Gravity-Fed Golf Tee Dispenser With One-at-a-Time Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf accessories lack efficient storage and dispensing solutions, particularly for golf tees, which are often limited by space constraints and require optimization to maximize storage opportunities and ensure reliable one-tee-at-a-time dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A golf tee dispenser with a housing assembly and elastomeric dispensing outlet, utilizing gravity to store tees in an organized single-stack arrangement and dispense them one at a time, featuring a lanyard for suspension and a safety mechanism to prevent unwanted dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If golf tees are stored in a conventional container, then storage capacity is limited, but organizing them for reliable one-tee-at-a-time dispensing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple compartments that separately store different colored golf tees in an organized manner, enabling both high storage capacity and reliable one-tee-at-a-time dispensing by preventing mixing and ensuring orderly presentation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional flat storage to a three-dimensional stacked arrangement where tees are positioned vertically in compartments, maximizing storage capacity while maintaining organized structure for reliable dispensing
2Ease of operation
If a lanyard is added for suspension, then portability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lanyard serves multiple functions: it provides portability by allowing attachment to golf bags or carts, acts as a suspension mechanism to position the dispenser at convenient height, and serves as a structural component to hold the housing assembly together, thereby improving portability without proportionally increasing complexity
3Ease of operation
If an elastomeric dispensing outlet is used, then one-tee-at-a-time dispensing is controlled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric material's flexible properties are utilized to create a dispensing outlet that automatically controls tee release through material deformation, allowing one-tee-at-a-time dispensing control while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through injection molding of the elastomeric component
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dispenser optimizes storage capacity and ensures reliable, one-tee-at-a-time dispensing, enhancing convenience and usability during golf games.
Implementation Method 1
a dispensing outlet that is made from elastomeric material that is then attached to the housing assembly to control the dispensing of the stored golf tees
Implementation Method 2
the entire assemblage is then suspended by the lanyard whereby gravity then compels the lowermost tee to rotate partially out of the golf tee dispenser presenting itself to the golfer for use
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device to store and dispense golf tees. A stylized housing that incorporates unique design features to maintain a plurality of golf tees in a stacked arrangement for optimized storage. A novel dispenser is affixed to the housing that works with gravity to present golf tees to the golfer on a one-at-a-time basis. As a golf tee is removed, another rotates into the presentation orientation.