GB2385535A

GB2385535A - Two part flexible or folding golf tee

Info

Publication number: GB2385535A
Application number: GB0204304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Maidment
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-23
Filing date: 2002-02-23
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-23
Also published as: GB0204304D0; GB2385535B

Abstract

Two part golf tee 1 is connected by way of eye or ring 7 provided on shank part 3, and hook 6 provided on cup part 2. The circumferential thickness 8, 9, 10 of eye 7 varies in order that hook 6 can only be attached or detached from the eye when the cup and shank parts assume a particular rotational relationship. Eye 7 has upper projection 12 which mates with recess 13 on the inside of hook 6 in order to lock parts 2, 3 together in the correct orientation to form an upstanding tee. In use, the hook/eye fastener allows cup part 2 to rotate relative to shank part 3 in the direction of the swing so as to reduce the stress felt by the tee upon impact with a club, whilst preventing the parts from becoming unfastened. Pointer 5, provided on cup part 2, is aligned with the intended direction of the shot to ensure that tee 1 is correctly aligned in order to allow rotation of cup part 2 relative to shank part 3 upon impact with the club.

Description

A TWO-PART FLEXIBLE TEE This invention concerns a two-part flexible golf tee.

The present flexible tees are not satisfactory in respect of one, or more, of their essential properties, eg :- insert ability, flexibility in relation to a low-contact club, durability and cost. And the purpose of this invention is the provision of a tee which has none of the stated deficiencies.

According to the invention, there is provided a tee which is vertically positioned in the ground and comprises an upper part and a lower part which are coupled and held in axial alignment with each other, by a hook-and-eye type coupling; wherein the length of the two parts, the size of the hook-cavity and the cavity mouth and the shape, size and variation of the eye wall are such that coupling and decoupling of the parts can be made only by the presentation of the hook-mouth to the eye at a specific location on it, which is not accessible to it when the tee is in use; such that axial misalignment of the parts, by rotation of the upper part forwards toward the"flag"or backwards towards the golf club, is normally prevented by the friction force acting at the contact surfaces as a result of the hook strain caused when the parts are aligned; such that rotation of the upper part, in either possible direction at right angles to the aforesaid forward and reverse rotations, is prevented by means of a protrusion of the top of the eye (over only a short section of it) below the inner surface of the hook, which is effective only when the parts are aligned, or close to alignment; such that when the parts are moved slightly out of alignment by the club, the bending and torsional purchase of the hook upon the eye drops to zero, and the upper part becomes free for unrestrained movement in the direction required for passage of the club over the upper part; such that the tensile load capacity of the hook is much greater than the tension applied to the upper part stem during the passage of the club; such that the purchase of the hook upon the eye, when the tee insertion thrust is applied to the ball-cup, is

sufficient to prevent buckling of the tee in any direction; such that, when the ball-cup is located at the maximum height required for the ball, the"hook-andeye"connection is just below the ground surface; and such that the crosssection of the hook-and-eye is small enough not to require unreasonable force for its insertion completely below the ground surface.

As an example only, an embodiment of the invention will no be described by reference to the accompanying figures in which :- Fig 1 is a partly sectioned side elevation of the, as viewed in the direction of the"flag".

Fig 2 is a front elevation of the tee, as seen by the player when addressing the ball.

Referring to Figs 1 & 2, it can be seen that the tee 1 comprises the upper part 2 and the lower part 3 which have their longitudinally axes in alignment with each other and positioned at right angles to the ground surface"GG". Also that the upper part has a ball-cup 4 on which there is a pointer 5, on the side of it, which is pointed in the direction intended for the drive of the ball; and that the lower part 3 is completely below the ground surface, when the cup 4 height shown is the maximum generally required for teeing.

Referring also to Fig 2, the upper and lower parts 2 & 3 are connected together by a connection comprising a hook 6 and eye 7 which are both vertically elongated and located so that club contact upon them will be infrequently made by the average player.

It can also be seen that the hook 6 fits closely across the upper section 8 of the eye 7 and, thereafter, does not grip upon the descending, lesser sections of the eye wall 9 and 10, the former of which is narrower than the latter-and allows

free rotation of the upper part, from the vertical position shown, down to one below the horizontal, on either side of the"YY"axis.

Only at the position indicated by the line"HH"is the eye wall narrow enough to the pushed through the mouth 11 of the hook.

From Fig 1, it can also be seen that the top of the eye terminates in a short ridge 12 which engages with matting surfaces 13 on either side of it, provided in the top of the hook. Therefore, rotation of the upper part away from the"YY"axis of Fig 1, in the intended direction of the club swing, or that opposite to it, and in both directions at right angles to it are normally prevented by friction and compression forces, respectively, arising from the strain induced in the hook.

The forces concerned are sufficient for the upper part 2 to adequately support the ball, and to thrust the lower part 3 into the ground with a force applied to the ball cup 4, without buckling of the tee.

After the hook's surfaces 13 are moved clear of the eye ridge 12, the upper part is free to rotate towards the ground, in the direction required by the club; and negligible arrest forces are therefore required of the hook and the eye, when the upper part is driven down into the ground sufficiently for the club to pass.

Claims

CLAIMS What I claim is :- A two-part flexible tee comprising a thin stemmed, rigid, mainly above-ground part (the upper part) and a thin stemmed, rigid, below-ground part (the lower part) which are variably coupled together by means of a'hook-and-eye'type connection ; wherein the lower part has a spiked lower end and a vertically elongated, asymmetric eye at its upper end, and the upper part has a ball-cup at its upper end and a hook at its lower end, the grip of which upon the lower part varies according to the relative positions given to the longitudinal axes of the upper and lower parts ; wherein the lower part is inserted into the ground with the main planes of its eye and stem aligned to the direction in which the ball is to be driven and with the top of it, preferably, just below ground-level; wherein the dimensions of the hook mouth and the width and thickness of the eye's periphery are such that the hook can only be engaged with the eye, if the hook mouth is located at one position on the eye's periphery and if the main planes of the hook and the eye are given a specific orientation relative to each other, such that decoupling of the upper and lower parts cannot be produced by the action of the club upon the tee ; wherein the width of the eye's periphery decreases from the top to the bottom of it and the hook is elongated from an otherwise circular internal shape, by the presence of a slot at the top of it, such that, when the longitudinal axis of the upper and lower parts are aligned with each other, the two parts are positively coupled together, with a strength sufficient to allow the lower part to be pushed into the ground by means of a golf ball held pressed, with reasonable force, into the ball cup; wherein the strength of the said positive coupling is also more than adequate to preserve the required upper and lower part's alignment, when the ball is left positioned on the ball-cup ; and wherein the top-to-bottom reduction of the dimensions of the eye's periphery is such that the grip of the hook upon the lower part rapidly drops to zero as the upper part is rotated by the club upon the lower part, thereby ensuring negligible strain of the hook and the rest of the upper part, and negligible forward, or lateral, disturbance of the lower part within the ground.