U.S. patent application number 10/770907 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-04 for ball pick-up and tee-up aid.
Invention is credited to Smeeth, Kelly.
Application Number | 20050170904 10/770907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34808417 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050170904 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smeeth, Kelly |
August 4, 2005 |
Ball pick-up and tee-up aid
Abstract
The lightweight and small tee-up-device is attached to a golf
club shaft or a golf club head for the purpose of picking-up and
teeing-up balls while practicing at a driving range or on a putting
green, or playing a round at a golf course. The device allows a
golfer to practice hitting balls off a tee without: bending over,
squatting down, moving his feet, shifting his natural stance,
releasing or adjusting his natural grip on the golf club, altering
his natural swing, or interfering with the natural striking of the
teed-up golf ball. The device has a seat (110) to hold the ball, a
gap (118) in the seat to allow the device to withdraw from the tee,
tips (114) to help hold the ball and help guide the device when
picking-up the ball, a mount (120) and accessories (123) to attach
the device to the club. The seat is preferably C-shaped with
diameter slightly less than the diameter of a ball. The device is
made of a material rigid enough to carry the ball when the ball
sits in the C-shape. This material also has enough flexibility so
that the ball can be easily forced through the C-shape when the
ball is picked-up by the push-through method. The tips are curved
to prevent sticking in the ground and flared to help guide the ball
onto the seat when the ball is picked-up by the scoop-method. The
C-shape exposes the bottom of the ball so that the ball can be
placed on the tee. The gap in the C-shape of the seat is large
enough to allow the tee to pass through the gap after the ball has
been placed on the tee.
Inventors: |
Smeeth, Kelly; (Naperville,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WELSH & KATZ, LTD
120 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA
22ND FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
34808417 |
Appl. No.: |
10/770907 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/286 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20130101;
A63B 47/02 20130101; A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 53/0466 20130101;
A63B 60/38 20151001; A63B 60/00 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/286 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/00 |
Claims
1. A device which is used in aiding in picking-up or placing a ball
and which is attachable to an elongate member, said device
comprising: a support structure for supporting the ball including a
seat and an attachment structure for attaching said support
structure to an elongate member.
2. The device of claim 1 being attached to a golf club.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said attachment structure includes
means for releasably attaching the support structure to the
elongate member.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein said support structure includes an
upwardly extending leg and said means for releasably attaching the
support structure to an elongate member includes a strap or tape
which is releasably wrapped around said leg and the elongate
member.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said strap or tape includes
fastening structure.
6. The device of claim 6 wherein said fastening structure includes
hooks and loops.
7. The device of claim 3 wherein said support structure includes an
upwardly extending loop and said means for releasably attaching the
support structure to an elongate member includes a strap or tape
which is releasably inserted through the loop and wrapped around
the elongate member
8. The device of claim 7 wherein said strap or tape includes
fastening structure.
9. The device of claim 7 wherein said fastening structure includes
an adhesive or an adhering material.
10. The device of claim 3 wherein said attachment structure
includes one of a tab, post or clamp which is connected to the
device and which has a through hole and a fastener which is
received through said through hole for releasably fixing said
device to an object.
11. The device of claim 10 wherein said fastener is one of a screw
or bolt.
12. The device of claim 10 combined with the object and wherein
said object is a golf club head.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein said golf club head is provided
with a threaded hole in one of the top or side of the head for
receiving said fastener for releasably mounting said device on the
golf club head.
14. The device of claim 1 wherein said support structure is fixed
to a golf club shaft.
15. The device of claim 1 wherein said support structure is
releasably attached to a golf club shaft.
16. The device of claim 1 wherein the support structure is attached
to a golf club head.
17. The device of claim 1 wherein said seat of said support
structure has a generally central opening through which a tee can
extend when said support structure is lowered over the tee.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein said seat includes an open area
or gap which permits said support structure to be moved generally
laterally away from the ball set on the tee.
19. The device of claim 1 wherein said seat is selected from one
of: a) generally C-shaped structures, b) bars and girders, c)
rectangular shaped structures, d) rubber-tubes or e) nubs.
20. The combination of a golf club and the device of claim 1
attached thereto.
21. A method for picking-up and/or placing a ball with the aid of a
device comprising: a support structure for supporting the ball
including a seat and attachment structure for attaching the support
structure to an elongate member, comprising the steps of:
picking-up the ball with the device; setting the ball; and,
withdrawing the device from the ball.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the ball is teed-up and said
method includes the step of picking up the ball from the
ground.
23. The method of claim 21 including the step of placing a ball
with the support structure on a tee.
24. The method of claim 21 wherein the support structure is one of
flexible for flexing over a ball or dimensioned for accommodating a
ball such that the ball is picked up by the step of pressing the
support structure downwardly over the ball after which the ball is
supported by the seat.
25. The method of claim 21 wherein the support structure has a
generally spoon or cradle shaped configuration and said method
includes the step of scooping up of the ball resting on the
ground.
26. A device for aiding in picking up or placing a ball comprising
a generally C-shaped structure mountable to an elongate member, and
said C-shaped structure comprising support(s) which form a seat for
carrying a ball.
27. The device of claim 26 wherein said C-shaped structure
comprises C-shaped, resilient, flexible, arcuate, wires or rods
which can be pressed down over the ball and be deflected outwardly
from the ball and then flexed back under the ball to form a seat
for the ball.
28. The device of claim 26 wherein said C-shaped structure has a
gap such that when the ball is placed on a tee said device can be
retracted generally laterally from the ball on the tee.
29. The device of claim 26 combined with and releasably mounted to
an elongate member
30. The device of claim 26 combined with and releasably mounted to
a golf club head.
31. A device for adding in picking up a ball comprising an elongate
member having an elongate axis and at least three tines at one end
of said elongate member, each tine being spaced from an adjacent
tine and extending outwardly from said elongate axis and then
inwardly toward said elongate axis to form a ball receiving cage
for picking up a ball.
32. The device of claim 31 wherein said tines each have a nub at an
outer end thereof for facilitating pushing of said tines down over
a ball resting on a supporting surface.
33. The device of claim 31 wherein at least two adjacent tines are
spaced apart at a junction between the outwardly extending portion
and the inwardly extending portion thereof a sufficient distance to
allow the tines to be moved laterally of a ball which had been
picked up and then placed on a tee to remove the device from the
ball on the tee.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to picking-up and teeing-up a
golf ball with the aid of a tee-up device with the golfer remaining
in a standing position.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The teachings of the prior art falls into the following
categories:
[0005] (a) Manual Method: Employing this method, the golfer bends
over or squats down, and manually picks-up a golf ball from the
ground or from a basket, and places the golf ball on a tee. He/her
(hereby he) can then strike the ball off the tee with his/her
(hereby his) club. This method of teeing-up puts stress on the
body, and when performed repeatedly can cause fatigue or injury to
the legs and/or back. This method can be tedious and time consuming
and consequently can cause boredom. In addition, by teeing-up
manually, the golfer must move his feet, shift his stance, and
release his grip on the golf club, hence prohibiting the benefit of
practicing with a uniform stance and grip.
[0006] (b) Ball Retriever: Reference is made to Wittek Golf Supply
Company, Inc., 1997 Catalog No. 100, page 115, Stock Nos. 93820,
93830, 93840, 93845, Tel: 1-800-869-1800. These devices have a cup
or pinching mechanism at the end of a pole by which a golf ball may
be retrieved from a water trap, inaccessible or problem location.
These devices can pick-up a golf ball but most likely require that
the golfer release his grip on his golf club to take hold of the
pole and operate the device. In addition, these devices do not have
the capacity to place a golf ball on a tee since: the pinch
mechanism can not release the golf ball; the cup can only drop the
golf ball with no useful fidelity in aiming or stabilizing the golf
ball on the tee.
[0007] (c) Automatic Tee-Up Devices: Reference is made to Wittek
Golf Supply Company, Inc., 1997 Catalog No. 100, page 119, Stock
No. 77705, Tel: 1-800-869-1800. These devices are bulky with a
number of moving parts, and, in some cases, electronic parts. They
work by placing a number of golf balls in a hopper, activating a
feeder mechanism which isolates and guides a golf ball along a rail
to position the golf ball above the tee, releasing the golf ball
onto the tee, and withdrawing all parts from the tee and hitting
area. In addition, some models require the tee to be lowered and
raised, while other models require a long rail to be lowered and
raised. These automatic tee-up devices are complicated, expensive
to buy and to maintain; they are bulky and inconvenient to store
and transport; and some require electrical power. The referenced
Automatic Tee-Up Device (as seen in the photocopy) has a semi-loop
at the end of two rails. Since the purpose of the semi-loop is
intended for the ball to fall through, this semi-loop can not hold
and carry a golf ball. None of these devices can be attached to a
golf club for ease and convenience of use.
[0008] (d) Putter Finger Ball-In-Cup Retriever: Reference is made
to Wittek Golf Supply Company, Inc., 1997 Catalog No. 100, page
114, Stock No. 93216, Tel: 1-800-869-1800. This device has a
suction cup at one end and the other end attaches to the grip end
of a putter. When a golf ball is in the hole on the green, the
golfer turns the putter upside down and presses the suction cup
down on the golf ball in the hole. The golf ball sticks in the
suction cup and can be raised out of the hole. The suction cup must
be moistened regularly to maintain its suction function, and it
must be cleaned regularly to remove dirt that interferes with its
suction function. This device requires that the golf ball be taken
from the suction cup manually, as it has no release mechanism to
allow the golf ball to be placed and left on a tee. Also, this
device has no guides to aid in the placement of a golf ball on a
tee.
[0009] (e) Ball Pickers: Reference is made to Wittek Golf Supply
Company, Inc., 1997 Catalog No. 100, page 2, Stock No.71850, Tel:
1-800-869-1800. These machines are rolled over driving ranges to
pick-up golf balls by the hundreds. While they can pick-up golf
balls, they are very large and could not be attached to a golf
club; and they have no means which would enable them to place a
golf ball on a tee.
[0010] (f) The Dahlmann-device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,533 attaches
to the grip end of a golf club so that the golfer can place a tee
in the ground and tee-up a golf ball without bending over. The
Dahimann-device suffers on these accounts:
[0011] The Dahlmann-device is not designed to pick-up golf balls
from the ground and there is no practical way to do so. Thus, the
Dahlmann-device can not be used without bending over to repeat the
operation of teeing-up for a group of golf balls that sit on the
ground or in another platform such as a tray set on the ground, as
might be found at a driving range.
[0012] The Dahlmann-device requires that the golfer release his
grip on the golf club since the golfer must manually insert both
the golf ball and the tee into the device as part of operating it.
The golfer must then turn the golf club upside down to finish the
operation of teeing-up. Thus, the Dahlmann-device does not allow
the golfer to tee-up the golf ball without altering his grip on the
golf club, thus prohibiting the golfer from practicing at a driving
range with the same grip on consecutive strokes.
[0013] The Dahlmann-device will likely cause the golfer to move his
feet or shift his stance while retrieving the tee and the golf ball
which would be located beyond the range of his swinging golf club.
Thus, the Dahlmann-device does not allow the golfer to tee-up
without moving his feet or shifting his stance, thus prohibiting
the golfer from practicing his stroke with uniformity on
consecutive strokes.
[0014] The Dahlmann-device attaches to the golf club shaft-grip.
This protrusion of several inches would likely interfere with the
golfer's natural grip and inhibit the motion of the golfer's
natural swing.
[0015] The Dahlmann-device could not be effectively redesigned to
attach to the bottom of the golf club shaft or the golf club head.
To hold a tee, the Dahlmann-device must extend below the golf ball,
thus there would not be enough ground clearance to allow a natural
swing of the golf club. In addition, the weight and bulk of the
Dahlmann-device would both present air drag and unbalance the golf
club.
[0016] The Dahlmann-device requires a golf ball release mechanism
called a "delayed urging means".
[0017] The Dahlmann-device was designed to be used with a regular
tee and can not be used with a permanent tee (such as is found at
many driving ranges with mat tees, or as found at some golf courses
with persistent tees at each hole's tee-up site). The
Dahlmann-device must use a regular tee which is manually placed in
a slot. This slot is specifically design to be beveled so as to
conform to the tapered profile of a regular tee. (The tapering of a
regular tee is needed so that the tee comes to a point so that it
can puncture into the ground.) This very design feature prohibits
the Dahlmann-device from being used with a mat tee which is not
tapered but instead has a uniform diameter from top to bottom (this
diameter itself being wider than the width of the Dahlmann-device
slot). Such a mat tee can not fit into the Dahlmann-device's slot.
Furthermore, the Dahlmann-device could not be used with any tee
whatsoever that is already inserted in the ground.
[0018] The Dahlmann-device holds the tee firmly in a slot and holds
the golf ball snugly in a housing. Thus, withdrawing the
Dahlmann-device from the teed-up golf ball without disturbing the
golf ball by nudges from the slot or housing requires a high degree
of dexterity.
[0019] The Dahlmann-device must be vertical when operated and thus
has unforgiving operational properties.
[0020] The Dahlmann-device is relatively unsightly and a detraction
for those golfers who use fashion as a criteria when purchasing
golf equipment.
SUMMARY
[0021] The device of the present invention, in any of it's
embodiments, is referred to herein as a ball-tee-up-device or
tee-up-device. This term will be used for both the ball pick-up and
the ball tee-up embodiments, structures, functions, and operations.
The context and proximate language will supply the necessary
distinctions.
[0022] In accordance with the present invention and the principal
embodiments thereof, the ball-tee-up-device comprises: a seat in
the form of a C-shape that picks-up a golf ball and exposes the
golf ball to be set on a golf tee; a pair of tips curling up at
each end of the C-shape that reduce snagging and act as guides and
supports; a gap in the seat between the tips by which the
tee-up-device withdraws from the golf tee area; a mount opposite
the gap by which the seat interfaces with a golf club, a set of
accessories by which the mount secures the seat to the golf
club.
[0023] The tee-up-device attaches to the golf club head or shaft so
as to allow the golfer to pick-up and tee-up a series of golf
balls. The golf club acts as a kind of extended hand so that the
golfer can tee-up and hit golf balls without: bending over,
squatting down, moving his feet, shifting his natural stance,
releasing or adjusting his natural grip on the golf club, altering
his natural swing, or interfering with the natural striking of the
teed-up golf ball.
[0024] Alternative embodiments will demonstrate that some of the
elements, such as the tips and the accessories, can be eliminated
as essential elements of the invention and the shape of the
generally C-shaped seat can be altered. Also note that the seat and
the mount can be merged as a single element. Furthermore, the
alternative embodiments demonstrate the variety in variations of
the application of the seat in conjunction with the golf club or
other elongate members or extensions.
[0025] Objects and Advantages
[0026] Some of the objects and advantages of the tee-up-device of
the present invention are as follows:
[0027] a simple device to be attached to the bottom of the shaft of
a golf club, golf club head, a pole or other elongate members or
extension, for the purpose of picking-up a golf ball from the
ground, and placing the golf ball on a tee, and withdrawing the
tee-up-device so that the teed-up ball may be struck without
encumbrance;
[0028] to accomplish picking-up and teeing-up a series of golf
balls, such as at a driving range, while the golfer remains
standing;
[0029] to allow more consistent and efficient golf practice on a
driving range by providing the golfer with a means to pick-up and
tee-up and drive a series of golf balls without the golfer: bending
over, squatting down, moving his feet, shifting his natural stance,
releasing or adjusting his natural grip on the golf club, altering
his natural swing, or interfering with the natural striking of the
teed-up golf ball;
[0030] to allow for a normal feel and swing of a golf club by
providing a lightweight attachment that does not unduly unbalance
the golf club or create undue air drag while swinging;
[0031] to provide an easy golf ball pick-up and tee-up device and
method which reduces boredom, fatigue, stress and possible injury,
from repetitive bending over or squatting to pick-up a series of
golf balls and placing them on a tee;
[0032] to provide a faster golf ball pick-up and tee-up method
which allows more golf swings on a golf driving range within a
fixed period of time thereby providing more enjoyment for the
golfer and greater customer turnover and greater revenue for the
driving range proprietor;
[0033] to provide a pick-up and tee-up device that does not require
a high degree of dexterity in operation;
[0034] to provide the handicapped an aid in playing golf;
[0035] to provide golfers an aid for better gauging their stance
and proper club position relative to the teed-up ball;
[0036] to provide a much smaller, simpler, more convenient, lower
cost, more portable, reversible attachment, and easy to use
alternative to other manual and automatic tee-up devices which are:
more costly to manufacture, clumsy to operate, awkward to
transport, inconvenient to store, made of moving parts, and require
maintenance;
[0037] to provide a tee-up device that does not require a ball
release mechanism;
[0038] to provide a more reliable tee-up device with embodiments
that have no moving parts;
[0039] to provide a ball pick-up device for retrieving balls from a
cup or a hazard;
[0040] to provide an easy to assemble and dissemble pick-up and
tee-up attachment;
[0041] to provide a marketable, sleek accessory to a golfer's
equipment;
[0042] to provide a pick-up and/or tee-up device that can be used
for other activities such as the children's sport of Tee-Ball where
a baseball is teed-up and hit off a torso-high tee, or picking-up
ping pong balls, or tennis balls.
[0043] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the
following description including description of the operation and
use of the device.
[0044] Depending on the context, the term "tee-up" can mean both
picking-up a ball and teeing-up that ball.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1A is a perspective view (front-elevated) of a
shaft-mountable tee-up-device constructed according to the
teachings of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 1B is a perspective view (front-side-elevated) of the
shaft-mountable tee-up-device.
[0047] FIG. 1C is a top-down view of the shaft-mountable
tee-up-device.
[0048] FIG. 2A is a perspective view (rear-side-elevated) of a
club.
[0049] FIG. 2B is a top-down view of a club.
[0050] FIG. 2C is a zoomed-in perspective view (rear-side-elevated)
of a club with cutaway cross section of the shaft (though the
entire shaft is understood to be intact).
[0051] FIGS. 3(A, B) are views showing wrapping and sticking the
loop-fastener to the bottom of the shaft.
[0052] FIGS. 3(C, D) are views showing sandwiching of the mount leg
between the hook-fastener and the tape.
[0053] FIG. 3E is a view of the attached tee-up-device mounted to
the shaft via the hook-and-loop-fasteners.
[0054] FIG. 4 shows the driving range or green setup: ball, tee,
mat or ground, tee shadow, ball shadow, and a bunch of balls.
[0055] FIG. 5A shows raising the club so the seat is directly over
the ball.
[0056] FIG. 5B shows lowering the club so that seat engages the
ball.
[0057] FIG. 5C shows pushing the club down so that the ball is
forced through the seat.
[0058] FIG. 6A shows raising the club and picking-up the ball in
the seat.
[0059] FIG. 6B shows moving the club so that the ball is above the
tee.
[0060] FIG. 7A shows lowering the club so the ball sits on the tee
and the tips touch the ground.
[0061] FIG. 7B shows withdrawing the club so that the tee-up-device
is free of the tee.
[0062] FIG. 8A shows lowering the club so the tips touch the ground
with the gap facing the ball.
[0063] FIG. 8B shows moving the club and sliding the tips towards
the ball so that the ball splits the gap and the seat is below the
ball.
[0064] FIG. 9A is a perspective view (front-elevated) of the
head-mountable tee-up-device.
[0065] FIG. 9B is a perspective view (front-side-elevated) of the
head-mountable tee-up-device.
[0066] FIG. 9C is a top-down view of head-mountable
tee-up-device.
[0067] FIG. 10A shows accessories of the head-mountable
tee-up-device.
[0068] FIG. 10B shows how the head-mountable tee-up-device is
attached.
[0069] FIG. 11A shows a lightweight embodiment of the device.
[0070] FIG. 11B shows a device built into a head.
[0071] FIG. 11C shows a clip mount embodiment of the device.
[0072] FIG. 12A shows a rubber-T-shape flexibility insert, two
seat-halves, and a mount.
[0073] FIG. 12B shows a connected rubber-T-shape tee-up-device.
[0074] FIG. 12C shows a cup retriever device having a tee-up-device
at the end of a pole.
[0075] FIG. 13A is a top-down view of the cane-mountable
tee-up-device.
[0076] FIG. 13B is a perspective view (front-elevated) of the
cane-mountable tee-up-device.
[0077] FIG. 13C is a perspective view (side-elevated) of the
cane-mountable tee-up-device mounted to cane.
[0078] FIG. 13D is a close-up perspective view (side-elevated) of
the bottom part of the cane-mountable tee-up-device mounted to a
cane-bottom.
[0079] FIG. 14A shows a bent rod construction.
[0080] FIG. 14B shows a wide seat band construction.
[0081] FIG. 14C shows a toe mount to club head.
[0082] FIG. 14D shows a nubbed seat construction.
[0083] FIG. 14E shows a notched bent rod.
[0084] FIG. 14F shows a notched bent rod with rubber-band.
[0085] FIG. 15A is a perspective view (front-elevated) of tilted
tee-up-device.
[0086] FIG. 15B is a side view of tilted tee-up-device.
[0087] FIG. 15C shows a view of a tilted operation.
[0088] FIG. 16A is a perspective view (front-side-elevated) of
C-clamp and hinged-head-mountable tee-up-device.
[0089] FIG. 16B shows a C-clamp clip for a hinged-head-mountable
tee-up-device.
[0090] FIG. 16C shows an assembled club, bolt, C-clamp, and
hinged-head-mountable tee-up-device.
[0091] FIGS. 17(A-E) show a narrow gap tee-up-device and illustrate
a sequence of operations upon being drawn across the upstanding tee
as shown from above and without ball in place.
[0092] FIG. 18A shows a rectangular seat with tips and gap; bottom
view of head with tracks shown unassembled.
[0093] FIG. 18B is a front view of club head and tracks.
[0094] FIG. 18C shows a seat mounted in tracks pushed back in
strike position.
[0095] FIG. 18D shows a seat mounted in tracks pushed forward in
pick-up/tee-up position.
[0096] FIG. 18E is a top view of ball held in seat on club head
with shaft shown cut off for illustrative purposes.
[0097] FIG. 19A is a perspective view (front-elevated) of the
loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device.
[0098] FIG. 19B shows a loop-strap attached to rectangular-loop
with sticky-side.
[0099] FIG. 19C shows a loop-strap engaging a rectangular-loop.
[0100] FIG. 19D shows a loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device
attached to club shaft.
[0101] FIGS. 20(A-E) show a three prong cage tee-up-device and a
sequence of operation of same. FIGS. 21(A, B) illustrate a cage
tee-up-device mounted to a club shank.
Parts List
[0102] Set forth below is a list of reference numerals and the
element each identifies as used in the following description and as
shown in the drawings:
[0103] 101 shaft-mountable tee-up-device
[0104] 102 head-mountable tee-up-device
[0105] 103 cane-mountable tee-up-device
[0106] 104 hinged-head-mountable tee-up-device
[0107] 105 bottom-head-mountable tee-up-device
[0108] 106 cage tee-up-device
[0109] 107 loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device
[0110] 110 seat
[0111] 114 tips
[0112] 118 gap
[0113] 120 mount
[0114] 123 accessories
[0115] 142 T-joint
[0116] 144 post
[0117] 146 L-joint
[0118] 148 leg
[0119] 150 post-hole
[0120] 172 loop-fastener (with sticky back side)
[0121] 174 hook-fastener (with sticky back side)
[0122] 178 tape (with sticky back side)
[0123] 182 bolt
[0124] 184 bolt-hole
[0125] 600 club
[0126] 610 cutaway club (with shaft cross-section, though the
entire club is understood to be intact)
[0127] 620 head
[0128] 622 toe
[0129] 624 heel
[0130] 626 face
[0131] 628 rear
[0132] 629 bottom
[0133] 630 shaft
[0134] 632 shaft-bottom
[0135] 634 shaft-grip
[0136] 638 grooves
[0137] 700 ball
[0138] 710 bunch (of balls)
[0139] 800 tee
[0140] 900 mat (or: ground, green, ground plane, platform)
[0141] 910 shadow-of-ball-on-mat
[0142] 914 shadow-of-tee-on-mat
[0143] 921 rectangular-loop
[0144] 922 loop-strap
[0145] 923 sticky-side
[0146] 930 cavity
[0147] 932 rubber-tube
[0148] 934 clip
[0149] 936 flanges
[0150] 938 square-cross-sectional-profile-shaft
[0151] 950 rubber-T-shape
[0152] 952 seat-halves
[0153] 954 pole
[0154] 956 points
[0155] 958 straight-girders
[0156] 966 cup
[0157] 968 cane
[0158] 970 cane-bottom
[0159] 972 cylinder-mount
[0160] 974 C-clamp
[0161] 980 nub
[0162] 982 notches
[0163] 984 rubber-band
[0164] 990 tracks
[0165] 994 bars
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0166] The Shaft-Mountable Tee-Up-Device Embodiment of FIG. 1
[0167] FIG. 1A shows a front-elevated view of a shaft-mountable
ball-tee-up-device 101 which comprises: the seat 110, the tips 114,
the gap 118, the mount 120, and the accessories 123. (These
terms--seat, tips, gap, mount, accessories--were first introduced
in the summary.)
[0168] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view with details of the mount
120 and the accessories 123.
[0169] FIG. 1C shows a top-down view.
[0170] The mount 120 comprises: a T-joint 142, a post 144, a
L-joint 146, a leg 148.
[0171] The accessories 123 comprises: a loop-fastener 172, a
hook-fastener 174, a pieces of tape 178. All three of these
elements have sticky back sides.
[0172] The seat 110 is generally in the form of a C-shape having an
arc spanning about 240 degrees. The seat 110 can be thought of as a
cradle for a golf ball. The interior diameter across the opening of
the C-shape is about 41 millimeters (1.6072 inches; about 95.6
percent of the diameter of a golf ball). This diameter across the
C-shape is chosen smaller than the diameter of a golf ball so that
the golf ball can sit cradled in the C-shape seat 110 and be
carried. This diameter across the C-shape of seat 110 is chosen
just a small amount less than the diameter of a golf ball so that
the golf ball can be pushed through the C-shape with a small force.
The exact diameter across the C-shape is determined by many factors
including the following properties of the embodiment material:
weight, rigidity, flexibility, resiliency.
[0173] This embodiment can be made of aluminum. Aluminum is
lightweight so that the weight of the tee-up-device 101 when
attached to a golf club does not adversely affect the feel of the
golf club. Aluminum is rigid enough to carry a golf ball that sits
in the C-shape seat 110. Aluminum has enough flexibility so that
the golf ball can be pushed through the C-shape with a little
force. Aluminum is resilient so that the C-shape will return to its
original shape after flexing when the golf ball is pushed through
it. An aluminum rod (or wire) with cross-section diameter of about
2 millimeters (0.0788 inches) when bent into a C-shape has the
appropriate combination of these properties: light weight,
rigidity, flexibility, resiliency. Other materials, metallic and
plastic, are contemplated.
[0174] The seat 110 allows a golf ball to sit in the C-shape so
that the bottom of the golf ball is exposed. This exposure allows
the bottom of the golf ball to be lowered onto a golf tee.
[0175] The tips 114 are curled to prevent snagging in the ground
and to act as golf ball guides during operation (see FIG. 5-FIG.
8).
[0176] The gap 118 is about 35 millimeters (1.38 inches) at it's
narrowest distance between the tips 114. The gap 118 provides a
means for the teed-up golf ball to exit the seat 110 when the
tee-up-device 101 withdraws laterally from the tee area (see FIG.
7(A, B)).
[0177] The following terms were introduced at the beginning of this
section: T-joint, post, L-joint, leg.
[0178] The post 144 is rigidly connected to the seat 110 at the
T-joint 142 (see FIG. 1(A-C)). The leg 148 is rigidly connected to
the post 144 at the L-joint 146. Rigid connections can be
accomplished by molding the entire tee-up-device 101 as one piece,
or by welding at the joints, or by other rigid connections, e.g.,
gluing, soldering, bending.
[0179] The post 144 lies approximately in the plane defined by the
C-shape of the seat 110.
[0180] The leg 148 lies approximately in the plane perpendicular to
the plane defined by the C-shape of the seat 110. The leg 148 is
tilted about 20 degrees (angle A in FIG. 1A) from the line
perpendicular to the plane defined by the C-shape of the seat 110.
This tilt is at angle A so that the leg 148 aligns with the tilt of
a golf club shaft when the C-shape is parallel to the ground.
[0181] The Golf Club Elements of FIG. 2
[0182] FIG. 2A shows a club 600 that comprises: a head 620, a shaft
630, a shaft-grip 634.
[0183] FIG. 2B shows finer details of the club 600.
[0184] The head 620 comprises: a toe 622, a heel 624, a face 626, a
rear 628, a bottom 629, a set of grooves 638 (see FIG. 2B).
[0185] The shaft 630 has a shaft-bottom 632.
[0186] FIG. 2C. shows a cutaway club 610 (or simply: club 610) with
the shaft 630 cutaway leaving visible only the shaft-bottom 632,
though the entire shaft 630 is understood to be intact. This
cutaway view is only used to eliminate clutter in the description
of the figures to follow. This will allow a close-up of the
operational steps without the top of the shaft 630 dominating the
figures.
[0187] The Mounting of the Shaft-Mountable Tee-Up-Device in FIG.
3.
[0188] FIG. 3(A, B) shows the loop-fastener 172 and how its sticky
back side is wrapped around the shaft-bottom 632.
[0189] FIG. 3(C, D) shows how the leg 148 is sandwiched between the
sticky back sides of the hook-fastener 174 and the tape 178.
[0190] FIG. 3E shows how the ball-tee-up-device 101 is mounted to
the shaft-bottom 632 by wrapping the hook-fastener 174 tightly
around the shaft-mountable loop-fastener 172.
[0191] The tee-up-device 101 is mounted so that the tips 114 are
about 1.5 centimeters (0.0591 inches) above the ground when the
golfer addresses the ball in his natural stance and then lowers the
head 620 to touch the ground.
[0192] This procedure of attachment can be performed quickly, and
is reversible.
[0193] This embodiment has been designed for a right-handed club
600. A mirror image of this embodiment would work for a left-handed
golf club.
[0194] Operation: FIG. 4-FIG. 8
[0195] The Golf Ball, Tee, Mat, Shadows, and Bunch of Balls of FIG.
4.
[0196] FIG. 4 shows elements used in the operation: a ball 700, a
tee 800, a mat (ground, green, or platform) 900, a
shadow-of-tee-on-mat 914, a shadow-of-ball-on-mat 910, a bunch 710
(of balls). These elements are arranged in a common setup found at
many driving ranges. The bunch 710 (of balls) sit on the other side
of the tee 800 on the mat 900 (or in a tray).
[0197] The golfer takes up his natural stance before the tee 800,
gripping his club 600 so that he is ready to swing with his natural
grip and natural stroke. Then the golfer draws one ball 700 from
the bunch 710 with the head 620. The bunch 710 is close enough so
that the golfer need only extend his arms slightly to reach them
without disturbing his natural stance or grip. Yet the bunch 710 is
far enough away so not to interfere with the golfer hitting a
teed-up golf ball.
[0198] The Push-Through Method of Operation of FIGS. 5, 6 and
7.
[0199] FIG. 5-FIG. 7 explain the push-through-method of
operation.
[0200] FIG. 5A shows how the club 610 is raised so that the seat
110 is above the ball 700.
[0201] FIG. 5B shows how the club 610 is then lowered so that the
C-shape of the seat 110 engages the ball 700.
[0202] FIG. 5C shows how the club 610 is then pressed down gently
so that the seat 110 spreads apart so it opens (due to the
flexibility) and the ball is pushed through the C-shape. The seat
110 is now under the ball 700.
[0203] FIG. 6A shows how the club is then raised with the ball 700
cradled in the seat 110 so that the ball 700 is picked-up from the
mat 900.
[0204] FIG. 6B shows how the ball 700 is cradled in the seat 110 so
the golfer can carry the ball 700 over to hover in alignment above
the tee 800. The seat 110 cradles the ball 700 such as to expose
the bottom of the ball 700 by means of the openness beneath the
C-shape. This exposure allows the ball 700 to be set onto the tee
800 by lowering the seat 110. When the top of the tee 800 engages
the bottom of the ball 700, the ball 700 rests on top of the tee
800.
[0205] FIG. 7A shows how the club 610 is lowered so that the seat
110 touches the mat 900, whereas the ball 700 is now teed-up. If
the ball 700 hits the tee 800 off-center, then the seat 110 may act
as a guide (such as in the manner of a guide rail) and hold the
ball 700 while the golfer maneuvers the club 610 up and laterally,
correcting the alignment, so to reposition the ball 700 onto the
tee 800. This operation requires remarkably little hand-eye
coordination.
[0206] FIG. 7B shows how the club 610 and seat 110 are withdrawn
while the tee 800 exits through the gap 118.
[0207] The ball 700 is now teed-up and the golfer may take his
natural stroke without removing the ball-tee-up-device 101 from the
club. The tee-up-device 101 has ample clearance so not to interfere
with a natural golf swing.
[0208] The Scoop-Method of Operation of FIG. 8.
[0209] The scoop-method of operation will now be explained.
[0210] FIG. 8A shows how the tips 114 are touching the mat 900 with
the gap 118 facing the ball 700.
[0211] FIG. 8B shows how the club 610 is slid so that the bottom of
the ball 700 passes through the gap 118. The seat 110 is now under
the ball. The configuration is now identical to FIG. 5C and the
operation proceeds from this point exactly as for the
push-through-method as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
[0212] The ball 700 is now teed-up and can be struck with a normal
golf swing. This operating procedure (picking-up, teeing-up, and
swinging at the ball 700) can be repeated for the entire bunch of
balls 710 (as seen in FIG. 4).
[0213] The scoop-method can be used to good effect in concert with
a tray (not shown) in which a bunch of golf balls 710 rest. If the
gap 118 engages the ball 700 off-center, then the ball 700 will be
shoved up against the wall of the tray where it will be held while
the gap 118 can be shifted to slide under the ball 700.
[0214] Golfers may practice a variation on the scoop-method which
proceeds without the ball-tee-up-device 101 touching the mat 900.
The club 610 rests on the mat 900 with the tips 114 slightly above
the mat 900. The club 610 is moved laterally so that the ball 700
passes through the gap 118. The club 610, being grounded,
stabilizes the operation.
[0215] Another variation on the scoop-method proceeds with no part
of the club 610 or the tee-up-device 101 touching the mat 900. The
club 610 and seat 110 are merely held low enough so the ball 700
may pass through the gap 118.
[0216] These variations in operation demonstrate that the tips 114
are not essential elements as will be shown later in the section
titled: Further Embodiments Descriptions and Operations.
[0217] These operational methods--the push-through-method and the
scoop-method--have been thoroughly tested under real-world
conditions. In these tests, both methods have proven to require
remarkably little manual dexterity. The skill and dexterity
required is less than that required to swing and hit a teed-up
ball. A handicapped person, with extreme right side paralysis and
with partial paralysis of the left arm and hand, perfected the
techniques in ten minutes of practice. At that point, this
handicapped person was able to hit dozens of balls on his own while
easily teeing-up each ball by himself. Thus, the invention has been
demonstrated to work with the ease explained. Thus, the
tee-up-device 101 has genuine practical value.
[0218] The Head-Mountable Tee-Up-Device Embodiment of FIG. 9
[0219] FIG. 9A shows a perspective view (front-elevated) of a
head-mountable ball-tee-up-device 102 and the seat 110, tips 114,
and gap 118 which are about the same as for the preferred
embodiment, and the mount 120 which is a modification of the
preferred embodiment.
[0220] FIG. 9B shows a perspective view (front-side-elevated) of
tee-up-device 102 and the mount 120 that comprises: the T-joint
142, the post 144, a post-hole 150. The post 144 is angled about 30
degrees up from the plane defined by the C-shape of the seat 110 to
accommodate the slope of the rear 628 of the club 610.
[0221] FIG. 9C shows a top-down view of tee-up-device 102.
[0222] The Mounting of the Head-Mountable Tee-Up-Device of FIG.
10.
[0223] FIG. 10A shows the accessories 123 of tee-up-device 102
comprising: a bolt 182, a bolt-hole 184. The bolt-hole 184 is a
threaded hole in the head 620. This bolt-hole 184 can be
manufactured into the head 620 or tapped in later.
[0224] FIG. 10B shows how the tee-up-device 102 is attached to the
head 620. The bolt 182 is put through the post-hole 150 and screwed
into the bolt-hole 184 and tightened down. The bolt 182 could have
a wing nut head for easy assembly and disassembly.
[0225] This assembly (FIG. 10B) places the tee-up-device 102 in
about the same configuration as the preferred embodiment so that
the operations by the push-through-method and the scoop-method are
about the same.
[0226] This embodiment can be used for either right-handed or
left-handed golf clubs.
[0227] The Further Embodiments and their Operation of FIGS. 11-FIG.
21.
[0228] FIG. 11: Small Arc, Reduced Tips, Modified Head, Clip Mount,
and Shaft Modified Tee-Up-Device Embodiments
[0229] FIG. 11A shows a modified head-mountable ball-tee-up-device
102. The seat 110 has a C-shape sweeping an arc of less than 200
degrees and blunted-bulb tips 114 about 38 millimeters (1.4896
inches) apart. Less material in the arc of the seat 110 and
minimizing the tips 114 reduces weight.
[0230] The mount 120 is offset from the center of the C-shape of
the seat 110. Thus, the seat 110 is asymmetric with respect to the
mount 120. This asymmetry presents the gap 118 at a skewed aspect
when addressing the ball which allows for personalized variations
in operation. The tips 114 can be reduced so to become nothing more
than the ends of the C-shape of the seat 110.
[0231] FIG. 11B: Modified Head Embodiment
[0232] FIG. 11B shows a head 620 modified with a C-shaped cavity
930 that forms a hole in its rear 628. This hole is slightly larger
than a golf ball. A rubber-tube 932 is glued around the bottom edge
of the cavity 930. This rubber-tube 932 forms the seat 110. This
rubber-tube 932 is thick enough so that when glued to the cavity
930 the diameter across the seat 110 is slightly less than the
diameter of a golf ball. The rubber-tube 932 is firm enough to
carry a golf ball but compressible (flexible) so that a golf ball
can be pushed through with a slight force so that the golf ball is
cradled in the C-shaped cavity 930.
[0233] Note that the head 620 itself becomes the mount 120, and the
rubber-tube 932 forms the seat 110. Note also that this embodiment
eliminates the need of any distinct attachment element. Thus, there
is no accessories associated with this embodiment. Furthermore, the
cavity 930 is integral to the redesigned head 620. The cavity 930
plays the role of the mount element. Thus, the design of the mount
element has been significantly simplified, and the concept of the
mount element has been significantly broadened. The mount 120 can
be eliminated as an element altogether if the seat 110 itself is
defined as the C-shaped cavity 930. Such an embodiment is possible
where there is no rubber-tube at all. The C-shape can have diameter
almost exactly the same as a golf ball but just slightly less. The
golf ball itself would provide the flexibility property since the
cover of a golf ball is compressible. The golf ball could then be
squeezed through the rigid hole.
[0234] The scoop-method also works- naturally with this embodiment
since the head 620, having a wide bottom, can be slid easily along
the ground.
[0235] Another variation on this embodiment would both eliminate
the flexibility element altogether and reduce the diameter of the
C-shape to much less than the diameter of a golf ball. This
embodiment would no longer permit the push-through-method and thus
is operated by the scoop-method exclusively. Such an embodiment
allows for less dramatic alterations in the head 620.
[0236] FIG. 11C: Clip Mount, and Shaft Modified Embodiment.
[0237] FIG. 11C shows a shaft-mountable ball-tee-up-device 101 with
the leg 148 modified with a clip 934. This clip 934 has a square
cross-sectional profile. To receive the clip 934, the shaft-bottom
632 is modified. The shaft-bottom 632 has a pair of flanges 936.
These flanges 936 resist vertical slippage. Between the flanges
936, the shaft-bottom 632 has a
square-cross-sectional-profile-shaft 938 to resist rotational
slippage. In this embodiment, the mount 120 is integrated into the
shaft-bottom 632.
[0238] FIG. 12: Rubber-T, Ball-in-Cup and Hazard Retriever
Pick-Up-Device Embodiments.
[0239] FIG. 12(A, B): Rubber-T Embodiment
[0240] FIG. 12(A, B) show a head-mountable ball-tee-up-device 102
with a rubber-T-shape 950 glued between two seat-halves 952. The
result is then glued to the post 144. This embodiment is used when
the seat-halves 952 are made of a rigid material with little
flexibility as can occur with metals such as stainless steel,
titanium, or beryllium. Thus, the rubber-T-shape 950 provides the
flexibility.
[0241] FIG. 12C: Ball-in-Cup and Hazard Retriever Embodiments.
[0242] FIG. 12C shows that the ball-tee-up-device 101 as attached
to a handle such as a pole 954 (or the top of a golf club) to
pick-up the ball 700 from a cup 966. The cup 966 is about 114.3
millimeters (4.5 inches) in diameter. The ball 700 is about 42.871
millimeters (1.68 inches) in diameter. After the ball 700 has been
extracted it can be removed from the tee-up-device 101 by either a
reverse application of the scoop-method or by merely tapping the
ball 700 on the ground and letting the ball bounce out of the seat
110. Thus, the golfer may continue practicing putting with that
ball as is done on putting greens. This embodiment can also be used
to retrieve golf balls from hazards.
[0243] FIG. 13: Cane-Bottom Tee-Up-Device Embodiment.
[0244] FIG. 13A shows a top-down view of a cane-mountable
ball-tee-up-device 103 that attaches to a cane 968 (seen in FIG.
13C), as is used by handicapped persons, having a cane-bottom 970.
The previous shaft-mountable and head-mountable embodiments could
be easily mounted to the cane 968. But to show some of the
diversity in designs, the embodiment shown in FIG. 13(A-D) is
offered. The mount 120 is generally a C-shape having a set of three
points 956. The seat 110 is formed by the two straight-girders 958
and the tips 114 which are pointed and made of rubber.
[0245] FIG. 13B shows a front-elevated view. The tips 114 are
slanted up, out of the plane of the seat 110 and mount 120.
[0246] FIG. 13C shows how the tee-up-device 103 attaches to the
cane 968. The straight-girders 958 are pulled apart slightly so
that the C-shape of the mount 120 surrounds the cane-bottom 970.
The C-shape is then squeezed so that the three points 956 dig into
the cane-bottom 970 so as to anchor the tee-up-device 103.
[0247] FIG. 13D shows how the ball 700 sits cradled in the seat
110. The tips 114 help to hold the ball 700 and provide two points
of contact. The cane-bottom 970 provides the third point of
contact. Three points of contact hold the ball 700. In operation,
the ball 700 is pushed through the tips 114 which bend up and back.
Then the ball 700 rests on the tips 114. Thus, the tips 114 act
somewhat like a one way value.
[0248] FIG. 13(A-D) shows how the seat 110 need not be exactly a
C-shaped.
[0249] FIG. 14: Bent Rod, Wide Seat, Toe Attached, Nub, and Notched
Seat with Rubber-Band Tee-Up-Device Embodiments.
[0250] FIG. 14(A-F) Show 5 Embodiment Variations.
[0251] FIG. 14A shows ball-tee-up-device 101 made entirely of a
bent rod (or wire form). This embodiment distributes the
flexibility action along the entire rod hence reducing metal
fatigue and stress points.
[0252] FIG. 14B shows tee-up-device 101 with the seat 110 being
about 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) wide. This allows the ball 700 to
be lightly gripped in the C-shape (perhaps tapered also) which
reduces the chances of the ball 700 spurting up and out of the seat
110. This embodiment stabilizes operation in the case that the
golfer pushes down too aggressively while using the push-through
method or if he bobbles the operation accidentally.
[0253] FIG. 14C shows how tee-up-device 102 can be attached to
other parts of the club 610, in this case, the toe 622.
[0254] FIG. 14D shows a nub 980 made of silicon and glued to the
seat 110 adjacent to the T-joint 142. The C-shape of the seat 110
is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball 700 so as to
accommodate the extra width of the nub 980. This nub 980 compresses
during the push-through-method and thus substitutes for the
aluminum flexibility. This allows for using more rigid materials
that don't flex adequately. Also, by compressing, the nub 980
relieves the stress that aluminum endures under repeated acts of
flexing. An additional benefit is that rubber has better gripping
properties than aluminum.
[0255] Nubs 980 could be glued to three points (not specifically
shown) around the C-shape. In this case, the nubs 980 themselves
become the seat 110 since no part of the C-shape would touch the
golf ball.
[0256] FIG. 14E show the tee-up-device 102 with two notches 982 for
holding a resilient band.
[0257] FIG. 14F shows how a rubber-band 984 is stretched across the
seat 110 and moored in the notches 982. The rubber-band 984 acts in
a similar way to the nub 980 of FIG. 14D.
[0258] One of the special features of this invention is the
generous latitude by which the tee-up-device 101 can be tilted and
remain operationally useful. The embodiment in FIG. 14B can be
turned entirely upside-down while holding the ball 700
securely.
[0259] FIG. 15: Large Tilt Operation.
[0260] FIG. 15(A-C) show that the original preferred embodiment of
ball-tee-up-device 101 can be tilted and remain operational.
[0261] FIG. 15A shows a front view of the tee-up-device 101
cradling the ball 700 securely at a steep angle of about 65 degrees
of tilt inclination (in the sense that the tee-up-device 101 is
pitched forward).
[0262] FIG. 15B shows a side view of this same 65 degrees of tilt
inclination.
[0263] Similar degrees of tilt inclination in the roll direction of
attitude (tilted sideways) will also hold the ball securely.
[0264] FIG. 15C shows this severe tilt in operation over a tee
800.
[0265] These figures, FIG. 15(A-C), show how the tee-up-device 101
cradles the ball 700 so deeply that the ball 700 is secure even at
extreme angles of tilt. The ball 700 will be held securely as long
as the tips 114 stay in front of the center of gravity of the ball
700 and the point of contact near the post 144 connection remains
behind the center of gravity of the ball.
[0266] In some embodiments, the tee-up-device 101 can even be
turned entirely upside down and still hold the ball in place. This
feature is due to the friction between the ball 700 and the seat
110. In effect, the ball 700 sticks in the seat 110 even though
there need not be any added tacky property to the materials. The
flexibility and natural friction of the materials act like fingers
gripping the ball 700.
[0267] This wide range of angles of tilt allows the golfer great
versatility in usage. Instead of having to adapt his grip or stance
to orient the seat 110 parallel to the ground, he can address the
ball 700 at a wide range of angles and positions when picking-up,
carrying, and teeing-up the ball 700.
[0268] Note that nearly all the bottom of the ball 700 is exposed
underneath the seat 110 at even large tilt angles. This allows for
a forgiving leeway in finding the tee 800 when lowering the ball
700. The golfer need not search blindly by repeatedly lowering and
raising the club 610 trying to mate the exact bottom of the ball
700 with the tee 800. Instead, as soon as any part of the underside
of the ball 700 touches the tee 800, the golfer can see and feel
how to move the tee-up-device 101 laterally in order to center the
ball 700 over the tee 800. The seat 110 will act as guide-rails and
guide the ball 700 onto the tee 800.
[0269] FIG. 16: Hinged-Head-Mountable Tee-Up-Device Embodiment.
[0270] FIG. 16(A-C) show a hinged-head-mountable ball-tee-up-device
104.
[0271] FIG. 16A shows a C-clamp 974 and a cylinder-mount 972.
[0272] FIG. 16B shows how the C-clamp 974 is clipped over the
cylinder-mount 972.
[0273] FIG. 16C shows how the bolt 182 is screwed into the club 610
and locks the tee-up-device 104 in place. The cylinder-mount 972
has a rough surface like the texture of sandpaper to avoid
slippage.
[0274] The benefit of this embodiment is that it allows the golfer
to customize the orientation of the tee-up-device 104 to fit his
personal style. There are two degrees of rotational freedom
available since the tee-up-device 104 can be pivoted around the
bolt 182 axis and rotated about the cylinder-mount 972 axis before
locking the bolt 182 down.
[0275] FIG. 17: Narrow Gap Tee-Up-Device Embodiment
[0276] FIG. 17(A-E) show ball-tee-up-device 102 with a narrow gap
118. It allows the seat 110 to have additional support by
minimizing the chances of the ball 700 falling through the gap 118.
The gap 118 appears as an actual opening only during operation.
[0277] FIG. 17A is a top-down view that shows tee-up-device 102
where the gap 118 is such that the tips 114 touch.
[0278] FIG. 17B is a top-down view that shows how tee-up-device 102
encircles a tee 800. A golf ball would be teed-up but is removed
here so as to see how the operation works.
[0279] FIG. 17C shows how, as the tee-up-device 102 withdraws, the
tee 800 engages the gap 118.
[0280] FIG. 17D shows how the tee 800 acts like a wedge and opens
the gap 118. This is possible since the bottom of a mat tee 800 is
rigidly held by the mat 900 and because the seat 110 has
flexibility.
[0281] FIG. 17E shows the tee-up-device 102 removed from the tee
800 and the gap 118 returned to a closed state.
[0282] This embodiment is for the push-through-method of
operation.
[0283] FIG. 18: Bottom-Head-Mountable Tee-Up-Device Embodiment.
[0284] FIG. 18(A-E) show a bottom-head-mountable tee-up-device 105.
This embodiment attaches to the bottom 629 of the head 620 of the
club 610.
[0285] FIG. 18A shows the seat 110 in the shape of a partial
rectangle with straight-girders 958, with tips 114, and gap 118.
This seat 110 is made of a bent aluminum rod. Also shown in the
FIG. 18A is a bottom view of the head 620 with a pair of tracks 990
built into the bottom 629. The tracks 990 run parallel to each
other.
[0286] FIG. 18B shows a front view of the head 620 with the tracks
990 in profile. The right track 990 has an L-shaped profile, and
the left track 990 has a reverse-L-shaped profile.
[0287] FIG. 18C shows (from beneath) how the seat 110 fits into the
tracks 990. The seat 110 can be spread wider than the tracks 990.
Then the aluminum rod's flexibility snaps the seat 110 down inside
the tracks 990. Thus, the tracks 990 play the role as the mount
120. The seat 110 can ride back and forth in the tracks 990.
Additionally, FIG. 18C shows the seat 110 pushed back to the rear
628. This is called the strike position since there is no
encumbrance to striking the ball 700.
[0288] FIG. 18D shows (from beneath) how the seat 110 can be pushed
forward into the pick-up/tee-up position. The seat 110 is pushed
forward by dragging the bottom 626 along the ground. The side of
the seat 110 opposite of the gap 118 will catch in the ground and
the entire seat 110 will slide forward in the tracks 990. The
bottom 629 can also be dragged backwards across the top of the tee
800. The tee 800 will catch and push the seat 110 forward. The
amount of friction between the seat 110 and the tracks 990 is
determined by design for the golfer's personal preference.
[0289] FIG. 18E shows that the ball 700 can be pushed-through the
seat 110 and come to rest on the-straight-girders 958 on the sides
of the seat 110, on the tips 114, and against the face 626. Thus
the ball 700 can be picked-up and teed-up. After the ball 700 is
teed-up, the seat 110 is pushed back by angling the head 620
towards the ground and pushing on the tips 114 against the ground
so that the seat 110 slides along the tracks 990 back into the
strike position. The teed-up ball 700 would then be ready to be
hit.
[0290] FIG. 19: Loop-Strap Shaft-Mounted Tee-Up-Device
Embodiment.
[0291] FIG. 19(A-D) show a loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device
107. This embodiment is a modification to the bent rod embodiment
of FIG. 14A.
[0292] FIG. 19A shows how the rod is bent outward to form a
rectangular-loop 921.
[0293] FIG. 19B shows where the loop-strap 922 is attached to the
rectangular-loop 921 (by gluing, for instance). The inside surface
of this loop-strap 922 is made of a sticky material such as is
found in the product Sticky Pad .TM. (Sticky Pad .TM. reference is
made to Handstands .TM. by American Covers, Inc., (P.O. Box 987,
Draper, Utah 94020, or at handstands.com). This sticky surface
remains sticky after hundreds of applications, and only
occasionally needs to be rinsed with water or cleaned with soap and
water to restore its stickiness. This is unlike most tapes, such as
duct tape, that loose stickiness after a few applications. This
sticky-side 923 surface will cling to the club shaft 630.
[0294] FIG. 19C shows how the loop-strap 922 is looped around in as
circle and threaded through the rectangular-loop 921 opening. Part
of the outer surface of the loop-strap 922 has a swath of
hook-fastener 174 that is pulled tight around the rectangular-loop
921 and pressed down on a swath of loop-fastener 172 which makes
the other part of the outer surface of the loop-strap 922.
[0295] FIG. 19D shows the loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device
107 secured to the club 610 at the shaft-bottom 632. The loop-strap
922 surrounds the shaft-bottom 632. The loop-strap 922 is threaded
through the rectangular-loop 921 opening. The loop-strap 922 is
pulled back and pulled tight hence pressing the loop-strap's 922
sticky-side 923 tightly against the shaft-bottom 632. The
loop-strap 922 is then pressed down on itself thus engaging the
hook-fastener 174 swath to the loop-fastener 172 swath. The
loop-strap shaft-mounted tee-up-device 107 is thus secured to the
club 610.
[0296] FIG. 20: Cage Tee-Up-Device Embodiment.
[0297] FIG. 20(A-E) shows a cage ball-tee-up-device 106.
[0298] FIG. 20A shows that the seat 110 of tee-up-device 106
comprises three bars 994. The three bars 994 are connected at the
mount 120 at the top. The three bars 994 are spaced about 120
degrees apart, which makes the three bars 994 evenly spaced in a
circle around the mount 120. The three bars 994 are each identical
in shape--that shape being much like a parenthesis. With the bars
994 spaced 120 degrees apart in a circle, they form a cage that
bulges in the middle and is pinched at the bottom. The bulge in the
middle of the cage is wide enough so that the ball 700 can pass
through any two of the bars 994. The pinch at the bottom of the
cage is more narrow than the diameter of the ball 700 so that the
ball 700 can be carried on top of the tips 114. Also, the cage has
no bottom so that the ball 700 can enter through the bottom.
[0299] FIG. 20A shows the tee-up-device 106 above the ball 700 on
the mat 900.
[0300] FIG. 20B shows the tee-up-device 106 lowered so the tips 114
engage the ball 700.
[0301] FIG. 20C shows the tee-up-device 106 is pushed down on the
ball 700. The ball 700 acts like a wedge and pries open the tips
114. The tips 114 spread open due to the flexibility in the bars
990 and the ball 700 passes through the tips 114 into the cage.
[0302] FIG. 20D shows how the tee-up-device 106 carries the ball
700 above the tee 800. Note that the weight of the ball is less
than the force required to spread the tips 114.
[0303] FIG. 20E shows how the tee-up-device 106 is lowered and the
ball 700 comes to rest on the tee 800. Since the bars 990 are
tapered inward, the ball 700 will fall against the bars 990 and can
be guided back onto the tee 800 (if the initial touchdown of the
ball 700 onto the tee 800 is initially off center). Then the
tee-up-device 106 is lowered until the tips 114 touch the mat 900.
In this configuration, the ball 700 sits on the tee 800 at the
level of the bulge in the cage. The tee-up-device 106 can be
withdrawn laterally so that the ball 700 passes between any two of
the bars 990.
[0304] FIG. 20F shows that the ball 700 is thus teed-up.
[0305] The three tips 114 act as points of contact of the seat 110
with the ball 700. The opening in the seat 110, by which the ball
700 is exposed to the tee 800, is the space between these three
tips 114.
[0306] When withdrawing the tee-up-device 106 laterally, the ball
700 exits through the opening between two of the bars 990, and the
tee 800 exits between the opening between the two tips 114
associated with those two bars 990. This differs slightly from the
preferred embodiment of tee-up-device 101 shown in FIG. 1. In the
preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the tee-up-device 101 has a gap 118
by which the tee 800 alone exits. Thus, in the present embodiment,
the gap 118 will be understood to comprise the opening between the
bars 990 and the opening between the tips 114. Thus, the present
embodiment has generalized the definition of the gap 118 to mean an
exit-means by which the tee-up-device of any embodiment withdraws
from the teed-up ball 700.
[0307] The advantage of the three bar 990 configuration of this
embodiment is that there are three gaps 118--one gap 118 between
each pair of bars 994. The benefit of three gaps 118 is that these
gaps 118 are at 120 degrees to each other and thus allow the golfer
the leeway to withdraw the tee-up-device 106 in any of three
distinct directions.
[0308] Another advantage of this embodiment is that it can be used
for both right and left handed golfers without a mirror image
embodiment.
[0309] Note that, even though this embodiment looks bulky, it is
made primarily of only three light weight aluminum bars.
[0310] FIG. 21: Cage Tee-Up-Device Mounted to Club.
[0311] FIG. 21A shows how the cage ball-tee-up-device 106 can be
attached to the club 610 so that the club 610 can be swung with
adequate ground clearance. The attachment is made by the same type
of clip 934 as shown in FIG. 11C.
[0312] FIG. 21B shows how the club 610 can be tilted to drop the
cage tee-up-device 106 down to the ball 700. Thus the ball 700 can
be picked-up and teed-up as shown in FIG. 20(A-E).
[0313] In summary, the tee up device of the present invention
permits practice and participation in golf for the healthy and the
handicapped
[0314] The ball-tee-up device has enormous benefits for both the
healthy and handicapped golfer alike. A serious golfer can engage
in uniform practice sessions at any driving range. A handicapped
person can participate where before he was left out.
[0315] Benefits in a Normal Round of Golf.
[0316] Beyond practicing at driving ranges, the tee-up-device can
be useful in a normal round of golf. This is so since the
ball-tee-up-device can be used to better set up the golfer's stance
and stroke when teeing off at each hole. The golfer can insert a
regular tee in the normal manner and take up his stance addressing
an imaginary golf ball above the tee. He can then test out his
stance by swinging the head of the club directly over the tee. By
doing this, the golfer can both precisely measure the distance to
the tee and see how the club face will pass through the ball. By
making these test passes of the club head over the tee, the golfer
can adjust his stance accordingly. The alternative and customary
method for adjusting one's stance is to guess at the distance by
grounding the club near the teed-up ball, making test swings above
the teed-up ball, and cocking the club head behind the ball. This
method is inherently inaccurate since the club head can never be
positioned exactly where the club face will follow through the ball
above the tee. After the golfer is satisfied with his stance, he
can tee-up with the tee-up-device and swing with the confidence
that he has taken a good stance. Furthermore, when a golfer
addresses a teed-up ball and goes through the motions of adjusting
his stance, he runs the risk of accidentally touching the ball
before he is ready. This can cost him a stroke. Whereas with the
tee-up-device, the golfer can complete his preparation first then
tee-up when his is ready to hit the ball.
[0317] Handicapped Participation.
[0318] Handicapped people are becoming more active. Many people can
stand but can't bend over. Many are confined to wheelchairs and
can't reach down. Many are hand amputees or partially paralyzed and
find the inconvenience of having to switch objects in and out of
their grip a deterrent to participation. There is a great deal of
tedium in having to use one's only good hand or prosthesis or
orthosis to put down the club, tee-up a ball, then pick-up the club
again. The tee-up-device provides a means for many handicapped
persons to practice and play golf. Even a double hand amputee could
enjoy practicing driving by strapping a club to his forearms and
using the tee-up-device at the end of the club. If he found he
didn't have the fidelity in his arms to tee-up, then he could
attach the tee-up-device to his shoe and use his foot to tee-up.
Furthermore, practicing putting on a putting green requires
repeatedly retrieving balls from the cup. When attached to a
putter, the tee-up-device can help a handicapped person enjoy this
activity.
[0319] Other Activities.
[0320] Other sports require that a ball be picked-up and handled.
By attaching the tee-up-device at the end of a bat a wheelchair
bound person could tee-up as series of baseballs and practice
hitting as in the sport of Tee-Ball. A person with use of only one
arm could attach the tee-up-device to the end of a ping pong
paddle. He could pick-up a ball off the table and then toss that
ball up out of the seat with a flick of the paddle and perform a
serve (an act that might otherwise require two hands). A tennis
player could use the tee-up-device similarly to pick-up a ball from
the ground with his racquet and start a point or rally.
[0321] Extensions or Elongate Members, Conjunctive.
[0322] The ball-tee-up-device can be attached or built into many
other devices for picking-up or teeing-up or retrieving balls. The
tee-up-device could even be used as the ball pick-up/tee-up
mechanism in an automatic tee-up machine. Any of the possible
devices that the tee-up-device can be attached to or built into are
called elongate members or extensions. Some such elongate members
or extensions are: golf clubs (drivers, wedges, putters), poles,
canes, crutches, bats, racquets, tee-up machines, shoes,
prostheses, orthoses.
[0323] These elongate members or extensions can have the
tee-up-device attached to them, or the elongate members or
extension can have the tee-up-device built into it, or the elongate
members or extension can be designed or modified to have the
tee-up-device attached to it. Therefore the tee-up-device is said
to be conjunctive to the elongate members or extension.
[0324] Right-Handed and Left-Handed Embodiments
[0325] A single shaft-mountable design can be made for both
right-handed and left-handed clubs. One way to accomplish this is
to employ a hinged L-joint that can be rotated and locked-down with
a bolt. Thus, the angle between the leg and the post can be
customized to any club no matter the angle between the shaft and
the head.
[0326] Flexibility Variations.
[0327] The flexibility can be customized in a variety of ways.
[0328] In FIG. 12(A, B) a bolt could pass through the sandwiched
joint, that is, the rubber-T sandwiched between the seat-halves. By
tightening the bolt, the seat-halves pull together so that the
rubber is squeezed and the flexibility is adjusted.
[0329] There can be no flexibility at all. The scoop-method works
for a seat that is perfectly rigid. As explained in the discussion
of FIG. 11B, the golf ball itself can provide the flexibility
action since it has a compressible surface. Thus, the push-through
method can work for a seat with no flexibility if the diameter of
the C-shape is almost the same as the diameter of the ball.
[0330] Thus, the flexibility can be eliminated as a necessary
element.
[0331] Tips Variations
[0332] The tips can provide a means to: reduce snagging, act as
guides, and act as supports. FIG. 11A shows an embodiment where the
tips can be eliminated as a necessary element. Both the
push-through-method and the scoop-method can be performed easily
without them.
[0333] Weight Variations.
[0334] A golf club driver can weigh about 14 ounces (give or take a
few ounces). Prototypes of the shaft-mountable embodiment of FIG.
1, including the accessories, weigh less than {fraction (4/10)}ths
of an ounce. Thus, this embodiment adds less than 2.8 percent to
the weight of the club.
[0335] Prototypes of the head-mountable embodiment of FIG. 9,
including accessories, weigh less than {fraction (2/10)}ths of an
ounce. Thus, this embodiment adds less than 1.4 percent to the
weight of the club.
[0336] The weight of these embodiments can be reduced further by
eliminating materials such as the tips or by using lighter weight
materials such as hollow aluminum tubing instead of solid aluminum
rods. Some other materials for reducing weight and/or making the
device are: titanium, beryllium, other metals, rods, tubing, nylon,
rubber, fiberglass, PVC, ABS, polystyrene, acrylic, other plastics
and synthetics, even wood.
[0337] By designing the club head and tee-up-device together, the
ball-tee-up-device can be attached so that it will not increase the
normal weight of the club at all. For instance, the modified head
embodiment of FIG. 11B could be designed to have the same weight or
use the same amount of material in the head as a normal head
design.
[0338] Another design that leaves the club weight unchanged used
the straight-girders of FIG. 13. Two straight-girders can be welded
to the rear of the head. This would position the seat in the rear
exactly opposite to how the seat protrudes from under the face in
FIG. 13. To compensate for the weight of the straight-girders,
material of equal weight can be shaved off the body of the club
head. In this way, the combined unit of the girders and the shaved
head will not gain any weight. Additionally, the new distribution
of mass will be evenly distributed behind the face where the ball
makes contact. Thus, the feel of the club will be essentially the
same as before the modification.
[0339] Release Mechanism.
[0340] Another way to allow for the weight of the club to remain
unchanged is to design a release mechanism into the tee-up-device.
Thus, after teeing-up, the golfer would remove the
ball-tee-up-device from the club, and the club would be swung
without any attachment at all. Many release mechanisms are
possible. One such mechanism could utilize magnetism. The
tee-up-device's mount could be magnetized and stick to the rear of
the club head. After the golfer has teed-up, he could hook the tips
of the tee-up-device under a bar anchored to the ground (low and
parallel to the ground and away from the tee, perhaps as part of
the ball tray or base of a golf cart) and pull off the
tee-up-device from the club by overcoming the force of magnetic
attraction. After hitting the ball, the golfer could re-attach the
tee-up-device by merely touching the rear of the club head to the
magnetic mount and then disengaging the tips from the bar be
reversing the motion that was used to originally hook the tips to
the bar.
[0341] Mount and Accessories Variations
[0342] The mount can be built into the club in surprising ways. In
FIG. 11B, the club head itself was completely redesigned so that
the seat was the head itself. In FIG. 11C, the shaft has been
modified with a square cross-section. But, in FIG. 1, the club
requires no modification. Thus, the mount covers both methods of
attachment and modifications to the club or elongate members or
extension.
[0343] Additional mounting elements and methods include: oval shaft
cross-sections, clasps, clamps, mounting pins, slots, flanges,
grooves, holes, glues, solder, welds.
[0344] In FIG. 11B there really are no accessories. The seat is
merely glued to the head. In this case, the only valid definition
for the accessories would be the glue. But the rubber-tube could
have been attached without glue. The rubber-tube could have a
groove along the side. The C-shaped rim of the cavity 930 in the
head could have a flange. The groove of the rubber-tube would slide
over the flange, joining the two together. In this case, there are
no accessories to aid in mounting. Thus, the accessories are not a
necessary element of the invention.
[0345] Seat Variations
[0346] The seat can come in many shapes and sizes. For instance,
the seat does not have to lie primarily in a plane. Non-planar
shapes, such as the wide seat of FIG. 14, can cradle the ball well.
Weight can be eliminated from this wide seat embodiment by using a
zigzag design. Such a zigzag, going up and down and around the
ball, can hold the ball securely by making many contact points.
Such a zigzag design also offers a variety of ways to execute the
flexibility property. The ball need be supported by at most three
points in order to be held. These points can include contact points
with the club. This permits a great variety in both functional
design and artistic design.
[0347] The seat of FIG. 11B is a rubber-tube. The function of this
rubber-tube is to perform the flexibility function by compressing
so that the ball can push-through the C-shape in the mount while
being firm enough to hold the weight of the ball. Instead of a
rubber-tube, this function could be performed by other elements
such as the nub of FIG. 14D made out of silicon. Three such nubs
glued around the C-shape could form the seat.
[0348] Objects and advantages.
[0349] Accordingly, the reader will see that the ball-tee-up-device
of this invention provides a useful attachment to a golf club that
allows a golfer to pick-up and tee-up a golf ball.
[0350] The tee-up-device has many advantages such as:
[0351] it can both pick-up balls and tee-up balls;
[0352] it can be used with permanent tees, or regular tees, or
automatic tee insertion/setter devices;
[0353] it allows for a virtually normal feel and swing of a golf
club by providing a lightweight attachment that does not unduly
unbalance the golf club or create undue air drag while
swinging;
[0354] it allows for a normal feel and swing of a golf club by
providing a tee-up-device built into the golf club that does not
change the weight or balance of the golf club;
[0355] it allows the golfer to practice driving a series of golf
balls without: bending over, squatting down, moving his feet,
shifting his natural stance, releasing or adjusting his natural
grip on the club, altering his natural swing, or interfering with
the natural striking of the teed-up ball;
[0356] it allows for consistent and uniform and efficient practice
sessions;
[0357] it can help reduce boredom, fatigue, stress, and possible
injury from the repetitive act of manually teeing-up;
[0358] It can help speed up play and thereby increase player
enjoyment, increase customer turnover, and increase proprietor
revenues;
[0359] it provides a proprietor an additional item to sell as
opposed to having to own and maintain his own automatic tee-up
machines;
[0360] it provides a variety of embodiments and features that can
be customized to suit an individual's needs, style, and
personality;
[0361] it provides a variety of forgiving operational methods of
use;
[0362] it provides a small, simple, reliable, durable, convenient,
low cost, highly portable, reversible attachment, and easy to use
alternative to other manual and automatic tee-up devices which are
more costly to manufacture, clumsy to operate, awkward to
transport, inconvenient to store, made of moving parts, and require
maintenance;
[0363] it provides for easy assembly and disassembly;
[0364] it provides a marketable product that offers a useful,
sleek, and cool addition a golfer's equipment accessories;
[0365] it can be attached to a putter grip-end and used to easily
retrieve balls from the cup and easily place that ball back on the
green for further putting;
[0366] it can be attached to a pole and used to retrieve balls from
hazards or pick-up a series of balls as would be necessary after
practicing chipping a bunch of balls onto a green;
[0367] it provides a pick-up and/or tee-up device that can be used
for other activities such as the children's sport of Tee-Ball where
a baseball is teed-up and hit off a torso-high tee, or picking-up
ping pong balls, or tennis balls.
[0368] Unobviousness Benefits
[0369] With regard to golf alone, the fantastic novelty of this
invention's function can not be overstated. This invention provides
a revolutionary, sensational new means to pick-up a ball and/or
tee-up a ball without significantly altering any aspect of a
golfer's natural play. It does this by eliminating the need to bend
down to tee-up by hand or the need of unsuitable tee-up devices.
Instead, it uses the golf club itself as a natural extended hand.
And it can be transported conveniently and used at virtually any
golfing site. By doing so, this invention makes golf easier, more
enjoyable, and offers beneficial aid even to healthy and expert
golfers. For handicapped persons, and golfers with physical
problems such as bad backs, the benefits are enormous. It can get
people involved where before they could were left out.
[0370] Scope.
[0371] The execution of the specific embodiments, by the new use of
materials and structures, realize the invention's intended
function. But the invention has a broader scope beyond the specific
examples provided. Thus the scope of the invention should be
determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents,
rather than by the examples.
* * * * *