GB2408944A

GB2408944A - Pivoting golf tee

Info

Publication number: GB2408944A
Application number: GB0328834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas James Joseph Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-12
Filing date: 2003-12-12
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Also published as: GB0328834D0

Abstract

A golf tee comprises support platform 10 to be placed upon the ground, and tee peg 11 pivotally mounted on the platform such that tee peg 11 is movable from an upstanding position to a horizontal position (not shown). Tee peg 11 may be removably mounted on platform 10, and may be recessed at its upper end 15 to receive golf ball 16. The base of tee peg 11 may comprise the ball 14 of a ball and socket joint which is received in a socket (12, fig. 2) defined in upper surface 13 of the platform. The platform may have recess 18 which receives stem 19 of tee peg 11 when tee peg 11 is in its horizontal position. Platform 10 may be tapered in height towards an end 20 remote from tee peg 11, and may have side walls 17 which define a hollow underside (see fig. 2). In an alternative embodiment, the golf tee comprises a practice device which has a golf ball style object (not shown) fixed to an upper end of tee peg 11.

Description

A GOLF TEE

This invention relates to golf tees. The majority of golf tees presently available comprise a stem having a spiked lower end to be pushed into the ground, and a dished upper end to support a golf ball.

In cold weather conditions or when the ground is very wet it may be impossible or inappropriate to insert such a tee peg into the ground.

An alternative type of tee used under these conditions comprises a cup which has a broad base and is placed upon the ground to support a tee at its upper end. Such cups tend to be of shallow depth and do not provide sufficient height for the ball to be played as a player may require. In addition, such cups although of relatively broad base, often will not stand properly on uneven ground.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf tee which may be used in conditions under which a conventional tee may not be used, and which properly supports the golf ball more or less at the height usually attained by a standard tee peg.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf tee which is stable in use and on uneven ground and which may provide for the use of tee pegs of different sizes to suit the golfer's requirements.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf tee comprising a supporting platform to be placed upon the ground, and a tee peg pivotally mounted on the platform to be moveable with respect to the platform from an upstanding position to a laid-over position.

The tee peg may be removably mounted on the platform for replacement.

The tee peg and platform may be connected by a ball and socket joint.

The tee peg may, at its base, have the ball of the ball and socket joint.

The platform may have a raised part defining there beneath a socket of the ball and socket joint.

The tee peg may be recessed at its upper end supportingly to receive a golf ball.

The tee peg may have golf ball-like object fixed to its upper end.

The platform may be recessed to receive a stem of the tee peg when in its laid over position.

The platform may be tapered in height towards an end remote from the tee peg.

The tee peg may have side walls to define a hollow underside.

An embodiment of the invention will now describe, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee made in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is an underside perspective view thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the golf tee comprises a supporting platform 10 and a tee peg 11 pivotally mounted on the platform 10 adjacent one end thereof to be movable with respect to the platform from an upstanding position as shown, to a laid over position.

The tee peg and platform are connected together by a ball and socket joint with the socket 12 (Fig. 2) largely disposed beneath the upper surface 13 of the platform 10, and the ball 14 disposed at the lowermost end of the tee peg. Thus, the tee peg 11 is removably mounted on the platform 10 for replacement. In this regard, the tee peg 11 may be provided as several interchangeable pegs of different lengths so that the user may select the height required.

The ball and socket joint is sufficiently rigid that the tee peg will maintain its position on the platform until struck by a golf club.

As in convention tee pegs the upper end is recessed at 15 to receive a golf ball 16 to be supported thereon.

The platform 10 has depending side walls 17 thus to define a hollow underside as can be seen in Fig. 2. By these means, the platform may be readily laid upon uneven ground, yet be stable thereon for the support of a golf ball.

Also by means of the side walls 17, there is provided an elongate channel or recess 18 into which the stem 19 of the tee peg 11 may be received when the ball 16 is played and the tee peg is moved into its laid over position by the head of the golf club used to strike the ball. Thus, the peg passes out of range of the club head as it follows through after striking the ball. In addition, the laying of the tee peg into the channel or recess 18 indicates to the player that the ball has been struck in the correct line ahead, and for this purpose platform 10 should be laid to face along such line and may indeed be marked with an arrow on its upper surface to assist such a lay.

A part of the upper surface 13 of the platform 10 is inclined as shown at 20 such that the platform is tapered in height towards its end remote from the tee peg. Again, this helps to prevent the platform itself being struck by the head of the club as it is played through.

It is intended that the platform 10 and tee peg 11 may be made from a partially resilient plastics material such as polypropylene or nylon which does not become brittle at low temperatures but which is light in weight and readily permits removal and replacement of the tee peg 1 1 from the platform 10.

Ideally, the platform may be some 8cm in length and some 5cm in width as being sufficiently compact and thus easily stowed in a golf bag pocket, yet be of sufficient breadth to provide stability on inclined or uneven ground. The provision of a ball joint between the tee peg 11 and the platform 10 ensures that the stem of the tee peg may be located in a vertical attitude irrespective of the lie of the ground upon which the platform is laid.

In an alternative embodiment, the golf tee may provide a practice device by having a golf ball-like object fixed to the upper end of the tee peg 11 so that the object and the tee peg are laid over after the object is struck. In this case, the object may be bonded to the upper end of the tee peg, or attached thereto by fixing means, or formed integrally therewith by moulding.

It would be appreciated that a golf tee made in accordance with the invention provides a useful and compact accessory for golfers, and the upper surface of the platform 10 may display advertising indicia such as the name of a golf equipment manufacturer.

Additional tee pegs of the same or different length stems may be removably mounted on or beneath the platform which may also accommodate other golfing accessories such as a ball marker for use on the greens. Other such accessories may be included such as a stroke counter.

The invention is not limited to the details described herein. For example, the pivotal connection of the tee peg to the platform may be on a single pivotal axis or on a double pivotal axis to provide the equivalent of the universal ball joint. Also, the tee peg may be mounted on the platform towards the middle or rear end of the platform in terms of the direction of play of a ball. If at the leading end, increased stability may be afforded.

Claims

I. A golf tee comprising a supporting platform to be placed upon the ground, and a tee peg pivotally mounted on the platform to be movable with respect to the platform from an upstanding position to a laid over position.
2. A golf tee according to claim 1 wherein the tee peg is removably mounted on the platform for replacement.
3. A golf tee according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the tee peg and platform are connected by a ball and socket joint.
4. A golf tee according to claim 3 wherein the tee peg has, at its base, the ball of the ball and socket joint.
5. A golf tee according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the platform has a raised part defining there beneath the socket of the ball and socket joint.
6. A golf tee according to any preceding claim wherein the tee peg is recessed at its upper end supportingly to receive a golf ball.
7. A golf tee according to any one of claims l to 5 wherein the tee peg has a golf ball-like object fixed to its upper end.
8. A golf tee according to any preceding claim wherein the platform is recessed to receive a stem of the tee peg when in its laid over position.
9. A golf tee according to any preceding claim where the platform is tapered in height towards an end thereof remote from the tee peg.
10. A golf tee according to any preceding claim having side walls to define a hollow underside.