GOLF TEE SOUVENIR
The present invention provides a golf tee souvenir, comprised of: a flat support form, supporting unassembled golf tee components. The unassembled tee components are planar and lie parallel to the surface of the flat support. The golf tee components are removable from the flat support form and may be assembled to form a golf tee adapted to support a golf ball thereupon. The flat support form may resemble one of: a postcard, a business card, a keychain ornament, a membership card, a tournament card, and a memento. Printing may be displayed on any part of the invention. Additional golf aids may be included, such as a planar ball marker, and a planar pitch-mark repair tool. The invention additionally provides planar golf aid tools without an underlying support, such as a planar golf tee, a planar ball marker, and a planar pitch-mark repair tool.
The invention pertains to a golf tee which may be initially provided to a user as unassembled golf tee components supported by a flat support form. The flat support form may resemble, for instance, a key chain ornament, a business card, a membership card or a postcard, and may be offered as a souvenir. The golf tee components are planar, and thus lie parallel to the surface of the flat form.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONGolf tees are used by golfers to raise the ball from the grass and allow it to be readily struck from the teeing area. Numerous tees have been developed having distinct advantages such as being height-adjustable, easily recovered after being struck, and able to withstand the impact of repeated use.
Golfers appreciate souvenirs from the various golf courses they have played at. A golfer traveling to another location will typically collect a souvenir from each course he has visited. Souvenirs typically include golf balls, towels, repair tools, shirts, hats, score cards, and any item embossed with the golf course logo.
Golf tees are the least collected item, perhaps due to their small size. It is desirable to increase the available printing surface on golf tees, allowing golf tees to become a handy and useful souvenir.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0064959 to Ortiz describes a golf tee which has a specific lengthened area upon which promotional advertising may be printed. The Ortiz tee, and others like it are conventional and thus unexciting.
It would be advantageous to have a new tee which is eye-catching and multi-functional, which may be used as a memorable souvenir offered to a golf aficionado.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a golf tee which is memorable and easily fitted into a wallet or case. The golf tee may be provided as unassembled components supported by a flat support form, which may resemble for instance, a business card, a membership card, a postcard, or a key chain ornament. The user may assemble the golf tee to its final tee form at any time.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,396 to Veylupek Jr. et al, describes a business card, having a circular center which may be punched out, after which the remainder of the card is bent to form a golf tee. The business card of Veylupek Jr. is not a stable or reliable golf tee, as it remains essentially a disfigured business card. The business card suffers from the disadvantages of golf tees formed of cardboard or light-weight paper, namely, the tee may be overturned by even a slight breeze, and stability is lacking on uneven ground. The business card contact information will not be retained if the golf tee is used, defeating the purpose of a business card.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a functional and reliable golf tee which may be removed and assembled from a flat support form, while the remainder of the form may be retained, if desired, for business contact information, as a membership card, or as a memento such as a key-chain ornament.
These and other objects of the invention will be described in the detailed description of the invention that follows.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to a golf tee, which is typically provided to a user as unassembled tee components supported by a flat support form. The flat support form may resemble for instance, a postcard, a business card, or a keychain ornament. The components of the golf tee are typically planar, and lie flat in parallel to surface of the support form. The tee components thus may be left upon the support for any length of time, while the support form is utilized as a business card, or postcard, and the planar nature of the golf tee components allows the support and attached components to readily fit inside a wallet, an envelope or a user's pocket, without jutting out. The tee components may remain upon the support while the support is mailed as a postcard. The tee components may be removed by the user from the surrounding flat form support, and are readily assembled to form a golf tee. Assembly of the golf tee components together, transforms the flat unassembled components into a three-dimensional golf tee capable of supporting a golf ball upon it. The surrounding flat form support may be retained by the user, who may continue to use it as a business card, key chain ornament or a souvenir.
The present invention provides a golf tee souvenir, comprised of a flat support form, supporting unassembled golf tee components. The unassembled golf tee components are planar and lie parallel to the surface of the flat support. The components are removable from the flat support form and may be assembled to form a golf tee adapted to support a golf ball thereupon.
In some embodiments, the flat support form resembles at least one of the following: a postcard, a business card, a keychain ornament, a membership card, a tournament card, and a memento.
In one presently preferred embodiment, the golf tee components are comprised of a stem component, and a slotted shim component. The slotted shim component mates with the upper end of the stem component. The upper end of the stem component and the upper area of the slotted shim component are concave for receiving a golf ball. Moreover, optionally, mating of the slotted shim component and the stem component is provided by a receiving slot present on the upper end of stem component, which mates with the terminal slotted end of the slotted shim.
Optionally, a locking mechanism may be included, for securing the golf tee components together after assembly has occurred.
The golf tee souvenir may display printing thereupon. The printing displayed may be selected from: a commercial logo, business contact information, a personalized message, a photographic image, and a postcard form.
Further, a planar ball marker may be included in the invention, supported by the flat support form.
Still further, a planar pitch-mark repair tool may also be included in the invention, supported by the flat support form.
In some embodiments of the golf tee souvenir of the invention, a plurality of tee components are supported by the flat support form. The golf tee components may be designed to appear in aesthetically pleasing patterns.
Moreover, the golf tee souvenir may have any predetermined thickness. It may optionally be formed from a material selected from: plastic, paperboard, wood, bamboo, rubber, recycled rubber and recycled plastic, or any other material.
In some embodiments, the golf tee souvenir is manufactured using a method selected from: casting, molding, laser cutting, mechanical cutting, and etching. Any method of manufacture may be utilized.
Further, the unassembled golf tee components may be pre-cut into the surface of the flat support form, such that upon removal of the golf tee components, a void is formed in the support form. Alternatively, the unassembled golf tee components may be temporarily fixed to the external surface of the support form, such that after removal of the golf tee components, the flat support form remains intact.
The invention additionally provides stand-alone planar golf aid tools, which are supplied without the need for an underlying support form. The planar golf aid tools have essentially two dimensions, and are selected from at least one of the following:
-
- golf tee components adapted to be assembled to form a golf tee capable of supporting
- a golf ball thereupon;
- a ball marker; and:
- a pitch-mark repair tool.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The invention generally relates to a golf tee, which is typically provided to a user as unassembled tee components supported by a flat support form. The flat support form may resemble for instance, a postcard, a business card, or a keychain ornament. The components of the golf tee are typically planar, and lie flat in parallel to surface of the support form. The tee components thus may be left upon the support for any length of time, while the support form is utilized as a business card, or postcard, and the planar nature of the golf tee components allows the support and attached components to readily fit inside a wallet, an envelope or a user's pocket, without jutting out. The tee components may remain upon the support while the support is mailed as a postcard. The tee components may be removed by the user from the surrounding flat form support, and are readily assembled to form a golf tee. Assembly of the golf tee components together, transforms the flat unassembled components into a three-dimensional golf tee capable of supporting a golf ball upon it. The surrounding flat form support may be retained by the user, who may continue to use it as a business card, key chain ornament or a souvenir.
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Flat support form 100 displays printing 32, which may be a personalized message, a commercial logo, or business contact information.
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Golf tee components include stem component 20 and slotted shim 30. Stem component 20 is downwardly tapered, concluding in tapered ground spike 40 for piercing the ground and anchoring final assembled tee in place. Upper end 42 of stem component 20 is concave for receiving a golf ball. Upper end 42 of stem component 20 further includes receiving slot 44 for mating with terminal end 46 of slotted shim 30.
Upper end 42 of stem component 20 additionally comprises projection 48, which mates with niche 50 of slotted shim 30 after assembly of golf tee components (stem component 20 and slotted shim 30). Projection 48 and niche 50 form a locking mechanism that locks the golf tee components together for use during teeing.
Slotted shim 30 includes concave upper area 52 for receiving a golf ball.
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Prior to assembly, stem component 20 and slotted shim 30 are removed from flat support form, and a 90° angle is formed between them, as illustrated in
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In certain embodiments, the tee components slotted shim 30 and stem 20 may be of equal length.
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The invention may be made of any material known to man. In presently preferred embodiments, the material is selected from a plastic, paperboard, wood, or bamboo, in any thickness desired. Manufacture of the flat support form, and formation of the golf tee components (and optionally ball marker and pitch-mark repair tool), may be accomplished using processes known in the art, including, but not limited to, casting, molding, laser cutting or mechanical cutting, or etching. In certain embodiments of the invention, the material used may be recyclable or biodegradable, or may derive from recycled materials, including recycled rubber or recycled plastic.
Golf tee components and optional pitch-mark repair tool or ball marker, may be pre-cut into surface of flat support form, so that upon removal of these components, voids remain in the surrounding support form. Alternatively, components may be lightly fixed to the external surface of the support form with adhesive or with flexible bands, so that removal of the components leaves the flat support intact.
Printing may be performed on any area of the invention, such as upon any part of flat support form, on the golf tee components, ball pitch-mark repair tool, or ball marker. The printing may be, for instance, a personalized message, a commercial logo, or business contact information. Marking may also be performed during the production process using, for instance, laser marking or casting.
In certain embodiments, one can envision that the golf tee, ball marker or pitch-mark repair tool (herein “golf aid tools”), may be provided without the flat support. In such case, golf tee components and other golf aid tools will nevertheless retain their unique planar design, allowing them to be easily packaged and easily stored by a user.
The present invention thus provides memorable and functional golf tees, which may be provided to a user as souvenirs of a visit to a golf course. The golf tees may be retained for any period of time upon the flat support form, since they are planar in nature and lie flat upon the support. A user may thus readily fit the planar support including the golf tee components in his wallet or pocket. The flat support may resemble a membership card, a postcard, a tournament card, a keychain ornament, or a memento. Any printing or image may be displayed on the flat support, or on the golf tee components, and thus the invention may be utilized for promotional purposes. Optionally, planar ball marker or planar pitch-mark tool may be included in the invention. Planar golf tees of the invention are optimal souvenirs for golf aficionados.
Having described the invention with regard to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, as further modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover such modifications as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A golf tee souvenir, comprised of:
- a flat support form, supporting unassembled golf tee components, wherein said unassembled golf tee components are planar and lie parallel to the surface of said flat support, wherein said golf tee components are removable from said flat support form and may be assembled to form a golf tee adapted to support a golf ball thereupon.
2. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said flat support form resembles at least one of the following: a postcard, a business card, a keychain ornament, a membership card, a tournament card, and a memento.
3. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee components are comprised of a stem component, and a slotted shim component, said slotted shim component mating with the upper end of said stem component, wherein the upper end of said stem component and the upper area of said slotted shim component are concave for receiving a golf ball.
4. The golf tee souvenir of claim 3, wherein mating of said slotted shim component and said stem component is comprised of a receiving slot present on the upper end of stem component, said receiving slot mating with the terminal slotted end of said slotted shim.
5. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for securing golf tee components together after assembly has occurred.
6. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee souvenir displays printing thereupon.
7. The golf tee souvenir of claim 6, wherein said printing displayed is selected from: a commercial logo, business contact information, a personalized message, a photographic image, and a postcard form.
8. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, further comprising a planar ball marker supported by said flat support form.
9. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, further comprising a planar pitch-mark repair tool supported by said flat support form.
10. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee souvenir comprises a plurality of tee components supported by said flat support form.
11. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee components are designed to appear in aesthetically pleasing patterns.
12. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee souvenir has a predetermined thickness, and is formed from a material selected from: plastic, paperboard, wood, bamboo, rubber, recycled rubber and recycled plastic.
13. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said golf tee souvenir is manufactured using a method selected from: casting, molding, laser cutting, mechanical cutting, and etching.
14. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said unassembled golf tee components are pre-cut into the surface of said flat support form, such that upon removal of said golf tee components, a void is formed in said support form.
15. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said unassembled golf tee components are temporarily fixed to the external surface of said support form, such that after removal of said golf tee components, said flat support form remains intact.
16. The golf tee souvenir of claim 1, wherein said flat support form has a cut-out appearance, and said unassembled golf tee components are connected to said flat support form by barbs.
17. A planar golf aid tool, having essentially two dimensions, selected from at least one of the following:
- a) golf tee components adapted to be assembled to form a golf tee capable of supporting a golf ball thereupon;
- b) a ball marker;
- c) a pitch-mark repair tool.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 24, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 18, 2012
Inventors: Efrat Toov Ward (Holon), Christopher Rhys Ward (Holon)
Application Number: 12/953,537
International Classification: A63B 57/00 (20060101);