VARIABLE HEIGHT GOLF TEE

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for teeing a golf ball. A first tee has a detachably coupled post and base. The post may be a cylinder, such as a hollow cylinder, and may be made of deformable resilient material that reliably returns to a vertical position after receiving momentum originated from a golf club. The first post end includes a threaded shaft that engages with a tapped aperture of the base. The second post end presents a repeatable height from the base when the threaded shaft is fully seated into the tapped aperture. The post may be coupled with and decoupled from the base by the golfer applying manual force to alternately screw the threaded shaft into the base for coupling and then away from the base for decoupling. A plurality of posts of different lengths are provided. The base may be coupled with a mat.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to methods and devices applicable to the sport of golf, and more particularly to methods and devices for positioning a golf ball relative to a golf club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art of equipment includes a golf tee that presents a hollow rubber-like tube of set height which is affixed to and extends from a circular flat base. The tube portion may protrude up through a hole in a hitting mat, and the base may be positioned under the hitting mat. The fixed length tube portion is permanently attached to, and held in place, by the circular flat base and the golf ball may be placed on a round open end of the tube that is distal from the tee base. When using this type tee, the golfer can only change the height where a golf ball will be positioned by exchanging the entire tee for another unitary tee with a longer or shorter tube section. This type of unitary tee is still popular with range operators because it is inexpensive and simple.

Many golfers would prefer a golf tee that allows a golfer to easily vary the positioned height of the golf ball above a hitting mat, or a ground surface, and to present one of a plurality of tee heights desired by each individual golfer when practicing striking a golf ball with a golf club. While many adjustable height tees have been designed, most prior art adjustable tees have not proven practical for multiple reasons, to include complexity of design, difficulty of use and poor performance, and especially an inability to be easily adjusted over a wide height range and retain each desired height after multiple impacts.

Of the adjustable tees being marketed today, some threaded types include a height-adjustable element that enables positioning of the golf ball within an adjustment range between the minimum and maximum limits of the design of the comprising device. Certain prior art threaded tees utilize a base piece with a threaded cavity, into which a matching threaded ball holding stem is inserted in a nut-and-bolt fashion, allowing the holding stem to be twisted in engagement with a tapped element extending from the base piece. A golfer may twist the stem piece about a longitudinal axis to position the stem piece within a height adjustment range of the device and along the stem's longitudinal axis. One of the earliest threaded type adjustable tees is the Twistee-Tee (TM) marketed by Fiberbuilt Manufacturing Inc., a maker of golf equipment mats. The Twistee-Tee requires a rigid base piece to be fastened to a mat and further requires a hole or cavity under the tee to allow space for a four-inch long threaded centerpiece of the Twistee-tee to be screwed or threaded down to a minimum height position. While this prior art design provides a height adjustment range and the increased mass of the threaded centerpiece of the Twistee-tee provides durability, the Twistee-tee cannot be easily used with other mats of other manufacturers. A primary reason for the large diameter of the center part of the Twistee-tee may be to overcome an inherent decrease in strength caused by the nature of adding external threads to the body of the centerpiece.

Certain later prior art threaded type adjustable designs use a similar but smaller and shorter threaded center stem together with a flexible matching threaded base which is intended to fit a wide variety of existing golf mats. While this prior art design offers a reduced adjustment range from other prior art tees, tees of this design may provide a more realistic hitting feel.

The prior art two-piece adjustable design naturally limits the adjustment range to some fraction of the height of the base piece. Increasing the height of the prior art base increases the adjustment range but makes the tee unacceptable for use with thin hitting mats. Decreasing the height of the base piece allows for use with thin mats but limits the maximal range of adjustment. A solution presented by the certain tee manufacturers is to offer two sizes of unitary body tees, namely a unitary taller tee for thick mats and a unitary shorter tee for thin mats. But unitary tees require the base to be removed from the hitting mat which reduces the ease of use of the tee by even a single golfer wishing to strike a golf ball successively at more than one tee height.

The prior threaded tee designs have additional common design problems. The center element, or ball positioning part, may have external threads which weaken a tee's structure, causing the threaded tee to be easily bent and degrade the tee's tendency to consistently and continuously return to an original desired upright shape. It is a common practice in the art to cut grooves into a cylindrical part in order to make the grooved part easier to bend and degrade the grooved part's reliability in returning to an intended golf ball presentation position. The external threads of a prior art tee may provide tear points that when struck repeatedly by a club may lead to a structural failure of the tee.

Other prior art adjustable height tees include a center-threaded element that includes additional washer-like parts in an apparent effort to lessen disassembly during use.

While several other adjustable prior art golf tees have been invented and marketed, none are widely in use today because they fail to optimally meet one or more of these desired characteristics:

Universality. A tee preferably should install easily without tools or modification of a coupled hitting mat.

Ease of Use. The tee adjustment technique should be so simple and intuitive that little or no instruction is required by the user to adjust the tee to each of a plurality of exact heights desired by a golfer to match differently shaped golf clubs. The tee should return to a particular desired height after multiple club impacts. A tee that allows a golfer to push or pull the tee by hand to another position would too easily allow the impact of the club to also push or pull the tee to another position.

Durability. The tee must survive thousands of impacts from a golf club and long exposure to weather. The tee should strongly resist unintended disassembly and have minimal openings that could allow dirt and sand to enter. The tee should have smooth outer surfaces with no exposed threads or grooves which would provide tear points and lessen its tendency to return to the upright position after being bent by impact or storage.

Simplicity of Design. To be inexpensive enough for wide acceptance, the fabricated tee device should consist of no more than two unitary parts for manipulation by a user.

Large Range of Height Variance. The wide variety of both clubs used and golfer's personal preferences of tee heights necessitates a large height variability range. Forward Compatibility. A tee would preferably be adaptable to enable stable golf ball positioning with precision and/or to heights that are not currently required by the golfing community, but may become desirable as designs of golf equipment continue to evolve, improve and vary.

There is therefore a long-felt need to provide methods and devices that enable a golfer to selectably vary the height of a golf ball in preparation for the golfer's striking the golf ball with a golf club.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects of the present invention are made obvious in light of this disclosure, wherein methods and devices for positioning a golf ball are provided. A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a golf tee that has a detachably coupled base and post. The post has a first post end that detachably attaches to the base, and a second post end that is configured to maintain a golf ball in a position vertically above the base.

The post may be a cylinder, such as a hollow cylinder, and may be made of deformable resilient material that reliably returns to a vertical position after receiving momentum originated from a golf club. The golf club momentum may be partially delivered through the golf ball and/or partly by direct striking of the post by the golf club. The first post end may include a threaded shaft that engages with a tapped aperture of the base. The second post end presents a repeatable height from the base when the threaded shaft is fully seated into the tapped aperture. The post may be coupled with and decoupled from the base by the golfer applying manual force to alternately screw the threaded shaft into the base for coupling and then away from the base for decoupling.

A plurality of posts with different longitudinal lengths may be provided, whereby each post when coupled with the base enables a different desired height of golf ball positioning. The plurality of posts may each present specific heights when fully coupled with the base preferably in the range of from 0.25 inches to six inches, or longer or shorter.

The base may be circular in cross section and/or present two or more legs that extend from a center point. A tapped aperture may be located about the center point. The base may present a top planar surface that is proximal to a post when the post coupled to the base. The base may optionally, alternatively or additionally include a securing element that is supportive of maintaining the base in a static position, especially when the post receives momentum from a golf club. The base may further optionally, alternatively or additionally include a receiver that presents the tapped aperture and extends above the top planar surface of the base and toward a post when coupled with the post.

A first alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes (1.) a tapped plate; and (2.) a removable post having a threaded element. A second alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes (1.) a keyed plate having a keyed aperture; and (2.) a removable post having a matching key element.

A third alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting mat (hereinafter “mat”). The post may removably extend through a hole in the mat to detachably couple with a plate or base positioned beneath the mat.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Such incorporations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,747 (Inventor: Young); U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,403 (Inventor: Martino); U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,100 (Inventor: Dilmore); U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,909 (Inventor: Broadbridge); U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,989 (Inventors: Wagner, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,486 (Inventors: Murphy, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,663 (Inventor: Lipstock); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,021 (Inventor: Gustine).

Such incorporations further include US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20040132554 (Inventor: Schulze); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20060035727 (Inventor: Butterworth); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20060058120 (Inventor: Anton); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20070167259 (Inventor: Lipidarov); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20070184919 (Inventor: Costantini); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20080102988 (Inventor: Sagadevan); and US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20090325726 (Inventor: Humphrey).

The publications discussed or mentioned herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Furthermore, the dates of publication provided herein may differ from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These, and further features of various aspects of the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification, wherein:

FIGS. 1A through 1C are views of a first preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention, or “first tee”, having a first post and a first base, wherein FIG. 1A illustrates a golf ball positioned by the first post and showing a golf club head positioned relative to the first post;

FIG. 1B illustrates the first post of FIG. 1A after receiving momentum delivered from the golf club head;

FIG. 1C illustrates the first post of FIGS. 1A and 1B returned after impact to golf ball positioning orientation of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a cross sectional side view of the first post of FIG. 1A through 1C;

FIG. 2B is a cross sectional side view of an alternate post, or “second post”;

FIG. 2C is a side view of the first post of FIG. 1A through FIG. 2A, the second post of FIG. 2B, and a third post;

FIG. 2D is a top view of the first post of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a top view of the first base of FIGS. 1A through 1C;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of two alternate bases that may each be detachably coupled with the posts of FIG. 2C;

FIG. 3C is a bottom view of a bottom planar side of the second base of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of an alternate plate that includes a recessed, tapped receiver;

FIG. 5A is a top view of a golf tee mat having four mat apertures in combination with each base of FIG. 1A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 4;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the golf tee mat of FIG. 5A having four additional retrofitting apertures;

FIG. 5C is a cross sectional side view of the mat of FIGS. 5A and 5B with the first tee of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 5D is a cross sectional side view of a variation of mat of FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C with the first tee of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 6A is a top view of a legged alternative base having three legs and a raised receiver;

FIG. 6B is a side view of the legged alternative base of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7A is a cross sectional front view of a keyed tee having a keyed post and a keyed plate shown in a locked position;

FIG. 7B is a cross sectional side view of the keyed tee of FIG. 7A shown in the locked position;

FIG. 7C is a top view of the keyed plate of FIGS. 7A and 7B;

FIG. 7D is a side view of the keyed post of FIGS. 7A and 7B; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of an injection molded tee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events.

Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1A illustrates a first tee 2 having a first post 4 and a first base 6. The first post 4 supports a golf ball 8 on a post top end 4A, and the first post 4 is further removably coupled with the first base 6 at post attachment end 4B. A golf club head 10 is shown in a striking position relative to the golf ball 8.

The first base 6 may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The first base 6 of the first tee 2 is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H1 that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 1B, FIG. 1B illustrates the first post 4 of FIG. 1A after receiving momentum delivered from the golf club head 10. The first post 4 has been deformed by the force delivered by the golf club head 10 as a consequence of a golfer's swing that connected with the golf ball 8, wherein the top end has been forced laterally and towards the first base 6.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1C illustrates the first post 4 having returned from the positioned of FIG. 1B and returned to the golf ball 8 positioning orientation of FIG. 1A.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2A is a cross sectional side view of the first post 4. The first post 4 includes a resilient flexible post tube 4C, a screw 4D, a binding 4E and a tapped nut 4F.

The post tube 4C preferably is symmetric along an axis L and extends along the axis L for a linear post height H2 when in the supporting position of FIG. 1A. The post tube 4C may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. The post top end 4A is formed of a tope side of the post tube 4C. The post height H2 is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to ten inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.50 inch to four inches.

The post screw 4D includes a screw head 4D.1 and a threaded shaft 4D.2. The threaded shaft may 0.25 inch in diameter having twenty threads per inch and being one half inch in length.

The binding 4E presses the post tube 4C at the attachment end 4B against the screw threaded shaft 4D.2 and forms a friction fit between the screw 4D and the post tube 4C. A tube bottom ledge 4B.1 of the attachment end 4B is formed by a bottom side of the post tube 4C. The tube bottom ledge 4B.1 is located distal from the screw head 4D.1 and preferably does not extend beyond the screw threaded shaft 4D.2. The threaded shaft 4D.2 preferably extends beyond the tube bottom ledge 4B.1 no greater than the base height H1.

The binding 4E may be or comprise a plastic polymer, iron, steel, aluminum or copper or other suitable material known in the art, and is preferably sized as within the range of Wire Number One to Ten, i.e., the range of American Wire Gage from 0.289 inches to 0.102 inches.

The screw 4D is selected to detachably engage with the first plate 6. The screw 4D may be or comprise rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art.

The tapped nut 4F may be a jamb nut, is selected to engage with the threaded screw 4D, and is maintained in a pressure fit by the compression of the binding 4E against the post tube 4C. The nut 4F may optionally be a retaining nut that resists decoupling from the screw 4D. The nut 4F may be or comprise rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art.

In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, the screw threaded shaft 4D.2 is preferably within the range of diameter of from 0.15 inch to 0.75 inch. The thread count of the threaded shaft 4D.2 preferably is within the range of 10 threads per inch and 32 threads per inch. The nut 4F and the base 6 would be shaped, sized, selected and configured to engage with the threads of the selected screw 4D.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2B, FIG. 2B is a cross sectional side view of an alternate post 12, or second post 12. The second post 12 includes an alternate resilient flexible tube 12A having an internal binding 12B and the screw 4D. The internal binding 12B may be formed and/or positioned in an injection molding process in a fabrication of the alternate resilient flexible tube 12A. The internal binding 12B presses the alternate resilient flexible tube 12A against the nut 4F and the compression force transferred from the internal binding 12A through the resilient flexible tube 12A and against the nut 4F maintains the nut 4F within the alternate resilient flexible tube 12A. The threaded shaft 4D.2 engages with the tapped nut 4F. The nut 4F may optionally be a retaining nut that resists decoupling from the screw 4D. Alternatively or additionally, the nut 4F may be a jamb nut.

The internal binding 12B may be or comprise a plastic polymer, iron, steel, aluminum or copper or other suitable material known in the art, and is preferably sized as within the range of Wire Number One to Ten, i.e., the range of American Wire Gage from 0.289 inches to 0.102 inches.

The alternate resilient flexible tube 12A may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2C, FIG. 2C is a side view of three posts 4, 14 & 16. The first post 4 comprises the first tube 4C, the binding 4E and the screw 4D. The second post 14 comprises the alternate resilient flexible tube 12A and the screw 4D. A third post 16 comprises an extended tube 18, the binding 4E and the screw 4D. Each post 4, 14 & 16 presents a different post height H2 along the linear axis L.

The second post 14 and/or the third post 16 may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 2D, FIG. 2D is a top view of the first tee 2. The first base 6 is shown to have a substantially planar circular shape having a base diameter D. The screw head 4D.1 fits within the first tube 4C and presses toward the first base 6. The base diameter D is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to six inches, and more preferably within the range of from One inch to three inches.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 3A through 3C, FIG. 3A is a top view of the first base 6. A tapped aperture 6A is located about a center point C of a circular circumference of the first base 6. The tapped aperture 6A is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw 4D and to thereby detachably couple the first post 4 and the first base 6.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 3B, FIG. 3B is a layered, perspective view of the second plate 20 and a third plate 22 showing a top planar side 20A & 22A of each alternate plate 20 & 22. Each plate presents a different plate height H1 and includes a plurality of anchor features 24. Each anchor feature 24 is meant to provide an interference to inhibit lateral motion of the comprising alternate plate 20 & 22.

The second base 20 and/or the third base 22 may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The second base 20 and/or the third base 22 are each preferably substantively planar and circular and have a base height H1 that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch.

The tapped aperture 6A of each plate 6, 20 & 22 is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw 4D and to thereby detachably couple the first post 4 and the comprising base 6, 20 & 22.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 3C, FIG. 3C is a bottom view of a bottom planar side 20B of the second plate 20.

Referring now to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of an alternate plate 26. The alternate plate 26 includes a recessed tapped receiver 26A. A top recess 26B and a bottom recess 26C expand in circumference and away from the recessed tapped receiver 26A. The top recess 26B and the bottom recess 26C enable a user to more easily seat the screw threaded length 4D.2 into engagement with the recessed tapped receiver 26A. The recessed tapped receiver 26A is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw 4D and thereby detachably couple the posts 4, 14 & 16 with the alternate plate 26.

The alternate plate 26 may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The alternate plate 26 is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H1 that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. The base diameter D of the alternate plate 26 is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to six inches, and more preferably within the range of from One inch to three inches.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 5A, FIG. 5A is a top view of a golf tee mat 28 having four mat apertures 28A-28D. The golf tee mat 28 (or “mat 28”) may be a Dura-Pro (TM) or a Dura-Pro Plus™ nylon golf mat as marketed by D.W. Quail Golf, Inc. of Woodstock, Ga., a ZENITH™ hitting mat marketed by Zenith Corporation of Zenith, Calif., or other suitable durable fabric or material known in the art.

A plurality of bases 6, 20, and 22 and/or alternative plates 26 are positioned underneath the mat 28, Each mat aperture 28A-28D is sized to permit a post 4, 14, 16 to extend wholly there through, but are each sized too small to permit first base 6, the second base 20, the third base 22 and/or the alternative plate 26 to pass through the mat 28.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 5B, FIG. 5B is a top view of the mat 28 further comprising a plurality of retrofitting apertures 30A-30D that extended wholly through the may 28 and are positioned and sized to enable the use of one or more prior art tee devices with the mat 28.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 5C, FIG. 5C is a side perspective view of the mat 28 having a thickness T1. The thickness T1 is preferably greater than the base height H1 of the first base 6, and is preferably at least in the range of from 0.5 inch to two inches. The mat 28 may optionally be shaped to accept the first base 6 and an optional adhesive 32 may couple the first base 6 to the mat 28. The first post 4 extends from the first base 6 and fully through the mat 28.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 5D, FIG. 5C is a side perspective view of the mat 28 having a shallower thickness T1. The thickness T1 is preferably greater than the base height H1 of the first base 6, and is preferably at least in the range of from 0.25 inch to one inch. The mat 28 may optionally be shaped to accept the first base 6 and an optional adhesive 32 may couple the first base 6 to the mat 28.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6A is a top view of a legged alternative base 34 having three legs 36A-36C. Each leg 36A-36C is similar in shape and extends out from a center point C of the second alternative base 34. The tapped aperture 6A extends wholly through the legged alternative base 34. The legged alternative base 34 may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The first base 6 of the first tee 2 is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H1 that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch.

Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG. 6B, FIG. 6B is a side view of the legged alternative base 34 showing a raised tapped receiver 38. The tapped aperture 6A of extends wholly through the raised tapped receiver 38 and the legged alternative base 34.

Referring now to the Figures and particularly FIG. 7A, FIG. 7A is a cross sectional front view of a keyed tee 40 having a keyed post 42 and a keyed plate 44. The keyed post 42 includes (1.) a keyed tube 42A have a key head 42B formed within the keyed tube 42A, and (2.) a key 42C extending from the keyed tube 42A and the key head 42B. The key head 42B may be positioned within the keyed tube 42A by injection molding. In the locked orientation of FIG. 7B, the keyed post 42 will withstand multiple strikes from the golf club head without separating from the keyed plate 44.

The key 42C is sized and shaped to fit into a keyed receiver ramp 44A of the keyed plate 44. The key 42C is shown in a locked orientation within the keyed receiver ramp 44A of FIG. 7A.

The keyed plate 44 may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The keyed base 44 is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H1 that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch.

Referring now to the Figures and particularly FIG. 7B, FIG. 7B is a cross sectional side view of the keyed tee 40, wherein the key 42C is positioned into the locked orientation within the keyed receiver ramp 44A as presented in FIG. 7A.

Referring now to the Figures and particularly FIG. 7C, FIG. 7C is a top view of the keyed plate 44. An insertion aperture 44B of the keyed receiver ramp 44A is sized and shaped to accept insertion and removal of the key 42C by a user.

Referring now to the Figures and particularly FIG. 7D, FIG. 7D is a side view of the keyed post 42 and presents the keyed tube 42A and the key 42C. The key 42C extends away from the keyed tube 42A to enable insertion into the keyed receiver ramp 44A of the keyed plate 44. The keyed tube 42A may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. The key 42C may be or comprise may be or comprise a rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art.

Referring now to the Figures and particularly FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of an injection molded tee 46 that comprises an injection molded post 48 and an injection molded plate 50. The injection molded post 48 includes an injection molded tube 48A that permanently contains a head 48B. A threaded element 48C extends from the head 48B. The head 48B and/or the threaded element 42C may be or comprise may be or comprise a rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art.

The injection molded plate 50 includes an elevated receiver 50A having a tapped aperture 50B comprised within a tapped nut 50C. The tapped nut 50C is permanently coupled with the injection molded plate 50 in fabrication of the injection molded plate 50. The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the present invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the present invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible applications of the present invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the applications of the present invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described applications can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.

Claims

1. A golf tee comprising:

a. A base having a planar top surface and a receiver; and

b. A post, the post having an attachment end and a top end, the top end for supporting a golf ball, and the attachment end comprising a detachable insertion feature, the detachable insertion feature for removable insertion into the base.

2. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base receiver is tapped and the post detachable insertion feature is threaded for engagement with the base receiver.

3. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the post comprises a cylinder extending from the attachment end and comprising the top end.

4. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the post is flexibly resilient, whereby the post bends upon impact and returns after impact to a position for supporting a golf ball.

5. The golf tee of claim 1, further comprising a second post, the second post having a length extending from a second post attachment end to a second post top end longer than the post.

6. The golf tee of claim 5, further comprising a third post, the third post having a length extending from a third post attachment end to a third post top end shorter than the post.

7. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base has a planar bottom surface parallel with the planar top surface.

8. The golf tee of claim 7, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface present a height of less than 0.50 inch.

9. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base presents a substantively circular cross section.

10. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base comprises legs extending from the receiver, each leg having a top element disposed within the planar surface.

11. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base receiver comprises a keyed ramp and the post detachable insertion feature is a keyed shaped for engagement with the keyed ramp of the base receiver.

12. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the receiver extends less than 0.5 inch above the base planar top surface.

13. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises an anchor feature, the anchor extending from top planar surface, the anchor feature for coupling the base with a ground surface.

14. A golf tee system comprising:

a. A tapped plate;

b. A plurality of posts for supporting a golf ball above the tapped plate, each post comprising a threaded element for removable coupling with the tapped plate.

15. The golf tee of claim 14, wherein at least one post is flexibly resilient, whereby the post bends upon impact and returns after impact to a position for supporting the golf ball.

16. The golf tee of claim 14, wherein at least one post has a length within the range of 0.5 inch to 4.0 inches.

17. The golf tee of claim 14, wherein at least one post further comprises a bottom shelf, the bottom shelf maintained in contact with the tapped plate when the at least one post is coupled with the tapped plate.

18. A golf mat comprising:

a. a section of durable fabric;

b. a receiver, the receiver coupled with the durable fabric and comprising a receiver attachment feature; and

c. a post for supporting a golf ball above the durable fabric, the post having a post attachment feature for detachably coupling the post with the receiver attachment feature.

19. The golf mat of claim 18, wherein the post comprises a cylindrical body.

20. The golf mat of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of posts of different lengths.