WO2006019356A1

WO2006019356A1 - A golf ball support with a height adjustment mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2006019356A1
Application number: PCT/SG2004/000253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Whatt Kiah Lee
Original assignee: Jui-Sheng (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-20
Filing date: 2004-08-20
Publication date: 2006-02-23

Abstract

A golf ball support (1) for use with a mat (30), the golf ball support (1) having: a plurality of bristles (15) on top of which a golf ball can rest; a body (5) having an upper surface (20) from which the plurality of bristles (15) extend, the body (5) being received in a hole (25) in the mat (30) such that at least the ends of the plurality of bristles (15) extend above the mat (30); securing means (10) for securing the body (5) in the hole (25); and a height adjustment mechanism.

Description

A GOLF BALL SUPPORT WITH A HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM

Field Of The Invention,

The present invention relates to a device for supporting a golf ball while a golfer plays a tee shot, which is particularly, but not exclusively, suited to use at golf driving ranges.

Background To The Invention

Golf driving ranges are used by golfers to practice their golf swing. The advantage to the golfer is that they can hit a large number of strokes without needing to subsequently retrieve their golf balls.

Typically, driving ranges use artificial turf laid on a concrete surface. A number of tee-off areas are arranged along the surface. Balls can be struck either off the artificial turf or off tees which are designed to allow golfers to practice tee shots. Tees can be provided by a small section of longer, stiff fibres extending upwardly from the artificial turf, or a hollow rubber tube extending from a hole in the artificial turf.

One disadvantage of tees used at driving ranges is that over time the tee can be damaged by weathering and/or by being repeatedly struck by the head of golf clubs. It can be quite difficult to place a golf ball on a damaged tee. This is a particular problem with tees consisting of longer, stiff fibres as in order to replace them it is usually necessary to replace the entire tee area.

While the use of the replaceable hollow rubber tube to some extent alleviates this problem, these hollow tube tees are still easily damaged. Further, the ball does not sit on such tees as it would on grass on a golf course. As golf driving ranges are in part, intended to replicate real golfing conditions as close as possible. Adverse conditions which affect the golfer's stroke detract from the intention of the driving range.

Summary Of The Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf ball support for use with a mat having a hole therein, the golf ball support having: a plurality of upwardly extending bristles on top of which a golf ball can rest; a body having an upper surface from which the plurality of bristles extend, the body being received in a hole in the mat such that at least the ends of the plurality of bristles extend above the mat; securing means for securing the body in the hole; and a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the ends of said bristles relative to the mat.

In a preferred embodiment, the securing means is a base plate provided at the end of the body distal from said bristles.

In a preferred embodiment, the height adjusting mechanism comprises a screw threaded shaft extending from an end of said body distal from said bristles and a corresponding screw threaded bore in said base plate.

In another embodiment, the height adjusting means comprises a screw thread shaft extending from said base plate and said body has a corresponding threaded bore.

In one embodiment said body comprises a stem member and a bristle support member from which said bristles extend, said bristle support member being detachably affixable to said stem member.

Thus, the bristle support member may be replaced without replacing the entire support.

The bristle support member may have a clip for affixing said bristle support member to said stem member. The clip may be a C-shaped section of said bristle support member.

Thus, the body of support can be inserted through the hole until the flange abuts the mat. When the mat is laid on the ground, the support is secured to the mat by virtue of the base plate being held between the ground and the mat. The height of the device can be altered by means of the screw threaded arrangement to allow for mats of varying thickness or for different desired golf ball heights.

Preferably, the plurality of bristles are generally evenly distributed across the upper surface of the body.

Even more preferably, the plurality of bristles are distributed across a circle on the upper surface of the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the lengths of the plurality of bristles are varied such that the free ends of the bristles form a depression towards the centre of the plurality of bristles.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising: a golf ball support as described above, said body comprising a stem member and a bristle support member from which said bristles extend; and one or more additional bristle support members; wherein said bristle support member and said additional bristle support members are each detachably affixable to said stem member.

The bristle support member and the additional bristle support members may differ from one another in at least one bristle characteristic.

Thus, the kit might include a variety of bristle support members, each with bristles of different lengths, compositions or stiffness.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

In order that the invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf ball support according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the golf ball support;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of a bristle support member of the golf ball support of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bristle support member of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the bristle support of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bristle support member of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a golf ball support of another embodiment.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 illustrates a golf ball support 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The support 1 has a body 5 which is attached to a base plate 10. The base plate 10 is disc shaped. The body is formed from a stem member 6 and a bristle support member 14 which clips to the stem member 6 by means of clip 16- The clip 16 is received within a recessed portion 7 of stem member 6. The recessed portion 7 is defined by the area between tapered upper portion 9 of the stem member and the lower portion 11 of the stem member. The tapered upper portion 9 is shaped like a conventional golf tee head as bristle support member 14 can also act as a golf tee adaptor.

Further details of the bristle support member 14 are shown in Figures 3 to 6.

The bristle support member 14 has a C-shaped clip 16. The clip 16 is joined to the head 30 by a connecting member 17. Connecting member 17 is proportioned such that the tapered head 9 of stem member 6 can be located between the head 30 and the clip 16.

Clip 16 is flexible so that it can be removed from the stem member 6.

A set of bristles 15 extend from the head 30 of the bristle support member. The bristles 15 provide a support for a golf ball (not shown) during a shot. The set of bristles 15 are distributed through a circular area on the head 30.

The support member 14 is made detachable from the stem member 6 so that the user can readily replace the bristle support member and bristles when the bristles are worn out; the stem member 6 and base plate 10 can then be re¬ used. Furthermore, this allows the user to swap bristle support members so that he or she can use a variety of bristle support members with bristles of different lengths, compositions or stiffness to suit his or her individual style, whilst using a single base plate and stem member.

A golf ball (not shown) is placed on the upper most surface 20 of the bristles 15. To aid the support of a golf ball on the bristles 15, the uppermost ends of the bristles 15 are shaped to create a generally concave surface.

One advantage of the bristles 15 over a rubber tube type tee is that the bristles 15 offer less resistance to the movement of the golf club head. Consequently, there is less disturbance of the golf club head's position or speed.

A height adjustment mechanism is provided by providing a screw threaded shaft 8 and a corresponding screw threaded bore 12 in base plate 12. By adjusting the extent to which the shaft is screwed into bore 12, the overall height of the golf ball support 1 can be adjusted, thus allowing for variations in the height of the bristles relative to a mat having a hole therethrough. This allows the golf ball support 1 to be used with mats of varying thickness and the height at which a golf ball is supported to be adjusted as desired.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the positions of the threaded shaft and bore could be reversed with the shaft carried by the base plate instead. Alternatively, a separate threaded member could be provided for use with threaded bores in both the stem member and the base plate.

In use, the golf ball support 1 is inserted through a hole in a mat from the underside of the mat. The mat rests on a hard surface, such as concrete. Typically, mats are made of a relatively thick artificial turf. Once inserted through the hole, the bristles 15 of the support 1 extend upward from the mat 30.

The overall height of the golf ball support is then adjusted by means of the height adjustment mechanism described above so that the bristle support member 14 is located within the thickness of the mat with its upper surface (i.e. head 30) level with the top surface of the mat. As a result, the bristles 15 alone extend above the mat. In this way, the bristle support member 14 is effectively concealed and will not be struck by the golf club; this reduces the likelihood of the bristle support member 14 being dislodged from the stem member 6.

The base plate 10 provides a means to secure the golf ball support 1 to the mat 30. This is achieved by the weight of the mat on the base plate 10, effectively holding the base 10 between the mat and the hard surface. Thus, unintentional dislodging of the golf ball support 1 is prevented.

It is envisaged that many alternate forms of the base 10 would achieve the same desired function of securing the support 1 to the mat 30. For example, the base 10 could be in the form of a cross or star with a number of "arms".

Replacing or moving the golf ball support 1 is simply a matter of lifting the mat and removing the golf ball support 1. A replacement golf ball support 1 can then be inserted into the hole 25, or the golf ball support 1 can be moved to another similar hole in the same mat. Alternatively, the bristle support member can be removed from the stem member and replaced.

In use, a golfer will be able to place a golf ball on the upper surface formed by the ends of the bristles 15. Due to the slightly concave upper surface, the ball will be less likely to fall or be blown off the support 1. During the impact between the golf club head and the golf ball, the bristles 15 will be pushed aside by the movement of the bristles 15. The bristles 15 are sufficiently stiff to support the weight of a golf ball. Furthermore, the bristles 15 are sufficiently resilient that they are not easily damaged.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment where the body 60 is a one piece cylindrical member. Otherwise the golf ball support is constructed in accordance with the above embodiment.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A golf ball support for use with a mat having a hole therein, the golf ball support having: a plurality of bristles on top of which a golf ball can rest; a body having an upper surface from which the plurality of bristles extend, the body being received in a hole in the mat such that at least the ends of the plurality of bristles extend above the mat; securing means for securing the body in the hole; and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the ends of said bristles relative to said mast.

2. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means is a base plate provided at the end of the body distal from said bristles.

3. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 2, wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a screw threaded shaft extending from an end of said body distal from said bristles and a corresponding screw threaded bore in said base plate.

4. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 2, wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a screw threaded shaft carried by said base plate and a corresponding screw threaded bore in an end of said body distal from said bristles.

5. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a stem member and a bristle support member from which said bristles extend, said bristle support member being detachably affixable to said stem member.

6. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bristle support member has a clip for affixing said bristle support member to said stem member.

7. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 6, wherein said stem member has a recessed portion within which said clip is received.

8. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 6, wherein said clip is a C-shaped section of said bristle support member.

9. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles are generally evenly distributed across the upper surface of the body.

10. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of bristles are distributed across a circle on the upper surface of the body.

11. A golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lengths of the plurality of bristles are varied such that the free ends of the bristles form a depression towards the centre of the plurality of bristles.

12. A kit comprising: a golf ball support as claimed in claim 1, said body comprising a stem member and a bristle support member from which said bristles extend; and one or more additional bristle support members; wherein said bristle support member and said additional bristle support members are each detachably affixable to said stem member.

13. A kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein said bristle support member and said additional bristle support members differ from one another in at least one bristle characteristic.