Baseball tee

Abstract

A baseball tee may include a wrapped ball holder secured to a top end of a slip tube. The bottom end of the slip tube may fit into the top end of a compression nut. The bottom end of the compression nut may be secured to a top of a vertical stem whose bottom end may be secured to a base. The compression nut may compress a gripper ring against the slip tube such that the slip tube may slide up and down with respect to the vertical stem while a force is applied to the slip tube, but otherwise the slip tube stays in place with respect to the vertical stem. The height of the ball holder with respect to the base may thus be adjusted. The top end of the slip tube may be rounded to protect the ball holder as it is struck and forced against the top end of the slip tube. The bottom end of the vertical stem may be secured to the base off center.

1 . A baseball tee comprising: 
 a slip tube comprising a ball holder;    a vertical stem;    a compression nut comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein said slip tube slideably engages said compression nut through said first opening, and said vertical stem is secured to said compression nut through said second opening; and    a gripper ring disposed within said compression nut, wherein said compression nut compresses said gripper ring against said slip tube.    
   
   
       2 . The baseball tee of  claim 1 , wherein said gripper ring comprises concave teeth for engaging said slip tube.  
   
   
       3 . The baseball tee of  claim 2 , further comprising a compression bushing disposed between said gripper ring and said compression nut, and wherein said gripper ring fits on said bushing and said concave teeth extend into an opening in said bushing.  
   
   
       4 . The baseball tee of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said second opening threads onto said vertical stem, and    threading said compression nut with respect to said vertical stem adjusts a compression force applied to said gripper ring.    
   
   
       5 . The baseball tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said second opening threads onto said vertical stem, and    threading said compression nut with respect to said vertical stem adjusts a compression force applied to said gripper ring.    
   
   
       6 . The baseball tee of  claim 5 , wherein said compression force may be adjusted to allow said slip tube to slide with respect to said vertical stem while a force of at least a particular level is applied to said slip tube but hold said slip tube in place with respect to said vertical stem in the absence of said force.  
   
   
       7 . The baseball tee of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said ball holder is secured to an end of said slip tube, and    said end of said slip tube is rounded.    
   
   
       8 . The baseball tee of  claim 1  further comprising a base, and wherein said vertical stem is secured to said base away from a center of said base.  
   
   
       9 . The baseball tee of  claim 8 , wherein said vertical stem is secured to said base in front of a horizontal center axis of said base, wherein a ball disposed on said ball holder is struck from a direction behind said horizontal center axis.  
   
   
       10 . A baseball tee comprising: 
 a slip tube comprising a rounded bulb at one end, wherein a diameter of said bulb is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of said slip tube; and    a ball holder comprising a wrapped flexible sheet, wherein said ball holder is secured to said slip tube and wraps around said bulb.    
   
   
       11 . The baseball tee of  claim 10 , wherein said bulb is integrally formed with said slip tube.  
   
   
       12 . The baseball tee of  claim 10 , wherein said bulb is secured to said slip tube, but said bulb is structurally distinct from said slip tube.  
   
   
       13 . A baseball tee comprising: 
 a base;    a vertical structure secured at a first end to said base; and    a ball holder secured to a second end of said vertical structure,    wherein said vertical structure is secured to said base away from a center of said base.    
   
   
       14 . The baseball tee of  claim 13 , wherein said vertical structure is secured to said base in front of a horizontal center axis of said base, wherein a ball disposed on said ball holder is struck from a direction behind said horizontal center axis.  
   
   
       15 . The baseball tee of  claim 13 , wherein said vertical structure comprises a slip tube that is slideably secured to said vertical stem.  
   
   
       16 . A baseball tee comprising: 
 a base;    a rigid vertical stem secured at a first end to said base; and    a flexible tube, a first end of said flexible tube secured to a second end of said rigid vertical stem; and    a ball holder secured to a second end of said flexible tube.    
   
   
       17 . The baseball tee of  claim 15 , wherein said rigid vertical stem comprises metal, and said flexible tube comprises plastic.