Non-interfering Golf Tee

Abstract

A golf tee designed in such a manner that a golf ball driven off the tee does not encounter a section of the tee which obstructs the trajectory of the golf ball. The golf tee includes a specially designed head section having a top with an upward opening curved rear surface. A ramped surface extends forward from the curved rear surface to the front of the tee and is inclined slightly above the horizon. The ramped surface has an upward opening curvature extending from side to side across the head which, in combination with the rear curved surface, supports a golf ball placed on the tee. The front of the head section has a forward opening curvature extending from side to side across the head which also assists in preventing an obstruction to the trajectory of a golf ball driven off the tee.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf tees, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved golf tee which allows a golf ball to be driven off the tee without the golf tee obstructing the trajectory of the golf ball.

It has been the general practice to construct the top of a golf tee with a circular lip to support the golf ball. These prior art golf tees have been unsatisfactory in that the portion of the circular lip located in the front on the tee is positioned in the trajectory of a golf ball driven off the tee, and actually obstructs a well hit ball. Although the obstruction is relatively slightly when considering the normal force with which a golf ball is driven off the tee, the obstruction nevertheless exists and has an adverse affect upon the trajectory of the golf ball which results in the golf ball being driven a shorter distance. It would be desirable to have a golf tee constructed in such a manner that a golf ball driven off the tee does not encounter a section of the tee as an obstruction to the trajectory of the golf ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, an improved golf tee is disclosed which is constructed in a manner such that a golf ball driven off the tee does not have its trajectory obstructed by a portion of the golf tee. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the head of the golf tee, which supports the golf ball, has a top with an upward opening rear surface. A slightly upward inclined ramped surface extends forward from the curved rear surface to the front of the tee. The ramped surface is flat along the direction in which the golf ball is driven, which allows the front lip normally present in most prior art golf tees to be eliminated. Further, the preferred embodiment provides such a golf tee wherein the ramped surface has an upward opening curvature extending from side to side across the head section. Still further, the preferred embodiment provides a golf tee wherein the front of the head section has a forward opening curvature extending from side to side across it. Also, the preferred embodiment provides such a golf tee wherein the center of gravity of a golf ball placed on the tee is directly over the pointed end of the base section. Further, the preferred embodiment provides a golf tee wherein the base section includes a shaft extending along a shaft axis, and the shaft axis is inclined forward a slight predetermined angle relative to a vertical when the golf tee is inserted into the ground. Still further, the preferred embodiment provides a golf tee wherein the ramped surface joins the curved rear surface approximately at the center of the golf tee, and further wherein the front-to-back and the side-to-side dimensions of the tee head are both approximately equal to one third the diameter of a standard golf ball. Also, the preferred embodiment provides a golf tee wherein the bottom of the head section has a shoulder which prevents the golf tee from being inserted into the ground beyond the shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a golf tee constructed according to the teachings of this invention.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively front, side and top views of the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a golf tee built according to the teachings of this invention. Reference should be made to FIG. 1 and also to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which are respectively front, side and top views of the golf tee, for a more complete understanding of this invention. The golf tee has a pointed base section 12, which is utilized to insert the golf tee into the ground, and a head section 14 which is utilized to support a golf ball placed on the tee. The top of the head section is constructed in a manner which allows a golf ball to be driven off the tee without the tee obstructing the trajectory of the ball. The top of the head section includes a curved rear surface 18 and a ramped surface 20 extending from the curved surface to the front of the tee. The rear surface 18 has an upward opening curvature extending across the width of the tee, as shown best in FIG. 2, and also extending from the back of the tee to the middle 16 of the tee, as illustrated best in FIG. 3. The radius R of the curvature of this section is approximately equal to the radius of a golf ball 22, shown in phantom in FIG. 3. This curvature of the rear surface enables a golf ball placed on the tee to rest flush against the entire area of the rear surface. A ramped surface 20 extends forward from the mid point 16 of the tee, where the curved rear section 18 ends, to the front of the tee. The ramped surface 20 is inclined a predetermined angle .alpha. above the horizon illustrated at H. As shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ramped surface 20 is flat in the direction in which a golf ball is driven, and has an upward facing curvature extending from side to side across the golf tee as best shown in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the front to back mid point 16 of the top of the golf tee is located directly over the base point 24 of the tee. The base 12 of the golf tee has its shaft extending along a shaft axis 26. The geometry of this construction is such that when the golf tee is inserted into the ground and a golf ball placed on the tee, the center of the golf ball lies directly over the center 16 of the golf tee and also directly over the point 24. Stated differently, the center of the golf ball, the mid point 16 of the golf tee and the point 24 all lie along a vertical axis illustrated at V. This results in the shaft axis 26 being inclined slightly forward relative to the vertical V by a predetermined angle .beta..

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another feature of this invention. The front of the golf tee is constructed with a forward opening curvature 21 which extends from side to side across the head of the tee. This forward opening curvature is designed to eliminate a possible slight obstruction to the trajectory of a golf ball which might otherwise be presented by the bottom forwardmost edge of the ramped surface.

In the preferred embodiment the bottom of the tee head 14 forms a shoulder 28 where it joins the tee base 12. This shoulder prevents the golf tee from being inserted into the ground beyond the shoulder. If the golfer so desires he may insert into the ground to the shoulder, thereby positioning the golf ball a predetermined distance above the ground as defined by the height of the tee head.

In the preferred embodiment the front to back and the side to side dimensions of the tee head are both one third of the diameter of a standard golf ball, as illustrated in FIG. 4. These dimensions assure that the tee provides a stable base for a golf ball placed upon it.

With a golf tee constructed according to the teachings of this invention, the obstruction provided by front lip of a golf tee, which normally obstructs the trajectory of a well driven golf ball, is eliminated. While several embodiments have been described, the teachings of this invention will suggest many other embodiment to those skilled in the art.

Claims

I claim:

1. A golf tee for enabling a golf ball to be hit off the tee without the tee obstructing the trajectory of the golf ball and comprising:

a. a head section adapted to support a golf ball;

b. said head section having a top with an upward opening, substantially spherical, curved rear surface, the curvature of which is approximately equal to the curvature of a golf ball and which is concentric about a given center point, said curved rear surface being adapted to support a golf ball placed on the tee;

c. said top of the head section further including a ramped surface extending from a joinder with said curved rear surface to the front of the tee in the direction in which the golf ball is to be hit, being flat along the direction in which the golf ball is to be hit, and having an upward opening curvature extending from side to side across said head section with the radius of said upward opening curvature of said ramped surface being substantially the same as the radius of a golf ball such that the side to side upward opening curvature will assist in supporting a golf ball placed on the tee, and said ramped surface further being inclined at a slight predetermined angle above the horizon when the golf tee is placed in the ground in its designed position, whereby a golf ball may be freely hit off the tee without said ramped surface impeding the trajectory of the golf ball;

d. a base section adapted to be inserted into the ground to support the golf tee and a golf ball placed on the tee; and

e. said base section including a shaft extending along a shaft axis to a shaft point which is utilized to insert the golf tee into the ground, said shaft axis being inclined a slight predetermined angle forward, in the direction in which the golf ball is to be hit, relative to a vertical and intersecting a line at said shaft point, said line passing through the said center point and said joinder such that when the golf tee is inserted in the ground in its designed position said shaft point is positioned directly vertically below said joinder of said curved rear surface with said ramped surface and also directly vertically below said given center point.

2. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ramped surface joins said curved rear surface approximately at the front-to-back center of the golf tee.

3. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front of said head section has a forward opening curvature extending from side to side across the front of said head section.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said ramped surface joins said curved rear surface approximately at the front-to-back center of the golf tee.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the front-to-back dimension of said head section of the golf tee and the side-to-side dimension of said head section of the golf tee both are approximately equal to one third of the diameter of a standard golf ball.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said head section has an approximately flat shoulder where the base section joins it, said shoulder preventing the golf tee from being inserted into the ground beyond the shoulder whereby the shoulder may be utilized to tee the golf ball a predetermined distance off the ground.

7. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front-to-back dimension of said head section of the golf tee and the side-to-side dimension of said head section of the golf tee both are approximately equal to one third of the diameter of a standard golf ball.

8. A golf tee as set forth in claim 1 wherein said head section has an approximately flat shoulder where the base section joins it, said shoulder preventing the golf tee from being inserted into the ground beyond the shoulder whereby the shoulder may be utilized to tee the golf ball a predetermined distance off the ground.