Golf ball teeing apparatus and tee

Abstract

A golf ball teeing device includes an outer tube having a handle at one end, a spring-loaded inner tube slidably mounted within the outer tube and having a ball-engaging spring biased tip. A movable trigger is coupled to the inner tube for selectively moving the inner tube from a locked extended position to a retracted position. A concave ball-receiving foot is coupled to the outer tube at an end remote from the handle and positioned in spaced relationship with respect to the tip of the inner tube. When the inner tube is extended, the trigger locks the inner tube to compressibly hold a golf ball and tee between the foot and the tip of the inner tube.

1 . A golf ball teeing device comprising: 
 a tube with a movable element for selectively engaging a golf ball; and    a foot coupled to said tube, said foot having a concave-shaped wall including a tee-receiving slot, said wall having a radius of curvature for nestably receiving a golf ball and a recess in said slot for holding at tee therein to cooperatively hold a tee in a ball-teeing position by said movable element.    
   
   
       2 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said foot is integrally molded of a polymeric material.  
   
   
       3 . The device as defined in  claim 2  wherein said foot includes a barrel which extends over an end of said tube to position said slot of said wall in alignment with said movable element.  
   
   
       4 . The device as defined in  claim 3  wherein said foot includes a spike-receiving channel extending in parallel relationship to said tube.  
   
   
       5 . The device as defined in  claim 4  wherein said channel includes an opening at an end of said foot in spaced relationship to said tee-receiving slot.  
   
   
       6 . The device as defined in  claim 5  and including a fork-shaped spike slidably mounted in said channel between retracted and extended positions, such that it can be employed when extended to hold the device in the ground and pick up a tee.  
   
   
       7 . The device as defined in  claim 6  wherein said fork includes a locking pin engaging said foot for holding said fork in one of an extended and retracted position.  
   
   
       8 . A golf ball teeing device comprising: 
 a tube with a movable element having a ball-engaging spring biased tip for selectively engaging a golf ball; and    a foot coupled to said tube, said foot having a concave-shaped wall having a radius of curvature for nestably receiving a golf ball which is held in a ball-teeing position by said spring-biased tip.    
   
   
       9 . The device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said device includes an outer tube and said movable element comprises: 
 an inner tube slidably mounted within said outer tube and including a tip end with said ball-engaging spring biased tip, a spring coupled to an end of said inner tube opposite said tip end for urging said inner tube into a ball-engaging position; and    a movable and selectively lockable trigger coupled to said handle and to said inner tube for holding said inner tube in an extended position and allowing said inner tube to move to a retracted position.    
   
   
       10 . The device as defined in  claim 9  wherein said foot is integrally molded of a polymeric material.  
   
   
       11 . The device as defined in  claim 10  wherein said foot includes a barrel which extends over an end of said tube to position said slot of said wall in alignment with said movable element.  
   
   
       12 . The device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said foot includes a spike-receiving channel extending in parallel relationship to said tube.  
   
   
       13 . The device as defined in  claim 12  wherein said channel includes an opening at an end of said foot in spaced relationship to said tee-receiving slot.  
   
   
       14 . The device as defined in  claim 13  and including a fork-shaped spike slidably mounted in said channel between retracted and extended positions, such that it can be employed when extended to hold the device in the ground and pick up a tee.  
   
   
       15 . The device as defined in  claim 14  wherein said fork includes a locking pin engaging said foot for holding said fork in one of an extended and retracted position.  
   
   
       16 . A tee for use with a teeing device having a handle at one end and a ball and tee receiving foot at an opposite end, said tee comprising: 
 a ball-receiving head and a spike integrally extending from said head, wherein said head includes an upper surface and a plurality of ball supporting tines integrally formed on said head and extending upwardly from an outer periphery of said upper surface for supporting a golf ball on said tines in spaced relationship to said upper surface.    
   
   
       17 . The tee as defined in  claim 16  wherein said tines have ends remote from said head and wherein said ends are concavely curved to hold a golf ball therein.  
   
   
       18 . The tee as defined in  claim 17  wherein said ends are concavely curved with a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of a golf ball.  
   
   
       19 . The tee as defined in  claim 18  wherein said tee is integrally molded of a polymeric material.  
   
   
       20 . The tee as defined in  claim 19  wherein said polymeric material is Nylon 6/6.  
   
   
       21 . The tee as defined in  claim 20  wherein said tee includes three tines spaced at about 120° intervals on said head.  
   
   
       22 . The tee as defined in  claim 20  wherein said tee includes four tines spaced at about 90° intervals on said head.  
   
   
       23 . The tee as defined in  claim 16  wherein said tee has a head with an outer diameter of about 0.75 inches, a length of about 2.7 inches, and wherein the junction of said spike and head has a radius of curvature no greater than about 0.05 inches.  
   
   
       24 . The tee as defined in  claim 23  wherein said tines have ends remote from said head and wherein said ends are concavely curved to hold a golf ball therein.  
   
   
       25 . A golf ball teeing device comprising: 
 an outer tube having a handle at one end;    an inner tube slidably mounted within said outer tube and including a tip end with a ball-engaging spring biased tip;    a main spring mounted within said outer tube and coupled to said inner tube for urging said inner tube into a ball-engaging position;    a movable trigger coupled to said handle and to said inner tube for moving said inner tube to a retracted position;    a foot coupled to said outer tube at an end remote from said handle and positioned in spaced relationship with respect to said tip end of said inner tube such that said inner tube, when extended, compressibly holds a golf ball between said foot and said tip end of said inner tube; and    a trigger lock coupled to said trigger and said handle to selectively hold said inner tube in fixed relationship to said outer tube to provide a positive locked ball-engaging relationship between said foot and said tip end of said inner tube.    
   
   
       26 . The device as defined in  claim 25  wherein said inner tube is coupled to said main spring by a sliding bolt.  
   
   
       27 . The device as defined in  claim 26  wherein said trigger is coupled to said inner tube through said sliding bolt.  
   
   
       28 . The device as defined in  claim 27  wherein said outer tube includes a slot and a sear extends between said bolt and said trigger through said slot.  
   
   
       29 . The device as defined in  claim 28  wherein said trigger lock is pivotally coupled to said sear and includes a locking tip which selectively engages a wall in said handle to prevent the sliding motion of said bolt when in a locked position.  
   
   
       30 . The device as defined in  claim 29  and further including a bias spring extending between said sear and said trigger lock to urge said trigger lock into a locked position.  
   
   
       31 . The device as defined in  claim 30  wherein said trigger lock and trigger can be compressed by a user's hand to pivot said trigger lock against said bias spring such that said locking tip clear said wall and allows said trigger and inner tube coupled thereto to retract.