GB2096903A

GB2096903A - Adjustable golf tee

Info

Publication number: GB2096903A
Application number: GB8108552A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-03-19
Filing date: 1981-03-19
Publication date: 1982-10-27
Also published as: GB2096903B

Abstract

A golf tee is adjustable in length so as to support the ball at selected heights. Preferably the tee comprises a one piece tube of elastomeric material, profiled so as to telescope to selected heights. There may also be a two part construction to increase the height selection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf tee This invention relates to a golf tee, that is to say a device for use when playing golf and on which the player's golf ball is rested or set up for driving off from the tee.

Golf tees in the form of pegs are in common usage and it is common for a player to carry a number of pegs of different lengths and each time to select an appropriate peg for setting up the golf ball at the desired height off the ground, depending on the nature of the ground surface.

This invention provides a golf tee which is adjustable in length so as to support the golf ball at a selected height.

This tee therefore avoids the requirement for the golf player to carry a number of pegs of different length.

Preferably the golf tee comprises a one-piece tube of elastomeric material, the tube being profiled so as to be self-telescoping to selected heights. Being soft and flexible, this golf tee does not cause damage to the player's pocket in which it is carried, nor does it cause damage to the face of the player's golf club, in contrast to the usual rigid plastics tee pegs.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through an adjustable-height golf tee in its rest or fully extended state; FIGURES 2 and 3 are similar sections through the same golf tee in two further stages; and FIGURES 4 and 5 show further embodiments.

Referring to Figures 1 tq 3, the adjustableheight golf tee comprises a one-piece tube 1 of rubber, profiled so as to be self-telescoping to selected heights. As seen in Figure 1, in the asmoulded condition, the tube 1 comprises an upper, cylindrical portion 2 projecting upwards from a lower, frusto-conical portion 3 which is provided internally with a series of circumferential serrations 4. The upper and lower portions 2 and 3 are joined by a portion 5 of reduced-diameter and it will be seen that the outer diameter of the cylindrical upper portion 2 is less than the outer diameter of and approaches the inner diameter of, the frusto-conical lower portion at its upper end.

Figure 1 shows the golf tee in its state for maximum height. Figure 2 shows the tee in a second state, of minimum height, wherein the upper portion has been telescoped into the lower portion, and its retention in this position is assisted by co-operation of the serrations 4 over those sections of the lower portion which have become folded into facing relation. Figure 3 shows the tee in a state of intermediate height, wherein the tee has been turned inside-out from the state shown in Figure 2, then inverted.

In use, the golf tee is placed in whichever of its three states provides the required height, and is then rested on the ground (or on a mat) at the tee, and the golf ball is supported on the top of the tee and is driven off in the usual way. The golf tee may be connected to a flexible tie or tassle, fastened through a small hole made in the tee for this purpose, so as to limit its movement upon striking the ball.

The profile at the top of the cylindrical portion 2 may be thin and flexible so that the weight of the ball partially flattens-out the top of this portion, with the effect of lessening the resistance to the ball when struck by the club.

The tee may be arranged so that the upper cylindrical portion 2 will telescope into the lower portion 3 to any desired height.

For use on uneven ground, the golf tee may be rested on a 3-point support in the form of a flat disc having 3 points around its circumference for gripping into the ground. For this purpose the bottom of the tee may be formed to engage over an upstanding boss on a separate plastics support, or alternatively the tee and support may be moulded integrally as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

In a further embodiment, the golf tee may comprise a two-part construction for example of moulded plastics, one part being a tubular base part having internal circumferential serrations and the other part being a tubular upper part to support the golf ball and being arranged to telescope into the base part to an adjustable height determined by a detenting arrangement, between appropriate said serrations, of a circumferential ridge at the bottom of the upper part. Alternatively, the two parts may be screwthreadedly engaged so that the golf tee is adjusted in height by turning the two parts relative to each other: preferably the pitch of the screw threading is relatively large to permit rapid adjustment.

In Figure 4, shown on a smaller scale to Figures 1 to 3, an upper part 10 has a dished head 1 Oa for supporting the golf ball and a stem 1 0D with circumferential serrations for receiving in a cylindrical upper portion 1 a of a lower part 11, provided internally with circumferential serrations so that the upper part 10 can be inserted to a selected extent. The upper part 10 can be removed altogether and the golf ball rested on the top of the lower part 11 , and the cylindrical portion 1 a of the lower part can be telescoped into the lower portion in the same manner as for the tee of Figures 1 to 3.

In Figure 5, a disc-shaped support 20, with 3 points for resting on the ground, is formed at its centre to receive the enlarged lower end of the stem 21 of one or other of a number of pegs of different heights, peg 23 being shown. Each such peg has a top portion 22 for supporting the golf ball. The support and pegs may be formed of elastomeric material

CLAIMS 1. An adjustable Golf Tee comprising a one piece tube of Elastomeric material profiled so as to be telescoping to various selected heights which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf tee This invention relates to a golf tee, that is to say a device for use when playing golf and on which the player's golf ball is rested or set up for driving off from the tee. Golf tees in the form of pegs are in common usage and it is common for a player to carry a number of pegs of different lengths and each time to select an appropriate peg for setting up the golf ball at the desired height off the ground, depending on the nature of the ground surface. This invention provides a golf tee which is adjustable in length so as to support the golf ball at a selected height. This tee therefore avoids the requirement for the golf player to carry a number of pegs of different length. Preferably the golf tee comprises a one-piece tube of elastomeric material, the tube being profiled so as to be self-telescoping to selected heights. Being soft and flexible, this golf tee does not cause damage to the player's pocket in which it is carried, nor does it cause damage to the face of the player's golf club, in contrast to the usual rigid plastics tee pegs. Embodiments of this invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section through an adjustable-height golf tee in its rest or fully extended state; FIGURES 2 and 3 are similar sections through the same golf tee in two further stages; and FIGURES 4 and 5 show further embodiments. Referring to Figures 1 tq 3, the adjustableheight golf tee comprises a one-piece tube 1 of rubber, profiled so as to be self-telescoping to selected heights. As seen in Figure 1, in the asmoulded condition, the tube 1 comprises an upper, cylindrical portion 2 projecting upwards from a lower, frusto-conical portion 3 which is provided internally with a series of circumferential serrations 4. The upper and lower portions 2 and 3 are joined by a portion 5 of reduced-diameter and it will be seen that the outer diameter of the cylindrical upper portion 2 is less than the outer diameter of and approaches the inner diameter of, the frusto-conical lower portion at its upper end. Figure 1 shows the golf tee in its state for maximum height. Figure 2 shows the tee in a second state, of minimum height, wherein the upper portion has been telescoped into the lower portion, and its retention in this position is assisted by co-operation of the serrations 4 over those sections of the lower portion which have become folded into facing relation. Figure 3 shows the tee in a state of intermediate height, wherein the tee has been turned inside-out from the state shown in Figure 2, then inverted. In use, the golf tee is placed in whichever of its three states provides the required height, and is then rested on the ground (or on a mat) at the tee, and the golf ball is supported on the top of the tee and is driven off in the usual way. The golf tee may be connected to a flexible tie or tassle, fastened through a small hole made in the tee for this purpose, so as to limit its movement upon striking the ball. The profile at the top of the cylindrical portion 2 may be thin and flexible so that the weight of the ball partially flattens-out the top of this portion, with the effect of lessening the resistance to the ball when struck by the club. The tee may be arranged so that the upper cylindrical portion 2 will telescope into the lower portion 3 to any desired height. For use on uneven ground, the golf tee may be rested on a 3-point support in the form of a flat disc having 3 points around its circumference for gripping into the ground. For this purpose the bottom of the tee may be formed to engage over an upstanding boss on a separate plastics support, or alternatively the tee and support may be moulded integrally as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. In a further embodiment, the golf tee may comprise a two-part construction for example of moulded plastics, one part being a tubular base part having internal circumferential serrations and the other part being a tubular upper part to support the golf ball and being arranged to telescope into the base part to an adjustable height determined by a detenting arrangement, between appropriate said serrations, of a circumferential ridge at the bottom of the upper part. Alternatively, the two parts may be screwthreadedly engaged so that the golf tee is adjusted in height by turning the two parts relative to each other: preferably the pitch of the screw threading is relatively large to permit rapid adjustment. In Figure 4, shown on a smaller scale to Figures

1 to 3, an upper part 10 has a dished head 1 Oa for supporting the golf ball and a stem 1 0D with circumferential serrations for receiving in a cylindrical upper portion 1 a of a lower part 11, provided internally with circumferential serrations so that the upper part 10 can be inserted to a selected extent. The upper part 10 can be removed altogether and the golf ball rested on the top of the lower part 11 , and the cylindrical portion 1 a of the lower part can be telescoped into the lower portion in the same manner as for the tee of Figures 1 to 3.

CLAIMS 1. An adjustable Golf Tee comprising a one piece tube of Elastomeric material profiled so as to be telescoping to various selected heights which in its natural state would have a tubular upper cylindrical portion projecting upwards from a lower frusto-conical portion which is provided internally with a series of circumferential serrations or annular forms, the upper and lower portions being joined by a portion of reduced diameter and the outer diameter of the cylindrical upper portion is less than the outer diameter of and approaches the inner diameter of the frustoconical lower portion at its upper end, and so permits the upper cylindrical portion when pushed axially towards the frusto-conical lower portion, to telescope into the lower portion, and its retention in this position is assisted by co-operation of the serrations within those sections of the lower portion which have become folded into facing relation, these positions being in selected stages to give different heights for the Golf Ball to be set, being of Elastomeric material the Tee can be turned inside out from its natural state as described and inverted to make a further variation in height.

2. A Golf Tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shape of the top of the upper cylindrical portion on which the Golf Ball rests is chamfered or shaped to a reducing section so as to be partially flat when supporting the Golf Ball thus reducing the resistance when the Ball is struck by the club.

3. A Golf Tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base of the lower frusto-conical portion be increased in diameter or by adding three or more extensions with projecting points, would support the Tee on uneven surfaces.

4. A Golf Tee as claimed in claim 1 and 3 wherein the base of the Tee could be formed to engage a separate plastic support to improve grip in the ground.

5. A Golf Tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base of the Tee is extended by a strip of Elastomeric material moulded integrally to offer resistance due to inertia thus restricting the movement of the Tee after being struck by the Golf Club, this could embrace a hole for fastening a tassel.

6. A Golf Tee as claimed in claim 1 wherein the Tee would be of two part construction so that the internal diameter of the upper cylindrical portion of the Tee would have internal circumferential serrations to match those on the cylindrical stem of a separate plug with a dished head so that when inserted to a selected position further height adjustment is effected.

7. A Golf Tee as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the Tee would be of two part construction with the base in either Hard or Elastomeric material is formed at its centre to receive and grip the stem portion of a separate insert moulded in an Elastomeric material which has an upper cylindrical portion shaped to accept the Golf Ball and retain it at rest with different length stems for selected heights.