Golf Tee Placement Apparatus

The present disclosure relates to a golf tee placement apparatus, and more specifically to a golf tee placement apparatus having a sliding hammer portion configured to facilitate a user to insert/place a golf tee into ground.

It is known that a golfer typically places a golf ball on a tee when the golfer is taking a first shot of a hole. The golfer may insert the tee into the ground by bending down to place the tee on the ground and applying a downward force on the tee by using the golfer's thumb or palm to drive the tee into the ground. Such a conventional method of inserting the tee into the ground may cause inconvenience to many users.

For example, a user with physical disability may not be able to conveniently bend and apply the downward force on the tee, thereby making it difficult for the user to efficiently drive the tee into the ground. Further, the user may face inconvenience in driving the tee into the ground using the conventional method when the ground may be dry or have presence of frost/frozen ground, clay, etc.

Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that may enable a user to conveniently insert/place a golf tee into the ground.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

The present disclosure is directed to a golf tee placement apparatus (“apparatus”) that may facilitate a user to conveniently insert/place a golf tee in ground. The apparatus may include a hollow cylindrical body, an elongated post and a handle. The elongated post may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, and may be configured to slide along a body length. An elongated post proximal end may be attached to the handle. The handle may be further attached to a body proximal end, and may also be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body proximal end. In some aspects, a body longitudinal axis, an elongated post longitudinal axis and a handle longitudinal axis may be aligned with each other.

In some aspects, the body may include a cavity in proximity to a body distal end, which may be configured to receive the golf tee from the user. The golf tee may be placed in the cavity such that a tee proximal end or a tee head may be in proximity to an elongated post distal end. Responsive to placing the golf tee in the cavity, the user may place/hold the apparatus in an upright position, which may cause the handle and the elongated post to slide down along the body length. In some aspects, the handle and the elongated post may slide down along the body length under the force of gravity, when the apparatus is placed/held in the upright position. The post's downward motion may cause the elongated post distal end to contact the tee proximal end, and push the golf tee downwards. The golf tee may escape the body and get inserted into the ground when the golf tee may be pushed downwards, thereby enabling the user to conveniently place/insert the golf tee into the ground.

The apparatus may include one or more additional components/units that may enhance user's ease of operating the apparatus. For example, the handle may include a post attachment unit that may enable the user to attach the elongated post with the handle and adjust an elongated post distal end's distance from the body distal end. By adjusting the elongated post distal end's distance from the body distal end, the user may adjust a tee length that may get inserted into the ground surface when the user uses the apparatus.

The apparatus may further include a level unit that may be configured to indicate an apparatus alignment relative to the ground surface. In an exemplary aspect, the level unit may be a bubble level or a spirit level. The apparatus may additionally include a cover unit that may be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal end. The cover unit may cover or uncover the cavity that receives the golf tee. In some aspects, the user may uncover the cavity by sliding the cover unit to an open position when the user desires to place the golf tee in the cavity, and may cover the cavity by sliding the cover unit to a closed position when the user may have placed the golf tee in the cavity.

In additional aspects, the apparatus may include a golf tee holding unit that may be configured to hold the golf tee in the cavity, when the user places the golf tee in the cavity. The golf tee holding unit may be disposed in the cavity. In an exemplary aspect, the golf tee holding unit may include a plurality of bristles and/or a V-shaped flexible support structure made from rubber or foam.

The present disclosure discloses a golf tee placement apparatus that enables a user to conveniently place/insert a golf tee into ground. By using the apparatus, the user is not required to bend and apply force on the golf tee directly by using the user's hand, thereby significantly enhancing user's convenience. Since the user is not required to bend for inserting the golf tee into the ground, a user with physical disability can also use the apparatus conveniently. Further, the apparatus is lightweight and easy to use, and can be used by users who may be learning golf and also by professional golfers.

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are provided in detail herein.

The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the disclosure are shown, and not intended to be limiting.

depicts an environmentin which techniques and structures for providing the systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented.will be described in conjunction with.

The environmentmay include a userwho may be located at a golf course(and playing golf). The usermay be using a golf tee placement apparatus(or apparatus) to insert/place a golf tee(or tee) into ground. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the usermay be allowed to set a golf ball (not shown) on the tee, when the usertakes a first shot of a hole. The apparatusmay enable the userto efficiently and conveniently insert/place the teeinto the ground. Specifically, the usermay conveniently insert the teeinto the ground by using the apparatus, without having to bend near to the ground and manually driving the teeinto the ground by using user's hand (which is a conventional method to insert the teeinto the ground).

In some aspects, the apparatusmay be shaped as an elongated cylindrical body having a length in a range of 40-50 inches and a diameter in a range of 15-25 millimeters. In other aspects, the apparatusmay have any other shape, e.g., an elongated hexagonal shape, an elongated cuboidal shape, etc., without departing from the present disclosure scope. The apparatusmay include a plurality of components including, but not limited to, a handle, a body, an elongated post(as shown in), a cover unit, and/or the like. The elongated postmay be a sliding hammer portion of the apparatus, which may enable the userto insert the teeinto the ground, as described in detail later in the description below. Specifically, the elongated postmay slide down along the body length under the force of gravity, when the userholds the apparatusin an upright position, as shown in.

In some aspects, the handle, the bodyand/or the elongated postmay have an elongated cylindrical shape (i.e., have a circular cross-section). In other aspects, the handle, the bodyand/or the elongated postmay have elongated hexagonal shapes, elongated cuboidal shapes, etc., as described above. Further, a body longitudinal axis, a handle longitudinal axis and an elongated post longitudinal axis may be parallel to each other. Specifically, the body longitudinal axis, the handle longitudinal axis and the elongated post longitudinal axis may be aligned with each other, so that the handle, the bodyand the elongated postcollectively form an elongated golf tee placement apparatus, as shown in.

The bodymay be made of metal (e.g., aluminum, iron, steel, etc.) or graphite, and may have a hollow body interior portion. A body length may be in a range of 70-85% of an apparatus length (which may be in a range of 40-50 inches, as described above). Further, a body diameter may be in a range of 15-25 millimeters. The bodymay include a body proximal endand a body distal end.

The handlemay be disposed at the body proximal end, and may be made of same or different material as the body. In some aspects, a handle first part “P” or a handle proximal portion “P” (as shown in) may be disposed outside the body, and a handle second part “P” or a handle distal portion “P” may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion via the body proximal end. In some aspects, a handle length may be in a range of 15-30% of the apparatus length, and a length of the handle proximal portion “P” may be in a range of 70-90% of the handle length.

In some aspects, the apparatusmay further include a spring unitthat may be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, in proximity to the body proximal end. In an exemplary aspect, the spring unitmay be a helical compression spring, with one end of the helical compression spring attached to the body proximal end. In some aspects, the other end of the spring may get compressed when the handleand the elongated postmove upwards (e.g., when the usermay be loading the teeinto the apparatus). The spring may return to its uncompressed state when the handleand the elongated postslide down along the body length under the force of gravity, e.g., when the userholds the apparatusin the upright position to place the teeinto the ground. Further, the handleor the handle distal portion “P” may be configured to slide along the body length (or the body longitudinal axis) inside the hollow body interior portion, as shown by an arrowin. The handlemay slide into the hollow body interior portion under the force of gravity when the apparatusmay be held in the upright position, which may cause the handle distal portion “P” to slide into the body.

In some aspects, the elongated postmay be disposed inside the hollow body interior portion, such that the elongated postmay pass through the open center portion of the helical compression spring/spring unit, as shown in. Further, the handle distal endmay include a hole in a center portion of the handle distal endthrough which the elongated postmay pass. The elongated postmay be made of same or different material as the body, and may have a length that may be 80-90% of the apparatus length. In an exemplary aspect, the elongated postmay be a rigid rod or cylinder, which may be weighted (or have a substantial weight/mass) along an entire length of the elongated postor a portion of an elongated post length.

As described above, the elongated postmay be the sliding hammer portion of the apparatus, which may be attached to the handleand configured to slide along the body length (similar to the sliding motion of the handle/handle distal portion “P” inside the hollow body interior portion) under the force of gravity. In an exemplary aspect, the elongated postmay include a post proximal portion “L”, a post middle portion “L” and a post distal portion “L”, as shown in. In some aspects, the post proximal portion “L” may be disposed inside the handle, and may be attached to the handlesuch that when the handleslides down the body length, the elongated postalso slides down the body length or the body longitudinal axis in the hollow body interior portion along with the handle. The connection mechanism between the handleand the post proximal portion “L” is described below.

In an exemplary aspect, the handlemay be configured to pivotally move (or rotate) between a handle closed position (as shown in) and a handle open position (as shown in) via a first hingethat may be disposed along a length of the handle(or along the handle longitudinal axis), as shown in. In some aspects, the first hingemay be disposed along a portion of the length (e.g., in a range of 50-95%) of the handle proximal portion “P”. The usermay conveniently move the handlefrom the handle closed position to the handle open position by opening or rotating a handle portion “O” (that may be part of the handle proximal portion “P”, as shown in) about the first hinge. Similarly, the usermay move the handlefrom the handle open position to the handle closed position by rotating back the handle portion “O”. In some aspects, the handle portion “O” may include magnetic attachment means that may enable the userto conveniently open and close the handle. Stated another way, the handle portion “O” may include magnetic and ferrous material portions that may enable the handle portion “O” to remain closed via magnetic attachment when the userrotates the handle portion “O” back to the handle closed position. In other aspects, the handle portion “O” may include any other attachment mechanism(s), different from the magnetic attachment mechanism.

A handle interior portion may be exposed when the usermoves the handleor the handle portion “O” to the handle open position, as shown in. In some aspects, the handle interior portion may include a post attachment unitthat may be configured to attach or enable attachment between the post proximal portion “L” and the handle interior portion (or the handle). In an exemplary aspect, the post attachment unitmay include one or more elongated handle cavities,and a protruding member. In the exemplary aspect depicted in, the handle portion “O” may include a first partand a second part, and the first partmay include the elongated handle cavityalong a portion (e.g., 30-50%) of a first part length in proximity to a handle portion “O” distal end. Similarly, the second partmay include the elongated handle cavityalong a portion (e.g., 30-50%) of a second part length in proximity to the handle portion “O” distal end.

In some aspects, the elongated handle cavities,may correspond to a shape of the post proximal portion “L” when the handle/handle portion “O” may be in the handle closed position. Althoughdepicts an aspect where the handle portion “O” includes two “half-cavities” (i.e., the elongated handle cavities,), the present disclosure in not limited to such an aspect. In other aspects, either one of the first partor the second partmay include a single “full” cavity that may correspond to the shape of the post proximal portion “L” (as opposed to having two half-cavities).

The protruding membermay be a spherical ball or a hexagonal ball (or ball or protrusion of any other shape) that may be attached to one of the elongated handle cavities,. In the exemplary aspect depicted in, the protruding memberis shown to be attached to the elongated handle cavity. In some aspects, the protruding membermay be made of the same material as the handle.

In some aspects, the post proximal portion “L” may have a flattened shape (as shown in) or may have a cylindrical shape (similar to the shape of the post middle portion “L” and the post distal portion “L”), and may include a plurality of through holes,,(collectively referred to as through holes) disposed along a portion of the length of the post proximal portion “L”. Althoughdepicts three through holes, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. In alternative aspects, the post proximal portion “L” may include more or less than three through holes.

In some aspects, the through holesmay be disposed at different distances from a post proximal end. For example, as shown in, the through holemay be disposed at a distance “D” from the post proximal end, the through holemay be disposed at a distance “D” from the post proximal end, and the through holemay be disposed at a distance “D” from the post proximal end. The distance “D” may be greater than the distance “D”, and the distance “D” may be greater than the distance “D”.

The shape of each through holemay be the same, and may correspond to the shape of the protruding member. The protruding membermay be configured to be inserted into one of the through holesto enable attachment between the post proximal portion “L” (or the elongated post) and the handle interior portion (or the handle). Specifically, the usermay attach the elongated postwith the handleor “lock” the post proximal portion “L” in the handle interior portion by first opening the handle portion “O”, and then inserting a through hole (e.g., the through hole) of the plurality of through holesinto the protruding member. The usermay further move the handleor the handle portion “O” to the handle closed position to secure or lock the elongated postwith the handle.

In some aspects, the usermay select a through hole (of the plurality of through holes) to insert into the protruding memberbased on a distance “Dp” of a post distal endfrom the body distal endthat the userdesires to set, as shown in. In some aspects, by varying the distance “Dp”, the usermay vary a tee length that may get inserted into the ground via the apparatus. Specifically, if the userdesires to insert the teedeep into the ground, the usermay decrease the distance “Dp”. On the other hand, if the userdesires to insert the teeinto the ground such that a substantial tee length should be above the ground, the usermay increase the distance “Dp”. In some aspects, to increase the distance “Dp”, the usermay insert the through hole(i.e., the through hole farthest from the post proximal end) into the protruding member. Similarly, to decrease the distance “Dp”, the usermay insert the through holeor(i.e., the through hole closer to the post proximal end) into the protruding member. The process of inserting the teeinto the ground by using the apparatusis described later in the description below.

In further aspects, the bodymay include a cavitythat may be disposed in proximity to the body distal end, as shown in.depicts a front view of the cavity, anddepicts a side view of the cavity. In the exemplary aspect depicted in, the cavityis shown to have an elongated rectangular shape; however, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. The cavitymay have any other shape (e.g., square, oval, elliptical, etc.), without departing from the present disclosure scope. Further, a cavity length may be equivalent to a standard tee length, or may be slightly smaller than the standard tee length. A cavity width may be any suitable width that may enable the userto conveniently insert a user finger and/or the teeinto the cavity.

The cavitymay provide access to the hollow body interior portion in proximity to the body distal end. In some aspects, the cavitymay include a cavity proximal endand a cavity distal end. As shown in, the cavity proximal endmay be disposed or present in proximity to the post distal end. In some aspects, the cavity distal endmay be disposed in proximity to the body distal end, and may be disposed at a non-zero distance “Dc” away from the body distal end, as shown in.

In some aspects, the cover unitmay be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal endto cover and uncover the cavity. Specifically, in some aspects, the cover unitmay include a cover unit first portionand a cover unit second portion, as shown in. In some aspects, the shapes of the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portionmay be similar to each other, and may correspond to an exterior shape of the bodyin proximity to the body distal end. Further, the lengths and widths of the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portionmay be similar to each other, and may be slightly greater than the cavity length and the cavity width to efficiently cover the cavity.

In an exemplary aspect, the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portionmay be attached to each other at an intersection edge of the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portionin proximity to the body distal end. Specifically, the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portionmay be pivotally attached to each other (i.e., configured to rotate relative to each other) via a second hingedisposed at the intersection edge of the cover unit first portionand the cover unit second portion, as shown in.

The cover unit first portionmay be configured to slide along the body length in proximity to the body distal endto move between a cover open position (as shown in) and a cover closed position (as shown in). The cover unit first portionmay cover the cavitywhen the cover unit first portionmay be in the cover closed position, and may uncover or expose the cavitywhen the cover unit first portionmay be in the cover open position. The usermay manually slide the cover unitor the cover unit first portion“upwards” away from the body distal endto move the cover unit first portionto the cover open position, and may slide the cover unitor the cover unit first portion“downwards” towards the body distal endto move the cover unit first portionto the cover closed position. The usermay access the hollow body interior portion in proximity to the body distal endvia the cavitywhen the cover unit first portionmay be in the cover open position.

In further aspects, the cover unit second portionmay be configured to move/rotate (as shown by an arrowin) between a first position relative to the cover unit first portion(as shown in) and a second position relative to the cover unit first portion(as shown in). In some aspects, a cover unit second portion longitudinal axis may be parallel to a cover unit first portion longitudinal axis when the cover unit second portionmay be in the first position. Further, the cover unit second portion longitudinal axis may be perpendicular to the cover unit first portion longitudinal axis when the cover unit second portionmay be in the second position. In some aspects, the cover unitor the cover unit first portionmay be “locked” in the cover closed position when the userslides the cover unit first portiondownwards towards the body distal endand moves/rotates the cover unit second portionin the second position, as shown in. In some aspects, the usermay move/rotate the cover unit second portionin the second position when the usermay be using the apparatusto insert/place the teeinto the ground, as described below.

In operation, when the userdesires to insert/place the teeinto the ground, the usermay move the cover unitor the cover unit first portionto the cover open position, and then add/place the teeinto the cavity, as shown in. The usermay place the teein the cavitysuch that a tee proximal end(or tee head) may be disposed away from the body distal endand a tee distal endmay be disposed in proximity to the body distal end, as shown in. In this manner, the hollow body interior portion may receive the teein proximity to the body distal endvia the cavity.

Responsive to placing the teein the cavity, the usermay move the cover unitor the cover unit first portionto the cover closed position, and then move/rotate the cover unit second portionin the second position to lock the cover unitor the cover unit first portionin the cover closed position.

In parallel (or prior to or after placing the teein the cavity), the usermay open the handle portion “O” (or move/rotate the handleto the handle open position) and place/insert a through hole (of the plurality of through holes) in the protruding member, based on a tee length that the userdesires to be inserted into the ground. As an example, if the userprefers to insert the teedeep into the ground, the usermay insert the through hole(i.e., the through hole closest to the post proximal end) in the protruding member, and if the userprefers not to insert the teedeep into the ground, the usermay insert the through holeorin the protruding member.

Responsive to inserting the through hole in the protruding member, the usermay close the handle portion “O” (or move/rotate the handleto the handle closed position). When the handlemay be moved to the handle closed position and the cover unitor the cover unit first portionmay be locked in the cover closed position, the apparatusmay be ready to use. In this configuration, the usermay place the body distal endon the ground and align the apparatusperpendicular to the ground (i.e., align an apparatus longitudinal axis perpendicular to the ground surface) or hold the apparatusin the upright position on the ground. In some aspects, the usermay also place the user's foot on the cover unit second portion(which may be parallel to the ground surface when the cover unitmay be locked in the cover closed position and the apparatusmay be held perpendicular to the ground), to provide stability to the apparatuswhen the apparatusis held in the upright position on the ground, as shown in. When the apparatusis held in the upright position, the force of gravity may “pull” the elongated postand the handledown towards the earth/ground, thereby causing the handleand the elongated postto slide down along the body length towards the body distal end. Such a downward motion of the elongated postmay cause the post distal portion “L” or the post distal endto move down and contact the tee proximal end, thereby applying a downward force or push to the tee proximal end. The downward push on the tee proximal endmay cause the teeto move down towards the ground, and the tee distal endto escape the bodyvia the body distal endand get inserted into the ground. In this manner, the apparatusmay enable the userto conveniently insert/place the teeinto the ground, without requiring the userto bend and/or apply pressure via the user's hand directly on the tee.

In some aspects, a post distal end shape may complement a shape of a standard golf tee head/top end, so that the elongated postmay effectively contact the tee proximal endand insert the teeinto the ground. For example, the post distal end shape may be convex, which may effectively contact a concave-shaped standard golf tee head/top end.

In some aspects, the apparatusmay include one or more additional components/units that may enhance user's ease of operating the apparatus. For example, the apparatusmay additionally include a level unitthat may be configured to indicate an apparatus alignment relative to the ground surface. In the exemplary aspect depicted in, the level unitis disposed in the handle(e.g., in a handle top portion/end), and may be, for example, a bubble level or a spirit level. The usermay use the indication/reading on the level unitto determine whether the apparatusis held perpendicular to the ground surface, when the apparatusis used to insert the teeinto the ground. A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that to ensure that the teeis inserted perpendicularly into the ground, the apparatusmust be held accurately in a perpendicular alignment with the ground surface. The level unitfacilitates the userin ensuring that the apparatusis held accurately perpendicular to the ground, and hence ensures that the teeis correctly inserted into the ground surface.

The apparatusmay further include one or more marking or indexing,,,that may be disposed at a handle exterior surface, as shown in. The indexing,,,on the handlemay assist the userto adjust the grip on the handleand mock a stance (similar to an actual golf club) on the golf course, so that the usermay accordingly decide whether the place/location where the usermay be inserting the teemay be appropriate or not. Althoughdepicting four markings/indexing on the handle, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. The handlemay include more or less markings/indexing, without departing from the present disclosure scope. In some aspects, the tee insertion may be relative to using the club length markings in an attempt get the best all around “flat” lie in relation to the user's feet and the golf ball.

The apparatusmay further include a golf tee holding unit disposed in the cavity, in proximity to the body distal end. The golf tee holding unit may be configured to hold the teein the cavity, when the usermay insert the teeinto the hollow interior portion via the cavity(e.g., when the cover unit/cover unit first portionmay be in the cover open position). A person ordinarily skilled in the art may appreciate that the teemay slip or slide out from the hollow body interior portion when the apparatusmay be held in a perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface and when the teeis not held securely in the cavity. To ensure that the teedoes not slide out from the hollow body interior portion when the apparatusis held in perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface, the teemay be held securely in the cavityby the golf tee holding unit.

In the exemplary aspect depicted in, the golf tee holding unit may include a plurality of bristles(which may be made of thin, flexible material) and/or a V-shaped flexible support structure(which may be made of rubber or foam) configured to hold the tee proximal end. When the userinserts the teeinto the cavity, the tee proximal end(or the golf tee head) may be held in the V-shaped flexible support structure, and the elongated tee body may be held by the bristles, thereby ensuring that the teedoes not slide out of the hollow body interior portion when the apparatusis held in perpendicular alignment relative to the ground surface. Since the bristlesand the V-shaped flexible support structureare flexible, the golf tee holding unit does not rigidly hold the tee. Therefore, when the apparatusis held in the upright position, the teeeasily “escapes” the golf tee holding unit and gets inserted into the ground responsive to receiving the downward force/push from the post distal end.

Although the description above describes an aspect where the golf tee holding unit includes the bristlesand the V-shaped flexible support structure, the present disclosure is not limited to such an aspect. In additional or alternative aspects, the golf tee holding unit may include one or more rubber grommet, a foam, and/or any other similar units/components that may securely (and “loosely”) hold the teein the hollow body interior portion when the userinserts the teeinto the hollow body interior portion via the cavity.

In some aspects, the tee proximal endmay be disposed in proximity to the post distal end(not shown in) when the teemay be held in the golf tee holding unit. As described above, the tee proximal endmay receive a downward push from the post distal endto cause the tee distal endto be inserted into the ground via the body distal end, when the handle/elongated postmay be pushed down towards the ground under the force of gravity.

In some aspects, the apparatusmay be lightweight, which may enable the userto conveniently carry the apparatusto the golf course, and insert the teeinto the ground in the manner described above.

In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, which illustrate specific implementations in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, one skilled in the art will recognize such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

It should also be understood that the word “example” as used herein is intended to be non-exclusionary and non-limiting in nature. More particularly, the word “example” as used herein indicates one among several examples, and it should be understood that no undue emphasis or preference is being directed to the particular example being described.