Patent Publication Number: US-2002013186-A1

Title: Break-away, low resistance golf tee

Description:
[0001] This application claims priority of my prior, co-pending provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/180,315, filed Feb. 4, 2000, entitled “Break-away, Low Resistance Golf Tee,” which provisional patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The invention relates generally to golf tees. More specifically, the invention relates to a break-away, low resistance golf tee.  
       [0004] 2. Related Art  
       [0005] The game of golf originated under the rule of Caesar Augustus. Romans used a feather-stuffed ball and struck it with club shaped branches. Dutch residents played a similar game on frozen canals around the fourteenth century and other variations existed in France and Belgium. In fact, golf was banned in Scotland in 1457 because it interfered with archery practice.  
       [0006] Golf persisted in Scotland, and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at Saint Andrews was founded in 1754. A gutta-percha ball replaced the feather-filled balls in the 1800&#39;s, and itself was replaced by plastic balls in the twentieth century. Regardless of the ball or the club, mankind has agonized over getting a little ball in a simple cup for many, many years.  
       [0007] A round of golf typically requires hitting a golf ball into holes arranged on a course. At the beginning of each hole a “tee” area approximately 15 feet wide exists where a player may use an artificial device to prop the ball above the turf to maximize the distance and/or accuracy of the first stroke. The common name for the device propping the ball is a tee.  
       [0008] The pursuit of perfection drives golfers to develop new inventions. Golf has seen many tees over the years including:  
       [0009] Millet (U.S. Pat. No. D92,918) provides a DESIGN FOR A GOLF TEE with a head in the form of a four leaf clover. This ornamental design does not provide utility grade representations.  
       [0010] The GOLF TEE, Clausing (U.S. Pat. No. 1,638,527), describes cutting away portions of the head to form a square pattern. Clausing attempts to better secure the golf ball to the GOLF TEE thereby inhibiting the ball&#39;s release from the tee and causing a compression effect between the golf ball and tee (hereafter compression). In addition, this design inhibits follow-through in the event of a mishit between the golf club head and golf ball (hereafter, resistance to follow-through) because it does not provide a breakaway mechanism. These two deficiencies inhibit the transfer of energy from the club head to the golf ball.  
       [0011] Hodges (U.S. Pat. No. 1,645,001) divulges a water soluble GOLF TEE comprising seed or a combination of seed and fertilizer. This tee has notches or recesses on the head to accommodate golf ball dimples ensuring a secure placement on the head of the tee. Hodges design provides neither for decreased compression nor decreased resistance to follow-through.  
       [0012] Hammond et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 2,146,736) is a GOLF TEE comprising a hollow peg member, a cupped member pivoted to the top of the peg and a spring pressed plunger slideably mounted within the peg. The device requires complicated and expensive construction. The elastic nature of the device may slow the club speed and follow-through because it is less likely to breakaway in an imperfect collision.  
       [0013] The NON-INTERFERING GOLF TEE in Morris (U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,723) has a head section having a top with an upward opening curved rear surface and a ramped surface extending from the curved rear surface to the front of the tee. The combination of the head and ramp features support the ball.  
       [0014] Gordos (U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,479) is a DISINTEGRATING GOLF TEE utilizing grass seed, a water soluble binder, a wooden support shaft and a plastic ball support. The design promotes disintegration but not decomposition because it utilizes a plastic head. The rigid support shaft may cause resistance to follow-through, and the standard cup shaped head causes compression.  
       [0015] Whelan et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,263) discusses a GROWTH MATERIAL AND GROWTH TEE for use as a golf tee wherein grass seed or plant food are supported in a carrier material with a stiffer and harder moisture proof exterior coating such as mica for strength. A flared tip breaks upon insertion into the ground to promote decomposition of the used tee. However, the design accounts neither for compression nor for resistance follow-through limitations.  
       [0016] Desmarais (U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,541) discloses a GOLF TEE comprising a water-soluble thermoplastic material and 1-30% fertilizer. Pulli et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,438) reveals a similarly decomposable NOVEL GOLF TEE comprised of clay, grass seed and soil conditioner. Neither of these devices have divulged compression or resistance to follow-through benefits.  
       [0017] Matsuura (U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,916) describes a TILT TOP GOLF TEE with a bore along its vertical axis with an elastic member inserted inside the bore between the peg portion and head portion of the tee. The elastic member comprises a T-shaped stopper, an S-shaped connecting element hooked to the stopper and a spring hook attached to the connecting element. Matsuura correctly recognizes the need for a forgiving and durable TILT TOP GOLF TEE. However, this design demands increased cost to consumers by requiring intensive manufacturing. In addition, this design&#39;s inherent elasticity may impede follow-through.  
       [0018] Morabeto (U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,208) portrays a limited piercing GOLF TEE with a ball and socket apparatus that allows a separable tee head to tilt roughly 90 degrees at a medial point along the vertical axis. This novel design provides a breakaway effect. Unfortunately, the GOLF TEE uses potentially environmentally unsound plastic materials and limits placement in turf of varying heights.  
       [0019] Noland et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,508) combines peat moss with a water soluble binder. and Golden et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,730) uses sugar, cellulosic fiber, liquid or solid plasticizer  25  and optional turf treatment materials to make decomposable golf tees. Neither of these patents disclose compression or resistance to follow-through benefits.  
       [0020] Carson et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,392) paints a picture of decomposable TEE OFF GOLF TEES made of plant food and grass seeds carried in a chamber within the vertical axis of the tee.  
       [0021] This tee has wedges that promote its breakup with application of downward force. The device, however, does not address compression.  
       [0022] Flick (U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,803) is a triangulated stanchion GOLF TEE with three ball engaging members comprising a leading ball engaging member and a pair of spaced trailing ball engaging members. The device appears somewhat useful for irons but not drivers. In any case, the high leading edge prong may require the club head to contact the tee causing resistance to follow-through issues.  
       [0023] Pan Chung (U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,413) reveals a decomposable GOLF TEE with vertical reinforcing ribs and a hollow cross section containing a plurality of radially reinforced thin walls that form a number of sub-spaces. The plurality of reinforcing thin walls is a nice feature but this device does not address compression. Moreover, elastic deformation qualities of the thin walls may increase the tee&#39;s resistance to follow-through.  
       [0024] These devices address many concerns. However, in two millennia the completely satisfying tee has yet to reach the marketplace. For this reason, millions of golfers want a tee that improves golf ball trajectory by avoiding interference with a golf club head and golf ball compression. The device of this invention addresses their desires.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025] The present invention is an improved golf tee. The golf tee is of conventional construction, except its shaft has at least one zone of substantially reduced cross-section. For example, in a wooden tee, a substantial notch in the shaft may be provided by grinding or crimping. Or, in a molded or stamped plastic or composite materials tee, a substantially thinner part of the shaft may be provided for in the mold or die for making the tee. In all cases, a single or plurality of reduced cross-section zone(s) may be provided.  
       [0026] Optionally, the tee of the present invention has a saddle-shaped top, instead of the conventional partly-spherical cup. This feature is obtained in a wooden tee by, for example, grinding off both the leading and trailing edges of the top, from the perspective of club movement relative to the positioned tee. Or, in a molded or stamped plastic or composite materials tee, the saddle-shaped top may be provided for in the mold or die for making the tee. Preferably, both the leading and trailing edges of the cup are removed. This, way, both compression and resistance to follow-through benefits may be realized. However, either the leading or the trailing edge alone may be removed.  
       [0027] The invented tee may be made from any conventional material by conventional techniques. However, wooden tees, plastic tees, and tees made from modern composites of organic materials, like, for example, sawdust and glue, are preferred.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0028] Note that the following figures only depict preferred examples of the invention&#39;s embodiments, and other embodiments are envisioned by the inventor.  
     [0029] FIGS.  1 A- 1 D are side views of several embodiments of the invention.  
     [0030]FIG. 2 is a top view of one alternative embodiment of the invention.  
     [0031]FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, viewed from line  3 - 3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0032] The figures depict several, but not all, embodiments of the instant BREAKAWAY, LOW RESISTANCE GOLF TEE.  
     [0033] The device utilizes utilizes materials with a high strength-to-weight ratio including wood(s), plastic(s) and organic material(s) such as sawdust, grass seed, etc. The preferred embodiment uses organic materials to eliminate long-term litter upon the golf course while promoting turf growth.  
     [0034] Referring to FIG. 1, in rudimentary form the tee ( 2 ,  2 ′,  2 ″,  2 ′″) comprises a head ( 4 ), shaft ( 6 ) and tip ( 8 ). Shaft ( 6 ) has a substantially reduced circumference ( 10 ,  10 ′,  10 ″,  10 ″,  10 ″″) at one or several zones that provides a breakaway point, or points, to reduce interference with club head speed or follow-through. This reduced circumference may exist at one point ( 2 ′″,  2 ″″), or may extend the entire length of the shaft ( 2 ′), or may exist at various points ( 2 ,  2 ″). By “substantially reduced circumference,” I mean also “substantially reduced cross-section.” In any event, at this location, the tee shaft is more likely to break, deform or fail upon impact of the club with the tee or with the ball.  
     [0035]FIG. 2 depicts one preferred alternative embodiment ( 2 ″″) with a head ( 4 ) with a plurality of scalloped leading and trailing edges ( 16 ,  16 ′, respectively). The scalloped edges ( 16 ,  16 ′) are established by eliminating material from the traditional golf tee head along the vertical axis. The scalloped edges are aligned to create a pathway ( 18 ) for the golf club coming towards the tee and for the golf ball leaving the tee. These reduced edges reduce impact interference between a golf club and ball, and decrease compression between the ball and tee to improve overall ball trajectory.  
     [0036] Numerous means to manufacture the device exist. For example, an individual could take the common wooden tee of the late 20th century, shave the linear scalloped edges of the head section using a belt sander and utilize a table-top jigsaw to create breakaway ridges in the tail section that align with the scalloped edges. Other manufacturing means include stamping and injection molding.  
     [0037] To use the device, a golfer will insert the tip of the BREAKAWAY, LOW RESISTANCE GOLF TEE in the ground, align the scalloped edges with the intended path of projection, place a ball on the head portion and strike the ball as appropriate.  
     [0038] Discussion of this invention referenced particular means, materials and embodiments elaborating limited application of the claimed invention. The invention is not limited to these particulars, and applies instead to all equivalents.  
     [0039] Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.