Golf tee and beverage closure combination

Abstract

A golf tee and beverage cap combination comprises a tubular concave twist off cap, having different methods of securement to containers, extending from its bottom a tapering member that ends in a pointed tip. The beverage cap and golf tee can either be one piece or connected to one another through a protruding member associated to the bottom of a beverage cap. The protruding member will comprise of a perforated section at its end that is loosely connected to the pointed tip of a golf cap. The pointed tip and protruding member easily detach from one another and retain their original objectives. If the beverage cap and golf tee are one piece, the top portion of the cap will be depressed to allow a user to rest a golf ball. The material used should allow the combined device to come in contact with any thing consumed by man.

Claims

1. A combined beverage closure and detachable golf tee for supporting golf balls comprising: a beverage container made of a material consisting at least one of glass, metal or plastic for containing a liquid substance; the beverage container further comprising a receptive threaded container neck of a container opening capable of receiving and fastening a container closure; the container closure further comprising an outside holding surface and a container head to enable the prevention of leakage of liquids when attached to the beverage container; an inner surface and an inside wall threaded area of the container closure engaging corresponding threads on the opening of the beverage container capable of fastening the beverage container by threading one over the other; a pointed end loosely connected to the inner surface of the closure, whereby the connection is fragile and easily disengaged; a longitudinal widening body member extending from the pointed end resembling a golf tee; a tubular beveled head at the end of the widening body member adapted to be used as a placement area for a golf ball, whereby the placement area is specifically adapted to receive and support a golf ball; and said beveled head having a smaller diameter as compared to the container opening from its center in order to permit removal in an upward direction away from the opening.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a protruding member having a first end connected to the inner surface of said closure, a second v-shaped end and a perforated section along the second end of the protruding member having a perforated segment at the tip made of frangible material that is loosely connected to the pointed end.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, consisting essentially of a food grade material used as the primary element of the widening body member so as to provide a sanitary object within a liquid.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising of a recyclable material used as the primary element of the widening body member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be discussed in further detail below with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with the device being attached to a plastic container having a screw connection;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a is a cross-section view of FIG. 2, showing the concave placement area;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of FIG. 3, showing a golf ball in its intended position along with a breach of a surface;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with the device being attached to an aluminum container having a threaded connection;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5, that further illustrates a protruding member coupled to a pointed tip;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, that further illustrates the separation between the protruding member and pointed tip;

(9) FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of FIG. 5, showing the protruding member's association with the beverage cap;

(10) FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the detached tee as in FIG. 7, that further illustrates a golf ball in its intended position;

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with the device being attached to a glass container having a crown or teeth connection;

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the device as in FIG. 10

(13) FIG. 12 is a is a cross-section view of FIG. 11, showing the concave placement area;

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 11; and

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates a perspective view of the device as in FIG. 10, that further illustrates a breach in a surface from the pointed tip along with a golf ball in its intended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the combined beverage closure and golf tee as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plastic bottle 17, a plastic bottleneck 30, a screw cap 20 and a concave top section 25. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 further illustrate the plastic screw cap 20 having an outside section 40 a bottom section 70 and an inside sidewall 50. The sidewall 50 includes continuous lugs 60 that are secured and connected to receptors on the top portion of the plastic bottleneck 17. The center of the bottom section 70 emits a tapering body member 80 which ends in a pointed tip 90.

(17) As shown in FIG. 3, the plastic screw cap 20 has a placement area 100 on the concave top section 25. A tapering body 80, ending in a pointed tip 90, trails the placement area. FIG. 4 further demonstrates the positioning of a golf ball 15 on the placement area 100 at the top section 25 of the plastic screw cap 20. The tapering body 80 is able to extend beyond a surface 16 after being breached by the pointed tip 90.

(18) Originally, the product looks and functions as a regular beverage container having a bottle with some sort of liquid matter and a cap to seal the bottle, aside from the concave top section 25. This embodiment is manufactured in such a way so that the tapering body 80 extends out of the bottom section 70 of the plastic screw cap 20. The tapering body 80 and plastic screw cap 20 are one solid piece, made of a material determined by the manufacturer and complying with safety food standards. A person in use of the device needs to unscrew the plastic screw cap 20 from the plastic bottle 17. Once unscrewed, the plastic bottle cap 20 inadvertently resembles a golf tee and can be used for such purposes. Due to the product being a single piece, once the tapering body 80 or pointed tip 90 come into contact with an unsanitary substance, the plastic screw cap 20 should not be reused as a sealer for the plastic bottle 17.

(19) Another embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. FIG. 5 illustrates an aluminum container 110 with an aluminum neck 130 and an aluminum thread cap 120. FIG. 6 removes the aluminum container 110 to give a better understanding of this embodiment. The aluminum thread cap 120 has a bottom section 125 and an inside wall 135. The inside wall 135 comprises continuous thread 160 which is capable of securing and locking onto the aluminum neck 130. The bottom section 165 of the aluminum thread cap 120 yields a protruding member 140. The end of the protruding member 140 has a perforated section 150 that is loosely connected to a pointed end 190. The pointed end 190 extends out into a widening body 180, which concludes in a tee top 195. The tee top has a concave placement area 200. Alternatively, the pointed end 190 can simply be connected to the bottom section 165 of the aluminum thread cap 120, without the need of a protruding member 140.

(20) FIG. 7, further illustrating the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, shows the separation that occurs between the protruding member 140 and the pointed end 190. The pointed end 190 is detached along the perforated area 150. When disconnected the structure of the golf tee remains unchanged including a pointed end 190, a widening body 180 and a tee top 195 having a placement area 200. As shown in FIG. 8, the aluminum thread cap 120 and the protruding member 140 are one piece, the protruding member 140 extending from the bottom center 165 of the aluminum thread cap 120. FIG. 9 further illustrates the detached part in an upright position with a golf ball 15 resting on the placement area 200 of the tee top 195. The pointed end 190 purposefully retains its structure in order to breach surfaces. The aluminum thread cap 120, after separation, can retain its primary objective of sealing the aluminum container 110 by linking the continuous threads 160 correlating with those on the top of the aluminum neck 130.

(21) This second embodiment depicts an aluminum, or like-material, bottle with a threaded cap that can continually be loosened and tightened to form a seal. Originally, before first opening the bottle, the tee, which is attached to the protruding member 140, is encompassed in whatever liquid the aluminum container 110 holds. The product is manufactured in such a way that the aluminum thread cap 120 and the protruding member 140 are a single, inseparable piece. A user of the product unscrews the aluminum thread cap 120 and retracts all the members that are attached to the protruding member 140 through the perforated section 150. The widest part, the tee top 195, will have a diameter smaller than the aluminum neck 130, so as to allow easy withdrawal. Once taken out, the user simple snaps off or breaks apart the pointed end 190 from the perforated section. This task should require minimum difficulty because of the loose connection between the protruding member 140 and the pointed end 190. The user then can reseal the aluminum container 110 with the thread cap 120.

(22) The final embodiment, featured in FIGS. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, portrays a glass container 210 with a glass neck 230 and a metal crown cap 220. The crown cap 220 consists of a placement area 300 inside the concave top section 240, a bottom section 270 and cap teeth 260 along the sidewall 250. Originally, the cap teeth 260, before taking off the crown cap 220, secure the top of the glass neck 230. A tapering member 280 extends from the center of the bottom section 270. The tapering member concludes in a pointed end 290. The placement area 300 permits a golf ball to rest on top of the concave top section 220 while a golfer strikes the ball. Further, the pointed top 290 is specifically made to allow a user to breach a surface 16. Such surface 16 can be the ground on a golf course, as depicted in FIG. 14, or an alternative forgiving exterior of which the user desires.

(23) Originally, the product looks and functions as a regular glass beverage container having a glass bottle with some sort of liquid matter and a metal cap to seal the bottle, aside from the concave top section 240. This embodiment is manufactured in such a way so that the tapering member 280 extends out of the bottom section 270 of the metal crown cap 220. The tapering member 280 and metal crown cap 220 are one solid piece made of a material determined by the manufacturer and complying with safety food standards. A person in use of the device needs to twist off the metal crown cap 220 from the glass container 210. Once twisted off, the metal crown cap 220 inadvertently resembles a golf tee and can be used for such purposes. Unlike the other embodiments, the metal crown cap 220 cannot be reattached to the glass container 210. However, the user should still not try to place the cap 220 back onto the container 210 after the original unsealing.

(24) Additional features of the device may be added by those skilled in the art of the invention, thus the invention should not be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings. It is to be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the generalized embodiment might include other modifications or alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, orientation and/or materials of the various components may be changed to achieve different effects without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed but instead the true scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims.