Base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee

Abstract

The subject invention discloses a base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee for supporting a golf ball when used in combination with a typical driving range golf mat. The base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee is comprised of a tubular shaft member with a distal end extending upwardly and terminating at its proximal end at its proximal end top surface. The proximal end top surface of the tubular shaft member comprises a plurality of holes oriented around its circumference, from which a multiplicity of bristles or other low-resistance support means are affixed and extend upwardly to provide circular support for a golf ball. The tubular shaft member is received into the top side hole opening of a typical driving range golf mat and has a circumference that is fractionally smaller than that of the opening to assist in the retention of the shaft member in the opening. The low-resistance golf ball support structures extend upwardly above the top surface of the driving range mat and provide little to no resistance to the golf club when the golf ball is struck.

Claims

1. A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee for use in combination with a driving range golf mat including a hole opening, top surface synthetic turf, pad affixed below the synthetic turf top surface and a specific thickness dimension, said combination comprising: (A) a tubular shaft member extending from its distal to proximal end; (B) a tubular shaft member proximal end terminating in a proximal end top surface; (C) low-resistance support structure distal ends extending upward from the plurality of holes oriented around the circumference of the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface to the proximal end of the low-resistance support structures and driving range golf mat tee upon which a golf ball is rested; wherein, said tubular shaft member is inserted into, received by and extends through the hole opening in said driving range golf mat terminating prior to the top surface of said driving range golf mat with said specific thickness dimension so as to assure no contact is possible between a golf club and the tubular shaft member upon striking of said golf ball; wherein, said low-resistance support structures extend upward from the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface from the inside of the driving range golf mat hole opening above the top surface of said driving range golf mat for receiving and resting of a golf ball thereon.

2. A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular shaft member circumference is fractionally smaller than that of said driving range golf mat hole opening and comprised of material of sufficient strength, density and weight to assist in retention of said base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee in said driving range golf mat hole opening through frictional and pressure forces upon striking of said golf ball without any additional anchoring means.

3. A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proximal ends of said low-resistance support structures, as oriented, provide for circular and upward support for receiving of said golf ball.

4. A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee as claimed in claim 3, wherein said support structures may comprise of a multiplicity of bristles that will minimize frictional or resistive forces when a golf ball is struck by a golf club while maintaining structural integrity.

5. A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support structures are designed so as to allow for modification via cutting or trimming by a golfer to adjust the low-resistance support structures to said golfers' desired height without adversely affecting golf ball support or contact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] A clear understanding of the key features of the invention summarized above may be obtained through reference to the attached drawings, illustrating the method and system of the invention, although it will be understood that such drawings depict preferred embodiments of the invention and, therefore, are not to be considered as limiting its scope with regard to other embodiments which the invention is capable of contemplating. Accordingly:

[0021] FIG. 1. is a front elevated perspective view of the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee in accordance with the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 depicts the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee displayed in FIG. 1 supporting a golf ball on the low-resistance support structures;

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee constructed in accordance with the disclosures of the present invention;

[0024] FIGS. 4a-4b are side perspective views depicting the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee utilized in combination with a driving range golf mat.

REFERENCE NUMBERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0025] 01 Base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee

[0026] 10 Tubular shaft member

[0027] 30 Base of synthetic turf surface

[0028] 50 Tubular shaft member proximal end top surface

[0029] 60 Low-resistance support structures

[0030] 70 Low-resistance support structure proximal ends

[0031] 80 Plurality of holes on tubular shaft member proximal end top surface

[0032] 90 Height of low-resistance support structures

[0033] 100 Height of low-resistance support structures above the top surface of the driving range golf mat

[0034] 110 Driving range golf mat

[0035] 120 Top surface of driving range golf mat

[0036] 130 Under-side surface of driving range golf mat

[0037] 140 Driving range golf mat hole opening

[0038] 150 Golf ball

[0039] 160 Driving range golf mat thickness dimension

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein and are made with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the descriptions disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, a front elevated perspective view of a base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 designed for use in combination with a driving range golf mat 110 and constructed in accordance with the specification of the present invention is illustrated. The base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 as shown in FIG. 1 provides support of a golf ball 150 through use of low-resistance support structures 60 and support structure proximal ends 70 at the proximal end of said driving range golf mat tee 01. At the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50, the low-resistance support structure proximal ends 70 of the low-resistance support structures 60 extend upwardly from the plurality of holes 80 oriented along the circumference of the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50. The tubular shaft member 10 having a distal end extending away to its proximal end and terminating in the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50. The tubular shaft member 10 although capable of being made of various materials with the desired strength and weight, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tubular shaft member 10 is formed of a material of sufficient strength, density and weight to assist in retention in the retention of the driving range golf mat tee 01 within the driving range golf mat hole opening 140 when the golf ball 150 is struck with a golf club. The low-resistance support structures 60 are affixed and attached into the plurality of holes 80 that are oriented along the circumference on the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50. The low-resistance support structures 60 extend upward from their distal to proximal end and away from the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50, toward the proximal end of the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01, terminating in circularly oriented low-resistance support structure proximal ends 70 providing the necessary support and retention of the golf ball 150.

[0042] A driving range golf mat tee of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2, disclosing the height 90 of the low-resistance support structures 60 which are designed so as to allow for modification through cutting or trimming by a golfer to adjust the low-resistance support structures 60 to the golfers' desired height 90 during driving range practice. It should be noted that the low-resistance support structures 60 are flexible so as to reduce or eliminate any resistance present when the golf club strikes the golf ball 150.

[0043] FIG. 3, illustrates a side perspective view of the driving range golf mat tee 01. As shown, the low-resistance support structures 60 and support structure proximal ends 70 shall provide little to no resistance as the golf club passes through during the striking of the golf ball. This allows the golfer to mimic the ball striking feel that they would experience while on the course, while at the same time eliminating undesirable ball spin caused as a result of the contact between the ball and the tee.

[0044] A base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 as constructed in accordance with the specification of the present invention as the golfer would utilize it in combination with a driving range golf mat is shown in FIGS. 4a-4b. FIG. 4a depicts the driving range golf mat 110 that includes a top surface 120, an under-side surface 130, a specific thickness dimension 160 and a golf mat hole opening 140 into which the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat golf tee 01 is inserted, received and retained. Further, FIG. 4a provides directional guidance as to how the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 is to be inserted into the driving range golf mat hole opening 140 on the top surface 120 of the driving range golf mat 110. FIG. 4b, illustrates the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 as it would be utilized in combination with a driving range golf mat 110 as inserted into, received and retained by the golf mat hole opening 140. The tubular shaft member 10 has a circumference that is fractionally smaller than that of the golf mat hole opening 140 and is retained in the golf mat hole opening 140 by frictional and pressure forces when a golf ball 150 is struck from the base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee 01 without any additional anchoring means. The length of the tubular shaft member 10, is less than the specific thickness dimension 160 of the driving range golf mat 110, so as to fit completely and entirely within the driving range golf mat hole opening 140 when inserted and assure no contact is possible between a golf club and the tubular shaft member 10. The preferred height of the tubular shaft member 10 is such that the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50 corresponds to the base of the synthetic turf surface 30. The low-resistance support structures 60 attached and affixed to the tubular shaft member proximal end top surface 50 via the plurality of holes 80 emerge from the driving range golf mat hole opening 140 and extend above the top surface of the driving range golf mat 120. The height of the low-resistance support structures 60 and proximal ends 70 above the surface of the driving range golf mat 100 can be modified by the golfer via cutting or trimming, of the low-resistance support structures 60 and proximal ends 70 to said golfers desired height 100.

[0045] While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described a particular configuration of a base-less, low-resistance driving range golf mat tee, such embodiments are exemplary. While certain embodiments and details have been included herein for purposes of illustrating aspects of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined, in part, in the appended claims. It is understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of this invention. The words including and having, as used herein, including the claims, shall have the same meaning as the word comprising.