Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADJUSTABLE GOLF TEE SET
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No.
200710086529.X filed March 13, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated
herein by
reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf tee for use in playing a golf game and
more particularly, to an adjustable golf tee set, which allows adjustment of
the
elevation of the tee nail above the ground to fit different ball-striking
needs and, which
uses a connecting cord to connect the support supporting the tee nail to a
ground
anchor so that the tee nail will not be lost after each application.
2. Description of the Related Art
When playing the game of golf, many factors affect the performance.
Because every golf player has a different physical body size, arm span, method
of grip
and golf club swinging posture and because the ground surface may be uneven,
the
elevation of the golf tee must be properly adjusted so that the player can hit
the center
of the golf ball accurately. If the golf tee is not set at a suitable
elevation, the player
will be difficult to hit the right part of the golf ball accurately. However,
when
fastening a golf tee to the ground, the player cannot accurately control the
insertion
depth of the golf tee in the ground, and the elevation of the golf tee may be
measured
roughly by feeling. In this case, the player may be unable to hit the right
part of the
golf ball accurately, resulting in a low performance.
Further, after the player hit the ball, the golf tee may jump far away, and
the
player or the caddy may have to spend a lot of time in finding the golf tee.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a golf tee set that eliminates the
aforesaid
drawbacks.
SUNIlVIARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in
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view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an adjustable
golf tee set,
which allows adjustment of the elevation of the tee nail in the ground to
satisfy
different ball-striking needs. It is another object of the present invention
to provide an
adjustable golf tee set, which supports the tee nail stably on the ground so
that the user
can strike the golf ball on the tee nail accurately.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the golf tee set
comprises a tee nail and a support. The tee nail has a cup-like head for
holding a golf
ball and a pointed shank downwardly extending from the bottom side of the cup-
like
head for fastening to the ground. The support is for mounted around the
pointed shank
of the tee nail at the bottom side of the cup-like head to support the teen
nail stably on
the ground. The support comprises a base block and a number of annular spacer
blocks
of different thicknesses. The base block and the annular spacer blocks each
have a
center through hole for the insertion of the pointed shank of the tee nail. By
means of
selectively attaching the annular spacer blocks to the pointed shank of the
tee nail
above the base block, the nailing depth of the pointed shank of the tee nail
in the
ground is controlled, and therefore the elevation of the cup-like head of the
tee nail
above the ground is relatively controlled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG 1 is an oblique elevation of an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 2 is an exploded view of the adjustable golf tee set in accordance with
the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 3 is a sectional view of FIG 2.
FIG 4 is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the first
embodiment of the present invention.
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FIG 5 is an exploded view of an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 6 is an exploded view of an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with a
third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG 7 is a cross sectional view in an enlarged scale of the base block of the
support of the adjustable golf tee shown in FIG 6.
FIG 8 is an exploded view of an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with a
fourth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a tee nail 1, a
support 2
and a connecting cord 3.
The tee nail 1 comprises a pointed shank 13, a cup-like head 12, and a
shoulder 11 axially connected between the pointed shank 13 and the cup-like
head 12.
The cup-like head 12 has a top recess 121 smoothly curved inwards for holding
a golf
ball. By means of the pointed shank 13, the tee nail 1 can easily be fastened
to the
ground.
The support 2 comprises a base block 21 and a number of annular spacer
members 23. The base block 21 and the annular spacer members 23 each have a
center
through hole 24 approximately equal to the outer diameter of the pointed shank
13 of
the tee nail 1 but smaller than the outer diameter of the shoulder 11 of the
tee nail 1.
Therefore, the base block 21 or the base block 21 with one annular spacer
member 23
or a number or all of the annular spacer members 23 can be sleeved onto the
pointed
shank 13 of the tee nail 1 and stopped at the bottom side of the shoulder 11
to control
the nailing depth of the pointed shank 13 into the ground and to support the
tee nail 1
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in position. The base block 21 has a top bearing portion 22 upwardly extending
from
the top side around its center through hole 24 for supporting the annular
spacer
members 23, and a plurality of wire holes 25 cut through the top and bottom
sides
around the top bearing portion 22 for the mounting of the connecting cord 3.
The connecting cord 3 has one end fastened to one wire hole 25 of the base
block 21 of the support 2, and the other end fastened to one wire hole 25 of
the base
block 21 of the support 2 of another tee nail 1(see FIG 4).
The pointed shank 13, the base block 21 and the annular spacer members 23
can be made out of metal, wood, hard plastics or any of a variety of other
hard
materials. The annular spacer members 23 have different heights for selective
use.
Subject to the number of the wooden club or iron club used, a user can
selectively use
the annular spacer members 23 with the base block 21 to support the tee nail 1
on the
ground in the golf course at the desired height.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3 again, because the center through hole 24 of the base
block 21 and each of the annular spacer members 23 is approximately equal to
the
outer diameter of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 but smaller than the
outer
diameter of the shoulder 11 of the tee nail 1, the pointed shank 13 of the tee
nail 1 can
be forced through the annular spacer members 23 and the base block 21. After
insertion of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 11 through the annular
spacer members
23 and the base block 21, the annular spacer members 23 and the base block 21
are
firmly secured to the pointed shank 13 by means of friction resistance, and
stopped at
the bottom side of the shoulder 11. Further, after insertion of the connecting
cord 3
through one wire hole 25 of the base block 21, each end of the connecting cord
3 is
tied up to form or fixedly mounted with an endpiece 31 that is greater than
the
diameter of the wire holes 25, and therefore the connecting cord 3 is kept
coupled to
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the base block 21.
FIG 4 shows an application example of the first embodiment of the present
invention. When in use, the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 is inserted
through the
annular spacer members 23 and the base block 21 and then fastened to the
ground to
have the annular spacer members 23 and the base block 21 be stopped between
the
shoulder 11 of the tee nail 1 and the ground. Thus, the support 2 supports the
tee nail 1
firmly in place on the ground, and then the connecting cord 3 is fastened to a
ground
anchor. According to this application example, the ground anchor is one same
tee nail 1.
Thus, the user can put the golf ball in the top recess 121 of the cup-like
head 12 and
then hit the ball with a golf club. By means of the support member 2, the tee
nail 1 is
positively positioned in the ground to support the golf ball at the desired
elevation for
striking, and the user can solidly hit the right part of the golf ball to
strike the golf ball
long and straight. After the user hit the golf ball, the tee nail 1 with the
support 2 may
jump away from the ground in direction reversed to the striking direction,
however the
connecting cord 3 still secures the adjustable golf tee set to the ground
anchor, and the
user can quickly pick up the adjustable golf tee set for a repeat use.
FIG 5 shows a golf tee set in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention. This embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid
first
embodiment with the exception that the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 has
a
plurality of longitudinal locating ribs 131 spaced around the periphery; the
base block
21 and the annular spacer members 23 each have a plurality of longitudinal
locating
grooves 241 equiangularly arranged on the respective inside wall around the
respective
center through hole 24 for receiving the longitudinal locating ribs 131 of the
pointed
shank 13 to prohibit rotation of the tee nail 1 relative to the support 2.
Alternatively, the
longitudinal locating ribs 131 can be formed in the center through hole 24 of
the base
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block 21 and each of the annular spacer members 23 of the support 2, and the
longitudinal locating grooves 241 can be formed on the periphery of the
pointed shank
13 of the tee nail 1.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a golf tee set in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention and its application example. Similar to the aforesaid
first
embodiment of the present invention, this third embodiment is comprised of a
tee nail
1, a support 2 and a connecting cord 3. The tee nail 1 is substantially
similar to that of
the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that the pointed shank 13 of
the tee
nail 1 of this third embodiment has two rows of locating grooves 132 arranged
on the
periphery at two sides at different elevations. According to this embodiment,
the
locating grooves 132 are rounded grooves. The support 2 in accordance with
this third
embodiment comprises a base block 21, two spring members 213 and two retaining
pins 211. The base block 21 has a center through hole 24 corresponding to the
outer
diameter of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1, a top bearing portion 22
upwardly
extending from the top side around the center through hole 24 for stopping
against the
bottom side of the shoulder 11 of the tee nail 1, and a plurality of wire
holes 25 cut
through the top and bottom sides around the top bearing portion 22 for the
mounting of
the connecting cord 3. The retaining pins 211 are movably mounted (in a
respective
hole) in the base block 21 and partially extending out of the base block 21 at
two
opposite sides, each having a rounded locating tip 212, which is movable with
the
respective retaining pin 211 in and out of the center through hole 24. The two
spring
members 213 are mounted in the base block 21 at two sides to support the
retaining
pins 211 in such a position that the rounded locating tips 212 of the
retaining pins 211
protrude into the center through hole 24 of the base block 21. When in use,
the pointed
shank 13 of the tee nail 1 is inserted through the center through hole 24 of
the base
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block 21 to force the rounded locating tips 212 of the retaining pins 211
backwards
against the respective spring members 213. When two locating grooves 132 of
the
pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 are in horizontal alignment with the
rounded locating
tips 212 of the retaining pins 211 respectively, the spring members 213
immediately
force the rounded locating tips 212 of the retaining pins 211 forwards into
engagement
with the two locating grooves 132 of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1,
securing
the base block 21 to the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 at the desired
elevation.
When the user presses the retaining pins 211 against the spring members 213,
the
rounded locating tips 212 of the retaining pins 211 are disengaged from the
corresponding locating grooves 132 of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1,
allowing
adjustment of the elevation of the base block 21 relative to the pointed shank
13 of the
tee nail 1 or removal of the base block 21 from the tee nail 1. Further,
elevational
marks or signs may be marked on the periphery of the pointed shank 13 of the
tee nail
1 corresponding to the locating grooves 132 for recognition of different
elevations.
FIGS. 8 shows an adjustable golf tee set in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention. According to this fourth embodiment, the
tee nail
1 has a plurality of locating grooves 132 arranged on the periphery of the
pointed
shank 13 at two opposite sides at different elevations. The locating grooves
132 are
elongated grooves extending in horizontal direction. Further, the pointed
shank 13 is a
rectangular shank. The support 2 according to this fourth embodiment comprises
a
base block 21, a U-clamp 214 mounted in the base block 21. The base block 21
has a
center through hole 24 for the passing of the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail
1, a top
bearing portion 22 upwardly extending from the top side around the center
through
hole 24, and a plurality of wire holes 25 cut through the top and bottom sides
around
the top bearing portion 22 for the mounting of the connecting cord 3. The U-
clamp 214
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is a U-shaped spring member affixed to the inside of the base block 21, having
two
clamping spring arms 215 tangentially extending through the center through
hole 24 of
the base block 21. When in use, the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 is
inserted
through the center through hole 24 of the base block 21 to force the two
clamping
spring arms 215 outwards, and then the tee nail 1 is rotated through an angle
to let the
two clamping spring arms 215 engage two of the locating grooves 132 of the tee
nail 1,
securing the base block 21 firmly to the pointed shank 13 of the tee nail 1 at
the desired
elevation.
As stated above, the invention provides an adjustable golf tee set, which has
the features and benefits as follows:
1. The user can selectively use the annular spacer blocks 23 with the base
block 21 to support the tee nail 1 stably on the ground and to control the
nailing depth
of the tee nail 1 in the ground subject to different ball-striking needs.
2. The design of the longitudinal locating ribs 131 and the longitudinal
locating grooves 241 assure positive engagement between the support 2 and the
tee
nail 1, enabling the support 2 to reinforce the strength of the tee nail 1 and
to support
the tee nail 1 firmly in place to hold the golf ball for striking.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in
detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements
may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the
invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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