GOLF TEE AND CLUB FACE GROOVE SHARPENING DEVICE
A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided and includes a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device further includes a sharpener article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
The present invention relates generally to golfing articles and more particularly to a golf tee that is utilizable as a golf club head groove sharpening device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs is known, the grooves on the face of a golf club are typically either “V” shaped, “U” shaped or rectangular shaped and have at least two functions. The first function of the club face grooves is that as the club face strikes the golf ball, for a short period of time the golf ball ‘slides’ or move along the surface of the golf club face. During this period, the edges of the grooves interact with the surface of the golf ball to grip the ball surface and cause the ball to rotate or spin more rapidly. The ability of the golf ball to spin is important for a couple of reasons. First, the rapid spin of the golf ball helps to provide aerodynamic lift. Thus, a spinning golf ball travels higher and farther than a non-spinning golf ball. Moreover, a spinning golf ball produces a more predictable result and is less influenced by wind interference. Second, the ability to put a ‘back spin’ on the golf ball allows a golfer to better control the ball trajectory or end position. For example, a golfer may hit a ball onto the green past the hole with the intention that the back spin will cause the ball to roll backwards toward the hole. For this reason, a player may want to make sure the club face grooves on their sand wedge or pitching wedge remain clean and sharp.
The second function of the club face grooves it to clear water from the face of the club. This is because, if at the moment of impact, grass is located between the face of the club and the ball, the grass is compressed. As an average golf swing produces nearly 3 k pounds of force, any water contained in the grass is squeezed out. This is undesirable because the ball can ‘hydroplane’ along the face of the club, thereby reducing the spin on the ball. Accordingly, the club face grooves function in the same way that treads in a tire function. They minimize the water caught between the ball and the club face by providing the water with a path to escape the surface of the club face. Thus, it is not only desirable to keep the face of the golf club clean and the club face grooves clear of debris, but it is also desirable to keep the corners of the club face grooves as sharp as possible. While there are tools that allow a player to clean and sharpen the club face grooves on their clubs, these tools are relatively expensive, standalone, specialized tools and require the player to carry added equipment. This is undesirable because it not only adds to the content and the weight of the bag, but it increases the risk of losing these tools as items are being removed from the bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided and includes a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device further includes a sharpener article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided and includes a sharpener article, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention should be more fully understood from the accompanying detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the following Figures in which like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
It should be appreciated that although the sharpener article 114 is disclosed herein as having a triangular shape design to accommodate club grooves 128 that are “V” shaped, it is contemplated that the sharpener article 114 may also have other shapes as desired. For example, it is contemplated that the sharpener article 114 have a rectangular shape (See
Moreover, a fourth embodiment is contemplated where the sharpener device includes four (4) sharpening surfaces. Referring to
It should be appreciated that the tee cradle 211 may be other types of cradles, such as a brush 250 (See
Referring to
In accordance with the present invention, one or more of the components of the golf tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention may be manufactured using any method or technique suitable to the desired end purpose. For example, it is contemplated that the one or more of the components of the golf tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 may be constructed from a plastic material, a composite material, a metallic material or a combination thereof.
It should be appreciated that while the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.
Claims
1. A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device, comprising:
- a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom; and
- a sharpener article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
2. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball holding device located proximate the tee stem top.
3. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball cradle located proximate the tee stem top.
4. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the tee stem includes a tee stem outer surface extending between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom and having a tee stem height TSH.
5. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 4, wherein the tee stem bottom includes a tee stem bottom diameter TSBD and the tee stem top includes a tee stem top diameter TSTD and wherein the tee stem top diameter TSTD is larger than the tee stem bottom diameter TSBD.
6. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 4, wherein the tee stem outer surface extends between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom at an angle of about 0.75°±15% relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the tee stem.
7. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the sharpener article is at least one of triangular shaped, rectangular shaped and/or arcuate shaped.
8. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the sharpener article includes a first sharpening surface and a second sharpening surface.
9. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8, wherein when the sharpening article is triangular shaped, each of the first sharpening surface and the second sharpening surface are angled at an angle of about 60°±15% relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the sharpening article.
10. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8, further comprising a third sharpening surface and a forth sharpening surface, wherein the third sharpening surface and the forth sharpening surface are angled at an angle of 90° relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the sharpening article.
11. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the tee article and sharpening article are constructed from at least one of a plastic material, a composite material, a metallic material or a combination thereof.
12. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1, wherein the tee stem defines a stem cavity having an anchoring means for securing a golf tee stem within the stem cavity.
13. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 12, wherein the anchoring means is at least one of,
- a resilient member configured to frictionally secure the golf tee stem within the stem cavity; and
- a threaded portion configured to threadingly secure the golf tee stem within the stem cavity.
14. A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device, comprising:
- a sharpener article, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
15. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 14, further comprising a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom and wherein the sharpener article is connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom.
16. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 15, wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball holding device located proximate the tee stem top, wherein the golf ball holding device is at least one of a cradle and a brush.
17. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 15, wherein the tee stem includes a tee stem outer surface extending between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom and having a tee stem height TSH and wherein the tee stem bottom includes a tee stem bottom diameter TSBD, the tee stem top includes a tee stem top diameter TSTD and wherein the tee stem top diameter TSTD is larger than the tee stem bottom diameter TSBD.
18. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 17, wherein the tee stem outer surface extends between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom at an angle of about 0.75°±15% relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the tee stem.
19. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 14, wherein the sharpener article is at least one of triangular shaped, rectangular shaped and/or arcuate shaped and wherein the sharpener article includes a first sharpening surface and a second sharpening surface.
20. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 19, wherein when the sharpener article is triangular shaped, at least one of,
- each of the first sharpening surface and the second sharpening surface are angled at an angle of about 60°±15% relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the sharpening article; and
- the golf tee/club face groove sharpening device further comprises, a third sharpening surface and a forth sharpening surface, wherein the third sharpening surface and the forth sharpening surface are angled at an angle of 90° relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the sharpening article.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 15, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 19, 2013
Inventor: Brandon T. Elliot (Willimantic, CT)
Application Number: 13/523,993