WO2005032668A1

WO2005032668A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: WO2005032668A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/001707
Authority: WO
Inventors: Se-Chang Chang
Original assignee: Se-Chang Chang
Priority date: 2003-10-06
Filing date: 2004-07-12
Publication date: 2005-04-14

Abstract

The present invention provides a golf tee (1) which holds a golf ball above the surface to allow a golfer to efficiently strike the golf ball at a tee shot position. The golf tee (1) of the present invention includes a guide tube unit (2) which has a ball seat (3) and a guide hole (4), and a peg unit (5) which has a coupling depression (6), a support hole (7) and a locking ring (8). The golf tee (1) further includes an elastic coupling unit (11), with a locking part (10) provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit (11), and a stop ring (9) interposed between the locking part (10) of the elastic coupling unit (11) and the locking ring (8) of the peg unit (5) while the guide tube unit (2) is coupled to the peg unit (5) by both the elastic coupling unit (11) and the stop ring (9).

Description

Description GOLF TEE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to golf tees and, more particularly, to a golf tee which slightly supports a golf ball above the surface to allow a golfer to efficiently strike the golf ball from a tee shot position. Background Art

[2] Generally, a golf begins from a teeing ground on which golfers strike the golf balls. A standard course comprises eighteen consecutively numbered holes, including fairways, the rough, bunkers, water hazards, a green and a hole. A winner is the player with the lowest accumulated number of strikes. On the teeing ground, the golfer starts the game with a tee shot after inserting and fastening a golf tee at a tee shot position and seating the golf ball on the golf tee. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf tee 1.

[4] As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional golf tee 1 includes a ball seat part 3 to seat thereon a golf ball, and a peg part 5 which is integrated with the ball seat part 3 into a single body to fasten the golf tee on the ground. To use the conventional golf tee 1, the peg part 5 is inserted into and fastened on the ground. Thereafter, a golfer seats the golf ball on the ball seat part 3, prior to striking the golf ball.

[5] The conventional golf tee 1 stably seats the golf ball on the ball seat part 3 while the peg part 5 is inserted into the ground. Therefore, the conventional golf tee 1 is convenient to the golfer during the tee shot. However, the ball seat part 3 and the peg part 5 are integrated into the single body. Therefore, when the ball seat part 3 along with the golf ball is struck by the golfer during the tee shot, the peg part 5, which has been inserted in the ground, may be removed from the ground. That is, the golf tee 1 may be driven far from the tee shot position where the peg part 5 was inserted in the ground. Accordingly, the golfer may have to search for the golf tee 1 which driven far from the tee shot position, thus undesirably wasting time. Otherwise, the golfer may lose the golf tee 1. Therefore, the conventional golf tee 1 forces the golfer to prepare several additional golf tees 1, thus imposing additional costs on the golfer. Technical Solution

[6] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above- mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf tee in which, even though a golfer strikes a part of the golf tee along with the golf ball during a tee shot, the golf tee is not driven far from a tee shot position by dispersing the impact transferred from the outside by a restoring force of the golf tee, thus preventing the golf tee from being lost, and easily keeping the golf tee.

[7] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a golf tee, including: a glide tube unit, having a ball seat provided on an end of the glide tube unit, and a glide hole axially formed through the glide tube unit; a peg unit, having a coupling depression provided on an end of the peg unit, a support hole axially extendin g from the coupling depression to a predetermined depth, and a locking ring provided around a predetermined portion of an inner surface of the support hole; an elastic coupling unit, with a locking part provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit; and a stop ring interposed between the locking part of the elastic coupling unit and the locking ring of the peg unit while the glide tube unit is coupled to the peg unit by both the elastic coupling unit and the stop ring.

[8] The golf tee may further include a height-control ring fitted over the peg unit, so that, when the peg unit of the golf tee is inserted into a ground, a height of a part of the golf tee which is exposed from the ground is controlled by the height-control ring.

[9] The golf tee may further include an opaque liquid having a predetermined viscosity and filled in the glide hole of the glide tube unit, such that an inclination indicator is provided in the glide hole while the glide tube unit is made of a transparent or translucent material, thus indicating an inclination of the glide tube unit; and a plug to seal the glide hole of the glide tube unit, thus preventing the opaque liquid from undesirably leaking out. Advantageous Effects

[10] As described above, in the present invention, even when a golfer strikes a part of the golf tee along with a golf ball seated on the golf tee during a tee shot, the golf tee is not driven far from a tee shot position by absorbing an impact transferred to the golf tee while a glide tube unit of the golf tee is elastically shaken on a peg unit by an elastic coupling unit or a rotating rod of the golf tee is rotated around the glide tube unit. Thus, the storage and management of the golf tee is easier. Furthermore, the golf tee assists the golfer to pay his/her attention to the golf. In addition, to solve the problems of a conventional golf tee in that the golfer must keep and manage both the golf tee and additional par indicating device, the golf tee of the present invention serves as a par indicating device, in addition to the golf tee, thus easing the storage and the management of the golf tee, and reducing costs. Description of Drawings [11] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf tee;

[13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf tee, according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [14] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the golf tee of FIG. 2;

[15] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee, according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an operation of the golf tee of FIG. 4;

[17] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee, according to a third embodiment of the present invention; [18] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the golf tee of FIG. 6;

[19] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [20] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the golf tee of FIG. 8;

[21] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and [22] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the golf tee of FIG. 10; Best Mode [23] Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. [24] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 2. [25] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the golf tee 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a glide tube unit 2 and a peg unit 5. The glide tube unit 2 has a ball seat 3 which is provided on an end of the glide tube unit 2, and a glide hole 4 which is axially formed through the glide tube unit 2. The peg unit 5 has a coupling depression 6 which is provided on an end of the peg unit 5, and a support hole 7 which axially extends from the coupling depression 6 to a predetermined depth. The peg unit 5 further has a locking ring 8 which is provided around a predetermined portion of an inner surface of the support hole 7. The golf tee 1 further includes an elastic coupling unit 11, with a locking part 10 provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit 11. The golf tee 1 further includes a stop ring 9 which is interposed between the locking part 10 of the elastic coupling unit 11 and the locking ring 8 of the peg unit 5 while the glide tube unit 2 is coupled to the peg unit 5 by both the elastic coupling unit 11 and the stop ring 9.

[26] The golf tee 1 further includes a height-control ring 12 which is fitted over the peg unit. Thus, when the peg unit 5 of the golf tee 1 is driven into a ground, a height of a part of the golf tee 1 which is exposed from the ground is controlled by the height- control ring 12.

[27] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an operation of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 4.

[28] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the golf tee 1 according to the second embodiment includes a glide tube unit 2, a peg unit 5, an elastic coupling unit 11 and a stop ring 9, in the same manner as that described for the construction of the first embodiment. The golf tee 1 according to the second embodiment, different from the golf tee 1 of the first embodiment, further includes an opaque liquid 42 which has a predetermined viscosity and is filled in a glide hole 4 of the glide tube unit 2, such that an inclination indicator 41 is provided in the glide hole 4 while the glide tube unit 2 is made of a transparent or translucent material, thus indicating an inclination of the glide tube unit 2. The golf tee 1 according to the second embodiment further includes a plug 43 to seal the glide hole 4 of the glide tube unit 2, thus preventing the opaque liquid 42 from undesirably leaking out.

[29] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 6.

[30] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the golf tee 1 according to the third embodiment includes a peg unit 5, a bushing 16, a glide tube unit 2 and a rotating rod 22. The peg unit 5 has a stop ring 13 which is provided around a predetermined portion of a lower part of an outer surface of the peg unit 5. The peg unit 5 further has a support ring 14 which is provided around a predetermined portion of an upper part of the outer surface of the peg unit 5, and a coupling hole 15 which is axially provided on an end of the peg unit 5. In the meantime, the bushing 16 is fitted over the upper part of the peg unit 5. The glide tube unit 2 is fitted over the bushing 16. The glide tube unit 2 has a first ball seat 3 which is provided on an end of the glide tube unit 2. The glide tube unit 2 further has a through hole 17 which is provided on a central portion of the ball seat 3, with a bolt 18 tightened into the coupling hole 15 of the peg unit 5 through the through hole 17 of the glide tube unit 2, so that the glide tube unit 2 is rotatably coupled to the peg unit 5. The glide tube unit 2 further has a plurality of brackets 20 which are respectively provided on predetermined portions of an outer surface of the glide tube unit 5, with a first hinge hole 19 provided on an end of each of the plurality of brackets 20. The glide tube unit 2 further has a first stop projection 21 which is provided on a predetermined portion of the outer surface of the glide tube unit 2 between the plurality of brackets 20. To couple the rotating rod 22 to the glide tube unit 2, the rotating rod 22 has a coupling part 25 which is provided on a first end of the rotating rod 22, with a second hinge hole 23 provided on a predetermined portion of the coupling part 25, and a second stop projection 24 provided on an end of the coupling part 25 to correspond to the first stop projection 21. Thus, the coupling part 22 is rotatably coupled to the plurality of brackets 20 of the glide tube unit 2 by a hinge pin 26 which passes through the first and second hinge holes 19 and 23. The rotating rod 22 further has a second ball seat 3' which is provided on a second end of the rotating rod 22.

[31] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 8.

[32] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the golf tee 1 according to the fourth embodiment includes a hourglass-shaped glide tube unit 2. The hourglass-shaped glide tube unit 2 has a ball seat 3 which is provided on an end of the glide tube unit 2, and a glide hole 27 which is axially provided in the glide tube unit 2. The golf tee 1 further includes a peg unit 5 of a collet type, with a plurality of collets 28 provided on an end of the peg unit 5. The golf tee 1 further includes a flange unit 30, with a compressing hole 29 axially provided on the flange unit 30 to compress the plurality of collets 28 of the peg unit 5. The golf tee 1 further includes an elastic coupling unit 11. The elastic coupling unit 11 has a head part 31 which is provided on a predetermined portion of the elastic coupling unit 11, a locking part 32 which is provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit 11, and an extension part 33 which longitudinally extends outward from the head part 31. In the golf tee 1 according to the fourth embodiment having the above- mentioned structure, the peg unit 5, inserted in the flange unit 30, is coupled to the glide tube unit 2 by the elastic coupling unit 11. [33] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 10.

[34] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the golf tee according to the fifth embodiment includes a peg unit 5, a support unit 36, a plurality of joint units 40, an elastic coupling unit 11, a ball seating unit 3 and a stop ring 9. The peg unit 5 has a support hole 7 which is axially provided in the peg unit 5, and a locking ring 8 which is provided on an inner surface of the support hole 7. The support unit 36 has a first through hole 34 which is axially provided in the support unit 36, and a first octagonal depression 35 which is provided around a first end of the first through hole 34 on the support unit 36. Each of the plurality of joint units 40 has a second through hole 37 which is axially provided in the joint unit 40, and a second octagonal depression 39 which is provided around a first end of the second through hole 37 on the joint unit 40. Each of the plurality of joint units 40 further has a first octagonal projection 38 which is provided around a second end of the second through hole 37 on the joint unit 40, and a par indicator 44 which is provided on a predetermined position of an outer surface of the joint unit 40. The elastic coupling unit 11 has a head part 31 which is provided on a first end of the elastic coupling unit 11, and a locking part 32 which is provided on a second end of the elastic coupling unit 11. The ball seating unit 3 has a third through hole 48 which is axially provided in the ball seating unit 3, and a seating depression 45 which is provided around a first end of the third through hole 48 on the ball seating unit 3 to seat therein the head part 31 of the elastic coupling unit 11. The ball seating unit 3 further has a second octagonal projection 46 which is provided around a second end of the third through hole 48 on the ball seating unit 3, and a par scale 47 which is provided on an outer surface of the ball seating unit 3 and comprises a plurality of par graduations. The stop ring 9 is interposed between the locking part 32 of the elastic coupling unit 11 and the locking ring 8 of the peg unit 5. In the golf tee 1 according to the fifth embodiment, the peg unit 5, the plurality of joint units 40, the ball seating unit 3 are sequentially coupled to each other by the elastic coupling unit 11 which is locked to the peg unit 5 by the stop ring 9 after the elastic coupling unit 11 passes the ball seating unit 3 and the plurality of joint units 40.

[35] As described above, the golf tee 1 of the present invention includes the glide tube unit 2 and the peg unit 5 which are coupled to each other by the elastic coupling unit 11. Due to the above-mentioned structure, even when the golf tee 1 is struck along with the golf ball while the golfer executes the tee shot, the golf tee 1 of the present invention is prevented from being lost.

[36] The operation of each of the golf tees 1 according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described herein below.

[37] In the first embodiment, to couple the glide tube unit 2 to the peg unit 5 using the elastic coupling unit 11, the elastic coupling unit 11 is inserted into the glide hole 4 of the glide tube unit 2. After the elastic coupling unit 11 passes through the glide tube unit 2, the stop ring 9 is fitted over the end of the elastic coupling unit 11. Thereafter, the end of the elastic coupling unit 11 along with the stop ring 9 is inserted into the support hole 7 of the peg unit 5, until the stop ring 9 is hooked to the locking ring 8 which is provided around the inner surface of the support hole 7.

[38] After the glide tube unit 2 is coupled to the peg unit 5 by the elastic coupling unit 11 through the above-mentioned coupling process, the height-control ring 12 is fitted over a lower part of the peg unit 5.

[39] In use of the golf tee 1, the peg unit 5 is inserted into the ground. Thereafter, the golf ball is seated on the ball seat 3 of the glide tube unit 2. In the above state, the golfer strikes the golf ball seated on the ball seat 3. During the tee shot, even though the golf tee 1 along with the golf ball is simultaneously struck by the golfer, the golf tee 1 is not driven from a tee shot position while the glide tube unit 2 is shaken in a striking direction by the elastic coupling unit 11.

[40] Furthermore, when the elastic coupling unit 11 is tense, because the stop ring 9 is supported on the locking ring 8 of the peg unit 5, the elastic coupling unit 11 is prevent from being undesirably removed from the peg unit 5. As desired, the height-control ring 12 may be fitted over the peg unit 5 to control the height of the part of the golf tee 1 which is exposed from the ground.

[41] In the golf tee 1 according to the second embodiment, the glide tube unit 2 is made of the transparent or translucent material to allow the golfer to view the contents of the glide tube unit 2, different from the golf tee 1 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the opaque liquid 42 having the predetermined viscosity is filled in the glide hole 4 of the glide tube unit 2.

[42] At this time, the opaque liquid 42 is filled in the glide hole 4, such that the inclination indicator 41, such as an air pocket, is provided in the glide hole 4. Thereafter, the glide hole 4 of the glide tube unit 2 is sealed by the plug 43.

[43] In the golf tee 1 according to the second embodiment, the inclination indicator 41 of a predetermined size, provided in the glide hole 4 filled with the opaque liquid 42, is moved vertically in the glide hole 4 according to a movement (Inclination) of the golf tee 1 with the glide tube unit 2, thus indicating the inclination of the golf tee 1 to the golfer.

[44] That is, when the golf ball is seated on the ball seat 3 of the glide tube unit 2 after the peg unit 5 is driven in the ground, the inclination indicator 41, provided in the glide hole 4 with the opaque liquid 42, indicates the inclination of the golf tee 1 to the golfer. Thus, the golfer can visibly confirm an inclination of the ground on which the tee shot is executed.

[45] The golf tee 1 according to the third embodiment has a structure in that the first and second ball seats 3 and 3' are selectively used. Furthermore, as a means to prevent the golf tee 1 from being driven after the tee shot, the golf tee 1 has the first and second ball seats 3 and 3' which are rotated around the peg unit 5 after the tee shot, thus dispersing an impact transferred to the golf tee 1 from the outside.

[46] The stop ring 13 of the peg unit 5 allows the golf tee 1 to be driven into the ground to a predetermined depth. To rotatably couple the glide tube unit 5 to the peg unit 5, the bushing 16 is fitted over the upper part of the peg unit 5 on the support ring 14 which is provided above the stop ring 13. Thereafter, the glide tube unit 2 is fitted over the bushing 16. The bolt 18 is, thereafter, tightened into the coupling hole 15 of the peg unit 5 after passing through the through hole 17 of the first ball seat 3. As such, the glide tube unit 2 is coupled to the peg unit 5 to be rotated on the peg unit 5 after the tee shot. In the meantime, the rotating rod 22 with the second ball seat 3' is coupled to the glide tube unit 2, such that the coupling part 25 of the rotating rod 22 is rotatably coupled to the brackets 20 of the glide tube unit 2 by the hinge pin 26 passing through the first and second hinge holes 19 and 23 aligned with each other.

[47] When the second stop projection 24 of the coupling part 25 is locked to the first stop projection 21 of the glide tube unit 2 which is provided between the plurality of brackets 20, the rotating rod 22 with the second ball seat 3' is placed in a direction perpendicular to the glide tube unit 2. When the second stop projection 24 is released from the first stop projection 21, the rotating rod 22 is folded toward the glide tube unit 2.

[48] That is, by the locking and unlocking operation of the first stop projection 21 and the second stop projection 24, the rotating rod 22 is spread from the glide tube unit 2 during use of the golf tee 1, and is folded toward the glide tube unit 2 to reduce a volume of the golf tee 1 during the storage of the golf tee 1.

[49] In the golf tee 1 according to the third embodiment, even though the second ball seat 3' is struck along with the golf ball by the golfer who strikes the golf ball seated on the second ball seat 3', the second ball seat 3' is only rotated around the first ball seat 3. Therefore, the golf tee 1 is not driven far from the tee shot position.

[50] In the golf tee 1 according to the fourth embodiment, to assembly the golf tee 1, the locking part 32 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is inserted into the plurality of collets 28 of the peg unit 5 of the collet type. In the above state, the flange unit 30 is fitted over the peg unit 5, such that the compressing hole 29 of the flange unit 30 compresses the plurality of collets 28. Thus, the collets 28 are pursed by the flange unit 30, so that the locking part 32 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is locked to the collets 28.

[51] Thereafter, the extension part 33 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is inserted into the glide hole 27 of the glide tube unit 2. The extension part 33 is, thereafter, pulled until the head part 31 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is placed in the glide hole 27. Thereafter, the extension part 33 is cut off around an upper end of the head part 31.

[52] In the meantime, while the extension part 33 is pulled through the glide hole 27 of the glide tube unit 2, an upper part of the flange unit 30, which is fitted over the peg unit 5 of the collet type, is inserted into a lower end of the glide tube unit 2. As such, the peg unit 5 is coupled to the glide tube unit 2 by the elastic coupling unit 11.

[53] The extension part 33 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is a part which extends outward from the head part 31 of the elastic coupling unit 11 to easily execute the process of coupling the peg unit 5 to the glide tube unit 2. After the peg unit 5 is coupled to the glide tube unit 2, the extension part 33 is cut off from the elastic coupling unit 11.

[54] To use the golf tee 1 assembled through the above-mentioned process, the peg unit 5 of the collet type is driven and fastened at the tee shot position on the teeing ground. Thereafter, the golf ball is seated on the ball seat 3 of the glide tube unit 2. In the above state, the golfer strikes the golf ball.

[55] When the golfer strikes the golf ball, even though a part of the glide tube unit 2 around the ball seat 3 is struck along with the golf ball seated on the ball seat 3, the glide tube unit 2 is only shaken to the front and rear of the part where the impact applied, based on the locking part 32 of the elastic coupling unit 11 which is locked to the peg unit 5 by the plurality of collets 28 and the flange unit 30, thus absorbing the impact. Therefore, the golf tee 1 is prevented from fleeing the tee shot position.

[56] As such, the elastic coupling unit 11, made of rubber, ordinarily serves as a means of integrally coupling the peg unit 5 to the glide tube unit 2. When the part of the glide tube unit 2 is struck along with the golf ball, the elastic coupling unit 11 absorbs the impact, transferred to the golf tee 1 from the outside, by shaking the head part 31 along with the glide tube unit 2 around the locking part 32.

[57] In the golf tee 1 according to the fifth embodiment, the peg unit 5, the support unit 36, the plurality of joint units 40 and the ball seating unit 3 are sequentially stacked on top of another. The elastic coupling unit 11 is inserted into the support hole 7 of the peg unit 5, the first hole 34 of the support unit 36, the second through holes 37 of the joint units 40, and the third through hole 48 of the ball seating unit 3. At this time, the head part 31 of the elastic coupling unit 11 is placed in the seating depression 45 of the ball seating unit 3. The stop ring 9, fitted over the locking part 32 of the elastic coupling unit 11, is supported on the locking ring 8 of the support hole 7.

[58] The first octagonal projection 38 of the lowermost joint unit 40 is inserted into the first octagonal depression 35 which is provided on the first end of the support unit 36. The second octagonal projection 46 of the ball seating unit 3 is inserted into the second octagonal depression 39 which is provided on the first end of the uppermost joint unit 40. The first octagonal projection 38 of each of the joint units 40, except for the lowermost joint unit 40, is inserted into the second octagonal depression 39 of each of the lower-stacked joint units 40.

[59] The par indicator 44, which is provided on the predetermined position of the outer surface of the uppermost joint unit 40, serves as a standard point to indicate a par (over-par, even-par, or under-par) by rotating the par scale 47 of the ball seating unit 3 on which predetermined numerals are sequentially engraved by an embossing or etching process.

[60] To execute the tee shot on the teeing ground, the peg unit 5 of the golf tee 1 is inserted at the tee shot position on the teeing ground. Thereafter, the golf ball is seated on the ball seating unit 3. In the above state, the golfer with a driver strikes the golf ball.

[61] At this time, even though a part of the ball seating unit 3 along with the golf ball is struck, because the elastic coupling unit 11 and the plurality of octagonal joint units 40 absorb the impact transferred to the golf tee 1, the golf tee 1 is prevented from fleeing the tee shot position.

[62] That is, by an elastic force and a tensile force of the elastic coupling unit 11 made of the rubber, the support unit 36, the octagonal joint units 40 and the ball seating unit 3 are shaken horizontally, based on the peg unit 5 fastened on the ground, thus absorbing the impact transferred to the golf tee 1. Simultaneously, the first octagonal projection 38 of each of the joint units 40 are shaken to the left and right in the first octagonal depression 35 of the support unit 36 or the second octagonal depression 39 of each of the lower- stacked joint units 40, and the second octagonal projection 46 of the ball seating unit 3 is shaken horizontally in the second octagonal depression 39 of the uppermost joint unit 40, according to the shake of the elastic coupling unit 11. Thus, the impact transferred to the golf tee 1 is dispersed.

[63] Due to the above-mentioned operation of the golf tee 1, even when the golf tee 1 along with the golf ball is struck during the tee shot, the golf tee 1 still stays on or is not driven far from the tee shot position. Therefore, after tee shot, the storage and management of the golf tee 1 is easier.

[64] After one round, including a fairway, rough, bunkers, water hazards, a green and a hole, is finished, the golfer moves to another teeing ground to play the next hole beginning with another tee shot. Before the golfer inserts the golf tee 1 in another teeing ground, the golfer rotates the ball seating unit 3 relative to the uppermost joint unit 40, such that a desired graduation of the par scale 47 of the ball seating unit 3 is aligned with the par indicator 44 of the uppermost joint unit 40, thus indicating a current par of the golfer.

[65] In the rotation of the ball seating unit 3 relative to the uppermost joint unit 40, because the second octagonal projection 46 of the ball seating unit 3 engages with the second octagonal depression 39 of the uppermost joint unit 40, the golfer must slightly pull outward the ball seating unit 3 by tensioning the elastic coupling unit 11, prior to rotating the ball seating unit 3.

[66] The par, expressed by the manipulation of the golfer, is not easily changed until the golfer intentionally rotates the ball seating unit 3, because the second octagonal projection 46 of the ball seating unit 3 engages with the second octagonal depression 39 of the uppermost joint unit 40. Industrial Applicability

[67] As described above, in the present invention, even when a golfer strikes a part of the golf tee along with a golf ball seated on the golf tee during a tee shot, the golf tee is not driven far from a tee shot position by absorbing an impact transferred to the golf tee while a glide tube unit of the golf tee is elastically shaken on a peg unit by an elastic coupling unit or a rotating rod of the golf tee is rotated around the glide tube unit. Thus, the storage and management of the golf tee is easier. Furthermore, the golf tee assists the golfer to pay his/her attention to the golf. In addition, to solve the problems of a conventional golf tee in that the golfer must keep and manage both the golf tee and additional par indicating device, the golf tee of the present invention serves as a par indicating device, in addition to the golf tee, thus easing the storage and the management of the golf tee, and reducing costs. [68] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A golf tee, comprising: a glide tube unit, comprising: a ball seat provided on an end of the glide tube unit; and a glide hole axially formed through the glide tube unit; a peg unit, comprising: a coupling depression provided on an end of the peg unit; a support hole axially extending from the coupling depression to a predetermined depth; and a locking ring provided around a predetermined portion of an inner surface of the support hole; an elastic coupling unit, with a locking part provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit; and a stop ring interposed between the locking part of the elastic coupling unit and the locking ring of the peg unit while the glide tube unit is coupled to the peg unit by both the elastic coupling unit and the stop ring.

[2] The golf tee according to claim 1, further comprising: a height-control ring fitted over the peg unit, so that, when the peg unit of the golf tee is driven into a ground, a height of a part of the golf tee which is exposed from the ground is controlled by the height-control ring.

[3] The golf tee according to claim 1, further comprising: an opaque liquid having a predetermined viscosity and filled in the glide hole of the glide tube unit, such that an inclination indicator is provided in the glide hole while the glide tube unit is made of a transparent or translucent material, thus indicating an inclination of the glide tube unit; and a plug to seal the glide hole of the glide tube unit, thus preventing the opaque liquid from undesirably leaking out.

[4] A golf tee, comprising: a peg unit, comprising: a stop ring provided around a predetermined portion of a lower part of an outer surface of the peg unit; a support ring provided around a predetermined portion of an upper part of the outer surface of the peg unit; and a coupling hole axially provided on an end of the peg unit; a bushing fitted over the upper part of the peg unit; a glide tube unit fitted over the bushing, the glide tube unit comprising: a first ball seat provided on an end of the glide tube unit; a through hole provided on a central portion of the ball seat, with a bolt tightened into the coupling hole of the peg unit through the through hole of the glide tube unit, so that the glide tube unit is rotatably coupled to the peg unit; a plurality of brackets respectively provided on predetermined portions of an outer surface of the glide tube unit, with a first hinge hole provided on an end of each of the plurality of brackets; and a first stop projection provided on a predetermined portion of the outer surface of the glide tube unit between the plurality of brackets; and a rotating rod coupled to the glide tube unit, the rotating rod comprising: a coupling part provided on a first end of the rotating rod, with a second hinge hole provided on a predetermined portion of the coupling part, and a second stop projection provided on an end of the coupling part to correspond to the first stop projection, the coupling part being rotatably coupled to the plurality of brackets of the glide tube unit by a hinge pin passing through the first and second hinge holes; and a second ball seat provided on a second end of the rotating rod.

[5] A golf tee, comprising: a hourglass-shaped glide tube unit, comprising: a ball seat provided on an end of the glide tube unit; and a glide hole axially provided in the glide tube unit; a peg unit of a collet type, with a plurality of collets provided on an end of the peg unit; a flange unit, with a compressing hole axially provided on the flange unit to compress the plurality of collets of the peg unit; and an elastic coupling unit, comprising: a head part provided on a predetermined portion of the elastic coupling unit; a locking part provided on an end of the elastic coupling unit; and an extension part longitudinally extending outward from the head part, wherein the peg unit inserted in the flange unit is coupled to the glide tube unit by the elastic coupling unit.

[6] A golf tee, comprising: a peg unit, comprising: a support hole axially provided in the peg unit; and a locking ring provided on an inner surface of the support hole; a support unit, comprising: a first through hole axially provided in the support unit; and an angled depression provided around a first end of the first through hole on the support unit; a plurality of joint units, each of the joint units comprising: a second through hole axially provided in the joint unit; an angled depression provided around a first end of the second through hole on the joint unit; an angled projection provided around a second end of the second through hole on the joint unit; and a par indicator provided on a predetermined position of an outer surface of the joint unit; an elastic coupling unit, comprising: a head part provided on a first end of the elastic coupling unit; and a locking part provided on a second end of the elastic coupling unit; a ball seating unit, comprising: a third through hole axially provided in the ball seating unit; a seating depression provided around a first end of the third through hole on the ball seating unit to seat therein the head part of the elastic coupling unit; an angled projection provided around a second end of the third through hole on the ball seating unit; and a par scale provided on an outer surface of the ball seating unit; and a stop ring interposed between the locking part of the elastic coupling unit and the locking ring of the peg unit, wherein the peg unit, the plurality of joint units, the ball seating unit are sequentially coupled to each other by the elastic coupling unit which is locked to the peg unit by the stop ring after the elastic coupling unit passes the ball seating unit and the plurality of joint units.