Abstract:
A golfing aid for golfers who are unable to stoop which allows a golfer to insert a golf ball and tee into the aid in a contacting relationship so that the tee protrudes from the base of the aid a preset distance. The aid has an elongated handle to allow the ball and tee to be pushed into position so that the tee penetrates the ground while the ball is captively held in contact with the tee. The handle is next released and contact with the ball ceases so that the aid may be removed from the ball and tee without dislodging the ball from the tee.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of golf is enjoyed by a large segment of today&#39;s population and as the population ages, more and more persons continue to enjoy participation in the sport even when frail or infirm. Devices which allow those persons whose wish it is to continue to participate in golfing and make it possible for them to continue to play in spite of increasing immobility have been in existence for some time. One of the tasks which becomes troublesome to persons who have lost the ability to bend or stoop, is the act of teeing up a golf ball on the turf. The prior art includes many devices which enable handicapped golfers to tee up a ball without stooping. 
     Generally, most of the prior art devices have a deficiency associated with their operation that hinders universal acceptance of the device. For instance, the tee placement device must be compact enough to fit in a golfer&#39;s club bag and if the device bears a resemblance to a golf club the device stands a better chance of being accepted by the golfing fraternity. 
     The device should be capable of standing independently, that is after the teed up ball has been set up on the turf of the driving tee, the device must be capable of standing by itself on turf so that it may be retrieved by the handicapped golfer (without bending over) after the teed up ball has been driven. If the golfer is required to bend to retrieve the ball-tee placement device after driving the ball, the device may be judged to have achieved a failure rating. 
     Similarly, if by some misfortune, the golf ball is accidentally dislodged from its position on top of the placed tee, both the ball and tee must somehow be retrieved by the handicapped person (using the prior art device) in order to reassemble the ball and tee in the prior art device. Most of the prior art devices are lacking the ability to recover a ball and tee lying on the turf. 
     Thus the prior art is replete with a wide variety of devices which in one way or another tend to fall short in their performance when required to fulfill their promise. Failure of the device to perform does little to build confidence in the handicapped or infirm golfer who is desirous of being included in the golfing fraternity in spite of a severe disability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention comprises a golfing aid which is capable of teeing up a golf ball on the turf of a driving tee of a golf course without requiring the golfer to bend to set the ball-on-tee on the turf. The aid is further capable of retrieving a “loose” golf ball which has been inadvertently dropped to the ground by the golfer or is somehow dislodged from the tee by some misfortune before being driven. The aid may also be used by the handicapped golfer to retrieve the tee whilst it is positioned in the turf after the previously positioned golf ball has been driven. Both these tasks may be accomplished without requiring the golfer to bend or stoop. 
     The device is provided with a flat foot in order that the handle of the device stays in an upright position when the device is set down on the turf of the driving tee when a ball-tee positioning operation has been completed. The handle of the device may then be conveniently grasped by the handicapped golfer after driving the ball, and the tee may be easily extracted from the ground using the device. 
     PERTINENT PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,227 Dec. 21, 1999 
     This device which uses a cage to capture a golf ball is capable of retrieving a golf ball from a water hazard on a golf course. It uses a cup like device to center the ball within the cage, in such a manner that the cup biases the ball against the tee in a ball-tee setting operation. The operation of the device as a ball-tee placement device is precarious at the best of times because of the lack of locating means surrounding the ball whilst in its tee engaging position. This device whilst having excellent ball retrieving capabilities (especially in water) is not self standing and its ability to capture a tee is open to question. There is no adjustment possible to vary the height of a teed-up ball. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,972 Nov. 24, 1998 
     This device which may be stored in a golfer&#39;s pocket or clipped to his belt, fastens on the end of a golf club when in use. During use the device uses a threaded plunger to engage the golf ball and thrust it against a captive tee. The ball and tee are placed on the driving tee and the plunger is retracted by unscrewing the plunger to a backed off position. Note that this device has a ball and tee retrieval capability, and the device is said to be capable of retrieving a putted golf ball from a cup. This device is not an independent self standing device, and the height of the teed up golf ball is at best done by an educated guess. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,533 Jun. 30, 1998 
     This device is especially interesting because it is compact; it fits on the end of a driver and clips to a golf bag or golfer&#39;s belt when not in use. The device utilizes a foam material (commonly used in ear plugs) to hold a “loaded” golf ball and tee in the device. Because of the foam material&#39;s peculiar behavioral delay in recovering its shape after being physically distorted, it is compressed during a ball teeing up operation and remains compressed (and retracted from the ball) to allow the golfer to remove the device from the teed up golf ball. The main disadvantage of this device lies in the failure of the foam material to perform its normal function when saturated with water. Other short comings are the lack of any depth control in placing a ball on a tee, and the “tight” dimensional confinement of a golf ball in the device which can cause dislodgment of the golf ball from the tee as the device is being removed from a teed up ball. There appears to be no adjustment on tee height. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,117 Jun. 2, 1998 
     This device utilizes an auxiliary depressible knob on the end of a shaft to actuate a ball captivating device on the other end of the shaft. The ball is set on a tee in the device with a cap locking ball and tee in place in the device. The ball and tee are placed in the turf and the knob releases the cap and the device may be removed. The disadvantages of this device are the lack of stability of device when not in use, and the lack of any positive adjustment on tee height. It is not seen how the device may easily retrieve a golf ball from the turf. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,303 Jan. 13, 1998 
     This device is intended to function as a cane and a golf ball teeing device. The device is capable of gripping and holding a golf ball and tee in position for subsequent placement in the turf of a driving tee. The ball and tee gripping members may be unlocked once the tee and ball are placed in the turf. The gripping members may be then actuated to form a weight bearing surface to function as a cane. There is no provision for tee height adjustment, no means to retrieve a dropped ball or a tee set in the ground. The device is not capable of standing by itself after use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,121 Sep. 30, 1997 
     This is a “clam shell” device which is spring loaded to hold a golf ball and tee captive therebetween during a ball and tee placement operation. The “clam shells” are retracted to release ball and tee once a teeing position is reached. The device is useful for retrieving dropped balls and may also be useful in retrieving placed tees. No height adjustment appears to be available for the ball on tee during a placement operation. The device is not self standing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,498 Jul. 8, 1997 
     This device places a tee and ball separately and is capable of retrieving both golf balls and tees separately. No adjustment of tee height is given, and the device is not self standing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,696 May 27, 1997 
     This is a cane like device which captures a golf ball and tee for placement in the turf. The ball and tee are pressed into the turf for driving and the gripping mechanism is retracted allowing the device to be lifted. This device has no tee height adjustment, and questionable ball retrieval capability. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,333 Apr. 29, 1997 
     This device uses a separate tee setting and ball placing apparatus. The tee is placed and the ball is placed on the tee. 
     The support rod and tee support member are rotated while the ball positioning member remains engaged with the ball. The ball positioning member is lifted upwardly to disengage the ball. No ball retrieval capability is foreseen and the device is not self standing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,432 Jul. 30 1996 
     This is a “handle bar” golf tee and ball setter. The tee is set first in the ground and a pair of ball holding pincers are used to place the ball on the tee. This device is capable of retrieving both ball and tee. No depth control is provided for the tee, and the device is not self standing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows a section of the base of the device of FIG. 1 showing the pivotable tee holder. 
     FIG. 3 shows a view of the device of this invention where the golf ball and tee have been inserted in the device. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial view of the device with the golf ball restraining device in position. 
     FIG. 5 shows the device with golf ball and tee loaded being pressed into the ground. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the final position of the ball and tee setting device which “sets” the ball and tee in the ground. 
     FIG. 7 shows the device with the ball restraint in the released position. 
     FIG. 8 shows the device being removed from the set golf ball and tee. 
     FIG. 9 shows the device being used to retrieve a golf ball. 
     FIG. 10 shows the difference in elevation obtainable by the use of separate tee receptacles. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4  a golf ball teeing device  10  is shown having a base  12  on which a shaft  14  is mounted. Upstanding shaft  14  is slidably received into bore  16  of housing  18 . Housing  18  is mounted on shaft  14  so as to be permitted to move in a plane in the vertical direction only and is spring loaded to be biased to a maximum distance away from base  12 . A spring  20  mounted in cavity  22  presses on head  24  of shaft  14 . 
     Also mounted on base  12  is a pivoting boss  26  for receiving a golf tee. Boss  26  is mounted on base  12  so as to be pivotal about pin  28 . 
     Boss  26  is provided with two receptacles,  30 ,  32  for receiving a golf tee therein. Receptacle  30  has a greater top surface elevation than receptacle  32  and thus provides a means for teeing up a golf ball at greater elevation than receptacle  32 . The adjustable tee height is a useful feature because most golfers wish to tee a golf ball slightly higher when driving a golf ball with a “wood” than when driving with an “iron”. 
     An open slot  34  in base  12  is directly in alignment with the receptacle  32  of boss  26 . A ball shield  36  is mounted on shaft  14  to provide a golfer with a guide for assisting in the proper placement of a golf ball in the device  10 . 
     Besides proving a suitable confinement for shaft  14 , housing  18  provides a facility for receiving shaft  52  therein in a sliding relationship. Shaft  52  is restrained from twisting and is provided with a ball engaging head  54  having a concave lower surface to assure good ball retention capability. 
     Shaft  52  is housed in bore  60  of housing  18  and is supplied with enlargement  62  at the end opposite head  54 . A spring  58  supplies the shaft  52  and head  54  with a constant downward force, so that head  54  is always urged toward base  12 . 
     A cam stopper  56  is pivotally mounted on housing  18  by pivot  66  to hold shaft  52  in its retracted position in housing  18  against the force of spring  58 . Cam stopper  56  is held in its camming position against flat  68  of shaft  52  by spring  64 . 
     A handle  50  (similar to a golf club shaft) is fixedly attached to housing  18 . 
     At the rear of base  12  is an opening  38  around which a resilient loop of wire  40  is mounted to form a golf ball capturing cage. This cage allows a physically disabled person to retrieve a golf ball from the fairway etc. 
     In operation, a tee is slid into slot  34  of base  12  until it is embraced by receptacle  32  of boss  26  (see FIG.  3 ). A golf ball is placed in the ball shield  36  and on the tee inserted previously in receptacle  32 . Cain  56  is pushed (as shown by the arrow in FIG.  3 ), releasing shaft  52  to push ball clamping head  54  downwardly against the ball (and tee) so that the ball and tee are firmly held against receptacle  32  in boss  26 . At this time the tee protrudes a “set” distance “d” below base  12 . FIG. 4 shows the device  10  with the ball engaging head  54  in contact with ball  100 . 
     The device  10  is then placed on the turf of the driving tee (see FIG. 5) and handle  50  is pressed downwardly (see FIG.  6 ). The housing  18  slides downwardly on shaft  14  compressing spring  20 . Simultaneously shaft  52  on which the ball restraining head  54  is mounted, retracts into housing  18  compressing spring  58 . Spring  58  supplies a constant force on the ball and tee to keep them in engagement with tee receptacle  32  in boss  20  as the tee is being pushed into the turf. Spring  58  possesses sufficient strength to hold the ball and tee in engagement with receptacle  32  during a ball teeing operation. When the housing  18  has reached the end of its travel downwardly, the ball and tee are deemed to be “set” and the golfer who had been previously pushing down on shaft  50  and housing  18  now releases the downward pressure and housing  18  is allowed to rise to its “rest” position. Head  54  is now held in its retracted position by cam  56  and the head  54  will now be retracted a predetermined distance from the teed up ball as housing  18  rises (see FIG.  7 ). Device  10  may now be slid away from the teed up ball by means of open slot  34  (see FIG.  8 ). 
     If the ball is desired to be teed to a higher height boss  26  is twisted through a right angle to align receptacle  30  with slot  34  in base  12 . The ball  100  and tee  102  will now be set at a higher height then previously. 
     Besides allowing the device  10  to be removed from a teed up ball, slot  34  provides a tee retrieving receptacle for device  10  so that a golfer can retrieve his tee using slot  34  after driving a ball. 
     If perchance a golfer drops his ball or a club and cannot stoop to retrieve it, the receptacle formed by wire cage  40  will capture a loose ball (see FIG. 9) and the projecting portion of foot  12  may be used to pick up a club lying on the turf. 
     This device is therefore capable of accurately setting a golf ball up on a tee at a number of different heights depending on the number of receptacles formed in boss  26  (see FIG.  10 ). The ball is always positively set at the same height above the turf if the same receptacle is used in boss  26 . Shield  36  provides for quick and accurate placement of the golf ball in the device during a teeing operation. 
     This device will be found to be “golfer friendly” in that recovery of golf ball, tee and club are possible should a handicapped golfer drop his/her ball, tee or club during a ball teeing operation. 
     The ball is accurately set in the turf for each setting of boss  26  with no guess work required. 
     The device is quite capable of independently standing by itself on the turf while a golfer drives his teed up ball. 
     Thus it is seen that this particular golfing aid may be “loaded” with golf ball and tee while the shaft  50  is in any orientation, shield  36  serves as a convenient guide to assure proper placement and alignment with ball and tee regardless of position. 
     Boss  26  is illustrated here as having 2 different heights available for setting the golf ball. Of course the boss  26  may be modified to provide more tee heights if desired. 
     The golfing aid described herein is capable of allowing a golfer who is physically challenged to continue to play golf in an independent manner. 
     Although variations in the device will be obvious to persons skilled in this art, the applicants prefer to have the ambit of protection defined in the following claims.