Golfing accessory

Abstract

A length of cord 13 has means for attaching one end to a golf tee, and the other end is wound onto a rotatable spool 11 within a housing 1 which has an aperture for the cord 13 to extend through. There is also a tensioning means 17 for applying a biassing force to the spool 11 to rotate it in order to retract the cord 13 into the housing 1. The tensioning means may comprise a spiral spring 17 of which the radially inner end can be secured centrally 19 of the housing and the outer end to the spool periphery, and the spring may have a circular cover over it. Retraction of the cord might be controlled using a rachet or a pin engaging with the spool. The housing 1 may be formed from two ( 3, 5 ) or more portions, and may be cylindrical. There may be means ( 7 ) on the housing 1 to attach the apparatus to a golfer's shoe or the like, such as a clip, cord or hook-and-loop material. The cord 13 may pass through a grommet 9 in the aperture, and it may be coloured to contrast with a golf playing surface. The means for attaching the tee may be a resilient ring 15, and the tee can be permanently attached to the means. The shaft part of the tee might be aluminum or steel; the cup part might be rubber or elastomer.

1 . A golfing accessory for retaining a golf tee comprising: 
 a housing having an opening in a peripheral region thereof;    a spool rotatably mounted within the housing and having wound thereon a length of filamentary material, the filamentary material extending through the aperture and having means for retaining a golf tee; and    tensioning means for applying a biasing force to the spool to rotate the same in a direction to retract the filamentary material into the housing.    
     
     
         2 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for retaining a golf tee is secured to a free end of the filamentary material.  
     
     
         3 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed in a plurality of portions.  
     
     
         4 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the housing is formed of two portions.  
     
     
         5 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is generally cylindrical.  
     
     
         6 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided externally thereof with attaching means.  
     
     
         7 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means is adapted for attaching to a golfer's shoe or the like.  
     
     
         8 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means comprises a resilient clip.  
     
     
         9 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means comprises a cord.  
     
     
         10 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means comprises a strip of hook and loop material.  
     
     
         11 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 11  wherein a grommet is provided in the aperture, through which the filamentary material passes.  
     
     
         12 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining means for the golf tee comprises a ring for engaging with a shank of the tee.  
     
     
         13 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ring is made of a resilient material.  
     
     
         14 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tee is permanently secured to the filamentary material.  
     
     
         15 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tee incorporates a pointed portion of substantially rigid material and a cap portion of resilient material.  
     
     
         16 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the substantially rigid material comprises aluminum or steel.  
     
     
         17 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the resilient material comprises rubber or elastomer.  
     
     
         18 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means is in the form of a spiral spring.  
     
     
         19 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the spring is secured at the radially inner end thereof to a central region of the housing and at the radially outer end thereof within the periphery of the spool.  
     
     
         20 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the spool is provided with a circular cover extending over the spring.  
     
     
         21 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tensioning means incorporates means for preventing retraction of the filamentary material until a desired time.  
     
     
         22 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the means for preventing retraction comprises a ratchet mechanism.  
     
     
         23 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the means for preventing retraction comprises a releasable pin engageable with the spool.  
     
     
         24 . A golfing accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filamentary material is coloured so as to contrast with a golf playing surface.