Rigid Golf Ball Tee

Abstract

A golf tee system comprising an insertion tool a thin-walled, hollow, thin-walled golf tee for holding a golf ball at a given height. When the structural insertion tool is non-fixedly inserted into the thinned walled tee to become a rigid golf tee system and resist collapsing and allowing insertion of the hollow golf tee into the ground surface.

Once the golf tee system is inserted into the ground surface to a desired depth, the structural insertion tool is removed from the hollow golf tee, creating a hollow tee device can be used as a golf ball tee which shatterable, thereby creating a more stable trajectory and increased distance. In addition, the hollow tee is more environmentally friendly than other tees.

Claims

1. A golf tee system comprising: an elongated, hollow, non-structural golf tee with a hollow ball support end and a non-hollow pointed golf tee end; an insertion tool comprising a structural insertion portion; wherein the insertion portion is inserted into said hollow ball support end of said golf tee and, when fully not-fixedly engaged, said insertion tool allows said golf tee to be inserted into the ground with optional assistance of a golf ball; wherein when said insertion tool is pulled out of said golf tee, said golf tee will remain in place and hold a golf ball when placed on it without shattering or breaking.

2. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising: said golf tee comprises a wall thickness of approximately 0.126 inches to 0.27 inches and a height of less than 4 inches.

3. The golf tee system of claim 1 further comprising: said golf tee further comprises a hollow center section wherein, said insertion tool tip is inserted into said hollow golf ball support end, through said hollow center section to form a rigid golf tee system.

4. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising: said insertion tool having a tool outer profile that approximately matches an inner profile of said golf tee; wherein said insertion tool is removably housed in said hollow ball support end and provides the necessary structure for inserting the golf tee golf system device into the ground.

5. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising said golf tee meets the rules of the USGA Tees (Rule 6.2).

6. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising said golf tee is made of materials comprising; biodegradable plastic, paper, synthetic materials, fertilizer, sawdust, wood, bamboo, waste products, rubber, plastics, high-bond composites, corn plastic, metal, biodegradable materials, silica, sand, or other materials known by those of skill in the art.

7. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising said insertion tool is structural.

8. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising said insertion tool may have insertion depth line markings to indicate various depth insertion measurements.

9. The golf tee system of claim 1, further comprising multiple said hollow golf tees can be nested inside each other for ease of shipment.

10. A rigid, structural insertion tool comprising a rigid structural arm with interchangeable tips for inserting components comprising wire golf tees, golf tees with a formed rounded golf ball holding top, a tee device with slits and a multi-diameter, flexible, tool.

11. The rigid, structural insertion tool of claim 10 wherein the structural insertion tool is made of materials, comprising metal, plastic, paper, synthetic material, wood, bamboo, rubber, high-bond composites, corn plastic, recycled plastics, and biodegradable materials.

12. (canceled)

13. A rigid, structural system comprising: a hollow device with an attached insertion tip and a ball-support for holding a golf ball; a structural insertion tool having an outer profile that approximately matches an inner profile of said hollow device; wherein said structural insertion tool is removably housed in said hollow device and provides the necessary structural support for inserting said hollow device into a ground surface; wherein said insertion tip is used to penetrate the ground surface by applying a downward force on said structural insertion tool, until said hollow device is inserted into the ground surface to a desired depth; wherein said structural insertion tool is removed from said hollow device; wherein said ball-support of said hollow device for holding a golf ball is above the ground surface and a lower portion of said hollow device is below the ground and said hollow device is held in place by a ground surface material.

14. The rigid, structural system of claim 13, further comprising said hollow device has line markings to indicate the desired depth insertion.

15. The rigid, structural system of claim 13, further comprising said insertion tool comprises internal or external rigidity for the hollow device.

16. The rigid, structural system of claim 13, further comprising said device is not hollow.

17. The rigid, structural system of claim 13, further comprising said hollow device for holding a golf ball comprises a modified injection molded golf tee, a hollow tube, and a drilled-out golf tee.

18. The rigid, structural system of claim 13, further comprising said hollow device and said insertion tool are made of materials comprising plastic, paper, synthetic material, fertilizer, sawdust, wood, bamboo, waste products, rubber, high-bond composites, corn plastic, metal, biodegradable materials, and a combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows the logos of The Professional Golfers Association;

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the logos of the United States Golfing Association;

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the logos of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a golf ball in play on a golf course;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a photograph showing a golf ball at the time impact with a golf club;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a photograph showing the distortion of a golf ball immediately after impact from a golf club;

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a golfer installing a tee with the assistance of a golf ball;

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a golfer mounting a golf ball on a tee;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the hollow ball support end of the golf tee system disclosed herein;

[0042] FIG. 10 shows the insertion tool of the golf tee system disclosed herein;

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a cross sectional view of the hollow ball support end of the golf tee system of FIG. 9;

[0044] FIG. 12 shows the insertion of the insertion tool of FIG. 10 into the hollow ball support end of FIG. 9;

[0045] FIG. 13 shows the assembled golf tee system disclosed herein;

[0046] FIG. 14 shows the installation of the assembled golf tee system in the ground with the assistance of a golf ball;

[0047] FIG. 15 shows the removal of the insertion tool from the hollow ball support structure;

[0048] FIG. 16 shows the hollow ball support structure installed in the ground ready to receive a golf ball;

[0049] FIG. 17 shows the hollow ball support structure with a golf ball mounted on it; and

[0050] FIG. 18 shows a plurality of hollow ball support structures in a stack illustrating the ease of transport of multiple hollow ball support structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Referring to FIG. 9. a golf tee system 900 comprises an elongated, hollow, non-structural golf tee 900 with a hollow ball support end 920. The pointed golf tee end 970 is non-hollow, and the non-structural golf tee 900 cannot be inserted into the ground by itself if the soil is too hard, which it is most often the case. An insertion tool 1000 shown in FIG. 10 comprises a structural insertion portion 1070, wherein the insertion portion 1070 is inserted into the hollow ball support end 1020 of the golf tee 900 and when fully not-fixedly engaged 1300 (as shown in FIG. 13), the structural insertion tool 1340 allows the non-structural golf tee 1300 to be inserted into the ground 1759 (as seen in FIG. 17) with optional assistance of a golf ball 1450 (as shown in FIG. 14). In this case, when the insertion tool 1500 (as shown in FIG. 15) is pulled out of the golf tee 900, the golf tee 900 will remain in place and hold a golf ball 1450 when placed on it without shattering or breaking. The tee 1300 and the insertion tool 1340 when non-fixedly engaged, are in hoop stress, or circumferential stress. It should be noted that a thin walled cylinder is more likely to fail along its axis than along its hoop.

[0052] As best seen in FIG. 11, the golf tee 1120 comprises thin walls 1120; wherein the golf tees 1120 are easily shattered when struck with a driver head or a club face. The wall thickness 1120 is mostly uniform, with a wall thickness of approximately 0.126 inches to 0.27 inches. The golf tee height is less than 4 inches.

[0053] The golf tee 999 as presented herein has a tee insertion tip 912 a hollow ball support end 920 and hollow center section 1330. The elongated structural insertion tool 1000, comprises a structural insertion portion 1070, wherein the insertion tool tip 1270 is inserted into the hollow golf ball support 1220, until the insertion tool tip 1270 is proximate to the insertion tip end 1280 (as shown in FIG. 12) wherein a non-fixedly locked, golf tee assembly 1400 is formed (as shown in FIG. 14) pushed into the ground 1759.

[0054] The golf tee system 900 comprises a hollow tee device 1220 for holding a golf ball 1750 (as seen in FIG. 17), a structural insertion tool 1502 having a tool outer profile 1227 that approximately matches an inner profile of the hollow device (best seen in FIG. 11), wherein the structural insertion tool 1502 is removably housed in the hollow tee device opening 1520 (best seen in FIG. 15) and provides the necessary structural support for inserting the hollow tee device 1400 into a ground 1759 (as shown in FIG. 14). The system having a insertion tip 1070 at a front end of the structural insertion tool 1000, the insertion tip 1070 is used to assist the hollow tee device 1400 to penetrate the ground 1759 by applying a downward force on the structural insertion tool 1000, until the hollow tee component 1400 is inserted into the ground 1759 to a desired depth. The insertion tool 1502 is removed from the hollow device 1520, which reveals a ball-support 1620 of the hollow device 1600 for holding a golf ball 1750 above the ground 1759 from which the golf ball 1750 may be played.

[0055] The golf tee 999 of the golf tee system 900 meets the rules of the USGA Tees (Rule 6.2) which states: “A tee is a device designed to raise the ball off the ground. A tee must not: be longer than 4 inches (101.6 mm); be designed or manufactured in such a way that it could indicate line of play; unduly influence the movement of the ball; or otherwise assist the player in making a stroke or in his play.” Note: As an exception for difficult turf conditions, tees tethered together or to an anchor may be used during the round provided that the player does not align the tees or tether in such a way that could indicate line of play or otherwise assist the player in making a stroke.

[0056] The golf tee is made of materials comprising; biodegradable plastic, paper, synthetic materials, fertilizer, sawdust, wood, bamboo, waste products, rubber, plastics, high-bond composites, corn plastic, metal, biodegradable materials, silica, sand or other materials known by those of skill in the art.

[0057] The golf tee system 900 wherein the insertion tool 1020 is structural. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the insertion device 1000 may have insertion depth line markings 1025 to indicate various depth insertion measurements. In this instance, the golf tee 1220 may be opaque to allow the markings on the insertion tool 1227 to be seen.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 18, the hollow tee structure can be nested inside each other for ease of shipment.

[0059] A insertion tool could be used with a variety of interchangeable hollow tips including wire golf tees, golf tees with a formed rounded golf ball holding top, a tee device with slits and a multi-diameter, flexible, tool. The rigid, structural insertion tool is made of materials, comprising metal, plastic, paper, synthetic material, wood, bamboo, rubber, high-bond composites, corn plastic, recycled plastics and biodegradable materials.

[0060] In some embodiments, the rigid structural insertion tool comprises an arm that is fixedly attached to a handle, a divet tool arm, and a rotatable arm component of a spinning divet multi tool.

[0061] A rigid, structural system comprises a hollow device with an attached insertion tip for holding a golf ball and a structural insertion tool having an outer profile that approximately matches an inner profile of the hollow device. The structural insertion tool is removably housed in the hollow device and provides the necessary structural support for inserting the hollow device into a ground surface. The system has an insertion tip at a front end of the hollow device. The insertion tip is used to penetrate the ground surface by applying a downward force on the structural insertion tool, until the hollow device is inserted into the ground surface to a desired depth. The insertion tool is removed from the hollow device wherein a ball-support of the hollow device for holding a golf ball is above the ground surface and a lower portion of the hollow device is below the ground and the hollow device is held in place by a ground surface material. In some embodiments, the hollow device has line markings to indicate the desired depth insertion. In some embodiments, the insertion tool comprises internal or external rigidity for the hollow device. In some embodiments, the device is not hollow. The hollow device for holding a golf ball comprising a modified injection molded golf tee, a hollow tube and a drilled-out golf tee. The hollow device and the insertion tool are made of materials comprising; plastic, paper, synthetic material, fertilizer, sawdust, wood, bamboo, waste products, rubber, high-bond composites, corn plastic, metal, biodegradable materials, and a combination thereof.