Golf Tee

Abstract

A golf tee includes a stem having a distal end and an opposing proximal end for supporting a golf ball thereon. A suction member is disposed at the proximal end of the stem and includes a suction surface for temporarily maintaining the golf ball on the golf tee.

1 . A golf tee, comprising:
 a stem having a distal end and an opposing proximal end; and   a suction member disposed at the proximal end, the suction member having a suction surface shaped to temporarily maintain a golf ball on the golf tee.   
     
     
         2 . The golf tee according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the suction member comprises a base coupled to the proximal end of the stem; and   the suction surface comprises a suction cup extending proximally away from the base.   
     
     
         3 . The golf tee according to  claim 2 , wherein the base is coupled to the proximal end of the stem by one of an adhesive, an interference fit, a press fit, and a screw fit. 
     
     
         4 . The golf tee according to  claim 2 , wherein the base includes a cavity sized to receive the proximal end of the stem to couple the suction member thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The golf tee according to  claim 4 , further comprising a material disposed at least partially between the proximal end of the stem and the base of the suction member, the material operable to improve connection between the proximal end of the stem and the base. 
     
     
         6 . The golf tee according to  claim 2 , wherein the proximal end of the stem includes a cavity sized to receive the base and, thereby, couple the suction member thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The golf tee according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction member is formed from an elastic synthetic resin material. 
     
     
         8 . The golf tee according to  claim 2 , wherein the suction cup is generally conical and includes a smaller diameter nose portion disposed at the base and extending proximally therefrom to a larger-diameter open end defining a concave inner surface, the concave inner surface forming the suction surface for receiving, and temporarily maintaining, the golf ball thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The golf tee according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction member is operable to temporarily maintain the golf ball on the golf tee for approximately 6 to approximately 10 seconds. 
     
     
         10 . A golf tee, comprising:
 an elongated stem having:
 a distal end having a pointed tip; and 
 an opposing proximal end having a tee head including a suction member having a concave suction surface, the suction surface shaped to provide a temporary suction hold between the suction member and an outer surface of a golf ball to temporarily maintain the golf ball at the proximal end during positioning of the golf ball relative to a ground surface. 
   
     
     
         11 . The golf tee according to  claim 10 , wherein the suction member comprises:
 a base coupled to the proximal end of the stem; and   a suction cup extending proximally from the base and being generally conical in shape and including the concave suction surface.   
     
     
         12 . The golf tee according to  claim 11 , wherein the base is coupled to the proximal end of the stem by one of an adhesive, an interference fit, a press fit, and a screw fit. 
     
     
         13 . The golf tee according to  claim 11 , wherein the base includes a cavity sized to receive the proximal end of the stem to couple the suction member thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The golf tee according to  claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the stem includes a cavity sized to receive the base and, thereby, couple the suction member thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The golf tee according to  claim 10 , wherein the suction member is formed from an elastic synthetic resin material. 
     
     
         16 . A ball-holding golf tee kit, comprising:
 a golf tee having a stem with a pointed distal end and an opposing proximal end shaped to maintain a golf ball thereon; and   a retrofitting suction member having:
 a lower hollow cylindrical base shaped to receive and hold therein the proximal end of the golf tee; and 
 an upper suction member having an upper concave suction surface shaped to temporarily maintain the golf ball thereon with a temporary suction force. 
   
     
     
         17 . A method for positioning a golf ball in the game of golf, which comprises:
 providing a suction-generating golf tee comprising:
 a stem having a distal end and an opposing proximal end; and 
 a suction member disposed at the proximal end of the stem, the suction member having an upper suction surface for temporarily maintaining the golf ball on the golf tee; and 
   temporarily supporting the golf ball on the suction-generating golf tee by pressing the golf ball against the upper suction surface to create a temporary suction hold between the golf ball and the suction member.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , which further comprises inserting the golf tee into the ground. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the steps of pressing the golf ball against the suction surface and inserting the golf tee into the ground are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the step of inserting the golf tee into the ground is performed either before or after the step of pressing the golf ball against the suction surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , which further comprises maintaining the temporary suction hold between the golf ball and the suction surface for approximately 6 to approximately 10 seconds.