Height adjustable golf tee support apparatus

• US 20050215356A1
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Debra J. Bainbridge, Robert G. Bainbridge
• Original Assignee: Debra J. Bainbridge, Robert G. Bainbridge
• Inventors: Bainbridge, Debra J., Bainbridge, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,086,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/396
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/15 height-adjustable

Abstract

A height adjustable apparatus for supporting a golf tee includes an outer sleeve configured for ground penetration defining an open top into which an inner sleeve is slidably received. The inner sleeve defines an open top for receiving a golf tee therein. The inner and outer sleeves include complementary fasteners such that the inner sleeve may be maintained at a selectable longitudinal configuration relative to the outer sleeve and slidable moved between retracted and extended configurations, whereby to adjust the height of the golf tee. A spring is positioned in the outer sleeve for urging the inner sleeve in an upward direction although the fasteners resist such movement. A cam assembly releases the inner sleeve to be reset to the extended configuration once it has been fully retracted.

Claims

1. An adjustable height golf tee support apparatus, comprising:

a tubular outer sleeve having an outer sleeve closed bottom and defining an outer sleeve open top;

a tubular inner sleeve slidably received in said outer sleeve through said outer sleeve open top, said inner sleeve having an inner sleeve closed bottom and defining an inner sleeve open top adapted to receive a golf tee therein;

a first fastener structure along an extent of said outer sleeve;

a second complementary fastener structure along an extent of said inner sleeve for engagement with said first fastener structure, whereby said inner sleeve is received in said outer sleeve at a selectable longitudinal configuration;

wherein said first fastener structure includes a plurality of notches defined along an inner surface of said outer sleeve and arranged in a longitudinal band between said outer sleeve bottom and said outer sleeve top;

wherein said second fastener structure includes a spring tab connected to said inner sleeve and having a flange extending outwardly from said tab for engagement with a selectable one of said plurality of notches;

a return slot defined in an inner surface of said outer sleeve and extending longitudinally substantially between said outer sleeve bottom and said outer sleeve top;

a release groove defined in said inner surface of said outer sleeve for connecting a lowermost notch of said first fastener structure with a lower end of said return slot, whereby said flange is communicated to said return slot when moved beyond said lowermost notch;

a reset groove defined in said inner surface of said outer sleeve for connecting an upper end of said return slot with an uppermost notch of said first fastener structure, whereby said flange is communicated into engagement with said uppermost notch when said flange is at said upper end of said return slot.

3. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said first and second fastener structures are configured to resist an upward movement of said inner sleeve relative to said outer sleeve.

5. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a spring positioned in said outer sleeve for urging said inner sleeve toward said outer sleeve open top, whereby said inner sleeve is moved upwardly when said flange is positioned in said return slot.

6. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said outer sleeve bottom includes a pointed tip for selectively penetrating a ground surface.

7. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said inner sleeve includes a flexible and resilient construction so as to flexibly receive and withstand an impact by a golf club.

8. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said inner sleeve is constructed of a rubber or elastomeric material.

9. The golf tee support apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a disc-shaped collar mounted to said outer sleeve at said open top, said collar defining a central aperture having a diameter at least as large as a diameter of said inner sleeve such that said inner sleeve is movable therethrough.

2. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

10. A height adjustable apparatus for supporting a golf tee, comprising:

an outer sleeve having an outer sleeve closed bottom and defining an outer sleeve open top;

an inner sleeve slidably received in said outer sleeve through said outer sleeve open top, said inner sleeve having a closed inner sleeve bottom and defining an inner sleeve open top, said inner sleeve being movable between an extended configuration in which said inner sleeve open top is outwardly displaced from said outer sleeve open top and a retracted configuration in which said inner sleeve is completely positioned within said outer sleeve;

means for biasing said inner sleeve toward said extended configuration;

means for maintaining said inner sleeve at a selectable longitudinal configuration relative to said outer sleeve; and

a cam assembly situated in said outer casing for selectably releasing said inner sleeve to move from said retracted configuration to said extended configuration.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said biasing means is a spring positioned in said outer sleeve between said outer sleeve bottom and said inner sleeve bottom, said spring bearing against said inner sleeve bottom.

12. The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said maintaining means includes:

a first fastener structure along an extent of said outer sleeve; and

a second complementary fastener structure along an extent of said inner sleeve for engagement with said first fastener structure, whereby said inner sleeve is received in said outer sleeve at a selectable longitudinal configuration.

13. The apparatus as in claim 12 wherein:

said first fastener structure includes a plurality of notches defined along an inner surface of said outer sleeve and arranged in a longitudinal band between said outer sleeve bottom and said outer sleeve top; and

said second fastener structure includes a resilient tab connected to said inner sleeve and having a flange extending outwardly from said tab for engagement with a selectable one of said plurality of notches.

14. The apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said plurality of notches and said flange are configured to resist relative movement toward said extended configuration.

15. The apparatus as in claim 13 wherein said cam assembly includes:

a return slot defined in an inner surface of said outer sleeve and extending longitudinally substantially between said outer sleeve bottom and said outer sleeve top;

a release groove defined in said inner surface of said outer sleeve for connecting a lowermost notch of said first fastener structure with a lower end of said return slot, whereby said flange is communicated to said return slot when moved beyond said lowermost notch; and

a reset groove defined in said inner surface of said outer sleeve for connecting an upper end of said return slot with an uppermost notch of said first fastener structure, whereby said flange is communicated into engagement with said uppermost notch when said flange is at said upper end of said return slot, whereby said flange, when positioned in said return slot, is slidably movable along said return slot when said inner sleeve is urged toward said extended configuration by said biasing means.

16. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein:

a movement of said flange along said release groove from said lowermost notch to said return slot rotates said inner sleeve about 90°

in a first direction;

a movement of said flange along said reset slot from said return slot to said uppermost notch rotates said inner sleeve about 90°

in a second direction opposite said first direction.

17. The apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said inner sleeve includes a flexible and resilient construction so as to flexibly withstand an impact by a golf club.

18. The apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said inner sleeve is constructed of a rubber or elastomeric material.

19. The apparatus as in claim 10 further comprising a disc-shaped collar mounted to said outer sleeve at said open top, said collar defining a central aperture having a diameter at least as large as a diameter of said inner sleeve such that said inner sleeve is movable therethrough.

20. A height adjustable apparatus for supporting a golf tee, comprising:

an outer sleeve having an outer sleeve closed bottom and defining an outer sleeve open top;

an inner sleeve slidably received in said outer sleeve through said outer sleeve open top, said inner sleeve having a closed inner sleeve bottom and defining an inner sleeve open top adapted to receive a golf tee therein, said inner sleeve being movable between an extended configuration in which said inner sleeve open top is outwardly displaced from said outer sleeve open top and a retracted configuration in which said inner sleeve is completely positioned within said outer sleeve;

a spring positioned in said outer sleeve for biasing said inner sleeve toward said extended configuration;

a first fastener structure along an extent of said outer sleeve;

a second complementary fastener structure along an extent of said inner sleeve for engagement with said first fastener structure, whereby said inner sleeve is received in said outer sleeve at a selectable longitudinal configuration; and

a cam assembly situated in said outer casing for selectably releasing said inner sleeve to move from said retracted configuration to said extended configuration.