Field and Background of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to golf tees, including golf tees having a level on or associated therewith. More particularly, the invention relates to a golf tee having certain functions and capabilities to potentially assist a golfer in setting up more precisely the golfball prior to striking the golfball with a golf club.

[0003] Golf tees are widely known and universally used by golfers around the world. A typical golf tee comprises a shaft portion having a tapered or pointed lower end, and a shelf or substrate at the top end of the shaft portion which may be recessed or somewhat concave, and is adapted for receiving a golfball in a manner which will prevent the golfball from falling off but not otherwise interfere with any movement of the golfball resulting from the golfer's hit.

[0004] The purpose of the golf tee is to raise or elevate the golfball above the playing surface or turf and may most often be used at the start of a golf hole or at the teeing ground (or tee), for the first shot of each one of the typically eighteen holes on the golf course. Golf tees come in many different shapes and sizes and are usually made of materials such as wood, plastic, bamboo or other suitable materials.

[0005] A golf tee or peg is usually pushed into the turf at the teeing area to a selected depth so that the ball supporting shelf or recess is raised above the turf. The golfball is thereafter placed on the shelf and the golfer then sets up to hit the golfball down the fairway from the teeing area.

[0006] Golf is a game requiring considerable skill and extensive research and analyses are invested in all of the devices and accessories which form part of the game. This includes optimizing golf clubs with better gripping surfaces and sizes, using golf club materials for best weight and balance capabilities and the like. Additionally, there has been much research on the configuration of golfballs, their surface texture and design, so as to provide them with the best aerodynamic properties to increase travel distance and improve travel direction from a given swing of the golf club. Research also has developed with respect to shoes, clothing, gloves and other products used by the golfer. The point of the above description is to emphasize the importance of the smallest details, all of which may, individually or in combination, help to improve the golfer's game and provide a more enjoyable and satisfying experience.

[0007] The golf tee is one of the important accessories which is used by golfers on a continuing basis. However, even though the golf tee is widely used, its application has traditionally been very narrow since it has been used primarily for golfball elevation and little else. Other than small variations in, for example, shape and length, the golf tee is a fairly standard accessory which is used by a golfer, and its functions and features have not changed much over the years.

Summary of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf tee comprising: a shaft portion having an upper end and a lower end; a housing portion mounted at or near the upper end of the shaft portion, the housing portion having a receiving surface; and a level indicator mounted at least partially in or on the housing portion such that the level indicator indicates when the receiving surface is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0009] The level indicator may be at least partially in the housing portion of the golf tee, at least partially in the shaft portion of the golf tee, or at least partially outside the housing portion and the shaft portion.

[0010] Preferably, the level indicator comprises a body portion and an upper surface at least a portion of which is transparent, the body having a liquid therein including a bubble or air space in the liquid, and the upper surface has a surface marking thereon wherein the bubble is positioned in the surface marking when the golf tee is in the substantially horizontal position. The surface marking may comprise a circular marking in substantially the center of the upper surface.

[0011] In one embodiment, the body portion is formed in the housing portion of the golf tee and the upper surface of the body portion is substantially flush with the receiving surface of the housing portion. In a further embodiment, the housing portion comprises a body portion which houses the level indicator, the body portion having a plurality of upwardly extending tabs which form the receiving surface of the housing portion, and upon which a golfball is mounted prior to hitting or driving the golfball.

[0012] The golf tee of the invention may further comprise a transmitter for sending signals to a remote device when the receiving surface is in the substantially horizontal position.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf tee comprising: a shaft portion having an upper end and a lower end; a housing portion mounted at or near the upper end of the shaft portion, the housing portion having a receiving surface; and a level indicator mounted at least partially in or on the housing portion such that the level indicator indicates when the receiving surface is in a substantially horizontal position and when the receiving surface is not in a substantially horizontal position.

[0014] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of determining when a golf tee is in a preselected position, the method comprising: forming a shaft portion having an upper end and a lower end; mounting a housing portion at or near the upper end of the shaft portion, the housing portion having a receiving surface for a golfball; and mounting a level indicator at least partially in or on the housing portion such that the level indicator indicates when the receiving surface is in a substantially horizontal position.

[0015] In this method, the level indicator may be formed so as to comprise a body portion and an upper surface at least a portion of which is transparent, the body being filled with a liquid contained therein, the liquid including a bubble or air space therein, and forming at least one marking on the upper surface of the level indicator so that the bubble comes to rest at a position in the surface marking at a point when the golf tee is located in the substantially horizontal position.

[0016] The present invention is thus a golf tee which has structure and provides information which may benefit a golfer substantially in setting up the golfball. Traditional golf tees are typically placed in the ground or turf without too much regard for determining whether the top of the golf tee is level. However, a golf tee which is inserted in the turf in a way where the top of the tee is not level may ultimately impact the nature and quality of the golf shot.

[0017] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a golf tee having a body comprising a shaft section with a pointed lower end and an upper end, and wherein a golfball shelf or receiver is formed at the upper end of the shaft, the golf tee further comprising a level which enables the golfer to determine whether the shelf or receiver of the golf tee is level or near level. For the most part, the word level in this description is intended to mean horizontal or nearly or substantially horizontal when applied to the shelf or ball receiver, but the invention also incorporates the capacity for the golfer to choose in a given situation whether the shelf or ball receiver golf tee should be other than horizontal, such as when the playing surface is angled or sloped.

[0018] In one embodiment, the golf tee of the invention has a recess or concave area which forms the shelf or ball receiver, and an aperture or chamber below the recess in the body of the golf tee in which a level is located. In other embodiments, the level may be in other positions on or in the golf tee, but will always be such that the golfer has a visual or audible or tactile feedback indicating when the shelf or receiver of the golf tee is in the substantially horizontal position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] In the drawings: [0020] Figure l is a perspective view of a golf tee in accordance with one aspect of the invention;

[0021] Figure 2 is a side view of the golf tee shown in Figure 1 of the drawings;

[0022] Figure 3 is a top view of the golf tee as shown in the previous figures;

[0023] Figure 4 is a detail view of the golf tee of the invention, in cross section, showing with further clarity the position and placement of the level in one version of the invention;

[0024] Figure 5 of the drawings is a schematic view which shows a golf tee of the invention incorporating different features and additional structures and warning or notification systems which may be used either individually or all together with a golf tee of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 is side perspective view of a golf tee in accordance with a further aspect of the invention;

[0026] Figure 7 is another side perspective view of the golf tee as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings; and

[0027] Figure 8 is a top perspective view of the golf tee shown in figure 6 of the drawings, including a top view of the level formed within the golf tee body.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0028] Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which show various features and structures of a golf tee in accordance with one aspect of the invention. It should be noted that the drawings are certain examples only of the invention, and there may be many different forms and versions of the golf tee which may be considered to fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0029] In the drawings, there is a shown a golf tee 10 of the invention. The golf tee 10 comprises a body 12 having a shaft portion 14 with a lower end 16 terminating in a point 18, and an upper end 20. The shaft portion 14 is generally cylindrical, although it may taper slightly from the upper end 20 to the lower end 16. The shaft portion 14 is mainly comprised of solid wood, although it may have chambers and recesses as will be described. However, the golf tee 10 and the shaft portion may be comprised of any other suitable material that will allow the golf tee 10 to function as intended, such materials including plastics, metal, composite, fiber, paper based, or a combination thereof.

[0030] At the upper end 20 of the shaft portion 14, there is formed a shelf 24, which operates as a golfball receiver and holder. The upper end 20 widens as is conventional with golf tees in general so that the shelf 24 will have a larger surface area than the cross section of the shaft portion 14. The shelf 24 has an outer edge 26, and a recess or concave portion 28 extending across the shelf 24 with the lowest part of the recess 28 in about the middle thereof. The shelf 24 is adapted to receive a golfball which is mounted thereon by the golf player, and the recess may more or less in one embodiment follow the contours of the golfball in its shape.

[0031] A level 30 is located in the shelf 24, in the present embodiment of the invention. The level 30 may be circular or disc shaped (although other shapes can be used), and has an upper surface 32 which is comprised of transparent material. The upper surface 32 has a centrally positioned marker circle 34, and a liquid in the level 30 which includes a bubble 36. When the axis of the shaft portion 14 is generally vertical, and the shelf 24 is generally horizontal, the bubble 36 in the level 30 will indicate this condition by being positioned within the marker circle 34. In this condition, the golf tee 10 of the invention will indicate that the shelf 24 is generally horizontal or near horizontal. Conversely, of course, the golfer will know when the shelf 24 of the golf tee 10 is not in the generally horizontal position when the bubble 36 is not situated centrally within the marker circle 34, and is only partially in the marker circle 34 or completely outside of it. The golf tee 10 of the invention is therefore an invaluable and simple guide to the golfer providing information as to the orientation and angle of the golf tee 10 and the shelf 24, so that a shot can be set up using the golf tee 10 in the desired position, and potentially serve as an aide or guide to the golfer for achieving optimal play set up.

[0032] The golfer need not use the golf tee of the invention only when in the horizontal position. The level may provide information which can be used by the golfer who may wish to orient the golf tee into other positions according to the situation, and personal preferences. In this regard, the level 30 may have several marker lines or circles which can be used by the golfer to obtain information as to the lie of the turf. The golf tee thus serves as a useful accessory which can provide the golfer with accurate and real time information to optimally line up a shot, and consequently potentially achieve a better follow through shot as a result.

[0033] Figure 3 of the drawings shows a top view of the golf tee 10 of the invention, which is typically how the golfer will see the tee 10 when it is pushed in the turf. The golfer will see immediately whether the bubble 36 is in the marker circle 34, or how the bubble 36 is positioned with respect to other marker lines on the level 30, so that an instant recognition of the orientation of the golf tee 10 will be visible. Further, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the level 30 may have a color or neon type background behind the bubble 36, making it even more of a standout for easy visibility without having to struggle to identify the position of the bubble 36. Different colors may be used with the level 30, as preferred by the golfer, or, for example, to identify the tee 10 as one belonging to a particular golfer.

[0034] In one embodiment, the level 30 is located in the body of the golf tee in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. In this figure, there is formed a chamber 40 in the body 12 of the golf tee 10, which is just below the shelf 24. The level 30 itself is selected so that at least the upper surface 44 thereof is flat and flush with the shelf 24 itself so that the stability of the golfball when mounted on the golf tee 10 is not compromised, and will not easily fall off. In other embodiments, the upper surface 44 of the level 30 may, for example, also be concave to follow the contour of the shelf, but it should be noted that any suitable shape which will not otherwise interfere with the golf tee 10 functionality may also be used.

Further, the chamber 40 may be sized and dimensioned so that the level 30 snaps into the chamber 40 in a way such that it is securely embedded therein and will not dislodge or fly out of the chamber 40 under the substantial impact of a golf club swing. Glue or other materials or objects as may be suitable may also be used for the purpose of securing the level 30 firmly within the chamber 40.

[0035] The chamber 40 may be just slightly larger than level 30, so that it locks therein when forced in, or it may be larger than the level 30, depending upon the production economics, and optimal ways of mass-producing the golf tee with the level 30 therein. When the chamber 40 is larger than the level 30, any form of attachment, such as with glue, may be used which will secure the level 30 firmly in the chamber 40.

[0036] The golf tee 10 of the invention may incorporate other features, or display the orientation or other sensed information in different formats and signals than those which have been described above.

[0037] Figure 5 of the drawings illustrates a golf tee 10 of the invention which incorporates additional components and functionality. These additional features are intended to convey the wide application and potential of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0038] The level 30 itself may be positioned in or on the golf tee in different positions. For example, the level 30 may be further down in the body of the golf tee 10. Another possible position for the level 30 would be at, or around, or just under the shelf 24 so that the level 30 is ring like. The bubble 36 may be anywhere which will achieve optimal visibility. Further, in a ring shaped level 30, there may be two bubbles for accuracy, and these may be disposed more or less opposite to each other on the ring with appropriate line markings to indicate where the bubble should be when the golf tee is properly inserted and in a desired horizontal position.

[0039] The golf tee of the invention may have light or audio signals which are emitted when the golf tee 10 is positioned with the shelf 24 in the horizontal position. In Figure 5 of the drawings, there is shown a battery compartment 60 which is adapted to contain a battery 66 to serve as a power source. The golf tee 10 may include an LED light 62 or a speaker 64, or both, which respectively light up or emit sound when the tee is properly positioned. These can be seen or heard through openings or windows in the side of golf tee 10, or elsewhere. The chamber 48 may contain a level sensor which activates the light 62 and/or speaker 64 when the golf tee 10 has attained the desired position. All components would of course be connected to the battery source 66 to operate with the necessary power. The battery 66 itself may be permanently sealed or replaceable. If sealed, the golf tee 10 would simply be disposed of when the battery 66 has run down, as long as the level function is no longer needed.

[0040] The golf tee may also have a switch which automatically activates the golf tee 10 when it is placed in the turf. A switch 76 is located at the tip or point 18 of the golf tee 10 and activates the battery 66 and other components requiring power to operate automatically when the tee 10 is used. The system may include a timer of some sort so that the battery 66 will be disconnected after a given period of time to preserve the battery 66 from unnecessary use. There may also be a gravity switch in the golf tee 10 so that it is activated when the tee is placed at or near the position where the shaft portion is horizontal.

[0041] Reference is now made to Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings. In these figures, a golf tee 80 comprises a shaft portion 82, and a golfball receiving cup portion 84. The shaft portion 82 is splined and has a pointed end 86 to facilitate insertion of the golf tee 80 into the ground. The cup portion 84 has a housing 88 including a chamber, and the housing 88 has a base surface 90 on which the golfball may rest. Three tabs 92 extend upwardly from the base surface 90, providing further structure for stabilizing the golfball when mounted on the golf tee 80 without interfering with the golf drive.

[0042] Within the housing 88, there is located a level 94, which functions and provides information in much the same manner as has been described in earlier embodiments. The level 94 provides information as to the angle and orientation of the golf tee 80 and its base surface 90. The level 94 includes the moving bubble 96 within the level 90 according to the angle relative to the horizontal, and a circular marker 98 formed on the surface of the level 90. When the bubble 96 is generally centered in the circular marker 98, the base surface 90 may be conserved to be in the substantially horizontal position. [0043] The golf tee 80 as illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 may also have the additional structures and components and arrangements, as have been described above with respect to other embodiments of the invention.

[0044] It should be noted that while the tee of the invention is very suitable for golf, it is not limited to this application. Any situation or sport which requires that a ball or other object be placed on a platform, raised or otherwise, or a peg, may benefit from the invention. For example, a baseball tee having the structure and features of the invention may be used. The possibilities do not end here, and the example is not to be construed as limiting. The invention may be useful in many situations.

Other comments and features

[0045] The level indicator (bubble level) may be located on top of tee and inset (as illustrated herein), or on side of tee, or hidden inside tee.

[0046] The following level indicator types may be used with this invention: bubble to center, visual (color change or light), sound, or vibration (touch).

[0047] The color or light change from LED (or other light source) and sound or vibration may be powered by an inset battery or other power source, such as solar.

[0048] The indicators can be remote, in one embodiment. The remote indicator can be inside golf equipment or accessories, or clothes, including a golf glove, hat, shoe, etc.

[0049] The golf tee of the invention may synchronize with a smart phone app, golf GPS, tracking or simulator type of equipment to indicate the level and to gather other information such as club strike speed. Further, the golf tee may synchronize with the smart phone app, golf GPS, tracking and simulator type equipment to transmit tee angle information and directional information from the tee to the current hole location, or provide other information which may be useful to a golfer.

[0050] Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.

[0051] As used herein, "plurality" means two or more. As used herein, a "set" of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing", "involving", and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of' and "consisting essentially of," respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as "first", "second", "third", etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, "and/or" means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.