Patents by Inventor Francis J. Keys

Francis J. Keys has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4786054
    Abstract: A golf tee comprising a rotatable support member seated so as to be submerged within a hollow head portion of an elongated body with the side surface of the rotatable support member engaged by an O-ring to the internal side surface of the hollow head portion. A pointed bottom member is removably connected to the lower end of the elongated body. An elastic element extending through an axial hole in the elongated body connects the rotatable support member to the pointed bottom member. Manually rotating the rotatable support member provides for storing energy in the elongated elastic element such that when a golf ball is placed on the rotatable support member the golf ball can be made to slowly rotate about a vertical axis to thereby provide a moving object for holding the attention of a golfer as he addresses and drives the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Francis J. Keys
  • Patent number: 4610451
    Abstract: A tee for use in the game of golf is constructed to provide an elongated hollowed body section, a removable head unit that includes a rotatable head section and a stationary head section, and a removable pointed bottom section. The removable head unit is securable to the top of the elongated body section by the stationary head section thereof and the pointed body section is securable to the bottom of the elongated body section. The rotatable head section has attached to the bottom thereof a top rod member which extends down through the stationary head section and has a hook on the lower end thereof and the pointed bottom section has attached to the top thereof a bottom rod member which has a hook on the upper end thereof. A rubber band extending through the hollowed elongated body section is connected between the upper and lower hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Inventor: Francis J. Keys