WO2012110731A1

WO2012110731A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: WO2012110731A1
Application number: PCT/FR2012/050301
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roland Maurice JAFFRE; Loïc Jean René JAFFRE
Original assignee: Jaffre Roland Maurice; Jaffre Loic Jean Rene
Priority date: 2011-02-15
Filing date: 2012-02-10
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: FR2971430A1; FR2971431A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a golf tee (1) comprising a ballasted base (2) consisting of asymmetrical shapes with a horizontal surface for resting on the ground and a vertical shaft (3) removably secured to the base (2) and projecting above the latter, the shaft (3) comprising, at the top end thereof, a wide seat (30) for supporting and positioning a golf ball (4). The cylindrical shaft (3), positioned as close as possible to the ball impact area, includes a vertical inner bore (36) which is open at the top end thereof in order to form the seat (30) for the ball (4). The shaft has circumferential areas (37) for clearing seats (30), which are evenly spaced apart from one another along a vertical axis, each of said areas determining a geometric plane (P) for cutting the shaft at a preselected height and manifested as external markings (38), each plane (P) being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft.

Description

GOLF TEE

Technical area.

The present invention is in the field of equipment used for playing the game of golf and relates more specifically to a new type of tee.

State of the art

We know that a golf course is organized in a succession of courses or holes each comprising a starting or staking area followed by a longer or shorter stretch known as "fairways" extended by a "green" in which is formed in the ground, a cavity or hole, provided to receive a golf ball. As we know, the goal of the game is to bring the ball into the hole from the tee in a minimum of shots or strikes given by a club.

For the first shot of each hole of the course considered, given obligatorily on a suitable starting area, is used a golf tee whose purpose is to keep the ball a few centimeters above the ground, according to a height dimension adapted to the type of golf club used, in a stable position to facilitate the strike.

Typically, these golf tees comprise a head having a seat-shaped bowl shape and a support rod extending under the head.

The seat shape of the head is provided to receive the golf ball and maintain it in a stable position. The support rod is terminated by a pointed end to be plugged vertically into the ground. Such tees, widely used, are made of wood or synthetic material.

These tees have the disadvantage of being brittle, especially under the effect of the striking action and their life, especially when used by novice players or too inexperienced, is too often limited to a few blows even at once.

The scattering of fragments resulting from the breakage of the tees results in a visual pollution of the starting area and the immediate surroundings. In addition, the material of which they are made does not confer on them any character of bio-degradability. Thus to the visual pollution can be added a physicochemical pollution of the ground.

In addition, under the impact of the blow, they can be projected remotely and leave the playground thus forcing the player to a search more or less long and tedious which is likely to slow the game, whose duration, is legally restricted, especially in competition.

In addition, when, in particular, the soil of the departure area is frozen or hardened, the introduction of the tee into the ground may be difficult or impossible and may result in breakage of the stem and, to say the least, difficulty. to bring the head of the tee to the height desired by the golfer. Moreover, this difficulty of introduction can result in an oblique depression of the tee rod. Moreover, this type of tee does not provide optimum stability to the ball, particularly because of a small bearing surface of the ball (8 to 10 mm) and the shape of this surface. For these reasons, the ball under the combined effect of its weight and side forces due to the wind, for example, can leave its seat thus causing additional losses of time. This defect can be accentuated by an oblique depression of the tee in the ground.

Also known from the state of the art golf tees having a horizontal ground support base having at the distal end a bowl shape adapted to receive the ball and at the proximal end a weight mass for ground maintenance. Such tees known in particular GB 175 569, do not need to be driven into the ground, their positioning being ensured by the weight of the weight ballast. However, these tees do not allow adjustment of the height of the ball above the ground. Tees with

similar characteristics and suffering from the same defects are described in particular in GB patent 297 020 (the tee object of this patent must also be plugged on the ground), GB 18540 and US 2661 213.

The tees of the type of GB 175 569 have a base of regular shape, for example rectangular, which can determine an alignment axis. For this type of tee, an alignment axis can also be easily determined by the bowl shape and the ballast mass. Due to such peculiarities, the player may position the tee so that the axis of alignment points towards the objective or is perpendicular to a direction pointing to the objective Gold such features are contrary to the rules of the game of golf and may be prohibited from use.

US Patent 1,542,514 shows golf tees of different heights formed on the same transportable carpet.

Each tee is formed of a barrel surmounted by a seat provided to receive and hold the ball in position. To the carpet are associated ground fastening means, these means being constituted by pins engaged in through holes formed in the carpet and provided to be plugged into the ground.

Such provisions appear mainly adapted to the game training on practices and do not appear to be suitable for use on a course, mainly because of their congestion and the loss of time that can generate their implementation on the departure area.

In addition, the regular geometrical shape that the carpet presents may constitute, to a certain extent, an alignment mark.

US Pat. No. 3,406,977 shows a golf tee having a shank mounted on a base in which is engaged a rod whose upper end forms a seat adapted to receive and position the ball. In order to adjust and adjust the seat position in relation to the base, the rod is slidably engaged in the barrel and the latter and the rod comprise cooperating detent means.

But this type of tee is complex and fragile, not easily transportable and has an obvious ability to help play and alignment, which is essentially a practice device.

Also known from the state of the art, US Patent 7,846,044. This patent shows a golf tee for learning or training. This golf tee is not intended to be used on the golf course but on a driving range.

For this golf tee the rod is threaded and is engaged in screwing in a tapped hole in a vertical shaft formed on a base of support on the ground.

The tees as described do not need to be sunk into the ground for their positioning and provide a solution to this problem. However, the solution provided which consists in covering the base with a heavy and bulky carpet is only applicable to the tees for practices. This category also includes tees covered by US patent applications

2008/0102988, US 2006/0035727, WO 2004/050194 and US 7846/044. These tees are specifically adapted to training areas and some are always at risk of breakage and loss.

In addition, some of the above-mentioned patents and patent applications also provide a solution to the adjustment of the height of the seat relative to the ground, but this solution is only applied to the tees for practices. In addition, the solution adopted, without being of particular complexity, is for the intended application of a cost too important.

Moreover under the effect of a striking too violent, the height adjustment means may be damaged and rendered inoperative.

Also known from the state of the art, as illustrated by the patent application CA 2,617,757, a golf tee comprising a rod with seat in the upper part and a support plate on the ground provided for receiving the rod . Height adjustment is performed by cutting the rod. The possibilities of adjustment are limited to three different heights, moreover these different heights are materialized by annular grooves which weaken the tee, which is moreover exposed to breakage and flight and loss. In this category is also the object tee of US Pat. No. 7,513,833, whose equipment is heavy and has an obvious alignment aid. This patent does not mention the existence of height adjustment possibilities. Similarly, the object tee of US Pat. No. 4,106,772 shows a bulky, alignable platen, which makes it more a device for driving range. This patent does not mention the existence of ball height adjustment.

Also known from the state of the art tees whose degree of sinking in the soil is adjustable. Thus the rod of these tees receives a driving abutment, this stop being movable along the rod. Such an embodiment can be illustrated by the US patent

7,717,811. The disadvantage of this tee is its lack of stability. Moreover it can be propelled to distance under the impact of the club's strike. In the same category are the tees objects of patent applications EP 1 894 607 and US 2005/0003907, the latter application does not specify height adjustment mode.

Also known from patent application US 2010/0173729 a golf tee, frustoconical tabular height adjustable. The change in height causes the diameter of the seat of the ball to increase so that the ball is closer to that of the ball. Thus for low heights the risk of striking the tee before striking the ball is increased.

Finally for the various tees mentioned above have most often not been solved the problems of breakage and / or flight under the effect of the impact of the golf club.

Presentation of the invention.

The present invention aims to simultaneously solve all the disadvantages mentioned by implementing a new type of golf tee, which is shatterproof and captive and for which the adjustment of the seat height of the ball can be performed in a manner simple and inexpensive while guaranteeing a chosen dimension in a height range and a stable and constant ball base whatever the height adopted.

Another object of the present invention is the implementation of a golf tee equipped with a sole to be placed on a starting area, without the need for ground registration, this sole being shaped to allow proper positioning. of the tee without constituting any alignment mark.

For this purpose, the golf tee is formed of a dense horizontal sole and a vertical shaft integral with the sole and projecting above the latter, said barrel comprising at the upper end, a seat of support and positioning of a golf ball, is essentially characterized in that the cylindrical shaft comprises a vertical internal bore opening at the upper end to form the seat of the ball, and said barrel, has circumferential zones of clearance of seats, regularly spaced from each other along a vertical axis, said zones each determining a geometrical plane P of

severing the barrel, each plane P being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said barrel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the different seats that presents the drum of the tee are identical.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel is made of flexible elastomeric material to greatly reduce the risk of being damaged or broken.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bearing diameter of the bale in the seat of the drum is equal to or greater than 12 mm and preferably equal to 14 mm. Such an arrangement forms a very large and very stable support for the golf ball.

The cutting of the drum to the required height allows to release a seat of

positioning of the ball. The sectioning can be operated easily using an instrument sharp with a rigid and thin blade.

It is therefore conceivable that thanks to this arrangement, the adjustment of the height of the seat of the ball relative to the ground is made not by adjusting the degree of depression of the barrel in a guide body, but simply by prior modification and outside. playing time, the height of the latter.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the different seats are formed by grooves molded into the barrel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the grooves are internal to the barrel and open into the bore of the latter and reference lines are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel, respectively according to the same height levels as the seats of the barrel. positioning of the ball.

Alternatively, according to another characteristic of the invention, the grooves are formed in the barrel from the cylindrical outer face of the latter and each groove has a cross section Vee.

According to this arrangement, each groove constitutes a cutting guide.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel comprises at its lower end a horizontal base for attachment to the horizontal foot support sole.

This arrangement ensures the maintenance of the verticality of the barrel and allows easy installation of the tee on the ground without any effort and very quickly, on the chosen area of the starting area. It also allows a quick and simple movement of the tee to take into account the state of the soil in this area.

In addition the sole forms, by its lower face, a particularly stable support, ensuring the verticality of the barrel. The risks of untimely falls of the ball are thus considerably reduced.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lower surface of the soleplate is flat and smooth.

Such an arrangement ensures very quickly and easily, the movement of the tee in search of its better positioning on the playing area.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the barrel has at its base, immediately above the base, a clipping groove and the sole comprises a through bore with a lower counterbore to accommodate the base of the barrel, the diameter of the bore, above the counterbore, being less than the outer diameter of the barrel, the upper part of the hole above the counterbore being delimited by a circular, elastically deformable lip intended to penetrate into the clipping groove.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the diameter of the bore above the counterbore and greater than the diameter of the barrel measured at the bottom of the groove in order to achieve a tightening of the circular lip in the clipping groove.

By this arrangement, the shaft is removably attached to the ground support plate and can be easily removed and replaced, this being further facilitated by the high elasticity of the components. Similarly, with this arrangement, the golfer can have several barrels of different heights, the choice of each of these for attachment to the sole, will depend in particular on the choice of the club.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole of the tee has an asymmetric contour, substantially in the form of a lunula, having first and second ends both convex, and between the two ends, two opposite longitudinal edges, one of which is convex and the other generally concave, said contour being formed of a succession of curves, and the shank being disposed at a distance from the first end of the sole and closer to one of the longitudinal edges of the latter, the smallest distance between the vertical central axis of the barrel and the corresponding longitudinal edge being less than the radius of a golf ball so that said ball, once installed on the seat that includes the barrel, or by a spherical cap constituting zone of impact, overflowing laterally with respect to the corresponding edge of the sole.

According to this arrangement, the ball once in place on the seat is located entirely to the right of the sole with the exception of a spherical cap in lateral overflow constituting the optimal area of impact of the golf club on the ball. Such an arrangement intuitively allows an adequate positioning of the tee on the starting area without creating alignment marks. Thus the user, considering the direction of movement of the golf club, will be encouraged to position the sole of the tee so that the impact zone of the golf ball is located upstream of said sole.

According to another characteristic of the tee according to the invention, at least the portion of the drum containing the ball positioning seats is vertical and is eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of said base and the normal projection of said portion on the sole is located near the convex edge of said sole. Such an arrangement only reinforces the technical effect previously explained.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the two ends of the lunula shape that presents the contour of the sole are formed by two circular circumference arcs of different radii.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the longitudinal edges are formed by a succession of circumferential arcs of circle, two consecutive arcs having different radii.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the longitudinal edges are connected to the two ends of the lunula shape according to common tangents. According to another characteristic of the invention, two consecutive arcs of each longitudinal edge are connected to each other by a common tangent.

The arrangements as described are suitable to prevent the formation of alignment marks.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the shaft is attached to the sole between the concave edge of the profile of the latter and a line joining the center of the two arcs of circular circumference forming the two ends of the contour of the lunula formed by the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole is weighted.

Such an arrangement keeps the tee in place on the playing area in the proper stable position and avoids the use of pins and other elements in points to secure it to the ground.

In addition, this mass of ballast limits the stroke of the tee when the latter is

possibly or accidentally propelled by the golf club under the effect of a shock applied by the latter.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole has near the first end a boss forming or integrating a ballast mass.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the distance between the boss and the barrel is adapted in particular to the width of the clubs of the driver type namely the wider clubs, so that the trajectory of the latter, when striking the ball, is removed from said boss.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ballast mass may consist partly or entirely of a measurement and calculation unit associated with a display screen and probes for measuring the degree of humidity and temperature. of the air and / or probes for measuring the speed of the swing, as well as a clock for displaying the time and the duration of the game, these measured parameters being displayed on the screen of the measurement or calculation unit or any other remote display device and connected to the central unit by a radio link.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the datalogger integrates a map of the golf course and a GPS-type receiver (global positioning system) able to indicate the points of positioning of the golf tee in relation to the objectives and points of the golf course. impacts chosen by the player, these data being displayed on the display screen.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the measurement and calculation unit is able to record the time parameters of a main user, and possibly the partner player (s).

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole has a suspension through bore. Such an arrangement facilitates the transport of the tee by suspension to a link worn by the player and attached to the piercing of the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole is weighted with a mass of at least fifty grams, the mass of the soleplate increased by that of the ballast being equal to less than one hundred and fifty grams.

Main advantages of the invention.

The invention notably offers the following advantages:

- to be able to choose at 3 mm near the height of the ball, and to be certain, without verification, to always have this same rating, depending on the club used,

- Never expose yourself to the breakage or the flight of the ball support shaft,

- to be able to very quickly change this dimension, in case of change of club, by simple quick replacement of the barrel, and to be able to choose this dimension in a range of height from 26 mm to 71mm or more on demand,

- to be able to simply drop the device on the ground, without any effort and very quickly, on the chosen zone on the starting area, and to move it just as easily and quickly, to take into account the state of the ground in this zone at his convenience. In addition, its lower surface completely flat, because devoid of roughness, allows to quickly ensure its best positioning on the playing area (horizontality, stance optimization),

- To be able to have a large ball support seat, very stable, allowing a quick positioning of the ball, and avoid untimely falls of it (wind, rough terrain ...),

- to note only exceptionally a distant propulsion of the tee, in case of eccentric blow at the stake stake, with the certainty of locating very quickly the tee possibly propelled, because of its large size and weighted weighted mass that 'it contains,

- to be used indifferently by right-handed and left-handed players,

- to be able to count on a very large number of uses, both for the drum and even more for the sole, as demonstrated by the technical tests carried out confidentially over a long period,

- to integrate on demand, an onboard technical unit, able to give the player a lot of information and indications about his game: the list of these data can be very important, and to mention the most interesting (air temperature) , hygrometry, possibility to note various parameters of the score and the game, speed of the swing, angles of attack of the ball, GPS positioning on the ground ...),

- to be portable, economical, ecological, practical, reliable and user-friendly and to respond to a multifunctional mission.

Brief presentation of figures and drawings.

Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will appear on reading the description of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee supporting a golf ball,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf tee, without the golf ball, FIG. 3 is a view from above of the golf tee according to the invention,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shaft of the golf tee according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a sectional bottom view of the sole along the line VI-VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the golf tee along the line VI-VI of FIG. 3, on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the golf tee along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3,

- Figure 8 shows in perspective an assortment of drums of various heights for golf tee according to the invention.

Best way to realize the invention.

In particular, FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6 show a golf tee 1 manually

transportable, comprising a horizontal sole 2 ground support to which is secured in a removable manner a vertical shaft 3 projecting above the upper face of the sole, this drum having a cylindrical upper vertical portion, forming in the upper part, away from the sole 2, an upper seat 30, cleared, for a golf ball 4. The vertical part of the barrel is hollow and present under the upper seat, seats 30 waiting, masked, and in connection therewith, circumferential seat clearance zones 37 circumferentially spaced along the height of the drum, each determining a sectioning plane P of the drum, perpendicular to the vertical axis thereof and corresponding to the most used ball heights. Thus by cutting the vertical portion of the barrel according to the clearance zone 37 corresponding to the height chosen by the user, the upper part of the barrel is removed and a new seat 30 is released to receive the ball at the desired height. The different seats 30 are all identical and each determine a ball support circle with a diameter equal to or greater than 12 mm and preferably equal to 14 mm.

The horizontal sole 2, elastically deformable, made for example of a material of the elastomer type, having a Shore hardness of between 50 and 80, has a flat bottom horizontal face of ground support, free of asperities and a planar upper surface parallel to the previous one. The outline of this sole, while being asymmetrical, preferably marries, without being limiting, substantially that of a lunula. Thus the profile of this sole 2 has an opposite first and second end, convex between which extend a convex longitudinal edge and a substantially concave longitudinal edge, opposite the previous.

The profile of the sole is formed of a succession of asymmetrical curves, in the form of circumferential arcs of circles. Circumferential arcs of circles constituting the first and second ends have different radii. The longitudinal edges are connected to both ends of the lunula shape according to common tangents. Still according to the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal edges are formed by a succession of circumferential arcs of circle, two consecutive arcs having different radii. Moreover two consecutive arcs of each longitudinal edge are connected to each other by a common tangent. In the preferred embodiment, the substantially concave longitudinal edge is slightly convex over part of its length, preferably from the second end of the lunula.

The sole is weighted, and for this purpose near the first end of the lunula shape, it is provided with a weight ballast 25, for example metal, value between 50 and 100 grams. Such an arrangement makes it possible to ensure the stability of the golf tee on the departure area while being of a reduced weight for the comfort of its transport. In addition, the ballast that includes the tee, limits the race of the flight of the latter under the effect of a violent blow.

This ballast mass 25 can be fixed on the upper face of the soleplate and form a boss 250 on this face, but preferably it is embedded in the soleplate 2 and more precisely in a recessed boss 250 that comprises the latter on its upper face, near the first end. This boss 250 may be provided with an upper cover, for easy access to the weight ballast.

A distance from the boss 250, and near the second end and the convex longitudinal edge, the sole 2 carries the barrel 3. According to an embodiment of the invention, the smallest distance between the convex edge of the sole 2 and the intersection of the vertical central axis of the upper vertical portion of the barrel 3 with the upper face of the sole is less than the value of the radius of a golf ball, this radius being normalized. Thus the ball 4, once installed on the seat that has the barrel in the upper part is, by a spherical cap and one, overflowing laterally with respect to the corresponding edge of the sole.

Several adjacent points of the convex edge are distant from said intersection, of a value less than or equal to the value of the radius of the ball. This set of points, as can be seen in Figure 3, form a segment AB of this convex edge and only one. As can be seen in this figure, the segment AB and said intersection determine an angular sector a'b '. A striking movement of the ball occurring in this sector, will lead to hit the latter before hitting the sole and will have a high degree of efficiency. The other points of the contour of the sole 2 do not meet this characteristic so that any strike movement of the ball outside the sector a'b 'above-defined will be accompanied by a high risk of striking the sole 2 before the ball hits.

It may be noted that the sector a'b 'is lateral to a straight line passing through the central axis of the shank 3 and the center of the first end of the sole 2. This sector a'b' is also lateral to a straight line joining the center the second end of the sole 2 and the central axis of the barrel 3 and a third straight line joining the centers of the two ends of the sole 2. It can also be noted that the bisecting plane of this sector is oblique with respect to these rights. These provisions make impossible any attempts to align characteristic elements of the sole in the direction of the chosen objective.

Advantageously, the sole 2 has a through hole 23 suspension to a flexible link intended to be attached to one of the player's clothing or fixed to the golf bag of the player.

To receive the barrel, the sole is provided with a cylindrical through hole 20, vertical axis, made between the lower and upper faces. This through bore has a lower counterbore 200 opening into the lower face of the sole 2.

The piercing through 20 of the sole is designed to fit into shape interlocking, the lower part of the barrel 3 to maintain the latter in a vertical position.

The barrel 3 cylindrical, elastically deformable in flexion, compression, traction and torsion is made by molding a material capable of giving it impact resistance properties to not be damaged under the impact of the golf club and flexibility to not damage the golf club. Advantageously, the material used will be an elastomer with a Shore hardness of between 30 and 80.

The barrel 3 has in the lower part a cylindrical base 32 intended to be arranged in the countersink 200 of the bore 20. This cylindrical base 32 is provided with a planar and horizontal upper surface intended to be applied against the bottom of the countersink 200, that is to say background being flat and horizontal. It also has a flat bottom surface parallel to the previous one. The longitudinal axis of the vertical portion of the barrel 3 is perpendicular to these two surfaces.

Preferably, the value of the diameter of the cylindrical base 32 is equal, close to the functional value, to the value of the diameter of the countersink 200 and the value of the thickness of the base 32 is equal to the depth of the countersink 200. by this latter arrangement, the base 32 can not form thick under the sole 2 and contributes to the stability and horizontality of the latter on the ground. By way of non-limiting example, the diameter of the cylindrical base 32 will be equal to 40 mm.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the shaft 3, immediately above the base 32, is equipped with a continuous clipping groove 35 of quadrangular cross-section, and the upper part of the bore 20 is delimited by a circular lip 210, elastically deformable, intended to be engaged in slight tightening in this clipping groove 35.

The thickness of this lip 210 is equal, functionally close to the width of the groove 35. In another way, the diameter of the bore 20 measured above the counterbore 200 is smaller than the diameter of the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel 3 and slightly less than the diameter of the shank measured at the bottom of the groove 35. In addition, the length of the bore measured between the upper face of the sole and the bottom of the countersink 200 is equal to the functional clearance close to the width of the clipping groove 35. Due to these arrangements, the upper face of the base 32 is applied, plane against plane, against the bottom of the counterbore 200 and the barrel 3 is axially immobilized in translation in the bore 20 of the sole 2. Thus these provisions contribute to ensure the perpendicularity of the barrel 3 relative to the lower surface of the sole 2. Again because of these provisions, the annular upper face of the groove 35 is firmly applied against the upper face of the plate and also contributes to ensure maintaining the perpendicularity of the barrel. To avoid that under the effect of a violent impact on the barrel 3 the part of the barrel immediately above the groove does not tilt into the bore 20, said barrel 3, immediately above the groove 35, presents a widening whose base constitutes the upper face of said groove 35. Such an arrangement increases the diameter of the annular upper face of the groove 35. In the preferred embodiment, the barrel 3 above the groove is arranged in a trunk cone, the large base corresponding to the upper face of the groove 35.

The arrangements as described allow rapid assembly and disassembly of the drum 3 for replacement, for example.

Under the impact of particularly violent blows, at stake, the barrel 3, in extreme cases, can take an oblique position relative to the vertical and remain in this position. This is because under the effect of the shock on the shaft 3, the connection between the groove 35 and the clipping lip 210 may be partially broken due to the deformation of the base. To overcome this drawback, during the molding of the barrel, in the base 32 may be embedded a rigid insert 320, for example metal, in the form of a disc, adapted to increase the rigidity of said base and prevent deformation. This provision being useful only for extreme uses constitutes an alternative.

As indicated above, it is preferable that the barrel 3 and more precisely the vertical part of the latter equipped with the seats 30, extends vertically closer to one of the edges of the soleplate, preferably closer to the longitudinal edge. convex of the latter. But such an arrangement must not result in a decrease in the diameter of the base 32 which must remain large enough for said base can fulfill the function of maintaining the verticality of the barrel 3. For this reason, at least the part of the drum containing the seats 30 is eccentric with respect to the vertical axis of symmetry of said base 32. According to the preferred embodiment, the lower part of the barrel 3 is inclined relative to the vertical and is rooted in the central part of the seat. In this embodiment, there is provided an angular setting means of the base of the barrel in the bore 20 and more particularly in the countersink 200 that this latter has so that the vertical part of the barrel 3 is correctly positioned. relative to the corresponding convex edge of the soleplate 2. This angular wedging means, only shown in FIG. 6, preferably consists of a vertical pin 33 projecting from FIG. r the upper face of the base 32 and a vertical hole 26 formed in the thickness the sole from the bottom of the countersink 200, this vertical bore 26 receiving the pin 33.

Alternatively, the pin may be formed protruding on the bottom of the counterbore 200 and the bore may be formed in the thickness of the base 32.

According to another embodiment, the shaft 3 is rectilinear along its entire height and said shaft and the base 32 are eccentric relative to each other. The upper part of the bore 20 and the counterbore 200 are also eccentric with respect to each other, the eccentricity values being equal.

One of the interests of this arrangement is that it prohibits any rotation of the barrel relative to the sole.

The vertical part of the barrel 3 along its vertical longitudinal axis of symmetry is provided with a cylindrical bore 36. This bore 36 opens at the upper end of the barrel. Preferably the bore 36 passes right through the barrel 3, but alternatively, this bore may be blind in its lower part embedded in the sole.

As mentioned above, the barrel 3 has circumferential seat clearance areas 30, regularly spaced along the height of the barrel, each determining a sectioning plane P of the barrel, perpendicular to the vertical axis of the latter and corresponding to the heights most used ball. Thus the total height of the barrel can be understood after cutting in a range of 26 mm to 71 mm and more on demand. Preferably, the spacing pitch of each clearance zone 37 will be of the order of 3 mm. It goes without saying that these dimensions of heights and spacing are only given as a purely indicative example and that they contain no limiting character.

Thus the barrel 3 can be cut to the required height, by the player, using a cutting instrument for example of the type of those with thin blades and rigid. Thanks to these provisions the player can form, outside or before the game phase, an assortment of perfectly individualized drums and adapted to different heights of ball required for its various golf clubs. An example of such an assortment is shown in FIG.

According to the preferred embodiment, the seat release zones 37 consist of grooves formed in the barrel 3.

Still according to the preferred embodiment, the grooves 37 are internal to the barrel 3 and are formed in the latter from the bore 36. According to this arrangement, the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel opposite each groove 37 has a mark 38 in the form of circumferential line formed for example by a recess made in the barrel during molding of the latter, or by marking with a suitable ink. The cutting of the drum to the required height will be carried out according to the corresponding mark 38. According to this embodiment, each groove 37 will have an asymmetrical V-shaped cross-section having a horizontal upper side located in the plane of section P which contains the mark 38 and an inclined lower side. This arrangement after cutting reveals in the upper end of the barrel a frustoconical flare, narrowing down whose upper part is the seat 30 of the ball 4. The purpose of frustoconical flaring is to achieve under the seat clearance. By this clearance, the ball will be in contact only with the seat 30. Thus the support will always be isostatic and never hyperstatic. The diameter of the seat is adapted to the diameter of the ball and must be sufficient to ensure proper maintenance of the latter without constituting a gene for impact. In addition, the thickness of the barrel (thickness measured between the internal bore of the barrel and the outer cylindrical surface of the latter) must be large enough to give the barrel the required mechanical strength. It would be possible to make a barrel without groove 37, the diameter of the bore 36 would be the diameter of the seat 30. But such a solution, not to reduce the thickness of the barrel would lead to increase its outer diameter and by way of consequently increase the risk of being struck by the golf club during the swing. Such an increase in diameter would also increase the amount of material necessary for the realization of the barrel 3.

It is therefore understood that the presence of the clearances under the seats 30 is a suitable solution for the coexistence of contradictory technical requirements namely a seat diameter 30 large enough for good ball stability, a sufficiently large barrel thickness and an outer diameter barrel size, included in acceptable values with regard to technical and economic requirements.

According to an alternative embodiment, the grooves 37 are formed in the barrel 3 from the cylindrical outer face of the latter and each have a symmetrical cross section Vé.

In this embodiment, each groove 37 in addition to the formation of a seat release area constitutes a cutting guide.

The tee as described may incorporate into the boss 250 a central 5 of measurements and calculations constituting all or part of the ballast mass 25.

This measurement and calculation unit will be electrically associated with humidity and air temperature measurement probes, with two proximity sensors installed at a distance from each other and able to detect the proximity of the golf club for calculating the speed of the swing by measuring the passage time of the club against these two sensors. It will also be able to integrate a map of the golf course and a GPS receiver to indicate on the map the positioning points of the golf tee. These different probes, sensors and receiver will be arranged in the boss 250.

It will include a LCD-like display screen on which the values of the measured and / or calculated parameters will be displayed. These parameters can be displayed on a remote screen connected by radio to the measurement and calculation center.

The control unit will also include control keys for the call of the various integrated programs and the display of measured and / or calculated parameters and coordinates. geographical.

With the help of the keys it will be possible to record the game parameters of the main player (and of his potential competition partners, two to three in general) on a given course and in particular the following elements: par, hits, score gross. The station will be able to give in real time per hole and cumulated, the cumulative results for each hole and finals in raw score, and net, stableford stroke. It will also be able to record, for at least the main player, additional statistical data such as (number of affected fairways, number of greens in regulation, number of puts), the corresponding program giving the cumulative results at the end of the game. The data to be recorded are entered into memory manually by the main player using the keys.

We have previously described a golf tee whose barrel 3 is removably attached to the sole 2, but alternatively the sole 2 and the barrel 3 will be fixed to each other inseparably. Similarly it can be provided that the sole 2 and the barrel 3 are both a one-piece assembly formed by the same molding sequence.

It goes without saying that the present invention can receive any arrangements and variants of the field of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of this patent as defined by the claims below.

Claims

1/ Portable golf tee (1), formed of a horizontal sole (2) supporting the ground and a shaft (3) secured to the sole (2) and projecting above the latter, said barrel (3) comprising at the upper end, a seat (30) for supporting and positioning a golf ball (4), characterized in that the cylindrical barrel (3) comprises a cylindrical vertical upper part provided with a vertical internal bore (36) opening out at the upper end in order to form the seat (30) of the ball (4), and that said barrel, in its vertical upper part has circumferential zones (37) for clearance of seats (30) , regularly spaced from each other along a vertical axis, said zones each determining a geometric plane (P) for sectioning the barrel, each plane (P) being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said barrel, and the different seats (30) being identical.

21 Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the zones (37) for clearing seats (30) are formed by grooves molded in the barrel (3).

3/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the grooves (37) are internal to the barrel (3) and open into the bore (36) of the latter and that marks (38) corresponding to the different height settings, are formed on the external cylindrical surface of the barrel (3) respectively at the same height level as the grooves (37).

4/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each groove (37) has an asymmetrical V-shaped straight section having a horizontal upper side located in the cutting plane (P) which contains the mark (38), and an inclined lower side .

5/ Tee according to claim 1, characterized in that the grooves (37) are molded in the barrel (3) from the cylindrical external face of the latter and each have a V-shaped cross section symmetrical with respect to the corresponding plane (P) .

6/ Tee according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the barrel (3) is removably fixed to the sole (2).

7/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sole (2) is provided with a cylindrical through hole (20), with a vertical axis, made between its lower and upper faces, said hole being designed to accommodate interlocking shape the lower part of the barrel (3), that this through hole (20) has a lower countersink (200) opening into the lower face of the sole

(2) and that the vertical barrel (3) is provided in the lower part with a cylindrical base (32) intended to be placed in the countersink (200) of the drilling (20).

8/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the value of the diameter of the cylindrical base (32) is substantially equal to the diameter of the countersink (200) and that the thickness of the base (32) is equal to the counterbore depth (200).

91 Tee according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the vertical barrel

(3), immediately above the base (32) is equipped with a continuous clipping groove (35), of quadrangular straight section, and that the upper part of the drilling (20) is delimited by a circular lip (210), elastically deformable, intended to be engaged in tightening in this clipping groove (35), the thickness of the lip of clipping (210) being greater than the width of the groove (35).

10/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the barrel (3)

immediately above the groove (35) has an enlargement, the upper face of said groove being formed by the base of this enlargement.

11/ Tee according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that at least the part of the barrel (3) equipped with the seats (30) is vertical and that this part is offset laterally relative to the vertical axis symmetry of the base.

12/ Tee according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sole (2) and the barrel (3) are elastically deformable.

13/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized by a rigid insert (320), embedded in the base (32) in order to increase the rigidity of the latter.

14/ Tee according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sole (2) has an asymmetrical contour, substantially in the form of a lunula having a first and a second end, both convex, and between the two ends, two opposite longitudinal edges, one of which is convex and the other generally concave, said contour being formed of a succession of curves, and the barrel (3) being arranged at a distance from the first end of the sole (2) and as close as possible to one of the longitudinal edges of the latter, the smallest distance between the vertical central axis of the barrel (3) and corresponding longitudinal edge, being less than the radius of a golf ball so that said ball (4), once installed on the seat (30) that the barrel (3) comprises, or by a spherical cap, projecting laterally relative to the corresponding edge of the sole (2).

15/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sole (2) is weighted with a mass at least equal to fifty grams, the mass of the sole increased by that of the ballast being equal to at least one hundred and fifty grams.

16/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sole has near the first end a boss (250) integrating or forming a ballast mass (25).

17/ Tee according to claims 11 and 14 taken together, characterized in that the barrel (3) is arranged near the convex edge of the sole.

18/ Tee according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the two ends of the lunula shape presented by the contour of the sole (2) are formed by two circumferential arcs of a circle of different radii.

19/ Tee according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the longitudinal edges of the sole (2) are formed by a succession of circular circumference arcs, two consecutive arcs having different radii.

20/ Tee according to claims 18 and 19 taken together, characterized in that the longitudinal edges of the sole (2) are connected to the two ends of the lunula shape according to common tangents.

21/ Tee according to claim 19 or claim 20, characterized in that two consecutive arcs of each longitudinal edge of the sole (2) are connected to each other by a common tangent.

22/ Tee according to any one of claims 17 and 18 taken together, characterized in that the barrel (3) is fixed to the sole (2) between the convex edge of the profile of the latter and a line joining the center of the two circumferential arcs of a circle forming the two ends of the contour of the lunula formed by the sole (2).

23/ Tee according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sole (2) has near the first end a boss (250) integrating or forming a ballast mass (25) and that the ballast mass is constituted partly or entirely by a measuring and calculation unit associated with a display screen and probes for measuring the degree of humidity and temperature of the air and/or probes for measuring the speed of the swing, the measured parameters being displayed on the screen.

24/ Tee according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the measuring unit integrates a map of the course and a GPS receiver capable of indicating the positioning points of the golf tee in relation to the objectives and impact points chosen by the player .

25/ Tee according to claim 23 or claim 24, characterized in that the measurement and calculation unit is capable of recording the game parameters of a main player, and possibly of the partner player(s).

26/ Tee according to any one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the measured parameters are displayed on a remote screen connected by radio to the measurement and calculation center.

27/ Tee according to any one of claims 16, 23 to 26, characterized in that the distance between the boss (250) and the barrel (3) is adapted to the width of the driver type clubs, namely the most wide, so that the trajectory of the latter, when hitting the ball, is moved away from said boss (250).

28/ Tee according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each seat (30) determines a ball support circle with a diameter equal to or greater than 12 mm.