US20120028736A1

US20120028736A1 - Golf tee

Info

Publication number: US20120028736A1
Application number: US13/263,694
Authority: US
Inventors: Jae-Woong RHEE
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-08
Filing date: 2009-05-08
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Also published as: KR20100112014A; WO2010117104A1; KR101030984B1

Abstract

A golf tee includes an elastic member, which supports a golf ball in the course of swing of a golf club and elongates for allowing an upper member to be bent with respect to a lower member, can be prevented from damages, which leads to a longer lifespan while saving a purchase cost. The height of a golf tee can be adjusted, and a golf tee can be reliably inserted in a ground. The golf tee according to the present invention includes an upper member for supporting a golf ball, a lower member for allowing an upper member from being bent at the time when an impact force is applied to the upper member and is inserted in a ground in the use of golf tee, an elastic member for elastically contacting the upper member with respect to the lower member, and a strong string connected with the elastic member and is fixed to the lower member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf tee which supports a golf ball when a player drives at a tee off time in a golf game, and in particular to a golf tee which is equipped with an impact absorbing function and a recovery function when a player drives away a golf ball, which leads to preventing a damage of a golf ball.

BACKGROUND ART

A golf game is performed as a player hits a golf ball using a golf club on a lawn field and finally putts a golf ball into a hole, so a winner is determined with less hit counts. The golf game starts on a tee ground, and a stick-shaped tee with a 5˜9 cm long is inserted on a ground, and a golf ball is mounted on the top of a tee, and a player hits the golf ball.
The golf tee is generally made of a wooden material or a plastic material, with its top being concavely and spherically formed in a conical shape for mounting a golf ball thereon while having a larger diameter than other portions, with its lower end being sharpened for an easier insertion on a ground.
The conventional golf tee is made in one integral body structure using a wooden material or a plastic material. A stick portion of a golf tee receives a strong impact by means of a head of a golf club at the moment when a player swings and impacts a golf ball, so the golf tee might be easily broken, which leads to a lot of consumptions. In addition, an inserted golf tee might be pulled out of a ground by means of a strong impact at the moment when a player impacts a golf ball and might fly a long distance, so it might be lost.
The golf tee sometimes influences a flying direction of a golf ball. Namely, the flying direction might change by means of a resistance due to a friction between a golf ball and an upper surface of a golf tee at the moment when a golf ball is hit, and a breaking type and flying direction of a golf tee when a golf tee is broken by means of a strong impact, by means of which it is impossible to fly a golf ball in a desired direction.
The Korean registration patent number 10-0730023 discloses a golf tee which is designed to prevent a breaking or damage of a golf tee while preventing a golf tee from being lost.
According to the above Korean registration patent number 10-0730023, as shown in FIG. 14, a body 1 of an upper side, which supports a golf ball, and an insertion pin 2 of a lower side, which is inserted on a ground, are separately formed and connected with a connection pin 3. The lower side of the connection pin 3 is inserted into an engaging groove 5 formed in the insertion pin 2. The upper side of the connection pin 3 is elastically supported by means of a spring 7, in which structure the upper side of the connection pin 3 is movable in a space of the body 1 of the upper side. When the body 1 of the upper side receives an impact in a vertical direction with respect to an axis as a golf club swings, the body 1 bends in an impacting direction. At this time, The elastic and smooth connection pin 3 bends, and the lower side of the body 1 contacting with the insertion pin 2 is spaced apart depending on a compression of the spring 7, so the body 1 is disengaged from the insertion pin 2. The body 1 of the upper side keeps bent with respect to the insertion pin 2 of the lower side while not escaped from the insertion pin 2 by means of the connection pin 3. At the moment when the golf club passes, the body 1 becomes upright with the helps of a recovery elastic force which is accumulated in the interior during the compression of the spring 7, so the body 1 returns to its normal engaging state (upright state) with respect to the insertion pin 2 of the lower side.
According to the above prior art, an impact force of the golf ball 20 is applied to the body 1, the body is not pulled out of the ground and does not escapes along with the insertion pin 2, only the upper body 1 is bent in an impacting direction, and returns to its original position by means of a recovery force of the spring 7, which results in a little improvement, but the assembling system is very complicated, and a lot of assembling time is needed. The processing system of each element is complicated, and more elements such as a metallic spring or something are further needed. So the manufacture costs a lot, and productivity is poor, and a lot of noises occur due to the use of a metallic spring.
According to Korean patent publication number 10-2005-0099928, a support member and a multi-step joint member are stacked on an upper side of a burying member which is inserted on the ground, and a golf ball mounting part having a hitting count indication part in its outer surface is stacked on the upper most portion, and a position recovery member is inserted into the interior of the above members, respectively, and is fixed using a hook ring, so the golf tee and the hitting count indication part are integrated, by means of which it is possible to provide a golf tee having an excellent elastic force along with a hitting count function of a golf. However, the above prior art has somewhat improvements as compared to the earlier prior arts since it uses a rubber position recovery part instead of a flexible connection pin and spring, so the number of elements is less, and the construction is relatively simple.
In the above prior arts, when an upper member, which supports a golf ball, is bent with respect to a support member of a lower side by means of an impacting force of a golf club head, an elastic rubber member, which connects the upper and lower sides, is elongated, and an upper member returns to its original position by means of an elastic recovery force for thereby substantially distributing an impact force, and a friction decreases. In the above process, a bent corner end applies a strong impact and instant friction force to a side portion of the elastic member, so the elastic member might be damaged. As the golf tee is continuously used, the elastic member might be broken, and the lifespan of the golf tee is shortened. The above problems occur since a single structure rubber member, which has a relatively thicker thickness for a certain strength, is used while being exposed to the outside without a certain protection member. An elastic rubber material has a reliable tensional strength but when it has a certain external impact in the course of elongation, a cracking goes fast from the impacted portion to other portions, so it can be easily cut. Therefore, the above prior arts have shorter life spans, which lead to poor applications.
Since the upper member, which supports the golf ball, is formed of multiple joints, when a golf head impacts a boundary portion between the joints, the end of the joint might be caught by means of the golf club head, which causes the golf tee to be pulled out. The more the joints, the worse efficiency of the golf tee.
In case of the conventional golf tee, the height of the golf tee is not adjustable, so the golf tee cannot be selected depending on different size users. Since the fixing force on the ground is weak, the conventional golf tee does not tolerate the hitting impact, so it might be easily pulled out from the ground and might fly away along with the golf ball.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf tee which can provide a longer lifespan by preventing a damage of an elastic member which is elongated so as to allow an upper member, which supports a golf ball in the course of swing, to be elastically bent with respect to a lower member. So, a purchase cost of a golf tee can be saved, and the height of a golf tee is adjustable, and a golf tee of the present invention can be stably inserted in a ground.

Technical Solution

To achieve the above objects, there is provided a golf tee which comprises an upper member which includes a hollow portion formed in its inner side and passing through its upper side and lower side, a lower shoulder portion and a golf ball guide surface formed in its upper side; a lower member which supports the upper member while allowing the upper member from being bent when an impact force is applied to the upper member and is inserted in a ground when it is used; an upper engaging member which is caught by means of the upper shoulder portion; a lower engaging member which is caught by means of the lower shoulder portion wherein the lower engaging portion is spaced apart while leaving a move allowance space from the lower shoulder portion and is elastically elongated in a range of the move allowance space; an elastic member which is installed as having a tensional force; and a strong string of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion, and lower end is tension-pulled and is extended toward the lower side of the upper member and is fixed in the lower member, and the strong string is made of a non-elongation material.
The elastic member is a knit rubber string formed by surrounding an outer side of one rubber string with a woven cloth.
The strong string is selected from a group comprising a nylon string, a metallic string, a metallic chain string, a fishing line, an artificial and synthetic fiber and an aramid string.
The strong string is made by twisting multiple strings, and a woven cloth surrounds its outer surface.
The upper and lower engaging portions are formed of knots.
The upper and lower engaging portions are formed of a metallic or plastic clip.
The strong string laterally passes through the body of the lower member and is fixed not to be escaped.
A plurality of wings are integrally protruded from the lower member.
A support cap is formed in a lower side of the upper member and is engaged in a protruded structure, and a lower end of the strong string is equipped with an engaging portion for preventing the lower string from being escaped through the center hole of the support cap, and the support cap is thread-engaged to the lower member for thereby adjusting the height of the golf tee.
The upper member is formed of a mounting portion with the golf ball mounting surface and the upper shoulder portion, and a cylindrical portion which has a lower shoulder portion.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a golf tee which comprises a lower member which includes a hollow portion passing through its interior from its upper side to its lower side, a golf ball mounting portion formed in an upper side for supporting a golf ball, and an upper shoulder portion formed in an upper side of the hollow portion; a lower member which supports the upper member; and an elastic member in which the upper engaging portion caught by means of the upper shoulder portion is formed in its upper side, and its lower side is inserted through the hollow portion and is fixed in the lower member, so the elastic member elastically elongates when the upper member is bent, and is installed with a certain tensional force, and is surrounded by means of a cylindrical protection member woven with a non-elastic thread along with a plurality of rubber strings.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a golf tee which comprises an upper member which includes a hollow portion formed while passing through its interior from its upper side to its lower side, a golf ball mounting portion formed in its upper side for supporting a golf ball, and upper and lower shoulder portions formed in the upper and lower sides of the hollow portion, respectively; a lower member which includes a circular plate portion supported by means of a ground, a support shaft uprightly protruded from a center of the circular plate portion, a center hole passing through the support shaft from its upper side to its lower side and a support shoulder portion formed in a lower side of the center hole for thereby supporting the upper member; an elastic member which includes an upper engaging portion which caught and supported by means of the upper shoulder portion, a lower engaging portion inserted through the hollow portion and caught and supported by means of the lower shoulder portion in maximum extension, and its elastic elongation is made possible within a range of the move allowance space since the lower engaging portion is spaced apart from the lower shoulder portion with respect to the move allowance space, with the elastic member being installed with a tensional force; and a strong string of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion, and lower end is pulled while providing a tensional force to the elastic member and is downwardly extended through the center hole of the lower member and is caught and supported by means of the support shoulder portion, and the strong string is made of a non-elongation strong material.

Advantageous Effects

In the present invention, a string having a very strong strength without an elongation property is connected in an elastic member, which has a better elongation and can be easily cut by means of a damage due to a continuous contact with a strength member, and the upper and lower members of a golf tee are connected so that the strength string is positioned in the bending portions of the upper and lower members. In the above construction, when an impact force of a golf club is applied, and an electric member is elongated, and the upper member is bent with respect to the lower member, so the elastic member is not directly contacted with a lower corner portion of the upper member which is a strong member, but is contacted with a strong string having a higher strength for thereby preventing an elastic member from being cut by limiting an over elongation of the elastic member, and a lifespan of the golf tee can be elongated. The purchase cost of the golf tee can be saved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a cross sectional structure of an elastic member and a strong string according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A through 3D are views illustrating a variety of constructions of a connection structure of an elastic member and a strong string and an engaging portion of an end.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation state of a golf tee when an impact force is applied to a golf club.

FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a golf tee according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to another modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating an elastic member and a strong string according to a preferred embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a concave portion of a support shaft of a lower member of FIG. 7 according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation state of a golf tee for describing a construction that an upper member is bent as shown in FIG. 7 when a head of a golf club is impacted.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state that a golf tee is flat-folded when carrying and storing a golf tee as shown in FIG. 7 according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view of a conventional golf tee.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A golf tee comprises an upper member which includes a hollow portion formed in its inner side and passing through its upper side and lower side, a lower shoulder portion and a golf ball guide surface formed in its upper side; a lower member which supports the upper member while allowing the upper member from being bent when an impact force is applied to the upper member and is inserted in a ground when it is used; an upper engaging member which is caught by means of the upper shoulder portion; a lower engaging member which is caught by means of the lower shoulder portion wherein the lower engaging portion is spaced apart while leaving a move allowance space from the lower shoulder portion and is elastically elongated in a range of the move allowance space; an elastic member which is installed as having a tensional force; and a strong string of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion, and lower end is tension-pulled and is extended toward the lower side of the upper member and is fixed in the lower member, and the strong string is made of a non-elongation material.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a cross sectional structure of an elastic member and a strong string according to the present invention. FIGS. 3A through 3D are views illustrating a variety of constructions of a connection structure of an elastic member and a strong string and an engaging portion of an end. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation state of a golf tee when an impact force is applied to a golf club. FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a golf tee according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to another modified embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view illustrating an elastic member and a strong string according to a preferred embodiment of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a concave portion of a support shaft of a lower member of FIG. 7 according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation state of a golf tee for describing a construction that an upper member is bent as shown in FIG. 7 when a head of a golf club is impacted. FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a state that a golf tee is flat-folded when carrying and storing a golf tee as shown in FIG. 7 according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to further another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the entire construction of a golf tee according to the present invention is given a reference number 1. The golf tee 1 comprises an upper member 2 and a lower member 3, and an elastic member 4 and a strong string 5 which connect the upper and lower members 2 and 3, respectively.
The upper member 2 is equipped with a golf ball mounting portion 7 which is concave for easily mounting a golf ball 6 thereon, and a hollow portion 8 which passes through in a vertical axial direction of the same. The lower side of the golf ball mounting portion 7 is an upper shoulder portion 9 which is formed based on a change of a hole diameter in the upper side of the hollow portion 8. A lower shoulder portion 10 is formed in the lower side of the hollow portion 8 in such a manner that the hole diameter decreases.
The upper member 2 is upright formed on an upper side of the lower member 3, and the upper and lower members 2 and 3 have their flat connection surfaces, but preferably have protruded engaging portions 11.
The elastic member 4 is formed of a rubber string having a good elongation and elastic property. Since the body of the elastic member is not directly contacted with the upper and lower members 2 and 3, so the elastic member is not cut. So the elastic member might be formed of one string. More preferably the rubber string 4 a is formed of multiple strings as shown in FIG. 2, and further more preferably, the multiple strings are twisted, and a synthetic resin string made of a non-elongation nylon or aramid is surrounded on an outer surface of the twisted multiple strings, namely, a cylindrical woven cloth 4 b woven with weft and a warp strings surrounds on the same for thereby forming a knit rubber string for thereby strengthening the strength of the rubber string. Even when one or two strings of the multiple strings have a problem, it can be continuously used. The elastic member 4 is inserted through the hollow portion 8, and the upper portion of the elastic member 4 is equipped with an upper engaging member 12 whose size is determined as being substantially caught by means of the upper shoulder portion 9. The lower portion of the same is equipped with a lower engaging portion 13 which is caught by means of the lower shoulder portion 10 when it is elongated in maximum whereas it can be freely inserted into the hollow portion 8.
The upper side of the strong string 5 is engaged to the lower engaging portion 13, and the strong string 5 is made of a non-elastic material having no elongation unlike the elongation elastic member, namely, whose material is selected from a group comprising a nylon string, a metallic string, a metallic chain string, a fishing line, an artificial and synthetic fiber string and an aramid string which have excellent tensional strength, impact resistance property and abrasion resistance property. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, multiple thin strings are combined, more preferably they are twisted and surrounded by means of a cylindrical woven cloth.
The strong string 5 is extended to the outside through a lower side of the upper member in a state that it is engaged to the lower engaging portion 13 and is pulled downward and is fixed in the lower member 3 with a certain elongation force being provided to the elastic member 4. At this time, the lower engaging portion 13 is spaced apart from the lower shoulder portion 10 with respect to a move allowance space 14, so the elastic member 4 is elastically elongated within a range (from the lower shoulder portion to the lower engaging portion) of the move allowance space 14.
As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower engaging portions 12 and 13 might be formed in such a manner that a string is knotted 12 a and 13 a for thereby forming a knotting head or an outer side of a string might be pressed by means of metallic clips 12 b and 13 b for thereby forming a knotting head. An elastic member 4 with a knot 12 a is inserted into the cylindrical plastic clip 12 d or a hole 15 is formed in a center of a closed circular plate surface of the circular bodies 12 c and 13 c whose one side is open and the other side is closed, and a knot is formed as not passing through the hole 15, so that the thusly formed string is inserted through the hole 15, and the knotted portion is caught by means of the hole 15. Namely, the knot or metallic and plastic clip or cylindrical body is caught by means of the upper and lower shoulder portions 9 and 10. The open end of the cylindrical body is inwardly contracted (13 c), so the knot is not escaped to the outside.
The strong string 5 is extended to the lower side through the hole 16 of the upper member 2 and is tied by means of a screw or something and is fixed in the lower member 3 using a threaded member or is extended through the hole 17 formed in a side portion of the lower member 3 for thereby forming an external engaging portion 18 by means of a knot or metallic clip or cylindrical body.
A plurality of arrow tip wings 19 are formed in the lower member 3, so it is not easily escaped from the ground 20 by means of an impact force applied to the upper member 2. The arrow tip wings 19 help the golf tee 1 to be inserted in the ground.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an operation state when the golf tee 1 of the present invention is used. When the head of the golf club hits the golf ball 6 in the course of swing, the golf ball flies in an impacting direction, and the upper member 2 is bent with respect to the lower member 3 fixed in the ground 20 by means of the impact force, and the elastic member 4 is elongated within a range of the move allowance space 14 (in this manner, its further elongation is prevented by means of the lower shoulder portion for thereby preventing a cutting of the elastic member due to over extension), so the upper member is bent. The elongated length is recovered with the helps of a recovery elastic force accumulated in the elastic member 4, and the upper member 2 returns to its upright state by means of the lower member 3. The body of the elastic member 4 is elongated in an axial direction, but does not contact with the ends of the corners of the upper and lower members. The boundary portion of the members 2 and 3 contacts with the strong string 5 which has much stronger than the elastic member, so the elastic member 4 is not cut like in the conventional art.
FIG. 5 is a view of another example of the golf tee 31, a support cap 32 for a protruded engagement 11 is formed in a lower side of the upper member 2, and the support cap 32 is thread-engaged with the lower member 3 using a threaded member 33. The strong string 5 is extended through the hole 34, and the engaging portion 18 such as a knot or something is formed, and the support cap 32 is thread-engaged.
The above example of the present invention has some advantages. Namely, it is possible to adjust the height of the golf tee 31 based on a body condition of a golfer by rotating the support cap 32 which is thread-engaged 32.
As shown in FIG. 6, the upper member 2 is formed in the golf tee 41, and it is formed of upper and lower bodies. The golf tee 41 is formed of a mounting portion 2 a having a golf ball mounting portion 7 and an upper shoulder portion 9, and a cylindrical portion 2 b which supports the mounting portion 2 a and has a lower shoulder portion 10. It keeps an uprightly connected state in an axial direction by means of a tensional force of the elastic member 4. In this example of the present invention, the upper member 2 is formed in a two-joint structure.
As shown in FIG. 7, the golf tee 61 according to the present invention has a sharpened lower end by means of which a golf tee can be easily inserted in the ground. As shown in FIG. 1, it can be actually applied in a field. Its lower side is formed in s circular shape for the use in a golf practice place.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a golf tee 61 comprises an upper member 67 which includes a hollow portion 62 formed while passing through its interior from its upper side to its lower side, a golf ball mounting portion 64 formed in its upper side for supporting a golf ball 63, and upper and lower shoulder portions 65 66 formed in the upper and lower sides of the hollow portion 62, respectively; a lower member 73 which includes a circular plate portion 69 supported by means of a ground 20, a support shaft 70 uprightly protruded from a center of the circular plate portion 69, a center hole 71 passing through the support shaft 70 from its upper side to its lower side and a support shoulder portion 72 formed in a lower side of the center hole 71 for thereby supporting the upper member 67; an elastic member 77 which includes an upper engaging portion 74 which caught and supported by means of the upper shoulder portion 65, a lower engaging portion 75 inserted through the hollow portion 62 and caught and supported by means of the lower shoulder portion 66 in maximum extension, and its elastic elongation is made possible within a range of the move allowance space 76 since the lower engaging portion 75 is spaced apart from the lower shoulder portion 66 with respect to the move allowance space 76, with the elastic member 77 being installed with a tensional force; and a strong string 78 of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion 66, and lower end is pulled while providing a tensional force to the elastic member 77 and is downwardly extended through the center hole 71 of the lower member 73 and is caught and supported by means of the support shoulder portion 72, and the strong string 78 is made of a non-elongation strong material.
In the embodiment of FIG. 7, since the elastic member 7 does not directly contact with the corners of the upper member 67, it can be preferably formed of one rubber string which is relatively thick. However, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of rubber strings 79 might be twisted. It is most preferred that the outer surface of the twisted rubber strings 79 are surrounded by means of a cylindrical protection member 80 woven with a synthetic resin thread having a high tensional strength and an abrasion resistance property and a non-elastic property such as a nylon or an aramid thread. In this structure, the strength of the combined string, preferably twisted combined strings is much stronger as compared to one string structure. Even when one or two strings have problems, it can be used normally. Since its outer surface is surrounded by means of a strong protection woven cloth, the strong member does not directly contact with the elastic member for thereby preventing a cutting due to the impact. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower engaging portions 74 and 75 might be formed by means of a knot formed by knotting strings or a metallic clip.
The strong string 78 is formed of a non-elastic material which is not elongated unlike a flexible elastic member, namely, is formed of a material selected from a group comprising a nylon string, a metallic string, a metallic chain string, a fishing line, an artificial and synthetic fiber string and an aramid string which have excellent tensional strength, impact resistance property and abrasion resistance property. As shown in the cross section structure of FIG. 8, it might be formed of multiple strings, and its outer surface is surrounded by means of the same protection woven cloth.
The support shaft 70 is equipped with a height adjusting member 81 fixed with a threaded member 82. The height of the golf tee 61 can be adjusted by rotating the height adjusting portion 81. A slip 83 is formed by cutting a wall of the support shaft 70 from its upper side to lower side, which support shaft 70 corresponds to the threaded member 82. The slip 83 has a certain width for an insertion of the strong string 78.
FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operations state when it is used in a golf practice place with a mat 68. The circular plate 69 is closely contacted with the ground 20, and the mat 68 is covered thereon with the support shaft 70 being protruded from the upper side of the mat 68. When the head of the golf club hits the golf ball 63 mounted on the mounting surface 64, the upper member 67 is forwardly bent by means of an impacting force while absorbing the impact force and decreasing the friction with the ball. At this time, the elastic member 77 is extended for preventing the escape of the upper member 67, and the upper member 67 is pulled by means of an elastic force accumulated in its inner side and returns to the original position (upright state). At this time, the bent portion of the upper member 67 contacts with the strong string 78 having a strong mechanical property while not contacting with the elastic member 77. It's extension is limited only to the lower shoulder portion 66 for thereby basically preventing the cutting of the elastic member 77.
FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a carrying and string state of the golf tee 61. The height adjusting member 81 used for adjusting a height of the golf tee 61 is disengaged from the support shaft 70 and is upwardly pulled. In this state, the strong string 78 is matched with the slip 83, and the upper member 67 is tilted in one direction, so the strong string 78 is deeply accommodated in the slip 83, and the height adjusting member 81 and the upper member 67 are positioned horizontally with respect to the side surface of the support shaft 70 and are folded, by means of which the whole volume is minimized. When using the golf tee 61, it is taken out of a user's pocket or somewhere else, and the height adjusting member 81 is a little pulled and is pushed in a vertical direction, so the upper member returns to a vertical state. The height adjusting member 81 is rotated in a thread tightening direction and is assembled to the support shaft 70.
FIG. 12 is a front cross sectional view illustrating a golf tee 91 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 7, as a member for connecting the upper and lower members 67 and 73, an elastic member 77 and a strong string 78 are used together. However, in this embodiment, only the elastic member 77 is used. The remaining elements are the same. In the present embodiment of the present invention, the upper engaging member 74 of the elastic member 77 is extended in the downward direction while being engaged to the upper shoulder portion 65 and passes through the hollow portion 62 and the center hole 71 for thereby allowing the lower engaging portion 75 to be caught by means of the support shoulder portion 72. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 77 is formed of a rubber string 79 made of multiple strings and a cylindrical protection member 80 like the embodiment of FIG. 8. In case the thickness of the above embodiment, the strength of a multi-string structure is much stronger. As the advantages of the above construction, even when one string of the multiple strings is cut or damaged, the entire structure is not cut. Since a cylindrical protection member 80 woven with a strong synthetic resin string such as an aramid or nylon thread surrounds and coats the rubber string, when impact is applied thereto or a frictional contact occurs, the cylindrical protection member 80 protects the inner rubber strings 79 which are weak to a frictional contact or an impact. So the rubber strings are not cut. As a result, the lifespan of the golf tee according to the present invention can be significantly extended as compared to when the thick rubber strings are used while being exposed in the conventional art. Here, the lower side of the elastic member 77 might be tied to a screw except for the method shown in the drawing and might be fixed in the lower member or it might be extended toward the side of the lower member and then might be knotted.
FIG. 13 is a view illustrating the construction same as the earlier embodiments of the present invention except for the construction that a friction resistance decrease member 67 a is provided in a lower side of the upper member 67. The friction resistance decrease member 67 a is made of a Teflon material whose surface feels slippery due to a lower friction coefficient as compared to other plastic materials. The contact surface with the lower member 73 is curved for thereby minimizing the friction resistance in the course of impact, so the upper member 67 can be easily bent, which leads to maximizing the impact absorption effects. The above construction might be applied to all the earlier described embodiments of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

SEQUENCE LISTING

golf ball, golf tee, impact, golf club, swing

Claims

1. A golf tee, comprising:

an upper member which includes a hollow portion formed in its inner side and passing through its upper side and lower side, a lower shoulder portion and a golf ball guide surface formed in its upper side;

a lower member which supports the upper member while allowing the upper member from being bent when an impact force is applied to the upper member and is inserted in a ground when it is used;

an upper engaging member which is caught by means of the upper shoulder portion;

a lower engaging member which is caught by means of the lower shoulder portion wherein the lower engaging portion is spaced apart while leaving a move allowance space from the lower shoulder portion and is elastically elongated in a range of the move allowance space;

an elastic member which is installed as having a tensional force; and

a strong string of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion, and lower end is tension-pulled and is extended toward the lower side of the upper member and is fixed in the lower member, and the strong string is made of a non-elongation material.

2. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said elastic member is a knit rubber string formed by surrounding an outer side of one rubber string with a woven cloth.

3. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said strong string is selected from a group comprising a nylon string, a metallic string, a metallic chain string, a fishing line, an artificial and synthetic fiber and an aramid string.

4. The golf tee of claim 3, wherein said strong string is made by twisting multiple strings, and a woven cloth surrounds its outer surface.

5. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower engaging portions are formed of knots.

6. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower engaging portions are formed of a metallic or plastic clip.

7. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said strong string laterally passes through the body of the lower member and is fixed not to be escaped.

8. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein a plurality of wings are integrally protruded from the lower member.

9. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein a support cap is formed in a lower side of the upper member and is engaged in a protruded structure, and a lower end of the strong string is equipped with an engaging portion for preventing the lower string from being escaped through the center hole of the support cap, and said support cap is thread-engaged to the lower member for thereby adjusting the height of the golf tee.

10. The golf tee of claim 1, wherein said upper member is formed of a mounting portion with the golf ball mounting surface and the upper shoulder portion, and a cylindrical portion which has a lower shoulder portion.

11. A golf tee, comprising:

a lower member which includes a hollow portion passing through its interior from its upper side to its lower side, a golf ball mounting portion formed in an upper side for supporting a golf ball, and an upper shoulder portion formed in an upper side of the hollow portion;

a lower member which supports the upper member; and

an elastic member in which the upper engaging portion caught by means of the upper shoulder portion is formed in its upper side, and its lower side is inserted through the hollow portion and is fixed in the lower member, so the elastic member elastically elongates when the upper member is bent, and is installed with a certain tensional force, and is surrounded by means of a cylindrical protection member woven with a non-elastic thread along with a plurality of rubber strings.

12. The golf tee of claim 11, wherein said lower member includes a circular plate portion supported by means of the ground, a support shaft which is uprightly protruded from a center of the circular plate portion, a center hole formed while passing through the support shaft from its upper side to its lower side, and a support shoulder portion formed in a lower side of the center hole, and a lower side of the elastic member is caught and supported by means of the support shoulder portion.

13. The golf tee of either claim 11, wherein a height adjusting member is thread-engaged to an upper side of the lower member.

14. The golf tee of claim 13, wherein a slit is formed so a wall surface of the lower member opposite to the thread engaging portion of the height adjusting portion from its upper side to its lower side.

15. A golf tee, comprising:

an upper member which includes a hollow portion formed while passing through its interior from its upper side to its lower side, a golf ball mounting portion formed in its upper side for supporting a golf ball, and upper and lower shoulder portions formed in the upper and lower sides of the hollow portion, respectively;

a lower member which includes a circular plate portion supported by means of a ground, a support shaft uprightly protruded from a center of the circular plate portion, a center hole passing through the support shaft from its upper side to its lower side and a support shoulder portion formed in a lower side of the center hole for thereby supporting the upper member;

an elastic member which includes an upper engaging portion which caught and supported by means of the upper shoulder portion, a lower engaging portion inserted through the hollow portion and caught and supported by means of the lower shoulder portion in maximum extension, and its elastic elongation is made possible within a range of the move allowance space since the lower engaging portion is spaced apart from the lower shoulder portion with respect to the move allowance space, with the elastic member being installed with a tensional force; and

a strong string of which upper end is engaged with the lower engaging portion, and lower end is pulled while providing a tensional force to the elastic member and is downwardly extended through the center hole of the lower member and is caught and supported by means of the support shoulder portion, and said strong string is made of a non-elongation strong material.

16. The golf tee of claim 15, wherein a height adjusting member is thread-engaged to an upper side of the lower member.

17. The golf tee of claim 16, wherein a slit is formed so a wall surface of the lower member opposite to the thread engaging portion of the height adjusting portion from its upper side to its lower side.

18. The golf tee of claim 15, wherein a friction resistance decrease member made of a Teflon material is formed in a lower side of the upper member, and a contact surface of the friction resistance decrease member contacting with the lower member is curved.

19. The golf tee of claim 12, wherein a height adjusting member is thread-engaged to an upper side of the lower member.