Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02603344 2007-09-19
GOLF TEE SETTING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to a device for setting a golf ball tee
into a
ground surface such that the tee extends to a predetermined height above the
ground
surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Because the head of each golf club has a "sweet spot," i.e., an optimal
location or area on its face for striking the golf ball to provide maximum
distance and
accuracy, the prior art has recognized the need to precisely and repeatably
elevate the
golf ball above the ground when hitting off of the tee. Golf ball tees, which
generally
include an enlarged head featuring a concave upper surface adapted to support
the
golf ball, and a stem or shank that terminates in a tapered tip (opposite the
head)
adapted to penetrate the ground surface, are typically used by golfers to
support the
golf ball at a desired height above the ground surface.
[0003] Traditionally, when teeing up the golf ball on a tee, a player holds a
tee
between two fingers of one hand while he seats a golf ball atop the tee's
concave head,
with the golf ball then resting in the player's palm. The player thereafter
presses the tip
of the tee against the ground surface and applies additional downward pressure
with
his palm against the seated golf ball until the tip and shank of the tee has
penetrated
the ground surface to a desired depth. The player then removes his hand from
the
inserted tee and golf ball to complete the process of teeing up the golf ball.
Unfortunately, this traditional method of teeing up a golf ball often fails to
provide the
optimal elevation of the golf ball above the ground for a given golf club,
leaving the
player unable to optimally utilize the golf club when subsequently hitting the
golf ball.
[0004] The prior art has responded by providing myriad devices for
reproducibly
inserting a golf ball tee to a preset depth or, alternatively, for
reproducibly inserting a
golf ball tee such that the tee's concave head extends to a predetermined
height above
the ground surface. At best, these known devices provide only limited lateral
support
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for the shank of the tee as the tee is inserted into the ground, thereby
compromising
the manner in which the tee's tip and shank penetrate the ground surface.
Moreover,
the rigid elements of such known devices often disturb the inserted tee upon
subsequent removal of the device from the inserted tee, thereby frustrating
the player's
attempt to dependably and reproducibly insert the tee into the ground surface
to
achieve the desired tee height.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a device is provided for
setting
a golf tee having an enlarged head, a shank and a tip into a ground surface
such that
the enlarged head is positioned at a predetermined height above the ground
surface.
The device includes a body that defines a space, such as a bore, within which
to
receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the golf tee that is
to be set into
the ground surface. The device also includes a first flexible membrane
disposed
proximate to a first open end of the bore. The first flexible membrane defines
a plurality
of cantilevered fingers that project radially inwardly into the bore,
preferably to thereby
define plural pairs of generally diametrical finger tips adapted to radially
engage the
shank of a golf tee received within the bore. The tips of the first membrane's
fingers
thus operate to radially stabilize the shank of the golf tee received within
the device as
the device is used to urge the tip and shank of the golf tee into the ground
surface.
Further, each of the first membrane's fingers resiliently flexes axially
relative to the bore
to permit passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the
tip of each
first finger.
[0006] While the invention contemplates defining the first fingers in any
suitable
manner, in an exemplary embodiment, a central aperture and a plurality of
radially-
outwardly extending slots are formed in a membrane to thereby obtain a desired
number of radially-inwardly-extending fingers.
Similarly, while the invention
contemplates supporting the first membrane in any suitable manner on the body,
such
that the first membrane's fingers extend into the bore proximate to its first
end, in an
exemplary embodiment, the first membrane is mechanically secured within a
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counterbored portion of the bore proximate to the bore's first end, as through
the use of
a raised feature within the counterbored portion of the bore and/or a suitable
adhesive.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the first membrane
preferably defines at least two pairs of generally-diametrical finger tips
adapted to
simultaneously engage the shank of a golf tee whose head is disposed within
the
space (although an odd total number of such fingers is also contemplated by
the
invention, where desired). Further, the fingers and/or the tips of the fingers
defined by
the first membrane are preferably generally circumferentially-spaced about a
periphery
of the bore.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an exemplary
embodiment of the device includes an elongate body defining a bore with a
first open
end adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the shank of the
tee, and a
plunger received in the bore, wherein the plunger has an axial face disposed
at a first
predetermined distance from the first end of the bore, the predetermined
distance being
correlated with the predetermined height to which the tee is to be set in the
ground
surface using the device. The body also includes an external surface defining
a slot in
communication with the bore, and the plunger also includes a lateral
projection
extending through the slot. The body's slot and the plunger's lateral
projection
cooperate to define a plurality of detents, whereby the plunger is maintained
in a
selected one of a plurality of positions within the bore, each position
disposing the axial
face of the plunger at a respective predetermined distance from the first end
of the
bore. The plunger's lateral projection also advantageously provides a visual
indication
of the selected one of the positions and, in an exemplary embodiment, includes
indicia
whereby a player can quickly select the desired height to which the golf tee
will be set
using the device.
[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, in an exemplary
embodiment, the bore has a second end opposite the first end, and the body
includes a
generally-concave upper surface proximate to the second end of the bore,
whereby the
upper surface is adapted to support a golf ball which can advantageously be
used to
provide a convenient palm rest as the device is used to set a golf tee. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the body's upper surface includes an aperture in communication
with the
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bore, with the aperture of the upper surface being adapted to receive the tip
and at
least a portion of the shank of a golf tee such that the tip extends into the
second end
of the bore. The exemplary embodiment's plunger also advantageously includes
an
aperture sized to receive and radially engage the shank of a golf tee inserted
through
the aperture of the upper surface of the body, whereby the shank of the
inserted golf
tee can be inserted through the aperture in the body's upper surface and down
into the
bore to conveniently stow the tee until it is needed, while the plunger's
relatively-
smaller aperture can advantageously operate to mechanically retain the stowed
tee
within the bore's second end. A second membrane defining a second set of
radial tee-
shank-engaging fingers can also be disposed in the bore's second end, whose
finger
tips can likewise operate to mechanically retain the shank of the stowed tee
within the
second end of the bore.
[0009.1] In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention,
there is
provided a device for setting a golf tee having an enlarged head, a shank and
a tip into
a ground surface such that the enlarged head is positioned at a predetermined
height
above the ground surface, the device comprising an elongate body defining a
bore with
a first open end adapted to receive the head and at least a portion of the
shank of the
tee, the bore having a nominal axis, a plunger received in the bore, the
plunger
including an axial face disposed at a first predetermined distance from the
first end of
the bore, the predetermined distance being correlated with the predetermined
height,
and a plurality of first fingers projecting radially inwardly into the bore,
wherein the first
fingers are generally circumferentially spaced about a periphery of the bore
proximate
to the first end, each first finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage
the shank of a
golf tee received within the bore so to resist relative movement of the shank
within a
nominal plane normal to the nominal axis of the bore when setting the tee into
the
ground surface, and each first finger has an axial thickness and a width
within the
nominal plane substantially greater than the axial thickness such that each
first finger
resists bending within the nominal plane but resiliently flexes axially
relative to the bore
to permit passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the
tip of each
first finger.
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[0009.2] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there
is
provided a device for setting a golf tee having an enlarged head and a shank
into a
ground surface such that an uppermost surface of the head of the golf tee is
positioned
at a predetermined height above the ground surface, the device comprising a
body
defining a bore with a first open end adapted to receive the head and at least
a portion
of the shank of the tee, the bore having a nominal axis, and a flexible
membrane
disposed within the bore proximate to the first end, wherein the membrane has
a
central aperture and a plurality of slots extending generally outwardly from
the central
aperture to thereby define a plurality of inwardly-cantilevered fingers, each
finger
defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank of a golf tee when the golf
tee is
received within the bore so as to resist relative movement of the shank in a
nominal
plane normal to the nominal axis of the bore when setting the tee into the
ground
surface, and each finger has an axial thickness and a width within the nominal
plane
substantially greater than the axial thickness such that each finger resists
bending
within the nominal plane but resiliently flexes axially relative to the bore
to permit
passage of the head of a golf tee into and out of the bore past the tip of
each finger.
[0009.3] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided
in a device for setting a golf ball tee having an enlarged head, a shank, and
a tip, the
device having a body defining a space adapted to receive the head and at least
a
portion of the shank of the golf tee such that the tip of the golf tee
projects from the first
end of the space along an axis, the improvement comprising a flexible membrane
supported on the body defining a plurality of cantilevered fingers extending
into the
space, wherein each finger defines a tip adapted to radially engage the shank
of a golf
tee when the golf tee is received within the space so as to resist relative
movement of
the shank in a nominal plane normal to the axis, and wherein each finger has
an axial
thickness and a width within the nominal plane substantially greater than the
axial
thickness such that each finger resists bending within the nominal plane but
resiliently
flexes axially relative to the shank of the received golf tee to permit
passage of the
head of a golf tee out of the space past the tip of each finger.
[0010] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention
advantageously
provides a golf tee setting device with a flexible membrane that radially
stabilizes the
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,
shank of a received golf tee within the bore as the received golf tee is urged
into the
ground surface. The membrane's fingers thereafter resiliently flex axially
within the
bore as the device is thereafter removed, such that passage of the membrane's
fingers
over the enlarged head of the thus-set tee does not significantly alter the
tee's height or
position relative to the ground surface.
[0011] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be
readily
appreciated upon a review of the subsequent description of the preferred
embodiment
and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of an exemplary golf tee setting
device in
accordance with the invention, with a golf tee inserted into the device's
central bore;
[0013] FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting
device of
Figure 1;
[0014] FIGURE 3 is transverse section of the exemplary golf tee setting device
taken
along Line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the device's radially-slotted tee-
stabilizing
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membrane defining a plurality of fingers whose tips radially engage the shank
of the
inserted golf tee;
[0015] FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting
device of
Figure 1, illustrating the axial flexing of the fingers of the device's tee-
stabilizing
membrane as the tee is inserted into the device's central bore;
[0016] FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee setting
device of
Figure 1, illustrating the opposite axial flexing of the fingers of the tee-
stabilizing
membrane as the device is lifted off of a golf tee that has been set into the
ground;
[0017] FIGURES 6A-6E are plan views of several alternative configurations for
the
tee-stabilizing membrane;
[0018] FIGURE 7 is a further longitudinal section of the exemplary golf tee
setting
device of Figure 1, illustrating a golf tee stowed in the device; and
[0019] FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of an alternative cap for the exemplary
golf tee
setting device of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an exemplary device 10 for setting a golf
tee 12
includes a generally tubular body 14 defining a central bore 16 adapted to
receive the
enlarged head 18 and at least a portion of the shank 20 of the golf tee 12.
The body 14
includes a generally-flat annular lower surface 22 adjacent to a first end 24
of the bore
16, with the lower surface being adapted to abuttingly engage the ground
surface 26
when the golf tee 12 received within the device's bore 16 is set to a
predetermined
height. The body 14 also includes an enlarged annular concave upper surface 28
proximate to a second end 30 of the bore, as defined on a press-fit cap 32,
for
supporting a golf ball 34 when using the golf ball 34 to provide a larger,
convex surface
35 against which a player may press when setting the golf tee 12 into the
ground
surface 26.
[0021] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the device 10 includes a first, generally-
flat,
flexible membrane 36 disposed proximate to the first end 24 of the bore 16.
The first
membrane 36 (whose relative thickness is enlarged in the several Figures for
clarity of
illustration) defines a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cantilevered
fingers 38 that
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project radially inwardly into the bore 16, preferably to thereby define
plural pairs of
generally-diametrical finger tips 40 adapted to radially engage the shank 20
of a golf
tee 12 received within the bore 16. The tips 40 of the first membrane's
fingers 38 thus
operate to radially stabilize the shank 20 of the golf tee 12 as the device 10
is used to
urge the tee's tip 42 and shank 20 into the ground surface 26.
[0022] As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the first membrane's fingers 38
resiliently
flex axially relative to the bore 16 to thereby permit passage of the tee's
enlarged head
18 into and out of the bore's first end 24, past the tip 40 of each finger 38.
It will thus
be appreciated that the invention contemplates a selection of a membrane that
is
formed of a suitable material that provides the membrane's fingers 38 with
sufficient
rigidity, within the nominal plane of the membrane 36, to resist a relative
movement of
the tee's shank 20 when setting the tee 12 into the ground surface 26 and,
yet, is
sufficiently flexible to permit removal of the device 10 from the thus-set tee
12 without
significantly affecting the height of the tee 12 relative to the ground
surface 26. A
preferred material for the first membrane 36 is a thermoplastic elastomer,
such as the
alloyed mixture of an EPDM rubber with polypropylene sold under the trademark
"Saniprene" by the Monsanto Company. Other alternative materials include, for
example, various plastic sheeting, and water-resistant heavy-duty felt.
[0023] Returning to Figure 3, while the invention contemplates defining the
first
membrane's fingers 38 in any suitable manner, the first membrane 36 of the
exemplary
device 10 includes a central aperture 44 and a plurality of radially-outwardly-
extending
slots 46 with which to define the desired number of radially-inwardly-
extending fingers
38. If the first membrane 36 is formed of "Saniprene" or other plastic
sheeting, the
central aperture 44 and radial slots 46 may be conveniently formed by die
cutting. It
will also be appreciated that the invention contemplates the use of first
membranes 36
having a finger configuration other than the one best shown in Figure 3;
several
exemplary membranes 48,50,52,54,56 featuring alternative finger configurations
are
shown in Figures 6A-6E, respectively.
[0024] Referring again to Figure 2, while the invention contemplates
supporting the
first membrane 36 in any suitable manner on the body 14, such that the first
membrane's fingers 38 extend into the bore 16 proximate to its first end 24,
in the
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exemplary device 10, the first membrane 36 is mechanically secured within a
counterbored portion 58 of the bore 16 proximate to the bore's first end 24,
as through
the use of a peripheral ridge 60 within the counterbored portion 58 of the
bore 16.
[0025] Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 further includes an
external
surface 62 defining a slot 64 in communication with the bore 16, and a plunger
66
received in the bore 16 that includes a lateral projection 68 extending
through the slot
64. The plunger 66 further includes an axial face 70 disposed at a first
predetermined
distance from the bore's first end 24 that is correlated with the
predetermined height to
which the tee 12 is to be set in the ground surface 26 using the device 10.
The body's
slot 64 and the plunger's lateral projection 68 cooperate to define a
plurality of detents,
whereby the plunger 66 is maintained in a selected one of a plurality of
positions within
the bore 16, each plunger position disposing the plunger's axial face at a
respective
predetermined distance from the bore's first end 24. The plunger's lateral
projection 68
also advantageously provides a visual indication of the selected one of the
positions
and, in an exemplary embodiment, includes indicia (not shown) whereby a player
can
quickly select the desired height to which the tee 12 will be set using the
device 10.
[0026] As best seen in Figure 7, the body's upper surface 28 includes an
aperture 72
in communication with the bore 16, with the aperture 72 of the upper surface
28 being
adapted to receive the tip 42 and at least a portion of the shank 20 of a tee
12 such that
the tip 42 extends into the bore's second end 30. The plunger 66 also includes
an
aperture 74 sized to receive the shank 20 of a tee 12 that has been inserted
through
the aperture 72 of the body's upper surface 28, whereby the shank 20 of the
inserted
golf tee 12 can pass through the aperture 72 in the body's upper surface 28
and down
into the bore 16 to conveniently stow the tee 12 until it is needed,
irrespective of the
selected position of the plunger 66 within the bore 16. It will be appreciated
that the
plunger's aperture 74 is advantageously sized to slightly radially engage the
shank 20
of the stowed tee 12 to thereby advantageously further retain the stowed tee
12 within
the second end 30 of the bore 16 until needed.
[0027] Also as seen in Figure 7, a second membrane 76 defining a second set of
radial tee-shank-engaging fingers 78 is disposed in the bore's second end 30,
whose
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finger tips 80 likewise operate to mechanically retain the shank 20 of the
stowed tee 12
within the bore's second end 30.
[0028] Figure 8 shows an alternative cap 82 for the exemplary golf tee setting
device
10, featuring an enlarged upper concave surface 84 for supporting a golf ball
(not
shown) when using the golf ball to provide a larger, convex surface against
which the
player may press with his palm, when setting a golf tee using the device 10.
[0029] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment, it
will be
appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and
change
without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the subjoined
claims. For
example, while the foregoing description discloses the device's golf tee-
receiving space
as a generally-cylindrical bore, the invention contemplates use of any
suitable space,
such as a slot defined within the body, within which to receive the golf tee,
so long as
the space axially and radially supports the tee's head while the device is
used to set the
tee into the ground surface (the tee's shank otherwise being radially
stabilized when
setting the tee by the first membrane's finger tips).
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