US3911577A

US3911577A - Golf tee sharpener

Info

Publication number: US3911577A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert J Nickel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-05-30
Filing date: 1974-05-30
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14

Abstract

A handy pocket device having an inclined socket, and a vertical way containing a thumb actuated plunger provided with a sharp edge for safely and neatly shearing off the ground end portion of a used golf tee inserted in the socket.

Description

United States Patent 1 Nickel [451 Oct. 14, 1975 GOLF TEE SHARPENER Robert J. Nickel, 240-54 37 Ave.,

[76] Inventor:

Douglaston, NY. 1 1363 [22] Filed: May 30, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 474,716

[52] US. Cl. 30/241; 30/278; 30/280; 30/282; 83/581; 144/30 [51] Int. CI. B91D 27/00 [58] Field of Search 144/30; 30/241, 113, 92, 30/223, 278, 280, 282; 83/581, 580, 694; 273/32 B, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1875 Eisenmann 30/113 257,925 5/1882 Faas 30/1 13 477,249 6/ 1892 Dixon 3,073,195 1/1963 Koster 83/581 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 869,133 3/1953 Germany 30 113 Primary ExaminerJ. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or FirmBarnwell R. King ABSIRACT A handy pocket device having an inclined socket, and a vertical way containing a thumb actuated plunger provided with a sharp edge for safely and neatly shearing off the ground end portion of a used golf tee inserted in the socket.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 3,911,577

GOLF TEE SHARPENER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the game of golf a short tee is used in every round of the game. After being broken the used tees are usually picked up and discarded. The ground end ofa used tee is generally feathered or jagged, making smooth insertion into the ground difficult or in some cases even impossible. If some way could could be found for uniformly trimming or renewing such used tees it would be highly desirable.

The main object of this invention is to provide a. de-

vice for easily sharpening a golf tee by simply inserting the tee in the device and pressing a thumb-piece to shear off the end of the tee.

Another object is to provide a golf tee sharpener that is handy, is light in weight, safe to use, resuls in uniformly sharpened tee, and is inexpensive. to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a quick and easy way of diagonally shearing the damaged stern of a golf tee to renew the tee for subsequent use even though the tee was previously useless.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a device having an inclined socket for receiving a used golf tee to be sharpened, and a vertical shear-way into which the end portion of such stem projects. The shear-way contains a thumbactuated plunger having a sharp edge which is adapted to cut off the undesired end of the tee when the plunger is pressed down.

The body of the device is provided with laterally extending finger grips, so that the device can be. inserted between the fingers and thumb while the tee is inserted in the socket and the plunger actuated by simply pressing the latter with the thumb, thereby shearing off the unwanted end of the tee. 1

The plunger is urged to an initial position with the edge of the shear above the opening to the socket by a spring located between the thumb-piece and the top of the body. Such spring conveniently surrounds the plunger where it extends outside of the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For a full understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view mainly in vertical crosssection ofa golf tee sharpening device illustrative of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a used golf tee before being sharpened.

FIG. 4 is a similar view of such tee after being sharpened.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated device 10 comprises a body 12 having a vertical shear-way 14 of rectangular cross-section: an inclined, tapered socket 16 opening to the lower part of one side of the way 14; and a finger grip 18 extending laterally on each side of the body.

A plunger 20 of similar cross-section to that of the way 14 is mounted to slide in such way 14 when pressed against the force of a coil-spring 22 by the actuation of a thumb-piece 24 on the top of the plunger 20.

In use a used tee to be sharpened is inserted in the socket 16 with one hand and the plunger 20 is actuated by depressing the push-button 24 with the thumb of the other hand. This action causes the blade 28 of plunger 20 to neatly shear off the feathered end portion 30 of the tee 26, providing a sharp new end 32 on the tee 26.

I claim:

1. A handy golf tee sharpening device for shearing off the ragged end portion of a used golf tee stem, to thereby renew the latter for further use, said device consisting of a solid body having a longitudinal way of rectangular cross-section extending from the top to the bottom thereof, a pair of finger "grips extending laterally from opposite sides of said body and an inclined tapered socket extending downwardly and diagonally from one of said finger pieces, through the latter and terminating in an opening in the adjacent flat wall of such way;

a solid plunger of rectangular cross section mounted to slide in such way, having a thumb-piece comprising a push-button at the top thereof, and a sharpend comprising a blade at the other end facing such socket opening; and spring located around said plunger between said push-button and the top of said body acting to urge the plunger toward an initial position permitting the stem of a used golf teeto be inserted in such tapered socket with the ragged end portion thereof projecting diagonally into such way below said plunger; so that when the device is grasped in one hand between the thumb and' 'fore fingers and the plunger is advanced by depressingthe push-button against the force of said spring, the blade neatly shears off the ragged end portion of the stem, providing an effectively new tee for subsequent additional use.

Claims

1. A handy golf tee sharpening device for shearing off the ragged end portion of a used golf tee stem, to thereby renew the latter for further use, said device consisting of a solid body having a longitudinal way of rectangular crosssection extending from the top to the bottom thereof, a pair of finger grips extending laterally from opposite sides of said body and an inclined tapered socket extending downwardly and diagonally from one of said finger pieces, through the latter and terminating in an opening in the adjacent flat wall of such way; a solid plunger of rectangular cross section mounted to slide in such way, having a thumb-piece comprising a push-button at the top thereof, and a sharp-end comprising a blade at the other end facing such socket opening; and a spring located around said plunger between said push-button and the top of said body acting to urge the plunger toward an initial position permitting the stem of a used golf tee to be inserted in such tapered socket with the ragged end portion thereof projecting diagonally into such way below said plunger; so that when the device is grasped in one hand between the thumb and fore fingers and the plunger is advanced by depressing the push-button against the force of said spring, the blade neatly shears off the ragged end portion of the stem, providing an effectively new tee for subsequent additional use.