United States Patent: 3675929

[US Patent & Trademark Office, Patent Full Text and Image Database]

( 3907 of 3907 )

United States Patent	3,675,929
Guarino, Sr.	July 11, 1972

GOLF TEE

Abstract

A golf tee is provided with a streamer to facilitate locating the tee and to point out the desired line of flight of the ball. The tee engaging end of the streamer may be integrally secured to the tee or detachably secured thereto. In either case, a slot is provided in the streamer adjacent the tee engaging end thereof. The streamer is adapted to be folded under the tee in a manner such that the tee stem passes through the slot with the forward end of the slot adjacent or engaging the front surface of the tee stem.

Inventors:	Guarino, Sr.; Michael J. (Mountainside, NJ)
Assignee:	La Marca, Jr.; Thomas (
Appl. No.:	05/126,579
Filed:	March 22, 1971

Current U.S. Class: 473/257 ; 473/396

Current International Class: A63B 57/00 (20060101); A63b 069/36 ()

Field of Search: 273/183A,33,201-212,195-198

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


1597740	August 1926	Thompson
2165479	July 1939	Hallberg

Primary Examiner: Marlo; George J.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf tee, comprising:

a. a tee having a stem with a crown disposed at the top thereof,

b. an elongated, flexible, streamer having a width approximately the diameter of the crown and a length several times longer than the tee, and having a tee engaging section at the forward end thereof,

c. streamer connecting means on the front part of the tee connecting the tee engaging section of the streamer to the tee,

d. an elongated slot in the streamer spaced a predetermined distance from the tee engaging section close to and behind the tee engaging section thereof, said predetermined distance, and the width and length of said slot being sufficient to permit the lower section of the stem to be passed through said slot when the streamer is folded under and around the end of the stem so that its free end may be positioned behind the tee for use, with the forward periphery of the slot engaging the stem front surface.

2. The golf tee as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. stop means is provided on the tee for maintaining the streamer position at a minimum fixed distance below the crown of the tee.

3. The golf tee as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the streamer is from two to five times the length of the golf tee stem.

4. The golf tee as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. the streamer has printed material displayed on one of the surfaces thereof.

5. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein:

a. the streamer connecting means is a reduced width hinge connection directly connected to the lower edge of the crown.

6. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein:

a. the streamer connecting means is a flattened widened section disposed immediately below the crown for engaging the tee engaging section of the streamer.

7. A golf tee, comprising:

a. a tee having a stem with a crown disposed at the top thereof,

b. an elongated, flexible, streamer having a width approximately the diameter of the crown and a length several times longer than the tee, and having a tee engaging section at the forward end thereof,

c. a stud with a retaining head, disposed on the front side of the tee adjacent the top of the stem,

d. the tee engaging section of the streamer having a stud engaging opening receiving and operably connecting the tee engaging section of the streamer to the tee,

e. a tee stem receiving slot in the streamer behind the tee engaging section and spaced from the stud engaging opening, the tee stem passing through said slot to position the free end of the streamer behind the tee and to provide a second connection between the tee and streamer,

f. the forward periphery of the slot being disposed adjacent and in front of the forward surface of the stem to take the shock and pull of the tee on the streamer when the tee is struck by a golf club.

8. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the stud is disposed on the stem of the tee no more than one-third the distance from the crown to the pointed end of the stem.

9. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the streamer has printed material on one of the surfaces thereof.

10. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the tee and streamer connecting means form a unitary product which is molded of synthetic resin material.

11. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the retaining head of the stud is made of pliable material and is only slightly larger than the stud engaging opening which can be pressed on and over the retaining head which yields to permit the opening to pass thereover and onto the stud to lock the tee engaging section of the streamer in position on the tee.

12. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the crown has hollowed depressed sections adjacent the top thereof.

13. The golf tee as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

a. the stud is disposed on a downwardly extending flange integral with the lower periphery of the front of the crown.

14. The golf tee as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

a. the lower periphery of the downwardly extending flange is disposed below the crown no more than approximately one-half the length of the stem, and forms a shoulder which acts as a stop when the tee is inserted in the ground.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to golf tees, and particularly to golf tees which have a streamer.

Ordinarily, the golfer must carry an ample supply of golf tees with him on the golf course. The conventional type of wooden tees are frequently broken, or the more durable plastic types are frequently lost after teeing off. In the course of a round of golf, as many as half a dozen or more tees may be used, requiring that the golfer keep on hand a supply of tees.

The problem of replacing lost tees is obviated with the use of a tee having a streamer since a tee hit by the club a distance away from the tee is readily located and retrieved.

Tees having streamers also permit the golfer to use the streamer as a guide to either point out the desired line of flight for the ball, or as a guide for the swing of the club head.

Tees with streamers have not become popular because of the drawbacks previously associated with tees having streamers. Previous devices were cumbersome, large devices which were expensive and could not be readily carried by the gOlfer and conveniently used.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved golf tee having a streamer which does not have the limitations and drawbacks of previously used devices.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a golf tee having the streamer integrally connected to the crown of the tee.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf tee of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the golf tee along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the golf tee of FIG. 1 showing the streamer and tee in position for use.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a golf tee with streamer where the streamer has two sections.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another configuration of golf tee with a streamer connected to the stem of the tee immediately below its crown.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the golf tee of FIG. 6 showing indicia printed thereon.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another golf tee having a quick-connect streamer attachment element.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the golf tee of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the golf tee of FIG. 9 with the streamer attached thereto.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the end section of the streamer shown on the fee of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front view of another modification of the tee having a special streamer-engaging stud.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the golf tee of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 shows an end portion of a streamer used with the golf tee of FIGS. 12 and 13.

FIGS. 15 and 16 respectively show a front and side view of another golf tee modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, the golf tee and streamer device 10 is composed of a golf tee 12 having a crown 14 and a stem 16. The upper portion of the tee stem 16 has a widened flat section 18, the lower portions of which form two widened shoulder sections 20 which extend outwardly from the stem 16.

A lower peripheral portion 22 of the crown 14 of the tee is integrally connected to an elongated flexible streamer 24 which has an end connecting section 26 which forms a hinge between the crown at 22 and the forward connecting section 28 of the streamer.

The streamer has an elongated slot 30 immediately behind the connecting forward section 28 through which the lower end of the tee stem 16 is passed to ready the device for use, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The forward edge of the slot 32 is placed so that it will abut the forward edge of the tee stem 16 to take up the shock and pull of the streamer on the tee when the tee is struck by the golf club. The distance between the forward periphery of the slot 32 and the rear periphery 34 is determined solely by the free space necessary to permit the tip of the tee stem to conveniently pass through the slot opening.

The streamer, as illustrated in FIG. 4, rides up along the tee stem 16 until it reaches the shoulders 20 of the flat section 18. The shoulders 20 are positioned so that they act as a stop for the streamer, and also for the tee itself, although the tee stem 16 is of sufficient length to permit the golfer to firmly insert the tee with the crown 14 at a higher position if desired. The streamer 24 lays flat on the ground and is disposed in a line directly behind the tee 12.

In FIG. 5 a two-section modification of the streamer is shown. The shortened streamer connection section 38 includes the slot and a hinge 40, similar to hinge 26 of FIG. 1. Rear section 42 of the streamer connector piece 38 has an elongated streamer 44, the front section of which is shown integrally connected thereto. The forward edge 46 of this member is disposed behind the slot in the connector piece 38, which is not shown. In all other respects, the construction is similar to that of the tee and streamer of FIGS. 1 to 4.

In FIG. 6, a two-piece golf tee and streamer assembly 50 is shown. The golf tee has a crown 52 and a stem 54. A flattened section 56 is disposed on the forward upper side of the tee stem 54. It has lower laterally extending shoulders 58, and is of similar configuration to the flat section 18 of FIGS. 1 to 4. In this configuration, the elongated streamer 60 which is partially shown has a thickened tee engaging section 62 which is glued to the forward flat surface 64 of the flattened section 56 of the tee.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the golf tee and streamer device of FIG. 6, and illustrates how the device would appear to the golfer if it were placed in position before the ball is placed on the tee crown. The streamer length is approximately three or four times the length of the tee stem, so that it can be used to give a line of sight, and can readily be handled and kept in the pocket of the golfer, and is of sufficient length to accomodate a printed message 66. The rear portion of the elongated tee accommodating slot is shown at 68.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show another variation in the construction of the tee and streamer device, wherein the tee and streamer are each separate and independent pieces that can readily be connected. The tee generally indicated at 70 has a crown 72 and a stem 74. A small support piece 76 extends outwardly from the front portion of the tee and has a rectangular streamer holding element 78 disposed at the end thereof parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tee stem 74. Outwardly disposed shoulders 80 and 82 are integral with the opposite sides of the tee and are disposed parallel to the streamer retaining piece 78.

The streamer 84 for this tee is partially shown in FIG. 11. It has a forward rectangular tee engaging opening 86 which is slightly larger than the rectangular streamer holding element 76. The relative size and dimension of the tee stem receiving slot 88 is the same as that for the earlier mentioned figures.

To assemble the tee and streamer, the rectangular streamer retaining piece 78 on the tee is passed through the rectangular opening 86 of the streamer and the tee is then rotated so that the pointed end of the tee stem 74 is aligned with and passes through the elongated slot 88 of the streamer 84, as seen in FIG. 10. The assembly is now ready for use, and when the tee is inserted in the ground the streamer will be pressed upwardly against the bottom edge of the outwardly extending shoulders 80 and 82.

FIG. 12 shows the front view of a golf tee 90 made of plastic material which has a crown 92 adapted to flex under impact slightly, and which uses less material in its construction. The depressed annulus 94, and the central opening 96 permit the golf tee to be molded at a considerable saving of material, while at the same time permitting flexure of the crown, so that there is a shock absorbing property imparted to the golf tee crown.

The stem 98 has a front flat section 100 from which a stud member 102 extends outwardly. It has upper and lower flashing pieces 104 and 106 which act as a retaining flange once a streamer having a circular opening sufficient to pass over the stud is pressed into position.

The external side view of the tee of FIG. 12 is shown in FIG. 13. The flashing pieces 104 and 106 are illustrated as being very thin, pliable pieces of plastic material which extend outwardly from the extremity of the streamer holding stud 102. These pieces will bend inwardly, permitting the periphery of a circular opening in the streamer dimensioned slightly larger than that of the stud 102 to pass beyond the flanges 104 and 106 onto the body of the stud 102. The pliable flanges will open up behind the streamer once it is passed over and onto the neck of the stud 102, so that the streamer is held in locked position on the stud of the tee.

The tee of FIGS. 12 and 13 has four flat sides, disposed at an angle of 90.degree. with respect to each other. The front flat section 100, two side sections 108, and a rear flat section 110, although not distinctly shown on the drawings, form a square sectioned elongated block having an outwardly extending peripheral shoulder section 112 disposed immediately above the circular sectioned tapered portion 114 of the stem.

FIG. 14 shows a streamer end portion 116 which is used with the golf tee of FIGS. 12 and 13. The opening 118 has a larger diameter than the stud shank 102 and is slightly smaller than the periphery defined by the stud flanges 104 and 106, so that it can be pressed on over the flanges and stud, and subsequently retained in place by the flanges 106 when they return to their normal upright position. The elongated slot 120 is similar to those in the previously described streamers.

Another type of golf tee is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The crown 122 has a depressed central top section 124, and an annular groove 126 with a central depression 128. This construction is similar to the top of the golf tee crown of FIGS. 12 and 13. The stem of the tee 130 is similar to that of a conventional golf tee stem, having no special structural configurations thereon. A downwardly extending flange 132, forms the streamer engaging means and has a lower streamer engaging periphery 134. A streamer retaining stud 136 is integral with the flange 132, and has a pliable retaining head 138 thereon.

In FIG. 16, the end section 140 of a streamer is shown connected to the stud. The structural configuration is similar to the streamer end portion 116 shown in FIG. 14. The forward edge of its slot is indicated at 142, and the circular stud engaging opening 144 is shown in dotted outline.

When the streamer is in position on the golf tee, it is held on the stud by the flexible head 138, inasmuch as the diameter of the opening 144 is slightly less than the diameter of the head, and slightly greater than the diameter of the stud 136. The relative dimensions of the head 138 and the opening 144 are determined by the thickness of the head, and its flexibility, as well as the flexibility of the streamer member. The head 138 should be sufficiently pliable to bend over toward the stud 136 under pressure from the streamer, so that the opening 144 will pass over both the bent over peripheral portion of the head 138 and the stud, and once having passed over this point will be retained on the stud 136 by the peripheral portion of the head 138 which will return to its original upright position. The dimensions are chosen so that the streamer can be snapped on with the application of some force, and also removed, without too much difficulty. However, in use the streamer will be firmly held in position on the stud 136.

OPERATION AND ADVANTAGES

The golf tee and streamer device is readily carried by the golfer in either the golf bag or in a handy pocket, inasmuch as it is small and compact. When the tee is to be used, the pointed end of the tee stem is passed through the elongated slot of the streamer. The tee is pressed into the ground in the usual fashion, with the streamer disposed behind it. The streamer will lay flat on the ground, and will act as a stop when the ground presses its forward slotted portion up against the shoulder 20 of the flattened section 18, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The lower periphery of the shoulders 80 and 82 of the tee and streamer assembly of FIG. 10 operate in the same fashion as a stop.

As the tee is pressed into the ground, it is turned such that the streamer will be positioned close to the desired line of flight of the ball. A more accurate adjustment can be made by sighting along the streamer if the golfer desires.

After a golfer has teed off, it is only necessary for him to reach down and grasp the streamer which takes the tee with it. The tee then can be placed in the pocket. The streamer thus serves as a handy means of picking up the tee after use. If a portion of the streamer is left hanging out of the pocket, the tee can be readily picked up for use by grasping the streamer.

If the tee is struck by the golf club and carried a short distance away, the streamer and its line of travel is easily followed, and the tee can readily be located and picked up for further use.

The size of the streamer makes it possible to print special instructions on the top surface thereof, which the golfer will see before he swings. In many instances, these instructions, given in a few words will be of material assistance to a person taking instructions.

The tee itself is constructed of unbreakable plastic, and the construction of the streamer and the connection to the tee is such that there is small possibility of the tee and streamer being broken. Any impact that the tee stem might have on the connection between the tee and streamer is taken up by the forward periphery of the elongated slot which is in contact with the tee stem, and the shoulder on the flattened portion insures adequate space between the top of the streamer and the ball supported on the crown of the tee.

It is possible to either mold the tee and streamer as one integral piece, or to simply mold the tee as an individual unit, and attach the plastic streamer thereto. In this regard, the construction of the streamer may be either of flat molded plastic, or may be a woven plastic material, such as used for watch bands. Preferably it is from two to five times the length of the tee stem.

In either case an economical rugged device is provided which can be used for years by the golfer. In this respect, the low cost and handiness of the tee gives it added value as a giveaway item. Instead of printing instructions on the streamer, it is possible to print the name of a golf tournament, or of a sponsoring organization, so that the tee will remind the golfer of a given occasion or sponsor.

Thus, the golf tee of the subject invention provides an indestructible golf tee, which cannot be lost, is easily used, and is inexpensive. Since the streamer is always in view of the golfer, instructions or advertising can be placed thereon, making it an excellent give-away item.

While the invention has been described, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

* * * * *

Current U.S. Class:	473/257 ; 473/396
Current International Class:	A63B 57/00 (20060101); A63b 069/36 ()
Field of Search:	273/183A,33,201-212,195-198