GOLF TEE PLACEMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

A golf tee placement apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus may include a body, an elongated post and a handle. The body may have a hollow body interior portion, and may include a body proximal end and a body distal end. The elongated post may be disposed in the hollow body interior portion, and may be configured to slide along a body length. The handle may be disposed at the body proximal end, and may be configured to pivotally move between a handle closed position and a handle open position via a hinge disposed along a portion of a handle length. A handle interior portion may be exposed when the handle may be in the handle open position. The handle interior portion may include a post attachment unit configured to attach a post proximal portion with the handle interior portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a body having a hollow body interior portion, wherein the body comprises a body proximal end and a body distal end; an elongated post disposed in the hollow body interior portion, wherein: the elongated post is configured to slide along a body length, and the elongated post comprises a post proximal portion and a post distal portion; and a handle disposed at the body proximal end, wherein: the handle is configured to pivotally move between a handle closed position and a handle open position via a first hinge disposed along a portion of a handle length, a handle interior portion is exposed when the handle is in the handle open position, and the handle interior portion comprises a post attachment unit configured to attach the post proximal portion with the handle interior portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow body interior portion is configured to receive a golf tee in proximity to the body distal end, and wherein the post distal portion is configured to apply a downward push to a golf tee proximal end when the handle is slid down towards ground.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the body, the elongated post and the handle has a cylindrical shape, and wherein a body longitudinal axis, a handle longitudinal axis and an elongated post longitudinal axis are aligned with each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the post proximal portion comprises a plurality of through holes disposed along a length of the post proximal portion, and wherein the plurality of through holes is disposed at different distances from a post proximal end.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the post attachment unit comprises a protruding member configured to be inserted into a through hole of the plurality of through holes, and wherein the post proximal portion is locked in the handle interior portion when the protruding member is inserted into the through hole and the handle is moved to the handle closed position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a level unit configured to indicate an apparatus alignment relative to ground, wherein the level unit is disposed in the handle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the level unit is a bubble level or a spirit level.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a spring unit, wherein one end of the spring unit is attached to the body proximal end, and wherein the handle distal portion is configured to slide along the body length inside the hollow body interior portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a cavity disposed in proximity to the body distal end, wherein the cavity comprises a cavity proximal end and a cavity distal end, and wherein a post distal end is disposed in proximity to the cavity proximal end.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a cover unit configured to slide along a body length in proximity to the body distal end.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cover unit comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are attached to each other at an intersection edge of the first portion and the second portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first portion and the second portion are pivotally attached to each other via a second hinge disposed at the intersection edge.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first portion is configured to slide along the body length to move between a cover open position and a cover closed position, wherein the first portion covers the cavity in the cover closed position, and wherein the first portion exposes the cavity in the cover open position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second portion is configured to move between a first position relative to the first portion and a second position relative to the first portion, wherein a second portion longitudinal axis is parallel to a first portion longitudinal axis when the second portion is in the first position, and wherein the second portion longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the first portion longitudinal axis when the second portion is in the second position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cover unit is locked in the cover closed position when the second portion is moved to the second position.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a golf tee holding unit disposed in proximity to the body distal end, wherein the golf tee holding unit is configured to hold a golf tee received in the hollow body interior portion via the cavity when the first portion is in the cover open position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a golf tee proximal end is disposed in proximity to a post distal end when the golf tee is held in the golf tee holding unit, and wherein the golf tee proximal end is configured to receive a downward push from the post distal end to cause a golf tee distal end to be inserted into ground via the body distal end when the handle is slid down towards the ground.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the golf tee holding unit comprises at least one of bristles or a V-shaped flexible support structure configured to hold the golf tee proximal end.

19. An apparatus comprising: a body having a hollow body interior portion, wherein the body comprises a body proximal end and a body distal end; an elongated post disposed in the hollow body interior portion, wherein: the elongated post is configured to slide along a body length, the elongated post comprises a post proximal portion and a post distal portion, the post proximal portion comprises a plurality of through holes disposed along a length of the post proximal portion, and the plurality of through holes are disposed at different distances from a post proximal end; and a handle disposed at the body proximal end, wherein: the handle is configured to pivotally move between a handle closed position and a handle open position via a first hinge disposed along a portion of a handle length, a handle interior portion is exposed when the handle is in the handle open position, the handle interior portion comprises a post attachment unit configured to attach the post proximal portion with the handle interior portion, the post attachment unit comprises a protruding member configured to be inserted into a through hole of the plurality of through holes, and the post proximal portion is locked in the handle interior portion when the protruding member is inserted into the through hole and the handle is moved to the handle closed position.

20. A golf tee placement apparatus comprising: a body having a hollow body interior portion, wherein: the body comprises a body proximal end and a body distal end, and the hollow body interior portion is configured to receive a golf tee in proximity to the body distal end; an elongated post disposed in the hollow body interior portion, wherein: the elongated post is configured to slide along a body length, and the elongated post comprises a post proximal portion and a post distal portion; and a handle disposed at the body proximal end, wherein: the handle is configured to pivotally move between a handle closed position and a handle open position via a first hinge disposed along a portion of a handle length, a handle interior portion is exposed when the handle is in the handle open position, the handle interior portion comprises a post attachment unit configured to attach the post proximal portion with the handle interior portion, and the post distal portion is configured to apply a downward push to a golf tee proximal end when the handle is slid down towards ground.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments may utilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in the drawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present in various embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Throughout this disclosure, depending on the context, singular and plural terminology may be used interchangeably.

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts an environment in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented.

[0008] FIG. 2 depicts an internal view of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 3 depicts a view of a top portion of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 4 depicts a view of a handle of a golf tee placement apparatus in an open position in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 5 depicts a first view of a bottom portion of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 6A depicts a second view of a bottom portion of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 6B depicts a third view of a bottom portion of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 7 depicts an example golf tee holding unit disposed at a bottom portion of a golf tee placement apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

[0015] The present disclosure is directed to a golf tee placement apparatus (apparatus) that may facilitate a user to conveniently insert/place a golf tee in ground. The apparatus may include a hollow cylindrical body, an elongated post and a handle. The elongated post may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, and may be configured to slide along a body length. An elongated post proximal end may be attached to the handle. The handle may be further attached to a body proximal end, and may also be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body proximal end. In some aspects, a body longitudinal axis, an elongated post longitudinal axis and a handle longitudinal axis may be aligned with each other.

[0016] In some aspects, the body may include a cavity in proximity to a body distal end, which may be configured to receive the golf tee from the user. The golf tee may be placed in the cavity such that a tee proximal end or a tee head may be in proximity to an elongated post distal end. Responsive to placing the golf tee in the cavity, the user may place/hold the apparatus in an upright position, which may cause the handle and the elongated post to slide down along the body length. In some aspects, the handle and the elongated post may slide down along the body length under the force of gravity, when the apparatus is placed/held in the upright position. The post's downward motion may cause the elongated post distal end to contact the tee proximal end, and push the golf tee downwards. The golf tee may escape the body and get inserted into the ground when the golf tee may be pushed downwards, thereby enabling the user to conveniently place/insert the golf tee into the ground.

[0017] The apparatus may include one or more additional components/units that may enhance user's ease of operating the apparatus. For example, the handle may include a post attachment unit that may enable the user to attach the elongated post with the handle and adjust an elongated post distal end's distance from the body distal end. By adjusting the elongated post distal end's distance from the body distal end, the user may adjust a tee length that may get inserted into the ground surface when the user uses the apparatus.

[0018] The apparatus may further include a level unit that may be configured to indicate an apparatus alignment relative to the ground surface. In an exemplary aspect, the level unit may be a bubble level or a spirit level. The apparatus may additionally include a cover unit that may be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal end. The cover unit may cover or uncover the cavity that receives the golf tee. In some aspects, the user may uncover the cavity by sliding the cover unit to an open position when the user desires to place the golf tee in the cavity, and may cover the cavity by sliding the cover unit to a closed position when the user may have placed the golf tee in the cavity.

[0019] In additional aspects, the apparatus may include a golf tee holding unit that may be configured to hold the golf tee in the cavity, when the user places the golf tee in the cavity. The golf tee holding unit may be disposed in the cavity. In an exemplary aspect, the golf tee holding unit may include a plurality of bristles and/or a V-shaped flexible support structure made from rubber or foam.

[0020] The present disclosure discloses a golf tee placement apparatus that enables a user to conveniently place/insert a golf tee into ground. By using the apparatus, the user is not required to bend and apply force on the golf tee directly by using the user's hand, thereby significantly enhancing user's convenience. Since the user is not required to bend for inserting the golf tee into the ground, a user with physical disability can also use the apparatus conveniently. Further, the apparatus is lightweight and easy to use, and can be used by users who may be learning golf and also by professional golfers.

[0021] These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

Illustrative Embodiments

[0022] The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts an environment 100 in which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented. FIG. 1 will be described in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B and 7.

[0024] The environment 100 may include a user 102 who may be located at a golf course 104 (and playing golf). The user 102 may be using a golf tee placement apparatus 106 (or apparatus 106) to insert/place a golf tee 108 (or tee 108) into ground. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the user 102 may be allowed to set a golf ball (not shown) on the tee 108, when the user 102 takes a first shot of a hole. The apparatus 106 may enable the user 102 to efficiently and conveniently insert/place the tee 108 into the ground. Specifically, the user 102 may conveniently insert the tee 108 into the ground by using the apparatus 106, without having to bend near to the ground and manually driving the tee 108 into the ground by using user's hand (which is a conventional method to insert the tee 108 into the ground).

[0025] In some aspects, the apparatus 106 may be shaped as an elongated cylindrical body having a length in a range of 40-50 inches and a diameter in a range of 15-25 millimeters. In other aspects, the apparatus 106 may have any other shape, e.g., an elongated hexagonal shape, an elongated cuboidal shape, etc., without departing from the present disclosure scope. The apparatus 106 may include a plurality of components including, but not limited to, a handle 110, a body 112, an elongated post 202 (as shown in FIG. 2), a cover unit 204, and/or the like. The elongated post 202 may be a sliding hammer portion of the apparatus 106, which may enable the user 102 to insert the tee 108 into the ground, as described in detail later in the description below. Specifically, the elongated post 202 may slide down along the body length under the force of gravity, when the user 102 holds the apparatus 106 in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] In some aspects, the handle 110, the body 112 and/or the elongated post 202 may have an elongated cylindrical shape (i.e., have a circular cross-section). In other aspects, the handle 110, the body 112 and/or the elongated post 202 may have elongated hexagonal shapes, elongated cuboidal shapes, etc., as described above. Further, a body longitudinal axis, a handle longitudinal axis and an elongated post longitudinal axis may be parallel to each other. Specifically, the body longitudinal axis, the handle longitudinal axis and the elongated post longitudinal axis may be aligned with each other, so that the handle 110, the body 112 and the elongated post 202 collectively form an elongated golf tee placement apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] The body 112 may be made of metal (e.g., aluminum, iron, steel, etc.) or graphite, and may have a hollow body interior portion. A body length may be in a range of 70-85% of an apparatus length (which may be in a range of 40-50 inches, as described above). Further, a body diameter may be in a range of 15-25 millimeters. The body 112 may include a body proximal end 206 and a body distal end 208.

[0028] The handle 110 may be disposed at the body proximal end 206, and may be made of same or different material as the body 112. In some aspects, a handle first part P1 or a handle proximal portion P1 (as shown in FIG. 3) may be disposed outside the body 112, and a handle second part P2 or a handle distal portion P2 may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion via the body proximal end 206. In some aspects, a handle length may be in a range of 15-30% of the apparatus length, and a length of the handle proximal portion P1 may be in a range of 70-90% of the handle length.

[0029] In some aspects, the apparatus 106 may further include a spring unit 210 that may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, in proximity to the body proximal end 206. In an exemplary aspect, the spring unit 210 may be a helical compression spring, with one end of the helical compression spring attached to the body proximal end 206. In some aspects, the other end of the spring may get compressed when the handle 110 and the elongated post 202 move upwards (e.g., when the user 102 may be loading the tee 108 into the apparatus 106). The spring may return to its uncompressed state when the handle 110 and the elongated post 202 slide down along the body length under the force of gravity, e.g., when the user 102 holds the apparatus 106 in the upright position to place the tee 108 into the ground. Further, the handle 110 or the handle distal portion P2 may be configured to slide along the body length (or the body longitudinal axis) inside the hollow body interior portion, as shown by an arrow 302 in FIG. 3. The handle 110 may slide into the hollow body interior portion under the force of gravity when the apparatus 106 may be held in the upright position, which may cause the handle distal portion P2 to slide into the body 112.

[0030] In some aspects, the elongated post 202 may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, such that the elongated post 202 may pass through the open center portion of the helical compression spring/spring unit 210, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the handle distal end 212 may include a hole in a center portion of the handle distal end 212 through which the elongated post 202 may pass. The elongated post 202 may be made of same or different material as the body 112, and may have a length that may be 80-90% of the apparatus length. In an exemplary aspect, the elongated post 202 may be a rigid rod or cylinder, which may be weighted (or have a substantial weight/mass) along an entire length of the elongated post 202 or a portion of an elongated post length.

[0031] As described above, the elongated post 202 may be the sliding hammer portion of the apparatus 106, which may be attached to the handle 110 and configured to slide along the body length (similar to the sliding motion of the handle 110/handle distal portion P2 inside the hollow body interior portion) under the force of gravity. In an exemplary aspect, the elongated post 202 may include a post proximal portion L1, a post middle portion L2 and a post distal portion L3, as shown in FIG. 2. In some aspects, the post proximal portion L1 may be disposed inside the handle 110, and may be attached to the handle 110 such that when the handle 110 slides down the body length, the elongated post 202 also slides down the body length or the body longitudinal axis in the hollow body interior portion along with the handle 110. The connection mechanism between the handle 110 and the post proximal portion L1 is described below.

[0032] In an exemplary aspect, the handle 110 may be configured to pivotally move (or rotate) between a handle closed position (as shown in FIG. 3) and a handle open position (as shown in FIG. 4) via a first hinge 304 that may be disposed along a length of the handle 110 (or along the handle longitudinal axis), as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In some aspects, the first hinge 304 may be disposed along a portion of the length (e.g., in a range of 50-95%) of the handle proximal portion P1. The user 102 may conveniently move the handle 110 from the handle closed position to the handle open position by opening or rotating a handle portion O (that may be part of the handle proximal portion P1, as shown in FIG. 3) about the first hinge 304. Similarly, the user 102 may move the handle 110 from the handle open position to the handle closed position by rotating back the handle portion O. In some aspects, the handle portion O may include magnetic attachment means that may enable the user 102 to conveniently open and close the handle 110. Stated another way, the handle portion O may include magnetic and ferrous material portions that may enable the handle portion O to remain closed via magnetic attachment when the user 102 rotates the handle portion O back to the handle closed position. In other aspects, the handle portion O may include any other attachment mechanism(s), different from the magnetic attachment mechanism.

[0033] A handle interior portion may be exposed when the user 102 moves the handle 110 or the handle portion O to the handle open position, as shown in FIG. 4. In some aspects, the handle interior portion may include a post attachment unit 402 that may be configured to attach or enable attachment between the post proximal portion L1 and the handle interior portion (or the handle 110). In an exemplary aspect, the post attachment unit 402 may include one or more elongated handle cavities 404a, 404b and a protruding member 406. In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIG. 4, the handle portion O may include a first part 408a and a second part 408b, and the first part 408a may include the elongated handle cavity 404a along a portion (e.g., 30-50%) of a first part length in proximity to a handle portion O distal end. Similarly, the second part 408b may include the elongated handle cavity 404b along a portion (e.g., 30-50%) of a second part length in proximity to the handle portion O distal end.

[0034] In some aspects, the elongated handle cavities 404a, 404b may correspond to a shape of the post proximal portion L1 when the handle 110/handle portion O may be in the handle closed position. Although FIG. 4 depicts an aspect where the handle portion O includes two half-cavities (i.e., the elongated handle cavities 404a, 404b), the present disclosure in not limited to such an aspect. In other aspects, either one of the first part 408a or the second part 408b may include a single full cavity that may correspond to the shape of the post proximal portion L1 (as opposed to having two half-cavities).

[0035] The protruding member 406 may be a spherical ball or a hexagonal ball (or ball or protrusion of any other shape) that may be attached to one of the elongated handle cavities 404a, 404b. In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIG. 4, the protruding member 406 is shown to be attached to the elongated handle cavity 404b. In some aspects, the protruding member 406 may be made of the same material as the handle 110.

[0036] In some aspects, the post proximal portion L1 may have a flattened shape (as shown in FIG. 4) or may have a cylindrical shape (similar to the shape of the post middle portion L2 and the post distal portion L3), and may include a plurality of through holes 410a, 410b, 410c (collectively referred to as through holes 410) disposed along a portion of the length of the post proximal portion L1. Although FIG. 4 depicts three through holes 410, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. In alternative aspects, the post proximal portion L1 may include more or less than three through holes 410.

[0037] In some aspects, the through holes 410 may be disposed at different distances from a post proximal end 412. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the through hole 410a may be disposed at a distance D1 from the post proximal end 412, the through hole 410b may be disposed at a distance D2 from the post proximal end 412, and the through hole 410c may be disposed at a distance D3 from the post proximal end 412. The distance D3 may be greater than the distance 1D2, and the distance 1D2 may be greater than the distance D1.

[0038] The shape of each through hole 410 may be the same, and may correspond to the shape of the protruding member 406. The protruding member 406 may be configured to be inserted into one of the through holes 410 to enable attachment between the post proximal portion L1 (or the elongated post 202) and the handle interior portion (or the handle 110). Specifically, the user 102 may attach the elongated post 202 with the handle 110 or lock the post proximal portion L1 in the handle interior portion by first opening the handle portion O, and then inserting a through hole (e.g., the through hole 410a) of the plurality of through holes 410 into the protruding member 406. The user 102 may further move the handle 110 or the handle portion O to the handle closed position to secure or lock the elongated post 202 with the handle 110.

[0039] In some aspects, the user 102 may select a through hole (of the plurality of through holes 410) to insert into the protruding member 406 based on a distance Dp of a post distal end 214 from the body distal end 208 that the user 102 desires to set, as shown in FIG. 6A. In some aspects, by varying the distance Dp, the user 102 may vary a tee length that may get inserted into the ground via the apparatus 106. Specifically, if the user 102 desires to insert the tee 108 deep into the ground, the user 102 may decrease the distance Dp. On the other hand, if the user 102 desires to insert the tee 108 into the ground such that a substantial tee length should be above the ground, the user 102 may increase the distance Dp. In some aspects, to increase the distance Dp, the user 102 may insert the through hole 410c (i.e., the through hole farthest from the post proximal end 412) into the protruding member 406. Similarly, to decrease the distance Dp, the user 102 may insert the through hole 410a or 410b (i.e., the through hole closer to the post proximal end 412) into the protruding member 406. The process of inserting the tee 108 into the ground by using the apparatus 106 is described later in the description below.

[0040] In further aspects, the body 112 may include a cavity 602 that may be disposed in proximity to the body distal end 208, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIG. 6A depicts a front view of the cavity 602, and FIG. 6B depicts a side view of the cavity 602. In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cavity 602 is shown to have an elongated rectangular shape; however, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. The cavity 602 may have any other shape (e.g., square, oval, elliptical, etc.), without departing from the present disclosure scope. Further, a cavity length may be equivalent to a standard tee length, or may be slightly smaller than the standard tee length. A cavity width may be any suitable width that may enable the user 102 to conveniently insert a user finger and/or the tee 108 into the cavity 602.

[0041] The cavity 602 may provide access to the hollow body interior portion in proximity to the body distal end 208. In some aspects, the cavity 602 may include a cavity proximal end 604 and a cavity distal end 606. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cavity proximal end 604 may be disposed or present in proximity to the post distal end 214. In some aspects, the cavity distal end 606 may be disposed in proximity to the body distal end 208, and may be disposed at a non-zero distance Dc away from the body distal end 208, as shown in FIG. 6A.

[0042] In some aspects, the cover unit 204 may be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal end 208 to cover and uncover the cavity 602. Specifically, in some aspects, the cover unit 204 may include a cover unit first portion 216 and a cover unit second portion 218, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6A and 6B. In some aspects, the shapes of the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218 may be similar to each other, and may correspond to an exterior shape of the body 112 in proximity to the body distal end 208. Further, the lengths and widths of the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218 may be similar to each other, and may be slightly greater than the cavity length and the cavity width to efficiently cover the cavity 602.

[0043] In an exemplary aspect, the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218 may be attached to each other at an intersection edge of the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218 in proximity to the body distal end 208. Specifically, the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218 may be pivotally attached to each other (i.e., configured to rotate relative to each other) via a second hinge 502 disposed at the intersection edge of the cover unit first portion 216 and the cover unit second portion 218, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0044] The cover unit first portion 216 may be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal end 208 to move between a cover open position (as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B) and a cover closed position (as shown in FIG. 5). The cover unit first portion 216 may cover the cavity 602 when the cover unit first portion 216 may be in the cover closed position, and may uncover or expose the cavity 602 when the cover unit first portion 216 may be in the cover open position. The user 102 may manually slide the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 upwards away from the body distal end 208 to move the cover unit first portion 216 to the cover open position, and may slide the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 downwards towards the body distal end 208 to move the cover unit first portion 216 to the cover closed position. The user 102 may access the hollow body interior portion in proximity to the body distal end 208 via the cavity 602 when the cover unit first portion 216 may be in the cover open position.

[0045] In further aspects, the cover unit second portion 218 may be configured to move/rotate (as shown by an arrow 504 in FIG. 5) between a first position relative to the cover unit first portion 216 (as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B) and a second position relative to the cover unit first portion 216 (as shown in FIG. 5). In some aspects, a cover unit second portion longitudinal axis may be parallel to a cover unit first portion longitudinal axis when the cover unit second portion 218 may be in the first position. Further, the cover unit second portion longitudinal axis may be perpendicular to the cover unit first portion longitudinal axis when the cover unit second portion 218 may be in the second position. In some aspects, the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 may be locked in the cover closed position when the user 102 slides the cover unit first portion 216 downwards towards the body distal end 208 and moves/rotates the cover unit second portion 218 in the second position, as shown in FIG. 5. In some aspects, the user 102 may move/rotate the cover unit second portion 218 in the second position when the user 102 may be using the apparatus 106 to insert/place the tee 108 into the ground, as described below.

[0046] In operation, when the user 102 desires to insert/place the tee 108 into the ground, the user 102 may move the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 to the cover open position, and then add/place the tee 108 into the cavity 602, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The user 102 may place the tee 108 in the cavity 602 such that a tee proximal end 608 (or tee head) may be disposed away from the body distal end 208 and a tee distal end 610 may be disposed in proximity to the body distal end 208, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this manner, the hollow body interior portion may receive the tee 108 in proximity to the body distal end 208 via the cavity 602.

[0047] Responsive to placing the tee 108 in the cavity 602, the user 102 may move the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 to the cover closed position, and then move/rotate the cover unit second portion 218 in the second position to lock the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 in the cover closed position.

[0048] In parallel (or prior to or after placing the tee 108 in the cavity 602), the user 102 may open the handle portion O (or move/rotate the handle 110 to the handle open position) and place/insert a through hole (of the plurality of through holes 410) in the protruding member 406, based on a tee length that the user 102 desires to be inserted into the ground. As an example, if the user 102 prefers to insert the tee 108 deep into the ground, the user 102 may insert the through hole 410a (i.e., the through hole closest to the post proximal end 412) in the protruding member 406, and if the user 102 prefers not to insert the tee 108 deep into the ground, the user 102 may insert the through hole 410b or 410c in the protruding member 406.

[0049] Responsive to inserting the through hole in the protruding member 406, the user 102 may close the handle portion O (or move/rotate the handle 110 to the handle closed position). When the handle 110 may be moved to the handle closed position and the cover unit 204 or the cover unit first portion 216 may be locked in the cover closed position, the apparatus 106 may be ready to use. In this configuration, the user 102 may place the body distal end 208 on the ground and align the apparatus 106 perpendicular to the ground (i.e., align an apparatus longitudinal axis perpendicular to the ground surface) or hold the apparatus 106 in the upright position on the ground. In some aspects, the user 102 may also place the user's foot on the cover unit second portion 218 (which may be parallel to the ground surface when the cover unit 204 may be locked in the cover closed position and the apparatus 106 may be held perpendicular to the ground), to provide stability to the apparatus 106 when the apparatus 106 is held in the upright position on the ground, as shown in FIG. 1. When the apparatus 106 is held in the upright position, the force of gravity may pull the elongated post 202 and the handle 110 down towards the earth/ground, thereby causing the handle 110 and the elongated post 202 to slide down along the body length towards the body distal end 208. Such a downward motion of the elongated post 202 may cause the post distal portion L3 or the post distal end 214 to move down and contact the tee proximal end 608, thereby applying a downward force or push to the tee proximal end 608. The downward push on the tee proximal end 608 may cause the tee 108 to move down towards the ground, and the tee distal end 610 to escape the body 112 via the body distal end 208 and get inserted into the ground. In this manner, the apparatus 106 may enable the user 102 to conveniently insert/place the tee 108 into the ground, without requiring the user 102 to bend and/or apply pressure via the user's hand directly on the tee 108.

[0050] In some aspects, a post distal end shape may complement a shape of a standard golf tee head/top end, so that the elongated post 202 may effectively contact the tee proximal end 608 and insert the tee 108 into the ground. For example, the post distal end shape may be convex, which may effectively contact a concave-shaped standard golf tee head/top end.

[0051] In some aspects, the apparatus 106 may include one or more additional components/units that may enhance user's ease of operating the apparatus 106. For example, the apparatus 106 may additionally include a level unit 220 that may be configured to indicate an apparatus alignment relative to the ground surface. In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the level unit 220 is disposed in the handle 110 (e.g., in a handle top portion/end), and may be, for example, a bubble level or a spirit level. The user 102 may use the indication/reading on the level unit 220 to determine whether the apparatus 106 is held perpendicular to the ground surface, when the apparatus 106 is used to insert the tee 108 into the ground. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that to ensure that the tee 108 is inserted perpendicularly into the ground, the apparatus 106 must be held accurately in a perpendicular alignment with the ground surface. The level unit 220 facilitates the user 102 in ensuring that the apparatus 106 is held accurately perpendicular to the ground, and hence ensures that the tee 108 is correctly inserted into the ground surface.

[0052] The apparatus 106 may further include one or more marking or indexing 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d that may be disposed at a handle exterior surface, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The indexing 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d on the handle 110 may assist the user 102 to adjust the grip on the handle 110 and mock a stance (similar to an actual golf club) on the golf course 104, so that the user 102 may accordingly decide whether the place/location where the user 102 may be inserting the tee 108 may be appropriate or not. Although FIGS. 2 and 3 depicting four markings/indexing on the handle 110, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. The handle 110 may include more or less markings/indexing, without departing from the present disclosure scope. In some aspects, the tee insertion may be relative to using the club length markings in an attempt get the best all around flat lie in relation to the user's feet and the golf ball.

[0053] The apparatus 106 may further include a golf tee holding unit disposed in the cavity 602, in proximity to the body distal end 208. The golf tee holding unit may be configured to hold the tee 108 in the cavity 602, when the user 102 may insert the tee 108 into the hollow interior portion via the cavity 602 (e.g., when the cover unit 204/cover unit first portion 216 may be in the cover open position). A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the tee 108 may slip or slide out from the hollow body interior portion when the apparatus 106 may be held in a perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface and when the tee 108 is not held securely in the cavity 602. To ensure that the tee 108 does not slide out from the hollow body interior portion when the apparatus 106 is held in perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface, the tee 108 may be held securely in the cavity 602 by the golf tee holding unit.

[0054] In the exemplary aspect depicted in FIG. 7, the golf tee holding unit may include a plurality of bristles 702 (which may be made of thin, flexible material) and/or a V-shaped flexible support structure 704 (which may be made of rubber or foam) configured to hold the tee proximal end 608. When the user 102 inserts the tee 108 into the cavity 602, the tee proximal end 608 (or the golf tee head) may be held in the V-shaped flexible support structure 704, and the elongated tee body may be held by the bristles 702, thereby ensuring that the tee 108 does not slide out of the hollow body interior portion when the apparatus 106 is held in perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface. Since the bristles 702 and the V-shaped flexible support structure 704 are flexible, the golf tee holding unit does not rigidly hold the tee 108. Therefore, when the apparatus 106 is held in the upright position, the tee 108 easily escapes the golf tee holding unit and gets inserted into the ground responsive to receiving the downward force/push from the post distal end 214.

[0055] Although the description above describes an aspect where the golf tee holding unit includes the bristles 702 and the V-shaped flexible support structure 704, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. In additional or alternative aspects, the golf tee holding unit may include one or more rubber grommet, a foam, and/or any other similar units/components that may securely (and loosely) hold the tee 108 in the hollow body interior portion when the user 102 inserts the tee 108 into the hollow body interior portion via the cavity 602.

[0056] In some aspects, the tee proximal end 608 may be disposed in proximity to the post distal end 214 (not shown in FIG. 7) when the tee 108 may be held in the golf tee holding unit. As described above, the tee proximal end 608 may receive a downward push from the post distal end 214 to cause the tee distal end 610 to be inserted into the ground via the body distal end 208, when the handle 110/elongated post 202 may be pushed down towards the ground under the force of gravity.

[0057] In some aspects, the apparatus 106 may be lightweight, which may enable the user 102 to conveniently carry the apparatus 106 to the golf course 104, and insert the tee 108 into the ground in the manner described above.

[0058] In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to one embodiment, an embodiment, an example embodiment, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0059] It should also be understood that the word example as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word example as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.

[0060] With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

[0061] Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent upon reading the above description. The scope should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the technologies discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the application is capable of modification and variation.

[0062] All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their ordinary meanings as understood by those knowledgeable in the technologies described herein unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as a, the, said, etc., should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary. Conditional language, such as, among others, can, could, might, or may, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.