Abstract:
A one piece adjustable golf ball tee to be used in conjunction with a golf practice mat. The one piece golf ball tee is made of material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or of thermoplastic material which will endure repeated striking with a golf club.

Description:
REFERENCES CITED (REFERENCED BY)  
       [0001]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 U.S. Patent Documents 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 D306751 
                 March, 1990 
                 Orton. 
                   
               
               
                 1803907 
                 May, 1931 
                 Kruse. 
               
               
                 2079387 
                 May, 1937 
                 Sickmiller. 
               
               
                 2693358 
                 November, 1954 
                 Dawson, Jr. 
                 473/398 
               
               
                 3467390 
                 September, 1969 
                 Gardiner. 
               
               
                 3765683 
                 October, 1973 
                 Landry. 
               
               
                 4516780 
                 May, 1985 
                 Tabet. 
               
               
                 5156403 
                 Oct, 1992 
                 Martino. 
               
               
                 5248144 
                 September, 1993 
                 Ullerich. 
               
               
                 5411267 
                 May, 1995 
                 Burks et al. 
               
               
                 5415409 
                 May, 1995 
                 Hellmann. 
               
               
                 5470074 
                 November, 1995 
                 Hotchkiss et al. 
               
               
                 5766100 
                 June, 1998 
                 Dilmore 
                 473/396 
               
               
                 5776014 
                 July, 1998 
                 Gustine 
                 473/396 
               
               
                 6083121 
                 July, 2000 
                 Hovey 
                 473/396 
               
               
                 6086486 
                 July, 2000 
                 Murphy et al. 
                 473/396 
               
               
                 6328663 
                 December, 2001 
                 Lipstock. 
                 473/396; 473/398 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a golf ball tee and more particularly to a one piece, easy to maintain adjustable golf ball tee which is vertically adjustable to an infinite number of heights within the range of the tee.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0005]     A standard rubber golf tee which is available in a number of fixed heights is used at driving ranges. Height positioning of the tee is usually limited and attempts have been made to accommodate golfers who tee up at different heights both on the golf course and at driving ranges. Adjustable golf ball tees penetrating into the ground (see U.S. Pat Nos. 3,467,390 and 4,516,780) And those with flat-bottom bases (see U.S. Pat Nos. 1,803,907; 2,079,387; 5,248,144; and D306,751) have been developed. Adjustable golf tees have also been incorporated onto larger devices designed for automatic teeing (see U.S. Pat Nos. 5,411,267 and 5,415,409). Still, limitations in height positioning exist in the prior art adjustable golf tee structures due to the impact the tee structures must endure. The present invention attempts to overcome this limitation by incorporating a one piece adjustable golf tee structure utilizing the golf mat base in conjunction with the tee, increasing the flexibility of height adjustment and durability of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a one-piece adjustable golf ball tee for use on driving ranges. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in detail, is to provide a new and simple golf ball tee that is durable and adjustable in height by employing a base which forms a structural arch in conjunction with a cavity in the mat base.  
         [0007]     The present invention also provides an adjustable golf ball tee which is durable and is able to endure repeated striking with a golf club.  
         [0008]     The present invention further provides an adjustable golf ball tee that is simple in structure and therefore easy to manufacture.  
         [0009]     The present invention also provides an adjustable golf ball tee that can be manufactured at low cost with synthetic material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or with thermoplastic material, which will endure repeated striking with a golf club.  
         [0010]     The adjustable tee is supported initially by the surface supporting the golf mat and by the sides of the tee column which is manufactured into the base of the mat. The tee is adjusted by either pulling it up from the top which may be flush with the top of the mat or above the top of the mat to the desired height which engages the structural arch action between the tee cylinder and the scalloped tee base. The tee may also be adjusted by pushing it down from the top allowing the arch structure to release and then pulling it up to adjust the height and re-engaging the structural arch.  
         [0011]     The present invention resides in the particular combination of these features herein disclosed and claimed. This particular combination distinguishes the present invention from the prior art for the functions specified.  
         [0012]     The present invention provides an adjustable tee which has an infinite number of heights available within the normal range desired for supporting a golf ball.  
         [0013]     The present invention also provides an adjustable golf ball tee which is durable, reusable and is able to endure repeated striking with a golf club.  
         [0014]     The present invention further provides an adjustable golf ball tee that is simple in structure and therefore easy to manufacture.  
         [0015]     The present invention also provides an adjustable golf ball tee that can be manufactured at low cost with rubber, synthetic rubber or with thermoplastic material, which will endure repeated striking with a golf club.  
         [0016]     Other embodiments of the adjustable golf ball tee will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a bottom view of the base of the invention  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a section view of the invention in place within the golf mat. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]     With reference to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-4  thereof, an adjustable golf ball tee which is vertically adjustable is described.  
         [0022]     More specifically the adjustable golf ball tee of the present invention comprises of a base of a predetermined thickness and diameter with scalloped Edges and a round tubular column of predetermined height and thickness with a concave top to support the golf ball.  
         [0023]     The base in  FIG. 1  is preferable circular  6  but may be other shapes and will have scalloped  8  edges and may have beams  10  or girders to increase the rigidity of the base and the resultant structural strength. These beams or girders may be on the bottom and/or top of the base.  
         [0024]     The gripping points  22  may be equally spaced and of the same size. The gripping point  22  may also be of varying sizes or spacing. The number of gripping points  22  may be of a greater or lesser number than shown on the drawing.  
         [0025]     The grooves or indentation  28  along the edges may be equally spaced and of the same size. The grooves or indentation  28  may also be of varying sizes or spacing. The number of grooves or indentation  28  may be of a greater or lesser number than shown on the drawing.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows the position of the tubular column  12  which supports the golf ball relative to the base which may be centered or offset relative to the base.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows the invention in the relaxed position outside the golf mat cavity which is constructed to permit the tee to work in conjunction with the golf mat.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  is a section view showing the relationship between the tee and the golf mat with the tee in place.  FIG. 4  shows the structural arch  24  formed by the tee base, supported by the sides of the tee against the tee cavity  14  in the golf mat  16 . The tee hole cavity  14  may be formed or cut into the golf mat base and should have a depth in proportion to the tee adjustment range  18 . The tee hole cavity  18  may have either vertical or tapered sides. The sides of the tee hole cavity may be reinforced with a sleeve  26  which may or may not have a ribbed surface to help support the tee base.  
         [0029]     The tee is adjusted by either pulling it up with the tips of the user&#39;s fingers or pushing it until the structural arch  24  releases from the sides of the tee hole cavity  14  and the pulling it up to the desired height. No additional tool devices or equipment are required. The tees may be replaced by simply inserting them into the bottom of the tee hole cavity. Thus, the golf ball tee is a simple structure and adjustable in height with no special knowledge.  
         [0030]     The dimensional relationships of the structure of the present invention are deemed readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Although no restricted to the following, a preferred dimension of the base is 2.25 inches in diameter. Although not restricted to the following the preferred outside dimensions of the tubular column are 0.625 inches in diameter with a height of 2.75 inches. Although not restricted to the following heights, the adjustable tee can extend in a range of about 0.50 inches to 2.00 inches depending upon the height of the tee hole cavity in the mat and the height of the tees tubular column.  
         [0031]     The foregoing descriptions are considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present invention. Thus it will be appreciated that modifications and improvements within the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be made by those in the art upon considering the present disclosure.  
         [0032]     The innovations in the development of golf equipment in particular the introduction of the larger sized and unusual shaped golf clubs have made the need for varying tee heights to be used in conjunction with golf mats used for golf practice and golf play.