U.S. patent application number 11/688586 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for golf tee.
This patent application is currently assigned to Anthony E. Seaman. Invention is credited to Anthony E. Seaman.
Application Number | 20080234072 11/688586 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39775324 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080234072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seaman; Anthony E. |
September 25, 2008 |
GOLF TEE
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a ball. In one aspect, the apparatus
is a golf tee that facilitates the control of one or more of a
liftoff angle, spin and direction.
Inventors: |
Seaman; Anthony E.; (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON LLP
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER, 6060 CENTER DRIVE, TENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Assignee: |
Seaman; Anthony E.
Redondo Beach
CA
|
Family ID: |
39775324 |
Appl. No.: |
11/688586 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/397 ;
473/392 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/09 20130101;
A63B 57/19 20151001; A63B 57/10 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/397 ;
473/392 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A tee for receiving a golf ball, comprising: an upper portion,
the upper portion including a ramp having a length; and a lower
portion, the lower portion including a peg configured to be
inserted into a ground surface; wherein at least a portion of the
length of the ramp provides a surface along which the ball
travels.
2. The tee of claim 1, wherein the upper portion further includes a
curved section configured between the legs.
3. The tee of claim 2, wherein the curved section is
semi-circular.
4. The tee of claim 2, wherein the upper portion further includes a
transition zone between the legs and the curved section.
5. The tee of claim 4, wherein the transition zone has a radii
smaller than a spherical radius of the ball.
6. The tee of claim 4, wherein the upper portion further includes a
center section which is under cut to allow clearance for the
ball.
7. The tee of claim 6, wherein the upper portion further includes a
pair of spaced cutouts.
8. The tee of claim 7, wherein the peg has a tapered point.
9. The tee of claim 8, wherein the peg has a triangular
cross-section.
10. The tee of claim 8, where in the peg has one of a triangular,
rectangular or a diagonal shape.
11. The tee of claim 1, wherein the ramp includes a pair of spaced
legs with an upper surface providing a line contact with the
ball.
12. The tee of claim 1, wherein the ramp includes a concave surface
for engaging the ball traveling along the ramp.
13. The tee of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes a
radius, a width and a length.
14. The tee of claim 13, wherein the radius being less than a
radius of the ball.
15. The tee of claim 13, wherein the width does not exceed a
diameter of the ball.
16. The tee of claim 13, wherein the width varies from a first
dimension to a second dimension.
17. The tee of claim 13, wherein the width is adjustable.
18. The tee of claim 1, wherein an angle between the upper portion
and the lower portion is adjustable.
19. The tee of claim 1, wherein one or more of a liftoff angle,
spin and direction of the ball is controlled by the upper
portion.
20. The tee of claim 1, wherein the tee is a single piece golf tee.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a golfing
apparatus and more particularly, to a tee to be used as a stand for
a golf ball.
[0002] In the sport of golf, a player is allowed to place the ball
on a tee for the first shot on each of the eighteen holes. The
purpose of the tee is to elevate the ball above the ground so the
golfer can strike it with the proper club and at the proper point
in his swing. The standard golf tee, in use today, is an inverted
cone shape (monopode) with a small circular pad for the ball to
rest on and slender peg on the other end to place into the ground.
These tees are approximately two to four inches long and are made
from wood, plastic or a biodegradable material. Numerous variations
of the standard golf tee have been designed and patented. These
tees fall into five general categories with respect to their
benefits: 1. To reduce the friction between the tee and the golf
ball so the energy imparted from the golf club to ball is not
wasted overcoming friction. This allows the ball to travel farther.
2. To set the height or adjust the height of the tee to an exact
distance above the ground so the golfer can achieve consistent
results (ball distance and placement accuracy) to match his swing
and the club he is using. 3. To retain the tee so the golfer can
reuse it. 4. To manufacture the tees out of a biodegradable
material so they will break down into elemental components that
benefit the turf. Once the tee dissolves, they will not be a
nuisance to other golfers and ground keepers. 5. To reduce the cost
of manufacturing tees by introducing a new shape, material or
manufacturing process.
[0003] The modern game of golf traces its roots to Scotland in the
year 1502. The first three of the thirteen original rules of golf
(1744) pertain to the use of a tee. They are 1. You must tee your
ball within a club's length of the hole. 2. Your tee must be on the
ground. 3. You are not to change the ball which you strike off the
tee. In the 19th century separate areas were created at St. Andrews
from which a golfer would tee the ball. Sand, water and a towel
were provided at each tee. The water and towel provide a hint that
the sand was not casually placed above the ground but it was shaped
by hand to provide the desired lift and direction for the drive. A
ramp to control loft and a groove to control direction were easily
shaped in wet sand. When finished, the golfer would clean his hands
with the water, dry them off with the towel and then drive the ball
off of the shaped sand mound. The word "tee" referred to the area
where sand was placed. It did not refer to the pile of sand.
[0004] From physics (ignoring the lift on the ball as a result of
air flowing over the dimples and ball spin), the maximum distance
the ball can travel is determined by its initial velocity and its
liftoff angle. The maximum distance is obtained when the liftoff
angle is 45 degrees. The initial velocity is controlled by the
energy transferred from the club to the ball (club head speed).
With the standard tee in use today, the liftoff angle is controlled
by the loft on the club and the relative position of the player to
and the height of the ball on the tee. By moving closer to the
ball, the club head hits the ball as the shaft is close to
perpendicular to the ground. The result is a drive that has a
shallow liftoff angle (which is closer to the loft on the club) and
a slower velocity because the player has less time to accelerate
the club. As the player moves back and away from the ball, the club
head strikes the ball at a higher point along the arc of the swing
and with a faster moving club head. The result is a greater liftoff
angle, a higher initial velocity and a longer drive.
[0005] It is desirable to develop a golf tee that, like the wet
sand, controls the liftoff angle and the direction of travel for
the ball. Such a tee will allow the golfer to set the liftoff angle
while teeing the ball up and allow him to concentrate on accurately
striking the ball with the proper velocity. By guiding the ball as
it leaves the tee and pre-selecting the liftoff angle, the golfer
will have a better opportunity to drive the ball to its desired
location. The tee should be simple in design, inexpensive to
manufacture and easy to use.
[0006] The present invention satisfies these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Briefly and in general terms, the present invention is
directed toward an apparatus for receiving a projectile. In one
aspect, the apparatus is a tee configured to hold a stationary golf
ball. In a further aspect, the apparatus is designed to control one
or more of a liftoff angle and direction of travel of the ball.
[0008] In one contemplated embodiment, the apparatus of the present
invention is in the form of a golf tee. The tee includes three
sections that, from the top, resemble a "U" which sit upon a single
peg to push into the ground. The circular part of the "U" is where
the ball rests when it is sitting on the tee. The two legs of the
"U" form a ramp that is set up at an angle from the ground. Both
sides of the ramp can intersect directly with the circular part or
small radii can bridge between the circular portion of the tee and
both sides of the ramp to act as a transition zone. The tee is
placed in the ground, as usual, and the ramp (parallel legs) is
aligned with the desired direction of travel for the ball. The ball
is placed on the tee and, when struck, leaves the circular portion
and travels through the transition zone and then climbs the ramp.
The result is a ball that is guided by the ramp rails to the proper
liftoff angle and in the proper direction.
[0009] It is further contemplated that a tee of the present
invention can include various configurations of pegs. That is, the
peg that is pressed into the ground can be any shape, including
round, but a faceted peg or a diamond shaped peg will help prevent
twisting the tee in the event of an off center strike from the
club.
[0010] Further, the present invention recognizes that the liftoff
angle associated with the tee can be adjusted in several ways. In
one approach, a simple tee, with a fixed "U" shape and a fixed ramp
angle, can be placed into the ground at a slight angle to minimize
or maximize the liftoff angle. In another embodiment, the peg can
be pivoted from the peg by means of a clevis and a boss. The
liftoff angle can be adjusted by pivoting the head on the peg to
the desired angle and locking the two in place with a screw. In yet
another embodiment, an adjustable ramp angle can be obtained by
providing an adjustment to the width of the legs of the "U". When
the legs are parallel, the ramp angle is shallow. When the legs are
closer together, the ramp angle is steeper. In yet further
embodiments, markings on the tee can tell the golfer the liftoff
angle or the correct setting for the distance he desires.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] While the novel features of the invention are set forth in
the appended claims, the invention will be better understood along
with other features from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a rear isometric of a fixed-ramp, single-piece
tee.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a fixed-ramp, single-piece
tee.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a section view through the center of a fixed-ramp,
single-piece tee that shows the details of the ball contact surface
on the tee.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a front view of a fixed-ramp, single-piece
tee.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of a fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with
widening legs on the ramp section.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of a fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with
parallel legs on the ramp section.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a top view of a fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with
narrowing legs on the ramp section.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a top view of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee
that shows the path the ball travels after being struck by the club
head.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a front view of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee
that shows the path the ball travels after being struck by the club
head.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a side view of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee
that shows the path the ball travels after being struck by the club
head.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a side view of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee
that demonstrates a shallow liftoff angle by angular placement of
the peg in the ground.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a front view of a three-piece tee with a
fixed-ramp and an adjustable take off angle by pivoting the tee
head at the peg.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a side view of a three-piece tee with a
fixed-ramp and an adjustable take off angle by pivoting the tee
head at the peg.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a side view of a two-piece, adjustable-ramp tee
that has achieves variable liftoff angle by adjusting the angle
between the two legs on the ramp.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a top view of a two-piece, adjustable-ramp tee
that achieves a variable liftoff angle by adjusting the angle
between the two legs on the ramp. The legs are parallel in this
view.
[0028] FIG. 16 is a top view of a two-piece, adjustable-ramp tee
that achieves a variable liftoff angle by adjusting the angle
between the two legs on the ramp. The legs are narrowing in this
view.
[0029] FIG. 17 is a front view of a two-piece, adjustable ramp tee
showing the path the ball travels after being struck by the club
head when the legs are parallel.
[0030] FIG. 18 is a front view of a two-piece, adjustable-ramp tee
showing the path the ball travels after being struck by the club
head when the legs are adjusted to a narrow angle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] As shown in the exemplary drawings and for purposes of
illustration, the invention is embodied in an apparatus designed as
a stand for receiving a projectile. The stand can be in the form of
a tee for a golf ball, the tee being configured to control the
liftoff angle and direction of travel of the golf ball.
[0032] Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIG. 1,
there is illustrated an isometric view of a golf tee 10 in its
simplest form, the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee. The top or upper
portion of the tee includes a curved section 11, attached to two
legs 12 that form a ramp. In one aspect, the ramp has a length and
the curved section can be semi-circular. Between the legs that form
the ramp and the curved section, are two small radii 13 that form
the transition zone. The transition zone radii are optional, but in
a first approach it is contemplated that they should not be larger
than the spherical radius of the ball. In other contemplated
approaches it is to be recognized that the transition-zone can
alternatively assume a radii larger than a radius of a ball.
[0033] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the ball is intended to
only make contact with the uppermost edge of the tee. The center
section is undercut to allow clearance for the ball. Cutout 14 and
cutout 15 are optional and only intended to save weight and
material. At the other end or lower portion of the tee is a long
peg 16. The peg can be up to four inches long and it is tapered to
a point 17 to aid insertion into the ground. The peg, as
illustrated, is triangular in cross section, but it can easily be
manufactured in any shape. Cross sectional shapes like triangular,
rectangular, diamond, etc. are preferred over circular to reduce
rotational motion of the tee. This allows the ball to leave the tee
traveling in the proper direction.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a bottom view of
the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee showing the peg 16 that is
triangular in cross section. The cutout 14 is also illustrated.
[0035] For purposes of illustration, a cross section is provided
through the center of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee (See FIG.
3). The relative angle "A" between the semi-circular section and
the ramp can be seen. In the simplest model, the ramp angle "A" is
fixed at manufacture at an angle from zero and ninety degrees to
achieve the desired liftoff angle or distance. The line that makes
up the uppermost edge of the tee 18 is also illustrated. The
uppermost edge is the part of the tee that comes into contact with
the ball.
[0036] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the front view
of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee that shows the exit plane of
the ball. The line that makes up the uppermost edge of the tee 18
can again be seen at the ends of the two legs that form the ramp.
Line contact is desirable to minimize friction, but a concave
surface can be used to increase the contact area with ball to
increase friction and impart more spin on the ball. In reality, any
shaped surface (convex, radius, elliptical, etc,) can be used to
contact the ball.
[0037] Three different variations for the two legs that make up the
fixed ramp for the single-piece tee are depicted in FIG. 5, FIG. 6
and FIG. 7. All three configurations will achieve the same result
in terms of guiding the ball. When the ball is struck by the club
head it travels up the ramp with a combined rolling and sliding
motion. The amount of sliding and the amount of rolling is
dependent on the amount of spin imparted on the ball by the club
face, on the coefficient of friction between the ball material and
the tee material and on the contact area of the ball with the tee.
The dimensions "R", "L", and "W" will have a definite affect on the
amount of spin transferred to the ball and the liftoff angle for
the ball. In general, "R" can be any dimension as long as it is
smaller than the radius of the ball; "L" can be any dimension
within reason and "W" can be any dimension as long as it does not
exceed the width of the ball. As "R" and "W" increase, the ball is
engaged on the tee at a wider distance and therefore at a smaller
radius with respect to the direction of travel. Friction with the
tee will impart more spin on the ball because the tee contacts the
ball at a smaller radius. As "L" increases, the ball is in contact
with the legs of the ramp for a longer duration. This will also
impart a greater spin on the ball because the ball is in contact
with the tee for a longer duration. As "R", "L" and "W" decrease,
the converse is true and less spin will be imparted from the tee to
the ball. In FIG. 6, the ball travels up the ramp on parallel legs.
The liftoff angle with respect to the semi-circular section will be
the same as angle "A" illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, as
the ball travels up the ramp the legs get wider and engage the ball
at smaller radius. This causes the ball to drop slightly as it
climbs the ramp and it results in a shallower liftoff angle than
angle "A" as illustrated in FIG. 3. As the ball travels up the ramp
the legs get narrower and engage the ball at larger radius (See
FIG. 7). This causes the ball to rise slightly as it climbs the
ramp and it results in a steeper liftoff angle than angle "A" as
illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 8 there is illustrated the top view of the
fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with the relative position of the ball
as it sits on the tee 19 and the ball 20 as it leaves the tee. The
peg is positioned vertically. FIG. 9 illustrates the front view of
the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with the relative position of the
ball as it sits on the tee 19 and the ball 20 as it leaves the tee.
The peg is positioned vertically. FIG. 10 illustrates the side view
of the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with the relative position of
the ball as it sits on the tee 19 and the ball 20 as it leaves the
tee. The peg is positioned vertically. For standard operation the
peg is placed into the ground vertically with the legs of the ramp
aligned with the desired direction of travel for the ball. The ball
is placed on the semi-circular section with the part of the ball
that is facing the desired direction of travel resting on the ramp
legs or the transition zone radii. Once the ball is struck with the
club, it travels up the ramp legs to give both the proper direction
and liftoff angle.
[0039] With reference to FIG. 11, there is illustrated side view of
the fixed-ramp, single-piece tee with the relative position of the
ball as it sits on the tee 21 and the ball 22 as it leaves the tee.
The peg is positioned at a slight angle forward to minimize the
liftoff angle. Lines can be engraved, embossed or printed on the
side of the tee to show the proper angle to place the peg into the
ground to achieve a desired distance. The legs of the ramp are
aligned with the desired direction of travel for the ball. The ball
is placed on the semi-circular section with the part of the ball
that is facing the desired direction of travel resting on the ramp
legs or the transition zone radii. Once the ball is struck with the
club, it travels up the ramp legs to give both the proper direction
and lift angle. With the peg in the ground at a slightly forward
angle, the liftoff angle is tailored to place the ball at the
proper distance and location on the golf course. The fixed-ramp,
single-piece tee can be economically manufactured using existing
manufacturing methods from wood, plastic or any biodegradable
material in use on standard tees. The wide areas on the peg and
around the sides allow plenty of space for advertising. With ease
manufacturing from a variety of materials, low cost, ease of
placement and simplicity of adjusting the liftoff angle the
fixed-ramp, single-piece tee is clearly the preferred
embodiment.
[0040] Turning to FIG. 12, there is illustrated the front view of a
three-piece tee with a fixed ramp that achieves an adjustable take
off angle by pivoting the tee at the peg. The elements that
comprise the upper most section or head of the tee 23 remain the
same as the fixed-ramp, single piece tee. Specifically, the top of
the tee consists of a semi-circular section 24, attached to two
legs 25, that form a ramp. Between the legs that form the ramp and
the semi-circular section, are two small radii 26 that form the
transition zone. The transition zone radii are optional, but they
should not be larger than the spherical radius of the ball. The
ball is intended to only make contact with the uppermost edge of
the tee. The center section is undercut to allow clearance for the
ball. All of the descriptions and discussions contained in the
above paragraphs also pertain to the upper section or head of the
three-piece tee. At the other end of the tee and separate from the
upper section is a long peg 27. The peg can be up to four inches
long and it is tapered to a point 28 to aid insertion into the
ground. The peg, as illustrated, is rectangular in cross section,
but it can easily be manufactured in any shape. Cross sectional
shapes like triangular, rectangular, diamond, etc. are preferred
over circular to reduce rotational motion of the tee. This allows
the ball to leave the tee traveling in the proper direction. At the
top of the peg is a clevis 29 which mates with a boss 30 at the
bottom of the upper section or head. The two are attached by means
of a screw 31 or a thumbscrew. This allows the head to pivot with
respect to the peg.
[0041] The side view of a three-piece tee with a fixed ramp that
achieves an adjustable take off angle by pivoting the upper section
or head of the tee at the peg is shown in FIG. 13. The view of a
tee head rotated to minimize the liftoff angle 32 is super imposed
on the view of the tee head rotated to maximize the liftoff angle
33. In this embodiment the peg is placed in the ground vertically
and the liftoff angle is adjusted by tilting the head to achieve
the desired distance and locking the screw. Serrations between the
clevis and the boss can be used to incrementally position the head
with respect to the peg. The head can also be held in place using a
cam lock, thumbscrew, wedge lock, etc. With the three-piece tee,
the liftoff angle is tailored by tilting the head to place the ball
at the proper distance and location on the golf course. The
fixed-ramp, three-piece tee can be economically manufactured using
existing manufacturing methods from wood, plastic or any
biodegradable material in use on standard tees. The wide areas on
the peg and around the sides allow plenty of space for advertising.
With ease manufacturing from a variety of materials, low cost, ease
of placement and simplicity of adjusting the liftoff angle the
fixed-ramp, three-piece tee is the second embodiment.
[0042] Further, the side view of a two-piece, split tee with a
variable ramp that achieves an adjustable take off angle by moving
the legs of the ramp closer together or farther apart is
illustrated in FIG. 14. The elements that comprise the upper most
section of the tee remain the same as the fixed-ramp, single piece
tee. Specifically, the top of the tee consists of a semi-circular
section 34, attached to two legs 35, that form a ramp. Between the
legs that form the ramp and the semi-circular section, are two
small radii 36 that form the transition zone. The transition zone
radii are optional, but they should not be larger than the
spherical radius of the ball. The ball is intended to only make
contact with the uppermost edge of the tee. The center section is
undercut to allow clearance for the ball. At the other end of the
tee is a long peg 37. The peg can be up to four inches long and it
is tapered to a point 38 to aid insertion into the ground. The peg,
as illustrated, is rectangular in cross section, but it can easily
be manufactured in any shape. Cross sectional shapes like
triangular, rectangular, diamond, etc. are preferred over circular
to reduce rotational motion of the tee. This allows the ball to
leave the tee traveling in the proper direction. The adjustment
screw 39 is shown.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 15, there is illustrated the top view
of a two-piece, split tee with a variable ramp that achieves an
adjustable take off angle by moving the legs of the ramp closer
together or farther apart. FIG. 15 depicts the tee with the ramp
legs adjusted parallel to each other. Referring to FIG. 16 there is
illustrated the top view of a two-piece, split tee with a variable
ramp that achieves an adjustable take off angle by moving the legs
of the ramp closer together or farther apart. FIG. 15 depicts the
tee with the ramp legs adjusted in a narrowing configuration to
each other. Both views illustrate that the two legs that comprise
the ramp are tied together only at the peg. This allows the legs to
move closer together or farther apart with movement of the screw.
This is the main difference between the two-piece, split tee and
the one-piece, fixed ramp tee. Both configurations, as shown in
FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, will achieve the same result in terms of
guiding the ball. When the ball is struck by the club head it
travels up the ramp with a combined rolling and sliding motion. The
amount of sliding and the amount of rolling is dependent on the
amount of spin imparted on the ball by the club face, on the
coefficient of friction between the ball material and the tee
material and on the contact area of the ball with the tee. The
dimensions "R1", "L1", and "W1" will have a definite affect on the
amount of spin transferred to the ball and the liftoff angle for
the ball. In general, "R1" can be any dimension as long as it is
smaller than the radius of the ball; "L" can be any dimension
within reason and "W1" can be any dimension as long as it does not
exceed the width of the ball. As "R1" and "W1" increase, the ball
is engaged on the tee at a wider distance and therefore at a
smaller radius with respect to the direction of travel. Friction
with the tee will impart more spin on the ball because the tee
contacts the ball at a smaller radius. As "L1" increases, the ball
is in contact with the legs of the ramp for a longer duration. This
will also impart a greater spin on the ball because the ball is in
contact with the tee for a longer duration. As "R1", "L1" and "W1"
decrease, the converse is true and less spin will be imparted from
the tee to the ball. In FIG. 16, as the ball travels up the ramp
the legs get narrower and engage the ball at larger radius. This
causes the ball, as it climbs the ramp, to rise in a steeper
liftoff angle than a ball hit off the tee as adjusted in FIG. 15.
In general, the wider the legs are adjusted apart: the shallower
the liftoff angle and the closer the legs are adjusted together:
the steeper the liftoff angle.
[0044] Turning to FIG. 17, the front view of a two-piece, split tee
with a variable ramp that achieves an adjustable take off angle by
moving the legs of the ramp closer together or farther apart is
shown. FIG. 17 depicts the tee with the ramp legs adjusted parallel
to each other. Referring to FIG. 18 there is illustrated the front
view of a two-piece, split tee with a variable ramp that achieves
an adjustable take off angle by moving the legs of the ramp closer
together or farther apart. FIG. 18 depicts the tee with the ramp
legs adjusted in a narrowing configuration to each other. Both
views illustrate that the two legs that comprise the ramp are tied
together only at the peg. When manufactured, the legs are molded,
cast, machined, etc. to be as wide as desired with the relief 40 at
the base. The screw is used to bring the legs closer together to
achieve the desired liftoff angle. This view also demonstrates the
difference in liftoff height, "H3" between the two configurations.
The ball 41, on the tee with the parallel legs, is lifted to a
height, "H1" as it leaves the tee. The ball 42, on the tee with the
narrowing legs, is lifted to a greater height, "H2", as it leaves
the tee. The two-piece, split tee can be economically manufactured
using existing manufacturing methods from wood, plastic or any
suitable material in use on standard tees. The wide areas on the
peg and around the sides allow plenty of space for advertising.
With ease manufacturing from a variety of materials, low cost, ease
of placement and simplicity of adjusting the liftoff angle, the
fixed ramp three-piece tee is the third embodiment.
[0045] It is to be recognized that any of the various contemplated
embodiments can easily be adapted to work on a driving range mat
using existing technology. Embodiments two and three may be easier
to adapt.
[0046] Thus, it will be apparent from the foregoing that, while
particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and
described, various modifications can be made without parting from
the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *