Impact resistant golf tee

Abstract

A golf tee is composed of a tubular member of rubber, having an open upper end of size suitable to support a golf ball and four uniformly spaced longitudinal slits extending from the upper end toward the lower end. A smaller opening at the lower end receives a conventional golf tee, which is used as an anchor.

1 . A golf tee comprising a tubular member composed of a resilient polymeric material, the tubular member having upper and lower ends, a side wall having an annular cross-section extending from the upper end toward the lower end, a circular opening at the upper end, the opening having a diameter in the range from about 0.3 cm to 2 cm, whereby a golf ball can be supported by the tubular member at said upper end, an opening at the lower end for receiving an earth-penetrating element for anchoring the tubular member, and a plurality of slits formed in the side wall of the tubular member, the slits extending from the upper end toward the lower end, and terminating at an intermediate location between the upper and lower ends, the tube having sufficient rigidity to support a golf ball without substantial deformation, but being sufficiently flexible that the slits can open temporarily as a result of impact imparted to the tubular member when a golf ball supported thereon is struck by a golf club. 
   
   
       2 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which a bottom wall is formed in the tubular member at the lower end thereof, and in which said opening at the lower end is an opening in the bottom wall. 
   
   
       3 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the resilient polymeric material is a rubber. 
   
   
       4 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which said opening at the upper end has a diameter in the range from about 0.5 cm to about 1.7 cm. 
   
   
       5 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which said opening at the upper end has a diameter in the range from about 0.75 cm to about 1.5 cm. 
   
   
       6 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the outer diameter of the tube at its upper end is in the range from about 0.4 cm to about 3 cm. 
   
   
       7 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the outer diameter of the tube at its upper end is in the range from about 0.75 cm to about 2.5 cm. 
   
   
       8 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the outer diameter of the tube at its upper end is in the range from about 0.95 cm to about 1.7 cm. 
   
   
       9 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the length of the tubular member is in the range from about 0.5 cm to about 20 cm. 
   
   
       10 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the length of the tubular member is in the range from about 0.75 cm to about 10 cm. 
   
   
       11 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the length of the tubular member is in the range from about 1 cm to about 5 cm. 
   
   
       12 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the opening at the lower end has a maximum transverse dimension not greater than about 1 cm. 
   
   
       13 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the opening at the lower end has a maximum transverse dimension not greater than about 0.7 cm. 
   
   
       14 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the opening at the lower end is a substantially circular opening having a diameter in the range from approximately 0.2 cm to approximately 0.5 cm. 
   
   
       15 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which said slits are disposed at uniform intervals about the circumference of the tubular member. 
   
   
       16 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which lengths of said slits is at least 1/10th the distance from the upper end to the lower end of the tubular member. 
   
   
       17 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which lengths of said slits is in the range from approximately 1/10th to ¾th the distance from the upper end to the lower end of the tubular member. 
   
   
       18 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which the side wall of the tubular member has substantially cylindrical inner and outer faces throughout at least the portion thereof in which the slits are formed. 
   
   
       19 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which a bottom wall is formed in the tubular member at the lower end thereof, and in which said opening at the lower end is an opening in the bottom wall, and in which said bottom wall is unitary with the side wall of the tubular member. 
   
   
       20 . A golf tee according to  claim 1 , in which an earth-penetrating element for anchoring the tubular member extends through the opening at the lower end of the tubular member. 
   
   
       21 . A golf tee comprising a tubular member composed of a resilient polymeric material, the tubular member having upper and lower ends, a side wall having an annular cross-section extending from the upper end toward the lower end, a circular opening at the upper end, the opening having a diameter in the range from about 0.3 cm to 2 cm, whereby a golf ball can be supported by the tubular member at said upper end, and a plurality of slits formed in the side wall of the tubular member, the slits extending from the upper end toward the lower end, and terminating at an intermediate location between the upper and lower ends, the tube having sufficient rigidity to support a golf ball without substantial deformation, but being sufficiently flexible that the slits can open temporarily as a result of impact imparted to the tubular member when a golf ball supported thereon is struck by a golf club.