Patent Abstract:
A golf tee system comprising a card stock having a thickness, a width, a length with bend lines and break lines formed on the card stock, a tee element formed within the card stock, wherein the card stock is approximately flat and configured to allow at least one tee element to be removed from the card stock and assembled into a structural tee device for holding a golf ball, a top portion, a bottom portion, a body portion connected to and extending upward from the bottom portion, having a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and a second side wall when folded toward each other at least partially bound and define an inner cavity within the body portion, wherein a folded upper crown of the top portion defines a ball receipt surface configured to receive and hold the golf ball off of a ground surface and wherein the reconfigurable golf tee is detached from scored card stock.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/275,074 which was filed Aug. 25, 2009, entitled RECONFIGURABLE GOLF BALL STRUCTURAL TEE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO SUPPORT A STATIONARY GOLF BALL, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a golf ball structural support system and method and more particularly to a reconfigurable golf ball structural tee system and method wherein the reconfigurable golf ball structural tee is formed in a flat card stock and is reconfigured to support a stationary golf ball. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Golf tees are generally well known. They are made from wood, rubber and metal. Normally, they are formed from a single material and have an upper concave surface for supporting the golf ball and a tapered shank with a pointed surface at the base of the golf tee for penetrating the ground, for example. Numerous wooden golf tees are broken and/or lost while playing golf. In addition, golf tees are often stored in a golf bag pocket and the golf tees can take up substantial room due to their haphazard position in the golf bag pocket. Also, tees can be used for advertising except that to have one line of lettering imprinted on a tee is very limited, for example. In addition, if a player runs out of tees in their golf bag it can be a large inconvenience. 
     Therefore, a need exists for golf tees that are easier to store, that can be used for wider advertising than conventional tees, that can be stored in a wallet, pocket or golf bag and tees that are more durable than conventional wooden tees. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention, and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention, nor to delineate the scope thereof. Rather, the primary purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The invention is directed to a reconfigurable golf tee that is formed within a flat card stock, wherein the flat card stock is configured to accept advertising such as lettering, logos, and the like. Various forms of the reconfigurable tees are also provided, along with releasable means for detaching the tee from the card stock. 
     It is additional embodiment of the present to provide a tee element that provides less resistance and a lower mass that a typical tee and therefore allows a golf ball to be driven further of the tee element than a typical tee. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide at least one tee element on a flat card stock which can be reconfigured to hold a stationary golf ball off of a ground surface. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a flat card stock which is easily manufactured and easily attached, for example to golf equipment comprising a golf bag, a golf cart and stored in a wallet. 
     It is yet another embodiment of the present invention to provide a flat card stock with at least one tee element which displays an advertisement comprising a business card, a magnetic strip gift card, a display card, and the like. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a golf tee system  100  formed on card stock in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an exemplary tee element  200  removed from the card stock used in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention for holding a stationary golf ball above the ground in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the exemplary tee element illustrated in  FIG. 2  wherein the tee element is folded in half, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary tee element  400 , similar to the tee element  300  shown in  FIG. 3  used in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention wherein the tee element  400  is folded in half and inserted into the ground to hold a stationary golf ball in an elevated position according to one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary tee element  500  used in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention for supporting a stationary golf ball above the ground; 
         FIG. 6  is a figure illustrating an exemplary tee element  600  supporting a stationary golf ball in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of yet other embodiment of a golf tee system  700  illustrating at least one tee element formed in a card stock such as may be used in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of an exemplary tee element  800  illustrated in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  10  are figures of a dovetail tee assembly as may be assembled and used in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 11-12  illustrate figures of an assembled dovetail tee assembly inserted into a flexible material to simulate the tee inserted into the ground in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 13-16  illustrate figures of a three prong tee assembly in various configurations in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates yet another embodiment of a three prong tee holding a stationary golf ball according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 18-21  illustrates figures of a four prong tee assembly in various configurations in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 22 ,  23 A and  23 B illustrate figures of yet another four prong tee assembly in various configurations in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a strip of tees in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 25  illustrates a method of forming a structural tee element in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary golf tee system  100  used in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates several advantages of the present invention, the golf tee system  100  over the prior art discussed supra. The preferred embodiment of the golf tee system  100  comprises a card stock or material  102  with at least one tee element  104  non-fixedly attached to, formed within a part of the card stock  102  and configured to be removable from the card stock  102  by bending the at least one tee element  104  along a defined break line  106  until the break line  106  holding the at least one tee element  104  to the card stock  102  is detached. The bend lines are formed so that the card stock will not break when bent over the maximum distance possible. The at least one tee element  104  can be bent and/or folded into a structural shape by bending the at least one tee element  104  along a defined bend line  118 . The defined break line  106  and/or the defined bend line  118  can be formed using techniques comprising laser, laser cutting, die cutting, cutting perforations in the card stock  102  and creasing the card stock  102 , for example. The techniques of forming the defined bend line  118  and/or the defined break line  106  in the card stock  102  are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the card stock  102  can take the shape of a credit card where a thickness of the card stock  102  can be approximately about 10 to 70 mils, a width  110  of approximately about 2 inches and a length  112  of approximately about 3 inches. In this embodiment the at least one tee element  104  has through slots  120  configured to form a crown area  122  of the at least one tee element  104 . In addition the least one tee element  104  can have a minimum thickness as long as it will structurally hold the golf ball. The crown area  122  is approximately the area of the at least one tee element  104  between the crown area top edge  124  and the top of the through slot  120 , for example. In this embodiment the slots  120  are, for example, using techniques comprising laser cutting and die cutting, for example, all the way through the card stock  102 . However, the through slots  120  can be perforated cuts or not a complete through cut, for example. 
     The at least one tee element  104  comprises at least one tee element first side  114  and at least one tee element second side  116  configured on opposite sides of the defined bend line  118  from the top of the crown area  122  to the end of a bottom portion  128 . The at least one tee element  104  is folded in half so that the at least one tee element first side  114  and the at least one tee element second side  116  come in close proximity to each other, at a location perpendicular to and away from the defined bend line  118 . A body portion  130  of the least one tee element  104  is approximately located in the center of the at least one tee element  104 . A bottom portion  128  is located approximately in the bottom area of the at least one tee element  104 . The bottom portion  128  can be shaped as a point, a tip, and the like for insertion into the ground. 
     The card stock  102  shown in  FIG. 1  is blank; however the card stock  102  can be printed with artwork comprising logos and/or lettering on one side of the card stock  102 . In addition, the cardstock  102  can be printed with artwork and/or lettering on both sides of the card stock  102 . The artwork and/or lettering can be black and white, grayscale or colored. A through hole  126  can optionally be made in the card stock  102  for a key chain, a strap and the like. The through hole  126  allows the card stock  102  to be attached equipment comprising golf bag or golf cart, for example. 
     Although the card stock  102  is illustrated in the form of a credit card however, the card stock can take any shape comprising an animal, a club head, a company name, etc. In addition, although the tee elements are shown as symmetrical and the tees are similar in shape, the tees can be non-symmetrical and tees of dissimilar shape can be formed on the same card stock. 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a tee element  204  removed from a card stock (not shown). In embodiment  200  of the invention, the tee element  204  comprises a tee element first side  214 , a tee element second side  216  and slots  220  that pass through the tee element  204 . The tee element  204  is configured so that the element first and second halves,  214  and  216  respectively, can be folded along a defined bend line  218  so that the tee element  204  is folded in half as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . A crown area  222  is approximately the upper portion of the tee element  204  between the slots  220  and a crown area top edge  224 . A body portion  230  of the least one tee element  104  is approximately located in the center of the at least one tee element  104 . A bottom portion  228  is located approximately in the bottom area of the at least one tee element  204 . In  FIG. 3 , for example, the first side wall  214  (not shown) and the second side wall  216  are folded toward each other. 
     In another embodiment  400  illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a bend line  418  comprises a crease or perforations, for example, that allows the tee element  404  to be folded in half along the bend line  418  and inserted into a ground surface  438 . Initially, when the tee element  404  is removed from a card stock, both a tee element first side  414  and a tee element second side  416  are lying on a single plane.  FIG. 4  illustrates the tee element  404  wherein the first side  414  and the second side  416  are folded toward and in contact with each other prior to insertion into the ground surface  438 . 
     A crown area  422  of the tee element  404  is approximately the area of the first side  414  and the second side  416  between the crown area top edge  424  and the top of slots  420 , for example. In this embodiment the slots  420  are, for example, laser cut or die cut, for example, all the way through the card stock. However, the slots  120  could be perforated cuts or not a complete through cut. A slot end  434  prevents the crown area  422  of the tee element first side  414  and a tee element second side  416  from being spread apart further without tearing the slot end  434 . As the first side  414  and second side  416  are spread apart a tee element first side slot beginning  432  and a tee element second side slot beginning  533  ( FIG. 5 ), are moved further apart. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , the crown area  422  of the first side  414  and the second side  416  of the tee element  404  of  FIG. 4  is spread apart starting from spreading the crown area  422  by separating the tee element first side slot beginning  432  ( FIG. 4 ) away from the tee element second side slot beginning (not shown in  FIG. 4 ). The tee element  404 , for example is opened at an angle θ wherein the tee element first side slot end  434  and the tee element second side slot end  435  prevents the crown area first side  422  and the crown area second side  423  from being spread further apart without tearing the slot ends  434  and  435 . The angle θ between a tee element first side  414  and a tee element second side  416  is approximately 10 to 40 degrees. The angle θ allows the tee element  404  to support a golf ball on the crown area first side top edge  424  the crown area second side top edge  425 . Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications that may be made to this configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of what is described herein. 
       FIG. 6  is a photograph of the tee element  404  illustrated in  FIG. 4  wherein the tee element  404  inserted into the ground surface  438  is configured to support a stationary golf ball  640 . The inventors appreciate as do those of ordinary skill in the art that many configurations of the tee element are possible comprising various shapes, sizes, thickness, lengths, widths, numbers of slots, etc. and reconfigurations of the tee element (e.g., rounded, triangular, square, etc.), are possible both symmetrical and non-symmetrical to result in a structure that will support a stationary golf ball. All such structures and configurations are contemplated herein. The inventors recognized that by providing a lighter mass tee element and the tee element was struck with a club head the tee element would bend over would result in greater distance than a typical plastic or wood golf tee. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention wherein a card stock  700  ( FIG. 7 ) is configured with tee elements  704 .  FIG. 7  is an illustration of each of the tee elements  704  is configured with a tee element first side  714  and a tee element second side  716  and is configured to fold along a defined folding line  718 . Each of the tee elements  704  is configured with a first side slot  720  and a second side slot  721 , wherein the slots,  720  and  721  can be cut entirely through the card stock  702  or perforated in the card stock, for example. 
     The tee elements  704  are configured with a first side crown area  722  and a second side crown area  723  that can be reconfigured to hold a stationary golf ball on a crown area first side top edge  724  and crown area second side top edge  725 . The stationary golf ball is held on a first point  742 , a second point  744  and a third point  746 , for example. 
     A tee element  802  is illustrated in the photo  800  shown as  FIG. 8 , wherein a tee element  802  is configured to hold a golf ball (not shown) in a stationary position. The tee element  802  is configured with a tee element first side  814  and a tee element second side  816  and is shown folded along a defined folding line  818 . The tee element  802  is configured with a first side slot  820  and a second side slot  821 , wherein the slots,  820  and  821  can be cut entirely through a card stock or perforated in the card stock, for example. 
     The tee element  802  is configured with a first side crown area  822  and a second side crown area  823  that can be reconfigured to hold a stationary golf ball on a crown area first side top edge  824  and a crown area second side top edge  825 . The stationary golf ball can be held on three points, for example on a first point  842 , a second point  844  and a third point  846 , with the points,  842 ,  844  and  846 , as illustrated. The tee element  802  is shown with a tee element tip  748  ( FIG. 7 ) inserted into a ground surface  850 . The tip  748  can take various shapes, pointed, rounded, triangular, and the like. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates a small dovetail component  900  and a large dovetail component  950  of a simplified two prong dovetail component  902  of an exemplary four point dovetail tee assembly  1000  ( FIG. 10 ), such as may be used as an improved structural tee assembly, in accordance with the present invention. The small dovetail component  902  comprises a first prong  962 , a second prong  964  and a first interconnecting slot  966 .  FIG. 9B  illustrates a photo  950  of a two prong elongated dovetail component  952  that comprises an elongated dovetail component tip  958 , a second interconnecting slot  960 . The two prong elongated dovetail component  952  is configured with a third prong  968 , a forth prong  970  and an elongated dovetail component body  972 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the four prong assembled tee  1000  that is configured with a simplified two prong dovetail component  902  interlocked with a two prong elongated dovetail component  952 . A two prong dovetail component first interconnecting slot  966  ( FIG. 9A ) is configured to engage and non-fixedly attach with an elongated dovetail component second interconnecting slot  960  ( FIG. 9B ), as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a top view photograph  1100  of a four point dovetail tee assembly  1102  inserted into a ground surface  1168 . A stationary golf ball  1220  is illustrated in  FIG. 12  mounted on a four point dovetail tee assembly  1202  inserted in the ground  1204 . 
       FIGS. 13-16  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention  1300 ,  1400 ,  1500  and  1600 .  FIG. 13  illustrates a three prong tee  1302  that can, for example be molded from one piece of plastic or a third prong  1304  can be added as illustrated in  FIG. 13  of this embodiment as a secondary operation. The third prong  1304  can comprise bendable metal, plastic, biodegradable plastic, and the like. A first prong  1306  and second prong  1308  as illustrated in  FIG. 14  are formed as an integrated two prong tee component  1310 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates the three prong tee  1302  configured to allow the third prong  1304  to be adjusted away from the first prong  1306  and the second prong  1308  so that the three prong tee  1302  can support a stationary golf ball  620 , as illustrated in  FIG. 16 . The golf ball  1620  is supported on the three prongs shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  1304 ,  1306  and  1308 , respectively. 
     In another embodiment as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the card stock can be manufactured comprising stamped, molded, or the like, into a contiguous three prong tee  1702 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17  with a third prong  1704  integrated into and a contiguous part of the three prong tee  1702  and the third prong  1704  is not affixed utilizing a secondary operation comprising, e.g., gluing, molding, etc.  FIG. 17  illustrates the three prong tee  1702 , with the third prong  1704  bent outward when the tee  1702  is removed from the retaining card, for example. The center or third prong  1704 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17  is longer than the first and second prongs,  1706  and  1708 , respectively. The tee  1702  is shown as it would be inserted into a ground surface  1738 . 
       FIGS. 18 and 19  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention  1800  and  1900  involving a four prong tee  1804  such as may be inserted into a ground surface for holding a stationary golf ball in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention.  FIGS. 18 and 19  are perspective views of the four prong tee  1804 , in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     The four prong tee  1804  in the present embodiment  1800  comprises two pre-stamped cards, for example, glued or adhered to each other up to a tee head base. This allows a tee head comprising a first two prong section  1946  and a second two prong section  1948  to be opened like a butterfly, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . In  FIG. 21  a stationary golf ball  2120  can be placed on the four prongs  1806  ( FIG. 18 ) with the center of gravity of the golf ball  2120  positioned over a four prong tee assembly  2104 . 
       FIGS. 22 ,  23 A and  23 B illustrate an embodiment of an exemplary golf tee system  2200  used in accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention.  FIGS. 22 and 23A  illustrate several advantages of the present invention, the golf tee system  2200 . The golf tee system  2200  comprises a card stock  2202  with at least one tee element  2204  non-fixedly attached to the card stock  2202  and configured to be removable from the card stock  2202  by bending the at least one tee element  2204  along a defined break line  2206  until the break line  2206  holding the at least one tee element  2204  to the card stock  2202  is broken. The at least one tee element  2204  can be bent and/or folded into a structural shape by bending the at least one tee element  2204  along a defined bend line  2218 . The defined break line  2206  and/or the defined bend line  2220  can be formed by a laser, laser cutting or die cutting perforations in the card stock  2202  or creasing the card stock  2202 , for example. The techniques of forming the defined bend line  2220  and/or the defined break line  2206  in the card stock  2202  are well known by those of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the card stock  2202  can take the shape of a credit card, however various other shapes can be used such as pinwheels, long strips of tees, and tees on a key ring. In this embodiment the at least one tee element  2204  is configured to form a crown area  2222  of the at least one tee element  2204 . The crown area  2222  is approximately the area in close proximity to the top of the at least one tee element  2204 , for example. 
     The card stock  2202  shown in  FIG. 22  is shown with a colored graphic on the front face. The cardstock  2202  can be printed with artwork and/or lettering on one or both sides of the card stock  2202 . The artwork and/or lettering can be black and white, grayscale or colored. A ball marker  2266  can optionally be made in the card stock  2202  for marking a golf ball, and the like. 
     Illustrated in  FIG. 23A  and  FIG. 23B  is a tee element  2304  comprises a tee element first side  2314  and a tee element second side  2316  configured on opposite sides of a defined bend line  2318  from the top of a crown area  2322  to an end of the first side  2328 . The tee element first side  2214  is smaller than the second side  2316 . The tee element  2304  in  FIG. 23B  is shown folded along a defined bend line  2318  so that the tee element first side  2314  and the tee element second side  2316  come in close proximity to each other, at a location away from the defined bend line  2318 . A body portion  2330  of the tee element  2304  is approximately located in the center of the tee element  2304 . A ground penetration point  2328  is located approximately at a bottom of the tee element  2304 . 
     A card stock strip  2402  shown in  FIG. 24  is illustrated with a logo and lettering printed on one side the card stock strip  2402 , however the strip  2402  can be printed without artwork and/or lettering. In addition, the card stock strip  2402  can be printed with artwork and/or letter on both sides of the card stock  2402 . The artwork and/or lettering can be black and white, grayscale or colored. A through hole  2426  can optionally be made in the card stock strip  1102  for a key chain, a strap and the like, that can be attached to a golf bag, for example. The strip  1102  comprises tees  2420  similar to those shown in  FIG. 1 , for example. Even though the tees  2420  are shown in a symmetric manner where the tees have identical shapes, however the tees on a card stock can be dissimilar in shape, in the way in which they are assembled and the like. In addition the card stock can be formed in various shapes, for example animal shapes, non-symmetric shapes, etc. 
       FIG. 25  is a flow diagram of a method  2500  of forming a golf ball tee in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The method  2500  can be performed as part of a placing a tee to hold a stationary golf ball. In addition, the method makes reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , for example. 
     The method  2500  begins at block  2502 , wherein at least one tee element  104  ( FIG. 1 ) is removed from a card stock  102  ( FIG. 1 ) by snapping the at least one tee element  104  off of and out of the card stock  102 . The desired materials for the card stock  102  can include, for example, polyvinyl chloride acetate, polyvinyl chloride, celluloid, corn based material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, corn-based polylactic acid, petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics, teslin, and the like. In addition, the tee can be made from any plastic, metal, biodegradable material and wood, for example capable of holding a golf ball. 
     At  2504 , the at least one tee element  104  is folded completely in half as illustrated in  FIG. 3  by folding the at least one tee element  104  along a defined bend line  118  ( FIG. 2 ). The defined bend line  118  can be formed by a laser, laser cutting, die cutting perforations in the card stock  102  or scoring the card stock  102 , for example. 
     At  2506 , the folded tee  300  can be grasped at a body portion  130  of the at least one tee element  104  by tightly squeezing the body portion  130  between a thumb and index finger, for example. The body portion  130  can be grasped with a golfer&#39;s left or right hand. 
     The at least one tee element  104  can be inserted into a ground surface  438  ( FIG. 4 ) and can be adjusted to a desired height of the at least one tee element  104  above the ground surface  438 . When the desired height has been obtained the golfer can open or spread apart a crown area first side  422  and a crown area second side with the thumb and index finger at  2510 . The golf ball  640  ( FIG. 6 ) can then be placed at  2512  on and supported by a crown area first side top edge  424  and a crown area second side top edge  425 . 
     Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, systems, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary implementations of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”, “includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

Technology Classification (CPC): 0