Patent Publication Number: US-9833672-B1

Title: Foldable golf tee

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of golf, more particularly to foldable tees having a compact form factor, and capable of indicating the preferred direction of swing to the player, both for the backswing and follow-through. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Each round in the game of golf requires playing a number of holes. A typical round has 9 or 18 holes. The play for each hole begins by putting a ball into play on a tee. The player sinks a tee into the ground and positions the ball on top of the tee. The tee is a small peg with a slightly concave top that supports the ball, and a sharp bottom in the shape of a stake which is pushed down into the ground. Carrying tees in one&#39;s pockets is problematic. It is therefore advantageous for the tees to be as compact as possible. In addition tees can make holes in pockets, or injure a player in the event of a fall or collision with an object. It is therefore important for safety reasons and for the sake of wardrobe integrity for the pointed end of the tee to be shielded when the tee is carried by a player. 
     Another problem encountered by players is the lack of accuracy in their knowledge of the optimum swing direction. Conventional tees do not provide players with any directional information. 
     The current invention resolves these problems. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following detailed description and claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a golf tee which folds in three sections articulated to each other. The bottom section has a pointed tip and is articulated to the middle section which is articulated to the top section which holds the head of the tee. In its folded state the tee is compact and its pointed tip is shielded. In addition to being foldable, the tee has several features that improve its functionality. 
     In its folded state the bottom tip of the tee is shielded by the folding structure. 
     The bottom section of the tee can be barbed to render the extraction of the tee from the ground more difficult. 
     The top of the tee can be notched to make room for the pointed tip of the bottom section when the tee is in its folded position. 
     The top of the tee is extensible. For example it can include a telescoping mechanism that allows the player to adjust the height of the tee. The telescoping mechanism is kept in place by a linear ratchet, or by a screw. 
     The top section of the tee can be made springy by including a coil spring between the articulation and the ball supporting structure at the top. 
     The two articulations of the device can be configured with a rotational snap-lock mechanism comprising indentations on one side of the articulation and a bump on the other side. The snap-lock mechanism allows the tee to remain securely locked in the deployed configuration and in the folded configuration. 
     In addition, the articulations can be assembled for easy manufacturing and storage by a snap-on mechanism. 
     A compact folded form factor can also be achieved without a notch at the top of the tee by offsetting the articulations on either side of the longitudinal axis going through the middle section. 
     In its unfolded deployed configuration the tee provides directional information to the player, either pointing backward to indicate the best backswing direction, or pointing forward to indicate the best follow-through direction. The invention also includes a method of swinging a golf club comprising:
         a. unfolding the foldable tee;   b. pushing down the pointed end of the tee into the ground with the middle section pointed in a desired direction of a backswing; and   c. performing the backswing in the desired direction.       

     The invention also includes a method of swinging a golf club comprising:
         a. unfolding the foldable tee;   b. pushing down the pointed end of the tee into the ground with the middle section pointed in a desired direction of a follow-through; and   c. performing the follow-through in the desired direction.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in its unfolded configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the invention in its unfolded configuration. This view shows the logo used by the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention in its folded configuration. 
         FIG. 4  provides an exploded view of the invention showing the telescoping mechanism that allows the extension of the tee, and also partially showing the rotational snap mechanism built in the articulations. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the invention in its unfolded state, showing the rotational snap mechanism of the articulations. 
         FIG. 5A  is a close up view of the upper articulation between the middle section and the top section, showing the upper snap-lock mechanism. 
         FIG. 5B  is a close up view of the lower articulation between the middle section and the bottom peg showing the lower snap-lock mechanism. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a number of variations, including no-notch in the tee head, a non-extensible tee, and a non-barbed bottom peg. 
         FIG. 7  shows that a compact folded configuration can be achieved without any notch in the top of the tee by offsetting the articulations&#39; axes with respect the middle section. 
         FIG. 8  shows the top segment of the invention as a telescoping screw that allows the height of the tee to be adjusted by the player. 
         FIG. 9  shows how the top segment can incorporate a coil spring. 
         FIG. 10  provides a side view showing the articulations with snap-on mechanisms that allows the invention to be quickly assembled or disassembled. 
         FIG. 11  shows how the middle segment can be used to point in the preferred direction of the backswing. 
         FIG. 12  shows how the middle segment can be used to point in the preferred direction of the follow-through. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view showing a belt clip added to the foldable tee. 
         FIG. 13A  shows the belt clip attached to the foldable tee. 
         FIG. 13B  illustrates a snap on mode of attachment of the belt clip to the foldable tee. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The golf tee invention is described in  FIG. 1  in perspective. It comprises a bottom section  1  in the shape of a peg, a middle section  2  and a top section  3  that includes the T head. These three sections are connected by two articulations  4  and  5  allowing the tee to be folded for storage or deployed for use. The invention is shown in its open deployed state in  FIG. 1 . A top view of the deployed configuration is also provided in  FIG. 2 . The invention is shown in its folded configuration in  FIG. 3 . 
     The bottom section  1  is in the shape of a peg, pointed at the bottom  6 , and suitable to be driven into the ground. This section is also articulated  4  at its upper end with the middle section  2 . The section can be jagged or shaped with barbs  8  (as in an arrow or fishhook) as shown in the figure, to make extraction from the ground difficult. 
     The middle section  2  is articulated at one end  4  with the bottom section  1  and articulated at the other end  5  with the top section  3 . The middle section  2  is hollow and shaped to shield the pointed end  6  of the bottom section  1  and the top section  3  when the tee is its folded configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The top section  3  includes the head of the tee, widened and with a slightly concave surface  7  at the top, designed to hold the ball. In addition, a notch  9  is configured at the top of the tee, to make room for the bottom of the peg  1  when the device is in a folded configuration as shown in  FIG. 3 . A second notch  10  may be configured in the head of the tee on the other side of the first notch  9  for symmetry purposes. The top section  3  is articulated at its lower end  5  with the middle section  2 . 
     The top section  3  can be made extensible in a number of ways. For example, it can be configured as a telescope with an inner cylindrical rod  11  sliding in or out of an outer sleeve  12 . 
       FIG. 4  provides an exploded view of the device showing the telescopic arrangement of the top section  3 . Discrete locked extension states can be implemented by means of a linear ratchet including a series of holes  13  in the outer sleeve  12  and a spring loaded hook  14  in the inner rod  11 , the hook  14  shaped to be inserted into the holes  13 . Extending the telescope is simple: if the hook  14  is arrow-shaped (or right-angled triangular shaped) as shown in the figure, the user must push the hook  14  out of its hole and pull; if the hook  14  is a simple round bump (not shown in the figure), the user can strongly pull on the tee thereby forcing the bump out of its hole. Compressing the tee down to its compact form is simple: the user pushes down on the top of the tee. 
     The deployed and folded configurations can remain stable by means of a rotational snap mechanism configured into the articulations  4  and  5  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5, 5A and 5B . As shown in  FIG. 5A  the articulation  5  in the top section  3  includes a series of indentations  15  on its side of the articulation  5 . The middle section  2  includes a round bump or boss  16  on its side of the articulation  5 , which fits into the indentations  15 . The combination of indentations  15  and bump  16  allows the top section  3  to rotationally snap into place in either the deployed or the folded configuration. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5B  the bottom section  1  is similarly articulated  4  with the middle section  2 . Indentations  17  in the middle section  2  matching a bump or boss  18  in the lower section  1  allows the bottom section  1  to rotationally snap into place, either in the deployed or in the folded configuration. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a variation on the basic design in which the top section  3  is not extensible. The figure also shows a variation in which the bottom peg  1  does not have any barb but is a simple cylinder pointed at the lower end  6 . The figure also shows that the central section can be completely open allowing 360 degree rotation of articulation  5 . The figure also shows that the head  7  of the tee does not have a notch. 
       FIG. 7  shows a configuration in which the articulations  4  and  5  are offset on either side of the middle section  2 , thereby allowing the device to be folded without the need to notch the head of the tee. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a variation in which the extension mechanism for the top section  3  is implemented by a single or a multiple-telescoping screw  18 , thereby allowing the top section  3  to be extended according to the preference of the player. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates yet another variation in which the top section  3  is springy. The illustrated embodiment includes a swiveling base  19  pivotally articulated with the middle section  2 . A coil spring  20  is supported at its lower end by the swiveling base  19 . At its top end, the coil spring  20  supports the ball support structure  21  with a slightly concave top surface. Yet another variation is to incorporate in the top section  3  a blade spring instead of a coiled spring between the articulation  5  and the head  7 . 
       FIG. 10  shows another possible variation on the basic design, in which at least one of the top and bottom sections is assembled with the middle section by means of snap-on mechanisms  22  and  23 . 
     Foldability makes this invention more compact than conventional tees. The invention is also safer because the pointed tip of the tee is shielded. Another advantage of the invention is that it provides the player with directional information. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the middle section  2  can be pointed backward thereby indicating the optimum backswing  24  direction. 
     The middle section can also be pointing forward as shown in  FIG. 12 , thereby indicating the best follow-through  25  direction. 
     The foldable tee can also include a belt clip as shown in an exploded view in  FIG. 13  and in assembled and folded view in  FIG. 13A . A clip on mode of attachment of the belt clip is shown in  FIG. 13B . The clip-on method of attachment requires a concavity  26  on the belt clip and a convexity  27  on the foldable tee (or vice versa). 
     While the above description contains many specificities, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within its scope. Accordingly, the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given.