US20080096694A1

US20080096694A1 - Golf Tee

Info

Publication number: US20080096694A1
Application number: US11/571,382
Authority: US
Inventors: Se-Chang Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-01
Filing date: 2005-06-28
Publication date: 2008-04-24
Also published as: WO2006004334A1; KR200363054Y1; CN1946462A

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf tee which is prevented from being lost even though a golfer strikes the golf tee along with a golf ball when executing a tee shot. The golf tee of the present invention includes a ball support unit (10), a peg unit (20), a magnet (15), an iron core (23) and a loss prevention string (30). The ball support unit (10) has a ball seat (11), a coupling protrusion (13) and a first receiving hole (14). The magnet (15) is fitted into the first receiving hole (14) of the ball support unit (10). The peg unit (20) has a coupling depression (21) and a second receiving hole (22). The iron core (23) is fitted into the second receiving hole (22) of the peg unit (20). The loss prevention string (30) couples the ball support unit (10) to the peg unit

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates, in general, to golf tees which are prevented from being lost even though golfers strike the golf tees along with golf balls when executing tee shots and, more particularly, to a golf tee which includes a ball support unit having a magnet, and a peg unit having an iron core or magnetic core, so that the ball support unit is magnetically coupled to the peg unit, and which has a loss prevention string that couples the ball support unit and the peg unit to each other, so that, even if the ball support unit is separated from the peg unit when struck, the ball support unit is prevented from being lost.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, golf tees are golf supplies to space golf balls apart from the ground by a predetermined distance. Such a golf tee serves to reduce interference from the ground and grass when a golfer strikes a golf ball with a driver towards a green at every hole. Furthermore, the golf tee lowers a contact point at which the golf ball contacts the driver, thus increasing the distance that the golf ball is driven. In addition, the height of the golf ball, seated on the golf tee, is a significant factor that determines the movement of the golf ball which is driven by the golfer.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a representative example of conventional golf tees.
As shown in FIG. 5, a conventional golf tee 100 includes a ball seat part 101 to seat thereon a golf ball, and a peg part 102 which is integrally coupled to a lower end of the ball seat part 101.
The ball seat part 101 has a concave upper surface such that the golf ball is stably seated on the concave upper surface of the ball seat part 101. The peg part 102 has a pointed end like a nail such that the peg part 102 is easily driven into the ground.
However, in the conventional golf tee 100, because the ball seat part 101 is integrated with the peg part 102, if the golf tee 100 is struck along with the golf ball when the golfer executes the tee shot, the golf tee 100 may be driven far away from the tee shot position. Thus, the golf tee 100 may be lost. Furthermore, during the game, the golfer may have to search for the golf tee 100 which was driven far away from the tee shot position, thus undesirably wasting time. If the golf tee 100 becomes lost, because the golfer must purchase a new golf tee, additional expenses are incurred.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf tee which is prevented from being lost even though a golfer strikes the golf tee along with a golf ball when executing a tee shot.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above object(s), the present invention provides a golf tee, including: a ball support unit, having a ball seat, having a dish shape, provided on an upper end of the ball support unit, a coupling protrusion provided on a lower end of the ball support unit, with an opening formed at a central portion in the coupling protrusion, the coupling protrusion being downwardly convex, and a first receiving hole, having a diameter greater than a diameter of the opening of the coupling protrusion, formed from the upper end of the ball support unit to the lower end so that the first receiving hole communicates with the opening of the coupling protrusion; a magnet fitted into the first receiving hole of the ball support unit and placed on the coupling protrusion; a peg unit inserted at a lower end thereof into a ground, having a coupling depression provided on an upper end of the peg unit so that the peg unit supports the ball support unit thereon while the coupling protrusion of the ball support unit is inserted into the coupling depression, and a second receiving hole formed under the coupling depression in the peg unit to a predetermined depth; and an iron core fitted into the second receiving hole of the peg unit to a predetermined depth.
Alternatively, in place of the iron core, a magnetic core is fitted into the second receiving hole of the peg unit to a predetermined depth such that opposite poles of the magnetic core and the magnet of the ball support unit face each other.

Advantageous Effects

In a golf tee of the present invention, a magnet is inserted in a ball support unit and an iron core or magnetic core is inserted in a peg unit, so that the ball support unit is magnetically coupled to the peg unit. As well, a loss prevention string couples the ball support unit and the peg unit to each other, so that, even if the ball support unit is separated from the peg unit by being struck along with the golf ball, the ball support unit is prevented from being lost. Therefore, the present invention solves a conventional problem in that a golfer must search for a golf tee which was driven far away from the tee shot position, thus preventing time from being wasted. Furthermore, additional expenses are prevented from being incurred due to the loss of a golf tee.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the usage of the golf tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an internal construction of the golf tee of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a process of assembling the golf tee of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional golf tee.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the usage of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an internal construction of the golf tee 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a process of assembling the golf tee 1 of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the golf tee 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a ball support unit 10, a peg unit 20, a magnet 15, an iron core 23 and a loss prevention string 30.
The ball support unit 10 has a cylindrical shape having a predetermined length. The ball support unit 10 includes a ball seat 11 which has a dish shape and is provided on an upper end of the ball support unit 10 so as to support a golf ball. The ball support unit 10 further includes a coupling protrusion 13 which is downwardly convex and is provided on a lower end of the ball support unit 10. An opening 12 is formed at a central portion in the coupling protrusion 13. The ball support unit 10 further includes a first receiving hole 14 which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening 12 of the coupling protrusion 10 and is formed from the upper end of the ball support unit 10 to the lower end. The first receiving hole 14 communicates with the opening 12 of the coupling protrusion 10.
The peg unit 20 includes a coupling depression 21 which is provided on an upper end of the peg unit 20 so that the peg unit 20 supports the ball support unit 10 thereon while the coupling protrusion 13 of the ball support unit 10 is inserted into the coupling depression 21 and a lower end of the peg unit 20 is inserted into the ground 41. The peg unit 20 further includes a second receiving hole 22 which is formed under the coupling depression 21 in the peg unit 20 to a predetermined depth.
The magnet 15 has the same diameter as does the first receiving hole 14 of the ball support unit 10. The magnet 15 is forcibly fitted into the first receiving hole 14 until it is brought into contact with the coupling protrusion 13.
The iron core 23 has a nail shape which is enlarged at one end. The iron core 23 is forcibly fitted into the second receiving hole 22 of the peg unit 20 to a predetermined depth.
The ball support unit 10 includes a first through hole 16 which is formed at a pre-determined position in the lower end of the ball support unit 10. Furthermore, the peg unit 20 includes a second through hole 24 which is formed at a predetermined position in the upper end of the peg unit 20. The loss prevention string 30 is coupled both to the ball support unit 10 and to the peg unit 20 by insertion of both ends thereof into the first and second through holes 16 and 24, such that a predetermined length of the loss prevention string 30 is exposed to the outside. Therefore, even if the ball support unit 10 is removed from the peg unit 20 by being struck along with the golf ball by a golf club, the loss prevention string 30 prevents the ball support unit 10 from being driven far from the peg unit 20.
The ball support unit 10 is made of material which is flexible and has sufficient elasticity and tension. Preferably, the ball support unit 10 is made of polyurethane.
Furthermore, it is preferred that the peg unit 20 be made of polycarbonate.
The assembly of the golf tee 1 of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be explained herein below.
First, the magnet 15 is inserted into the first receiving hole 14 of the ball support unit 10. At this time, the magnet 15 is forcibly fitted into the first receiving hole 14 until the magnet 15 contacts the coupling protrusion 13.
Thereafter, the iron core 23 is forcibly fitted into the second receiving hole 22 of the peg unit 20 to a predetermined depth.
Both ends of the loss prevention string 30 are inserted into the first through hole 16 of the ball support unit 10 and the second through hole 24 of the peg unit 20, such that a predetermined length of the loss prevention string 30 is exposed to the outside.
Thereafter, the coupling protrusion 13 of the ball support unit 10 is inserted into the coupling depression 21 of the peg unit 20. Then, the magnet 15 of the ball support unit 10 attracts the iron core 23 of the peg unit 20 so that the ball support unit 10 is magnetically coupled to the peg unit 20.
As such, the magnet 15 is provided in the ball support unit 10, the iron core 23 is provided in the peg unit 20, and the loss prevention string 30 is coupled to both the ball support unit 10 and the iron core 23, thus completing the assembly of the golf tee 1.
Hereinafter, the operation of the golf tee 1 of the present invention will be explained.
First, the lower end of the peg unit 20 is driven into the ground at a desired position. Thereafter, the coupling protrusion 13 of the ball support unit 10, which is connected to the peg unit 20 by the loss prevention string 30, is inserted into the coupling depression 21 of the peg unit 20. At this time, the magnet 15 of the ball support unit 10 attracts the iron core 23 of the peg unit 20, so that the ball support unit 10 is magnetically coupled to the peg unit 20.
Then, the preparation of the golf tee 1 for use is complete.
In this state, a golfer places a golf ball on the ball seat 11, provided on the upper end of the ball support unit 10, and executes the tee shot.
When the golfer executes the tee shot, if the ball support unit 10 is struck along with the golf ball by the golf club, the ball support unit 10 is separated from the peg unit 20 and is moved along an imaginary line shown in FIG. 2.
That is, in the present invention, even if the ball support unit 10 is removed from the peg unit 20, the ball support unit 10 is not driven far from the tee shot position thanks to the loss prevention string 30, which couples the ball support unit 10 to the peg unit 20.
Meanwhile, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the iron core 23, which is provided in the peg unit 20, engages with the magnet 15 of the ball support unit 10. However, in place of the iron core 23, a magnetic core may be used as the element responding to the magnet 15. In other words, the magnetic core may be inserted into the second receiving hole 22 of the peg unit 20 in place of the iron core 23 such that opposite poles of the magnetic core and the magnet 15 face each other, thus magnetically coupling the ball support unit 10 to the peg unit 20. In this case, the rest of the structure of the golf tee 1 is the same as when using the iron core 23, therefore further explanation is deemed unnecessary.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a golf tee in which a magnet is inserted in a ball support unit and an iron core or magnetic core is inserted in a peg unit, so that the ball support unit is magnetically coupled to the peg unit, and which has a loss prevention string that couples the ball support unit and the peg unit to each other, so that, even if the ball support unit is separated from the peg unit by being struck along with the golf ball, the ball support unit is prevented from being lost. Therefore, the present invention solves a conventional problem in that a golfer must search for a golf tee which was driven far away from the tee shot position, thus preventing time from being wasted. Furthermore, additional expenses are prevented from being incurred due to the loss of a golf tee.
Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A golf tee, comprising:

a ball support unit, comprising:

a ball seat, having a dish shape, provided on an upper end of the ball support unit;

a coupling protrusion provided on a lower end of the ball support unit, with an opening formed at a central portion in the coupling protrusion, the coupling protrusion being downwardly convex; and

a first receiving hole, having a diameter greater than a diameter of the opening of the coupling protrusion, formed from the upper end of the ball support unit to the lower end so that the first receiving hole communicates with the opening of the coupling protrusion;

a magnet fitted into the first receiving hole of the ball support unit and placed on the coupling protrusion;

a peg unit inserted at a lower end thereof into a ground, comprising:

a coupling depression provided on an upper end of the peg unit so that the peg unit supports the ball support unit thereon while the coupling protrusion of the ball support unit is inserted into the coupling depression; and

a second receiving hole formed under the coupling depression in the peg unit to a predetermined depth; and

an iron core fitted into the second receiving hole of the peg unit to a predetermined depth.

2. The golf tee according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first through hole formed at a predetermined position in the lower end of the ball support unit;

a second through hole formed at a predetermined position in the upper end of the peg unit; and

a loss prevention string, having a predetermined length, coupled both to the ball support unit and to the peg unit by insertion of each of both ends of the loss prevention string into each of the first and second through holes.

3. The golf tee according to claim 1, wherein the ball support unit is made of soft polyurethane.

4. The golf tee according to claim 1, wherein the peg unit is made of polycarbonate.

5. A golf tee, comprising:

a ball support unit, comprising:

a peg unit inserted at a lower end thereof into a ground, comprising:

a magnetic core fitted into the second receiving hole of the peg unit to a predetermined depth such that opposite poles of the magnetic core and the magnet of the ball support unit face each other.