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Golf tee deviceRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, TeeGolf tee device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060105859, Golf tee device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present invention relates to a golf tee device. [0002] Golf driving ranges are popularly used to practise long shots that may be used during a game of golf. Usually these are the first shot of a "hole" whereby the rules of golf allow the player to elevate the ball through use of a tee. Another situation in which tees are used is during a golf game, such as that described in WO0149379, in which golfers can play on a suitably modified golf course without having to keep score. When a tee is used during a game of golf, different heights can be achieved according to by how far the tee is pushed into the ground. Different heights are desirable depending on which shot the player requires (and hence which club they are using) and the height of the player. Therefore, it is desirable to provide height-adjustable tees at a driving range to more closely simulate the experience of playing a round of golf. [0003] 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. Moreover, 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. [0004] GB2327193A and U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,060 disclose height-adjustable golf tees. However, these tees can only be adjusted to a few specific heights, thereby limiting their utility. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,989 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. However, 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. [0006] 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. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,121 discloses a height-adjustable tee based on a vertically moveable piston within a housing. However, 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. Moreover, it has no apparent mechanism for eliminating movement of the ball support member under impact, and so it would be likely to move under the impact of a swing from a golf club. [0008] The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of the above problems. [0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided 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. [0010] Preferably 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. [0011] Preferably 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. By rotating the tee member within the holder member this enables adjustment of its height to any height between two extremes as dictated by the length of the thread. In this way, the means that allow intended movement of the tee member also act to prevent unwanted movement of the tee member relative to the holder member. [0012] In a preferred embodiment the thread is buttressed in form. A buttress thread is one that is designed to withstand heavy axial thrust in one direction. In one example, a buttress thread may have one surface at 45 degrees to the axis whilst another surface may be perpendicular to the axis. [0013] In a preferred embodiment there is provided means to prevent fall 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. [0014] Preferably there is also provided means for indicating when the tee member is at its maximum workable height. This ensures there is enough mating between the threading to support the tee member during a shot. [0015] In a preferred embodiment, 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. [0016] An embodiment of the present invention is described below, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0017] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a holder member; [0018] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the threading of FIG. 1; [0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of a tee member; [0020] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of a tee member; [0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-section of the threading of FIGS. 3 and 4; [0022] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of the tee device in use, with the tee member at its lowest position; and [0023] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the tee device in use, with the tee member at a higher position. [0024] With reference to FIG. 1, 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. Continue reading about Golf tee device... Full patent description for Golf tee device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf tee device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf tee device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Durable golf tee Next Patent Application: Golf tee composed of two parts Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf tee device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.1097 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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