REDUCED FRICTION KICKING TEE

Abstract

A reduced friction kicking tee that can be used in a game that includes kicking a ball off a tee. The reduced friction kicking tee may include a base and at least two ball supports extending away from said base. A first ball support and a second ball support may be spaced apart laterally at a distance that is less than a width of a game ball. At least one of the first ball support and the second ball support may comprise a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of each support. In one embodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directional roller. In one embodiment the game ball may be a rugby ball and each of the first ball support and the second ball support includes said friction reducing member at its free end. In one embodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directional roller.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/393,912, filed Sep. 13, 2016, entitled “Reduced Friction Kicking Tee” to Eric Masterson, currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of rugby, the team that scores the most points wins. In scoring points, team can score a try (worth five points), a conversion kick (worth two points), and a penalty kick or drop kick (worth three points). Kicking has always been an important feature in the game of rugby.

After a team scores a try, the team will kick a conversion try in an attempt to add two points to the score with a conversion kick. A conversion kick includes kicking the ball off the ground through the uprights and over the crossbar. The placement of the ball in a conversion kick corresponds to the location along the width of the field where the ball was grounded when the try was scored. Thus, there are numerous times that the kick must be performed from a position that is at a substantial angle from the goal posts, and not straight on. Often, when kicking toward the goal post from an angle, this requires the kick to be performed at an increase in the distance up field from the goal posts in order to obtain an angle of approach that increases the likelihood of the ball traveling through the uprights of the goal post.

Further, a team may utilize a penalty kick in certain situations. Similar to a conversion kick, the ball is kicked from a stationary position. As a penalty kick is worth three points, it would be desirable to increase the length and accuracy of these kicks to allow more opportunities for a team to accumulate points through a number penalty kicks.

To date, there are a number of tees which are used to hold a rugby ball during conversion and penalty kicks. These tees are generally hard plastic with a number of extensions which extend to support the rugby ball. These tees are solid material and provide a stationary contact point with the ball. Thus, often the support points of existing tees act as a point of friction upon contact with the ball and often affects the flight path of the ball if the ball is not struck perfectly. This is similar to what happens when a golf ball is not struck perfectly and spin can be introduced on the ball effecting the flight trajectory, flight distance, and flight path. These points of friction affect both the distance of rugby kick and its accuracy. Thus, the effect of friction due to tees currently in the art becomes more pronounced during kicks of longer distances.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved kicking tee which reduces the effects of friction on the ball to improve both the flight distance and the accuracy of the kicks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A reduced friction kicking tee that can be used in a game that includes kicking a ball off a tee. The reduced friction kicking tee may include a base and at least two ball supports extending away from said base. The base may have any overall shape, with an embodiment having a three-legged Y-shaped base. Other embodiments may include a more ring-like shape wherein the base comprises a sidewall that surrounds the perimeter of a ring shape. The surfaces of the sidewall may include undulations.

A first ball support and a second ball support may be spaced apart laterally at a distance that is less than a width of a game ball. In one embodiment a third ball support is disposed opposite the first and second ball support to provide three support points of the ball as it rests on the tee. In one embodiment, one or more ball may project upwardly from a base at the same or different heights. In another embodiment, one or more ball support may be integrated into a wall of the tee.

At least one of the first ball support and the second ball support may comprise a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of each support. In one embodiment, both the first and second ball supports include friction reducing members disposed at the free end. In one embodiment, the friction reducing member may be a multi-directional roller. In other embodiments, the friction reducing member may be one of a roller, a caster, a material of less friction than the remainder of the tee, or any other friction reducing mechanism now known or hereafter developed. In one embodiment the game ball may be a rugby ball. Further, the present kicking tee may have one or more alignment aids printed or formed thereon.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, in which like reference numerals are employed to indicate like or similar parts in the various views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a reduced friction kicking tee of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of the present invention references the accompanying drawing figures that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the present invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the appended claims and, therefore, the description is not to be taken in a limiting sense and shall not limit the scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

The present invention is a reduced friction kicking tee 10 which reduces the contact friction at one or more support points. As shown in FIG. 1, kicking tee 10 includes a base 12, a first ball support 14, a second ball support 16 and a third ball support 18. Ball supports 14, 16, and 18 may be an arm extending away from base 12, or any raised portion which provides a localized area of contact with the surface of a ball. First ball support 14 includes a first friction reducing member 20 and second ball support 16 includes second friction reducing member 22. In this embodiment, third ball support 18 does not include a friction reducing member, but a friction reducing member incorporated into third ball support 18 is within the scope of the present invention. First ball support 14 and second ball support 16 are spaced laterally apart at a distance that is less than a width dimension of a ball. Moreover, first ball support 14, second ball support 16, and third ball support 18 each generally include a first end 15 coupled to said base and a free end 17 for engaging a ball. The ball will preferably be a rugby ball, but the present invention may be used in other sports where kicking is a component.

As further shown in FIG. 1, base 12 may include a plurality of arms extending outwardly from a center region 24. Base 12 may include a first arm 26, a second arm 28 and a third arm 30 extending away from center region 24. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, first arm 26 and second arm 28 are orientated at an angle θ1 that is less than ninety degrees with and first arm 26 and second arm 28 being orientated a substantially equal angles γ2 and γ3 from third arm 30 respectively. In alternative embodiments, first arm 26, second arm 28 and third arm 30 are orientated at equal angles near one-hundred twenty (120) degrees. However, any angular orientation between first arm 26, second arm 28 and third arm 30 is within the scope of the present invention.

In another embodiment, base 12 may be any shape, including square, circular or elliptical, either a solid, ring, or hollow shape, with ball supports extending upwardly to support a ball. In one embodiment (not shown), base 12 may include a spacing adjustment mechanism which allows the distance between the fore ball supports (18 in FIG. 1) and the back ball supports (14 and 16 in FIG. 1). For example, base 12 may be two parts which are slidably engaged at a location between the fore and back ball supports wherein the relative position of the ball supports may be adjusted to toward and/or away from each other. In addition, a fixing device may be implemented to fix the relative position of the fore and back ball supports so the distance between the fore and back ball supports until a further adjustment is desired. Adjusting the distance between the fore and back ball supports provides the ability for a kicker to adjust the angle at which the ball lies on the kicking tee 10 with respect to the supporting surface/ground. A closer distance between fore and back ball supports provides a more upright or vertical orientation and a further distance provides a more lateral orientation relative to the ground.

In an embodiment not shown, base 12 may also include a plurality of support legs extending downward (not shown) from base 12 extending in a direction substantially opposite of ball supports. One or more of the support legs may rest on the ground during a kick. Base support legs may also be adjustable using a set screw, a screw adjustment, interchangeable legs, or other known method of providing an adjustable length member, so that the length of support leg can be adjusted so as to increase or decrease the height at which the ball is supported off the support surface/ground. In one embodiment, a support leg is a spacer block or ring which attaches to an underside of base 12, wherein multiple spacer blocks may be connected in series to provide a number of ball support heights.

As shown in FIG. 3, an alignment aid 34 may be incorporated on base 12, wherein alignment aid 34 may be printed on or formed into the surface of kicking tee 10. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, third ball support 18 is a raised element with a slot 32 which may be centered on third ball support 18 wherein the slot 32 and the alignment aid 34 can be used to align the tee and direct the kick.

As shown in FIG. 5, first ball support 14 has a height H1 and second ball support 16 has a height H2, wherein in one embodiment, H1 and H2 are substantially equivalent. As further shown in FIG. 5, H1 and H2 are is higher than a height of the free end 17 of third ball support 18, H3. This orientation provides the ball to be at an angle when held on the tee 10. Heights H1, H2, and H3 specifically and, generally, the height for any or all of the ball supports may be fixed or adjustable through the use of an adjustment mechanism (not shown). The height difference and the distance between the backmost ball support(s) and the forward most ball support(s) will inform the angular orientation that the ball can be positioned during a kick.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, first ball support 14 and second ball support 16 each include a friction reducing member 20 and 22, respectively. As such, as the ball moves forward past first ball support 14 and second ball support 16 upon a kick, the friction reducing members 20 and 22 allow the ball to move relative to the tee 10 and ball supports 14 and 16 with little friction. Upon the impact of a foot against a ball, there is often a component of the movement that is parallel to the ground. In some cases, the surface of the compressed ball at impact may engage the forward supports 14 and 16. Thus, optimizing the angular orientation of the friction reducing members 20 and 22 may result in less friction upon impact.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first friction reducing member 20 may be orientated on first ball support 14 at an angle γ4 from vertical and second friction reducing member 22 may be orientated on second ball support 16 at an angle γ5 from vertical, wherein the angular orientation maybe inward toward the opposing support arm. Typically γ4 and γ5 will be identical. In one embodiment, angles γ4 and γ5 may be in a range between zero and forty-five degrees. Further, turning back to FIG. 4, second ball support 16 and/or second friction reducing member 22 may be orientated on second ball support 16 at an angle γ6 from vertical toward third ball support 18. In one embodiment, angle γ6 may be in a range between zero and forty-five degrees. First ball support 14 and/or first friction reducing member 20 may have a similar angular orientation from vertical in a direction toward third ball support 18. These angular orientations may be utilized so that the friction reducing members 20 and 22 may engage the surface of the ball at a substantially perpendicular orientation. Depending upon the type of friction reducing member 20 and 22, this may result in the least friction as the ball moves relative to the support.

Friction reducing members 20 and 22 may be a single or multiple multi-directional ball bearing, a roller, a caster, a material of less friction than the remainder of the tee, or any other friction reducing mechanism now known or hereafter developed. Friction reducing members 20 and 22 may be fixed to the ball supports or may be replaceable so that new friction reducing members may be utilized if the others wear out.

In another embodiment of kicking tee 10′ shown in FIGS. 6-9, base 12′ comprises a ring-like shape. As shown in FIG. 6, kicking tee 10′ includes a fore end 36, a back end 38, and a continuous sidewall 40 around the perimeter of kicking tee 10′ that defines an open center area 42. Continuous sidewall 40 may include an inner surface 41 and an outer surface 43. FIGS. 7 and 8 best show that outer surface may be undulating, wherein inner surface may be more uniform. Moreover, the sidewall 40 may have varying or constant widths. Sidewall 40 extends upward from a bottom surface 44 of kicking tee 10′. Kicking tee 10′ also includes first ball support 14′ disposed in an opposing relationship to second ball support 16′, wherein both first ball support 14′ and second ball support 16′ are integrated into the continuous sidewall 40. First ball support 14′ includes first friction reducing member 20 and second ball support 16′ includes second friction reducing member 22 as shown.

As further shown in FIG. 6, kicking tee 10′ may include a fore angled wall top surface 46 and a back angled wall top surface 48. As shown in FIG. 6, ball supports 14′ and 16′ are the high points. Fore angled wall top surface 46 and back angled wall top surface 48 respectively slope downardly and away from the ball supports 14′ and 16′ toward the bottom surface 44. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, kicking tee 10′ may also include third ball support 18′, which in this embodiment is a portion of fore angled wall top surface 46. The bearing location of a rugby ball on third ball support 18 on fore angled wall top surface 46 will depend upon the angular orientation of the ball as it sits on kicking tee 10′ and the v-shaped wall allows for the angle of the ball to be adjusted by placing the narrowing end of a rugby ball at different locations within the V-shape.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, in one embodiment, a fore portion of the fore angled wall top surface 46 has a steeper slope than a mid-portion of the fore angled wall top surface 46. In addition, fore angled wall top surface 46 may also include a depression 50. Depression 50 may be shaped having an area and a depth to allow for a portion of the rugby ball to rest wholly or partially within depression 50 on each opposing side of the continuous sidewall 40.

As shown in FIG. 7, kicking tee 10′ may also include slot 32′ which may be centered on third support portion of sidewall 40. Kicking tee 10′ may also include alignment aid 34′, which in this embodiment is shown to be a v-shaped cut-out of sidewall 40. A kicker may look through slot 32 to view alignment aid 34 for aligning kicking tee 10′ at the goal post or other target.

In use, a rugby player will place the bottom surface 44 of kicking tee 10 or 10′ on the ground and then place a rugby ball on kicking tee 10 or 10′. The rugby ball will lie in an angular orientation relative to the ground, typically with the high end pointing toward the goal post. Upon a rugby player kicking the ball, the ball will begin to be propelled upward and laterally toward the goal post. The ball will engage at least friction reducing members 20 and 22, which decreases the friction experienced by the ball as the ball moves at least somewhat tangentially to the friction reducing members 20 and 22. One embodiment, wherein multi-directional roller balls are friction reducing members 20 and 22, the rugby ball rolls off of the first and second support posts 14 or 14′ and 16 or 16′ thus significantly reducing the frictional force applied on the ball. Reducing the friction experience by the rugby ball during a kick decreases the chances that the flight path of the ball will be significantly affected due to friction when the ball starts its movement off of support posts 14 or 14′, 16 or 16′ and 18 or 18′. This friction reducing aspects of the present tee 10 or 10′ may significantly improve the flight of a kicked ball when the ball is subject to an unbalanced friction caused by either a mis-kick (impact is made on the ball slightly off center) or slight mis-alignment of the kicking tee and position of the ball support legs. It can be appreciated that having the ball support legs even slightly askew from perfect alignment will result in different effects of that ball support leg on the flight path of the ball. The friction reducing members mitigate these negative flight effects due to friction the ball generally and as more pronounced due to operational conditions. Thus, the kicking tee 10 and 10′ of the present invention allows for longer and straighter rugby kicks and also solves a long-felt and unsolved need in the art.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

The constructions and methods described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novel invention. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. A reduced friction kicking tee comprising:

a base;

at least two ball supports extending away from said base, wherein a first ball support and a second ball support are spaced laterally apart at a distance that is less than a width dimension of a game ball; and

wherein at least one of said first ball support and said second ball support comprises a friction reducing member disposed at a free end of said support.

2. The kicking tee of claim 1 wherein said friction reducing member is a multi-directional roller.

3. The kicking tee of claim 1 wherein said game ball is a rugby ball and each of said first ball support and said second ball support includes said friction reducing member at its free end.

4. The kicking tee of claim 3 wherein said friction reducing member is a multi-directional roller.

5. The kicking tee of claim 1, wherein said base comprises a continuous sidewall defining a perimeter of said base.

6. The kicking tee of claim 5, wherein said first ball support and said second ball support are integral with said sidewall of said base.

7. The kicking tee of claim 5, further comprising a third ball support, wherein said third ball support comprises a V-shaped portion of said sidewall of said base.

8. The kicking tee of claim 7, wherein said third ball support further comprises at least one depression in a top surface of said sidewall, said at least one depression disposed adjacent to said V-shaped portion.

9. The kicking tee of claim 5, further comprising a third ball support, wherein said third ball support comprises a depression in a top surface of said side said sidewall.

10. The kicking tee of claim 1, further comprising an alignment aid.

11. The kicking tee of claim 10, further comprising a view notch, wherein said alignment aid and said view notch cooperate to allow a user to align the kicking tee.

12. The kicking tee of claim 1, wherein said at least one friction reducing member is orientated at an inward angle in the direction toward a third ball support.

13. The kicking tee of claim 1, wherein said first ball support includes a first friction reducing member and said second ball support includes a second friction reducing member, and wherein said first friction reducing member is orientated inwardly at a first angle in a direction toward said second friction reducing member, and said second friction reducing member is orientated inwardly at a second angle in a direction toward said first friction reducing member.

14. The kicking tee of claim 13 further comprising a third ball support and wherein both of said first friction reducing member and said second friction reducing member are orientated at a third angle in a direction toward said third ball support.

15. The kicking tee of claim 13, wherein said first angle and said second angle are the same.