Self-Righting Golf Ball Tee

Abstract

A self-righting golf ball tee. The tee may comprise plural golf ball supporting pedestals, for example, four pedestals that are evenly spaced from each other. The pedestals may extend from a central hub, such as at an angle of approximately 109.5 degrees between each pedestal. During use, a golfer tosses the tee onto the ground. The tee will orient itself with three of the pedestals contacting the ground and the remaining pedestal protruding vertically upwardly to receive a golf ball.

1 . A self-righting golf tee. 
   
   
       2 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises plural golf ball support pedestals. 
   
   
       3 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises four golf ball support pedestals. 
   
   
       4 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises four golf ball support pedestals that are equally angularly spaced from each other. 
   
   
       5 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises four golf ball support pedestals that are angularly separated from each other by an angle of approximately 109.5 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises plural golf ball support pedestals extending from a central hub. 
   
   
       7 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee comprises plural golf ball support pedestals that are generally frustoconical in shape so as to define a frustocone, with a narrow end of said frustocone being supported by a central hub and a wide end of said frustocone defining a cup that supports a golf ball. 
   
   
       8 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said hub is generally spherical. 
   
   
       9 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 6  wherein a fillet is disposed between said hub and said pedestals. 
   
   
       10 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 6  wherein a generally cylindrical stem extends between said pedestals and said hub. 
   
   
       11 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said hub is larger than a diameter of said stems. 
   
   
       12 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 11  wherein a fillet extends between said hub and said stems. 
   
   
       13 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said hub comprises a magnetically attractive material. 
   
   
       14 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said magnetically attractive material comprises a metal object disposed within said hub. 
   
   
       15 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee is a unitary molded article. 
   
   
       16 . A golf tee in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said tee is a multi-element assembly. 
   
   
       17 . A method for teeing a golf ball, comprising:
 selecting a self-righting golf ball tee;   tossing or dropping said tee on the ground; and   placing a golf ball on said tee.   
   
   
       18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein said ball is placed on said tee using a golf ball teeing device. 
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  further including retrieving said tee following a drive using said teeing device. 
   
   
       20 . A self-righting golf ball tee comprising four golf ball support pedestals that are centrally interconnected and equally angularly separated from each other by an angle of approximately 109.5 degrees.