Multi-purpose football tees

• US 8,602,918 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2013
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pro Sports Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Premium Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Spiegel, H. Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Aryanpour, Mitra
• Application Number:
  US13/967,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 117 Days
• Field of Search: 473/420, 473/419, 473/417, 473/438, 473/387, 473/396, D21/716, D21/717, D21/788, D21/793, 248/121, 248/156
• US Class Current: 473/420
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/002 for football American-football dummies A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0075 Means for releasably holding a ball in position prior to kicking, striking or the like golf tees A63B57/10
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/02 for large-room or outdoor sporting games

Abstract

A football tee combines three ball receiving recesses into a single tee. The ball receiving recesses include a first ball receiving recess for conventional kicks, a second ball receiving recess for squib kicks, and a third ball receiving recess for onside kicks. In a first embodiment, the first ball receiving recess consists of a plurality of elongated arcuate lines with each line conforming to the shape of the surface of the football near the tip. In a second embodiment, the lines are replaced by a similar number of arcuate narrow bands, each of which conforms to the shape of the football above the tip. In a third embodiment, a series of semi-spherical projections are provided, each of which engages the football in a point contact. The bottom of the first recess is open to reduce surface area of ball contact.

Claims

1. A football tee, comprising:

a) a body supportable on a ground surface;

b) said body having a top surface spaced from said ground surface;

c) a recess depending downwardly from said top surface, said recess including a plurality of discrete spaced first regions, each of said discrete spaced first regions comprising a surface conforming to an outer surface of an oblate spheroidal football adjacent a tip of said football and, each of said discrete spaced first regions encompassing a small surface area as compared to a surface area of a portion of said football adjacent said tip, said recess including a second region separating said first regions from one another, said portion of said football adjacent said tip configured to be supported in said recess;

d) whereby when a tip and an adjacent portion of an oblate spheroidal football are inserted into said recess, said portion is engaged by said discrete spaced first regions to support said football within said recess while said second region does not engage said tip and adjacent portion of said oblate spheroidal football.

2. The tee of claim 1, wherein said second region comprises at least one scalloped surface.

3. The tee of claim 1, wherein said tee includes a bottom opening in said recess, whereby when said tip and said portion of said oblate spheroidal football adjacent said tip are inserted into said recess, said tip is spaced from all surfaces of said recess.

4. The tee of claim 2, wherein said tee includes a bottom opening in said recess, whereby when said tip and said portion of said oblate spheroidal football adjacent said tip are inserted into said recess, said tip is spaced from all surfaces of said recess.

5. The tee of claim 1, wherein said discrete spaced first regions are chosen from the group consisting of arcuate lines, narrow arcuate bands, and bumps.

6. The tee of claim 5, wherein said discrete spaced first regions comprise arcuate lines.

7. The tee of claim 5, wherein said discrete spaced first regions comprise narrow arcuate bands.

8. The tee of claim 5, wherein said discrete spaced first regions comprise bumps.

9. The tee of claim 8, wherein said bumps comprise semi-spherical projections.

10. The tee of claim 1, wherein said recess has a top opening and a bottom opening.

11. The tee of claim 10, wherein said discrete spaced first regions extend from adjacent said top opening toward said bottom opening.

12. The tee of claim 11, wherein said bottom opening extends from a lower termination thereof toward said top opening, an upper termination of said bottom opening defining a lower termination of said discrete spaced first regions.

13. The tee of claim 1, wherein said recess includes a forward opening framed by a pair of ribs.

14. The tee of claim 13, wherein said recess comprises a first recess, said tee further comprising a second recess beyond said ribs and sized to permit a tip of a football to leave said tee unimpeded when said football is kicked from said first recess.

15. The tee of claim 14, wherein said second recess is shaped in partial conformance with a surface adjacent a tip of an oblate spheroidal football.

16. The tee of claim 15, wherein said second recess has a lateral opening facing said first recess.

17. The tee of claim 14, further including a forward wall in which a third recess is located.

18. The tee of claim 17, wherein said third recess is shaped in substantial conformance with a portion of a side wall of an oblate spheroidal football, whereby a football may be supported with its tip on said ground surface and a side wall thereof leaning on said third recess.

19. A football tee, comprising:

a) a body supportable on a ground surface;

b) said body having a top surface spaced from said ground surface;

c) a first recess depending downwardly from said top surface, said first recess including a plurality of discrete spaced first regions, each of said discrete spaced first regions comprising a surface conforming to an outer surface of an oblate spheroidal football adjacent a tip of said football and, each of said discrete spaced first regions encompassing a small surface area as compared to a surface area of a portion of said football adjacent said tip thereof, said portion of said football adjacent said tip configured to be supported in said recess;

d) whereby when a tip and adjacent portion of an oblate spheroidal football are, inserted into said recess, said portion is engaged by said discrete spaced first regions to support in said football within said recess, said recess further including second regions, said second regions separating said first regions, said second regions spaced from said tip and adjacent portion of said oblate spheroidal football; and

e) a second recess forward of said first recess and sized to permit a tip of a football to leave said tee unimpeded when said football is kicked from said first recess, said second recess being shaped in partial conformance with a surface adjacent a tip of an oblate spheroidal football.

20. The tee of claim 19, further including a forward wall in which a third recess is located, said third recess being shaped in substantial conformance with a portion of a side wall of an oblate spheroidal football, whereby a football may be supported with its tip on said ground surface and a side wall thereof leaning on said third recess.

21. The tee of claim 19, wherein said first recess includes a forward opening framed by a pair of ribs.

22. The tee of claim 19, wherein said second recess has a lateral opening facing said first recess.

23. The tee of claim 19, wherein said discrete spaced first regions are chosen from the group consisting of arcuate lines, narrow arcuate bands, and bumps.

24. The tee of claim 19, wherein said first recess has a top opening and a bottom opening.

25. A football tee, comprising:

a) a body supportable on a ground surface;

b) said body having a top surface spaced from said ground surface and a forward surface, said top surface having a peripheral edge;

c) a first recess depending downwardly from said top surface, said first recess shaped in partial conformance with a surface of an oblate spheroidal football adjacent a tip of said football, said first recess having a forward facing opening framed by a pair of ribs;

d) a second recess forward of said first recess and depending downwardly from said top surface, said second recess being spaced inwardly from said peripheral edge of said top surface and being shaped in partial conformance with said surface of said oblate spheroidal football and having a rearward facing opening; and

e) a third recess formed in said forward surface, said third recess being shaped in partial conformance with a side wall of an oblate spheroidal football to support a football with its tip on said ground surface and a side wall thereof engaging said third recess.