Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DURABLE GOLF TEE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] .This
application claims benefit of the Canadian priority application, number
2,432,305
filed June 6. 2003.
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates in general to golf tees, for example, a device
to support a golf ball above the surface of the ground, and in particular the
invention relates to a strong tee with long life and durability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The universally accepted golf tee, depicted in Figure 1 and denoted
generally as the numeral 20, used to support a golf ball during tee off, is a
wooden tee comprising a rounded stem 22 that is insertable into the ground and
topped with a small cup 24 with a depression in the top surface 26 to accept
and
retain a golf ball. This tee 20 holds the golf ball in an elevated position
above the
ground, prior to the tee shot. The design of this tee 20 promotes short life.
The
stem 22 of the universally accepted tee 20 easily snaps when the golf club
impacts it during the tee shot or drive swing. Typically tee off areas are
littered
with broken tees, taking away from the attractiveness of the area as well as
providing a hazard when mowing.
[0005] The universally accepted golf tee 20 is inexpensive and is typically
purchased by a golfer in quantities of 10 or more. However, a golfer may need
3
or more per 18 hole golf game played. With 2 to 4 golfers teeing off every 7
to 15
minutes, on any given golf course, it can be calculated that approximately 500
to
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1,500 broken tees will liter a golf course every single day. This number is
compounded by the number of golf courses throughout the world.
[0006] For competitive play, a golf tee should not violate the rules of golf,
particularly those applying to tees, such as those described in the United
States
Golf Association (USGA). The USGA rule 11-1 states "the tee does not contain
any features that may indicate the line of play, influence the movement of the
ball, interfere with the clubface, or assist the player in making a stroke".
[0007] Many solutions have been proposed to provide a durable tee. For
example, US Patent 4,951,945, issued August 28, 1990 to Gamble, describes a
plastic tee having a triangular head. While the use of plastic makes for a
more
durable tee this design may be limited to the use of plastic. Also the
triangular
head may not comply to Golf Association rules as the patent 4,951,945 states
that one object of the invention is to provide golf tees which give better
directional
control.
[0008] Another example, US Patent 5,569,102, issued on October 29,
1996 to Karron, proposes a driving range tee made of a plastic fabric braided
tube. Although this design can also be used on the golf course it includes no
provision for anchoring the tee to the ground allowing the tee to travel a
large
distance when impacted with a golf club at tee off.
[0009] Yet another example, US Patent 5,571,054, issued November 5,
1996 to Chantal discloses a hollow synthetic golf tee. The durability given to
the
tee is from the synthetic material such as a plastic or resin. The design does
not
impact on the durability.
[0010] US Patent 6,290,616, issued September 18, 2001 to Evans
describes an earthen body tee that is biodegradable and soluble in water. This
design addresses the debris caused by broken tees but does not improve
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durability. It is likely that many tees of this material would be needed to
play a
game of golf.
[0011] Canadian Patent Application 2,432,305 filed June 6, 2003 to the
present inventor, describes a drive correcting tee having greater durability
than
the universally accepted tee. This drive correcting tee is more expensive to
manufacture than the present invention and would likely not be accepted by
Golf
Associations to be used in tournaments and the like.
[0012] Clearly it is obvious that a simple tee with longer life, designed for
durability and permitted by Golf Associations is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a golf
tee
that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and
disadvantages of the related art.
(0014] In one object of the present invention there is provided a stronger
and more durable golf tee than the presently universally accepted golf tee.
[0015] Therefore, in accordance with the present invention there is
provided an improved golf tee including a lower end and an upper end, the
lower
end for inserting into the ground, the upper end terminating at a top surface
with
a depression shaped in the top surface, the depression for accepting and
retaining a golf ball. The golf tee's lower and upper ends forming a stem the
stem being substantially evenly tapered along the majority of the length of
the
tee.
[0016] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the
stem of the tee has a plurality of sides, a plurality being greater than 2.
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[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the
stem of the tee has four sides.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the top
of the tee is one half inch by one half inch or less.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the
stem of the tee is round and decreasing in diameter from the upper end to the
lower end.
[0020] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention the tee
is made of wood.
[0021] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention the
stem is tapered along its length, producing a pyramid shape, to permit easy
insertion into and removal from the ground.
[0022] In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an
improved golf tee comprising a four sided evenly tapered stem for inserting
into
the ground in a generally vertical position, the stem terminating at a top
surtace
and the top surface including a depression to accept and to retain a golf
ball.
[0023] An advantage of the present invention is provided by the tapered
shape of the stem. The stem, when inserted into the ground creates an equally-
shaped opening in the ground. This shape reduces breakage of the tee upon
impact by the club and prolongs the useful life of the tee, reducing the
number of
tees needed in one golf game, and frequently exhibiting a life span of several
golf
games.
[0024] Another advantage of the present invention is that the tee 's design
promotes durability without providing additional resistance and thus
decreasing
the distance traveled.
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[0025] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the tee's
design promotes durability without the use of synthetic materials that are not
environmentally friendly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a universally accepted tee.
[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a tee of the present invention with
a tapered stem.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Turning now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a strong tee designated
generally by the numeral 10, constructed in accordance with the present
invention. The golf tee 10 includes a stem 12 for supporting a golf ball in a
fixed
position above the ground. The stem 12 is substantially evenly tapered along
the
entire length of the tee 10. The lower end 11, of stem 12, is shaped
substantially
to a narrow point, allowing for easy insertion into the ground in a generally
vertical position where a ball is to be played. The tapered stem 12 further
including an upper end 13 terminating at a top surface 14. A centrally located
circular depression or recess 16 is shaped into the top surface 14 for
accepting
and retaining a golf ball in a fixed position prior to play.
(0029] The shape of stem 12 provides for the durability of the tee 10. The
tee 10 is evenly and gradually tapered from the upper end 13 to substantially
a
point at the lower end 11. The gradual taper brings additional strength to the
tee
due to added bulk and no obvious stress point. The tapered shape of the
stem 12 creates a similar shape in the ground when the tee 10 is inserted into
the ground. The tapered shape of the hole in the ground permits the tee to
easily
move with the direction of the swing. Frequently the tee will leave the hole
and
be projected in the direction of the swing when impacted by a golf club. The
freedom to move with the swing minimizes any stress put on the tee 10 during
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the tee shot or drive swing. Preferably the stem 12 is evenly tapered along
the
entire length of the tee 10, however, a different shape may be given to the
point,
for example, to facilitate the manufacture. What is important is that the even
taper must be along the majority of the length of the tee, so that a portion
of the
even taper is inserted into the ground when used for a tee off or drive.
[0030] On the other hand the design of the universally accepted tee 20,
depicted in Figure 1, promotes a shorter life. The thin, round stem 22 easily
snaps when the golf club impacts the tee 20. When the golf club impacts the
universally accepted tee 20, stress is caused by the resistance of the ground
to
movement of the tee 20, in the direction of the drive, causing the tee to
snap.
[0031] Typical dimensions for the tee 10, depicted in Figure 2, are such
that the golf ball is struck by the club before the tee is. In other words,
the top
surface of the tee 14, the largest horizontal dimension, is smaller than the
diameter of the golf ball. In the preferred embodiment depicted in Figure 2,
the
stem 12 of tee 10 has four sides forming a stem that very much resembles an
inverted pyramid. Preferably the top surface 14 of the tee 10 is square and is
approximately half an inch (1/2") on each side.
[0032] The preferred embodiment of Figure 2 includes a stem having four
sides. To one skilled in the art it is obvious that the stem can have many
shapes.
For example the stem may have three or more sides and may even be round
with a lame diameter area as small as half an inch (1/2"). What is important
for
durability is that the tee 10 is substantially evenly tapered along the entire
length,
or along the majority of the length, of the tee.
(0033] The typical length for the tee 10 is approximately two and five
Bights inches (2 5/8"). For proper retaining of the golf ball the depression
16 in
the top surface 14 is approximately three Bights of an inch (3/8") in
diameter. As
is understood by one skilled in the art, these dimensions are approximate and
may vary without taking away from the advantages of the invention.
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[0034] In use, the tee 10 is inserted into the ground at a desired location
for tee off. The tee 10 is inserted to a depth desired by the player. The tee
10
may be marked with notches, straight marks 18 or other marks along the stem 12
in order to facilitate insertion to a constant depth as selected by the
player. The
tee 10 is inserted into the ground in any direction. A flat side, corner or
any other
portion of the tee may be placed in the same direction as the desired shot.
The
strong tee 10 does not influence the direction the golf ball will travel.
[0035] The tee 10 may be construction of any material such as wood,
plastic, ceramic or other material. Preferably the tee 10 is constructed of
wood,
as wood is degradable. Hard maple is ideal for tees 10 where reduced breakage
and longer life is desirable. Of course, other wood varieties may be used. If
made of wood, the tee may be painted in various colors, finished with a
durable
plastic coating or other finishing product or left natural.
[0036] The embodiments) of the invention described above are intended
to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be
limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
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