Field of Invention

The present invention is directed to tees for ball sports, particularly, bat and racquet sports.

Background

Tees for ball sports can be of assistance in training for ball and racquet sports which rely upon the hand eye coordination of players such as, for example, cricket, baseball, softball or tennis. Tees for ball sports such as golf are used to assist the player to drive the golf ball further and without making impact with the ground during the swing of the club. Existing tees however are limited in their use and are unsuitable for emulating a wide range of strokes such as those used in cricket and tennis, which are not only horizontally orientated.

Existing ball tees for cricket are shaped to include a wide base with a cone shape that balances the ball at the top of the cone. Existing designs are limited in height which limits the range of strokes that can be practiced and do not permit the batter to simulate shots to balls delivered at a shorter length. The height limitation also restricts the practice of aggressive, lofted cricket strokes which are a major element of the modern game. In addition, existing tees for cricket possess a wide base which interferes with the integrity of the sensations translated through the bat when a ball placed upon the tee is struck and a stroke is played. Often the user's bat strikes the base of the tee, as a result of this design aspect, rather than making primary contact with the ball placed upon the tee.

Existing tees for other bat sports, for example, softball, also typically include a wide base and a rigid stem that holds the ball. Traditional softball tees are suited for baseball bats when hitting a stroke with a horizontal bat. When using a cricket bat or tennis racquet to hit a stroke with a vertical bat or racquet, the softball tee provides an obstruction which impedes the stroke. Such tees are not an effective training tool for ball sports such as tennis or cricket in which strokes other than horizontal strokes are necessarily played.

Another existing cricket ball tee design places the tee base under a mat with a hole in it allowing the tee stem to protrude up to the playing surface. Similar designs are utilised for practising golf driving strokes. This design inhibits the portability of the tee and doesn't include an easy to topple design to minimise the impact of the bat on the tee. This design also doesn't lend itself to tennis applications. Pop up tees exist for cricket however a pop up tee projects the ball vertically and doesn't emulate a stable floating ball for hitting.

It would be advantageous to have a tee for ball sports, particularly suitable for games such as cricket and tennis that would facilitate and enable a wide range of shots to be practised. It would be advantageous to provide a tee for ball sports that did not remain in a vertical position once the ball being supported upon it was struck by the user. It would be advantageous to provide a tee for ball sports that was portable and easy to transport.

Accordingly there is provided an improved tee for ball sports comprising: a base member for supporting an elongated tubular stem extending perpendicularly from the base member; a receptacle for a ball located at an end of the stem distal to the base member; a protective sleeve placed over the length of the stem for protecting the stem and a racquet or bat of a user.

In some embodiments of the invention the base member is wide enough to support the stem and ball within the receptacle when in use but narrow enough so as to enable the tee to topple over once the ball is struck by the user's racquet or bat.

In other embodiments of the invention the height of the elongated tubular stem and protective sleeve is adjustable.

In still other embodiments the protective sleeve is cushioned to reduce the impact upon the user's racquet or bat when striking a ball placed on the tee.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the stem is of such diameter as to ensure that when in use the user's racquet or bat cleanly strikes the ball placed in the receptacle before striking the protective sleeve covering the stem.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the tee. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the tee.

Figure 3 is a front view of the tee when in use.

Figure 4 provides detail of the manner in which the components of the tee may be assembled. Figures 5A through 5D show front views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a cricket bat when in use.

Figures 6A through 6C show side views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a cricket bat when in use.

Figures 7 A, through 7C show front views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a tennis racquet when in use.

Figures 8A, through 8C show side views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a tennis racquet when in use.

Description

The present invention is directed to tees for ball sports, particularly, bat and racquet sports such as tennis and cricket. These sports involve players making a wide range of strokes with their bat or racquet including strokes which are at a wide range of angles other than horizontal. Existing tees for use in ball sports are limited to addressing mainly horizontal strokes such as are typical in baseball or softball. The invention operates in much the same manner as a traditional golf tee does for golf but for the application of practising: a) tennis strokes

b) cricket strokes (both straight and horizontal bat strokes)

c) baseball batting

d) recreational hitting of a ball.

Much like a traditional golf tee emulates a floating stationary ball, the invention is to provide the same function for larger balls such as those used in tennis, cricket and baseball but with a base that balances on the ground whilst supporting the ball but which topples over once the ball has been struck by the user. Some of the advantages which the present invention has over prior art devices include:

1) Easy setup of ball on tee

2) Tee that can be setup on many surfaces

3) Stem cylinder design for good primary ball contact

4) Soft outer stem to reduce feel of the tee impact with the bat/racquet

5) Light construction to reduce feel of the tee impact with the bat/racquet

6) Flexible base material to reduce feel of the tee impact with the bat/racquet

7) Higher centre of gravity relative to existing tees allowing it to have an easy fall capability. Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the improved tee 10 having a base member 11 which supports an elongated tubular stem 12 which extends perpendicularly from the base member, shown in exploded view Figure 2. The base member 11 has a diameter suitable to enable the tee 10 to balance in an upright position upon a variety of surfaces. The elongated tubular stem 12 has a receptacle 13 for a ball located at an end of the stem 12 distal to the base member 11. In use a ball is placed upon the receptacle 13 and is securely held in place until such time as the user strikes the ball with his or her bat or racquet.

The diameter and/or shape or base member 11 may be altered according to the nature of the surface upon which the tee 10 is to be placed. For example, in the case of flat surfaces used in tennis, cricket pitches or cricket practice pitches, the diameter of the base may be smaller than tees adapted for use on lawn or sand surfaces. The invention is suitable for use on a multitude of surfaces including flat surfaces such as tennis courts, cricket pitches or hard floor surfaces in gymnasiums or rough surfaces such as grass lawns and sand. The footprint of base member 11 is sufficient to allow the ball to balance on top of the tee 10 without falling over but is minimised to ensure the tee 10 easily topples over when horizontal force is applied to the tee 10 primarily through the ball's movement off the tee 10 when a stroke is hit and/or if the user's bat or racquet makes contact with the tee 10. The base member 11 is made of flexible, robust, light weight material of construction to provide additional cushioning on the stroke and minimising the feel of impact on the tee 10 whilst hitting a stroke and preventing damage to the tee 10. The height of base member 11 is minimised to ensure that the base member 11 does not impact the stroke being played by the user and in order to maximise the array of strokes that can be played off the tee 10 whilst ensuring that primary contact is made with the ball resting upon the tee 10.

The tee 10 has a protective sleeve 14 which is placed over the length of the stem 12 for protecting the stem 12 and a racquet or bat of a user In some embodiments of the invention the protective sleeve 14 may be integrally formed with the stem 12. In some embodiments the stem 12 and protective sleeve 14 may be secured within the base member 11 through the use of an end cap 15.

The height of tee 10 may be adjusted according to the user's requirements by increasing the length of the elongated tubular stem 12 and protective sleeve 14 to enable a wide range of strokes and ball heights as are typical in bat and racquet sports. In some embodiments of the invention the stem 12 and protective sleeve 14 are adjustable, for example, telescopically.

Just as a traditional golf tee has no impact on the golf club during the swing impact, the tee 10 is adapted to simulate the same function for racquet and bat sports that use a larger ball.

The improved tee emulates a stable floating ball implemented for various heights to be used as a practice tool for a wide array of racquet and bat sports and strokes. Specifically, the improved tee alleviates the impact felt by a user when hitting the ball off the tee with a bat or racquet.

The stem 12 is constructed of light and stiff material to provide structural support in holding the ball in an elevated position of varying heights above the ground and of such strength as to prevent damage to the tee 10 over long term use. Stem 12 has a minimised diameter along its entire length to allow the ball to be balanced on top yet maximise the number of varying strakes that can be hit where the bat or racquet makes primary contact with the ball rather than the tee during a stroke. The stem 12 is covered along its length by a protective sleeve 14 manufactured of lightweight material which cushions the impact of the bat or racquet on the tee 10 and for preventing damage to the user's bat or racquet and the tee 10 during extended or long term use.

The stem 12 and base member 11 can be integrally formed or be manufactured of a number of component parts which are secured together, for example, using screws or via other mechanisms such as the use of an end cap 15 which joins the components. In one embodiment of the invention component parts 11, 12, 14 and 15 are combined as illustrated in Figure 4. Stem 12 and protective sleeve 14 are secured within the base member 11 and held in place by end cap 15 which has a central male protrusion which inserts securably within a central aperture of the stem 12. Protective sleeve 14 is securably held within the base member 11 and the end cap 15 secures over a flange located upon the base member 11.

The tee 10 is intended to allow the person hitting the ball to hit the ball off the tee 10 from the sweet spot of the racquet or bat for a wide variety of strokes including straight and horizontal bat cricket strokes and tennis groundstrokes and volleys, allowing the ball to travel off the tee 10 without the bat making contact with the tee stem 12. However, if contact is made with the stem 12 its effect on the impact felt by the player is minimised by light, robust materials of construction for the stem 12 and base member 11, protective sleeve 14 which cushions the stem 12, easy topple nature of the base member 11 through a minimised footprint, and the flexible materials of construction of the base member 11.

Figures 5A through 5D show front views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a cricket bat when in use. Figures 6A through 6C show side views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a cricket bat when in use. It can be seen that an almost infinite number of strokes may be practised when the invention is in use without the problem of the cricket bat striking the tee before the ball, assuming a competent user, and compromising the integrity or feel of the stroke upon impact with the ball. If the tee is struck, for example, during the follow through of the stroke, it is designed to topple over rather than cause interference with or impede the follow through of the stroke. This replicates more accurately to the user the feel and approach of the wide range of strokes playable during a cricket match and so enhances training and practice efficiency and effectiveness highlighting the advantages of the present invention over prior art devices.

Figures 7 A, through 7C show front views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a tennis racquet when in use. Figures 8A, through 8C show side views of a range of angles at which the ball on the tee may be approached with a tennis racquet when in use. It can be seen that an almost infinite number of strokes may be practised when the invention is in use without the problem of the tennis racquet striking the tee before the ball, assuming a competent user, and compromising the integrity or feel of the stroke upon impact with the ball. If the tee is struck, for example, during the follow through of the stroke, it is designed to topple over rather than cause interference with or impede the follow through of the stroke. This replicates more accurately to the user the feel and approach of the wide range of strokes playable during a tennis match and so enhances training and practice efficiency and effectiveness highlighting the advantages of the present invention over prior art devices. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the examples provided above are not intended to be limiting and that other embodiments of the invention and fall within the scope of the disclosure herein set out are possible without departing from the scope of invention.

In the claims which follow, and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the apparatus and method as disclosed herein.