Golf tee with a height adjustment device

Abstract

A golf tee includes a shaft portion with upper and lower end portions. A generally hollow funnel-shaped first end portion is provided for supporting a golf ball thereon and extends from the upper end of the shaft portion. A generally tapered second end portion is provided for anchoring the tee into the ground and extends from the lower end of the shaft portion. A height adjustment member is slidably positioned on the shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground. The shaft portion includes a plurality of vertically spaced slots separated by at least one ring for selectively holding the height adjustment member in one of the slots. The height adjustment member includes first and second directional arrows that preferably extend in generally opposite directions.

1 . A golf tee, comprising: 
 a) a shaft portion;    b) a generally round first end portion for supporting a golf ball thereon extending from a first end of said shaft portion;    c) a second end portion for anchoring the tee into the ground extending from a second end of said shaft portion;    d) a generally round height adjustment member slidably positioned on said shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground;    e) said shaft portion including nine vertically spaced slots separated by at least one ring for selectively holding said height adjustment member in one of said slots.    
   
   
       2 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said height adjustment member comprises a generally round disc and includes first and second directional arrows extending in generally opposite directions.    
   
   
       3 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) said directional arrows extend outwardly beyond the perimeter of said disc.    
   
   
       4 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) said disc and said directional arrows comprise an integral member.    
   
   
       5 . The golf tee of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 a) said integral member is molded from a rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or foam material.    
   
   
       6 . The golf tee of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 a) said disc and said directional arrows comprise a generally coplanar upper surface.    
   
   
       7 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) the perimeter of said disc is knurled.    
   
   
       8 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) said disc includes a generally central hole for receiving said shaft portion.    
   
   
       9 . The golf tee of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 a) the diameter of said hole is smaller than the diameter of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       10 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) the diameter of said ring is larger than the diameter of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       11 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) the axial length of one of said slots is more than the axial length of said ring.    
   
   
       12 . (cancelled)  
   
   
       13 . A golf tee with a device for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground, comprising: 
 a) a shaft portion;    b) a generally hollow funnel-shaped first end portion for supporting a golf ball thereon extending from an upper end of said shaft portion;    c) a generally tapered second end portion for anchoring the tee into the ground extending from a lower end of said shaft portion;    d) a round disc member slidably positioned on said shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground;    e) said shaft portion including nine vertically spaced slots separated by a plurality of generally continuous rings.    
   
   
       14 . (currently amended): The golf tee of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a) said disc member includes integrally molded first and second directional arrows extending in generally opposite directions; and    b) said disc member and said directional arrows comprise a generally coplanar upper surface.    
   
   
       15 . The golf tee of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 a) said directional arrows extend outwardly beyond the perimeter of said disc member.    
   
   
       16 . The golf tee of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 a) said disc member is made of a rubber, plastic, metal, wood, or foam material.    
   
   
       17 . The golf tee of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a) the diameter of one of said rings is larger than the diameter of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       18 . The golf tee of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a) the axial length of one of said slots is more than the axial length of one of said rings.    
   
   
       19 . The golf tee of  claim 13 , wherein: 
 a) said disc portion includes a generally central hole for receiving said shaft portion; and    b) the diameter of said hole is smaller than the diameter of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       20 . (cancelled)