Golf tee

• US 5,154,417 A
• Filed: 09/10/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leslie F. Kohli
• Original Assignee: James W. Crook Jr
• Inventors: Kohli, Leslie F.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US07/757,322
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 273/33, 273/201, 273/205, 273/206, 273/212, 273/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 473/401
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/10 Golf tees

Abstract

A golf tee having a monolithic body made of a tough, resilient, abrasion resistant polymeric material, having a principal cylindrical body portion, a ball supporting portion, and a tapered tip for insertion into the ground. A reinforcing member in the form of a pin approximately the shape of the tee is embedded longitudinally within the body, extending at least within the cylindrical body portion to provide stiffness when the tee is inserted into the ground.

Claims

1. In a reusable golf tee for insertion into the ground, comprising a tee body having a major cylindrical portion thereof tapering inwardly to a lower tip portion having a sharp tip, and flaring outwardly to a curved ball supporting portion having a ball supporting upper surface;

the improvement wherein said tee body is monolithic and has a longitudinal central axis and is made of a tough, resilient, abrasion resistant polymeric material, said tee body having reinforcing means for providing stiffness along said axis, said reinforcing means consisting of a separate member fully imbedded within said tee body and coaxial therewith, said member extending into said ball supporting portion from just below said upper surface and extending into said tip portion and terminating short of said tip, said member permitting said tee to be inserted vertically into said ground without breaking or bending, wherein said member has a butt end having an outwardly curved body, said button end having a surface approximately parallel to and spaced from said ball supporting surface of said tee body.

2. The golf tee of claim 1 wherein said member is a pin having a cylindrical configuration over at least a major portion of its length and extending throughout at least the cylindrical portion of said tee body.

3. The golf tee of claim 2 wherein said pin extends between 70 and 90 percent of the length of said tee.

4. The golf tee of claim 3 wherein said pin has a tapered tip approximately parallel to said tee body tip portion.

5. The golf tee of claim 2 werein said pin is made of a material having greater stiffness than said tee body.

6. The golf tee of claim 2 wherein said pin is made of fiberglass.

7. The golf tee of claim 2 wherein said pin is made of a resinous material having fibers imbedded therein.

8. The golf tee of claim 2 wherein said pin is made of metal.

9. The golf tee of claim 1 wherein said tee body is made of an ionomer resin.