Golf Tee With Spark Induction Coating And Method For Improving Golf Performance

Abstract

A golf tee having a contact alert coating cooperates with a golf ball and a golf club to provide a novel training aid that is economical, compact, and encourages proper golfing form. The golf tee has a golf tee body with a top plate, top wall and side walls. The top plate is fixedly attached to a shaft which terminates into a point that is inserted into a ground surface when a ball is placed on the top plate. A contact alert coating is coated on at least an upper portion of the golf tee body. The contact alert coating is composed of a material that generates a spark and, preferably, an audible sound when a golf club head strikes the ball and strikes the contact alert coating of the golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface. Generation of the spark and, preferably, the audible sound provides an alert that immediately informs the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.

Claims

1. For use with a golf ball and a golf club, a golf tee having a contact alert coating, comprising: a) a golf tee body having a top plate with a top wall and side walls, said top plate being fixedly attached to a shaft that terminates into a point, said point and a portion of said shaft being appointed to be inserted into a ground surface when a golfer is getting ready to tee off and a golf ball is placed on said top wall of said top plate; b) said contact alert coating being applied to at least an upper portion of said golf tee body; c) said contact alert coating being composed of a combustible material that is appointed to generate an alert when a head of a golf club strikes said ball and said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface; d) said contact alert coating being located on at least a portion of said top plate but not located on said ball and not located on said head of said golf club; and e) said contact alert coating having a depth ranging from about 0.001 inches to 1.0 inches in depth; f) said contact alert coating being composed of a material that generates a spark upon contact with said golf club head as said club head strikes said ball and contacts said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface; whereby said golf tee is appointed for use with a golf ball and golf club that do not have a contact alert coating thereon, and said contact alert coating located on said golf tee generates an alert when struck by a golf club head, thereby immediately informing the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.

2. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 2, wherein said contact alert coating is a material that is appointed to generate a sound upon contact with said golf club head as said club head strikes said ball and contacts said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface.

3. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating is located on at least a portion of said side walls of said top plate.

4. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 3, wherein said contact alert coating is located on said side walls of said top plate and substantially coats said side walls.

5. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating is located on and substantially coats said top plate.

6. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating is located on at least a portion of said top wall of said top plate.

7. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating is located on at least a portion of said shaft.

8. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating is composed of at least one material that is appointed to generate a spark and at least one material that is appointed to generate a sound upon contact with said golf club head as said golf club strikes said ball and contacts said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating golf tee interface.

9. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating has a depth ranging from about 0.003 inches to 0.5 inches in depth.

10. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating has a depth ranging from about 0.01 inches to 0.05 inches in depth.

11. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 2, wherein said contact alert coating further comprises a coloring to generate different color sparks.

12. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 2, wherein said material composing said contact alert coating comprises ground-up asphalt.

13. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 2, wherein said material composing said contact alert coating comprises small metallic pieces.

14. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 2, wherein said material composing said contact alert coating is adapted to generate a spark when contacted by the head of a golf club swung at speeds ranging from about 70 to 120 mph.

15. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said contact alert coating includes a water resistant coating.

16. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 15, wherein said water resistant coating comprises an ultra thin film layer of a wax, paraffin or polymeric material that is adapted to immediately rupture to provide contact to said contact alert coating upon contact with said golf club head.

17. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, wherein said golf tee comprises a spiral shaped body portion.

18. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 1, comprising divots for enhancing said spark.

19. A golf tee having a contact alert coating as recited by claim 18, wherein said divots project slightly from the tee body as darts to stabilize said tee in the ground, while increasing chances for spark ignition.

20. For use with a golf training aid having a golf club and a golf ball for encouraging proper golfing form, a golf tee comprising: a) a golf tee body having a top plate with a top wall and side walls, said top plate being fixedly attached to a shaft that terminates into a point, said point and a portion of said shaft being appointed to be inserted into a ground surface when a golfer is getting ready to tee off and a golf ball is placed on said top wall of said top plate; b) a contact alert coating applied to at least an upper portion of said golf tee body; c) said contact alert coating being composed of a combustible material that generates an alert when a head of a golf club strikes said golf ball and said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface; d) said contact alert coating being located on at least a portion of said top plate but not located on said golf ball and not located on said head of said golf club; e) said contact alert coating having a depth ranging from about 0.001 inch to 1.0; f) said contact alert coating being composed of a material that generates a spark upon contact with said golf club head as said club head strikes said ball and contacts said contact alert coating of said golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface; whereby said golf tee is appointed for use with said golf club head and golf ball that do not have a contact alert coating, and said contact alert coating located on said golf tee generates an alert when struck by said uncoated golf club head, thereby immediately informing the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the subject golf tee;

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line x-x in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee in use with a golfer getting ready to tee off in proper form;

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee in use, showing impact of a club head with the golf tee, and a spark generated from the coating on the golf tee;

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee wherein the golf tee has a spiral shaped body;

[0042] FIG. 6a illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the subject golf tee wherein the golf tee is shaped having divots containing a higher concentration of spark inducing substance;

[0043] FIG. 6b illustrates a top view of the tee of FIG. 6a; and

[0044] FIG. 6c illustrates a sectional view of FIG. 6a taken along XX.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] This invention relates to a golf tee having a contact alert coating, and a method of using a golf tee, that sparks only, or in an alternative embodiment sparks and makes an audible sound upon being struck by a golf club. In particular, the subject invention is directed towards a golf tee especially suited for use with a golf ball and a golf club. The golf tee has a contact alert coating, preferably a spark inducing coating, and broadly comprises: (i) a golf tee body having a top plate with a top wall and side walls, the top plate being fixedly attached to a shaft which terminates into a point, the point and a portion of the shaft being appointed to be inserted into a ground surface when a golfer is getting ready to tee off, and a golf ball is placed on the top wall of the top plate; (ii) a contact alert coating disposed on at least a portion of the top plate but not located on the ball and not located on the head of the golf club; (iii) the contact alert coating composed of a combustible material for generating a spark upon contact of a golf club head as the club head strikes the ball and contacts the contact alert coating of the golf tee at the coating golf tee interface; and (iv) the contact alert coating having a depth ranging from 0.001 inches to 1.0 inches. Alternatively the coating generates both a spark and an audible sound.

[0046] When struck by the head of a golf club, the contact alert coating located on the subject golf tee generates an alert in the form of a spark (or a spark with an audible sound, such as a snap or bang), thereby immediately informing the user as to whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed. Proper golfing form is promoted by encouraging the golfer to keep his head in the downward facing position throughout the golf swing. A golfer simply tees-up the ball in the usual way.

[0047] Advantageously, the subject golf tee does not require any alterations to the designs of either the golf ball or the golf club, which would adversely affect the trajectory of the ball. Additionally, information regarding proper golfing form is provided immediately, during the golf swing, when the golf club head strikes the ball, thereby improving muscle memory required to reliably replicate a proper golf swing. The golf tee can be used in compliance with rules and regulations of golf courses and tournaments as it is for use with standard regulation golf clubs and golf balls that are unadulterated or un-manipulated as required under golf organization rules and regulations of the USGA.

[0048] The golf tee body with its attached shaft is appointed to be inserted into the ground. The contact alert coating is coated on at least an upper portion of the golf tee body, said coating being composed of a combustible material (preferably a spark inducing composition or a spark and sound generating composition) that will generate an alert when struck by a golf club. Therefore, when a user's golf club head strikes the ball and strikes the contact alert coating of the Golf Tee at the coating/Golf Tee interface, an alert is generated thereby immediately informing the user if a golf swing has been properly executed.

[0049] Significantly, the alert produced by the contact alert coating of the subject golf tee is generated, reliably relayed to, and received by the user at the point of impact between the club head and the ball (during the golf swing); not after the golf swing has occurred. Instantaneous feedback is provided, thereby improving muscle memory required to reliably replicate a proper golf swing. No alterations are required to the designs of either the golf ball or the golf club, which would adversely affect the trajectory of the ball. Any alterations of the golf ball and/or golf club could also render the ball and club as falling outside of golf rules and regulations, and would likely cause a player to be disqualified in tournaments and league matches.

[0050] Advantageously, the subject golf tee device does not require any alterations to the design of the golf ball or golf club, which would adversely affect the trajectory of the ball. Further, it is considerably less expensive and more efficient to place an alert coating on a golf tee, rather than on each and every golf ball being used. Still further, the immediate feedback provided by generation of an alert when the club head contacts the golf ball/golf tee interface constitutes a necessary prerequisite for connoting proper correlation of the arms, torso and legs during the golf swing, to establish the muscle memory required to reliably replicate a proper golf swing and thereby achieve proper golfing form. By having the coating solely on the tee of the subject golf tee, but not on the ball or on the club head face, immediate feedback during the swing (not afterwards) is provided that helps the player lock in the proper swing mechanics, keep his head down, and improve his/her golf swing. These advantages are achieved without causing the user/golfer to be disqualified during a round or golf tournament or game.

[0051] Uniquely, the subject golf tee is especially well suited for use with a golf ball and golf club to provide a training aid that is fun to use and entertaining, as well. Proper golfing form is promoted by encouraging the golfer to keep his head in the downward facing position throughout the golf swing. When using the subject golf tee with spark induction coating, a golfer simply tees-up the ball in the usual way. The tee is coated with a substance such as ground-up asphalt, small metallic pieces (for example magnesium; zirconium), gunpowder, black powder, flint, aluminum, aluminum fines, flitter, or granules, and iron; or other substances that are prone to sparking when contacted by the head of a golf club swung at approximately 100 mph. Typically a binding agent is used, such as a starch or sugar, wherein the metallic pieces are mixed and coated on the golf tee. Colors, including gold, red, green and blue, for example, can be utilized in combination with the substance which, in turn, may be a combustible material, preferably a gunpowder type material consisting of sodium and/or potassium nitrates (or chlorates) with sulfur and carbon, and powdered metals such as iron, aluminum, or magnesium. Preferably, the coating applied to the golf tee is coated with paraffin wax to prevent oxidation during storage. By adding nitrate or chloride salts of strontium (red), barium (green) and copper (blue), colors are produced with the spark.

[0052] The coating may include flint-like material that emits sparks on contact with force, such as that exhibited via the golf club head. The flint-like material may be a mischmetal material or combinations thereof. Mischmetal, rare earth mischmetal or misch metal is an alloy of rare earth elements. Its most common use is in the ferrocerium flint ignition device of many lighters and torches, although an alloy of only rare-earth elements would be too soft to give good sparks. Preferably the subject coating is made up of a mischmetal composition including approximately 50% cerium and 25% lanthium and small amounts of neodymium and praseodymium blended with iron oxide and magnesium oxide to form a harder material known as ferrocerium.

[0053] Preferably, the coating is non-flammable in nature to mitigate fire risks. In one embodiment, the golf tee is coated with a thin layer of a mixture containing potassium chlorate, sulfur, glue and powdered glass (silica) to produce a spark when hit by a high silica-containing substance. This surface coating may be sprayed on the golf tee via aerosol.

[0054] The velocity of the golf club head and the substance with which the tee is coated interacts to create a sparking effect at various club head speeds ranging from about 70 to 120 mph. Different substances can be used to create different spark colors, and the substance can be designed to work even when the grass within which the tee is inserted becomes damp or wet with dew. Upon contact with a golf club, the tee will spark; a golfer witnessing the sparking action is thereby informed that the golf swing has been properly executed.

[0055] The subject spark inducing golf tee, and method of use thereof, provides a novel training aid that is economical, compact, and encourages proper golfing form. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate views of an embodiment of the subject golf tee. FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the golf tee; FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line x-x in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee in use with a golfer getting ready to tee off with proper form; and FIG. 4 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee in use with impact of a golf club and spark generation therefrom.

[0056] In referring to FIGS. 1-4, generally, the golf tee 10 has a size and shape of a typical golf tee. Golf tee 10 includes a top plate 11 with a top wall 11a and side walls 11b. Top plate 11 is fixedly attached to a shaft 12 which terminates into a point 13. Top plate 11 may have many different shape configurations, as illustrated in FIG. 7, which shows a top plan view of various top plate 11 configurations. Point 13 and a substantial portion of shaft 12 are inserted into the ground when a golfer is getting ready to tee off. A golf ball, as shown at 30 in FIGS. 3 and 4, is adapted to be placed on top of top plate 11. A contact alert coating 20 is applied to at least an upper portion of the golf tee 10. Preferably the contact alert coating 20 extends downward from the top of the tee to line I; alternatively, contact alert coating 20 extends downward to line V; in another embodiment, the contact alert coating 20 extends substantially down on the golf tee body to line X. When the powder/contact alert coating 20 extends further down the tee shaft (as to line V and/or X), it increases the chances for contact and spark ignition. Contact alert coating 20 is preferably a coating that generates a spark upon forceful contact of a golf club head 51 on the golf tee when a golf club 50 is swung so that head 51 strikes ball 30 and contacts golf tee 10 at the coating/golf tee interface. The golf club head 51 is unadulterated or un-manipulated so that it is in compliance with USGA rules and regulations. Contact alert coating 20 may optionally further include a snap sound generation upon the golf tee being struck by the unadulterated golf club head 51.

[0057] Contact alert coating 20 is preferably a non-flammable substance so that it does not pose a fire hazard. Further, the non-flammable coating 20 will not be subject to flammability when stored in the trunk of a vehicle and will not inadvertently be ignited. In one embodiment, the golf tee is coated with a thin layers of a mixture containing potassium chlorate, sulfur, glue and powdered glass (silica) to produce a spark when hit by a high silica-containing substance; this surface may be sprayed on the golf tee via aerosol. In another embodiment, the contact alert coating 20 is a substance such as ground-up asphalt, small metallic pieces (for example magnesium) or other substance that is prone to sparking when the coating of the golf tee is contacted by the head of a golf club swung at approximately 100 mph. The velocity of the golf club head and the substance with which the tee is coated interacts to create a sparking effect at various club head speeds ranging from about 70 to 120 mph. Different substances can be used to create different spark colors, and the substance can be designed to work even when the grass within which the tee is inserted becomes damp or wet with dew. Upon contact with a golf club, the tee will spark; a golfer witnessing the sparking action is thereby informed that the golf swing has been properly executed. In an alternative embodiment, a firecracker like coating may be applied in conjunction with or just under the spark coating layer so that if a fast speed (100 mph) is used, there will also be a firecracker type sound effect, which signifies a very fast swing speed.

[0058] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, coating 20 may be located on at least a portion of the top wall surface 11a of top plate 11. Alternatively, coating 20 may be located on at least a portion of side walls 11b of top plate 11. Optionally, coating 20 may be located on both the side walls 11b and top wall 11a of the top plate 11. What is more, coating 20 may extend down a portion of shaft 12. The coating 20 preferably has a thickness of 0.001 to 1 inch. Preferably contact alert coating 20 extends downward from the top of the tee to line I; alternatively, contact alert coating 20 extends downward to line V; in another embodiment, the contact alert coating 20 extends substantially down on the golf tee body to line X. When the powder/contact alert coating 20 is further down the tee shaft (as to line V and/or X), it increases the chances for contact and spark ignition.

[0059] The subject golf tee 10 provides a training aid that is fun to use and entertaining, as well. Proper golfing form is promoted by encouraging the golfer to keep his head 40 looking in the downward facing position, as indicated in FIG. 3. The golfer 40 tees-up the ball in the usual way. As the golf club is swung at approximately about 70 to 120 mph and makes contact with the golf tee 10, the velocity of the golf club head and the coating interacts to create a sparking effect at various club head speeds. Upon contact with a golf club, the tee will spark; a golfer witnessing the sparking action is thereby informed that the golf swing has been properly executed.

[0060] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of an embodiment of the golf tee wherein the golf tee has a spiral shaped body, shown generally at 500. In this embodiment the body of the tee is spiraled to assist in holding the tee in place and stabilizing the tee to ensure optimum contact force. Golf tee 510 includes a top plate 511 with a top wall 511a and side walls 511b. Top plate 511 is fixedly attached to a shaft 512 terminating at a spiral section 530, which in turn terminates into a point 513. Point 513 and a substantial portion of spiral section 530 and a portion of shaft 512 are inserted into the ground when a golfer is getting ready to tee off. A contact alert coating 520 is applied to at least an upper portion of the golf tee 510. Contact alert coating 520 is preferably a coating that generates a spark upon forceful contact of a golf club when it strikes the ball and contacts golf tee 510 at the coating/golf tee interface. Spiral section 530 has at least one spiral which acts to stabilize the tee in the ground for added contact force between the golf club and tee.

[0061] FIGS. 6a-6c illustrate another embodiment of the golf tee. FIG. 6a illustrates a plan view of an embodiment of the subject golf tee wherein the golf tee comprises divots containing a higher concentration of spark inducing substance, shown generally at 610. FIG. 6b illustrates a top view of the tee of FIG. 6a. FIG. 6c illustrates a sectional view of FIG. 6a taken along XX. Referring to FIGS. 6a-6c, golf tee 610 includes a top plate 611 with a top wall 611a and side walls 611b. Top plate 611 is fixedly attached to a shaft 612 terminating at a point 613. A contact alert coating 620 is applied to at least an upper portion of the golf tee 610. Contact alert coating 620 is preferably a coating that generates a spark upon forceful contact of a golf club when it strikes the ball and contacts golf tee 610 at the coating/golf tee interface. A divot 650 holding more powder for enhancing the spark or contact alert is provided (see cross-section XX (see FIG. 6c)). The divot 650 may further project slightly from the tee body as a dart to stabilize the tee in the ground, while increasing chances for spark ignition.

[0062] Advantages are realized through manufacture of the spark inducing golf tee and method of using same to promote proper golfing form. These and other advantages include, for example: [0063] 1) empowers golfers to improve his/her golf swing in a very inexpensive manner; [0064] 2) provides entertainment and added excitement on the golf course; [0065] 3) conveys immediate feedback to a golfer which provides confirmation that a proper swing hit has taken place; [0066] 4) provides a low cost, reliable and effective means for improving golf posture and swing carry through; [0067] 5) improves confidence of the golfer during a golf round; and [0068] 6) provides a minimally invasive, readily discernible, quick method of improving golf swing.

[0069] Having thus described the invention in rather full detail, it will be understood that such detail need not be strictly adhered to, but that additional changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the subjoined claims.