US3516664A - Golf tee holder - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 wl E, BRENNAN v 3,516,664

GOLF' TEE HOLDER Filed April 26. 196'? *fw ww; .25 wf? l 5 ll. 'A 4 6 A {N1/Se, o l y, 7 S l0 "H YFIG. 2.

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- INVENTOR WENDELL E" BRENNAN ATTORNEY United States Patent O1 tlce 3,516,664 GOLF TEE HOLDER Wendell E. Brennan, Decatur, Ala., assiguor to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 633,986 Int. Cl. A63b 57/00 U.S. Cl. 273-33 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to golf tee holders which are capable of rigidly maintaining golf tees in an upright position, and which eliminate the practice of golfers of randomly positioning tees in man-made turf and harming the backing. The holder has an upright portion with an upper flange integrally secured to the top of the upright portion. A vertical opening extends through the holder for receiving a golf tee.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of golf tee holders in connection with manmade turf revolves around a new art which has emerged with the onslaught of man-made turf. Heretofore, the use of golf tees was restricted to natural turf and barren of semi-barren ground to which they were readily adaptable and more or less successful. Golfers have become accustomed to conventional tees, such as the peg shaped variety, ibut their acclmation and aflinity for such tees has created serious problems where man-made turf is in use. Golfers like their old model tees and also likethe new model turfs, but the two are not very compatible at present.

To play golf on man-made turf requires, for best results, changing of tees. This is one reason that newly constructed tees have not met with much success.

Accordingly, this invention solves the aforementioned problems by allowing the golfer to easily use conventional tees in connection with man-made turf.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention resides in the altering of man-made turf in order that conventional golf tees may be used in connection therewith. Presently, when conventional golf vtees are used on man-made turf it is very diflicult to position the tee without utilizing excessive force. The backing and padding are very difficult to penetrate and if penetrated with conventional tees, the turf is usually damaged thereby.

Accordingly, the aforementioned difficulties are overcome by altering man-made turf in such a way as to provide for golf tee holders which will readily receive conventional tees.

It is therefore an object of this invention to limit damage to man-made turf by providing the turf with golf tee holders.

Another object of this invention is to allow the effortless use of conventional tees in connection with manmade turf.

These and other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered with the following description.

According to the present invention, man-made turf, which is positioned where golf tees are used, is provided with a num-ber of openings which are capable of receiving golf tee holders. The number and distribution of these openings is a matter of choice, but there should be a sufficient number to meet most golfers fancy. lntothese openings are positioned golf tee holders which will be discussed in more detail later. The golf tee holders con- 3,516,664 Patented June 23, 1970 templated 'by this invention will eliminate damage to the turf and also provide for easy positioning of tees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG.` l is an elevation view, partially broken away, showing a golf tee holder of this invention.

FIG.. 2 is an elevation View, partially broken away, showing another golf tee holder of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, partially broken away, showing yet another golf tee holder of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring now to FIG. l of the drawing, there is shown a golf tee holder generally denoted by reference numeral 1 which may be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of' a resilient material, and which is positioned within an opening 2 provided therefor in man-made turf denoted generally by reference numeral 3. The man-made turf shown here may be comprised of a backing 4, which may be comprised of jute, etc., and filaments 5. Backing 4 may rest against the ground 6 or any other suitable surface.

The golf tee holder 1 is suitably comprised of an up right portion 7 which will lit into opening 2, and may have an upper flange portion 8 secured to upright portion 7. Flange portion 8 may assume various configurations, but preferably has a horizontal upper surface 9, and may rest directly against the backing 4 or may rest against the filaments S and backing 4.

Golf tee holder 1 is provided with a vertical opening 10 which is capable of receiving a golf tee 11 which supports a golf ball 12. Holder 1 may also have a lower "flange portion 13 which is secured to the upright portion 7, and which may be similar in construction to upper flange portion 8.

Vertical opening 10 may be a slit or may be round, but is preferably of such size so as to snugly receive a golf tee.

Holder 1 will maintain itself very satisfactorily in opening 2 when provided with upper and lower flange portions or with only a lower flange portion. When not provided with flange portions, it may be necessary to provide a snug fit between Vthe holder and opening and/ or utilize some form of cement or bonding agent therebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 2 it can be seen that upright portion 7 will have to -be longer when padding 14 is placed between backing 4 and ground 6. Padding 14 may suitably be a foam which is bonded to backing 4 and comprise a part of man-made turf 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a golf tee holder wherein upright portion 7 extends below the bottom of man-made turf 3 and into the ground 6. This configuration will further aid in rigidly maintaining golf tees in an upright position.

If further stabilization is desired a ground housing 15 into which upright portion 7 will fit may be provided. Ground housing 15 may serve a dual purpose, i.e., be provided with a point 17 to aid in separating the ground 6, and to aid in stabilizing holder 1.

Housing 15 preferably is made of a rigid rust-proof material, and is provided with an inner wall 19 conforming to the outer configuration 18 of upright portion 7, and rests against lower surface 16 of upper flange portion 8.

The foregoing illustrates the essential features of the invention as well as some of the manners in which it may be practiced. Various changes and niodications may be made in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore, the invention should not be limited except as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

1. A golf tee device comprising, in combination, a section of synthetic turf having an opening therein, a resilient insert having an upright portion located in said opening, said upright portion having an upper flange portion integrally secured to the top of the upright portion, and having a vertical opening therein adapted to receive a golf tee, said upright portion being received in a ground housing which aids in stabilizing the holder and the tee.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Erarniner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

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