Golf tee marker system

Abstract

Golf tee markers ( 1 ) which are easily picked-up, placed into the ground and stacked. Also, a pickup and placement cylinder ( 13 ) for use with the markers ( 1 ); a transport and storage tube ( 29 ) for use with the markers ( 1 ); a transport and storage cabinet for use with the markers ( 1 ) and storage tubes ( 29 ); and a mowing tractor attachment for pickup and placement of the markers ( 1 ).

1 . A golf tee marker comprising a body surmounting a ground engaging portion and having in a top surface thereof a well for receiving therein a ground engaging portion of another marker for stacking markers in a column, the well having a drain hole to avoid accumulation of liquid therein. 
   
   
       2 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 1 , wherein ground engaging portion is at least one spike. 
   
   
       3 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 1 , wherein the well has inwardly inclined side walls to facilitate entry and fitting of the ground engaging portion of another marker. 
   
   
       4 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fixed or detachable flange disposed beneath the body and parallel with an underside of the body within the body's perimeter to facilitate manipulation of the marker. 
   
   
       5 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 4 , further comprising, beneath the body a protective member to cushion impact and prevent direct contact between the bodies of the markers upon stacking. 
   
   
       6 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 1 , wherein the drain hole runs from the bottom of the well to a periphery on the underside of the body. 
   
   
       7 . A golf tee marker according to  claim 6 , wherein an exit of the drain hole is positioned such that, when markers are vertically stacked, liquid exiting the drain hole will not enter into the marker below. 
   
   
       8 . A golf tee marker comprising:
 a body surmounting at least one spike for spiking into the ground and having a spike well in an upper surface thereof for receiving therein a spike or spikes of another marker for stacking in a column;   the spike well having a drain hole to avoid accumulation of liquid therein;   the spike well having inwardly inclined side walls to facilitate entry and fitting of a spike;   a removable or fixed flange attached beneath, and parallel to, the underside of the body and within the body's perimeter, to assist placement of the marker;   a resilient washer disposed beneath the body for inhibiting direct contact between the bodies of stacked markers.   
   
   
       9 . A pickup and placement cylinder for stackable golf tee markers comprising:
 an elongated cylindrical housing for housing markers therein and having an opening at an end thereof for allowing ingress and egress of markers; and   means to selectively gather and place the markers.   
   
   
       10 . A pickup and placement cylinder for stackable golf tee markers comprising:
 a housing for housing markers in a cavity formed by the housing and having a closed end and an opening at an opposite end thereof for allowing ingress and egress of the markers;   a gear disposed at the closed end for rotating a plurality of gears attached to a plurality of rods running lengthwise of the housing and outside of the cavity;   a plurality of top and bottom catches connected to each of the rods for allowing selective entrance, exit and manipulation of the markers by jutting in and out of the cavity, the bottom catches being adjacent the cylinder opening and the top catches being spaced therefrom a distance less than the height of a marker;   the catches having first, second and third positions, wherein in said first position, the bottom catches are retracted to allow a marker to enter and exit the cylinder and the top catches jut out into the cylinder cavity to act as a stop for markers having their undersides below the level of the top catches;   in said second position, the top catches are retracted to allow a marker to drop down which will be caught by the bottom catches jut out; and   in said third position the bottom catches jut out so as to be positioned between a flange and an underside of a marker and bear down upon the flange, pushing the marker into the ground.   
   
   
       11 . A pickup and placement cylinder according to  claim 10 , further comprising a fourth position, said fourth position having both the top and bottom catches retracted to allow the markers to move freely in the cylinder. 
   
   
       12 . A pickup and placement cylinder according to  claim 9 , wherein the golf tee marker comprises a body surmounting a ground engaging portion and having in a top surface thereof a well for receiving therein a ground engaging portion of another marker for stacking markers in a column, the well having a drain hole to avoid accumulation of liquid therein. 
   
   
       13 . A transport and storage tube for stacking golf tee markers comprising a cavity for holding stacked markers therein, a handle pivotably attached to an open upper end of the tube for receiving markers therein, the tube having a closed end having a recess formed therein for receiving a spike of a lowermost marker. 
   
   
       14 . A transport and storage tube) according to  claim 13 , wherein the golf tee marker comprises a body surmounting a ground engaging portion and having in a top surface thereof a well for receiving therein a ground engaging portion of another marker for stacking markers in a column, the well having a drain hole to avoid accumulation of liquid therein. 
   
   
       15 . A transport and storage tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the closed end of the tube has disposed therein an annular rubber cushion and a bottom plug with a hole for receiving the spike of the lowermost marker. 
   
   
       16 . A transport and storage tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the number of stackable golf tee markers contained within comprises a quantity sufficient for servicing the teeing area of a single golf hole. 
   
   
       17 . A transport and storage tube according to  claim 13 , wherein the upper end has disposed thereon the hole number or other indica. 
   
   
       18 . The use of the transport and storage tubes according to  claim 13 , for the storage, transport, pickup or distribution of stackable golf tee markers. 
   
   
       19 . A golf course vehicle attachment for pickup and placement of golf tee markers comprising a three-dimensionally movable arm with first and second ends pivotably connected at the first end to a base of the vehicle attachment; means for holding a pickup and placement cylinder connected to the second end of the moveable arm and means for selectively manipulating the golf tee markers within the pickup and placement cylinder. 
   
   
       20 . A golf course vehicle attachment according to  claim 19 , wherein the golf tee markers comprises a body surmounting a ground engaging portion and having in a top surface thereof a well for receiving therein a ground engaging portion of another marker for stacking markers in a column, the well having a drain hole to avoid accumulation of liquid therein. 
   
   
       21 . A golf course vehicle attachment according to  claim 19 , wherein the three-dimensionally movable arm is controlled by telescoping hydraulic cylinders. 
   
   
       22 . A golf course vehicle attachment according to  claim 19 , wherein the three-dimensionally moveable arm is attached to a hydraulic system of the vehicle. 
   
   
       23 . A golf course vehicle attachment according to  claim 22 , wherein the hydraulic system is controlled by directional control valves on a dashboard of the vehicle or on the attachment itself. 
   
   
       24 . A golf course vehicle attachment according to  claim 22 , wherein hydraulic cylinders of the hydraulic system are made of standard stork with a minimum of 44 in. stroke. 
   
   
       25 . A cabinet for storing the transport and storage tubes, the cabinet having compartments for receiving the transport and storage tubes, wherein the cabinet may be mounted on wheels and towed behind a vehicle or handled with a forklift, sling or the like.