US2529771A

US2529771A - Golf practice tee

Info

Publication number: US2529771A
Application number: US78783A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Herman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-02-28
Filing date: 1949-02-28
Publication date: 1950-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-14

Description

G. W. HERMAN GOLF PRACTICE TEE Filed Feb. 28, 1.949

' posite threadediat its lower endportion l2 to receive Patented Nov. 14, 1950 LIN- TED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF PRACTICE TEE George W. Herman, Long'Hill, Conn.

Application February 28,1949, Serial No. 78,783

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a golf practice tee,

and has for an object to provide a suitable and effective device for use in practicing the swing of the clubs in the game of golf and will indicate whether the stroke is properly executed or whether it is out of line to one side or the other of the proper direction for driving the ball.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will assist golfers to improve and straighten out their tee shots, and one which may be used in a relatively small area without requiring the use of a bona fide golf ball.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific I detailsof construction and arrangement shown,

:erly directed or executed.

The device comprisesa body member H3 preferably in the form of a tubular member, with a longitudinal passage il opening through its op- .ends, this passage being internally the externally threaded stud I3 of a spade member id comprising a central stem [5 pointed at its lower end it, on which stem is mounted the blade comprising one or more Wings [1, also pointed at its lower end 18 so that it may be readily driven into the ground or sod. Secured to the upper end of the body H3 is a rounded cap or head l9. This cap is preferably of rubber vulcanized to sufiicient stiffness to be able to withstand the blows of the golf club, but sufficiently yieldable and resilient so as not to injure the head of the club, and it has an outer flange 2!! adapted to rest on the top of the turf or ground 2|. It may be secured to the body 10 by any suitable means, but in the form shown the body has a flange 22 at its upper end embedded in a socket in the cap. This cap has an opening 23 through it in alignment with the passage in the'body and in this passage is a slidablecupped carrier or follower. for a marking element "25 which may be a colored wax or chalk crayon or other marking medium, and between the follower 24 and the 'top of the stud I3 is a coil spring 26 to yieldingly support the crayon or marker.

In use, the lower portion of the device including the spade I4 is pushed into the ground so that the rubber top or cap l9 rests on top of the surface'2l of the ground, as shown in Fig. 5. The wings ll keepthe stem 15 from turning and also provide lateral support for the tee, so that by turning the rubber head or cap [9 the body I0 may be turned and through the action of the threaded connection 13 the wings H may be shifted up and down, and this acting through the spring '26 adjusts the height of the marking crayon 25 so as to have just the upper end of the crayon project a short distance above the top of the cap.l9 forthe marking operation on thegolf club, .and also to project more of the .crayonasit wears down. The crayon will make a mark on the underside of the club head as it passes over the top of the tee in making a stroke, and the .position or inclination of this line will indicate whether ,it is a goodstraight stroke or whether it is off, such, forexample, as a slice or hook. Practice swings are made over the device until the marker or crayon ,comes in contact with the bottom of the club head. Scribed lines made ,by this marker on the bottom of the club head indicate the direction of the ball.

.Thus,.in Fig. 7, with the ball indicated at 2'! and .the club head outlined at.28, a-straight hit would beindicated .by the .line 29, while a hook would be indicated by an inclined linejfl and a slice by an inclined'line 3!, on the under face of the club head. Practice swings are performed until the golfer can obtain a straight line at right angles to the club face. It is not necessary to use the device on a golf course, as it may be used in the golfers back yard or on the lawn. After the crayon has been worn down it may be readily renewed and properly adjusted by rotating the head or cap iii. A gummed label may be placed on the bottom of the club head with lines painted or printed on it to indicate the lines 29, 39 and 3! is desired, and it would indicate to the golfer what type of stroke he made from the mark made on this label by the crayon.

If desired, a resilient imitative ball may be placed over the marker. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1,

3 this may be a hollow rubber ball 32 with a foot or pedestal 33 resting on the cap or head l9 to seat over the top of the crayon 25. Such a pedestal would, for example, be used with a No. 1 wooden club, while no pedestal would be used for Nos. 2, 3 and 4 woods. To retain this ball, a metal or plastic ring 34 could be provided about the body H] and attached to the ball by a good grade of line 35 fastened to the ball at 36. The ball could be provided with a recess or opening 31 on the club face side so as to clear the end of the crayon 25 when the ball is hit by the club,

It will be evident from the above that this is a very simple and effective device for permitting a golfer to practice his strokes at home or in a small space, and will not only permit him to practice these strokes, but will indicate whether the stroke is properly executed; this is, whether it is straight on the ball as it should be or whether it is off or out of line, such, for example, as a hook or slice,

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A golf practice tee comprising a body member provided with a longitudinal passage, a rounded cap secured to the upper end having an opening in alignment with said passage, a spade member including a lateral wing adapted to be forced into the ground, said spade member also including a stud threaded into the lower end of the body member for longitudinal adjustment therein, and a marking element mounted in the passage above said stud and supported by the stud for adjustment thereby to a position to project above the top of the cap for marking a golf club swung over the cap.

2. A golf practice tee comprising a tubular body member open at its opposite ends, a winged spade member including a stud having threaded connection with the lower end of said body and forceable into the ground, a resilient cap secured to the upper end of the body and provided with a flange to rest on the top of the ground, said cap being provided with an opening in its top wall, a marking crayon mounted in the body member and projecting at its upper end through the opening at the top of the cap, and means operable by relative turning movements between the body and spade members for adjusting the position of the crayon.

3. A golf practice tee comprising a tubular body member provided with a longitudinal passage open at its upper end, a winged spade member connected with said body and forceable into the ground, a resilient cap secured to the upper end of the body and provided with an opening in alignment with the passage in the body, a crayon mounted in said passage, and means for shifting the crayon to project above the top of the cap 4 at its upper end to mark a golf club head swung over the cap.

4. A golf practice tee comprising a tubular body member provided with a longitudinal passage open at its upper end, a winged spade member forceable into the ground, means connecting the spade member with the body for relative longitudinal adjustment by turning movement of the body, a cap secured to the upper end of the body and provided with a flange to rest on top of the ground, a marking means mounted in said passage and movable to a position with its upper end projecting above the cap to mark the head of a club swung over the cap, and means operated by movement of the spade member to adjust the position of the marking means.

5. A golf practice tee comprising a body member and a winged spade member connected therev with adapted to be forced into the ground, a resilient cap on the upper end of the body member, and a marking member projecting at its upper end above the top of the cap to mark the lower surface of a golf club swung over the cap,

6. A golf practice tee comprising a tubular body member forceable to an upright position in the ground, a resilient cap secured to the upper end of the body and provided with a flange to rest on the top of the ground to limit movement of the body into the ground, and a marking means mounted to project above the top of the cap to mark the lower face of a golf club swung over the cap.

7. A golf practice tee comprising a tubular body member, a winged spade member connected to the body member and adapted to be forced into the ground, a resilient cap secured to the upper end of the body and provided with a flange to rest on the surface of the ground, a marking crayon mounted to project at its upper end above the top of the cap to mark the lower surface of a golf club swung over the cap, a hollow rubber ball open at its lower side to seat on the cap over the end of the crayon, and a cord connecting the ball to the body.

GEORGE W. HERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 686,265 Crowe Nov. 12, 1901 1,527,716 Tippen et al. Feb. 24, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212,378 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1924 243,073 Great Britain Nov, 23, 1925