Golf tee with ball elevating members

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. One or more prongs extend upwardly from the first end portion to elevate the golf ball a predetermined distance off the top of the tee. 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. An optional 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.

1 . A golf tee, comprising: 
 a) a shaft portion;    b) a first end portion for supporting a golf ball thereon extending from a first end of said shaft portion;    c) a ball elevating member extending from said first end portion; and    d) a second end portion for anchoring the tee into the ground extending from a second end of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       2 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said first end portion comprises an end surface; and    b) said ball elevating member extends a predetermined distance away from said end surface.    
   
   
       3 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 a) said first end portion comprises a generally hollow funnel-shaped member with a rim; and    b) said rim comprises said end surface.    
   
   
       4 . The golf tee of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 a) a plurality of said ball elevating members extend from said rim.    
   
   
       5 . The golf tee of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 a) three of said ball elevating members extend from and are generally equilaterally spaced on said rim.    
   
   
       6 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said first end portion comprises a generally planar end surface; and    b) said ball elevating member extends a predetermined distance away from said end surface.    
   
   
       7 . The golf tee of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a) a height adjustment member slidably positioned on said shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground; and    b) said shaft portion including a plurality of vertically spaced slots for selectively holding said height adjustment member.    
   
   
       8 . The golf tee of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 a) said height adjustment member comprises a generally round disc; and    b) the diameter of said disc is generally the same as the diameter of said rim.    
   
   
       9 . A golf tee, comprising: 
 a) a shaft portion;    b) a generally hollow funnel-shaped first end portion with a generally vertical rim for supporting a golf ball thereon extending from an upper end of said shaft portion;    c) said rim including an end surface;    d) a ball elevating member extending a predetermined distance away from said end surface; and    e) a generally tapered second end portion for anchoring the tee into the ground extending from a lower end of said shaft portion.    
   
   
       10 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a) said ball elevating member comprises a top surface; and    b) said top surface engages the golf ball thereby elevating it from said end surface.    
   
   
       11 . The golf tee of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) a plurality of said ball elevating members extend from said end surface.    
   
   
       12 . The golf tee of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a) three of said ball elevating members extend from and are generally equilaterally spaced on said rim.    
   
   
       13 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 a) said end surface is generally planar.    
   
   
       14 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a) a height adjustment member slidably positioned on said shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground; and    b) said shaft portion including a plurality of vertically spaced slots for selectively holding said height adjustment member.    
   
   
       15 . The golf tee of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 a) said height adjustment member comprises a generally round disc; and    b) the diameter of said disc is generally the same as the diameter of said rim.    
   
   
       16 . A golf tee with prongs for elevating a golf ball a predetermined distance off the tee, comprising: 
 a) a shaft portion;    b) a generally hollow funnel-shaped first end portion with a vertical rim for supporting a golf ball thereon extending from an upper end of said shaft portion;    c) said rim including a generally planar upper end surface;    d) a plurality of prongs each with a ball engaging surface extending a predetermined distance away from said upper end surface;    e) a generally tapered second end portion for anchoring the tee into the ground extending from a lower end of said shaft portion; and    f) wherein the ball engaging surfaces of said prongs hold the golf ball thereby elevating it off the tee.    
   
   
       17 . The golf tee of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a) three of said prongs extend from and are generally equilaterally spaced on said rim.    
   
   
       18 . The golf tee of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 a) one of said prongs is generally square in configuration.    
   
   
       19 . The golf tee of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a) a height adjustment member slidably positioned on said shaft portion for setting a height of the tee relative to the ground; and    b) said shaft portion including a plurality of vertically spaced slots separated by alternately arranged generally continuous rings for selectively holding said height adjustment member in one of said slots.    
   
   
       20 . The golf tee of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 a) said height adjustment member comprises a generally round disc; and    b) the diameter of said disc is generally the same as the diameter of said rim.    
   
   
       21 . The golf tee of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 a) said disc is made from a rubber, plastic, wood, foam, or biodegradable material; and    b) said disc includes a hole having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said shaft portion for creating a tight fit therebetween for securing said disc on said shaft when the tee is anchored into the ground.    
   
   
       22 . The golf tee of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a) the diameter of the hole is about 0.190 inches and the diameter of the shaft portion is about 0.212 inches.    
   
   
       23 . The golf tee of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a) the diameter of said disc is about 0.775 inches.    
   
   
       24 . The golf tee of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a) said disc has a thickness of about 0.150 inches.    
   
   
       25 . The golf tee of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 a) the axial length of one of said slots is about 0.153 inches; and    b) wherein said disc is secured in one of said slots between two of said rings and stays in place when the tee is anchored into the ground.