Golf tee

Abstract

An improved golf tee having a ball support surface that reduces the frictional resistance of the tee when the ball is struck thus lengthening the distance a ball can be driven. A friction reducing material such as a fluorochemical or flouropolymer comprises the support surface.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An improved golf tee comprising: 
 a) a support shaft having one end for insertion into the ground;    b) a tee head carried by the other end of said support shaft, the top side of said tee head having a ball support surface formed therein; and,    c) said ball support surface comprising a low surface friction material whereby a ball mounted on said surface encounters reduced resistance when driven from the tee.    
     
     
         2 . The golf tee of  claim 1  wherein said material is selected from the group of polymers consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymer, perfluoroalkoxy materials, ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, other fluorine containing polymers that provide low friction surfaces, and fluorochemicals.  
     
     
         3 . The golf tee of  claim 2  wherein the head of the tee is formed form a material selected from said group.  
     
     
         4 . The improved tee of  claim 1  where the ball support surface comprises a central depression having a peripheral rim, said rim having an upper edge which contacts a ball placed thereon in a position to be readily driven.  
     
     
         5 . The improved tee of  claim 4  wherein said peripheral rim is circular.  
     
     
         6 . The improved tee of  claim 5  wherein the diameter of the circular rim is in the range from about 5 mm to about 9 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The improved tee of  claim 1  wherein said support surface comprises three spaced apart projections.  
     
     
         8 . The improved tee of  claim 7  wherein said projection are positioned at 120° spacing around said surface.  
     
     
         9 . The improved tee of  claim 4  wherein the edge of said rim is provided with a cover made from a material selected from the group of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         10 . The improved tee of  claim 1  wherein the material of the support surface comprises a coating of a fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         11 . The improved tee of  claim 1  wherein the material of the surface comprises a layer of fluoropolymer.  
     
     
         12 . The improved tee of  claim 10  wherein the polymeric surface is in the form of a covering cap.  
     
     
         13 . In a golf tee, the improvement which comprises a ball support surface comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene polymer, copolymer, and fluorine containing polymers.  
     
     
         14 . In a golf tee having a ball supporting head, carried by a support shaft, the improvement which comprises a head formed from a low surface tension material.  
     
     
         15 . A process of reducing the surface friction of the support surface of a golf tee comprising the step of coating said support surface with a fluorine containing material.