US3424457A - Golf tee - Google Patents
- ️Tue Jan 28 1969
Jan. 28, 1969 Filed Dec. 20, 1965 'INVENTOR. JOSEPH ROBERTSON United States Patent 3,424,457 GOLF TEE Joseph P. Robertson, 10511 Havenlake Circle, Dallas, Tex. 75238 Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 515,519 U.S. Cl. 273-33 Int. Cl. A63b 57/00 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus used in playing the 7 game of golf, and more particularly to an accessory for placing a golf ball in an elevated position in preparation for its being driven a long distance by the force exerted on it when struck by the face of a golf club head.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which will allow the golf ball to drop to a lower elevation when the arc followed by the golf club head is slightly lower than the arc which would be followed for perfect contact with the ball when it is resting in its initially placed position, thereby allowing it to drop to a position nearer the line of arc of the lower swing and in a position to come in contact nearer the point on the face of the golf club head behind which the greatest weight is concentrated, and thus increasing the probability of a better drive than would result had not the ball dropped to a lower position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will tend to stay in its anchored position after having been used for its basic purpose, thereby lessening the probability of its loss.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which will keep a golf ball elevated and immobile.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball tee which can be produced, packaged, and sold in large quantities at a comparatively low cost, and which, due to hardy materials and sturdy construction, will withstand a great amount of punishing use, thereby providing a device which can be economically utilized wherever needed.
Still additional objects, benefits, and advantages will become evident from a study of the following detailed description given in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf tee comprising the instant invention in a disassembled state.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf tee comprising the instant invention in an assembled state.
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the instant invention.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the assembled invention to be used to describe its action in use.
Referring now specifically to the drawing, a golf tee, FIGURE 2, made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a
ball support shaft15 which may be constructed of sheet aluminum or similar durable material and which will have a
circular opening12 between the
tip end18 and
obtuse angle10, and another
circular opening16 between the
base end20 and
obtuse angle14. The
obtuse angles10 and 14 will be equal in degree but opposite in angle.
Golf tee, FIGURE 1 is also shown to include a
ball seat ring32 which may be constructed of a flexible material such as rubber, and which will be in the shape of a ring, with a
groove34 separating the
ball seat36 and the
ball seat base30.
Golf tee FIGURE 1 is also shown to include a
resilient washer38 which is constructed of a resilient material such as sponge rubber of considerable density, and which is of a circular shape with a small hole in the center.
Golf tee, FIGURE 1 is also shown to include an
anchor spike27 which is constructed of a hard material such as aluminum alloy, or of a hard plastic material. This anchor spike is generally conical in shape, with a
flat top24, directly beneath which is a
groove26, then tapering to a
point28. The
top24 is somewhat larger in circumference than
groove edge25 which is of the same circumference as
circular opening16 in the
ball support shaft15.
Assembly of the device, FIGURE 2, is accomplished in the following manner:
The
ball seat36 is inserted upward through
circular opening12 of
ball support shaft15 and since the circumference of
groove34 is the same as that of
circular opening12,
circular opening12 acts as a collar to hold the
ball seat ring36 snugly and firmly in place.
The
point28 of
anchor spike27 is inserted downward through
circular opening16 of '
ball support shaft15 and continues on through
small hole37 of
resilient washer38. The
resilient washer38 is then pushed over
groove edge25 of
anchor spike27 until it fits into
groove26. Due to the elasticity of the resilient washer, and since
groove edge25 is of greater circumference than
small hole37, and as the
top24 of
anchor spike27 is of greater circumference than
circular opening16 in
ball support shaft15, the
anchor spike27 and the
ball support shaft15 will be held in this position by the pressure of the
resilient washer38 as it fits into
groove26.
Referring now to FIGURE 4, the operation of this device will be readily understood.
The
anchor spike27 is inserted into the teeing ground, herein represented by
line47, and pressure applied until the
base33 of resilient washer comes in firm contact with the
teeing ground47. The tip 1 8 of ball support shaft is to point in the direction of the intended drive. A
golf ball44 is then placed in
ball seat36, where it will rest in an elevated position.
In the event the golfer makes what would be a perfect swing for a normally intended drive, the point on the face of the club head behind which the greatest weight of the club head is concentrated would follow the are represented by
broken line40, and this point would come in contact with
point49 on the ball, which would be ideal. The sole of the golf club head would follow broken line 41, and there would be only slight disturbance to the golf tee. I
However, in the event the are followed by the club head was slightly lower, the following action would result. In the illustration,
dotted line42 represents the are followed by the point on the club head face behind which the greatest weight is concentrated, and
dotted line43 represents the are followed by the club head sole. In this representation it will be noted that the sole of the golf club head comes in contact with the ball support shaft at
point48. This contact forces the ball support shaft to the position represented by
dotted line46. This action removes support for the
golf ball44, and it will drop to a lower position as represented by circular
broken line45.
Due to the speed of the golf club head, this
new position45 would not be low enough for the point on the face of .the club head behind which the greatest weight is concentrated to come in contact with
point49 on the ball. Nevertheless, more of the effect of the concentrated weight of the club head will be transmitted to the ball than would have been possible had the ball been hit from a conventional tee, due to the fact that the contact came nearer to the concentrated weight.
Other action that would result from the club head coming in contact with the ball support shaft along its
surface15 would be the prying action of
angle14 against the
top24 of the anchor spike. However, since the resilience of
washer wall38 absorbs a portion of the shock, the
anchor stem27 is less likely to be pulled from the ground. The
washer38 also serves to return the ball support shaft to its original position.
'While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the detail drawing, and while various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is now claimed as new and desired to be prot-ected by Letters Patent of the United States, is
1. A golf tee, comprising, in combination, a ball support shaft of generally slender rectangular shape, extending in a diagonal direction upward from an anchored end at ground level, with a ball seat ring attached to the extended end of the shaft for the purpose of keeping the ball resting immobile, an anchor spike of generally conical shape for the purpose of keeping the shaft anchored to the ground, and a resilient washer which fits over the anchor spike below the anchored end of the ball support shaft and acts as a resilient base in order that any weight or pressure greater than the weight of a golf ball on the extended end of the ball support shaft, or on being struck by any degree of force along the surface of the ball support shaft will cause the extended tip of the ball support shaft to drop to a lower position, and thus remove support for the golf ball, but will return to its original position when the weight or force is removed.
2. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ball support shaft comprises a diagonal center portion and two end portions, the connections between said end portions and said center portion comprising obtuse angles of like degree but of opposite angle such that two end portions are in parallel spaced relation to each other, and parallel to the supporting surface on which they are anchored.
3. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1, wherein the anchor spike comprises a flat head below which a groove extends around the circumference of a shaft, after which said shaft tapers to a pointed end.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,130 8/1926 Wilcox 273204 1,924,473 8/ 1933 Walsh 273202 2,509,166 5/ 1950 Phillips 273204 FOREIGN PATENTS 411,305 6/1934 Great Britain.
ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.
P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner.
US. Cl. X.R. 273207