Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOLF TEE WITH A HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001 The present invention is generally directed to golf tees, and
more particularly to a golf tee with a height adjustment device or mechanism.
[0402 A golfer can use a very long tE:e, standard size tee, an extra
short tee, or a tee with a fixed flat stopping point. The extra long tee is
anchored
into the ground and is manually raised or lowered to an approximate height.
However, rarely do they lift or lower the tee to the exact height all the
time. This
results in skying or topping of the bats. Alignment is often off as well due
to the
fact that a golfer's feet and body posture are not square with the ball.-
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[0003 Further, while aiming at an intended direction in either
archery or tennis, the participant's body typically faces the target before
the
swing or release of the arrow. On the other hand, in golf, a player's body,
shoulders, legs and hips are at an angle to the intended target, making the
alignment far more difficult.
~0004j In order to align to the target in golf, however, some golfers
align the golf ball with the printing on the ball. For example, the name
1'itteist~',
straight towards the preferred target, or a line drown around the center of
the
ball.
j0005] Another tee that is commonly used for height control is a fee
that only reaches into the ground at a precise height. This tee is helpful to
the
golfer ~ if , that height is perfect for his or her swing. Should they prefer
the bail
lower or higher on that tee, however, they cannot use the set height tee.
~aaos~ There are many existing tees that can be used to insure
height control. Some are various sizes of rubber tees used on a mat found on
driving ranges. Others are practice tees which require anchors, etc. Some
golfers mark their balls by drawing horizontal lines across the tee stem.
However, all of these are difficult to anchor the tee stern at an exact depth
that
will place the ball at an exact height required or desired by the golfer. In
order to
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obtain that exact height of the ball at all times, it would require a golfer
to
measure from the ground to the top of the head of the tee, with a separate
ruler.
This would obviously be cumbersome, not to mention additional time required
prior to tee-off.
[0007] Examples of various golf tees and other accessories are
disciased in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,553,561; 1,625,911; 1,638,448; 2,700,788;
3,079,158; 3,114,557; 3,203,700; 3,408,079; 3,883,144; 5,052,689; 5,240,254;
5,356,146; 5,569,102; 5,fi72,122; 5,720,677; 5,890,976; 6,475,107 B1; Des.
293,261; Des. 360,006; Des. 411,276; and Des. 428,954.
j0008~ In view of the drawbacks associated with conventional tees,
there is a need in the industry for a golf tee which includes a better height
adjustment mechanism to allow a golfer to consistently and repeatedly set the
ball at the same or different height relative to the ground, as preferred by
the
golfer.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY C?F THE 1NVENTiUN
[0009 The principal object of the present invention is to provide a
golf tee which overcomes the drawbacks associated with conventional golf tees.
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~oaao~ An object of the present invention is to provide a golf tee
which includes a height adjustment mechanisnn for allowing a golfer to
consistently and repeatedly set the ball at the same. or different height
relative to
the ground, as preferred.
[0011 Another object of the present iinvention is to provide a golf
tee with a height adjustment mechanism which eiim'inates the need for a golfer
to
carry multiple or an assortment of various length tf:es. In other words, a
golfer
need to carry only one golf tee of the present invention that allows the
player to
set different heights of the ball relative to the ground.
j0012j - Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
golf tee which includes directional arrows to assist a golfer in locating ar
selecting
a line of flight for driving or hitting the ball, as well as aligning the
feet, hips and
shoulders for proper or optimum stance of the player.
[0013] An additional object of the preaent invention is to provide a
golf tee with a height adjustment mechanism and directional arrows which
allows
a golfer to maintain an exact height of the center of 'the ball relative to
the ground,
regardless of variable lofts or degrees on the golf clubs, with the arrows
aligned
for proper stance of the feet, hips and shoulders, as. well as the direction
required
for straight, fade, or draw, as desired.
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[0014) Yet an additional object of the p3resent invention is to provide
a golf tee which includes a height adjustment memlber with an arrow to point
in
the direction required for the ball to Crave( in alignment therewith.
j0015] In summary, the main object of the present invention is to
provide a golf tee with a height adjustment mechanism and directional arrows
which allows a golfer to control or adjust the height and direction the golfer
prefers when striking a ball with any club or driver that is selected based on
the
face angle thereof. The directional arrows further help a golfer to align his
or her
feet, hips and shoulders with the ball for a preferred or optimum flight or
direction.
[0016 At least one of the above objects is met, in part, by the
present invention, which in one aspect includes a golf tee with a shaft
portion. A
first end portion is provided for supporting a golf ball thereon and extends
from a
first end of the shaft portion. A second end portion is provided for anchoring
the
tee into the ground and extends from a second end of the shaft portion. A
height
adjustment member is slidably positioned on the shaft portion for setting a
height
of the tee relative to the ground. The shaft portion includes a plurality of
vertically
spaced slots separated by at least one ring for selectively holding the height
adjustment member in one of the slots. The height adjustment member includes
first and second directional arrows that extend in generally opposite
directions.
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[001?] Another aspect of the present invention includes a golf tee
with a device for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground, which
includes
a shaft portion. A generally hollow funnel-shaped fist end portion is provided
for
supporting a golf ball thereon and extends from an ~.ipper end of the shaft
portion.
A generally tapered second end portion is provided for anchoring the tee into
the
ground and extends from a lower end of the shaft portion. A disc member is
slidably positioned on the shaft portion for setting a height of the tee
relative to
the ground. The shaft portion includes a plurality of vertically spaced slots
separated by a plurality of generally continuous rings. The disc member
includes
integrally molded first and second directional arrows that extend in generally
opposite directions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI~iE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above and other objects, novel features and advantages
of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments) inv~:ntion, as illustrated in the
drawings, in which:
[0019] Figure 1 is an elevationai view of a golf tee with a height
adjustment member in accordance with the present invention;
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[0020] Figure 2 is an eievational view showing the golf tee of the
invention anchored in the ground;
00021] Figure 3 is a partial enlarged sectional view taken along line
3-3 of Figure 2;
(0022] Figure 4 is a top plan view of the height adjustment member
shown in Figure 1; and
[0023] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the golf tee of the present
invention shown in use on a golf course.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT{S} OF THE INVENTION
[0024] As best shown in Figure 1, the golf tee GT of the present
invention includes a shaft portion 1 D with a tapered lower end portion 12 for
anchoring the tee into the ground, and a generally hollow funnel-shaped upper
end portion 14 for supporting a golf ball GB thereon (Figure 2). The end
portions
12 and 14 extend from the lower and upper end portions 11 and 13 of the shaft
1fl, respectively. The upper portion 14 includes an oversized annulus top rim
16
for stabilizing the golf ball GB under normal or windy conditions. The golf
tee GT
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is preferably molded from a plastic, metal, wood, foam, or the like suitable
material.
(0025a As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the shaft portion 10
includes a plurality of vertically spaced axial slots 18 separated by
generally
continuous rings 20. Preferably, nine slots 98 are provided. Each slot 18 has
an
axial length L~ that is larger than an axial length L2 o~f each ring 20. It is
preferred
that al! slots 18 have the same axial length L~ and ail rings 20 have the same
axial length L2, where L~ is larger than L2. Further, the diameter D~ of
preferably
each ring 20 is larger than the diameter D2 of the sihaft 10. Preferably, the
slots
18 and the rings 20 are integrally molded with the golf tee GT. The axial
length
L~ of each slot 18 is preferably about 0.165". (It is noted herewith that the
number of slots and their axial lengths may be varied. For example, slots of
varying engths may be provided. Likewise, the rings 20 of varying diameters
and lengths may also be provided.)
(0026] As best shown in Figures 1 and 4, a height adjustment or
height setting sleeve 22 has the configuration of a generally round disc 24
with
two directional arrows 26 and 28 that preferably extend in generally opposite
directions. It is noted herewith that it is within the scope of this invention
to
provide other embodiments of the disc 24 wherein the arrows 26 and 28 extend
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at any angle to each other. For example, the two arrows 26 and 28 may extend
at right angle to each other, or at 120° relative to each other, etc.
[0027 Preferably, the disc 24 and the arrows 26 and 28 are
integrally molded from a rubber, plastic, metal, wood, foam, or the like
suitable
material. The outer perimeter 30 of the disc 24~ in knurled for the ease of
manipulation and use.
[0028 The disc 24 includes a generally round hole 32 for receiving
the shaft portion 10. Preferably, the diameter of the hole 32 is slightly less
than
the diameter of the shaft portion 10 for allowing a tight frictional
engagement
therebetween. For example, the diameter of the hole 32 is 0.200", while the
diameter of the shaft portion 10 is 0.218".
[0029a in order to stabilize the height adjustment sleeve 22 on the
shaft portion 10, the thickness T of the disc 24 is provided to be in general
correspondence with the axial length L~ of each slot 18 (Figure 3).
[0030] As best shown in Figure 2, the height adjustment sleeve 22
is slipped over the shaft portion 10 through the hole 32 thereof to set the
disc 24
in a desired slot 18. Upon anchoring the golf tEe GT into the ground GD, the
height adjustment sleeve 22 would come to rest on the grass GR to provide a
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desired height of the golf ball GB relative to the ground GD. By sliding the
height
adjustment sleeve 22 up or down on the shaft portion 'i0, the height for the
golf
ball GB can be lowered or made higher, respectively. For instance, positioning
the height adjustment sleeve 22 in the riot numbered "'1 ", would yield the
highest
position for the golf ball GB to rest above the ground GD. On the ofiher hand,
positioning the height adjustment sleeve 22 in the sVot numbered "3", would
yield
the lowest position for the golf ball GB relative to the ground GD.
[003~1~ From the above, one can observe that by positioning the
height adjustment sleeve 22 in the same selected slot 18, a golfer may achieve
the same height for the golf half GB relative to the ground GD in each
instance of
anchoring the golf tee GT into the ground. Alternatively, by inserting the
golf tee
GT into the height adjustment sleeve 22 at differentlother slots 18, a golfer
can
achieve, a different height preferred for any club C chosen.
(0032 In addition, a golfer may use 'the directional arrows 26 and
28 to properly align hislher feet, hips and shoulders to the intended flight
of the
ball when hitting off the tee GT. In this regard, a golfer may rotate the
height
adjustment sleeve 22 in the slot ~ 8 to point either of the arrows 26 and 28
in a
preferred direction for visual reinforcement for hitting the ball along an
intended
flight or direction on the fairway FW, the green G, etc.
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~00~3~ While this invention has been described as having preferred
sequences, ranges, steps, materials, structures, features, or designs, it is
understood that it is capable ofi further modifications, uses andlor
adaptations of
the invention following in general the principle of the invention, and
including
such departures from the present disclosure as those come within the known or
customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be
applied to the central features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the
scope of
the invention and of the limits of the appended claims.
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