US20060258483A1

US20060258483A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: US20060258483A1
Application number: US11/125,229
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Hannah; Michael Piller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-10
Filing date: 2005-05-10
Publication date: 2006-11-16

Abstract

A golf tee having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, a pin inserted into a selected aperture, to thereby provide a depth gauge to facilitate the proper height of the ball above the ground when using oversized head clubs and smaller head clubs. A direction indicator is also provided by either an elongated pin inserted through another aperture, or another tee mounted on a projecting end portion of the depth gauge pin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional golf tees are approximately two inches in length, but with the advent of oversized head clubs, it was found that a longer tee of at least three inches was needed. As a result, a player needed to carry both sizes of tees when using small head sized clubs and oversized head clubs. To overcome the disadvantage of using two different lengths of tees, the golf tee of the present invention has been devised.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The golf tee of the present invention comprises, essentially, a conventional tee having a shank or stem having a head or seat at one end for supporting a golf ball and a point at the opposite end to facilitate the insertion of the tee into the ground. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures are provided in the stem and a pin is adapted to be inserted through a selected aperture, to thereby provide a depth gauge for insertion of the tee into the ground. When using an oversized head club, the pin is inserted into a selected aperture closer to the point of the tee so that the length of the position of the tee stem projecting upwardly from the ground is long enough to accommodate the oversized club head. When using a small head sized club, the pin is inserted into a selected aperture closer to the tee head so that the distance of the tee head is closer to the ground. By this construction and arrangement, the pin functions as a depth gauge so that a long tee can be employed for both oversized and small head sized clubs.
The golf tee of the present invention also includes a direction indicator which comprises another elongated pin inserted into a selected aperture in the tee stem and pointing in a direction it is desired for the ball to travel. The direction indicator can alternately be provided by another tee attached to the projecting end of a depth gauge pin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tee of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tee of the present invention illustrating a depth gauge pin being inserted into a selected aperture in the tee stem;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tee shown in FIG. 2 showing the depth gauge inserted through the selected aperture;
FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view of the tee of the present invention and associated depth gauge inserted into the ground;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tee and associated depth gauge pin of the present invention illustrating an elongated pin being inserted into another aperture in the stem of the pin;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tee and associated depth gauge pin, as shown in FIG. 5, showing the elongated pin inserted into the selected aperture for providing a direction indicator;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tee and associated depth gauge pin of the present invention wherein, in lieu of the elongated directional pin sown in FIG. 6, a tee is mounted on the depth gauge pin to provide a direction indicator; and
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the ball support, tee and the directional indicator tee in operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the golf tee 1 of the present invention comprises a stem 1 a having a head 1 b on one end thereof and a pointed portion 1 c at the opposite end thereof. A plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending apertures 1 d are provided in the stem 1 a for selectively receiving a pin 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, which can be provided separately with the tee or initially frangibly connected to the pointed portion 1 c of the tee as shown in FIG. 1.
When the pin 2 is inserted into a selected aperture 1 d, as shown in FIG. 4, the pin 2 provides a depth gauge for establishing the proper distance of the golf ball 3 above the ground when using an oversized head golf club and when using a small head sized club. For instance, when using an oversized head club, the pin 2 is inserted through an aperture 1 d in proximity to the pointed portion 1 c of the tee so that the golf ball 3 is positioned at a greater distance above the ground than when using a small head club, wherein the pin 2 is inserted through an aperture 1 d in proximity to the seat 1 b, whereby the ball 3 is positioned at a shorter distance above the ground than when using an oversized head club.
Not only is the golf tee of the present invention provided with a depth gauge 2, as will be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is also provided with a direction indicator comprising an elongated pin 3 insertable through a selected aperture 1 d and pointing in a direction it is desired for the ball to travel.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative to the directional indicator pin 3 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein another golf tee 4 is mounted on the projecting end portion of depth gauge pin 2.
From the above description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the golf tee of the present invention is an improvement over conventional golf tees in that one size tee can be employed when using large and small head golf clubs which is facilitated by the depth gauge 2, and the accuracy of the direction of the ball is facilitated by the direction indicator 3.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from, the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims

1. A golf tee comprising a stem, a head on one end of the stem for supporting a golf ball, a pointed end portion on the opposite end of the stem for insertion of the tee into the ground, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending apertures provided in said stem, and a pin insertable into a selected aperture in the stem, to thereby provide a depth gauge for insertion of the tee into the ground at a proper height for the selective use of oversized head clubs and small head clubs.

2. A golf tee, according to claim 1, wherein the pin is frangibly connected to the pointed end portion of the stem and detachable therefrom for use as the depth gauge.

3. A golf tee, according to claim 1, wherein direction indicator means is connected to the stem.

4. A golf tee, according to claim 3, wherein the direction indicator means comprises an elongated pin inserted into a selected aperture and extending in a direction it is desired for the ball to travel.

5. A golf tee, according to claim 3, wherein the direction indicator comprises another tee having a stem with longitudinally spaced apertures, the depth gauge pin having a projecting end portion inserted into a selected aperture in the direction indicator tee.