WO2005075029A1

WO2005075029A1 - Tee

Info

Publication number: WO2005075029A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000848
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jinho Kim
Original assignee: Jinho Kim
Priority date: 2004-02-10
Filing date: 2004-04-12
Publication date: 2005-08-18
Also published as: JP2005224586A

Abstract

Disclosed is a length-adjustable tee for golf including an upper tee unit and a lower tee unit. The tee includes one lower tee unit inserted into the ground and one upper tee unit or at least two upper tee units having different lengths so that the tee-up height of the tee is variously adjustable.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [invention Title]

TEE

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a tee for golf, which is inserted into a tee ground laid with grass for holding a golf ball placed thereon so that golfers hit a tee shot.

[Background Art]

In general, tees for golf are used to hold a golf ball when golfers hit a tee shot in a tee ground. These tees are divided into three types according to lengths of rods of the tees, and golfers carry the tees. FIG. 1A illustrates one type of the conventional tees. As shown in FIG. 1A, a tee 100 has a conical structure, and includes a holder portion having a circular plate shape for mounting a golf ball 5, the diameter of which is decreased from the upper end to the lower end such that the inner surface of the holder portion is curved, and a rod portion extended form the lower portion of the holder portion, the diameter of which is uniform and the lower end of which is sharpened so that the rod portion is inserted into the tee ground. When the tee 100 is inserted into the tee ground, it is preferable that the tee-up height of the tee 100, i.e., the height from the tee ground to the upper end of the tee 100, is approximately 3~4cm. The tee-up height varies according to the height and body shape of the golfer and characteristics of a golf club. Accordingly, golfers carry several tees having different lengths, and select a proper one as circumstances require. The height of the above conventional tee 100 cannot be adjusted. When a golfer wants to adjust the tee-up height of the tee 100 according to characteristics of the tee ground, the golfer selects one type among several tees having different lengths (generally, three types) in order to meet conditions of a tee shot based on characteristics of a hole. Thereby, the golfer must carry various tees, thus having inconvenience and troublesomeness. In order to solve the above problem, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20- 0327561 and Korean Patent No.10-0379750 respectively disclose tee assemblies, in which a plurality of tees are connected by a string. Particularly, the tee assembly disclosed by Korean Patent No. 10-0379750 is illustrated in FIG. IB. As shown in FIG. IB, three different tees 4, which are connected by a string 8, are inserted into holes 9 formed through a main body 1, and are carried by golfers. In order to eliminate the inconvenience in carrying three different tees, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20- 0250271 discloses a tee for golf, the height of which is adjustable. Further, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0327561 discloses a tee assembly for preventing a golfer from being pierced by the sharpened ends of tees, which are inserted into the tee ground. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a tee for golf, the height of which is adjustable. [Technical Solution]

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a length-adjustable tee for golf comprising an upper tee unit and a lower tee unit, which are attached to and detached from each other so that the length of the tee is variable. The upper tee unit includes a second holding surface for holding a golf ball, and is inserted into the upper end of the lower tee unit. The lower tee unit includes a rod inserted into the ground, and a first holding surface extended upwardly from the rod for holding the golf ball. The upper tee unit and the lower tee unit are attached to and detached from each other. Thereby, the lower tee unit is independently used as a tee having a short length, or when the upper tee unit is attached to the lower tee unit, the upper and lower tee units are used as a tee having a long length. The lower end of the upper tee unit is inserted into the upper end of the lower tee unit by an interference fit method. An approach protrusion-receiving groove is formed in the upper end of the lower tee unit, and an approach protrusion is formed on the lower end of the upper tee unit so that the approach protrusion is inserted into the approach protrusion-receiving groove. Further, an insertion protrusion is formed on the circumference of the approach protrusion-receiving groove, and an insertion groove is formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion-receiving groove so that the insertion protrusion is inserted into the insertion groove by an interference fit method. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a length-adjustable tee for golf comprising: a lower tee unit including a rod inserted into the ground, a first holding surface extended upwardly from the rod for holding a golf ball, an approach protrusion-receiving groove formed in the upper end thereof, and an insertion protrusion formed on the circumference of the approach protrusion-receiving groove; and an upper tee unit including: a second upper body including an approach protrusion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the approach protrusion-receiving groove so that the approach protrusion is inserted into the approach protrusion-receiving groove, an insertion groove formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion so that the insertion protrusion is inserted into the insertion groove by an interference fit method, and an approach member having a designated length protruded from the upper end of the second upper body; and a first upper body including a second holding surface formed on the upper end thereof for holding the golf ball, and a guide hole formed through the central portion thereof so that the approach member vertically moves in the guide hole. The tee in accordance with one aspect of the present invention comprises the upper tee unit and the lower tee unit, which are attached to and detached from each other. The holding surfaces for holding the golf ball are respectively formed on the upper ends of the upper and lower tee units so that the upper and lower tee units are independently inserted into the ground. The holding surface may have a circular shape, or a rectangular or other polygonal shape. Further, support brushes (brushes) made of a soft material and erected upwardly are formed along the circumference of the holding surfaces. In one embodiment of the present invention, the holding surfaces of the upper and lower tee units have a circular shape, and the support brushes are erected along the circumferences of the holding surfaces. Preferably, the lower tee unit is inserted into the ground, and the upper tee unit is used to adjust the length of the tee. Two upper tee units having different lengths may be prepared and connected by a string. Thereby, three types of the tee having different lengths may be provided. In the tee in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the insertion groove is formed in the lower end of the upper tee unit and the insertion protrusion inserted into the insertion groove is formed on the upper end of the lower tee unit, thereby attaching or detaching the upper and lower tee units to or from each other. In the tee in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the length of the upper tee unit is adjustable. The upper tee unit is divided into two portions so that the length of the upper tee unit is variably adjusted if necessary. Thereby, the lower tee unit is used as a tee having a short length, or when the upper tee unit is attached to the lower tee unit, the upper and lower tee units are used as a tee having a long length. Further, since the upper tee unit is attached to the lower tee unit and then the length of the upper tee unit is adjusted, the upper and lower tee units are used as tees having various lengths. The tee in accordance with another aspect of the present invention comprises the upper tee unit and the lower tee unit such that the lower end of the upper tee unit is inserted into the upper end of the lower tee unit by an interference fit method. The approach protrusion-receiving groove is formed in the upper end of the lower tee unit. The upper tee unit includes the first upper body and the second upper body so that the length of the upper tee unit is adjusted based on the relative positions of the first and second upper bodies. The second upper body includes the approach protrusion having a shape corresponding to the shape of the approach protrusion-receiving groove of the lower tee unit so that the approach protrusion is inserted into the approach protrusion-receiving groove, the insertion groove formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion so that the insertion protrusion is inserted into the insertion groove by an interference fit method, and the approach member having a designated length protruded from the upper end of the second upper body. The first upper body includes the second holding surface formed on the upper end thereof for holding the golf ball, and the guide hole formed through the central portion thereof so that the approach member vertically moves in the guide hole. The approach member serves as a guide provided on the first upper body for moving the first and second upper bodies relative to each other. A female screw thread and a male screw thread are respectively formed on the inner surface of the guide hole and the outer surface of the approach member. Preferably, a screw thread is formed on the inner surface of the guide hole, and a screw key, which is engaged with the screw thread and is rotated, is formed on the circumference of the upper end of the approach member. The first holding surface is formed on the upper end of the lower tee unit so that the lower tee unit is independently inserted into the ground. The lower tee unit of the tee of this aspect has the same function and structure as those of the lower tee unit of the tee of the preceding aspect. [Advantageous Effects]

The tee for golf of the present invention comprises one lower tee unit inserted into the ground, and a plurality of upper tee units having different lengths, thereby variously adjusting a tee-up height. [Description of Drawings]

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: FIGS. 1A and IB are schematic views of a conventional tee; FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a length-adjustable tee in an assembled state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3A is a sectional view of an upper tee unit of the tee of FIG. 2; FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a lower tee unit of the tee of FIG. 2; FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an upper tee unit of a tee in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and more specifically: FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the upper tee unit in a state in which an approach member enters a guide hole; and FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the upper tee unit in a state in which the approach member is located at a lower end of the guide hole; FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate an upper tee unit of a tee in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, and more specifically: FIG. 5 A is a sectional view of the upper tee unit in a state in which an approach member enters a guide hole; and FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the upper tee unit in a state in which the approach member is located at a lower end of the guide hole; and FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic views illustrating the length-adjustable tee of the present invention in a used state.

[Best Mode] FIG. 3 A is a sectional view of an upper tee unit 60 of a tee in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3 A, the upper tee unit 60 of the tee includes a second holding surface 61 for holding a golf ball, and a body portion 64 having a designated length extended from the lower portion of the second holding surface 61. The lower end of the upper tee unit 60 is mounted on a first holding surface 31 of a lower tee unit 30. An approach protrusion 65, which is inserted into an approach protrusion-receiving groove 32 formed in the upper end of the lower tee unit 30, and an insertion groove 69 are formed on and in the lower end of the upper tee unit 60. FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the lower tee unit 30 of the tee in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3B, the lower tee unit 30 includes a rod 34 inserted into the ground, and the first holding surface 31 for holding a golf ball. The approach protrusion-receiving groove 32 is formed in the upper end of the lower tee unit 30, and an insertion protrusion 39 is formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion-receiving groove 32. The first holding surface 31 and the second holding surface 61 have a circular shape, and support brushes made of a soft resin are formed along the circumferences of the first and second holding surfaces 31 and 61 such that the support brushes are separated from each other by a designated interval. Although this embodiment discloses the circular first and second holding surfaces 31 and 61, the first and second holding surfaces 31 and 61 may have other shapes, such as rectangular or other polygonal shapes. The assembly of the upper tee unit.60 and the lower tee unit 30 is achieved by inserting the upper tee unit 60 into the lower tee unit 30 by an interference fit method, and the disassembly of the upper tee unit 60 and the lower tee unit 30 is achieved by detaching the upper tee unit 60 from the lower tee unit 30 under the condition that the upper tee unit 60 is laid at an angle. Thereby, the tee-up height of the tee is adjustable by using the lower tee unit 30 independently or assembling the upper tee unit 60 with the lower tee unit 30. The above-described upper and lower tee units 60 and 30 may be connected by a string (not shown). Alternately, two upper tee units 60 and one lower tee unit 30 may be connected by a string. Further, the tee may comprise two upper tee units having different lengths, which are properly selected according to the desired tee-up height. FIGS. 4 A and 4B are sectional view of an upper tee unit of a tee in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The upper tee unit 90 includes a first upper body 90a and a second upper body 90b. The first upper body 90a includes a guide hole 98 formed through the central portion thereof, and a second holding surface 91 formed on the upper portion thereof for holding a golf ball. The first upper body 90a further includes a body portion 97 having a designated length extended downwardly from the second holding surface 91. A spiral groove 88 is formed in the inner surface of the guide hole 98. The second upper body 90b includes an approach member 94 provided with a screw key 81 formed on the upper portion thereof so that the approach member 94 vertically moves by the rotation along the spiral groove 88 formed in the inner surface of the guide hole 98. The second upper body 90b further includes an approach protrusion 95 inserted into the approach protrusion-receiving groove 32 formed in the upper end of the upper tee unit 30, and an insertion groove 99. A scale (not shown) for showing the height of the upper tee unit 90 is drawn on the approach member 94. The lower tee unit assembled with the above upper tee unit 90 is the same as the preceding lower tee unit 30 (FIG. 3B). The assembly of the upper tee unit 90 and the lower tee unit 30 is achieved by inserting the upper tee unit 90 into the lower tee unit 30 by an interference fit method, and the disassembly of the upper tee unit 90 and the lower tee unit 30 is achieved by detaching the upper tee unit 90 from the lower tee unit 30 under the condition that the upper tee unit 90 is laid at an angle. Thereby, the tee-up height of the tee is adjustable by using the lower tee unit 30 independently or assembling the upper tee unit 90 with the lower tee unit 30. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, the height of the upper tee unit 90 may be adjusted by rotating the first upper body 90a and the second upper body 90b against each other, thereby achieving various tee-up heights. FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views of an upper tee unit of a tee in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. The structure of the tee of this embodiment is the same as those of the tee of the preceding embodiment (FIGS. 4A and 4B) except that a latching protrusion 96 formed on the upper part of the insertion groove 99 has an extended length so that the upper tee unit 90 is latched onto the upper end of the insertion protrusion 39 of the lower tee unit 30 when the upper tee unit 90 is inserted into the lower tee unit 30, and the body portion 97 of the upper tee unit 90 covers the latching protrusion 96. Here, a scale (not shown) for showing the height of the upper tee unit 90 is drawn on the latching protrusion 96. The above-described upper and lower tee units 90 and 30 may be connected by a string (with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6B), and one upper tee unit 90 or two upper tee units 90 having different lengths may be connected to one lower tee unit 30 by a string. The length-adjustable tee for golf, as described above, is made of well-known plastic resin. The body portion 64 of the upper tee unit 60 and the rod 34 of the lower tee unit 30 are made of hard resin such as polycarbonate, and the support brushes 33, 63, and 93 of the holding surfaces are made of soft resin such as polyurethane. 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.

[Mode for Invention]

[industrial Applicability]

[Sequence List Text]

Claims

[CLAIMS]

[Claim 1 ] A length-adjustable tee for golf comprising: a lower tee unit including a rod inserted into the ground, a first holding surface extended upwardly from the rod for holding a golf ball, an approach protrusion-receiving groove formed in the upper end thereof, and an insertion protrusion formed on the circumference of the approach protrusion-receiving groove; and an upper tee unit including an approach protrusion, formed on the lower end thereof, having a shape corresponding to the shape of the approach protrusion-receiving groove so that the approach protrusion is inserted into the approach protrusion-receiving groove, an insertion groove formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion so that the insertion protrusion is inserted into the insertion groove by an interference fit method, and a second holding surface formed on the upper end of the upper tee unit for holding the golf ball.

[Claim 2] A length-adjustable tee for golf comprising: a lower tee unit including a rod inserted into the ground, a first holding surface extended upwardly from the rod for holding a golf ball, an approach protrusion-receiving groove formed in the upper end thereof, and an insertion protrusion formed on the circumference of the approach protrusion-receiving groove; and an upper tee unit including: a second upper body including an approach protrusion, formed on the lower end thereof, having a shape corresponding to the shape of the approach protrusion- receiving groove so that the approach protrusion is inserted into the approach protrusion- receiving groove, an insertion groove formed in the circumference of the upper end of the approach protrusion-receiving groove so that the insertion protrusion is inserted into the insertion groove by an interference fit method, and an approach member having a designated length protruded from the upper end of the second upper body; and a first upper body including a second holding surface formed on the upper end thereof for holding the golf ball, and a guide hole formed through the central portion thereof so that the approach member vertically moves in the guide hole. [ [Claim 3] The length-adjustable tee as set forth in claim 2, wherein a spiral groove is formed in the inner surface of the guide hole of the first upper body, and a screw key is formed on the outer surface of the upper end of the approach member so that the height of the upper tee unit is adjusted by moving the screw key along the spiral groove.