GB2290481A

GB2290481A - A golf tee peg

Info

Publication number: GB2290481A
Application number: GB9412433A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Conway Robins; Jan Francis Ormerod; Richard Robins
Original assignee: MIDDLESEX SERV Ltd, University of
Current assignee: MIDDLESEX SERV Ltd, University of
Priority date: 1994-06-21
Filing date: 1994-06-21
Publication date: 1996-01-03
Also published as: GB9412433D0

Abstract

A golf tee peg comprises a curved base end 3 for resting on a teeing surface and a ball supporting portion 7, the base end being weighted such that, when dropped onto the tee surface, the tee peg is self-righting thereby presenting the ball supporting portion in a position to receive and support a golf ball. The base end may be shaped to receive a normal tee peg inserted therein on the ball support may be hinged to the base. <IMAGE>

Description

"A golf tee peg" This invention relates to a golf tee peg and more particularly to a golf tee peg which rights itself when dropped onto a teeing surface.

Conventional tee pegs comprise elongate pegs of wooden or plastics material provided with a pointed end and a widened ball receiving portion. To support a golf ball, the pointed end of the conventional tee peg is inserted into the teeing surface, be it a grass teeing surface or a teeing mat. This action requires the golfer to bend down to the ground and exert some force onto the tee peg to drive the tee peg into the teeing surface. In cases where the golfer is arthritic or disabled in some way, the use of conventional tee pegs is inconvenient.

Further, when striking a golf ball it is common for the conventional tee pegs, especially wooden tee pegs, to break as the pointed part of the tee peg remains set in the ground.

The present invention provides a golf tee peg which seeks to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a golf tee peg comprising a base end for resting on a teeing surface and a ball supporting portion, the base end being weighted such that, when dropped onto the teeing surface, the tee peg presents the ball supporting portion in a position to receive and support a ball.

Preferably, the surface of the weighted base end of the golf tee peg which rests on the tee surface is convex.

Conveniently, the base end of the golf tee peg is weighted with lead.

Advantageously, the ball supporting portion comprises a conventional tee peg, the weighted base end having an aperture for receiving the conventional tee peg.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a golf tee peg embodying the present invention resting on a teeing surface, a golf ball being received on a ball supporting portion of the tee peg; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee peg embodying the present invention comprising a base end and a ball supporting portion; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a golf tee peg embodying the present invention comprising a base end and a conventional tee peg; and Figure 4 is a side view of a golf tee peg embodying the present invention having a hinged ball supporting portion.

Referring to Figure 1, a golf tee peg embodying the present invention comprises a plastics moulded base end 1 and a ball supporting portion 2 engageable therewith.

The base end 1 comprises a plastics moulded shell having a convex lower surface 3 for resting on the tee surface and a planar upper surface 4. The upper surface 4 of the base end is formed with a centrally located boss 5 which projects from the upper surface. The boss 5 is provided with a bore 6 for receiving one end of the ball supporting portion.

The shell of the base end 1 of the tee peg is filled adjacent the convex surface with a high density material, such as lead, so as to weigh down the base end 1 of the tee peg.

The ball supporting portion 2 comprises a stem 7 at a proximal end engageable with the bore 6 in the boss 5 of the upper surface of the base end 1 of the tee peg. The stem 7 broadens out to provide, at a distal end, a portion suitable for supporting a golf ball. The end surface 8 of the distal end is concave to locate and support the golf ball.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ball supporting portion 2 is located in the boss 5 of the base end 1 with a push-fit such that the ball supporting portion 2 can be pushed into or pulled out of the base end 1 thereby varying the height of the tee peg.

Referring to Figure 3, another golf tee peg embodying the present invention is shown which comprises a base end 1 similar to that already described but lacking the centrally formed boss 5 and having instead a simple central bore 6. The bore 6 is adapted to receive a conventional tee peg which acts as a ball supporting portion 1. Thus, a golfer can select, as desired, either tall, medium or short tee pegs for insertion in the bore 6 of the weighted base end 2 of the tee peg. The conventional tee peg may either be push-fit into the bore 6 of the base end 1 or may be provided with a screw thread for co-operation with a corresponding screw thread formed in the base end 1.

Referring to Figure 4, a golf tee peg embodying the present invention is shown in which the ball supporting portion 2 is hingedly mounted on the weighted base end 1.

By hinging the ball supporting portion 2 with respect to the base end 1, some of the force imparted on the golf ball when driving off and hence to the top of the tee peg is decoupled from the base end 1 of the tee peg thereby reducing the amount of damage done to the tee peg.

The above described invention is particularly useful for arthritic or partially disabled golfers who find it difficult to bend down to insert tee pegs in the ground.

Further, the above described invention is suitable for use in the winter months when the ground is frozen and it is difficult to insert conventional tee pegs in the frozen ground. A tee peg embodying the present invention may simply be dropped onto the teeing surface, the weighted end of the tee peg ensuring that the ball supporting portion is in an upright position to receive and support a golf ball which can be placed thereon. This effect is achieved by ensuring that the weighted base end of the tee peg is sufficiently heavy that, should the tee peg land with an edge of the base end contacting the tee surface and the distal end of the ball supporting portion touching the tee surface, the centre of gravity of the tee peg is still toward the centre of the convex surface of the weighted end. This causes the weighted end to pivot about its edge thereby lifting the ball supporting portion from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position in which the ball supporting portion is capable of receiving and supporting a golf ball.

Preferably, the ball supporting portion and the shell of the base end are made from lightweight plastics moulded material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf tee peg comprising a base end for resting on a teeing surface and a ball supporting portion, the base end being weighted such that, when dropped onto the teeing surface, the tee peg presents the ball supporting portion in a position to receive and support a ball.

2. A golf tee peg according to Claim 1, wherein the surface of the weighted base end for resting on the tee surface is convex.

3. A golf tee peg according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the base end is weighted with lead.

4. A golf tee peg according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball supporting portion comprises a conventional tee peg, the weighted base end having an aperture for receiving the conventional tee peg.

5. A golf tee peg according to Claim 4, wherein the conventional tee peg is provided with a threaded portion for co-operation with a correspondingly threaded bore in the base end.

6. A golf tee peg according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball supporting portion is height adjustable with respect to the weighted base end.

7. A golf tee peg according to any preceding claim, wherein the ball supporting portion is hingedly mounted on the weighted base end.

8. A golf tee peg substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.