WO2004043551A1 - Golf tee device - Google Patents
Golf tee device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2004043551A1 WO2004043551A1 PCT/GB2003/004926 GB0304926W WO2004043551A1 WO 2004043551 A1 WO2004043551 A1 WO 2004043551A1 GB 0304926 W GB0304926 W GB 0304926W WO 2004043551 A1 WO2004043551 A1 WO 2004043551A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- tee
- holder member
- threading
- holder
- tee member
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B57/00—Golfing accessories
- A63B57/10—Golf tees
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B57/00—Golfing accessories
- A63B57/10—Golf tees
- A63B57/15—Golf tees height-adjustable
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a golf tee device.
- the tees currently provided in driving ranges tend to be either the conventional tee as used on a golf course, or a fixed-height rubber tee.
- Conventional tees can fly out of their holder when the golf ball is struck. This is a health and safety problem and also results in loss of the tee.
- the fixed-height tees sometimes provided are not adjustable according to the needs of the individual player.
- the tees of both these systems protrude through a hole in the stance mat on which the player stands to make his shot, and therefore may require lifting or removal of the stance mat in order to be changed.
- GB2327193A and US6110060 disclose height-adjustable golf tees. However, these tees can only be adjusted to a few specific heights, thereby limiting their utility.
- US6062989 discloses a base into which a conventional tee can be inserted.
- the base contains a mouldable wax to allow the tee to be pushed in by different amounts thereby providing any number of different ball heights.
- the tee of such a device is at risk of flying out of its base when the ball is struck, or of moving relative to the base so that it needs readjusting before the next shot is taken.
- WO9937368 discloses a height-adjustable tee. However, this tee is located into a base that would be situated underneath the stance mat at a driving range therefore requiring lifting or removal of the stance mat in order to change the tee, for example, if it breaks.
- US6083121 discloses a height-adjustable tee based on a vertically moveable piston within a housing.
- this tee is of a relatively complex construction, requiring many parts that could break or go missing.
- a particular disadvantage of this type of tee is that the ball support piston can only be removed from below, requiring lifting and movement of the stance mat.
- An alternative embodiment in which the upper part of the ball support piston can be removed from above has a relatively complicated connection mechanism.
- the present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems.
- a golf tee device comprising a tee member removably supported in a holder member, wherein the tee member is movable in a continuous manner in a substantially vertical direction relative to the holder member, and wherein there is provided means to prevent movement between the tee member and the holder member on striking of a golf ball supported by the tee member.
- the means to prevent movement prevents axial movement of the tee member relative to the holder member. This therefore ensures that unless deliberately adjusted, the tee member remains at the position at which it was prior to a shot being taken.
- the tee member is supported, and its movement within the holder member is prevented, by means of threading provided along at least a part of the length of the exterior of the tee member and/or at least a part of the length of the interior of the holder member.
- threading provided along at least a part of the length of the exterior of the tee member and/or at least a part of the length of the interior of the holder member.
- the thread is buttressed in form.
- a buttress thread is one that is designed to withstand heavy axial thrust in one direction.
- a buttress thread may have one surface at 45 degrees to the axis whilst another surface may be perpendicular to the axis.
- means to prevent full insertion of the tee member into the holder member Preferably this is provided by the tee member being longer than the holder member. This ensures that when the lower end of the tee member touches the base of the holder member there is always enough of the length of the tee member available above the holder member for the user to grip in order to adjust its height.
- the means for indicating when the tee member is at its maximum workable height comprises the topmost part of the threading of the tee member above the holder member, which can be seen by the player in use.
- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a holder member
- Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the threading of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a side view of a tee member
- Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a tee member
- Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-section of the threading of Figures 3 and 4;
- Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of the tee device in use, with the tee member at its lowest position;
- Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the tee device in use, with the tee member at a higher position.
- a holder member comprises a hollow, substantially cylindrical housing 1 provided with buttress threading 2 on its interior wall.
- a tee device support 3 extends laterally from the exterior wall of the housing 1 at an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the holder member.
- the holder member is preferably fabricated from a robust material such as metal, hard rubber or hard plastic, so that it is suitable as a semi-permanent fixture at a driving range. The choice of material will depend on the expected wear, length of use and cost. Fixing means may be provided, for example, holes through which screws can be driven may be provided in the tee device support 3.
- Figure 2 shows in cross-section the buttress threading 2 of the housing of the holder member shown in Figure 1.
- the buttress threading of the holder member housing 1 has a horizontal lower surface 11, a vertical side surface 12 and a sloping upper surface 13.
- Figures 3 and 4 show a tee member that is suitable for insertion into the holder member of Figure 1.
- the tee member is a substantially cylindrical hollow rod 4.
- the rod 4 is of dimensions suitable for insertion into its corresponding holder member, and long enough such that it cannot be fully inserted into the holder member.
- Buttress threading 5 is provided on the exterior of the rod 4.
- the uppermost end of the rod 4 is provided with an indentation 6 to aid placing and support of a golf ball by a user.
- the tee member is preferably made from a resilient material such as rubber, to help prevent the tee member snapping under any accidental impact from the golf club.
- Figure 5 shows in cross-section the buttress threading 5 of the rod 4 of the tee member shown in Figures 3 and 4.
- the buttress threading of the tee member rod 4 has a horizontal upper surface 14, a vertical side surface 15 and a sloping lower surface 16.
- Figures 6 and 7 show the arrangement of the tee member with the holder member in use. The holder member is placed into a hole 7 in the ground 8 of suitable dimension to accommodate the holder member. A stance mat 9 with an aperture 10 through which the holder member protrudes is placed over the holder member.
- the tee device support 3 rests on the ground 8 and under the stance mat 9 and supports the holder member at a suitable height above the ground.
- the rod 4 is screwed into the housing 1 such that the corresponding threads 2,5 mate, and the tee member is held firm within the holder member.
- Figure 6 shows the tee member at its lowest height, which may be typically 5 mm above the stance mat. The minimum height is defined by the lowest part of the rod 4 making contact with the bottom of the housing 1. At its minimum height, enough of the rod 4 remains above ground level for the user to grip the upper part of the rod 4 in order to further adjust the tee member.
- Figure 7 shows the tee member at a higher level.
- the ball At its highest level, the ball will typically be 40 mm above the stance mat. At the highest workable height, there is enough mating between the threads 2,5 to fully support the tee member. When the threading 5 starts to show above the level of the stance mat 9, it is an indication that the tee member is above its maximum workable height.
- the holder member is preferably already in place under the stance mat.
- the holder member can be used to align the stance mat into the appropriate position, by ensuring that the aperture in the stance mat is place over the holder member.
- the golfer may then insert his own tee member, or one may already be in place within the holder member. Having decided which shot he or she would like to practise, the golfer can adjust the tee member by rotating it around the threading within the holder member to the appropriate height for that shot and for that golfer. The golfer then places his or her golf ball into the indentation at the top of the tee member and plays the shot.
- the tee member may be kept at the same height, for which no further adjustment will be necessary, or to change the height of the tee member in order to improve the shot.
- the golfer may wish to practice a different shot, in which case the tee device can be adjusted by rotation as appropriate. If any damage occurs to the tee member, it can be replaced simply by unscrewing it from the holder member, and screwing in a new part. As long as the holder member remains in place there is no need to remove and replace the stance mat.
- the tee device described in the present application is adjustable to any given height within a particular range. It is supported such that there is no risk of it moving or flying out of the holder member when the ball is struck. It also ensures no movement of the tee member relative to the holder member under impact from a golf club. Moreover, if the tee member does break, since it is totally accessible from above, it can be easily replaced by unscrewing from the holder member, without need to lift the stance mat in order to replace the entire tee device. In addition, since it comprises only two main parts it will be relatively cheap and easy to produce, and simple to assemble and repair, in particular no tools are required to facilitate the use of or replacement of the tee member.
- the tee member is fabricated from a material that gives a similar "feel" to a regulation golf tee.
- the holder member is preferably a semi-permanent fixture, it is held fast rendering it relatively easy to adjust the tee member by rotation.
- the holder member may comprise a base that sits upon the ground. Since in this embodiment, there will be a smaller distance available for the tee member to travel within the holder member, it would be advantageous to provide two tee members of different lengths.
- This embodiment can be used on any flat surface without the need for being set into a specialised hole in the ground.
- This version of the device may be fixed to the ground, or may be weighted such that it remains grounded on impact.
- the tee member may be formed from a rod of solid construction instead of a hollow rod.
- a latching or detent mechanism may be provided to indicate when the tee member has reached its maximum workable height.
- Such mechanisms are known in the art, in which a certain resistance is felt when the maximum workable height is reached, but this resistance should be overcome by application of a little extra force in order that the tee member remain easily removable.
- Other means to prevent full insertion of the tee member into the holder member may also be envisaged.
- an inwardly extending abutment on the internal wall of the holder member housing could serve to prevent excessive insertion of the tee member.
- buttress threading can be envisaged. Although in the preferred embodiment the upper surface is horizontal and the side surface is vertical, threading that in cross-section has surfaces at different angles could also perform satisfactorily for the purposes of the present invention. Conventional threading may be used, in which case the upper and lower surfaces will meet at an edge so that there is no separate side surface.
- the threading is present on both the exterior of the tee member rod, and the interior wall of the holder member housing.
- Alternative embodiments may utilise threading on only the tee member rod or on the holder member housing.
- the threading may mate with projections extending from the other member.
- the projections may be elongated such that they form a discontinuous thread that mates with the threading provided on its partner member.
- the inner wall of the holder member housing may include a layer of relatively soft material, in which a thread is formed as the tee member is inserted into the holder member so that the arrangement is self tapping.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0509322A GB2409821B (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-11-13 | Golf tee device |
AU2003282236A AU2003282236A1 (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-11-13 | Golf tee device |
US10/535,518 US20060105859A1 (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-11-13 | Golf tee device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GBGB0226470.3A GB0226470D0 (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2002-11-13 | Golf tee device |
GB0226470.3 | 2002-11-13 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2004043551A1 true WO2004043551A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 |
Family
ID=9947742
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2003/004926 WO2004043551A1 (en) | 2002-11-13 | 2003-11-13 | Golf tee device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20060105859A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003282236A1 (en) |
GB (2) | GB0226470D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004043551A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014201337A1 (en) * | 2013-06-14 | 2014-12-18 | Black Jr John Luther | Golf teeing device |
US9339706B2 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2016-05-17 | Tee Claw Llc | Golf teeing device |
USD924990S1 (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2021-07-13 | Lazarov, Inc. | Driving range golf tee |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080102988A1 (en) * | 2005-08-26 | 2008-05-01 | Sagadevan Suren F | Adjustable golf tee |
US7846044B2 (en) * | 2005-08-26 | 2010-12-07 | Sagadevan Suren F | Adjustable golf tee |
US20090088274A1 (en) * | 2007-10-02 | 2009-04-02 | Gilles Blais | Height adjustible golf tee |
US20090325726A1 (en) * | 2008-06-27 | 2009-12-31 | Humphrey Robert J | Adjustable height practice golf tee |
US20120028735A1 (en) * | 2010-07-29 | 2012-02-02 | Lon Klein | Golf tee |
US20130190107A1 (en) * | 2012-01-23 | 2013-07-25 | Lon Klein | Golf tee insertion tool |
US9561415B2 (en) * | 2015-01-09 | 2017-02-07 | Fits To A Tee Golf, Llc | Adjustable training golf tee |
US11701560B2 (en) * | 2021-03-08 | 2023-07-18 | Practice Perfect Gold Solutions, LLC | Height-adjustable golf tee system |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB170476A (en) * | 1920-09-10 | 1921-10-27 | Herbert Augustus Cousins | An improved or new adjustable golf ball tee |
US1625911A (en) * | 1926-10-05 | 1927-04-26 | Harold L Richards | Golf tee |
GB326915A (en) * | 1929-01-10 | 1930-03-27 | Clement Mansel Jones | Adjustable golf ball tee |
GB519193A (en) * | 1938-09-16 | 1940-03-19 | Albert Arthur Caney | Improvements in and relating to golf ball tees |
US5248144A (en) * | 1992-08-24 | 1993-09-28 | Ullerich Scott R | Driving range golf tee |
US5720677A (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1998-02-24 | Rudduck; Dickory | Adjustable height golf tee |
GB2327193A (en) | 1997-07-11 | 1999-01-20 | Stephen Gerard Hayden | Height adjustable golf tee |
WO1999037368A1 (en) | 1998-01-23 | 1999-07-29 | Murphy Thomas W | Adjustable practice tee |
US6062989A (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2000-05-16 | Wagner; Jay S. | Adjustable golf teeing device |
US6083121A (en) | 1997-06-27 | 2000-07-04 | Hovey; Gordon E. | Adjustable golf tee |
US6110060A (en) | 1997-06-02 | 2000-08-29 | Spoto; Louis Michael | Adjustable height golf tee |
WO2001049379A2 (en) | 2000-01-05 | 2001-07-12 | World Golf Systems Ltd | Golf game |
GB2364924A (en) * | 2000-06-10 | 2002-02-13 | Graham Carlyle Hillan | Golf tee. |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1413496A (en) * | 1921-05-23 | 1922-04-18 | John W Sibbald | Golf tee |
US1779995A (en) * | 1928-08-13 | 1930-10-28 | Trane Raymond | Golf tee |
US1936625A (en) * | 1931-07-01 | 1933-11-28 | Goldman Benjamin | Golf tee and support therefor |
US3406977A (en) * | 1965-12-14 | 1968-10-22 | Frank J. Voelkerding | Adjustable golf tee and sight |
US3858878A (en) * | 1972-06-01 | 1975-01-07 | Joseph V Tassone | Baseball and softball type ball tie |
US4907926A (en) * | 1985-02-15 | 1990-03-13 | Wing George S | Thread form and fastener system using the form |
US5127784A (en) * | 1989-04-19 | 1992-07-07 | Halliburton Company | Fatigue-resistant buttress thread |
US5492323A (en) * | 1994-12-05 | 1996-02-20 | Lee; Chih-Ping | Ball support specially designed for golf practice |
US5776014A (en) * | 1996-12-27 | 1998-07-07 | Gustine; Floyd L. | Adjustable golf ball tee |
US6729977B1 (en) * | 2003-02-07 | 2004-05-04 | Fairway Products International, Llc. | Golf tee with tactile height adjustment |
-
2002
- 2002-11-13 GB GBGB0226470.3A patent/GB0226470D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-11-13 WO PCT/GB2003/004926 patent/WO2004043551A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-11-13 GB GB0509322A patent/GB2409821B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2003-11-13 US US10/535,518 patent/US20060105859A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-11-13 AU AU2003282236A patent/AU2003282236A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB170476A (en) * | 1920-09-10 | 1921-10-27 | Herbert Augustus Cousins | An improved or new adjustable golf ball tee |
US1625911A (en) * | 1926-10-05 | 1927-04-26 | Harold L Richards | Golf tee |
GB326915A (en) * | 1929-01-10 | 1930-03-27 | Clement Mansel Jones | Adjustable golf ball tee |
GB519193A (en) * | 1938-09-16 | 1940-03-19 | Albert Arthur Caney | Improvements in and relating to golf ball tees |
US5248144A (en) * | 1992-08-24 | 1993-09-28 | Ullerich Scott R | Driving range golf tee |
US5720677A (en) * | 1993-06-28 | 1998-02-24 | Rudduck; Dickory | Adjustable height golf tee |
US6110060A (en) | 1997-06-02 | 2000-08-29 | Spoto; Louis Michael | Adjustable height golf tee |
US6083121A (en) | 1997-06-27 | 2000-07-04 | Hovey; Gordon E. | Adjustable golf tee |
GB2327193A (en) | 1997-07-11 | 1999-01-20 | Stephen Gerard Hayden | Height adjustable golf tee |
WO1999037368A1 (en) | 1998-01-23 | 1999-07-29 | Murphy Thomas W | Adjustable practice tee |
US6062989A (en) | 1998-04-01 | 2000-05-16 | Wagner; Jay S. | Adjustable golf teeing device |
WO2001049379A2 (en) | 2000-01-05 | 2001-07-12 | World Golf Systems Ltd | Golf game |
GB2364924A (en) * | 2000-06-10 | 2002-02-13 | Graham Carlyle Hillan | Golf tee. |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014201337A1 (en) * | 2013-06-14 | 2014-12-18 | Black Jr John Luther | Golf teeing device |
US8968118B2 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2015-03-03 | Tee-Claw Llc | Golf teeing device |
US9339706B2 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2016-05-17 | Tee Claw Llc | Golf teeing device |
USD760332S1 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2016-06-28 | Tee Claw Llc | Golf teeing device |
USD924990S1 (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2021-07-13 | Lazarov, Inc. | Driving range golf tee |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2409821A (en) | 2005-07-13 |
US20060105859A1 (en) | 2006-05-18 |
GB2409821B (en) | 2006-02-01 |
GB0509322D0 (en) | 2005-06-15 |
GB0226470D0 (en) | 2002-12-18 |
AU2003282236A1 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7846044B2 (en) | Adjustable golf tee | |
US5766100A (en) | Golf tee apparatus | |
US7488263B2 (en) | Golf tee set | |
US20060105859A1 (en) | Golf tee device | |
US6086486A (en) | Adjustable practice tee | |
EP2108409B1 (en) | Adjustable golf tee assembly | |
US5492323A (en) | Ball support specially designed for golf practice | |
US20080102988A1 (en) | Adjustable golf tee | |
US6062989A (en) | Adjustable golf teeing device | |
EP1894607B1 (en) | Golf tee set | |
KR200388314Y1 (en) | A golf club shaft for adjustable swing balance | |
US7344456B2 (en) | Flexible golf tee | |
US20040248673A1 (en) | Durable golf tee | |
US20060223655A1 (en) | Durable golf tee | |
US20140057740A1 (en) | Golf tee | |
KR200435131Y1 (en) | Height-adjustable Golf Tee | |
KR100720608B1 (en) | Golf tee | |
KR200400777Y1 (en) | Portable device for excercising golf swing | |
JP2020078370A (en) | Golf putter head | |
KR20210014869A (en) | Park golf club | |
KR20060090047A (en) | A golf club shaft for adjustable swing balance | |
KR200490706Y1 (en) | Golf tee for golf practice range | |
US20040097304A1 (en) | Flexible football tee | |
KR20220106884A (en) | Adjustable Hight Golf Tee | |
KR20030076146A (en) | Golf shot training machine |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AE AG AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BW BY BZ CA CH CN CO CR CU CZ DE DK DM DZ EC EE EG ES FI GB GD GE GH GM HR HU ID IL IN IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MA MD MG MK MN MW MX MZ NI NO NZ OM PG PH PL PT RO RU SC SD SE SG SK SL SY TJ TM TN TR TT TZ UA UG US UZ VC VN YU ZA ZM ZW |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): BW GH GM KE LS MW MZ SD SL SZ TZ UG ZM ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN GQ GW ML MR NE SN TD TG |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 0509322 Country of ref document: GB Kind code of ref document: A Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20031113 |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2006105859 Country of ref document: US Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 10535518 Country of ref document: US |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase | ||
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 10535518 Country of ref document: US |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: JP |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Country of ref document: JP |