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be inserted into a teeing ground. The system further includes a plurality of elevation sections, each elevation section comprising a substantially cylindrical tube, each elevation section having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the elevation section is coupleable to the second end of the core section via a friction fit or mechanical fit, the second end of the elevation section being configured to hold a golf ball, a first number of the elevation sections having a first length and being color-coded or visually marked based on the first length and a second number of the elevation sections having a second length and being color-coded or visually marked based on the second length.
a-d show four different views of the same exemplary two-part golf tee where the elevation section is inserted at various depths into the core section.
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 two-part golf tee that may be implemented to hold a golf ball for a tee shot by a player.
In the exemplary embodiment, the core section 10 is the outer portion of the two-part golf tee 1 when assembled and is the portion that will be inserted into the teeing ground. The core section 10 is rigid enough that it can be pressed down and inserted into the teeing ground by a golfer using his hand, fingers or even his foot. In addition, the ball can be used to apply leverage to press the core section 10 to imbed that component into the teeing ground. The wall thickness of the core section 10 may be used to provide the rigidity for insertion into the teeing ground. An exemplary wall thickness may be from 0.01 inches to 0.3 inches. However, this range is only exemplary and can vary depending on the construction material, the manufacturing procedures and tolerances. However, depending on playing conditions, other wall thicknesses may also be used. For example, in generally wet climates where the teeing ground tends to be softer, it may be possible to have a core section 10 that has a slightly smaller wall thickness because the core section 10 does not need to be as rigid to be inserted into the teeing ground. This also has the advantage of having less material in both construction of the tee 1 and later biodegradation and/or clean up of the tee 1.
In another exemplary embodiment, an insertion tool may be used to insert the core section 10 into the teeing ground. This insertion may vary with the playing conditions of the golf course teeing grounds. For example, when the teeing ground is generally soft, the golfer may insert the core section by hand. However, if the teeing ground is hard, an insertion tool may be used to insert the core section 10 into the hard teeing ground (e.g., the insertion tool provides a mechanical advantage to apply more pressure to the core section 10 for inserting into the teeing ground). In another example, the insertion tool may prepare the teeing ground for insertion of the core section 10 (e.g., the insertion tool may pre-drill or make a depression of suitable size to create a space in preparation for placement of the core section 10).
In the exemplary embodiment, the length of the core section 10 is 0.5 inches, but other lengths for the core section 10 are also possible. In the exemplary embodiments, the core section 10 is shown as a hollow cylinder. In the exemplary embodiments, the internal diameter of the core section 10 has a range from 0.35 inches is 0.45 inches and the outside diameter of the core section has a range from 0.45 inches to 0.55 inches, but both the internal diameter and external diameter may vary as necessary for certain teeing ground conditions, with different soils or turf grasses. Moreover, the core section 10 may also be filled or partially filled. For example, partially filling the core section 10 with a structure such as a honeycomb or other corrugated structure may provide for additional rigidity of the core section 10. It should be noted that the core section 10 may have at least a portion of the tube being hollow because, as will be described below, that is the portion that will receive the elevation section 20.
The core section 10 may be fully or partially inserted into the teeing ground.
As described above, the core section 10 may be constructed from paper, cardboard or any other biodegradable material. In addition, the core section 10 may also be constructed of any rigid material such as metal, composites, polymers, etc. The core section 10 is not required to be a biodegradable material because it will be placed in the teeing ground and may remain in the teeing ground after the ball has been struck. Thus, groundskeepers generally know the core sections 10 will be in the teeing ground and may clean those up from the teeing grounds and/or leave them in the teeing ground, if instructed. The core sections 10, should they remain in the teeing ground, are easily removed by groundskeepers and maintenance personnel such as by mowers as per part of grass cutting procedure. In addition, the core sections 10 may remain in the teeing ground if so desired to play a second shot, or left to aerate the teeing ground. While not shown in the figures, it is possible for the exterior surface of the core section 10 to have serrations, pleats, texturing, ridges and/or other means for enhanced holding of the core section 10 in the teeing ground. In addition, the edges of the core may be serrated, a teeth-like shape or other regular or irregular shape to facilitate preparation and/or penetration of the teeing ground.
As described above, the core section 10 may be constructed from a variety of materials. Similarly, the elevation section 20 may also be constructed from a variety of materials including paper, composite materials, metal, plastics, etc. Any material that can support the weight of a golf ball is acceptable for use in constructing the elevation section. However, while not required, if the material used to construct the elevation section 20 is biodegradable, it may result in fewer environmental hazards. For example, it is likely that the elevation section 20 will be deflected and/or dislodged with respect to the core section 10 when the golfer strikes the ball. In many instances, the golfer may not retrieve the elevation section 20 and since the elevation section is no longer anchored to the teeing ground, it may have been hit out of the teeing ground or may make its way out of the teeing ground at later time (e. g., wind, golfer's kicking it, etc.). Thus, groundskeepers may not clean up all the elevation sections 20 because they may become scattered away from the teeing ground. In such cases, it would be helpful, but not required, that he elevation sections be biodegradable. In addition, the material should also not pose any threat to the flora or fauna. Moreover, the material of the elevation section 20 should be such that it does not cause any damage to very thin golf club faces nor that it provides no resistance to the club head path or deflect the club face when it is struck. This is both to prevent damage to the club and to provide the golfer with the maximum benefit of the two-part golf tee.
The elevation section 20 is the portion of the two-part tee 1 that will hold the ball when the tee 1 is assembled and inserted into the teeing ground. To provide the golfer with the most efficient experience, the elevation section 20 should provide minimal contact with the ball surface and the material of the elevation section 20 should not sit in the dimples of the golf ball when the golf ball is placed on the elevation section 20. Specifically, the golf ball will lie on the surface of the elevation section 20 such that the elevation section 20 contacts the surface of the golf ball at the interface that forms the boundaries of the dimples. In some exemplary embodiments, the edge of the elevation section 20 which is configured to hold the ball may be shaped in such a manner to permit a minimum of surface contact with the ball. For example, the edge may be a micro-interrupted ring or a tapered point.
In order to accomplish this, the wall thickness of the elevation section 20 should generally be kept to a minimum in the area where the ball will sit on the elevation section 20. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall thickness is in the range of 0.01 inches to 0.30 inches. Referring to
It should be noted that the wall thickness may be uniform throughout the entire length of the elevation section 20 or that the wall thickness may vary and taper from one end to the other. In the event that the wall thickness tapers, the tapering could be in either direction, e.g., from the end of the elevation section 20 that is for insertion into the core section 10 to the end of the elevation section that is configured to hold the golf ball, or vice versa. In addition, the tapering could be provided such that the inner surface is tapered and the outer surface is uniform or vice versa. The elevation section 20 may be provided with a means such as a visual cue or insertion mechanism so that the golfer inserts the proper end of the elevation section 20 into the core section 10. If the elevation section 20 has a uniform wall thickness throughout, then such insertion cues may not be needed because either end of the elevation section 20 may be inserted into the core section 10.
The elevation section 20 may be inserted into the core section 10 after the core section 10 has been inserted into the teeing ground. Thus, to assemble the two-part golf tee 1, a golfer may first insert the core section 10 into the teeing ground as described above, and then insert the elevation section 20 into the core section 10. The elevation section 20 may then hold the golf ball for the golfer to strike.
As shown in
In addition, as described above, the internal surface of the core section 10 and the external surface of the elevation section 20 may be textured to provide additional friction for a better fit between the two components. In addition to or as an alternative to textures, these surfaces, either individually or collectively, may include fine ribs, nubs, pleats, ridges, serrations, score lines, etc. to provide for better friction contact between the two components 10, 20 when the two-part golf tee 1 is assembled. In addition to friction fitting, these additional features of the surface may also lock or selectively engage corresponding features on the other surface. For example, if the outer surface of the elevation section 20 includes nubs, the inner surface of the core section 10 may include depressions or ridges to engage the nubs.
The friction fit allows the elevation section 20 to be fully or partially inserted into the core section 10. As described above, in one exemplary embodiment, the core section 10 will be partially inserted into the teeing ground. The elevation section 20 may be inserted to a depth anywhere along the length of the core section 10, including for example, to a depth that is below ground level, even with ground level or above ground level. When above ground level, the friction fit holds the elevation section 20 in relation to the core section 10. Those skilled in the art will understand that this allows for an adjustment in the height of the tee. It is also noted that the external surface of the elevation section 20 may also include markings or visual cues to indicate how far the elevation section 20 has been inserted into the core section 10 or to indicate a height of the tee 1.
a-d show four different views of the same exemplary two-part golf tee 1 where the elevation section 20 is inserted at various depths into the core section 10. That is, each two-part tee 1 of
b shows the elevation section 20 as being inserted to a depth of approximately three quarters of the core section 10, or approximately 0.375 inches. This results in the overall length L2 of the two-part tee 1 being approximately 2 inches.
As can be seen from the above examples, the same core section 10 and elevation section 20 allow a golfer to adjust the two-part tee 1 through a range of heights. As described above the friction fit between the elevation section 20 and the core section 10 allows the elevation section 20 to remain at the desired height and to hold the ball without moving. It should be understood that the lengths for the core section 10 and the elevation section 20 used above are only exemplary. As described above, the core section 10 may be any length and as will be described in more detail below, the elevation section 20 may come in various lengths. In addition, though only four insertion depths were described it should be apparent that the elevation section 20 may be inserted at any depth within the core section 10 above the minimum depth required for a stable fit.
As described above with reference to
In the example of
Again, the above-mentioned lengths for the elevation section 20 are only two examples of the various lengths that may be used for the elevation section 20. It may be possible to have many multiple lengths for the elevation section 20. The elevation sections 20 having different lengths may be color-coded or visually marked to indicate the length of the elevation section 20 for easy selection by a golfer. This color-coding and/or marking of the elevation sections may also aid the golfer in seeing and recovering the elevation section 20 in the grass after the player has teed off. In addition to the color-coding, or in the alternative, the elevation tubes 20 may be marked to indicate a preferred club with which the elevation tube should be used.
In one exemplary embodiment, the two-part tees 1 may be provided in a pack that includes various lengths of the elevation sections 20 and a corresponding number of core sections 10. The pack may be, for example, designed for use for a single round of golf. In the exemplary embodiments, the diameter of the core section 10 and the different lengths of the elevation sections 20 may be consistent, such that any of the different elevation sections 20 may be assembled with any core section 10. Thus, the exemplary pack may be supplied with multiple core sections 10 (e.g., a quantity of thirty (30) core sections) and multiple elevation sections 20 (e.g., a quantity of ten (10) elevation sections 20 having a first length, a quantity of ten (10) elevation sections 20 having a second length 20 and a quantity of ten (10) elevation sections 20 having a third length). Thus, any of the different length elevation sections 20 may be used interchangeably with the core sections 10. It is noted that the above quantities and types of core sections 10 and elevation sections 20 in the pack are only exemplary, any combination of quantities and/or types of core sections 10 and elevation sections 20 may be provided in a pack.
It should also be reiterated that while the examples have been described as having a core section 10 with a fixed length, it is also possible to provide different core sections 10 having different lengths. These different length core sections 10 may be designed for universal use with any length elevation section 20 or may also be designed for use with a specific length elevation section 20. Where the core section 10 is designed for use with a specific length elevation section 20, the diameters of the core section 10 and corresponding elevation sections may be complementary such that other elevation sections and/or core sections may not be suitable for use with non-complementary core and/or elevation sections. In an alternative embodiment, the complementary core sections 10 and elevation sections 20 may have a specific cross-sectional shape that indicates they are complementary. Examples of cross-sectional shapes that are not substantially circular include, star shapes, hexagonal shapes, or any multiple sided shape.
In the above exemplary embodiments, it was described that the outer diameter of the elevation section 20 was smaller than the inner diameter of the core section 10 so that the elevation section 20 is inserted into the core section 10 to provide the friction fit between the sections 10 and 20. However, in an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the inner diameter of the elevation section 20 is greater than the outer diameter of the core section 10. In such an embodiment, the elevation section 20 would slip over the core section 10 and form a friction fit in that manner. In such an embodiment, at least a portion of the core section 10 may protrude from the teeing ground when it is inserted to receive the elevation section 20.
As described above in various sections, either or both of the core section 10 and the elevation section 20 may include markings to provide for visual feedback to the golfer. In a first example, the core section 10 may be provided with markings indicating a depth to which the core section 10 has been inserted into the teeing ground. In a second example, the markings on the core section may indicate how far the elevation section 20 has been inserted onto the core section 10 in the embodiment of
From the above examples, it should be seen that the two-part golf tee 1 also provides the golfer with the ability to have a consistent and repeatable tee height for every club in the bag. The golfer may insert the core section 10 into the teeing ground to a consistent depth and then insert the elevation section 20 to a consistent depth within the core section 10 for each tee shot. Thus, the two-part tee 1 may provide the golfer with a better golfing experience because of the consistency of the height of the tee throughout the round of golf and throughout all the clubs in the bag.
Throughout this description it was described that the core section 10 is inserted into the teeing ground and then the elevation section 20 is inserted into the core section 20. However, this is only exemplary, it is also possible to insert the core section 10 and the elevation section 20 into the teeing ground as a unified tee. Furthermore, the core section 10 and the elevation section 20 may also be manufactured as a single entity. Also, as described above, the core section 10 and/or the elevation section 20 may be independently used as a single piece if so desired and as conditions permit.
It is also noted that throughout this description, it was generally described that the coupling of the core section 10 to the elevation section 20 was accomplished via a friction fit. However, there were also described certain mechanical fit features such as nubs, depressions, ridges, special shapes, etc. These mechanical fit features may be employed in addition to or as an alternative to the friction fit features. That is, it is possible to construct the tee 1 without any friction fit between the core section 10 and elevation section 20, but merely rely on mechanical fit features described herein to accomplish the coupling. Other examples of mechanical fit features may include threads that are included on one or both of the core section 10 or elevation section 20 such that the sections may be screwed together. In another example, one of the sections 10, 20 may have ridges, while the other section 10, 20 may have complementary ridges that accept the ridges on the other section such that the sections can either be rotated to attach or pushed/pulled to connect.
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 claimed and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/368,814 entitled “Two-Part Golf Tee” that was filed on Jul. 29, 2010 and names Lon Klein as inventor. The entirety of that application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this application.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61368814 | Jul 2010 | US |
