Reusable golf tee

Abstract

A reusable golf tee has a head member pivotally connected to a base member about a pivot positioned so that the head member is maintained in a vertical position due to the weight of the head member and a supported ball. The head member is freely pivotal in a forward direction but prevented by engaging surfaces of the head and base members from tilting rearwardly from the vertical position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a reusable golf tee and more particularly to a golf tee having a head member for receiving and supporting a golf ball, the head member being pivoted for movement only in a forward direction relative to a ground engaging base member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional golf tees are of single piece construction, usually made of wood or plastic, and including an upper cup end for receiving a golf ball and a lower pointed end for insertion into the ground. Tees of this type can break and be a source of litter. Furthermore, the upper cup end is essentially fixed in place when a shot is made. The cup lip can impart undesirable spin to the ball and otherwise adversely affect ball movement.

A number of golf tees have been devised to minimize the influence of golf ball spin by a tee. An example is the brush-type tee wherein a brush at the top of the tee is employed to support the golf ball. Brush-type tees typically are large and unwieldy. The brush bristles can distort, causing improper ball placement. Then too, brush-type tees cannot be pushed down effectively with a hand-held golf ball to place the tee in the ground.

So-called pivoting tees have also been developed wherein the tee comprises an upper or head member pivotally connected to a peg or lower member. Examples are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,623,119, issued Apr. 5, 1927, U.S. Pat. No. 2,146,736, issued Feb. 14, 1939, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 301,046, issued May 9, 1989, U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,644, issued May 31, 2005, U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,214, issued Jun. 29, 1976, U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,916, issued Dec. 6, 1983, U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,208, issued Feb. 24, 1987, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,838, issued Dec. 27, 1994 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0181262, Published Sep. 25, 2003. A commercially available tee utilizing the pivoted upper ball supporting member is the Ultimate Tee made available by Ultimate Tee, Inc.

Prior art pivot tee arrangements typically incorporate “catches” such as springs or detents to releasably position the upper tee member in a vertical orientation. Thus, there is some resistence imparted to a golf ball by these mechanisms when struck. Furthermore, such “catch” arrangements add to the cost and complexity of the tee.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The tee of the present invention is characterized by its simplicity, relatively low price and reliability. The structure of the tee allows it to be easily pushed into the ground and allows the head member or upper tee member to remain in a substantially vertical position without the use of a spring, detent or other “catch” arrangement.

The tee construction results in resistance free forward pivoting of the head member so that the ball encounters no tee resistance when struck. The head member simply falls forward and the ball leaves the tee with virtually no spin. The construction of the tee causes the head member to seek a vertical position, this feature being enhanced when the weight of the ball is applied to the tee.

The golf tee includes a head member having a head member top end forming a recess for receiving and supporting a golf ball and a head member bottom end.

The golf tee also includes a base member having a pointed base member bottom end for insertion into the ground and a base member top end.

Pivot structure pivotally connects the head member to the base member about a pivot axis whereby the head member is tiltable in a forward direction relative to the base member from a substantially vertical position to a forwardly tilted position, the head member and the base member having engagement surfaces in engagement when the head member is in the substantially vertical position to prevent tilting of the head member rearwardly relative to the base member about the pivot axis from the substantially vertical position.

The invention also incorporates a “fat shot” protector which doubles as a height stop.

The tee is characterized by its ease of use and reliability. The ball can be driven with virtually no resistance being encountered, providing longer, straighter golf shots. The ball height may be set the same each time, also contributing to more consistent golf shots.

Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf tee of the present invention with the head member in a substantially vertical position or orientation;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing alternative positions assumed by the head member when tilted forward under ball impact;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the head member pivoted relative to the base member;

FIG. 4 shows the golf tee being inserted by hand into the ground; and

FIG. 5 shows the golf tee in the ground and a golf ball on the tee being impacted by a club head to pivot the head member in a forward direction.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a golf tee constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a head member 10 and a base member 12. The tee members can be constructed of any suitable material such as plastic. The head member 10 has a head member top end 14 forming a recess 16 for receiving and supporting a golf ball. The head member also has a head member bottom end. A golf ball 18 is shown in FIG. 5 being struck by a club head 20.

The base member 12 has a pointed bottom end 22 for insertion into the ground as shown in FIG. 5. The base member also has a base member top end.

The golf tee also includes pivot structure pivotally connecting the head member to the base member about a pivot axis whereby the head member is tiltable in a forward direction relative to the base member from a substantially vertical position to a forwardly tilted position. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the head member bottom end is bifurcated to form a slot 28 receiving the base member. The slot is defined by two, spaced head member walls, the walls being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of the base member in the slot and having smooth surfaces so as not to resist pivotal movement between the base and head member. The pivotal interconnection between the head member and the base member is accomplished by pivot pins 30 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 2) projecting from opposed sides of the base member. The pins are loosely positioned in openings in the member walls. The slot 28 extends completely through the head member bottom end from front to back, the slot allowing unrestrained forward tiltable movement of the head member at least ninety degrees from its vertical position.

The head member has an engagement surface 32 and the base member 12 has an engagement surface 34. These engagement surfaces are in engagement when the head member is vertically oriented or positioned as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. This prevents rearward tilting of the head member about the pivot axis of pivot pin 30. However, the head member is freely pivotal in a forward direction.

The pivot axis at pivot pin 30 is located forwardly of the central longitudinal axis of the upper tee member terminating at the recess 16. Thus, the weight of a ball in the recess 16 will continually bias the engagement surface 32 of the head member toward the engagement surface 34 of the base member. Furthermore, the pivot pins 30 are located forwardly of the center of gravity of the head member so that the head member will maintain its vertical orientation or position even when a ball is not in place thereon. Forward tilting of the head member is unrestrained by any detents, springs or similar “catch” arrangements.

The base member 12 has a rearwardly extending projection 40 spaced from the pointed bottom end 22 and elevated relative thereto. The projection 40 is at an elevation lower than the head member top end when the head member is in its vertical position.

The projection 40 has a club impact surface 42 engageable by a club head when a so-called “fat shot” is made. A fat shot occurs when the club head is positioned too low relative to the ball when the hit is made. The club impact surface slants upwardly from the distal end of the projection to engagement surface 32. Impact of the projection by the club head will raise the club head and/or push the tee forward to allow a better shot, no tee damage resulting.

The rearwardly extending projection 40 also has a ground engagement surface 44 adjacent to the club impact surface 42 which allows the ball to be set at the same height each time, providing for more consistent golf shots. FIG. 4 shows the golf tee being inserted into the ground, the head member being in its vertical position or orientation and the engagement surfaces 32, 34 being in engagement where shown by the arrow. This enables the golf tee to be readily placed in the ground by a hand-held ball, the pushing force being applied from the head member to the base member by the engagement surfaces.

Claims

1. A reusable golf tee comprising, in combination:

a head member having a head member top end forming a recess for receiving and supporting a golf ball and a head member bottom end;

a base member having a pointed base member bottom end for insertion into the ground and a base member top end; and

pivot structure pivotally connecting said head member to said base member about a pivot axis whereby said head member is freely tiltable in a forward direction relative to said base member from a substantially vertical position to a forwardly tilted position, said head member and said base member having engagement surfaces in engagement when said head member is in said substantially vertical position to prevent tilting of said head member about said pivot axis rearwardly relative to said base member from said substantially vertical position.

2. The reusable golf tee according to claim 1 wherein said head member has a central longitudinal axis terminating at said recess, said pivot axis located forwardly of said central longitudinal axis whereby the weight of a ball in the recess formed by the head member top end will bias the engagement surface of the head member toward the engagement surface of the base member.

3. The reusable golf tee according to claim 1 wherein said base member additionally has a rearwardly extending projection spaced from said pointed bottom end and elevated relative thereto, said projection being at an elevation lower than the head member top end when said head member is in said substantially vertical position, said projection having a club impact surface engageable by a club head when a fat shot is made.

4. The reusable golf tee according to claim 3 wherein said projection has a distal end and said club impact surface slants upwardly and inwardly from said distal end.

5. The reusable golf tee according to claim 1 wherein said head member bottom end is bifurcated to define a slot receiving said base member, said pivot structure comprising at least one pivot pin pivotally interconnecting said head member and said base member to retain said base member in said slot with said head member unrestrained against pivotal movement from said substantially vertical position to said forwardly tilted position.

6. The reusable golf tee according to claim 4 wherein said projection additionally has a ground engagement surface adjacent to said club impact surface.

7. The reusable golf tee according to claim 1 wherein said head member has a center of gravity and wherein said pivot axis is located forwardly of said center of gravity whereby gravity continuously biases the engagement surface of the head member toward the engagement surface of the base member when said head member is in said substantially vertical position.

8. The reusable golf tee according to claim 5 wherein said slot is defined by two head member walls disposed on opposed sides of said base member, said opposed walls having smooth wall surfaces and spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said base member between said smooth wall surfaces.

9. The reusable golf tee according to claim 8 wherein pivot pins project from opposed sides of said base member, said two head member walls having openings receiving said pivot pins.

10. The reusable golf tee according to claim 4 wherein said club impact surface extends upwardly to the engagement surface of the base member.

11. The reusable golf tee according to claim 5 Wherein said slot extends completely through the head member bottom end from front to back thereof, said slot allowing unrestrained forward tiltable movement of said head member at least ninety degrees from said substantially vertical position.