# US 2014/0171224 A1 · Golf tee with support prongs

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- Number: US 2014/0171224 A1
- Document ID: US20140171224A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/062,417
- Filed: 2013-10-24
- Published: 2014-06-19
- Earliest claimed: 2004-01-02
- Assignees: Evolve Golf
- Applicants: Evolve Golf
- Inventors: Stephen P. DeLisle; Benjamin J. Maloy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140171224A1

## CPC

- A63B 57/10: Golf tees
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 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 a base portion 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 in2 and 0.0045 in2.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf tee defined in claim 1, formed of a biodegradable material.