US2815953A - Golf tee - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 10, 1957 R. L. WEST I 2,815,953

GOLF TEE Filed Oct. 31. 1955 INVENTORQ ROBERT WEST BY 26 Z: Y ATTORNEY ited States This invention relates to golf tees and more particularly to a golf tee which insures a straight line of flight for the driven golf ball.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf tee which insures a straight line of flight for the driven golf ball.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf tee which also furnishes a directional sight for the intended direction of the golf club head.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and in part be pointed out in the following specification and claims.

In the past many artificial tees have been used by golfers to aid in acquiring a high percentage of satisfactory shots. The satisfaction resided in hitting the ball straight a desired distance.

The present invention insures the straight trajectory of the ball. The desired distance is left to the skill of the golfer.

Referring to the drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the new and improved golf tee.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the new golf tee.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the center line indicated as 3-3 in Figure 1 with the tail eliminated.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the position of the hinge after a golf ball has been driven oif the new golf tee.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of tail construction.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings wherein reference character 10 generally indicates the new and improved golf tee comprising a body 11 having one end bent into a tail 12 and the opposite end bent into hinge eyes 13 and 14 with a golf ball holding stand 15 formed between them. A groove 16 may be made along the transverse center line of body 11 to provide a sighting line from the tail 12 to the golf ball holding stand 15.

A gate generally indicated by reference character 21 and consisting of a wire pintle having a base 22 with upturned opposite sides 23, 24 formed into reversed bent legs 25, 26 respectively, is pivotally mounted in hinge eyes 13 and 14.

An elastic band 30 is formed into a continuous loop, with the opposite ends of the loop engaging opposite sides 23, 24 of gate 21.

The nub of the present invention is the positioning in envelope form of an impact member fabricated of a nonstretching material such as leather or polyethylene over the elastic band 30. The impact member 31 is preferably slidably mounted along elastic band 30.

In operation tail 12 will be inserted into the turf of a golf course with the bottom of hinges 13, 14 touching the ground. A golf ball will be placed on golf ball holding atent 2,815,953 atent ec stand 15 with impact member 31 just touching the periphery of the golf ball. The golfer will take his stance over golf tee ltl'using groove 16' as a directional sight. The golfer will swing his club to strike the golf ball but impact member 31 will receive the blow. Because impact member 31 is fabricated from a non-elastic material it will absorb any sliding or cross action the face of the golf club imparts at the instant of impact to impact member 31. Impact member 31 will only transfer or carry through the forward motion of the face of the golf club by causing elastic band 30 to stretch and thereby allow impact member 31 to transfer the blow of the golf club to the golf ball.

Impact member 31 interposed as it is between the club head and golf ball does not appreciably absorb the power of the blow of the golf club head impact on the golf ball. It merely prevents the slicing or pulling action of the golf club face from effecting that action on the golf ball so that all shots are straight because only the forward action of the golf club is effective to the golf ball.

The golf club head will cause the gate 21 to pivot in hinges 13, 14 and lay parallel with body 11 as the golf ball is driven off ball holding stand 15.

A modified form of tail 12A is shown in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the end of body 11 is formed into a hinge eye 30. Tail 12A is formed with hinge eyes 31, 32 and a pin 33 locks hinge eyes 30, 31, 32 into a hinge. This permits the tail to be folded under body 11 when the golf tee 10 is carried in the pocket between uses. The folded tail also takes less space when shipped from manufacturer to consumer.

Having shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A golf tee comprising a body having means to be secured to the turf and having one end formed into hinge eyes, and means for holding a golf ball, a gate consisting of a pintle pivotally mounted in said hinge eyes, said means for holding the golf ball being positioned between said gate and the nearest end of said body, a resilient member, means securing said resilient member to said pintle, an impact member, means positioning said impact member on said resilient member adjacent said means for holding a golf ball whereby the impact of the golf club will be received by the impact member and transferred to the resilient member.

2. A golf tee comprising a body having one end formed into a tail and the opposite end formed into hinge eyes and a golf ball holding stand, a gate consisting of a pintle having a base with upturned opposite sides formed into reversed bent legs, said base being pivotally mounted in said hinge eyes, said golf ball stand being located between said gate and upon the nearest end of said body, a resilient member secured on opposite ends to said upturned opposite sides, an impact member positioned on said resilient member so that the swinging golf club will strike the impact member which through the resiliency of said resilient member will transfer the forward striking power of the swinging golf club to the golf ball positioned on the golf ball holding stand.

3. A golf tee comprising a body having hinge eyes formed in opposite ends and a groove formed in said body between said opposite ends, means for holding a golf ball provided in one end of said body, a gate consisting of a pintle having a base with upturned opposite sides, said base being pivotally mounted in the hinge eyes adjacent the means for holding a golf ball, a resilient member secured to said upturned opposite sides, an impact member slidably mounted on said resilient member and a tail having means pivotally oonnected to the hinge eyes formed in said body farthest from the means to hold a golf ball.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Moore Feb. 10, 1925

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