TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to golf tees.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many varieties of tees exist, each of which has different groups of properties. The problems with existing varieties of tees in common use include: (i) the tee is too fragile and readily breaks; (ii) the tee flies out of the ground when hit and is lost or needs to be fetched, which takes time and detracts from enjoyment of the game; (iii) the golf ball is difficult to place on the tee, especially for an older golfer with shaky hands, due to an unsuitable ball-support platform, especially the types that claim low friction; (iv) the tee cannot be inserted into the ground in the conventional way, using the golf ball, as the head does not support the required downward pressure (e.g., the ‘brush tee’ or rubber or silicon ball support varieties); (v) the tee is too expensive, while not delivering true value in terms of ease of use, practicality, durability and ability to remain in the ground or very near the golfer following the tee shot; (vi) the tees are hard to insert into the ground due to the stem being too flexible; (vii) the tees are not compliant with existing regulations, which do not allow any indication of directionality; and (viii) the tees, which are easily broken or fly-off easily and thus are frequently lost and represent a littering issue. No existing tee addresses all of the above issues.

The tees of common usage, which fracture easily and those that routinely fly far when hit and are lost, tend to be: (i) cheap; (ii) mass-produced; and (iii) sold in large quantities. The tees of common usage that typify mass-produced tees include the traditional wooden tees and the bulky-headed flexible plastic tee varieties, which both sell very well. The perception of the golfer who purchases these varieties of tees of common use include: (i) these tees are easy to use in their local ground conditions; (ii) the golfer is familiar with these tees; and (iii) the tees are cheap to buy. The selling of these tees in large quantity lots is an acknowledgement that they are frequently broken or lost and represent a littering issue. Some tees of common usage are composed of several parts and designed to address the issues of the tee flying and fracturing. Drawbacks of these tees of common usage are: (i) increased cost; (ii) inconvenient to use; and (iii) not performing the way they are supposed to, while still breaking apart or flying away.

To correct these drawbacks, golf tees are manufactured such that they are: (1) presented in bright colors; (2) composed of strong composite materials; (3) constructed of multiple of assembled parts; (4) configured to be not aerodynamic; (5) composed of biodegradable materials; and (6) composed of natural materials that disintegrate upon impact. However, these corrective measures impose the following other drawbacks.

Drawbacks to Corrective Measure 1: A commonly expounded compensation for tee of common usage that flies out of the ground is the use of bright colors. The bright colors are supposed to make the tee easier to find after flying out of the ground. Golfers are aware that there can still be difficulty in finding those tees of common usage with bright colors, especially some styles that can fly up to 10 meters. Sticks, leaves, or long grass in the teeing ground vicinity also compound this issue, which can frustrate golfers and contribute to littering on the golf course.

Drawbacks to Corrective Measures 2 and 3: Strong composite materials and multiple assembled parts (e.g., inbuilt springs or an attached anchor component) are used to address the issues of the tee flying and fracturing. These varieties are associated with increased cost, while rarely addressing both tee flying and fracturing. Further, tees composed of composite materials and multiple assembled parts are not always convenient to use, which require additional time to set up.

Drawbacks of Corrective Measure 4: Non-aerodynamic golf tees are designed to initially fly out, and then not fly too far out. These tees, which still fly and need to be fetched, are asymmetrical and so they are non-compliant with United States Golf Association (USGA) rules.

Drawbacks of Corrective Measures 5 and 6: While biodegradable and natural material materials that disintegrate upon impact reduce littering, golf tees composed of these materials tend to be more expensive, limited to single use, and reduced durability.

A big-focus in golf tee marketing and design is based on the assertion that a tee can exert a significant effect on the quality of the tee shot due to drag or friction. For example, there are tee varieties that claim to be able to increase the distance of a drive or provide for a drive without affecting spin. In the attempt to adjust for this claimed significant friction, tees in current use are not suitable to perform their main role of securely supporting the golf ball and being easy to use.

What is needed is a tee that can address the drawbacks, as described above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In a variant, a golf tee comprises: a head comprising a central pillar, a wall, a hollowed-out portion, and a rim. The central pillar comprises a planar or contoured top surface, a top end, and a bottom end. The wall is circular in a horizontal section, and of a symmetrical, curved or straight inverted conical shape. The central pillar is disposed within a first area within the wall and the hollowed out portion is disposed within a second area within the wall. The rim is the top edge of the wall configured to securely rest a golf ball while allowing the golf ball to rest on the central pillar. A body is operatively connecting to the head. The body is configured to have a straight or curved edge such that the body is round or multi-angled in a cross section and rod-like. The body comprises: a stem, gripping ring structures, and a terminal grounding tool. The gripping ring structure comprises a single gripping ring or a plurality of gripping rings, or a plurality of gripping grooves. The single gripping ring, the plurality of gripping rings, and the plurality of gripping grooves are disposed concentrically on a lower section of the body below the stem. The terminal grounding tool is: (i) bullet or torpedo-shaped, and (ii) culminating in a pointy tip.

In another variant, the central pillar has a width between 2.5 mm and 6.0 mm at the top end and remains at the width between 2.5 mm and 6.0 mm or expands to a greater width of 4.0 mm to 6.0 mm at a bottom end.

In yet another variant, the wall surrounding the hollowed out portion has a thickness range from 0.8 mm to 3.0 mm, tapered or non-tapered in thickness and a length range of 10.0 mm to 40.0 mm.

In a further variant, the outer border has a diameter range of 12.0 mm to 20.0 mm.

In yet a further variant, the differentiated rim section of the upper wall has a vertical height of up to 5.0 mm and a width of up to 3.0 mm.

In yet a further variant, the stem maintains a diameter from a top direction to a bottom direction.

In yet a further embodiment, the body increases in diameter from a top direction to a bottom direction.

In yet a further embodiment, the body is operatively connected to the head such that a round cross section has a diameter range between 5.0 mm and 8.0 mm.

In yet a further embodiment, the pointy tip is incorporated below the plurality of friction rings.

In yet a further embodiment, the bullet-shaped terminal grounding tool comprises a top ledge created by a symmetrical expansion from the body, with a width of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm such that a top of the bullet shape has a diameter of less than or equal to an outer diameter of the singular friction ring or the plurality of friction rings.

In yet a further embodiment, the single friction ring or the plurality of friction rings is configured to resemble an inverted L-shape on cross section, with an outer diameter of between 6.0 mm to 10.0 mm, wherein a total length of each ring ranges between 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm and each upward-facing ledge of each ring ranges in width from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

In yet a further embodiment, the single gripping ring or the plurality of gripping rings is configured to resemble a rhomboid or trapezoid shape.

In yet a further embodiment, the single ring is configured to resemble a single bulb shape.

In yet a further embodiment, the bullet-shaped terminal grounding tool has a top end diameter or maximal diameter of 5.0 mm to 10.0 mm and a length range of 5.0 mm to 30.0 mm.

In yet a further embodiment, the bullet-shaped terminal grounding tool has a ledge with a sharp or curved edge. The ledge ranges in width from 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

In yet a further embodiment, the plurality of gripping rings is created by ‘L’-shaped or ‘C’-shaped grooves in the stem.

In yet a further embodiment, the stem is as wide as an outer diameter of the plurality of gripping rings. The plurality of gripping rings are created by concentric grooves placed on the stem or body

In yet a further embodiment, the golf tee includes a friction ring in place of the plurality of rings that is a single rounded or bulbar in shape expansion of the stem.

In yet a further embodiment, the central pillar carries weight of the golf ball axially.

In yet a further embodiment, the bottom section of the body includes the bullet shaped structure replaced with a non-expanded continuation of the stem. The non-expanded continuation of the stem ends in formation of the pointy tip.

