Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to methods and devices applicable to the sport of golf, and more particularly to methods and devices for positioning a golf ball relative to a golf club. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art of equipment includes a golf tee that presents a hollow rubber-like tube of set height which is affixed to and extends from a circular flat base. The tube portion may protrude up through a hole in a hitting mat, and the base may be positioned under the hitting mat. The fixed length tube portion is permanently attached to, and held in place, by the circular flat base and the golf ball may be placed on a round open end of the tube that is distal from the tee base. When using this type tee, the golfer can only change the height where a golf ball will be positioned by exchanging the entire tee for another unitary tee with a longer or shorter tube section. This type of unitary tee is still popular with range operators because it is inexpensive and simple. 
         [0003]    Many golfers would prefer a golf tee that allows a golfer to easily vary the positioned height of the golf ball above a hitting mat, or a ground surface, and to present one of a plurality of tee heights desired by each individual golfer when practicing striking a golf ball with a golf club. While many adjustable height tees have been designed, most prior art adjustable tees have not proven practical for multiple reasons, to include complexity of design, difficulty of use and poor performance, and especially an inability to be easily adjusted over a wide height range and retain each desired height after multiple impacts. 
         [0004]    Of the adjustable tees being marketed today, some threaded types include a height-adjustable element that enables positioning of the golf ball within an adjustment range between the minimum and maximum limits of the design of the comprising device. Certain prior art threaded tees utilize a base piece with a threaded cavity, into which a matching threaded ball holding stem is inserted in a nut-and-bolt fashion, allowing the holding stem to be twisted in engagement with a tapped element extending from the base piece. A golfer may twist the stem piece about a longitudinal axis to position the stem piece within a height adjustment range of the device and along the stem&#39;s longitudinal axis. One of the earliest threaded type adjustable tees is the Twistee-Tee (TM) marketed by Fiberbuilt Manufacturing Inc., a maker of golf equipment mats. The Twistee-Tee requires a rigid base piece to be fastened to a mat and further requires a hole or cavity under the tee to allow space for a four-inch long threaded centerpiece of the Twistee-tee to be screwed or threaded down to a minimum height position. While this prior art design provides a height adjustment range and the increased mass of the threaded centerpiece of the Twistee-tee provides durability, the Twistee-tee cannot be easily used with other mats of other manufacturers. A primary reason for the large diameter of the center part of the Twistee-tee may be to overcome an inherent decrease in strength caused by the nature of adding external threads to the body of the centerpiece. 
         [0005]    Certain later prior art threaded type adjustable designs use a similar but smaller and shorter threaded center stem together with a flexible matching threaded base which is intended to fit a wide variety of existing golf mats. While this prior art design offers a reduced adjustment range from other prior art tees, tees of this design may provide a more realistic hitting feel. 
         [0006]    The prior art two-piece adjustable design naturally limits the adjustment range to some fraction of the height of the base piece. Increasing the height of the prior art base increases the adjustment range but makes the tee unacceptable for use with thin hitting mats. Decreasing the height of the base piece allows for use with thin mats but limits the maximal range of adjustment. A solution presented by the certain tee manufacturers is to offer two sizes of unitary body tees, namely a unitary taller tee for thick mats and a unitary shorter tee for thin mats. But unitary tees require the base to be removed from the hitting mat which reduces the ease of use of the tee by even a single golfer wishing to strike a golf ball successively at more than one tee height. 
         [0007]    The prior threaded tee designs have additional common design problems. The center element, or ball positioning part, may have external threads which weaken a tee&#39;s structure, causing the threaded tee to be easily bent and degrade the tee&#39;s tendency to consistently and continuously return to an original desired upright shape. It is a common practice in the art to cut grooves into a cylindrical part in order to make the grooved part easier to bend and degrade the grooved part&#39;s reliability in returning to an intended golf ball presentation position. The external threads of a prior art tee may provide tear points that when struck repeatedly by a club may lead to a structural failure of the tee. 
         [0008]    Other prior art adjustable height tees include a center-threaded element that includes additional washer-like parts in an apparent effort to lessen disassembly during use. 
         [0009]    While several other adjustable prior art golf tees have been invented and marketed, none are widely in use today because they fail to optimally meet one or more of these desired characteristics: 
         [0010]    Universality. A tee preferably should install easily without tools or modification of a coupled hitting mat. 
         [0011]    Ease of Use. The tee adjustment technique should be so simple and intuitive that little or no instruction is required by the user to adjust the tee to each of a plurality of exact heights desired by a golfer to match differently shaped golf clubs. The tee should return to a particular desired height after multiple club impacts. A tee that allows a golfer to push or pull the tee by hand to another position would too easily allow the impact of the club to also push or pull the tee to another position. 
         [0012]    Durability. The tee must survive thousands of impacts from a golf club and long exposure to weather. The tee should strongly resist unintended disassembly and have minimal openings that could allow dirt and sand to enter. The tee should have smooth outer surfaces with no exposed threads or grooves which would provide tear points and lessen its tendency to return to the upright position after being bent by impact or storage. 
         [0013]    Simplicity of Design. To be inexpensive enough for wide acceptance, the fabricated tee device should consist of no more than two unitary parts for manipulation by a user. 
         [0014]    Large Range of Height Variance. The wide variety of both clubs used and golfer&#39;s personal preferences of tee heights necessitates a large height variability range. Forward Compatibility. A tee would preferably be adaptable to enable stable golf ball positioning with precision and/or to heights that are not currently required by the golfing community, but may become desirable as designs of golf equipment continue to evolve, improve and vary. 
         [0015]    There is therefore a long-felt need to provide methods and devices that enable a golfer to selectably vary the height of a golf ball in preparation for the golfer&#39;s striking the golf ball with a golf club. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    This and other objects of the present invention are made obvious in light of this disclosure, wherein methods and devices for positioning a golf ball are provided. A first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a golf tee that has a detachably coupled base and post. The post has a first post end that detachably attaches to the base, and a second post end that is configured to maintain a golf ball in a position vertically above the base. 
         [0017]    The post may be a cylinder, such as a hollow cylinder, and may be made of deformable resilient material that reliably returns to a vertical position after receiving momentum originated from a golf club. The golf club momentum may be partially delivered through the golf ball and/or partly by direct striking of the post by the golf club. The first post end may include a threaded shaft that engages with a tapped aperture of the base. The second post end presents a repeatable height from the base when the threaded shaft is fully seated into the tapped aperture. The post may be coupled with and decoupled from the base by the golfer applying manual force to alternately screw the threaded shaft into the base for coupling and then away from the base for decoupling. 
         [0018]    A plurality of posts with different longitudinal lengths may be provided, whereby each post when coupled with the base enables a different desired height of golf ball positioning. The plurality of posts may each present specific heights when fully coupled with the base preferably in the range of from 0.25 inches to six inches, or longer or shorter. 
         [0019]    The base may be circular in cross section and/or present two or more legs that extend from a center point. A tapped aperture may be located about the center point. The base may present a top planar surface that is proximal to a post when the post coupled to the base. The base may optionally, alternatively or additionally include a securing element that is supportive of maintaining the base in a static position, especially when the post receives momentum from a golf club. The base may further optionally, alternatively or additionally include a receiver that presents the tapped aperture and extends above the top planar surface of the base and toward a post when coupled with the post. 
         [0020]    A first alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes (1.) a tapped plate; and (2.) a removable post having a threaded element. A second alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes (1.) a keyed plate having a keyed aperture; and (2.) a removable post having a matching key element. 
         [0021]    A third alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hitting mat (hereinafter “mat”). The post may removably extend through a hole in the mat to detachably couple with a plate or base positioned beneath the mat. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0022]    All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
         [0023]    Such incorporations include U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,747 (Inventor: Young); U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,403 (Inventor: Martino); U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,100 (Inventor: Dilmore); U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,909 (Inventor: Broadbridge); U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,989 (Inventors: Wagner, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,486 (Inventors: Murphy, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,663 (Inventor: Lipstock); and U.S. Pat. No. 6,958,021 (Inventor: Gustine). 
         [0024]    Such incorporations further include US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20040132554 (Inventor: Schulze); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20060035727 (Inventor: Butterworth); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20060058120 (Inventor: Anton); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20070167259 (Inventor: Lipidarov); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20070184919 (Inventor: Costantini); US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20080102988 (Inventor: Sagadevan); and US Patent Application Publication Serial No. 20090325726 (Inventor: Humphrey). 
         [0025]    The publications discussed or mentioned herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Furthermore, the dates of publication provided herein may differ from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0026]    These, and further features of various aspects of the present invention, may be better understood with reference to the accompanying specification, wherein: 
           [0027]      FIGS. 1A through 1C  are views of a first preferred alternate embodiment of the present invention, or “first tee”, having a first post and a first base, wherein  FIG. 1A  illustrates a golf ball positioned by the first post and showing a golf club head positioned relative to the first post; 
           [0028]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the first post of  FIG. 1A  after receiving momentum delivered from the golf club head; 
           [0029]      FIG. 1C  illustrates the first post of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  returned after impact to golf ball positioning orientation of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional side view of the first post of  FIG. 1A through 1C ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional side view of an alternate post, or “second post”; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2C  is a side view of the first post of  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 2A , the second post of  FIG. 2B , and a third post; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2D  is a top view of the first post of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of the first base of  FIGS. 1A through 1C ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of two alternate bases that may each be detachably coupled with the posts of  FIG. 2C ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of a bottom planar side of the second base of  FIG. 3B ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of an alternate plate that includes a recessed, tapped receiver; 
           [0038]      FIG. 5A  is a top view of a golf tee mat having four mat apertures in combination with each base of  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 5B  is a top view of the golf tee mat of  FIG. 5A  having four additional retrofitting apertures; 
           [0040]      FIG. 5C  is a cross sectional side view of the mat of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  with the first tee of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 5D  is a cross sectional side view of a variation of mat of  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C with the first tee of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 6A  is a top view of a legged alternative base having three legs and a raised receiver; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6B  is a side view of the legged alternative base of  FIG. 5A ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7A  is a cross sectional front view of a keyed tee having a keyed post and a keyed plate shown in a locked position; 
           [0045]      FIG. 7B  is a cross sectional side view of the keyed tee of  FIG. 7A  shown in the locked position; 
           [0046]      FIG. 7C  is a top view of the keyed plate of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 7D  is a side view of the keyed post of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ; and 
           [0048]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of an injection molded tee. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0049]    It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular aspects of the present invention described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. 
         [0050]    Methods recited herein may be carried out in any order of the recited events which is logically possible, as well as the recited order of events. 
         [0051]    Where a range of values is provided herein, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is encompassed within the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may independently be included in the smaller ranges and are also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes one or both of the limits ranges excluding either or both of those included limits are also included in the invention. 
         [0052]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the methods and materials are now described. 
         [0053]    It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or use of a “negative” limitation. 
         [0054]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1A  illustrates a first tee  2  having a first post  4  and a first base  6 . The first post  4  supports a golf ball  8  on a post top end  4 A, and the first post  4  is further removably coupled with the first base  6  at post attachment end  4 B. A golf club head  10  is shown in a striking position relative to the golf ball  8 . 
         [0055]    The first base  6  may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The first base  6  of the first tee  2  is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H 1  that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. 
         [0056]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1B  illustrates the first post  4  of  FIG. 1A  after receiving momentum delivered from the golf club head  10 . The first post  4  has been deformed by the force delivered by the golf club head  10  as a consequence of a golfer&#39;s swing that connected with the golf ball  8 , wherein the top end has been forced laterally and towards the first base  6 . 
         [0057]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 1C ,  FIG. 1C  illustrates the first post  4  having returned from the positioned of  FIG. 1B  and returned to the golf ball  8  positioning orientation of  FIG. 1A . 
         [0058]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional side view of the first post  4 . The first post  4  includes a resilient flexible post tube  4 C, a screw  4 D, a binding  4 E and a tapped nut  4 F. 
         [0059]    The post tube  4 C preferably is symmetric along an axis L and extends along the axis L for a linear post height H 2  when in the supporting position of  FIG. 1A . The post tube  4 C may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. The post top end  4 A is formed of a tope side of the post tube  4 C. The post height H 2  is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to ten inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.50 inch to four inches. 
         [0060]    The post screw  4 D includes a screw head  4 D. 1  and a threaded shaft  4 D. 2 . The threaded shaft may 0.25 inch in diameter having twenty threads per inch and being one half inch in length. 
         [0061]    The binding  4 E presses the post tube  4 C at the attachment end  4 B against the screw threaded shaft  4 D. 2  and forms a friction fit between the screw  4 D and the post tube  4 C. A tube bottom ledge  4 B. 1  of the attachment end  4 B is formed by a bottom side of the post tube  4 C. The tube bottom ledge  4 B. 1  is located distal from the screw head  4 D. 1  and preferably does not extend beyond the screw threaded shaft  4 D. 2 . The threaded shaft  4 D. 2  preferably extends beyond the tube bottom ledge  4 B. 1  no greater than the base height H 1 . 
         [0062]    The binding  4 E may be or comprise a plastic polymer, iron, steel, aluminum or copper or other suitable material known in the art, and is preferably sized as within the range of Wire Number One to Ten, i.e., the range of American Wire Gage from 0.289 inches to 0.102 inches. 
         [0063]    The screw  4 D is selected to detachably engage with the first plate  6 . The screw  4 D may be or comprise rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art. 
         [0064]    The tapped nut  4 F may be a jamb nut, is selected to engage with the threaded screw  4 D, and is maintained in a pressure fit by the compression of the binding  4 E against the post tube  4 C. The nut  4 F may optionally be a retaining nut that resists decoupling from the screw  4 D. The nut  4 F may be or comprise rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art. 
         [0065]    In certain alternate preferred embodiments of the present invention, the screw threaded shaft  4 D. 2  is preferably within the range of diameter of from 0.15 inch to 0.75 inch. The thread count of the threaded shaft  4 D. 2  preferably is within the range of 10 threads per inch and 32 threads per inch. The nut  4 F and the base  6  would be shaped, sized, selected and configured to engage with the threads of the selected screw  4 D. 
         [0066]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional side view of an alternate post  12 , or second post  12 . The second post  12  includes an alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A having an internal binding  12 B and the screw  4 D. The internal binding  12 B may be formed and/or positioned in an injection molding process in a fabrication of the alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A. The internal binding  12 B presses the alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A against the nut  4 F and the compression force transferred from the internal binding  12 A through the resilient flexible tube  12 A and against the nut  4 F maintains the nut  4 F within the alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A. The threaded shaft  4 D. 2  engages with the tapped nut  4 F. The nut  4 F may optionally be a retaining nut that resists decoupling from the screw  4 D. Alternatively or additionally, the nut  4 F may be a jamb nut. 
         [0067]    The internal binding  12 B may be or comprise a plastic polymer, iron, steel, aluminum or copper or other suitable material known in the art, and is preferably sized as within the range of Wire Number One to Ten, i.e., the range of American Wire Gage from 0.289 inches to 0.102 inches. 
         [0068]    The alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. 
         [0069]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2C ,  FIG. 2C  is a side view of three posts  4 ,  14  &amp;  16 . The first post  4  comprises the first tube  4 C, the binding  4 E and the screw  4 D. The second post  14  comprises the alternate resilient flexible tube  12 A and the screw  4 D. A third post  16  comprises an extended tube  18 , the binding  4 E and the screw  4 D. Each post  4 ,  14  &amp;  16  presents a different post height H 2  along the linear axis L. 
         [0070]    The second post  14  and/or the third post  16  may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. 
         [0071]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 2D ,  FIG. 2D  is a top view of the first tee  2 . The first base  6  is shown to have a substantially planar circular shape having a base diameter D. The screw head  4 D. 1  fits within the first tube  4 C and presses toward the first base  6 . The base diameter D is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to six inches, and more preferably within the range of from One inch to three inches. 
         [0072]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3A through 3C ,  FIG. 3A  is a top view of the first base  6 . A tapped aperture  6 A is located about a center point C of a circular circumference of the first base  6 . The tapped aperture  6 A is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw  4 D and to thereby detachably couple the first post  4  and the first base  6 . 
         [0073]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 3B  is a layered, perspective view of the second plate  20  and a third plate  22  showing a top planar side  20 A &amp;  22 A of each alternate plate  20  &amp;  22 . Each plate presents a different plate height H 1  and includes a plurality of anchor features  24 . Each anchor feature  24  is meant to provide an interference to inhibit lateral motion of the comprising alternate plate  20  &amp;  22 . 
         [0074]    The second base  20  and/or the third base  22  may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The second base  20  and/or the third base  22  are each preferably substantively planar and circular and have a base height H 1  that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. 
         [0075]    The tapped aperture  6 A of each plate  6 ,  20  &amp;  22  is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw  4 D and to thereby detachably couple the first post  4  and the comprising base  6 ,  20  &amp;  22 . 
         [0076]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 3C ,  FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of a bottom planar side  20 B of the second plate  20 . 
         [0077]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of an alternate plate  26 . The alternate plate  26  includes a recessed tapped receiver  26 A. A top recess  26 B and a bottom recess  26 C expand in circumference and away from the recessed tapped receiver  26 A. The top recess  26 B and the bottom recess  26 C enable a user to more easily seat the screw threaded length  4 D. 2  into engagement with the recessed tapped receiver  26 A. The recessed tapped receiver  26 A is sized and shaped to detachably engage with the screw  4 D and thereby detachably couple the posts  4 ,  14  &amp;  16  with the alternate plate  26 . 
         [0078]    The alternate plate  26  may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The alternate plate  26  is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H 1  that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. The base diameter D of the alternate plate  26  is preferably within the range of from 0.25 inch to six inches, and more preferably within the range of from One inch to three inches. 
         [0079]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5A ,  FIG. 5A  is a top view of a golf tee mat  28  having four mat apertures  28 A- 28 D. The golf tee mat  28  (or “mat  28 ”) may be a Dura-Pro (TM) or a Dura-Pro Plus™ nylon golf mat as marketed by D.W. Quail Golf, Inc. of Woodstock, Ga., a ZENITH™ hitting mat marketed by Zenith Corporation of Zenith, Calif., or other suitable durable fabric or material known in the art. 
         [0080]    A plurality of bases  6 ,  20 , and  22  and/or alternative plates  26  are positioned underneath the mat  28 , Each mat aperture  28 A- 28 D is sized to permit a post  4 ,  14 ,  16  to extend wholly there through, but are each sized too small to permit first base  6 , the second base  20 , the third base  22  and/or the alternative plate  26  to pass through the mat  28 . 
         [0081]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5B ,  FIG. 5B  is a top view of the mat  28  further comprising a plurality of retrofitting apertures  30 A- 30 D that extended wholly through the may  28  and are positioned and sized to enable the use of one or more prior art tee devices with the mat  28 . 
         [0082]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5C ,  FIG. 5C  is a side perspective view of the mat  28  having a thickness T 1 . The thickness T 1  is preferably greater than the base height H 1  of the first base  6 , and is preferably at least in the range of from 0.5 inch to two inches. The mat  28  may optionally be shaped to accept the first base  6  and an optional adhesive  32  may couple the first base  6  to the mat  28 . The first post  4  extends from the first base  6  and fully through the mat  28 . 
         [0083]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 5D ,  FIG. 5C  is a side perspective view of the mat  28  having a shallower thickness T 1 . The thickness T 1  is preferably greater than the base height H 1  of the first base  6 , and is preferably at least in the range of from 0.25 inch to one inch. The mat  28  may optionally be shaped to accept the first base  6  and an optional adhesive  32  may couple the first base  6  to the mat  28 . 
         [0084]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6A ,  FIG. 6A  is a top view of a legged alternative base  34  having three legs  36 A- 36 C. Each leg  36 A- 36 C is similar in shape and extends out from a center point C of the second alternative base  34 . The tapped aperture  6 A extends wholly through the legged alternative base  34 . The legged alternative base  34  may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The first base  6  of the first tee  2  is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H 1  that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. 
         [0085]    Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to  FIG. 6B ,  FIG. 6B  is a side view of the legged alternative base  34  showing a raised tapped receiver  38 . The tapped aperture  6 A of extends wholly through the raised tapped receiver  38  and the legged alternative base  34 . 
         [0086]    Referring now to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 7A ,  FIG. 7A  is a cross sectional front view of a keyed tee  40  having a keyed post  42  and a keyed plate  44 . The keyed post  42  includes (1.) a keyed tube  42 A have a key head  42 B formed within the keyed tube  42 A, and (2.) a key  42 C extending from the keyed tube  42 A and the key head  42 B. The key head  42 B may be positioned within the keyed tube  42 A by injection molding. In the locked orientation of  FIG. 7B , the keyed post  42  will withstand multiple strikes from the golf club head without separating from the keyed plate  44 . 
         [0087]    The key  42 C is sized and shaped to fit into a keyed receiver ramp  44 A of the keyed plate  44 . The key  42 C is shown in a locked orientation within the keyed receiver ramp  44 A of  FIG. 7A . 
         [0088]    The keyed plate  44  may be or comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as a metal or metal alloy and/or an organic material, plastic, or rigid or semi-rigid material known in the art. The keyed base  44  is substantively planar and circular and has a base height H 1  that is preferably within the range of from less than 0.1 inch to more than two inches, and more preferably within the range of from 0.20 inch to 0.50 inch. 
         [0089]    Referring now to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 7B ,  FIG. 7B  is a cross sectional side view of the keyed tee  40 , wherein the key  42 C is positioned into the locked orientation within the keyed receiver ramp  44 A as presented in  FIG. 7A . 
         [0090]    Referring now to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 7C ,  FIG. 7C  is a top view of the keyed plate  44 . An insertion aperture  44 B of the keyed receiver ramp  44 A is sized and shaped to accept insertion and removal of the key  42 C by a user. 
         [0091]    Referring now to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 7D ,  FIG. 7D  is a side view of the keyed post  42  and presents the keyed tube  42 A and the key  42 C. The key  42 C extends away from the keyed tube  42 A to enable insertion into the keyed receiver ramp  44 A of the keyed plate  44 . The keyed tube  42 A may be or comprise a flexible resilient material, such as organic rubber, silicone rubber, latex rubber, polyurethane, polyethylene, or other suitable flexible resilient material known in the art. The key  42 C may be or comprise may be or comprise a rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art. 
         [0092]    Referring now to the Figures and particularly  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of an injection molded tee  46  that comprises an injection molded post  48  and an injection molded plate  50 . The injection molded post  48  includes an injection molded tube  48 A that permanently contains a head  48 B. A threaded element  48 C extends from the head  48 B. The head  48 B and/or the threaded element  42 C may be or comprise may be or comprise a rigid nylon, plastic polymer, metal such as iron, steel, aluminum or copper, or other suitable metallic, synthetic, organic, or inorganic material known in the art. 
         [0093]    The injection molded plate  50  includes an elevated receiver  50 A having a tapped aperture  50 B comprised within a tapped nut  50 C. The tapped nut  50 C is permanently coupled with the injection molded plate  50  in fabrication of the injection molded plate  50 . The foregoing disclosures and statements are illustrative only of the present invention, and are not intended to limit or define the scope of the present invention. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended as illustrative of only certain possible applications of the present invention. The examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the applications of the present invention, and the full scope of the Present Invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described applications can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein. The scope of the present invention as disclosed and claimed should, therefore, be determined with reference to the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the disclosures presented above.

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