U.S. patent application number 13/523993 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-19 for golf tee and club face groove sharpening device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Brandon T. Elliot. Invention is credited to Brandon T. Elliot.
Application Number | 20130337943 13/523993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49756408 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130337943 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Elliot; Brandon T. |
December 19, 2013 |
GOLF TEE AND CLUB FACE GROOVE SHARPENING DEVICE
Abstract
A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided and
includes a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes
a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom. The golf
tee/club face groove sharpening device further includes a sharpener
article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom,
wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening
surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove
such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one
side of the club face groove.
Inventors: |
Elliot; Brandon T.;
(Willimantic, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Elliot; Brandon T. |
Willimantic |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49756408 |
Appl. No.: |
13/523993 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 57/16 20151001;
A63B 57/10 20151001; A63B 57/60 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/387 |
International
Class: |
A63B 57/00 20060101
A63B057/00 |
Claims
1. A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device, comprising: a
golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article includes a tee stem
having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom; and a sharpener
article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem bottom,
wherein the sharpener article includes at least one sharpening
surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club face groove
such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts at least one
side of the club face groove.
2. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball holding device
located proximate the tee stem top.
3. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball cradle located
proximate the tee stem top.
4. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the tee stem includes a tee stem outer surface extending
between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom and having a tee stem
height TSH.
5. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 4,
wherein the tee stem bottom includes a tee stem bottom diameter
TSB.sub.D and the tee stem top includes a tee stem top diameter
TST.sub.D and wherein the tee stem top diameter TST.sub.D is larger
than the tee stem bottom diameter TSB.sub.D.
6. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 4,
wherein the tee stem outer surface extends between the tee stem top
and tee stem bottom at an angle of about 0.75.degree..+-.15%
relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the
tee stem.
7. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the sharpener article is at least one of triangular shaped,
rectangular shaped and/or arcuate shaped.
8. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the sharpener article includes a first sharpening surface
and a second sharpening surface.
9. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8,
wherein when the sharpening article is triangular shaped, each of
the first sharpening surface and the second sharpening surface are
angled at an angle of about 60.degree..+-.15% relative to an
imaginary vertical plane through the height of the sharpening
article.
10. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8,
further comprising a third sharpening surface and a forth
sharpening surface, wherein the third sharpening surface and the
forth sharpening surface are angled at an angle of 90.degree.
relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the
sharpening article.
11. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 8,
wherein at least one of the tee article and sharpening article are
constructed from at least one of a plastic material, a composite
material, a metallic material or a combination thereof.
12. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 1,
wherein the tee stem defines a stem cavity having an anchoring
means for securing a golf tee stem within the stem cavity.
13. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 12,
wherein the anchoring means is at least one of, a resilient member
configured to frictionally secure the golf tee stem within the stem
cavity; and a threaded portion configured to threadingly secure the
golf tee stem within the stem cavity.
14. A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device, comprising: a
sharpener article, wherein the sharpener article includes at least
one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf
club face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface
contacts at least one side of the club face groove.
15. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 14,
further comprising a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article
includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom and
wherein the sharpener article is connected to the tee stem
proximate the tee stem bottom.
16. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 15,
wherein the golf tee article includes a golf ball holding device
located proximate the tee stem top, wherein the golf ball holding
device is at least one of a cradle and a brush.
17. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 15,
wherein the tee stem includes a tee stem outer surface extending
between the tee stem top and tee stem bottom and having a tee stem
height TSH and wherein the tee stem bottom includes a tee stem
bottom diameter TSB.sub.D, the tee stem top includes a tee stem top
diameter TST.sub.D and wherein the tee stem top diameter TST.sub.D
is larger than the tee stem bottom diameter TSB.sub.D.
18. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 17,
wherein the tee stem outer surface extends between the tee stem top
and tee stem bottom at an angle of about 0.75.degree..+-.15%
relative to an imaginary vertical plane through the height of the
tee stem.
19. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 14,
wherein the sharpener article is at least one of triangular shaped,
rectangular shaped and/or arcuate shaped and wherein the sharpener
article includes a first sharpening surface and a second sharpening
surface.
20. The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device of claim 19,
wherein when the sharpener article is triangular shaped, at least
one of, each of the first sharpening surface and the second
sharpening surface are angled at an angle of about
60.degree..+-.15% relative to an imaginary vertical plane through
the height of the sharpening article; and the golf tee/club face
groove sharpening device further comprises, a third sharpening
surface and a forth sharpening surface, wherein the third
sharpening surface and the forth sharpening surface are angled at
an angle of 90.degree. relative to an imaginary vertical plane
through the height of the sharpening article.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to golfing articles
and more particularly to a golf tee that is utilizable as a golf
club head groove sharpening device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As is known, the grooves on the face of a golf club are
typically either "V" shaped, "U" shaped or rectangular shaped and
have at least two functions. The first function of the club face
grooves is that as the club face strikes the golf ball, for a short
period of time the golf ball `slides` or move along the surface of
the golf club face. During this period, the edges of the grooves
interact with the surface of the golf ball to grip the ball surface
and cause the ball to rotate or spin more rapidly. The ability of
the golf ball to spin is important for a couple of reasons. First,
the rapid spin of the golf ball helps to provide aerodynamic lift.
Thus, a spinning golf ball travels higher and farther than a
non-spinning golf ball. Moreover, a spinning golf ball produces a
more predictable result and is less influenced by wind
interference. Second, the ability to put a `back spin` on the golf
ball allows a golfer to better control the ball trajectory or end
position. For example, a golfer may hit a ball onto the green past
the hole with the intention that the back spin will cause the ball
to roll backwards toward the hole. For this reason, a player may
want to make sure the club face grooves on their sand wedge or
pitching wedge remain clean and sharp.
[0003] The second function of the club face grooves it to clear
water from the face of the club. This is because, if at the moment
of impact, grass is located between the face of the club and the
ball, the grass is compressed. As an average golf swing produces
nearly 3 k pounds of force, any water contained in the grass is
squeezed out. This is undesirable because the ball can `hydroplane`
along the face of the club, thereby reducing the spin on the ball.
Accordingly, the club face grooves function in the same way that
treads in a tire function. They minimize the water caught between
the ball and the club face by providing the water with a path to
escape the surface of the club face. Thus, it is not only desirable
to keep the face of the golf club clean and the club face grooves
clear of debris, but it is also desirable to keep the corners of
the club face grooves as sharp as possible. While there are tools
that allow a player to clean and sharpen the club face grooves on
their clubs, these tools are relatively expensive, standalone,
specialized tools and require the player to carry added equipment.
This is undesirable because it not only adds to the content and the
weight of the bag, but it increases the risk of losing these tools
as items are being removed from the bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided
and includes a golf tee article, wherein the golf tee article
includes a tee stem having a tee stem top and a tee stem bottom.
The golf tee/club face groove sharpening device further includes a
sharpener article connected to the tee stem proximate the tee stem
bottom, wherein the sharpener article includes at least one
sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to fit into a golf club
face groove such that the at least one sharpening surface contacts
at least one side of the club face groove.
[0005] A golf tee/club face groove sharpening device is provided
and includes a sharpener article, wherein the sharpener article
includes at least one sharpening surface and is sized and shaped to
fit into a golf club face groove such that the at least one
sharpening surface contacts at least one side of the club face
groove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
present invention should be more fully understood from the
accompanying detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken
in conjunction with the following Figures in which like elements
are numbered alike in the several Figures:
[0007] FIG. 1A is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 1B is front view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A.
[0009] FIG. 1C is side view of the sharpener device of the golf
tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A.
[0010] FIG. 1D is side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A.
[0011] FIG. 1E is front view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A.
[0012] FIG. 2 is front view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A inserted into the ground and
being used as a golf tee to support a golf ball.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of a golf club head showing the
grooves on the club face.
[0014] FIG. 3B is a top down view of the golf club head of FIG.
3A.
[0015] FIG. 3C is an exploded side view of the grooves on the club
face of the golf club head of FIG. 3A and the golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 1A.
[0016] FIG. 4A is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a second embodiment
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4B is a front view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a second embodiment
of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4C is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a fourth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the grooves on the club
face of the golf club head of FIG. 3A and the golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device of FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 7A is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device having a brush ball cradle.
[0022] FIG. 7B is a side view of the combination golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device having a notched ball cradle.
[0023] FIG. 7C is a side view of the combination golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device having a notched ball cradle.
[0024] FIG. 7D is a side view of the combination golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device having a notched ball cradle.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a side view showing a golf tee being associated
with the golf tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening device of
FIG. 8.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a side view of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a sixth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 11A is a side view of the combination golf tee/club
face groove cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 11B is a front view of the combination golf tee/club
face groove cleaner/sharpening device, in accordance with a seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device 100 is provided, in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment, and includes a tee device 102 and a
sharpener device 104. The tee device 102 includes a tee stem 106
having a tee stem top 108 and a tee stem bottom 110, wherein the
tee stem top defines a tee cradle 111. The sharpener device 104
includes a sharpener stem 112 and a sharpener article 114. It
should be appreciated that as shown, the sharpener article 114 is
triangular shaped and includes a first sharpening surface 116 and a
second sharpening surface 118, wherein the first sharpening surface
116 and second sharpening surface 118 may be smooth, textured or a
mixture of both. For example, referring to FIG. 1C, the sharpening
surfaces 116, 118 are shown as having a cross-hatched surface.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E and in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment, the tee stem 106 includes a tee stem outer
surface 120, a tee stem height TSH, a tee stem top diameter
TST.sub.D and a tee stem bottom diameter TSB.sub.D. It should be
appreciated that the tee stem outer surface 120 is sloped at an
angle of .alpha. (relative to a vertical plane through the tee stem
106) between the tee stem top 108 and the tee stem bottom 110 such
that the tee stem top diameter TST.sub.D is larger than the tee
stem bottom diameter TSB.sub.D. The sharpener device 104 includes a
sharpener device height SDH, a sharpener stem diameter SSD, a
sharpener stem height SSH, a sharpener article height SAH and a
sharpener article width SAW. It should be appreciated that that the
first sharpening surface 116 and second sharpening surface 118 are
sloped at an angle of .delta. relative to a vertical plane running
through the sharpener article 114. As shown, TSH is equal to about
2.5 inches .+-.15%, TSB.sub.D is equal to about 0.180 inches
.+-.15%, TST.sub.D is equal to about 0.195 inches .+-.15%, SAW is
equal to about 0.125 inches .+-.15%, SDH is equal to about 0.125
inches .+-.15%, SAH is equal to about 0.50 inches .+-.15%, SSH is
equal to about 0.08 inches .+-.15%, SSD is equal to about 0.125
inches .+-.15%, .delta. is equal to about 60.degree. .+-.15% and
.alpha. is equal to about 0.75.degree..+-.15%. It should be
appreciated that the above measurements and angles are for an
exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, as described and shown further
herein, other embodiments may have different measurements, angles
and tolerances as desired and as suitable to the desired end
purpose. For example, the tee stem 106 may be substantially
straight as shown in FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D below.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, when used as a golf tee, the device 100
is inserted in to the ground 122 until the sharpening device
structure 104 and a portion of the tee structure 102 is under the
surface 124 of the ground 122. A golf ball 126 may then be placed
onto the device 100 to rest in the ball cradle 111. This
advantageously provides support for the ball 126 during tee off.
Referring to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, when used as a groove
sharpener, the sharpener device 104 is associated with the grooves
128 of a golf club face 130 such that the sharpener article 114 is
located within the grooves 128 and the first sharpening surface 116
and the second sharpening surface 118 are in contact with the
corners 132 of the grooves 128. The sharpener device 104 is then
run along the length of the grooves 128. The frictional interaction
between the first sharpening surface 116, the second sharpening
surface 118 and the corners 132 of the grooves 128 cause the
corners 132 of the grooves 128 to become sharpened. Additionally,
because the sharpener article 114 extends down into the grooves
128, any debris contained therein is removed to allow any water
buildup to flow through the grooves 128.
[0033] It should be appreciated that although the sharpener article
114 is disclosed herein as having a triangular shape design to
accommodate club grooves 128 that are "V" shaped, it is
contemplated that the sharpener article 114 may also have other
shapes as desired. For example, it is contemplated that the
sharpener article 114 have a rectangular shape (See FIG. 4A and
FIG. 4B) to accommodate club grooves 128 that are rectangular
shaped. In this case, the first sharpening surface 116 and second
sharpening surface 118 may be oriented vertically relative to the
walls of the grooves 128, in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention. Additionally, it is contemplated that the
sharpener article 114 may also have an arcuate shape (See FIG. 4C)
to accommodate club grooves 128 that are "U" shaped, where the
first sharpening surface 116 and second sharpening surface 118 are
oriented vertically relative to the walls of the grooves 128, in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] Moreover, a fourth embodiment is contemplated where the
sharpener device includes four (4) sharpening surfaces. Referring
to FIG. 5, a golf tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening device
200, in accordance with a fourth embodiment is shown and includes a
tee device 202 and a sharpener device 204. The tee device 202
includes a tee stem 206 having a tee stem top 208 and a tee stem
bottom 210, wherein the tee stem top 208 defines a tee cradle 211.
The sharpener device 204 includes a sharpener stem 212 and a
sharpener article 214, where the sharpener article 214 includes a
first sharpening surface 216, a second sharpening surface 218, a
third sharpening surface 220 and a fourth sharpening surface 222.
It should be appreciated that the first sharpening surface 216 and
second sharpening surface 218 interact with the side wall of the
club grooves 128 and the third sharpening surface 220 and fourth
sharpening surface 222 interact with the top surface of the club
face proximate the club grooves 128. This is shown in FIG. 6.
[0035] It should be appreciated that the tee cradle 211 may be
other types of cradles, such as a brush 250 (See FIG. 7A) or a
notched cradle design (See FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C and FIG. 7D). Moreover,
it is contemplated that the sharpener device 104, 204 may be a
separate device that is configured to receive the end of and couple
with a golf tee. For example, referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9,
another embodiment of a golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device 300 is shown and may include a sharpening
article 304 and a tee stem 306 which defines a stem cavity 310 and
includes a tee stem opening 312 communicated with the stem cavity
310. The tee stem 306 may include resilient (or gripping) members
314 contained in the stem cavity 310 so that, once inserted, the
golf tee stem 316 can be securely retained therein. When the golf
tee stem 316 breaks, the remaining portion of the golf tee stem 316
can be removed and an additional golf tee stem 316 can be inserted
so that the sharpener device 304 can be reused. Referring to FIG.
10, still yet another embodiment of a golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device 400 is shown and may include a sharpener
device 404 and a tee stem 406 which defines a stem cavity 408
having a threaded portion 410 that is configured to threadingly
receive from a stem cavity opening 412 and retain a golf tee stem
within the stem cavity 408. When the golf tee stem is inserted into
the stem cavity 408 and rotated, the golf tee stem and the threaded
portion 410 interact such that the threaded portion 410 `taps` or
creates threads in the golf tee stem, thus allowing the threaded
portion 410 and the golf tee stem to threadingly interact. Thus,
the golf tee stem is securely contained therein. As above, when the
tee breaks, the remaining tee stem can be removed and an additional
tee can be inserted so that the sharpener device 404 can be
reused.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, a golf tee/club face
groove cleaner/sharpening device 500 is provided, in accordance
with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, and
includes a tee device 502 and a sharpener device 504. The tee
device 502 includes a tee stem 506 having a tee stem top 508 and a
tee stem bottom 510, wherein the tee stem top defines a tee cradle
511. The sharpener device 504 includes a sharpener stem 512 and a
sharpener article 514. It should be appreciated that as shown, the
sharpener article 514 is shaped such that one side is vertical and
one side is angled and includes a sharpening surface 516 which may
be smooth, textured or a mixture of both.
[0037] In accordance with the present invention, one or more of the
components of the golf tee/club face groove cleaner/sharpening
device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 of the present invention may be
manufactured using any method or technique suitable to the desired
end purpose. For example, it is contemplated that the one or more
of the components of the golf tee/club face groove
cleaner/sharpening device 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 may be
constructed from a plastic material, a composite material, a
metallic material or a combination thereof.
[0038] It should be appreciated that while the invention has been
described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes,
omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be
substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be
made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings
of the invention without departing from the scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for
carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first,
second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the
terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from
another.
* * * * *