Flexible golf tee

Abstract

A flexible golf tee designed to enable a golf ball to be driven off the flexible golf tee with a minimum of friction between the golf tee and the golf ball by minimizing the resistance or friction between the flexible golf tee and the golf ball at impact. The flexible golf tee generally includes a sleeve member, and a tee member. The sleeve member having a cavity generally shaped and sized to receive a stem portion of the tee member. The sleeve member further includes a pointed base section that is used to insert the flexible golf tee into the ground, and a crimped portion that enables the golf tee to flex or bend at impact. The tee member further includes a circular head portion having a ball-supporting surface to accommodate the golf ball. The stem portion of the tee member is tightly received within the cavity of the sleeve member so that the tee member is supported in a stable, elevated position within the cavity.

1 . A golf tee apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve member having a cavity and an aperture for accessing the cavity, a pointed base section for inserting the sleeve member into the ground,    wherein the aperture is formed at one end of the sleeve member and the pointed base section is disposed at an opposite end of the sleeve member,    wherein a crimped portion is disposed at a location between the aperture and the pointed base section,    wherein the sleeve portion is constructed of a resilient but flexible materials    a tee member including a stem portion and a circular head portion opposite the stem portion, said circular head portion having a ball supporting surface to accommodate a golf ball, wherein the stem portion is tightly received within the cavity of the sleeve member so that the tee member is supported in a stable, vertically elevated position.    
   
   
       2 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The golf tee apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tee member is constructed of a wood material.  
   
   
       4 . The golf tee apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tee member is constructed of a plastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The golf tee apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve member bends at the location when a golf club strikes the golf ball positioned on the ball supporting surface in order to minimize the friction between the golf ball and the ball supporting surface at impact.  
   
   
       6 . A flexible golf tee comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve member having a circular head portion disposed on a first end of the elongated member, a pointed base section disposed at a second end of the elongated member, said pointed base section for inserting the elongated member into the ground, said circular head portion having a ball-supporting surface to accommodate a golf ball, and a crimp disposed at a midway location between the pointed base section and the circular head portion, wherein the elongated member bends at the location when a golf club strikes the golf ball positioned on the ball-supporting surface in order to minimize the friction between the golf ball and the ball-supporting surface at impact, wherein the elongated member is constructed of a resilient but flexible material and wherein said head Portion includes a stem portion insertable in said elongated sleeve member.    
   
   
       7 . A golf tee apparatus designed to minimize friction between the golf ball and the golf tee at impact, the golf tee apparatus comprising: 
 an elongated sleeve member having a cavity for receiving the golf tee and an aperture for accessing the cavity,    a pointed base section for inserting the sleeve member into the ground,    a crimped portion disposed at a location between the aperture and the pointed base section,    wherein the sleeve member bends at the location when a golf club strikes the golf ball positioned on the tee,    wherein the sleeve portion is constructed of a resilient but flexible material, the golf tee comprising a stem portion and a circular head portion opposite the stem portion, said circular head portion having a ball supporting surface to accommodate a golf ball, wherein the stem portion is tightly received within the cavity of the sleeve member so that the golf tee is supported in a stable vertically elevated position.    
   
   
       8 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The golf tee apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the tee member is constructed of a wood material.  
   
   
       10 . The golf tee apparatus as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the tee member is constructed of a plastic material.