WO2005037380A1

WO2005037380A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: WO2005037380A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mariette De Vaal
Original assignee: Mariette De Vaal
Priority date: 2003-10-22
Filing date: 2004-09-21
Publication date: 2005-04-28

Abstract

A golf tee (10) which is height-adjustable has a housing (12) with a central cylindrical chamber (14) within which a ball-supporting element (22) is slidable. The element (22) has a dished surface (24) for supporting the ball and the shaft (26) of the element has spaced apart annular grooves (28) for engaging annular protrusions (30) about the opening of the cylindrical chamber (14).

Description

GOLF TEE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a golf tee and in particular, a height-adjustable golf tee.

BACKGROUND ART Golf tees have traditionally comprised wooden pegs having a sharpened end and a dished support atop the shaft of the peg. More recently these have been made from plastic while a very recent modification replaces the dished support with bristles.

One of the features that all of these prior art tees share is that the height to which the golf ball may be tee-up using these tees, is variable only by the depth to which the tee is inserted into the ground. Greater variation can currently only be achieved by using longer tees.

Apart from this disadvantage, it is also difficult to achieve a tee-height consistently and repeatedly, particularly for beginners who may be unsure as to what height to use for different clubs. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a golf tee which is height-adjustable and which permits consistent adjustment to preferred heights.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a golf tee comprises a ball supporting element and an elongated housing, having an open end at the top thereof, the element being slidable within the housing and the housing having a tapered lower end to facilitate penetration into earth or the like surface; the element and the internal diameter of the housing including interengaging formations for releasably securing the element at one or more locations along its length to permit a golf ball to be supported at various positions above the surface. The ball supporting element resembles a traditional tee in that it has a dished support at the top of an elongated shaft.

In the preferred form of the invention the housing includes a central cylindrical chamber with the open end thereof including one or more protrusions for engaging spaced apart annular grooves along the length of the element. The protrusions are preferably resiliently deformable to allow the shaft to be urged past the protrusions in both directions.

The protrusions may be formed by moulding a concentric channel at the top of the housing and around the cylindrical chamber, and a circumferential lip, and scoring or cutting the inner wall of the chamber and lip to produce a series of flexible tongues. The upper end of the housing is preferably flared or flanged to provide gripping surfaces for removing the housing from the ground after use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRA WINGS

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a golf tee according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the tee of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view through the tee along lines A - A in Figure 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the drawings, a golf tee 10 comprises a housing 12 having a central cylindrical chamber 14. The top of the housing is flared 16 about the opening 18 of the cylindrical chamber. The lower end 20 is tapered to insertion into the ground.

Slidable within the chamber is the ball-supporting element 22 which comprises a dished ball support 24 atop an elongated shaft 26. The shaft includes spaced apart annular grooves 28 which engage annular protrusions 30 about the opening of the cylindrical chamber.

The protrusions are flexible and are formed by moulding a concentric channel 32 at the top of the opening of the chamber and cutting or scoring the sides to form individual or separate, flexible protrusions. The resilient deformability of these protrusions allows them to clip into the annular grooves and retain the ball supporting element at the desired height, as well as slide the element up and down in the housing.

A golfer may count the number of "clicks" or exposed grooves at the top of the ball supporting element to accurately position his golf ball once the housing has been driven into the ground.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf tee characterised in that it comprises a ball supporting element and an elongated housing, having an open end at the top thereof, the element being slidable within the housing and the housing having a tapered lower end to facilitate penetration into earth or the like surface; the element and the internal diameter of the housing including interengaging formations for releasably securing the element at one or more locations along its length to permit a golf ball to be supported at various positions above the surface.

2. A golf tee according to claim 1 characterised in that the ball supporting element comprises a dished support at the top of an elongated shaft.

3. A golf tee according to claim 1 characterised in that the housing includes a central cylindrical chamber with the open end thereof including one or more protrusions for engaging spaced apart annular grooves along the length of the element.

4. A golf tee according to claim 3 characterised in that the protrusions are resiliently deformable to allow the shaft to be urged past the protrusions in both directions.

5. A golf tee according to claim 4 characterised in that the protrusions are formed by moulding a concentric channel at the top of the housing and around the cylindrical chamber, and a circumferential lip, and scoring or cutting the inner wall of the chamber and lip to produce a series of flexible tongues.

6. A golf tee according to claim 1 characterised in that the upper end of the housing includes a peripheral flange to provide gripping surfaces for removing the housing from the ground after use.