GOLF TEE

Abstract

An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball and a second end configured to insert into the ground. The second end includes a tapered portion, a bullet-like shaped portion, a spike-like shaped portion, a serrated edge, a regularly curved edge or an irregularly curved edge. An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball, the elevation tube being coupleable to a conventional golf tee, wherein when the elevation tube is coupled to the conventional golf tee, the first end of the elevation tube holds the golf ball to the exclusion of a golf ball holding means of the conventional tee.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/589,559 entitled “Golf Tee” that was filed on Jan. 23, 2012 and names Lon Klein as inventor. The entirety of that application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND

In golf, a tee is normally used for the first stroke of each hole, and the area from which this first stroke is hit is informally known as the teeing box, also known as the teeing ground. Normally, teeing the ball is allowed only on the first shot of a hole, called the tee shot, and is usually not allowed for any other shot. Teeing gives a considerable advantage for drive shots, so it is highly desirable whenever allowed. A standard golf tee is 2.750″ (two and three quarter inches) long, but both longer and shorter tees are permitted and are preferred by some players.

SUMMARY

An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball and a second end configured to insert into the ground. The second end includes a tapered portion, a bullet-like shaped portion, a spike-like shaped portion, a serrated edge, a regularly curved edge or an irregularly curved edge. An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball, the elevation tube being coupleable to a conventional golf tee, wherein when the elevation tube is coupled to the conventional golf tee, the first end of the elevation tube holds the golf ball to the exclusion of a golf ball holding means of the conventional tee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevation tube that is used as a golf tee or a portion of a golf tee according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube.

FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments may be further understood with reference to the following description and appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments describe a golf tee that may be implemented to hold a golf ball for a tee shot by a player.

FIG. 1 shows an elevation tube 10 that is used as a golf tee or a portion of a golf tee. In the example of FIG. 1, the elevation tube 10 includes a first end 12 and a second end 17. The first end 12 is designed to hold the ball, while the second end 17 is designed for insertion either into the ground and/or into another portion of the tee. The other portion of the tee may be a core section that is fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/956,310. Thus, the elevation tube 10 described herein may be used with or without the core section. When used with the core section, the elevation tube 10 is used in generally the same manner as described in the above-described patent application. In addition, the materials and general construction of the elevation tube 10 is the same as the described elevation tube in the above-described patent application, except for the modifications described herein.

However, when the elevation tube 10 is used without the core section, the elevation tube will be inserted directly into the ground of the tee box. As shown in FIG. 1, this exemplary embodiment of the elevation tube 10 includes a taper 20 at the second end 17 to aid in the insertion into the ground of the tee box. The taper 20 is generally shown as having an approximately 45 degree taper angle. However, the taper angle may be varied to any angle to aid in the insertion. The variance of the taper angle may depend on any number of factors including the structural rigidity required for the insertion into the tee box, the structural rigidity of the material(s) used for the construction of the tee, etc. In fact, the elevation tube 10 may be provided to consumers with varying taper angles, so consumers may select the elevation tube 10 with the taper angles that they desire. During the manufacturing process, the elevation tube 10 may be manufactured initially as a long tube that may be cut into multiple elevation tubes 10 with different taper angles.

As shown in FIG. 1, the total length of the elevation tube 10 is the length of the taper 20 (T) plus the length of the remainder of the elevation tube 10 (H). The length T of the taper 20 is preferably not to exceed ½″. Those skilled in the art will understand that the taper 20 may aid in the insertion of the elevation tube 10 into the ground. That is, the taper 20 results in the second end 17 having a pointed or wedge-shaped portion, which may allow for a more easy insertion into the ground than a blunt end.

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube 30. The elevation tube 30 is similar to elevation tube 10 described above, except that elevation tube 30 includes a second end 37 that includes a bullet-like shape to aid in insertion into the ground of the tee box. Again, the angles of the bullet shape from the body of the elevation tube 30 may be varied, and the lengths discussed above are similar for this elevation tube. In FIG. 2, the outer walls 38 of elevation tube 30 having the bullet-like shape are illustrated using straight lines. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the outer walls 38 may also be curved either concavely or convexly. Furthermore, the bottom 39 of the bullet-like shape is shown as a closed point. It is possible that the second end 37 is cut or formed such that it stops, for example, at the location of line 36, meaning that if the elevation tube 30 were generally hollow, the second end 37 would also include a hole in the area of line 36.

In addition, it is possible to stack multiple elevation tubes 30 within each other to vary the height of the tee. For example, a first elevation tube 30 may be placed into the tee box. However, the golfer may desire that the tee have a greater height than the height of the first end 32. In this case, the golfer may place the second end 37 of a second elevation tube 30 into the first end 32 of the elevation tube 30 that is currently in the tee box. As should be apparent from the figure, the bullet-like shape of the second end 37 of the second elevation tube 30 will be received into the first end 32 of the first elevation tube 30. When the non-tapered cylinder portion of the second elevation tube 30 reaches an insertion point approximately equal to the first end 32 of the first elevation tube 30 a mechanical fit will be created between the two elevation tubes 30. This results in a stack of two elevation tubes 30 having a height that is greater than a single elevation tube 30. Additional elevation tubes 30 may also be stacked to achieve any height desired by the golfer. While this stacking example is provided with respect to elevation tube 30, those skilled in the art will understand that any of the elevation tubes disclosed herein may be designed to be stackable.

It is further noted that the second end 37 or a portion thereof may further include a coating material that may be applied on the external or internal surface of the second end. The coating material is designed to make the second end 37 more rigid and/or more durable for insertion into the ground. The coating material may be any material that makes the second end more rigid and/or durable such as a plastic coating material or synthetic coating material. It is also noted that while the coating of the second end 37 is described with respect to this particular embodiment, any of the second ends for any of the described embodiments may include such a coating material.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the second end 37 may also include a separate tip piece that may be constructed from a different material than the remainder of the elevation tube 30. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the tip piece may be added to the second end 37 in the area from the line 36 to the bottom point 39. This tip piece may be constructed from a material such as a plastic material or a synthetic material that is more rigid and durable than the material used to construct the remainder of the elevation tube 30. Again, since the second end 37 is designed to be placed into the ground, the rigid and durable tip piece will aid in placing the elevation tube 30 into the ground, especially where the tee box is hard. In one exemplary embodiment, the elevation tube 30 is a complete piece, e.g., the elevation tube 30 material extends all the way to bottom point 39. In this embodiment, the tip piece may be placed over the material of the elevation tube 30 and coupled thereto such as by gluing or other known fastening means. In another exemplary embodiment, the elevation tube 30 material ends in the are of the line 36 resulting in a hole in the bottom of the elevation tube 30. In this embodiment, the tip piece may be coupled to the end of the elevation tube 30 in the area of the hole, either on the exterior or interior surface of the elevation tube 30. It is again noted that while the additional tip piece is described with respect to this particular embodiment, a similar tip piece may be coupled to the second ends of any of the described embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube 40. The elevation tube 40 is similar to elevation tube 10 described above, except that elevation tube 40 includes a second end 47 that includes a spike-like shape to aid in insertion into the ground of the tee box. Again, the angles of the spike-like shape from the body of the elevation tube 40 may be varied, and the lengths discussed above are similar for this elevation tube.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube 50. The elevation tube 50 is similar to elevation tube 10 described above, except that elevation tube 50 includes a second end 55 that includes a serrated end to aid in insertion into the ground of the tee box. Again, the angles and number of serrations of the elevation tube 50 may be varied, and the lengths discussed above are similar for this elevation tube.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube 60. The elevation tube 60 is similar to elevation tube 10 described above, except that elevation tube 60 includes a second end 67 that includes a regular or irregular curved shape to aid in insertion into the ground of the tee box. Again, the lengths discussed above are similar for this elevation tube.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of an elevation tube 70. In this embodiment, the elevation tube 70 is a cylinder that may be placed over a conventional wooden or plastic tee 80. That is, the conventional tee 80 is placed into the ground and the elevation tube is placed over the portion of the conventional tee that would normally hold the ball. The elevation tube 70 may be secured to the conventional tee 80 in any manner, e.g., friction fit, protrusions that rest on the conventional tee, etc. Thus, in this embodiment, the elevation tube 70 holds the ball, rather than the conventional tee 80. It is also noted that the elevation tube 70 may be inserted onto the conventional tee 80 by pushing the elevation tube 70 in the direction 90.

In an alternative embodiment, the elevation tube 70 may be placed onto the conventional tee 80 by pulling in the direction 95. In such an embodiment, the elevation tube 70 may be pre-attached to the convention tee 80 such as in the area of the shaft 82 of the conventional tee 80. After the conventional tee 80 is inserted into the ground, the elevation tube 70 may be pulled up in the direction 95 to result in the configuration shown in FIG. 6.

It should be noted that while the above exemplary embodiments described inserting the elevation tubes directly into the teeing ground, it is also possible that the golfer will have a tool to prepare the ground for receiving the elevation tubes. For example, the tool may soften the teeing ground or create a hole or indent in the teeing ground into which the elevation tube may be inserted.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball and a second end configured to insert into the ground.

2. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the second end includes a tapered portion.

3. The elevation tube of claim 2, wherein the tapered portion has a taper angle of substantially 45 degrees.

4. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is less than one-half inch.

5. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the second end includes a wall having a bullet-like shape.

6. The elevation tube of claim 5, wherein the wall is one of curved concavely relative to a longitudinal axis of the elevation tube or curved convexly relative to a longitudinal axis of the elevation tube.

7. The elevation tube of claim 5, wherein the wall forms one or a closed end and an open end.

8. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the elevation tube is shaped such that the first end is configured to receive a second end of a further elevation tube, wherein a mechanical fit is created between the elevation tube and the further elevation tube.

9. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the second end includes a wall having a spike-like shape.

10. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the second end includes a wall having a serrated edge.

11. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the second end includes a wall having an edge that is one of a regular shaped curve or an irregular shaped curve.

12. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is substantially hollow.

13. The elevation tube of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second end includes a coating material.

14. The elevation tube of claim 1, further comprising:

a tip piece configured to be coupled to the second end of the elevation tube, wherein the tip piece is constructed from a material that is different from the elevation tube.

15. An elevation tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a first end configured to hold a golf ball, the elevation tube being coupleable to a conventional golf tee, wherein when the elevation tube is coupled to the conventional golf tee, the first end of the elevation tube holds the golf ball to the exclusion of a golf ball holding means of the conventional tee.