GB2103493A - Golf tee - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf tee has a stem 1, which can be pushed into the ground, an arm 2 extending laterally from the upper part of the stem 1, and a ball-supporting head 3 at the end of the arm 2. When the ball 8 resting on the head 3 is struck, the tee tends to turn about the axis of stem 1 and to remain in the ground, rather than being thrown out of the ground as with a conventional tee. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf tee This invention relates to golf tees.

Known golf tees consist of a stem, which can be pushed into the earth, surmounted by a cupped head on which a golf ball can rest. A disadvantage of such a tee is that when a ball resting on the tee is struck by a golf club the forces exerted on the tee can cause it to be thrown out of the ground away from its original position. The tee can be difficult to see when it is lying in the grass some distance from where it was placed, and tees are often lost in this way.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved golf tee.

This invention consists in a golf tee comprising a stem adapted to be pushed into the ground, an arm extending laterally from the upper part of the stem, and a head at the outer end of the arm shaped to support a golf ball.

With the tee of the invention, the head on which the golf ball rests is offset from the axis of the stem inserted into the ground, so that when the ball is struck the forces acting on the head tend to turn the tee about the axis of the stem rather than throwing it out of the ground. The tee therefore remains in the same place and the danger of losing it is reduced or eliminated The tee is preferably moulded in one piece from plastics, and can then be manufacturedinexpen- lively The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa side elevation of a golf tee in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the golf tee, and Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the golf tee.

Referring to the drawings, the golf tee has a stem 1, an arm 2 extending laterally from near the top of the stem, and a ball-supporting head 3 at the outer end of the arm 2. The stem 1 has a circular crosssection and tapers to its lower end 4 so that it can be easily pushed into the earth. At its upper end the stem 1 has an enlarged head 5 formed with a shallow depression 6 in its upper face, which enables the tee to be pushed into the ground more easily by applying pressure to the enlarged head 5 with the finger or thumb.

The arm 2 extends at right angles to the stem 1 from a position immediately below the enlarged head 5. The ball-supporting head 3 is positioned at the outer end of the arm 2 and is formed with a depression 7 in its upper face which enables a golf ball 8 (Figure 1) to rest on the head 3, as it would on a conventional golf tee.

In use, the stem 1 is pushed into the ground to the desired depth and positioned so that the arm 2 is generally transverse to the direction in which the golf ball is to be struck, and a ball is placed on the ball-supporting head 5. When the ball is hit from the tee, the forces exerted on the head 3 will cause the tee to turn about the axis of the stem 1, the stem turning in the earth rather than being pulled out of the earth as with a conventional tee. The tee therefore tends to remain in position in the earth, so that there is no danger of the tee being lost.

The golf tee is moulded in one piece from nylon or other suitable plastics material. Typically, the arm 2 may be approximately 5 cm in length and the ballsupporting head 3 may have a diameter of approximately 1 cm at its upper rim. The stem may be about 5 cm in length. It will be appreciated that the tee could be made in other dimensions.

It will also be appreciated that other modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example the ball-supporting head could take different forms. The arm could be made separate from the stem and pivoted to the stem so that in use the stem could remain stationary whilst the arm turned on the stem.

1. A golf tee comprising a stem adapted to be pushed into the ground, an arm extending laterally from the upper part of the stem, and a head at the outer end of the arm shaped to support a golf ball.

2. A golf tee as claimed in claim 1, in which the ball-supporting head is generally cup-shaped, having a recess in its upperface to receive a golf ball.

3. A golf tee as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the arm extends generally at right angles to the stem.

4. A golftee as claimedin any preceding claim, in which the stem has a circular cross-section.

5. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stem has an enlarged head at its upper end adjacent to the junction of the stem and the arm.

6. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tee is formed in one piece from plastics material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf tee This invention relates to golf tees. Known golf tees consist of a stem, which can be pushed into the earth, surmounted by a cupped head on which a golf ball can rest. A disadvantage of such a tee is that when a ball resting on the tee is struck by a golf club the forces exerted on the tee can cause it to be thrown out of the ground away from its original position. The tee can be difficult to see when it is lying in the grass some distance from where it was placed, and tees are often lost in this way. It is the object of this invention to provide an improved golf tee. This invention consists in a golf tee comprising a stem adapted to be pushed into the ground, an arm extending laterally from the upper part of the stem, and a head at the outer end of the arm shaped to support a golf ball. With the tee of the invention, the head on which the golf ball rests is offset from the axis of the stem inserted into the ground, so that when the ball is struck the forces acting on the head tend to turn the tee about the axis of the stem rather than throwing it out of the ground. The tee therefore remains in the same place and the danger of losing it is reduced or eliminated The tee is preferably moulded in one piece from plastics, and can then be manufacturedinexpen- lively The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lisa side elevation of a golf tee in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a top plan view of the golf tee, and Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of the golf tee. Referring to the drawings, the golf tee has a stem 1, an arm 2 extending laterally from near the top of the stem, and a ball-supporting head 3 at the outer end of the arm 2. The stem 1 has a circular crosssection and tapers to its lower end 4 so that it can be easily pushed into the earth. At its upper end the stem 1 has an enlarged head 5 formed with a shallow depression 6 in its upper face, which enables the tee to be pushed into the ground more easily by applying pressure to the enlarged head 5 with the finger or thumb. The arm 2 extends at right angles to the stem 1 from a position immediately below the enlarged head 5. The ball-supporting head 3 is positioned at the outer end of the arm 2 and is formed with a depression 7 in its upper face which enables a golf ball 8 (Figure 1) to rest on the head 3, as it would on a conventional golf tee. In use, the stem 1 is pushed into the ground to the desired depth and positioned so that the arm 2 is generally transverse to the direction in which the golf ball is to be struck, and a ball is placed on the ball-supporting head 5. When the ball is hit from the tee, the forces exerted on the head 3 will cause the tee to turn about the axis of the stem 1, the stem turning in the earth rather than being pulled out of the earth as with a conventional tee. The tee therefore tends to remain in position in the earth, so that there is no danger of the tee being lost. The golf tee is moulded in one piece from nylon or other suitable plastics material. Typically, the arm 2 may be approximately 5 cm in length and the ballsupporting head 3 may have a diameter of approximately 1 cm at its upper rim. The stem may be about 5 cm in length. It will be appreciated that the tee could be made in other dimensions. It will also be appreciated that other modifications could be made in the described embodiment. For example the ball-supporting head could take different forms. The arm could be made separate from the stem and pivoted to the stem so that in use the stem could remain stationary whilst the arm turned on the stem. CLAIMS

1. A golf tee comprising a stem adapted to be pushed into the ground, an arm extending laterally from the upper part of the stem, and a head at the outer end of the arm shaped to support a golf ball.

2. A golf tee as claimed in claim 1, in which the ball-supporting head is generally cup-shaped, having a recess in its upperface to receive a golf ball.

3. A golf tee as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the arm extends generally at right angles to the stem.

4. A golftee as claimedin any preceding claim, in which the stem has a circular cross-section.

5. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the stem has an enlarged head at its upper end adjacent to the junction of the stem and the arm.

6. A golf tee as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tee is formed in one piece from plastics material.