GB2349343A - Golfing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A golfing aid 20 for connection to a golf tee 14 comprises connection means 30 for locating the aid 20 relative to the tee 14, a sight marker which can be visually aligned with a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon the golf tee 14 and a second golf ball seat 40 upon which the golf ball may be located so as to provide an alternative tee to the golf tee 14. The seat 40 and sight marker are arranged so that a sight mark found on a golf ball mounted upon the seat 40 of the aid 20 can be aligned with the sight marker. A further sight marker may be provided which is, once again, aligned with the mark on the golf ball. The golfing aid 20 may be formed as a generally elongate unitary body 21. The connection means 30 may comprise an annulus 31 for engagement with the golf tee 14. Also disclosed is a combination of the above described golfing aid 20 and a golf tee 14. The tee 14 may be secured to a golfing mat 12 and may comprise a cylindrical tubular stem 15 formed from a resilient material. Also disclosed is the inclusion of advertising or company logos in the portion 36c.

Description

GOLFING AID The present invention relates to a golfing aid which assists a player to hit a golf ball correctly.

In particular, the present invention is aimed at providing a golfing aid which is intended to be used at a golfing range to assist the player when making practice shots.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a golfing aid for connection to a golf tee, the golfing aid including connection means for locating the golf aid relative to the golf tee, a sight marker which can be visually aligned with a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon the golf tee and a golf ball seat to enable a golf ball to be seated thereon so as to provide an alternative tee to said golf tee.

Preferably the seat and said sight marker are arranged such that a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon said seat can be aligned with said sight marker.

Preferably the golfing aid includes a further sight marker which can be visually aligned with a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon said seat.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a golfing aid as defined above in combination with said golfing tee.

Preferably the golfing tee is secured to a golfing mat.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a golfing aid according to a first embodiment of the present invention shown in use; Figure 2 is a plan view of a golfing aid shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a side view of the golfing aid shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side view of the golfing aid shown in Figure 3 but oriented in the opposite direction; Figure 5 is a plan view of a golfing aid according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of the golfing aid shown in Figure 5.

Referring initially to Figure 1 there is shown a golf mat 12 having projecting therefrom a golf tee 14.

The golf tee 14 includes a tee stem 15 having a terminal end which defines a seat 16 for a golf ball. The stem 15 is preferably formed so as to be resiliently deflectable so that on impact by a golf club, it deflects and then returns to its original position. Preferably the tee 14 is formed from a resilient material, such as an elastomer and preferably has a cylindrical tubular stem 15.

A golfing aid 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is preferably detachably attached to the stem 15 of tee 14.

The golfing aid 20 preferably comprises a unitary body 21 which is generally elongate. At one end the body 21 is provided with engagement means 30 for connecting the body 21 to the stem 15 of tee 14. Preferably the engagement means 30 is in the form of an annulus 31 which has an inner diameter which is substantially the same as the outer diameter of the stem 15.

Accordingly, when located on the stem 15, the position of the body 21 relative to the stem 15 is accurately determined.

The body 21 further includes an arm 36 which extends generally radially from the annulus 31. The arm 36 includes a golf ball seat 40 the centre of which is spaced by a distance D2 from the centre of the annulus 31.

Preferably the extent of D2 is such that when a golf ball GB is seated upon seat 40, a portion 36a of the upper surface of the arm 36 which extends between annulus 31 and seat 40 is visible to a golfer when he is addressing the ball GB.

Sighting means 50, for example, a sight marker is formed on the upper surface of the portion 36a and enables the golfer to visually align a mark on the golf ball (such as the manufacturer's name) with the sight marker on portion 36a in the manner as described in our UK patent 2328163.

The sight marker of portion 36a may also be defined by the shape of portion 36a. The line of sight of the golfer is indicated by the broken line LS'in Figure 4.

The overall length of arm 36 is such as to exceed a distance Di from the centre of the annulus 31 (Figure 3). The extent of Di is chosen such that a terminal portion 36b of arm 36 is visible to a golfer when addressing a golf ball GB seated upon golf tee 14. The line of sight of the golfer is shown as LS in Figure 3.

The terminal portion 36b is either shaped to define a sight marker and/or adapted to carry on its upper surface a sight marker so as to enable a golfer to visually align a mark on the golf ball GB seated on tee 14 with the sight marker on terminal portion 36b in the manner as described in our UK patent 2328163.

Alternatively, or in addition, to using surface portion 36a to carry a sight marker when using seat 40 as a tee, the golfer may align a mark on the golf ball with the sight marker 36b. This is illustrated in Figure 4 by virtue of the line of sight LS2. In such a case, the distance D2 may be reduced.

In use, body 21 is located upon tee 14 with the lower surface of the body 21 in contact with the upper surface of the mat 12.

Thus seat 40 is located close to the surface of the mat 12 and thereby provides the golfer with the option of practising ground shots using seat 40 as an alternative to practising driver shots using tee 14.

The body 21 is oriented relative to the tee 14 depending upon whether the golfer intends to use tee 14 for practising driving shots or seat 40 for practising iron shots.

When using tee 14 for practice, the body 21 is rotated about tee 14 so as to position the arm 36 such that it extends directly away from the player at about 90 to the intended direction S of the shot. This is illustrated in Figure 1 by the body 21 as shown in solid lines.

When using seat 40 as a tee for practising shots, the body 21 is rotated about tee 14 so as to position the arm 36 such that it extends directly toward the player at about 90 to the intended direction of the shot. This is illustrated in Figure 1 by the body 21 as shown in broken lines.

Under both circumstances, the player when addressing the golf ball is able to align a mark on the golf ball with a sight marker on the body 21 and he is therefore able to produce a consistent golf swing in accordance with the teachings of our early UK patent 2328163.

In the embodiment described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, a single arm 36 is used. As demonstrated by the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 it will be appreciated that the sight marker for use in combination with a ball mounted on tee 14 may be carried by a separate arm 39, arms 36 and 9 being diametrically opposed relative to the annulus 31.

With the second embodiment, there is no need to rotate the body 21 relative to tee 14 when changing from driven to iron shots. Accordingly, body 21 may be fixedly connected to stem 15.

Preferably a portion 36c of the arm 36 is enlarged to define a display area on which indicia such as advertisements, company logos, etc may be carried.

Preferably the entire body 21 is moulded in one piece from a suitable plastics material.

It is envisaged that instead of forming a sight marker on the body 21 for use with a ball mounted on seat 40, it is possible to form a sight marker on stem 15 of tee 14. In such a case, the distance D2 may be reduced.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A golfing aid for connection to a golf tee, the golfing aid including connection means for locating the golf aid relative to the golf tee, a sight marker which can be visually aligned with a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon the golf tee and a golf ball seat to enable a golf ball to be seated thereon so as to provide an alternative tee to said golf tee.
2. 2. A golfing aid according to Claim 1 wherein the seat and said sight marker are arrange such that a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon said seat can be aligned with said sight marker.
3. 3. A golfing aid according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the golfing aid includes a further sight marker which can be visually aligned with a sight mark formed on a golf ball seated upon said seat.
4. 4. A golfing aid according to Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the connection means and golf ball seat comprise a unitary body which is generally elongate.
5. 5. A golfing aid according to Claim 4 wherein the connection means comprises an annulus for engagement with the golf tee.
6. 6. A golfing aid substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
7. 7. In combination, a golf tee and a golfing aid according to any preceding claim.
8. 8. The combination according to Claim 7 wherein the golfing tee is secured to a golfing mat.
9. 9. The combination according to Claim 8 wherein the golf tee comprises a cylindrical tubular stem formed from a resilient material.