Golf tee with support prongs

Abstract

A golf tee includes: an elongate shaft having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end configured to be inserted into an underlying surface; and a support cup that is configured to support a golf ball from beneath and that merges with the shaft. The support cup has a base portion and further includes at least three arcuate support prongs projecting upwardly from the base portion. The support prongs define a discontinuous annulus about the periphery of the support cup.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf tee, comprising:
 an elongate shaft having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end configured to be inserted into an underlying surface; and   a support cup that is configured to support a golf ball from beneath, the support cup merging with the shaft, the support cup having an arcuate base portion with a radius of curvature of between about 0.3 and 0.5 inches, and further including at least three arcuate support prongs projecting upwardly from the base portion, each of the support prongs having a convex contact surface and being of a secant length that is greater than that of a dimple of a golf ball, such that the total contact area between the contact surfaces and a golf ball resting on the contact surfaces is between about 0.0036 in 2  and 0.0045 in 2 .   
     
     
         2 . The golf tee defined in  claim 1 , formed of a biodegradable polymeric material.