US3112111A

US3112111A - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: US3112111A
Application number: US147230A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert P Bennett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-10-24
Filing date: 1961-10-24
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 A. P. BENNETT GOLF TEE Filed 001;. 24, 1961 A/berf P. Benneff INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,112,111 GULF TEE Albert P. Bennett, 22043 Giacony, East Detroit, Mich. Filed Get. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 147,230 4 Claims. (Cl. 273-203) This invention relates to golf equipment, and particularly to golf ball holders or tees.

Briefly, the invention comprises a tee support or base having a groove formed in its upper surface whereby a plurality of tees of different heights may be used by inserting their lower ends into the groove whereby the base maintains the tees in a proper elevated position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a golf tee comprising a flexible mat or base which supports one or more upstanding tee elements in such a manner that the tee elements may be separated and replaced in the base without requiring any skill or special tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tee assembly which includes a plurality of tee elements of different heights whereby any one of the tee elements may be selectively used for teeing the ball at any desired elevation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tee assembly which may be used over and over again and having certain parts which may be easily replaced.

It is another object of the invention to provide a golf tee which is portable, has means thereon for carrying it on a golf cart, and does not require insertion into the ground in order to be used.

It is another object of the invention to provide a golf tee assembly which rests upon the surface of the ground and has anti-skid means on its bottom surface.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tee assembly in use;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 2--2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken substantially on the plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a central portion of the tee assembly on an enlarged scale and illustrating how the tees are assembled and disassembled on the base of the assembly; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional plan view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the plane of line 55 of FIGURE 3.

As shown in the drawings, the tee assembly comprises a generally rectangular base 12 preferably formed of some resilient material such as rubber or plastic. The base is preferably 8 /2 by 11 inches in size. Opposite ends of the base 12 are chamfered downwardly and outwardly as shown at 14 and 16.

A ridge 18 is formed on the upper forward surface of the base 12, and has a flat upper surface 20 and sloping

side surfaces

22 and 24. An inverted T-shaped groove 26 is formed in the ridge 18. The T-shaped groove 26 terminates in a slot 28 which opens into the central portion of the flat surface 20.

A plurality of

tees

30, 32, and 34 are shown removably mounted in the groove 26. As shown in FIGURE 4, each of the tees comprises a vertically extending stem 36 preferably of circular cross-section mounted on a flat square base 38 and terminating in a frusto-conical cup or head 40 of conventional design. The head 40 has a part spherical concave recess 42 for receiving a golf ball 46 as shown in FIGURE 1. The

tees

30, 32, and 34 are of different heights and arranged in step-like fashion as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3. As shown in FIGURE 4, the tees are each mounted in the base 12 by inserting the tee base 38 into the groove 26 whereby the stem 36 extends through the slot 28. The tee bases 38 are preferably slightly larger than the bottom portion of the groove 26 whereby the sides of the groove frictionally grip the bases 38. Although three tees are shown mounted on the base 12, it is apparent that only one tee or two or more tees may be mounted thereon if desired. Also,

the tees may be of the same height if desired. The tees may be easily removed and replaced merely by sliding them in and out of the groove 26 as illustrated in FIG- URE 4.

A circular opening or bore 45 is formed in the central portion of the rear end of the base 12 for hanging said base on a golf cart. Also, the bottom surface of the base 12 is formed with integral downwardly extending lugs or feet 44 for improving the frictional characteristics thereof.

While the groove 26 has been shown as being formed in a ridge 18, it is apparent that if the base 12 is of sufficient thickness, the groove may be formed in the body of the base without providing a ridge thereon.

In use, the tee assembly 10 is laid in a horizontal position on the surface of the ground 48 and the golf ball 46 is teed on the proper or desired

tee

30, 32, or

34. Normally, the high tee 34 would be used for driving with a number one wood While the central tee would be used for the higher numbered woods. The lowest tee 30 may be used with the very high numbered woods or any of the iron clubs. The feet 44 prevent the base 12 from slipping on the ground 48. When the golfer swings his club at the ball 46, it is quite possible that his arch of swing may be lower than anticipated. In such cases, the head of the golf club may strike the sloping surfaces of 14 or 24 since these surfaces would normally face the rear of the tee assembly. When the club strikes these sloping surfaces, it is deflected upwardly with a minimum loss of power and speed whereupon it may effectively strike the ball 46. Thus, it is apparent that the sloping surfaces on the base 12 may actually improve the results produced by an inaccurate swing.

Of course if the tees become well worn or broken, they may be easily replaced in the manner explained above.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable golf ball holder comprising a generally fiat, rectangular, resilient mat adapted to rest horizontally on the ground, an integral ridge extending transversely across the top of the mat at an intermediate point, said ridge and the mat having a generally inverted T-shaped groove therein open at both ends and communicating with and providing a slot in the top of said ridge, and a plurality of removable, selectively usable tees of various heights slidably adjustably mounted in the groove and insertable therein from either end thereof, said tees being resilient and including generally square gases adjustably mounted in the groove and frictionally retained in adjusted position therein, stems on the bases extending upwardly therefrom through the slot, and cups on the upper ends of the stems for the reception of golf balls, said mat and said ridge comprising outwardly and downwardly Patented Nov. 26, 1963' 4 inclined ends and sides, respectively, for deflecting a ridge being adjacent to but spaced from one end of the too-low club head upwardly toward a ball on any of the mat, said mat having a circular opening adjacent its tees for improving the execution of the stroke. other end for hanging said mat on a support.

2. A golf ball holder in accordance with claim 1, said mat including a multiplicity of spaced, integral, short 5 References Cited in the file Of this Patent ground-engaging lugs (2x1; its undgrside for retaining said UNITED STATES PATENTS mat against s ipping on e groun 3. A golf ball holder in accordance with claim 1, said mat having an opening in one end portion for hanging 2'713471 Hersch 1955 said mat on a golf cart' 10 3,038,726 Hesidence June 12, 1962 4. A golf ball holder in accordance with claim 2, said

Claims

1. A PORTABLE GOLF BALL HOLDER COMPRISING A GENERALLY FLAT, RECTANGULAR, RESILIENT MAT ADAPTED TO REST HORIZONTALLY ON THE GROUND, AN INTEGRAL RIDGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE TOP OF THE MAT AT AN INTERMEDIATE POINT, SAID RIDGE AND THE MAT HAVING A GENERALLY INVERTED T-SHAPED GROOVE THEREIN OPEN AT BOTH ENDS AND COMMUNICATING WITH AND PROVIDING A SLOT IN THE TOP OF SAID RIDGE, AND A PLURALITY OF REMOVABLE, SELECTIVELY USABLE TEES OF VARIOUS HEIGHTS SLIDABLY ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN THE GROOVE AND INSERTABLE THEREIN FROM EITHER END THEREOF, SAID TEES BEING RESILIENT AND INCLUDING GENERALLY SQUARE GASES ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN THE GROOVE AND FRICTIONALLY RETAINED IN ADJUSTED POSITION THEREIN, STEMS ON THE BASES EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM THROUGH THE SLOT, AND CUPS ON THE UPPER ENDS OF THE STEMS FOR THE RECEPTION OF GOLF BALLS, SAID MAT AND SAID RIDGE COMPRISING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED ENDS AND SIDES, RESPECTIVELY, FOR DEFLECTING A TOO-LOW CLUB HEAD UPWARDLY TOWARD A BALL ON ANY OF THE TEES FOR IMPROVING THE EXECUTION OF THE STROKE.