GB2376187A

GB2376187A - Height adjustable golf tee

Info

Publication number: GB2376187A
Application number: GB0114126A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Austen Bazeley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-09
Filing date: 2001-06-09
Publication date: 2002-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-09
Also published as: GB2376187B; GB2376187A8; GB0114126D0

Abstract

A portable golf tee comprises a spike 1, depth gauge 2, a plurality of ball support elements 4-6 and a pivoted connection 7 between the spike 1 and the ball support elements 4-6 whereby any support element 4-6 can be used independently of any other. The tee comprises a shoulder 2 to act as a depth gauge whereby the shoulder 2 rests on the ground surface when the spike 1 is pushed into the ground to the same depth each time and allows the nested elements 4-6 to be folded down out of use to achieve the correct ball height and thus only one tee is needed. For precision driving the height at which the ball is supported from the ground is determined by the club used therefore several tees of varying lengths are usually carried.

Description

COMPOUND PORTABLE GOLF TEE In golf the name"tee"is used both for a device for supporting a ball when it is about to be driven at the commencement of play for each hole and also for the areas of a golf course from which the balls are driven at the commencement of play for the successive holes. In this Specification and in any Claims which follow the word will be used only to denote the former meaning. One old form of tee is a small cone of sand, fashioned by hand by the golfer from bulk supplies of sand usually provided in the teeing areas. That is not entirely satisfactory because the sand may not readily support the ball at the height desired by the golfer, particularly in dry weather if the sand is not kept damp. Also the sand may obstruct the swing of the club. Because of those problems and for convenience most golfers use portable tees which are carried in a bag or pocket and are placed on the teeing area when play is to be commenced for each hole. Such a portable tee usually comprises a spike to be pushed into the ground at the point from which a ball is to be driven and an integral ball-supporting part which will be uppermost when the spike is set in the ground.

Commonly such a tee is rather like a large nail with a concave surface on the top of its head to support a ball.

For precision driving the height at which the ball is supported above the surrounding ground should be determined accurately according to the club that is to be used. The height can, of course, be adjusted by the golfer in forming the sand cone or, in the case of a portable tee, in the depth to which he/she pushes the spike into the ground, but accurate determination of the height is difficult when it is adjusted by these methods. To overcome this difficulty a portable tee has been designed in which the spike has a shoulder at a precise distance below the ball-supporting part to serve as a depth gauge so that the golfer may push the spike into the ground until the shoulder rests on the ground and will then know that the height at which the ball is supported is equal to the distance of the shoulder below the ball-supporting part. Such portable tees are sometimes called"castle" tees. Frequently they are sold in sets of three or four with shoulders at different distances below the ball-supporting parts so as to position the ball appropriately for any of the driving clubs that will be carried by the golfer. A typical set of castle tees has shoulders at distances below the ball-supporting parts of 12.7, 19.05, 25.4 and 31.75mm (1/2,3/4, 1 and 1 1/4 inch). A golfer using such a set thus has to carry at least four tees and to provide for replacements in the event of losses perhaps eight or twelve. Those tees are not only bulky but if carried in a garment pocket they constitute a hazard in that if the golfer should fall he/she may be injured by a spike which, if it is of a tee that has previously been used, may

carry soil particles or even harmful bacteria. The present invention provides a compound portable tee which is capable of supporting a ball selectively and precisely at different heights.

According to this invention a compound portable golf tee comprises a spike, a depth gauge, a plurality of ball support elements and a permanent connection between the spike and the ball support elements, the connection permitting any ball support element to be used independently of any other when the spike is set in ground to a depth determined by the depth gauge, each ball support element comprising an arm connected to the spike and a ball-supporting part and the arms of respective ball support elements being of different lengths so as to support a ball at a different height above the depth gauge.

The connection is preferably hinged or pivotal so that ball support elements may be swung between operative and inoperative positions. The operative position is preferably aligned with the spike and the inoperative position to one side of the spike axis.

There may be an additional position in which the spike is shielded or sheathed by a ball support element when the tee is not in use. The ball support elements are preferably of Ushape, comprising parallel arms joined at one end by a cross bar. The elements are nested with the extremities of the arms connected together and to the spike by a transverse hinge pin. The cross bars are formed with ball-supporting parts on their surfaces remote from the spike.

Optionally, a further ball support may be integral with the spike.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example by the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end elevation of a compound portable golf tee, shown in a condition of use for supporting a ball at the maximum available height, Figure 2 is a side elevation and Figure 3 is a plan.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the tee in a condition of use for supporting a ball at the lowest available height and Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tee when folded into an inactive condition.

The tee shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a spike 1 having a head 2 with parallel sides 3 which are straddled by a nested set of three ball support elements 4,5, 6 each of Ushape with extremities of their parallel arms permanently connected to the head 2 by a hinge pin 7 which passes transversely through the arms and the head so that it is substantially perpendicular to the sides 3. The ball support elements are of different widths so that their arms are in close contact and the arms of the innermost ball support element 4 are in close contact with the sides 3 of the head 2. The arms of these three ball support elements are of different lengths, the innermost element 4 having the shortest arms and the outermost 6 having the longest arms so that they can nest together and each can swing about the hinge pin 7 independently of the others. An optional lower ball support 8 is shown, formed integrally with the spike 1 and comprising two parallel arms 9 extending away from the spike 1 at each side 3 of the head 2, each terminating in a concave end edge 10 of curvature suitable to support a golf ball so that it is in alignment with the axis of the spike. The arms 9 are shorter than the arms of the ball support element 4 so that it is free to swing as described. This is a convenient arrangement for providing the lowest supported position of a ball, but instead there may be a further U-shaped ball support element similar to the elements 4,5 and 6 with arms shorter than those of the inner element 4. There could be more than four ball support elements.

If the spike 1 of the tee is pushed into the ground, the head 2 will contact the ground surface 11 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 and resist further penetration of the spike, thus forming a depth gauge like the shoulder of a castle tee. With the tee in the condition shown in Figures 1 to 3 the arms 12 of the ball support element 6 are aligned with the spike and extend upwardly. The elements 4 and 5 are shown aligned with the element 6 but they could each be in any inoperative position. The extremities of the arms 12 are joined by a cross bar 13 on the outer surface of which is a raised central circular ball-supporting part 14 with a concave recess in its outer surface. In this condition the compound tee can be treated just as an ordinary portable tee, with the spike 1 pushed into the ground 11 and the ball-supporting part 14 uppermost to receive a ball 15 as shown. The effective length of the tee, from the underside of the head 2 which contacts the ground 11 to the ballsupporting part 14 is 31.75mm (1 1/4 inch).

The ball support elements 4 and 5 are of the same general shape as the element 6 but their arms are shorter and closer together so that the elements can nest as shown. The arms of the element 5 are 6.35mm (1/4 inch) shorter than the arms 12 of the element 6 and the arms of the element 4 are 12.7mm (1/2 inch) shorter than those of the element 6. From

the condition shown in Figures 1 to 3 the element 6 may be swung down towards the t : l ground to expose the ball-supporting part of one of the elements 4 and 5. Thus the three elements provide means for supporting a ball selectively at a height of 25.4. 19. 05 or 12. 7mm (1,3/4 or 1/2 inch) above the ground.

If all three elements 4,5 and 6 are swung down, the concave edges 10 of the arms 9 forming the lowest ball support are exposed. Figure 4 shows the compound tee in this condition with the ball support elements 4,5 and 6 lying more or less on the ground surface 11 to allow a ball 15 to be supported on the concave edges 10 so that it can be struck by a club without obstruction. The length of the arms 9 is such that the ball 12 is supported 6.35mm (1/4 inch) above the ground surface 11.

In the inactive condition of the tee shown in Figure 5, for packing or storage, the three nested ball support elements 4,5 and 6 are swung round until the cross bar 13 of the element 6 strikes the point of the spike 1 which is thereby shielded so as not to cause damage or injury. In this embodiment the spike length is just sufficient for it to rest safely against the cross bar 13, but it could be slightly shorter to fit under the cross bar, which could have a downward ridge at its edge under which the point could pass with a snap action and be retained. Alternatively the cross bar could have a notch to receive the point and the notch could likewise be shaped to provide a snap action.

The dimensions mentioned are examples for a compound tee enabling a ball to be supported at graded heights 6.35mm (1/4 inch) apart. The compound tee could have fewer or more nested ball support elements and the elements could be arranged to support balls at different heights from those mentioned.

Complementary projections and recesses may be formed on the confronting surfaces of the head 2 and the ball support elements 4,5 and 6 to locate the elements releasably in operative and inoperative positions.

Claims

1. A compound portable golf tee comprising a spike, a depth gauge, a plurality of ball support elements and a permanent connection between the spike and the ball support elements, the connection permitting any ball support element to be used independently of any other when the spike is set in ground to a depth determined by the depth gauge, each ball support element comprising an arm connected to the spike and a ball- supporting part and the arms of respective ball support elements being of different lengths so as to support a ball on the respective ball-supporting part at a height above the depth gauge different from that provided by the other ball support elements.

2. A golf tee as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the connection between the spike and the ball support elements is hinged or pivotal so that each ball support element may be swung between an operative position in which its ball-supporting part may support a ball when the spike is set in the ground and and an inoperative position in which it does not obstruct use of any other ball support element.

3. A golf tee as claimed in Claim 2 wherein in the operative position of any ball support element its ball-supporting part is substantially aligned with the spike and in the inoperative position its ball-supporting part is to one side of the spike axis.

4. A golf tee as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein at least one ball support element may be swung to an inactive position in which it shields or sheaths the spike.

5. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each ball support element is of U-shape, comprising parallel arms joined at one end by a cross bar and the ball- supporting part is on the cross bar.

6. A golf tee as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the elements are nested with the extremities of the arms connected together and to the spike by a transverse hinge pin.

7. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim including a further ball support integral with the spike, the further ball support being dimensioned and positioned so as not to obstruct use of any other ball support element.

8. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the depth gauge is a head on the spike to contact ground into which the spike is inserted so as to determine the depth of insertion.

9. A compound portable golf tee substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.