COMBINATION GOLF TEE AND BRUSH

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/304,915 filed January 31, 2022 and entitled “Combination Golf Tee and Brush”, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] This invention relates to a golf tee, and specifically to a golf tee which provides additional benefits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Golfers typically utilize a golf tee to elevate the golfball over the underlying turf when driving the ball. Golf tees have a cup-like top section extending to a spike-like bottom section. The bottom section is driven into the turf, and the top section, spaced from the turf, cradles the ball for being driven off the tee. [0006] A common problem with golf balls is that they naturally become dirty as they bounce or roll upon the ground. As such, many golfers also have a brush to clean the golf ball. Similarly, the driving head of a golf club often becomes dirty as the club’s swing to drive the golf ball may impact the ground as well. The golfer also uses the brushes to clean dirt from the face surface and grooves within the face of golf clubs. However, as these brushes are fairly small, golfers oftentimes lose or misplace the brush during a round of golf.

[0007] Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for manner of cleaning a golf ball and/or golf club in an easy and convenient manner. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention meets the need in the art for a combination golf tee and brush that comprises a tee portion having a golf ball cradle and a shaft extending from the ball cradle, and flexible bristles extending from the tee portion.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides a combination golf tee and brush comprising a top portion having a golfball cradle and an elongated bottom portion extending from said top portion, said bottom portion having at least one mounting hole, and a bristle portion mounted within said mounting hole of said bottom portion.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a combination golf tee and brush comprising a tee portion having a top portion configured to nest a golfball and a bottom portion extending from said top portion, and at least one group of bristles coupled to said tee portion so as to extend laterally from said tee portion with respect to the longitudinal length of said tee portion.

[0011] Objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent upon a reading of the detailed description in conjunction with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Fig. 1 is a side view of a combination golf tee and brush embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a top view of the combination golf tee and brush shown in Fig. 1.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a bottom portion of the combination golf tee and brush shown in Fig. 1.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a side view of a combination golf tee and brush in an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

[0016] For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Description of Selected Specific Embodiments

[0017] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a combination golf tee and brush 10 embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. The combination golf tee and brush, referenced hereinafter as tee brush 10, has a tee portion 11 with a cup-like top portion 12 extending to a spike-like bottom portion 14. The top portion 12 is configured as an arcuate, cup-like recess or cradle 13 to nest a golf ball GB thereon, with a bottom apex. The tee brush 10 may be made of any conventional material, such as plastic, wood, metal or the like.

[0018] The bottom portion 14 has an elongated shaft 16 and a bottom tip 18 oppositely disposed from or distal the top portion 12. The bottom tip 18 has an elongated edge 20, rather than a conventional golf tee’s conically shaped point. The bottom portion 18 in the illustrated embodiment has a wedge-shaped tip oppositely disposed from the top portion. In the illustrated embodiment, opposing sloped faces tapering to the edge 20 define the wedge- shaped tip. The opposing tapered faces of the tip facilitate pushing penetration of the golf tee 10 into the ground for use as a tee to hold a golfball above the ground for striking with a golf club. However, the tee brush 10 may, in an alternative embodiment, terminate in a conically shaped point. The elongated shaft 16 of the bottom portion 14 may have any conventional, cross-sectional shape, such as a circle, square of other polygonal shape. The elongated edge 20 further provides a working surface for dislodging debris and dirt from a golf ball or club head. The bottom edge 20 may be inserted into the groove of a golf club and moved along the groove to dislodge or extract dirt from the groove.

[0019] The shaft 16 of the bottom portion 14 has a series of mounting holes 24 in which are mounted a series of grouped flexible bristles or bristle portions 24. The bristles 24 may be maintained in place through frictional mounting or by an adhesive. In the illustrated embodiment, the bristles 24 include two laterally opposed groups of bristles or fibers that extend generally laterally or perpendicularly from the shaft 16 and are positioned closer to the top portion 12 than the bottom tip 18. The bristles 24 may be made of any conventional material, such as nylon. Fig. 1 illustrates a first one of the bristles 24 spaced from a horizontal plane defined by the apex of the cup-like recessed top portion 12, but may in alternative embodiments be formed in the shaft closer to, or at the plane of such recess. As an alternative, the bristles 24 may be in the form of a single group of bristles or a single pair of oppositely disposed groups of bristles 24. It should be understood that as there is not a clear demarcation between the top portion 12 and the bottom portion 14, the bristles 24 may be considered to be mounted in either portion, however, it is preferred that the bristles 24 by mounted close to or within the cradle 13 to restrict dirt from accumulating upon the bristles 24.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 4, the bristles 24 are mounted more into the top portion 12 or proximate the cradle 13.

[0021] Also, Fig. 4 illustrates another alternative embodiment in which the bottom edge 20 is oriented at an angle or slant with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tee brush, rather than generally perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal axis shown in the first embodiment and illustrated in Fig. 4 in phantom line for comparison purposes. The lateral end 25 of the edge 20 distalmost from the cradle defines a sharp point that may be selectively engaged to dirt or debris on a ball or club head for dislodging such during cleaning or received in a groove for dislodging dirt or debris, with follow-up brushing of the golfball or club head with the bristles 24.

[0022] In a first use, the tee brush 10 is utilized by pushing the bottom portion 14 into the ground or turf. The opposing tapered faces 18 facilitate the pushing penetration of the golf tee 10 into the ground for use as a tee to hold a golf ball above the ground for striking with a golf club. The opposing faces of the tee brush 10 should not be pushed into the ground to a level wherein the bristles 24 contact the ground, as this would cause the bristles 24 to become dirty. A golf ball GB may then be cradled or nested upon the cradle 13 of the top portion 12. The golfer may then strike the golf ball GB positioned upon the tee brush 10 with a golf club in conventional fashion. [0023] The tee brush 10 may also be used in a second use to clean the golf ball GB or the face of a golf club by passing the bristles 24 over the golf ball or golf club. Movement of the bristles 24 dislodges dirt or debris from the golf ball or golf club, which retained material if left thereon interferes with play of the golfball or golf club.

[0024] The tee brush 10 may also be used in a third use to clean the grooves typically found in the striking plane of a club head of a golf club. This is accomplished by inserting the edge 20 of the tip 18 into the groove and pushing the tee brush edge 20 along the groove to dislodge and remove any dirt or debris material therein. The bristles 24 may then be used to brush away the loose residual particles of dislodged material.

[0025] It should be understood that as an alternative to forming a series of mounting holes 22 for the bristles 24 to be directly mounted to the shaft 16 or a row of bristles 24 may be adhered to the shaft through an adhesive. Alternatively, the bristles 24 may be formed integrally with the shaft 16 during the formation of the shaft 16. As yet another alternative, the bristles 24 may be formed as an array of columns and rows of spaced bristles.

[0026] As such, the combination golf tee and brush or tee brush 10 comprises a tee portion 11 having a golfball cradle 13 and a shaft 16 extending from the ball cradle 13. The bristle portion 24 extends laterally from the tee portion. The bristle portion 24 may be a group of flexible bristles arranged to extend laterally from laterally opposite sides of the tee portion, and/or may be arranged in a vertical series of groups of bristles 24.

[0027] It thus is seen that a tee brush is now provided which overcomes problems associated with the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions, and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention recited in the following claims.