Patent Publication Number: US-2018050258-A1

Title: Golf tee stroke counter

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is broadly concerned with improvements in golf equipment and, more particularly, to an improved apparatus for recording a count of strokes for each hole of golf. 
     Golf is popular throughout the world and is widely played both as a serious athletic endeavor and as a basis for social and business interaction. Inherently, the game involves self competition wherein the player strives to improve on his anticipated score. A standard golf course consists of eighteen holes each of which involves hitting a golf ball from a tee, along a fairway, and into a cup on a putting green with a minimum number of strokes. On a given course, each hole is assigned a numerical value or “par” which represents the number of strokes allotted to an expert. A common technique for scoring a golf game is to mark a count of strokes for each hole on a preprinted card. The stroke counts for all the holes of a game are added up at the end of a round for a round score. 
     A number of types of apparatus have been developed to facilitate score keeping in golf. Various kinds of charts have been devised to facilitate the recording of strokes for each hole. Mechanical golf scoring devices have been provided in which the pressing of a stroke counter button increments a numerically marked element and which can be reset once the ball has been successfully putted. Digital golf scoring devices have been developed to record and accumulate stroke counts. More recently, digital golf scoring devices have been developed which wirelessly communicate stroke counts into applications on remote computers which accumulate game scores over time to determine a player&#39;s “handicap”. Similar devices have been implemented which can score tournaments involving multiple players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides embodiments of an improved apparatus for golf score keeping which is incorporated within a golf tee. 
     An embodiment of a golf stroke scoring apparatus according to the present invention includes: a golf tee member including a golf tee shaft having a tee axis extending therealong; a stroke counter element rotatably mounted on the tee shaft to enable rotation about the tee axis; a plurality of stroke count numerals positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee axis on the tee shaft or the counter element; a stroke count index positioned on the other of the tee shaft and the counter element; and the tee shaft and the counter element being mutually rotated to align the index with a selected one of the stroke numerals to indicate a current stroke count for a golf course hole. The apparatus may include an indexing mechanism engaged between the stroke counter and the tee shaft to facilitate and selectively retain alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
     In an embodiment of the golf stroke scoring apparatus the stroke counter element is a disc having an aperture formed therethrough and the disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. The tee shaft may have a circumferential groove formed therein with the disc positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture and with the disc snapped into the groove to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. The circumferential groove may have circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed therein, and the disc aperture may have a radially inwardly extending indexing tooth therein. The ratchet teeth and indexing tooth form an indexing mechanism of the apparatus. The disc is positioned on the tee shaft with the tee shaft extending through the aperture and with the disc snapped into the groove to enable the disc to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis and the indexing tooth to engage the groove between adjacent ratchet teeth to thereby facilitate and selectively retain alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. In an embodiment of the apparatus, the disc may have a golf club head cleaning tooth extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the disc for use in cleaning the face of the head of a golf club. 
     In an embodiment of the golf stroke scoring apparatus, the stroke counter element is a tubular sleeve, and the sleeve has the tee shaft extending therethrough to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. The stroke count numerals may be positioned in circumferentially spaced relation about the tee shaft, and the tubular sleeve may have a stroke count numeral opening formed therethrough to enable selective alignment of the stroke count numeral opening with the stroke count numerals. The tee shaft may have a circumferential groove formed therein, and the sleeve may have a tooth extending radially inwardly from the sleeve within the bore whereby the tooth engages the groove to enable the sleeve to rotate on the tee shaft about the tee axis. The groove may have circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth which are engaged by an indexing tooth extending radially inwardly from the sleeve within the bore to thereby facilitate and selectively retain alignment of the stroke count index with each stroke numeral. 
     In an embodiment of the golf stroke scoring apparatus, the golf tee member includes a golf tee head which is rotatably engaged with a tee shaft of the tee member. The tee head forms the stroke counter element and is rotatable relative to the tee shaft to indicate a current stroke count. 
     Various objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of a disc embodiment of a golf stroke counter apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a disc stroke counter element employed in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  with the disc shown in cross section to reveal details of an indexing mechanism of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a modified disc stroke counter element having a golf club cleaning tooth formed on a periphery thereof and showing a golf tee shaft in cross section. 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary side elevational view of a sleeve embodiment of the golf stroke counter apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a is a greatly enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a tee head embodiment of the golf stroke counter apparatus according to the present invention with a portion of a tee head broken away to illustrate details of an indexing mechanism of the apparatus. 
         FIG. 7  is a further enlarged cross sectional view taken on line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6  and illustrates details of the indexing mechanism of the apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference numeral  1  generally designates an embodiment of an improved golf stroke counter apparatus according to the present invention. Generally, the apparatus  1  includes a golf tee structure  2  and a stroke counter element  3  rotatably mounted on the tee structure  2 . The stroke counter element  3  is rotated to indicate the current stroke count, as will be detailed below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a disc embodiment  5  of the apparatus  1  includes the tee structure  2  and a stroke counter element  3  in the form of a stroke counter disc  7 . The illustrated tee structure  2  is in the form of a conventional golf tee and includes an elongated, cylindrical tee shaft  9  which expands to a cupped tee head  10 . Although not shown, a lower end of the tee shaft  9  may be pointed. The tee structure  2  may be formed of a conventional tee material, such as a wooden material or a durable plastic. 
     The illustrated stroke counter disc  7  is of a flat annular shape with an outer periphery  12  and a central aperture  14  formed by a circular aperture surface  15 . The disc  7  has upper and lower planar surfaces  17  and  18  ( FIG. 3 ). In the illustrated apparatus  5 , stroke count numerals  20  are formed in circumferentially spaced relation on the upper surface  17  of the disc  7 , while a stroke count index or index mark or pointer  22  is formed on the tee shaft  9 . A given count of strokes for a golf hole is indicated by rotating the stroke counter disc  7  about a longitudinal axis  24  of the tee shaft  9  to align the stroke count index  22  with the current count of strokes. It is foreseen that the stroke count numerals  20  could, alternatively, be formed on the tee shaft  9  and the stroke index  22  on the stroke counter disc  7 . The disc  7  may be formed from a material, such as a flexible polymer or the like. 
     The illustrated tee structure  2  has a circumferential groove  26  formed about the tee shaft  9 . The aperture surface  15  of the disc  7  has an inner diameter which is less than an outer diameter of the tee shaft  9 . Thus, when the disc aperture  14  is aligned with the groove  26 , the disc  7  resiliently snaps into the groove  26  to retain the disc  7  in a desired position on the tee shaft  9 . As retained on the shaft  9 , the disc  7  is rotatable to align the stroke count numerals  20  with the stroke count index  22 . 
     It is desirable to retain the stroke count which has been set until it needs to be advanced or reset to zero. The apparatus  1  is provided with an indexing mechanism  28  to releasably retain alignment between the stroke count index  22  and a stroke count numeral  20  until it is desired to advance or reset the stroke count. In the illustrated embodiment  5 , the indexing mechanism  28  is implemented as a series of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth  30  formed in the groove  26  in cooperation with an indexing tooth  31  extending radially inwardly from the aperture surface  15  of the disc  7 . The stroke count index  22 , the stroke count numerals  20 , the ratchet teeth  30 , and the indexing tooth  31  are cooperatively positioned and/or numbered so that the index  22  will be aligned with a numeral  20  when the indexing tooth  31  is positioned between a pair of adjacent ratchet teeth  30 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a modified stroke counter disc  34  for use in the disc embodiment  5  of the apparatus  1 . The disc  34  has a circular outer periphery  36  which is provided with a radially outwardly projecting cleaning tooth  38 . The cleaning tooth  38  is provided for cleaning grooves of the head of a golf club (not shown) which can become encrusted with grass, mud, and the like which can alter the contact characteristics of the head with a golf ball (not shown). In other respects, the disc  34  is substantially similar to the stroke counter disc  7  and functions in a similar manner. It is foreseen that the stroke counter disc  34 , as well as the disc  7 , could be removed from the tee structure  2  and used as a ball position marker on a putting green. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a sleeve embodiment  40  of the stroke counter apparatus  1  of the present invention. The apparatus  40  employs a tee structure  2  similar to the corresponding structure in the disc embodiment  5  and includes the tee shaft  9  and tee head  10 . However, in the apparatus  40 , the stroke counter element  3  is implemented as a stroke counter sleeve  42 . The illustrated sleeve  42  is cylindrical and tubular and has the tee shaft  9  extending therethrough, whereby the sleeve  42  is rotatable about the axis  24  of the tee shaft  9 . The illustrated sleeve  42  has a stroke count index  44  thereon, while the tee shaft  9  has stroke count numerals  46  formed circumferentially thereabout. The illustrated stroke count index  44  is an index window. The sleeve  42  is rotated to align the index window  44  with a stroke count numeral  46  to indicate a current stroke count for a golf hole. The sleeve  42  may be formed of a resilient polymer to enable it to be conveniently sleeved onto the tee shaft  9 . 
     The tee shaft  9  may include a circumferential groove  48  formed thereabout in which a tooth  50  extending radially inwardly from the sleeve  42  rides to maintain the axial position of the sleeve along the tee shaft  9 . The groove  48  may have ratchet teeth or protrusions  52  therein which are engaged by the tooth  50  to facilitate and maintain alignment of the window  44  with a stroke count numeral  46 . The tooth  50  is, thus, an indexing tooth and forms an indexing mechanism  52  in cooperation with the ratchet teeth  52 . 
     It is foreseen that the apparatus  40  could be implemented with the stroke count numerals  46  formed on the sleeve  42  and an index  44  other than the window, such as an index mark or pointer, formed on the tee shaft  9 . It is also foreseen that the sleeve  42  may be formed with an outer diameter similar to that of the tee shaft  9  and received in a groove  48  having an axial height similar to that of the sleeve  42  so that the outer surface of the sleeve  42  is substantially flush with the outer surface of the tee shaft  9 . 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate a rotating tee head embodiment  60  of the golf stroke counter apparatus  1  of the present invention. The counter apparatus  60  includes a tee structure  62  formed by a tee shaft  64  and a tee head  66  rotatably mounted on the tee shaft  64 . The illustrated tee shaft  64  is elongated and cylindrical and may be conical or otherwise sharpened at a lower end (not shown). An upper end of the tee shaft  64  has a reduced diameter to form a tee shaft neck  68 . The illustrated tee head  66  is flared in a conventional manner and has a cylindrical tee head bore  70  formed therein. The tee head  66  is pivotally mounted on the tee shaft  64  by insertion of the tee head neck  68  into the tee head bore  70 . 
     An upper end of the tee shaft  64 , near the neck  68 , may have stroke count numerals  72  formed circumferentially thereon. The tee head  66  may have a stroke count index  74  formed thereon which extends to a lower end of the tee head  66  where it meets the main part of the tee shaft  64 . The tee head  66  may be rotated about the tee shaft neck  68  to align the stroke index  74  with a stroke count numeral  72  to indicate a current stroke count. On the apparatus  60 , the tee head  66 , thus, functions as the stroke element  3 . It is foreseen that the stroke count numerals  72  could, alternatively, be formed on the tee head  66  and the stroke count index  74  could be placed on the tee shaft  64 . 
     The stroke counter apparatus  60  includes an indexing mechanism  76  engaged between the tee shaft neck  68  and the tee head  66  to facilitate and maintain alignment of the stroke index count  74  with a current stroke count numeral  72 . The illustrated tee shaft neck  68  has a plurality of ratchet teeth  78  extending circumferentially thereabout. An indexing tooth  80  extends from an inner surface of the internal bore  70  of the tee head  66 . The teeth  78  and  80  are positioned relative to the stroke count numerals  72  and the stroke count index  74  such that when the indexing tooth  80  is positioned between a pair of adjacent ratchet teeth  78 , the stroke count index  74  is aligned with a stroke count numeral  72 . The tee shaft neck  68  may have a retainer rim  82  ( FIG. 6 ) extending thereabout which is engaged by the indexing tooth  80  when between adjacent ratchet teeth  78  to retain the tee head  66  on the tee shaft neck  68 . It is foreseen that the ratchet teeth  78  and the retainer rim  82  could be, alternatively, formed on the inner surface of the bore  70  of the tee head  66  with the indexing tooth  80  formed on the surface of the tee shaft neck  68 . 
     The tee shaft  64  and the tee head  66  may be formed, as by molding, of a somewhat pliable polymer to enable the head  66  to be snapped onto the tee shaft neck  68 . Alternatively, the use of other materials is foreseen. Also, while the embodiments  5 ,  40 , and  60  of the stroke counter apparatus  1  are principally configured for use as scoring devices, each embodiment has the form of a conventional golf tee. Thus, it is foreseen that the embodiments  5 ,  40 , and  60  of the apparatus could function as conventional golf tees. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.