Golf ball teeing device and stand therefor

Abstract

A golf ball teeing device allows a tee with a golf ball balanced thereon, to be securely pierced into the ground, without having to bend over.

Claims

1. A golf ball teeing device, comprising a seat for a golf ball, a pair of jaws arranged on either side of the golf ball seat and forming an opening for a tee for the golf ball at mating ends thereof, means for biasing the jaws together, a rod arranged to open the jaws against the biasing means and release the golf ball and tee from therebetween, a tubular shaft on which the jaws are pivotally mounted, and through which the rod movably extends along the shaft, the rod being configured, when pushed, to contact the jaws and pivotally open them against said biasing means, a meshing gear situated at an end of the rod, and a pair of meshing gears each pivotally arranged on a respective jaw and interlocking with the meshing gear at the end of the rod, such that pushing the rod against the action of the biasing means pivots the jaws outwardly from one another, wherein one of the jaws has an additional L-shaped protrusion to help guide and seat a golf ball during loading and teeing, and extending from said one jaw along one side of said golf ball seat towards the other of the jaws between said shaft and said golf ball tee opening defined by said jaws.

2. The device of claim 1, additionally comprising an actuating button movably mounted upon a spring extending around an opposite end of the rod from the jaws, said spring constituting said biasing means, such that depressing the button, forces the jaws apart against biasing action of the spring.

3. The device of claim 1, additionally comprising a stand pivotally mounted on the tubular shaft.

4. The device of claim 2, additionally comprising a locking button arranged to seat in a groove on the actuating button and lock the same against triggering opening of the jaws.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the stand comprises a pair of legs arranged to pivot downwardly and outwardly in parallel to support the device in upright position.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the stand additionally comprises a housing at an upper end thereof, and having a through-hole through which the device extends.

7. The device of claim 1, additionally comprising a collar mounted at an end of the tubular shaft and on which the jaws are pivotally mounted, the collar having a receptacle on a surface thereof for a golf ball.

8. The device of claim 4, additionally comprising a second spring on which said locking button is movably mounted to lock the jaws from triggering against biasing action of the second spring.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the locking button is arranged to engage and lock the actuating button from triggering, from only the side of the actuating button on which the locking button is mounted.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the actuating and locking buttons are mounted substantially perpendicular to one another.

11. Mechanism for locking a golf ball teeing device against opening and comprising a locking button arranged to laterally reciprocate in a groove on an actuating button arranged to open jaws coupled thereto and release a golf ball and tee held between the jaws when depressed, and a spring arranged to bias said locking button away from said groove, such that when said locking button is depressed and held against action of said spring, said actuating button is locked against movement, and when said locking button is released, said actuating button is unlocked and free to move, wherein the locking button is entirely arranged on one side of said actuating button, the locking button is positioned to be inserted into the groove of the actuating button by being depressed, and said groove is located between a top end of said actuating button and a compression spring biasing said actuating button in a direction away from said locking button.

12. A golf ball teeing device, comprising a seat for a golf ball, a pair of jaws arranged on either side of the golf ball seat and forming an opening for a tee for the golf ball at mating ends thereof, means for biasing the jaws together, a rod arranged to open the jaws against the biasing means and release the golf ball and tee from therebetween, a tubular shaft on which the jaws are pivotally mounted, and through which the rod movably extends along the shaft, the rod being configured, when pushed, to contact the jaws and pivotally open them against said biasing means, a meshing gear situated at an end of the rod, a pair of meshing gears each pivotally arranged on a respective jaw and interlocking with the meshing gear at the end of the rod, such that pushing the rod against the action of the biasing means pivots the jaws outwardly from one another, a locking button arranged to laterally reciprocate in a groove on an actuating button arranged to open the jaws coupled thereto and release a golf ball and tee held between the jaws when depressed, and a spring arranged to bias said locking button away from said groove, such that when said locking button is depressed and held against action of said spring, said actuating button is locked against movement, and when said locking button is released, said actuating button is unlocked and free to move.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein one end of said L-shaped protrusion is affixed to said one jaw, and an opposite end of said L-shaped protrusion extends toward said other jaw in a perpendicular direction.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said other end of said L-shaped protrusion extends between said two jaws in a direction perpendicular to a pivoting axis of said two jaws.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said L-shaped protrusion is positioned to extend between said meshing gear and the mating end of said jaws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The features of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the golf ball teeing device,

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interior mechanisms of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a partially transparent perspective view of the top part of the golf ball teeing device,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior mechanism in top part shown in FIG. 3,

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of the bottom part of the golf ball teeing device,

(7) FIG. 6 is a partially transparent side view of the bottom part shown in FIG. 5,

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the internal mechanism of the bottom part of the golf ball teeing device of FIG. 6,

(9) FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the individual components forming a stand for the golf ball teeing device,

(10) FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial plan view showing the certain of the individual components of FIG. 8,

(11) FIG. 10 is an enlarged, partially transparent, perspective view of the top of the stand of FIGS. 8 and 9,

(12) FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the teeing device and stand of FIG. 9, showing the triggering mechanism,

(13) FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the stand and golf ball teeing device extended in upright position to support the teeing device,

(14) FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the stand and golf ball teeing device retracted together for transport,

(15) FIG. 14 schematically illustrates piercing the tee into the ground with the golf ball positioned on top thereof, by the golf ball teeing device,

(16) FIG. 15 schematically illustrates lifting the golf ball teeing device away from the mounted golf ball and tee shown in FIG. 14,

(17) FIG. 16 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the stand supporting the golf ball teeing device in upright position, and

(18) FIG. 17 is an enlarged view of the dotted encircled area in FIG. 16.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(19) As shown in the figures, the golf ball teeing device 100 has a pair of jaws 200 located at the bottom end and which are connected by a rod 301 to a releasing mechanism 400 at the top of the device 100. A golf ball is first loaded into a closed position of the jaws 200 of the device 100, onto an end of a collar 201 having a receptacle or curved indentation 203 for the ball. One jaw 200 has an L-shaped protrusion 202 to help guide and seat the golf ball during loading and each jaw 200, as well as the collar 201, has a respective curved indentation 203 to effectively seat the golf ball when inserted between the jaws 200 with the tee.

(20) The tee is then loaded on top of the golf ball in the inverted position, by pressing the jaws 200 apart against biasing of the spring 401 at the top end of the gripping handle, and slipped in between the tips of the jaws 200 within the tee opening 204, which then snaps back upon release.

(21) The device 100 is then inverted, as the tee is appropriately pierced into the ground (FIG. 14), i.e., at the teeing off location, driving range, etc. The button 402 within the releasing mechanism 400 is then pressed and opens the jaws 200 to release the golf ball and tee from the device 100 (FIG. 15). Depressing the button 402 pushes the rod 301 situated within the tubular shaft 300 downwardly, and which then moves an opposite end of the rod 301 which is attached to a gear rack 205, thus translating the lateral motion of the rod 301 to a rotational motion of the pinion gears 206 attached by pivot pins 207 to the jaws 200, to open the jaws 200. The pivot pins 207 pass through a collar 201 mounted on the end of the tubular shaft 300, and attach the jaws 200 to the pinion gears 206. The collar 201 securely holds the jaws 200 and pinion gears 206 in place relative to the gear rack 205. Other attachment means of the jaws 200 to the pinion gears 206 are contemplated.

(22) When the button 402 is then released as the teeing device is lifted up and away from the golf ball and tee pierced into the ground (FIG. 15), the jaws 200 return to closed position by the action of the biasing compression spring 401 located within the releasing mechanism 400, extending around the internal rod 301, and coupled to the actuating button 402. The releasing mechanism 400 is formed as a handle similar to a golf club gripping end, with another locking button 403 integrated into the releasing mechanism 400 and which can be used to lock the actuating button 402 in the closed position of the jaws 200 by inserting into a groove 405 of the button 402. The locking button 403 is held against tension of a locking spring 404 and can be easily released to allow the device to be actuated by depressing the actuating button 402. This locking can ensure the device 100 remains closed during transport as well as keeping the jaws 200 closed during use. The locking button is arranged to engage and lock the actuating button from triggering, from only the side of the actuating button on which the locking button is mounted.

(23) The present invention also facilitates picking up the tee and golf ball. For example, the button 402 can be depressed to move the jaws 200 apart against the action of the spring 401, and placed over the tee or golf ball. Then, releasing the button 402 will allow the jaws 200 to close around the golf ball or tee and, with the locking button 403 engaged to ensure jaws 200 remained closed, the golf ball or tee can then be lifted without a golfer bending down.

(24) While the device 100 can readily fit within a standard golf bag, a stand 500 is also provided to allow the device 100 to be balanced in upright position, without having to be laid along the ground, as best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13. The stand 500 is not intended to be limited to only the device presented, but any rod-shaped device such as a golf club, fishing pole, or any other device primarily consisting of a rod. The stand 500 works in conjunction with the device 100 to form a tripod. The stand 500 has two additional legs 510 affixed to a slider 520. The slider 520 has a cavity, i.e., an eccentrically-winding channel 521 allowing travel along a predetermined path relative to a stationary retaining pin 530 extending therethrough. The slider 520 also has two edges or camming surfaces, a first leading edge 522 and second angled leading edge 523, both of which are formed to mate with the tubular shaft 300.

(25) The stand 500 is enclosed by a housing 540 permanently attached to the device 100, and the retaining pin 530 holds the slider 520 within the housing 540. The slider 520 also has a lever 550 affixed and stationary relative to the slider 520. FIG. 13 shows the stand legs 510 retracted against the shaft 300 of the teeing device 100, e.g., for carrying and/or inserting in a golf bag.

(26) To extend and mount the legs 510 of the stand, one presses down on the lever 550 which causes the slider 520 to follow the path guided by the retaining pin 530 extending through the cavity 521, in a motion that initially lowers the legs 510, thus moving the first leading edge 522 that is mated with the tubular shaft 300, and then projecting the legs 510 outwardly and away from one another, by engaging the second leading edge 523 mated with the tubular shaft 300, to form a tripod with the teeing device 100 itself (FIG. 12).

(27) Placing the tripod on the ground will also cause upward pressure, stabilizing the device 100. The legs 510 are also shaped to extend around the shaft 300 when engaged. While the drawings depict the stand 500 permanently attached to the device 100, other attachment means, both permanently and semi-permanently, are contemplated.

(28) An advantage provided by this type of stand 500 coupled to the teeing device 100, is moving the pair of legs 510 of the stand away from a user to reliably mount the teeing device 100 upright with swift action and the teeing device 100 itself forming the third leg of a tripod mounting. This makes it easier for a golfer to mount the teeing device upright between use.

(29) FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate another type of stand for supporting the golf ball teeing device in upright position, in which the stand has just a single support leg 510. In this embodiment, a collar encircles the shaft of the golf ball teeing device, and has a laterally extending clamping projection with a bore therethrough. This bore extends substantially perpendicularly to the opening through the collar and encircling the shaft.

(30) The support leg in this embodiment has an opening at the top end to receive a pivot pin or screw which also extends through the bore of the clamping projection. This pivot pin or screw is tightened to secure the collar around the shaft of the teeing device while, at the same time, allowing the stand leg to be pivoted toward or away from the teeing shaft. Therefore, the stand leg 510 is pivotal away from the golf ball teeing device shaft to support the golf ball teeing device at an angle in upright position as shown in FIG. 16 (and is provided with a sharp bottom end to effectively pierce the ground).

(31) The preceding description of the present invention is merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope thereof in any way.