US20130267350A1

US20130267350A1 - Method and apparatus for double golf tee

Info

Publication number: US20130267350A1
Application number: US13/442,198
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawrence J. Koncelik, Jr.; David J. Whelan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-09
Filing date: 2012-04-09
Publication date: 2013-10-10

Abstract

An apparatus including a first tee, a second tee, and a device to which the first tee and the second tee are attached, and so that the first tee is spaced apart from the second tee. The first and the second tee may be permanently attached to the device. The first and the second tee may, alternatively, be attached or detached from the device. The device have a plurality of openings, wherein each of the first and the second tee can be inserted through each of the plurality of openings to attach each of the first tee and the second tee to the device. Each of the plurality of openings may have one or more flaps which bend to allow the first or the second tee to be inserted into each of the plurality of openings to attach the first or the second tee to the device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning golf tees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rules of golf provide that a golfer may use a golf tee when playing his shot from a designated tee area. Often a golfer fails to pick up their golf tees, because they can't readily see them after they hit their golf shot. They can't readily see them because upon striking the golf ball the tee often becomes dislodged from the ground and flies to an unknown location. Rather than searching for the tee, the golfer elects to use another tee when needed.
In general, a golf tee is typically made of a wood, plastic or a composite material including biodegradable material. The golf tee varies in length from approximately one to three inches in length and has a tapered body containing a concave platform on one end and a pointed tip on the other end. The pointed tip is inserted into the ground and the golf ball is placed onto the surface of the concave platform of the tee. A more modern type of golf tee contains bristles that serve as a platform on which to place a golf ball. Such a golf tee is known as a Brush Tee (trademarked). The “Brush Tee” (trademarked) contains a head that is made of fibers that extend vertically from a horizontal platform that is attached to the opposing end of the golf tee stem that is inserted into the ground. A golf ball is placed onto the surface of the vertical fibers. The brush tees (trademarked) are relatively expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,668,710 teaches a golf tee that is attached by a flexible (but not elastic) cord to an anchor pin that that is inserted into the ground a short distance from the tee on which a golf ball is placed. While this device may help a golfer to not lose his tee, the cord that is connected to the anchor pin and the tee would have to be rather long in order to be of any practical use as a directional aid for a golfer. The longer the cord, the more cumbersome it would for a golfer to carry in his pocket or in his golf bag. The cord would tend to get tangled up and otherwise be a nuisance for a golfer. Furthermore, since the cord is not stretchable, and since the anchor pin is inserted all the way into the ground, the cord does not provide a good directional indicator for the golfer since the cord will not be suspended above the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,668,710 teaches away from using its anchor pin as a platform tee onto which a golf ball is placed prior to being struck with a golf club head, by disclosing a spherical head on the anchor pin such that a golf ball could not be set onto a the top of the anchor pin and remain in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,878 teaches a tee that is connected to a green groomer by a high tensile strength flexible line. While this may assist in helping a golfer not lose his golf tee, it has certain drawbacks. For instance, it can be cumbersome to have a green groomer connected to a tee by a line when simply using a green groomer to repair a ball mark on a green. Likewise, it is cumbersome to have to a tee connected to something as large as a ball groomer when a player only needs to tee up his golf ball. And, the fact that the green groomer is not anchored into the ground makes renders it not available to cause the cord to be stretched apart and as such, cause the cord to be elevated above the ground where the golfer can get a clear, three dimensional view of it as he takes his golf stance before striking the ball and thus see the cord and use it most effectively as a directional aid.
U.S. published patent application no. 2007/0219022 teaches a golf tee including an anchoring member for anchoring to the ground and a receptacle member for mounting on the anchoring member to support a golf ball and a cord that connects the anchor member to the receptacle member. The cord members can be linked to shanks and placed in different locations so that the golfer can strike the golf ball in the desired direction based on the indication of the guide lines provided by the cord members and the stop elements that comprise the end of the cord members. However the drawback of that published application is that the while the longer the cord members are, the better indication it would give the golfer of the direction of the desired ball flight. In addition, the cord disclosed is not stretchable and has, accordingly has the same shortcomings as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to golf accessories and pertain to a golf tee that is linked to a second golf tee by a stretchable, elastic cord that can be selectively attached or detached from the first and/or the second tee or can be permanently affixed to the first and/or the second tee. In at least one embodiment, the cord performs the dual function of restricting the travel of a tee after it becomes dislodged from the ground when a golfer hits a golf ball so that the tee can be located and reused and it also serves to provide a directional aid for golfers before he takes a golf swing.
One of the advantages of the elastic cord that links the tees together is that when the cord is in the relaxed non stretched state the entire apparatus is compact and is easy to carry in a golfers pocket or golf bag. Yet when utilized as a tee and the cord is stretched between the two tees that are inserted into the ground, the cord is lengthened so that a golfer can easily align his feet relative to the intended flight of the golf ball after it is struck by a golf club.
To do this the golfer can stretch the cord and fasten the one end containing the tee to the ground on the line of flight and fasten the other tee to the ground a distance of several inches to as much as two or three feet along the intended line of flight unless the golfer intentionally wants to open or close his stance relative to the target line. The line demarked by the cord is the line that a golfer would generally want to align toes of his fee parallel to when he takes his golf stance before driving the golf ball off the tee by swing his golf club to so launch the golf ball in the direction of the target.
While the first tee (sometimes hereafter referred to as the “Platform tee”) holds the golf ball up above the ground, the second tee (sometimes referred to as the “anchor tee”) that is inserted into the ground also can hold the cord above the ground and also prevent the first tee from flying too far from the second tee. In addition, both the first, “platform tee” and second “anchor” tee can also be used as a tee for a first and or second ball. So, for instance, if a golfer intends on practicing hitting golf balls, or, intends on taking a second drive (commonly referred to as a Mulligan) the golfer can, place one golf ball on one tee that is inserted into the ground and that is attached to a cord, and place a second golf ball on the second tee that is also inserted into the ground and that is attached by the elastic/reformable cord to said first and second tee. In this manner the gofer does not have to bend down to re-tee the second “mulligan” golf ball since he can tee up both the first ball and the second ball simultaneously.
The cord can be selectively and/or permanently attached to any part of a stem of the first and/or second tee. The cord could be tied to the first or second tee stem or it could be inserted into pre-shaped loops in the cord. The cord cold be permanently affixed by weld or glue or any other means of attachment known in the art to any location of the body of the first and/or second tee. The cord can be attached to the bottom half of the stem of the golf tee or the top half, or for instance the cord could be attached to the top half of the first golf tee that serves as a platform for the golf ball, and a second part of the cord could be attached to the bottom half of the golf tee that serves as the anchoring tee. In the later example, a cord that is attached to the lower portion of the anchoring tee would allow the golfer to insert the golf tee far enough into the ground so that it would not interfere with the club head during the golfer's backswing or forward swing when the golfer swings at the golf ball or in taking practice swings. The first tee and second tee can also be placed so the cord is not parallel to the target line. For instance the cord can extend in a line that is at a right angle to the target line and in this manner the second tee would be out of the line of the swinging golf club head.
The first and the second golf tee could be attached to the distal ends of the cord, or could be attached to any other section or length of the cord.
It is important to point out that the cord need not be elastic but could instead be non-elastic yet flexible. Even as such the present invention in one or more embodiment distinguishes over prior art because, for instance, prior art does not disclose an anchor that comprises a second tee. Furthermore, prior art does not disclose an anchoring tee that serves to contain the flight of the first tee and also provides the golfer with the option of selectively raising and lowering the cord that extends between the two golf tees so that the entire length of the cord can be entirely above the surface of the ground.
In another embodiment of the invention, the link connecting the first and the second tee could comprise a solid link between the first and the second tee. The link could be semi rigid material such as a soft plastic or nylon that would not cause damage to the golf club when it makes contact with the connection link during a golf swing. The plastic link could be any shape or length. The plastic link could be for instance approximately one eighth of an inch think by one third of an inch wide and ten inches long. The first and the second tees could be selectively or permanently attached to different points on the link. The first and the second tee, for instance, could be inserted into pre formed holes traversing the solid connection link and remain in place by virtue of a pressure fit between a surface of one of the golf tees and a surface surrounding one of a plurality of holes. The circumference of each of the holes could contain flaps that are pushed apart by the insertion of a tee when inserted through the each of the holes. The flaps would cause pressure against the sides of the tees so that the tees could be inserted at different distances through the holes easily. The semi rigid member could also comprise a first and second tee that is pre-fabricated thereon and cannot be removed from the semi flexible non elastic or without breaking it.
Alternatively, the link could comprise a series of telescoping cylinders to serve as a link between the anchoring tee and the platform tee. In this later example the platform tee upon which the ball is placed would be permanently or selectively attached on one part of the telescoping cylinders and the anchoring tee would be connected to a second place on the telescoping link wherein the first and second places of attachment to the anchoring and platform tee are in different locations on the stem. The telescoping tee device could be extended or expanded apart when it is used as a tee and anchor and it could be contracted within itself when carried by the golfer in his pocket or golf bag.
Whether the connection link is a non-elastic cord, or an elastic cord or a semi rigid planer or conical material, the shape of the link, the distance between the connection link cord and the surface of the ground can be adjusted by the golfer according to the distance that the first or second tee is inserted into the ground. Thus the first and second tees can be inserted so that, for instance the connection link (whether it is an elastic or non-elastic cord, or a solid link or telescoping or other kind of adjustable link) is elevated one inch above the ground as it extends between the first and second tee, or the first tee could be inserted to a lesser distance than the second tee so that, for instance the link measures approximately one inch above the ground in the area of the first tee and the second tee could be inserted into the ground to a greater degree than the first tee so that the link is only one quarter of an inch above the ground in the area of the second tee.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus comprising: a first tee, a second tee, and a device to which the first tee and the second tee are attached so that the device connects the first tee and the second tee, so that the first tee is spaced apart from the second tee. The device may be configured so that the first tee and the second tee are permanently attached to the device. The device may be configured so that the first tee and the second tee can be attached or detached from the device. The device may connect the first tee and the second tee so that the first tee is substantially parallel to the second tee.
The device may be comprised of a plurality of openings and wherein each of the first tee and the second tee has a point which can be inserted through each of the plurality of openings to thereby attach each of the first tee and the second tee to the device. Each of the plurality of openings may have one or more flaps which bend in order to allow the point of the first tee or the second tee to be inserted into each of the plurality of openings in order to attach the first tee or the second tee to the device.
The device may be comprised of at least a first section and a second section, wherein the first section telescopes into and out of the second section so that the device can be placed in an extended state wherein the first section is not inside of the second section and in a compressed state wherein the first section is inside of the second section.
The device may be comprised of at least a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is attached to the second section so that the first section can pivot with respect to the second section, so that the device can be placed in an extended state wherein a majority of the first section is not along side of the second section and in a folded state wherein a majority of the first section is alongside of the second section.
The device may be made substantially of an elastic material. The device may be made substantially of a rigid non-elastic material.
At least one or more embodiments of the present invention also provide a method comprising inserting a first tee into a ground, and inserting a second tee into the ground, wherein the first tee and the second tee are attached to a device, so that the device connects the first tee and the second tee, so that the first tee is spaced apart from the second tee. The device may be configured as previously described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a side view of two golf tees inserted into a ground portion and attached together by a stretchable and elastic cord, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B shows a side view of the two golf tees of FIG. 1A inserted into a ground portion and attached together by the stretchable and elastic cord, with a golf ball, shown by dashed lines, placed on top of one of the golf tees;

FIG. 10 shows a side view of the two golf tees of FIG. 1A, after the golf ball of FIG. 1B and one of the golf tees, has been hit by a golf head of a golf club;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the two golf tees attached by the cord of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A shows a top view of two other golf tees attached by a cord, along with feet locations for placing a person's feet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B shows a top view of the golf tees of FIG. 3A attached by a cord, along with feet locations for placing a person's feet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, along with a golf ball shown on top of one of the golf tees;

FIG. 4A shows a top view of two other golf tees and a cord in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B shows a top view of the two golf tees of FIG. 4A attached to the cord of FIG. 4A in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A shows a top view of a first golf tee linked or attached to a second golf tee by a link or attachment device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A shows a top view of a first golf tee linked or attached to a second golf tee by a link or attachment device providing a telescoping feature in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the attachment device in a fully extended or expanded state;

FIG. 6B shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6A, with the attachment device in the fully extended or expanded state;

FIG. 6C shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6A, with the attachment device in a fully compressed state;

FIG. 7A shows a top view of a first golf tee linked or attached to a second golf tee by a link or attachment device providing a foldable feature in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the attachment device in a fully extended or unfolded state;

FIG. 7B shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7A, with the attachment device in the fully extended or unfolded state;

FIG. 7C shows a side view of the attachment device used in FIG. 7A, without the tees, in a partially folded state; and

FIG. 7D shows a side view of the attachment device used in FIG. 7A, without the tees, in a fully folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a side view of two golf tees 2 and 4 inserted into a ground portion 50 and attached together by a stretchable and elastic cord 6, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The combination of golf tees 2 and 4 may be part of an apparatus 1. FIG. 1B shows a side view of the golf tees 2 and 4 inserted into the ground portion 50 and attached together by the stretchable and elastic cord 6, with a golf ball 10 shown by dashed lines, placed on top of the golf tee 2.
Each of the two golf tees 2 and 4, may be a typical known golf tee. Golf tee 2 will be described, however golf tee 4 may be identical to golf tee 2. Golf tee 2 includes a pointed or conical section 2 a, a substantially straight or tube section 2 b, and a tapered section 2 c. The golf tee 2 also has a concave or indented top surface 2 d for placing the golf ball 10 on, as in FIG. 1B.
The cord 6 may be an elastic, stretchable cord, such as a cord made entirely of stretchable rubber or a bungee cord. The cord 6 may have an end 6 a fixed to the tee 2 at a location just below or at the bottom of tapered section 2 c. The cord 6 may have an end 6 b opposite to the end 6 a which is fixed to the tee 4 at a location just below the tapered section of the tee 4. The ends 6 a and 6 b may be attached to the tees 2 and 4 in any manner such as by gluing, any adhesive, bonding, welding, or the cord 6 may be held in place by the pressure fit off loops on the cord into which the golf club tee stem is inserted or any other methods. This attachment arrangement of the cord 6 allows the tees 2 and 4 to go into the ground 50 until the entire straight or tube section 2 b and similar or identical tube section of tee 4, are inserted in the ground 50 with only the tapered section 2 c and the similar or identical tapered section of the tee 4 being above the ground 50. The tees 2 and 4 can be set higher in the ground 50 with less of the straight or tube sections 2 b and similar or identical tube section of tee 4, set in the ground 50.
The cord 6 may be attached to the tee 2, in at least one embodiment, a some point other than the end 6 a, and the cord may be attached to the tee 4 at another point other than the end 6 b.
FIG. 1C shows a side view of the two golf tees 2 and 4 of FIG. 1A, after the golf ball 10 of
FIG. 1B and the golf tee 2, has been hit by a golf head of a golf club traveling in a direction D1 x through the ball 10. The ball 10, after being hit by the golf club head, is travelling in a direction D1, having an x or leftwards component of D1 x and a y or upwards component of D1 y. The tee 2 has also been hit by the golf club head and may travel in a similar direction to the golf ball 10. However the cord 6 restrains the tee 2 from flying too far off, and holds the tee 2 to the tee 4. The cord 6 stretches to absorb the force of the tee 2 being hit by the golf club, and the tee 2 will bounce back in a direction opposite to that of D1 x and then will fall to the ground 50. The tee 4 remains in the ground 50 following the impact of the golf club head on the tee 2 and the ball 10.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the two golf tees 2 and 4 attached by the cord 6 of FIG. 1A, with a dashed line showing the location of ball 10.
FIG. 3A shows a top view of two other golf tees, 102 and 104 attached by a cord 106, along with feet locations 120 and 122 for placing a person's feet, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Each of the tees 102 and 104 may be identical to the tee 2 and the tee 4. The cord 106, except for being longer than the cord 6, may be identical to the cord 6 and may be attached to the tees 102 and 104 in the same manner as the cord 6 is attached to the tees 2 and 4, respectively. The length L2 of the cord 106 can be approximately two inches to five feet long. The longer the length of the cord 106 the more defined and pronounced indicator it would be for the golfer to align his feet to as he addresses the golf ball to hit it in the direction of the target. In operation, the tees 102 and 104 are inserted into a ground portion, such as ground portion 50 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C. An individual then places their feet in the locations 120 and 122, so that their toes are at ends 120 a and 122 a and their heels are at ends 120 b and 122 b. In addition, the ends 120 a and 122 a (toes) are on the line L1, so that the person's feet are parallel to the cord 106. The person may then place a golf ball 110 (same as golf ball 10) on the tee 102 as shown in FIG. 3B, and then may hit the golf ball 110 in the direction D2 with a golf club head. The tee 102 may be hit at the same time as the ball 110, and may fly off in the direction D2 with the ball 110, but the tee 102 is restrained and held by the elastic cord 106.
FIG. 4A shows a top view of two other golf tees, 202 and 204 and a cord 206 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B shows a top view of the two golf tees 202 and 204 attached to the cord 206 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The golf tees 202 and 204 may be identical to the golf tees 2 and 4, respectively. The cord 206 has a body portion and a plurality of openings 208, including opening 208 a and opening 208 b. The pointed end 202 a of the tee 202 may be inserted into any of the openings 208, including into the opening 208 a, as shown by FIGS. 4B and 4C. The pointed end 204 a of the tee 204 can be inserted into any of the openings 208, including into the opening 208 b as shown by FIGS. 4B and 4C.
The first and second tee, 2 and 4, can be the same size and shape or the first tee 2 can be of a different size and shape as the second tee 4. In at least one embodiment, the cord 6 is permanently connected to the first tee 2 and second tee 4. The cord 6 is stretched taut so that it forms a straight line running in the direction that is pointing to the target. The golfer may align the toes of his feet, as shown by FIGS. 3A and 3B, parallel to the cord such as cord 106 or 6, which in turn is pointing directly to the intended line of flight of the golf ball (in the direction D2). The ball 110 (or 10) is on top of one of the tees (such as tee 2 or tee 4).
In the embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B the cord 206 has a plurality of holes 208 into which the golf tee 202 or the golf tee 204 can be selectively inserted or removed. The holes 208 can be small enough so that a tee, such as 202 can be pressed therein and held in place by the pressure of the fit. If a tee breaks off when hit by a head of a golf club, a new tee can be inserted into the hole. The cord 206 can be stretched longitudinally.
The tee 2 (or any of the other tees 4, 102, 104, 202, 204) can be replaced by or can be a brush tee (trademarked).
FIGS. 5A and 5B show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A shows a top view of a first golf tee 302 linked or attached to a second golf tee 304 by a link or attachment device 306. The link or device 306 may have a body portion 307 which is a rigid or semi-rigid material providing a solid link between the first tee 302 and the second tee 304. The body portion 307 of the device 306 may be made entirely or substantially of a semi rigid material such as a soft plastic or nylon that would not cause damage to a golf club or golf club head when a golf club head makes contact with the device 306 during a golf swing. The body portion 307 may be any shape or length, but is shown in an elongated, rectangular shape in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The body portion 307 may have a thickness, T1, shown in FIG. 5B, of approximately one eighth of an inch, a width, W1, shown in FIG. 5A, of about one third of an inch, and a length L1, shown in FIG. 5A, of about ten inches long. The first and the second tees could be selectively or permanently attached to different points on the link. The first and the second tee 302 and 304, respectively, for instance, could be inserted into pre formed holes of the plurality of holes 308 traversing the solid connection link body portion 307 and remain in place by virtue of a pressure fit between a surface of one of the golf tees, 302 or 304, and a surface surrounding one of a plurality of holes 308. The circumference of each of the holes 308, in at least one embodiment, includes flaps. For example, the hole 308 c of the holes 308, includes three flaps 309 a, 309 b, and 309 c, that are pushed apart by the insertion of a tee, such as 302 or 304, when inserted through the hole 308 c. The flaps 309 a, 309 b, and 309 c, and identical or analogous flaps in the remaining holes of holes 308, cause pressure against the sides of the particular tee inserted, such as against portion 302 c or 302 b shown in FIG. 5B, so that the particular tee may be inserted at different distances through each of the holes 308, such as 308 c, easily. In an alternative embodiment, one or both of the tees 302 and 304 may be permanently connected to the body portion 307 in the state of FIG. 5A and 5B, and the tees 302 and 304 may be pre-fabricated with the body portion 307 so that the tees 302 and 304 cannot be removed from the body portion 307 without breaking it. The body portion 307 is typically non-elastic in the embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B.
FIG. 6A shows a top view of a first golf tee 402 linked or attached to a second golf tee 404 by a link or attachment device 406 providing a telescoping feature in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the attachment device 406 in a fully extended or expanded state. The attachment device 406 includes a body portion 407 which may be comprised of body portions or sections 407 a, 407 b, and 407 c. Each of body portions or sections 407 a, 407 b, and 407 c, may have a hollow cylinder shape, having openings going through the cylinder from the top view shown in FIG. 6A, through the bottom. The body portion 407 a has openings 408 a, 408 c, and 408 d, through which a point 402 a of the tee 402 can be inserted. The body portion 407 b has openings 408 e, 408 f, and 408 g, through which the point 402 a can be inserted. The body portion 407 b has openings 408 h, 408 i, and 408 j, through which the point 402 a can be inserted.
The tee 402 may be identical to the tee 2 of FIG. 1A. The tee 402 may have a pointed section 402 a, a middle or straight section 402, and a tapered section 402 c, along with a concave or curved surface 402 d. The tee 404 may be identical to the tee 402.
FIG. 6B shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6A, with the attachment device 406 in the fully extended or expanded state. FIG. 6C shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 6A, with the attachment device 406 in a fully compressed state. In FIG. 6C, the body portion or section 407 a has been inserted into the body portion or section 407 b, which has been inserted into the body portion or section 407 c. Thus the embodiment of FIGS. 6A-6C provides a telescoping feature which allows the attachment device 406 to be compressed and placed in a person's pants pocket in a more compressed form, and then expanded when the tees 402 and 404 are inserted into the ground 450, shown by dashed lines in FIG. 6B.
The tee 402 may be used, in FIG. 6B, as a platform tee upon which a golf ball is placed. The tee 402 may be permanently or selectively attached on one part of the telescoping cylinders or body portions or sections 407 a-c, and the anchoring tee, in this example, the tee 404, is connected to a second place on the telescoping attachment device 406 wherein the first and second places of attachment to the anchoring tee 404 and the platform tee 402 are in different locations on the attachment device 406. The telescoping tee device or attachment device 406 is is put in an expanded or extended state when used as in FIG. 6B and the attachment device 406 is contracted within itself when carried by a golfer in his pocket or golf bag.
Each of the portions 407 a-c of the telescoping attachment device 406 can be made of a semi-rigid, flexible plastic or nylon composite. Although the portion 407 a telescopes within the portion 407 b and the portion 407 b telescopes within the portion 407 c to extend device 406 or compress device 406, the material for each of the portions 407 a-c of the attachment device 406, in at least one embodiment, does not stretch or does not stretch substantially and can not be compressed or cannot be compressed substantially without breaking.
FIG. 7A shows a top view of a first golf tee 502 linked or attached to a second golf tee 504 by a link or attachment device 506 providing a foldable feature in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, with the attachment device 506 in a fully extended or unfolded state. The attachment device 506 includes body portion 507 which includes body portion section 507 a and body portion section 507 b. The body portion sections 507 a and 507 b are pivotally connected together by a pin 509 b and held together by cap ends 509 a and 509 c at opposite ends of the pin 509 b. The location of the pin 509 b is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 7A, but generally passes through the body portions 507 a and 507 b.
FIG. 7B shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 7A, with the attachment device 506 in the fully extended or unfolded state. The attachment device 506 includes openings 508, including opening 508 a, 508 b, and 508 c through which a pointed section 502 a of the tee 502 can be inserted. The tee 502 may be identical to the tee 2, and may include sections 502 a, straight section 502 b, tapered section 502 c, and concave or curved surface 502 d. The tee 504 may be identical to the tee 502.
FIG. 7C shows a side view of the attachment device 506 used in FIG. 7A, without the tees 502 and 504, in a partially folded state. In FIG. 7C the body portion or arm 507 a has been rotated ninety degrees with respect to the body portion or arm 507 b and in FIG. 7C is at a ninety degree angle with respect to the body portion 507 b. FIG. 7D shows a side view of the attachment device 506 used in FIG. 7A, without the tees 502 and 504, in a fully folded state. In FIG. 7D, the body portion or arm 507 a has been rotated ninety degrees from the state of FIG. 7C behind the body portion or arm 507 b, so that 507 a cannot be seen in FIG. 7D. The state of FIG. 7D provides a more compressed state for inserting the attachment device 506 into a person's pocket or into a pocket of a golf bag.
The attachment device 506 may be made substantially or entirely of a solid semi rigid material such as plastic. The material used for the device 506 may comprise a material soft enough so that it would not damage a golf club when a golf club head strikes the device 506 during a golf swing. For instance the material could be plastic or wood. The pin 509 b of the folding or rotating attachment device 506 acts as a hub where the two elongated leafs (507 a and 507 b) rotate to form a one hundred eighty degree angle as in FIG. 7B and the leafs (507 a and 507 b) can fold together so that a golfer can more easily carry the attachment device 506 in his or her pocket.
Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

Claims

We claim:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first tee; and

a second tee;

a device to which the first tee and the second tee are attached so that the device connects the first tee and the second tee, so that the first tee is spaced apart from the second tee.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is configured so that the first tee and the second tee are permanently attached to the device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is configured so that the first tee and the second tee can be attached or detached from the device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device connects the first tee and the second tee so that the first tee is substantially parallel to the second tee.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is comprised of a plurality of openings and wherein each of the first tee and the second tee has a point which can be inserted through each of the plurality of openings to thereby attach each of the first tee and the second tee to the device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein

each of the plurality of openings has one or more flaps which bend in order to allow the point of the first tee or the second tee to be inserted into each of the plurality of openings in order to attach the first tee or the second tee to the device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is comprised of at least a first section and a second section, wherein the first section telescopes into and out of the second section so that the device can be placed in an extended state wherein the first section is not inside of the second section and in a compressed state wherein the first section is inside of the second section.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is comprised of at least a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is attached to the second section so that the first section can pivot with respect to the second section, so that the device can be placed in an extended state wherein a majority of the first section is not along side of the second section and in a folded state wherein a majority of the first section is alongside of the second section.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is made substantially of an elastic material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the device is made substantially of a rigid non-elastic material.

11. A method comprising:

inserting a first tee into a ground; and

inserting a second tee into the ground;

wherein the first tee and the second tee are attached to a device, so that the device connects the first tee and the second tee, so that the first tee is spaced apart from the second tee.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein

13. The method of claim 11 wherein

14. The method of claim 11 wherein

15. The method of claim 11 wherein

16. The method of claim 15 wherein

17. The method of claim 11 wherein

18. The method of claim 11 wherein

19. The method of claim 11 wherein

the device is made substantially of an elastic material.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein

the device is made substantially of a rigid non-elastic material.