WO2005113077A1

WO2005113077A1 - Height adjustable golf tee

Info

Publication number: WO2005113077A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/001400
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ji-Joong Lim
Original assignee: Ji-Joong Lim
Priority date: 2004-05-24
Filing date: 2005-05-12
Publication date: 2005-12-01
Also published as: KR100517658B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a height-adjustable golf tee installed on a brush mattress for golf practice and capable of adjusting a height of a golf ball. The height-adjustable golf tee has compatibility with conventional golf tees for golf practice in terms of installation because it may adjust the height of the golf ball to a minute range, and the height-adjustable golf tee may be installed to a con¬ ventional brush mattress for golf practice.

Description

Description HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE GOLF TEE Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a height-adjustable golf tee, and more particularly to a height-adjustable golf tee which is installed on a brush mattress for golf practice to be capable of adjusting a height of the golf ball to a minute range. Background Art

[2] Generally, a golf tee, which is a device for locating a golf ball at a predetermined height from the ground, is used for increasing a flying distance of a golf ball by minimizing interference against the ground and a lawn when swinging a driver in a tee shot. The golf tee is used in a driving range in addition to the field.

[3] As shown in Fig. 1, a practice golf tee used in the driving range includes a support 2 for supporting a golf ball (not shown), and a golf tee body 4 having a wide lower surface to support the golf tee 10. The practice golf tee 10 having such a structure is mainly made of rubber, and installed in an installing groove 22 formed in a brush mattress 20 for golf practice.

[4] However, the practice golf tee 10 has a problem that it is impossible to adjust its height. That is to say, various golf tees having different lengths in the driving range should be prepared for a golfer or a golf driving range, because it is impossible to adjust a height of the golf tee 10 considering a length of lawn, a height of a golfer, a swing of a golfer, etc. In addition, the practice golf tee 10 has a disadvantage that it may not be easily fit and installed into the installing groove 22 of the brush mattress 20 for golf practice because it is made of rubber with an insufficient rigidity.

[5] In order to solve the above problems, there has been proposed a height-adjustable device of a golf tee capable of adjusting the height of the golf tee. Korean Utility Model Registration Nos.: 20-0199143 and 20-0197142 disclose such a device for adjusting a height of the golf tee.

[6] The height-adjustable device of a golf tee generally includes a driving motor, a lifting unit lifted by the driving motor, and a controller for adjusting a height of the lifting unit by controlling operation of the driving motor. The height-adjustable device of a golf tee has an advantage that it is possible to adjust a height of the golf tee automatically, but it has a disadvantage that it is very complex and expensive, and also an additional work is required for installing the device in the conventional driving range. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention is designed to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a height-adjustable golf tee which is installed on a brush mattress for golf practice to be capable of adjusting the height of a golf ball to a minute range.

[8] It is another object of the present invention to provide a height-adjustable golf tee having compatibility with a conventional golf tee for golf practice in terms of installation so that the height-adjustable golf tee may be installed on a conventional brush mattress for golf practice.

[9] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a height-adjustable golf tee whose manufacturing cost may be significantly lowered due to its simple constituents. Technical Solution

[10] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a height- adjustable golf tee, including a golf tee body made of materials having a predetermined rigidity to be inserted into an installing groove of a brush mattress for golf practice, and having a screw thread formed within a predetermined range of inner or outer circumference along a longitudinal direction; a connector having a screw thread to be engaged with the screw thread of the golf tee body so as to optionally move up and down along a longitudinal direction of the golf tee body; and a support for supporting a golf ball on its upper end, the support being made of a material having a predetermined flexibility and coupled to the connector to optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction along with the connector; and wherein the screw thread of the golf tee body is formed from a lower end to a point near to an upper end of the golf tee body to limit ascent of the connector so that the connector is not separated from the golf tee body.

[11] Preferably, a lower surface of the support has a protrusion or a concave groove formed toward the connector, and the connector has a concave groove or a protrusion engaged with the protrusion or the concave groove of the support so that the support is adhered closely to the connector.

[12] Here, the height-adjustable golf tee preferably further includes a height-adjustable member which may be optionally installed on circumference of the golf tee body.

[13] Also, the golf tee body is preferably made of any one selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood and metal. Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in the following detailed description, taken accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[15] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional golf tee;

[16] Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing that the golf tee of Fig. 1 is installed on a brush mattress for golf practice;

[17] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[ 18] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 3 ;

[19] Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing that the golf tee of Fig. 3 is installed on a brush mattress for golf practice;

[20] Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[22] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and dictionary meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the present invention on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define terms appropriately for the best explanation. Therefore, the description proposed herein is just a preferable example for the purpose of illustrations only, not intended to limit the scope of the invention, so it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications could be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[23] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view showing that the golf tee of Fig. 3 is installed on a brush mattress for golf practice.

[24] Referring to the Figs. 3 to 5, a height-adjustable golf tee 100 includes of a golf tee body 30, a connector 40 installed to the golf tee body 30 to optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction, and a support 50 for moving up and down by reciprocation of the connector 40 and supporting a golf ball (not shown) on its upper end.

[25] The golf tee body 30 has an insert 32 for inserted into an installing groove 22 of the brush mattress 20 for golf practice.

[26] The insert 32 includes a hollow 36 formed through the golf tee body 30 from its lower end 33 to its upper end 34. A certain screw thread 37 is formed on an inner surface of the hollow 36. The screw thread 37 is engaged with a screw thread 42 of the connector 40 so that the connector 40 can optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction along the hollow 36.

[27] Preferably, the screw thread 37 of the hollow 36 is formed from the lower end 33 to a point near to the upper end 34 of the golf tee body 30 to limit ascent of the connector 40. It is intended to prevent the connector 40 from being separated from the golf tee body 30 when the connector 40 ascends.

[28] The golf tee body 30 has the lower end 33 wide enough to support the golf tee body 30. In addition, the golf tee body 30 is formed of materials having so great rigidity to be easily inserted into the installing groove 22 of the mattress 20. That is to say, the golf tee body 30 is made of a material having a predetermined rigidity, for example metallic material, plastic and wood so that it may be easily inserted into the installing groove 22.

[29] In addition, the golf tee body 30 does not preferably have a higher height than that of the mattress 20, as shown in Fig. 5. It is because, if the golf tee body 30 protrudes from the brush mattress 20 for golf practice, a golf club head collides with the golf tee body 30, therefore resulting in a severe damage to the golf club head.

[30] The connector 40 is installed in the hollow 36 to optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction. The screw thread 42 is formed on circumference of the connector 40 to be engaged with the screw thread 37 formed on the inner surface of the hollow 36, and a thread groove 44 is formed near a central region of the connector 40 to be coupled with the support 50. A coupling member 52, as described later, is installed in the thread groove 44 to couple the connector 40 and the support 50 to each other.

[31] Preferably, a concave groove 46 with a certain shape is formed in the connector 40. The concave groove 46 is engaged with a protrusion 54 formed on a lower surface of the support 50 so that the connector 40 is adhered closely to the support 50.

[32] More preferably, the concave groove 46 is formed to have a ring shape centering around the thread groove 44, and the protrusion 54 is formed in correspondence to the ring shape of the concave groove 46, as shown in Fig. 4. The concave groove 46 and the protrusion 54 facilitate installation of the coupling member 52 by adhering support 50 closely to the connector 40, as well as matching the thread groove 44 with a tapped hole 56 of the support 50.

[33] Meanwhile, Figs. 4 and 5 show that the protrusion 54 is formed on the lower surface of the support 50, and the concave groove 46 is formed in the connector 40. But it is also possible that the protrusion 54 is formed on the connector 40, and the concave groove 46 is formed on the lower surface of the support 50.

[34] The support 50 is coupled to the connector 40 to optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction. The tapped hole 56 corresponding to the thread groove 44 of the connector 40 is formed in the lower surface of the support 50. The coupling member 52 is installed in the thread groove 44 and the tapped hole 46 to couple the support 50 and the connector 40 to each other.

[35] The support 50 is made of a material having specific flexibility, for example a flexible material such as rubber. It is intended to prevent a severe damage to a golf club head caused when the support 50 collides with the golf club head. Here, the term "flexibility" means an extent of bending caused by a force from the outside subject to an elastic body.

[36] Preferably, the protrusion 54 or the concave groove is formed on a lower surface of the support 50 formed toward the connector 40. The protrusion 54 or the concave groove is described above, and not described again in detail.

[37] As described above, the height-adjustable golf tee 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention may adjust its height to a minute range by using simple configuration including the golf tee body 30, the connector 40 and the support 50.

[38] Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to another embodiment of the present invention. The height-adjustable golf tee 100a is provided with a height-adjustable member 70 for increasing the height of the mattress 20, the height-adjustable member 70 optionally installed in circumference of the golf tee body 30 so that a height of the upper surface 24 of the mattress 20 can not have a lower height than that of the upper end 34 of the golf tee body 30. The height- adjustable member 70 is allowed to prevent a damage to the golf club head or the golf tee body 30 by setting the height of the upper surface 24 of the mattress 20 to be identical to or higher than that of the upper end 34 of the golf tee body 30. Preferably, the height-adjustable member 70 is ring members which are stacked around circumference of the golf tee body 30 to increase the height of the mattress 20.

[39] In addition, Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing a height-adjustable golf tee according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The height-adjustable golf tee 100b is not provided with the protrusion 54 or the concave groove 46, but uses only the coupling member 52 to couple a connector 40b and a support 50b to each other.

[40] Meanwhile, if a component shown in Figs. 6 and 7 has the same reference numeral as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the component is identical to that of Figs. 1 to 5 with the same function.

[41] Now, a procedure of installing the height-adjustable golf tee 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention on the brush mattress 20 for golf practice will be described in detail. The height-adjustable golf tee 100 may be installed on a conventional brush mattress 20 for golf practice. That is to say, the height- adjustable golf tee 100 has compatibility with conventional golf tees 10 for golf practice in terms of installation.

[42] First, the connector 40 is installed in the hollow 36 of the golf tee body 30. The connector 40 is turned from the lower end 33 of the golf tee body 30 along the screw thread, and then mounted into the hollow 36.

[43] Subsequently, the golf tee body 30 is fitted and installed into the installing groove 22 of the mattress 20. At this time, the golf tee body 30 is allowed to be inserted into the installing groove 22 from the lower surface of the mattress 20.

[44] Next, the protrusion 54 of the support 50 and the concave groove 46 of the connector 40 are adjusted to be engaged with each other, and then the support 50 and the connector 40 are coupled to each other with the coupling member 52.

[45] After the support 50 and the connector 40 are coupled to each other, the support 50 is rotated to control its height suitably.

[46] As an alternative of such installation, both of the connector 40 and the support 50 may be assembled to the golf tee body 30, and then the golf tee 100 may be installed in the installing groove 22 of the mattress 20.

[47] As described above, the height-adjustable golf tee 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has an advantage that it may be very easily installed and used.

[48] Thought it is described in the above embodiment that the connector 40 and the support 50 are coupled to each other with the coupling member 52 that is a screw, but the coupling member may use various members such as bolt, nut and so on. Also, the connector 40 and the support 50 may be adhered to each other using an adhesive, and the adhesive and the coupling member may be used together to improve a binding force.

[49] In addition, thought it is described in the above embodiment that the height is adjusted by the screw thread 37 formed in the inner surface of the hollow 36, and the screw thread 42 formed in circumference of the connector 40, but it is also possible that a screw thread in formed on the outer circumference of the insert, and the height is adjusted by a bolt-shaped connector having a screw thread on its circumference to be engaged with the above screw thread. Industrial Applicability

[50] As described above, the height-adjustable golf tee according to the present invention has the following effects.

[51] First, it may be installed on the brush mattress for golf practice to adjust the height of a golf ball to a minute range.

[52] Second, it has compatibility with conventional golf tees for golf practice in terms of installation because it may be installed to the conventional brush mattress for golf practice. Accordingly, an additional work is not required to install the height- adjustable golf tee.

[53] Third, its manufacturing cost may be significantly reduced due to its simple con- figuration.

Claims

[1] A height-adjustable golf tee, comprising: a golf tee body made of materials having a predetermined rigidity to be inserted into an installing groove of a brush mattress for golf practice, and having a screw thread formed within a predetermined range of inner or outer circumference along a longitudinal direction; a connector having a screw thread to be engaged with the screw thread of the golf tee body so as to optionally move up and down along a longitudinal direction of the golf tee body; and a support for supporting a golf ball on its upper end, the support being made of a material having a predetermined flexibility and coupled to the connector to optionally reciprocate in a vertical direction along with the connector; wherein the screw thread of the golf tee body is formed from a lower end to a point near to an upper end of the golf tee body to limit ascent of the connector so that the connector is not separated from the golf tee body.

[2] The height-adjustable golf tee according to the claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the support has a protrusion or a concave groove formed toward the connector, and the connector has a concave groove or a protrusion engaged with the protrusion or the concave groove of the support so that the support is adhered closely to the connector.

[3] The height-adjustable golf tee according to the claim 1 or 2, further comprising a height-adjustable member optionally installed on circumference of the golf tee body.

[4] The height-adjustable golf tee according to the claim 1 or 2, wherein the golf tee body is made of any one selected from the group consisting of plastic, wood and metal.