Patent Publication Number: US-2010130311-A1

Title: Golf tee clip

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a clip that attaches to the tip of a standard golf tee. 
     The inventor of the present invention enjoys playing golf, yet he is not a professional. He realized that often, when be hit the ball off a standard golf tee, his shots would somewhat deviate from the intended target. The reasons his shots would deviate are twofold: first, because of the resistance caused by his golf club hitting the golf tee; and second, because of his stance not being square with the line of the intended target. In addition, he also realized that when lie hit the golf tee upon hitting the ball, the distance the ball traveled was reduced. This caused him to ponder how to improve the standard golf tee so that when a ball was hit off a golf tee the head of the golf club would hit the ball prior to hitting the golf tee and at the same time provide guidance for the correct stance to be inline with the intended target. By having an arrow on the golf clip pointing toward the intended target and hitting the ball prior to hitting the golf tee, resistance caused by the tee would be minimized and direction to the target would be improved, thereby eliminating deviations normally associated with using a standard golf tee and in turn increasing the distance the ball would travel. 
     The inventor first decided to change the existing design of current golf tees so that the stem of standard golf tees and the cup of the tees would not be linearly aligned. He realized that he had to place the cup a certain distance from the central axis of the stem. By doing this he would increase the probability of hitting the golf ball prior to hitting the stem of the tee. The problem with this design was that when he hit the ball off the tee, the tee was also impacted, thereby breaking or lifting the tee off the ground and causing resistance. 
     This is when the inventor realized that the ideal modification to a golf tee was not to change the design of the tee, but to add a removable clip to a standard golf tee. The clip would have to be designed to easily come off the tee when a ball is hit. 
     The inventor further realized that if he could place a pointing arrow oil the golf clip that he could use the golf clip as a means for aligning his shot prior to setting up before the tee. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that will provide alignment to the target and reduce some of the deviation created when a golf ball is hit off a standard golf ball tee. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that will increase the distance a ball travels by reducing the resistance normally created when a golf ball is hit off a standard golf tee. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that will allow a user to align his shot prior to setting up before the tee. 
     Other objects of the invention will become apparent in view of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee. The clip provides alignment to the target and reduces the resistance normally created by a tee when a ball is hit off a standard golf tee. The clip normally snaps off the cup of a standard tee when a golf ball is hit. By hitting the ball a fraction of a second before hitting the tee and allowing the clip to snap off the cup of a standard golf tee, resistance is reduced. 
     A clip that attaches to a standard golf tee having features of the present invention comprises a rectangular planar body measuring at least two inches from end to end, the body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a second end, and a central axis, the body defining a first and a second curved arm, each arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each arm attaches to the ends of the body so that an angle of at least ten degrees is created between the bottom surface of the body and the first end of each curved arm, the curved arms flow towards the central axis of the body up to a point that is at least one quarter of an inch from the central axis of the body and then the second end of each arm curves outward from the bottom surface of the body so that the second end of each arm is at least one eighth of an inch from the central axis of the body and the end of each arm is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the body, a cup, the cup attaches to the top surface of the body at a position adjacent to the first end of the body, wherein half of the cup rests on the body and the other half extends outward from the body. The body might further comprise of a pointer, the pointer is defined on the top surface of the body. The pointer flows from where the cup attaches to the body and runs toward the second end of the body. 
     The bottom surface of the body along with the second end of each arm define an aperture. The aperture would house a standard golf tee. 
     The present invention is used by first housing the cup of a standard golf tee within the aperture of the clip. Then inserting the golf tee and clip in a ground surface. Then aligning the pointing device of the clip in a certain direction. Next, centrally aligning oneself parallel to the pointing device of the clip. Lastly, hitting the ball off the clip. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the clip mounted on an existing golf tee with a ball on the cup of the clip; 
         FIG. 2  shows a side view of the clip shown in  FIG. 1  with a golf ball on top of the cup of the tee; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the clip shown in  FIG. 1  showing a pointing device of the clip; 
         FIG. 4  shows a bottom view of the clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows how the pointing device of the clip shown in  FIG. 1  would be aimed at a target; 
         FIG. 6  shows how a golf ball would be hit off the clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows how the clip would snap off an existing golf tee after a ball is hit off the cup of the clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     WRITTEN DESCRIPTION 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee, the clip comprises a rectangular planar body  10  measuring at least two inches, the body  10  having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end  10   b,  a second end  10   a,  and a central axis, the body  10  defining a first  10   c  and a second curved arm  10   d,  each arm  10   c / 10   d  having a first end and a second end, the first end of each arm  10   c / 10   d  attaches to the ends of the body  10   a / 10   b  so that an angle of at least ten degrees is created between the bottom surface of the body  10  and the first end of each curved arm  10   c / 10   d,  the curved arms  10   c / 10   d  flow towards the central axis of the body  10  up to a point that is at least one quarter of an inch from the central axis of the body  10  and then the second end of each arm  10   c / 10   d  curves outward from the bottom surface of the body  10  so that the second end of each arm  10   c / 10   d  is at least one eighth of an inch from the central axis of the body  10  and the end of each arm  10   c / 10   d  is substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the body  10 , a cup  12 , the cup  12  attaches to the top surface of the body at a position adjacent to the first end  10   b  of the body, wherein half of the cup  12  rests on the body and the other half extends outward from the body  10 . The second end  10   a  of the body might be pointed. The body  10  might further comprise of a pointer  14 , the pointer  14  is defined on the top surface of the body  10 , the pointer  14  flows from wherein the cup  12  attaches to the body  10  and runs toward the second end of the body  10 . 
     It is important to note, as seen in  FIG. 2 , that the bottom surface of the body  10  along with the second ends of each  10   c / 10   d  arm define an aperture  10   e  wherein the cup of a standard golf tee is housed. 
     The present invention is made of either wood, aluminum compound, or any synthetic plastic polymer. In a preferred embodiment, the invention would be made of a resilient plastic polymer. 
     As seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 5-7 , the present invention is used by first housing the cup of a standard golf tee within the aperture of the clip  10   e.  Then inserting the golf tee and clip  10  on a surface. Then providing a golf ball. Next, placing a golf ball on the cup  12  of the clip  10 . Then, aligning the pointer  14  of the clip towards a target. Next, aligning oneself before the clip  10 . And lastly, hitting the golf ball off the cup  12  of the clip  10  toward the direction of the target. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that reduces deviations created when a golf ball is hit off a standard golf ball tee. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that increases the distance a ball travels by reducing the resistance normally created when a golf ball is hit off a standard golf tee. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a clip that attaches to a standard golf tee that allows a user to align his shot prior to setting up before the tee. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.