Adjustable height practice golf tee

Abstract

This invention concerns an adjustable height practice golf tee for use with any of the existing golf hitting mats used at or incorporated into golf driving ranges, public and private indoor hitting areas, golf club fitting, testing and swing teaching stations, electronic golf swing analyzers and golf simulation video games. The invention incorporates a hidden thread design into two-piece and three-piece models to provide a greater range of adjustment and better durability than older designs. The inventive device uses a passive capture design which allows assembly without additional fasteners or retaining devices while preventing disassembly during use. A combination three-point ball seat reduces the tee's mass and effect on the ball launch while acting as a handle to facilitate precise and easy height adjustment.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 133,329 filed on Jun. 27, 2008, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] The most common type of practice golf tee in use today at commercial driving ranges when hitting from a mat is a hollow rubber-like tube of fixed height which extends from a circular flat base. The tube portion protrudes up through a hole in the hitting mat slightly larger than the diameter of the tube. It is held in place by a round flat base and the golf ball is placed on the round open end of the tube. When using this type tee, the golfer can only change the height of the teed ball by exchanging the tee for one with a longer or shorter tube section. This type of tee is still popular with range operators because it is inexpensive and simple. While many adjustable tees have been designed, most have not proven practical for multiple reasons, particularly comp...

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