Golf ball teeing apparatus

Abstract

A disposable golf ball-teeing device, when attached to the front half of footwear, aids a golfer to successfully position a golf ball onto a stationary tee, without the need for a one leg-balancing act; repeated bending; stooping or the application of expensive machines. The teeing process requires only very basic skill level and the ability to stand erect on both feet while lifting the toe portion of one shoe in order to position the golf ball onto a tee. A first version has members that surround the front of the shoe, and a second version adheres to the underside of the shoe. Both versions have protruding members with an opening between them for supporting a golf ball. A third version, which may be reusable, has an hand operated remote actuator for movement of protruding arms to capture and place a golf ball.

1 . An apparatus for handling a golf ball comprising: 
 a first portion for being received on an underside of a shoe; and    a second portion configured to receive a golf ball and to permit said golf ball to be positioned on a golf tee by manipulation of a foot upon which said shoe is worn.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 attachment straps extending from said first portion for attaching said apparatus to a shoe.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said straps comprise: 
 a dorsal strap extending from said first portion and configured to be bent around a front portion of a shoe so as to be on top of a front portion of the shoe; and    side straps, said side straps extending from said first portion, said side straps being configured for surrounding said shoe in a general region of an arch of said shoe.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said dorsal strap has extensions for reaching to said side straps, when said side straps surround said shoe, the apparatus further comprising means for connecting said extension portions and said side straps to secure said apparatus to a shoe.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said dorsal strap has extensions for reaching to said side straps, when said side straps surround said shoe, the apparatus further comprising an adhesive on one of said of one of said extensions or said side straps for fastening respective ones of said side straps and said extensions to one another  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said dorsal strap has extensions for reaching to said side straps, when said side straps surround said shoe, said extensions each having an opening for receiving a respective side strap.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said side straps have edges with serrations, said serrations being sized shaped and configured so as to lock said side straps in said opening when said side straps are inserted into said openings.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion has opening through which cleats of a shoe extend.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said first portion has a reinforcement portion between said openings, so as to strengthen said first portion.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive on one side of said first portion, said adhesive being for contacting said underside of said shoe to secure said apparatus to said shoe.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first portion is of circular shape.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said first portion has a removable filler portion, said filler portion when removed, leaving said first portion to have a generally circular opening, a generally circular first part surrounding said opening and a generally circular second part surrounding said opening, with a gap between an end of said first part and an end of said second part.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said generally circular opening is sized so as to fit around a cleat of a golf shoe.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion has a generally circular opening, a generally circular first part surrounding said opening and a generally circular second part surrounding said opening, with a gap between an end of said first part and an end of said second part, said opening being for receiving a portion of a golf ball so that said second portion supports said golf ball.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said gap is sufficiently large to allow a stem of a golf tee to pass through said gap.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second portion comprises a pair of movable arms for acquiring the golf ball, further comprising an actuator portion remove from said first portion for actuating movement of said movable arms.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said actuator is connected to said first portion by a movable cable moved by said actuator, said cable being for moving said arms.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said actuator is connected to said first portion by an electromagnetic link.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein said actuator is configured to be worn near a waist of a user, and to be actuated by the hand of said user.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises part of a strap configured to extend around footwear of a user.  
   
   
       22 . A method for placing a golf ball on a tee using a shoe mounted device having arms for receiving the golf ball, comprising: 
 maneuvering the shoe so that the arms are in a position to acquire the golf ball;    moving the shoe so that the golf ball is over the tee; and    lifting the front of the shoe while keeping the rear of the shoe on a surface so that the arms are clear of the tee, and the golf ball remains on the tee.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the arms have a space between them through which a stem of a golf tee can pass; further comprising moving the shoe so that the stem of the tee passes through said space.