Patent Publication Number: US-2005130769-A1

Title: Golf tee-accessory assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This present invention relates to golf equipment. More particularly, this invention pertains to an improved tee for vertically positioning a golf ball prior to contact with a club head. It is recognized that the height of a golf ball from the ground with respect to the club head affects both the height and the distance of the golf shot. Once a golfer has determined, by practice, which height is desirable to have the ball from the ground, it is ideal to keep that height consistent from one hole to the next.  
      Unfortunately, the conventional golf tee leaves the height of the golf ball subject to many factors. These include “eyeing” the height of the ball, using one&#39;s knuckles to gauge the distance of the top of the tee to the ground, the presence of grass obscuring the ground, and the composition of the soil. This introduces an undesirable level of uncertainty to the game of golf and leaves the golfer&#39;s ability to accurately hit the ball subservient to the ability of the golfer to place the tee into the ground at a consistent height due to the increased margin of error resulting from “eyeballing” the height, and because using one&#39;s knuckles becomes extremely difficult at such an increased height.  
      In the past, golf tees have been produced that have various devices for regulating their height when placed in the ground. However, such golf tees are complex and prone to breaking. Additionally, they are unique devices, which upon breaking, are permanently destroyed. The present invention provides a simple assembly having a sleeve member that can be used in combination with any conventional golf tee. Conventional golf tees are inexpensive and plentiful in supply. Should the golf tee of the present invention break during a particularly strong drive, its sleeve member is capable of being reused with another conventional golf tee.  
      With the advent of golf clubs having enlarged heads, and hence an enlarged surface area for striking the ball, the distance between the ground and the optimal location on the head for striking the ball has increased. It is therefore desirable that the ball be consistently located at a vertical height greater than that needed for a normal sized club head. With the increase in height, it becomes more difficult to consistently place the tee at the desired height.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention addresses the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art by providing a device for positioning a tee, on which a golf ball is placed, for contact with either a normal size or enlarged golf club head. The device comprises an elongated, hollow, cylindrical sleeve member, which can be used with any conventional golf tee of appropriate length. The hollow, cylindrical sleeve member is sized to accommodate and either snugly fit or be fixed on the shaft of a golf tee. The sleeve member is of an appropriate length selected to enable the upper end of the member closest to the ball to fit against the lower surface of the outwardly tapered head of the tee and the lower end of the member closest to the ground to engage the ground and thereby establish a separation distance between the ground and the golf ball. This distance places the tee head at a predetermined desirable height for a particular golfer, particularly when using an enlarged golf club head. The diameter and wall thickness of the sleeve member are selected such that when the sleeve member is placed over the tee, and the tee is forced into the ground, the bottom end of the sleeve member engages the ground and with sufficient area to provide a resistance noticeable by the golfer who is placing the tee in the ground. The resistance effectively “signals” to the golfer that the appropriate height has been achieved and that the golf ball will now sit at the desirable vertical height from the ground.  
      The foregoing and additional features and advantages will become further apparent form the detailed description that follows.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf tee with the sleeve member of the invention in place on the shaft of the tee.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the golf tee separated from the sleeve member of the invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the golf tee of  FIG. 1  with a sleeve member of a first length in place on the shaft of the tee according to a first embodiment.  
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the golf tee taken in the direction of line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the golf tee with a sleeve member of a second length in place on the shaft of the tee according to a second embodiment.  
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the golf tee with a sleeve member of a third length placed on the shaft of the tee according to a third embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a golf tee  10  with the hollow, cylindrical sleeve member  20  of the invention snugly fitted on, glued, or otherwise fixed on the shaft  11  of the tee  10 . An upper end  21  of member  20  fits snugly against head  12  of the tee  10  and has a predetermined length L according to a first embodiment.  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the tee  10  separate from the member  20 . The golfer moves member  20  into position onto the shaft  11  of the tee  10  by inserting the tapered end  13  of the tee  10  into the hollow upper end  21  of the member  20  and pushing until the upper end  21  encounters the head  12  of the tee  10 . Alternatively, as previously stated, the sleeve member  20  can be glued, or otherwise fixed on, the shaft of the tee  10 . The diameter D and wall thickness W of member  20  are sufficient to create a ground engaging area sufficient to provide noticeable resistance when a golfer places the pointed end  13  of the tee  10  into the ground and the ground comes into contact with the lower end and lower surface area  14  of member  20 .  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the tee  10  of  FIG. 1  mounting a sleeve member  20  of a first length according to a first embodiment such as would be needed for use with a golf club having an enlarged head and requiring the golf ball to be positioned at a greater vertical distance from the ground.  
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the golf tee taken in the direction of line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and illustrating the sleeve member  20  with a diameter D and a width W.  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the tee  10  that has a sleeve member  20 ′ of a second length according to a second embodiment.  
       FIG. 6  is a view of the tee  10  that has a sleeve member  20 ″ of a shorter third length, placing the ball closer to the ground according to a third embodiment.  
      The illustrated golf tee  10  mounting the sleeve member  20  of the invention is intended to represent any conventional tee of appropriate length. The sleeve member  20  of the invention is formed of a resilient material, preferably a hard plastic that includes a biodegradable material, such as cornstarch, and of a composition that will not mark a driver or an iron-type club. In another embodiment, the sleeve member  20  is formed of a soft plastic. Thus, the tee shaft  11  and mounting sleeve  20  will not damage either the club or the cutting blades of golf course lawnmowers when a tee is left behind. The sleeve itself may be fabricated of a color-coded plastic. In this way, the golfer can have several different height adjusted tees for a variety of golf club heads.  
      While the invention has been described with regards to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. This invention is limited only insofar as it is defined by the following claims and includes within its scope all equivalents thereof.