Golf tee with at least two support surfaces

Abstract

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a golf tee. The golf tee may include a shaft having a top end and a bottom end. A cup may be located at the top end of the shaft, the cup may have a concave surface, and the cup may have a rim configured to contact a ball when the golf tee supports the ball. At least one protrusion may extend from the concave surface of the cup, where the protrusion has a surface configured to contact the ball when the golf tee supports the ball.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf tee, the golf tee comprising:
 a shaft having a top end and a bottom end;   a cup located at the top end of the shaft, the cup having a concave surface, and the cup having a rim; and   at least one protrusion extending from the concave surface of the cup, the protrusion having a surface configured to contact a ball when the golf tee supports the ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , further comprising a stem located at the bottom end of the shaft, wherein the stem includes a material that is different than a material of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The golf tee of  claim 2 , wherein the stem includes a central elongated shaft and at least one column extending from the elongated shaft and configured to engage a ground. 
     
     
         4 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is configured such that a gap is located between a ball and rim when the ball is supported by the at least one protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom end of the shaft includes a flat surface, the flat surface being parallel to an axis defined by the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The golf tee of  claim 5 , wherein a central portion of the shaft has a circular cross-sectional shape with at least one indentation extending around the circular cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the rim is located a first distance from an axis defined by the shaft, wherein the at least one protrusion is located a second distance from the axis defined by the shaft, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         8 . The golf tee of  claim 1 , wherein the concave surface is configured such that a gap is located between the concave surface and the ball when the golf tee supports the ball. 
     
     
         9 . A golf tee, the golf tee comprising:
 a shaft having a top end and a bottom end;   a first support surface configured to contact a ball when the golf tee supports the ball; and   a second support surface configured to contact the ball when the golf tee supports the ball,   wherein the first support surface is located a first distance from an axis defined by the shaft,   wherein the second support surface is located a second distance from the axis defined by the shaft, and   wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.   
     
     
         10 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , wherein the first support surface is defined by a rim of a cup located at the top end of the shaft, wherein the cup has a concave surface facing away from the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The golf tee of  claim 10 , wherein the second support surface is defined by a protrusion extending from the concave surface of the cup. 
     
     
         12 . The golf tee of  claim 10 , wherein a diameter of the rim is at least 0.50 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , further comprising a stem located at the bottom end of the shaft, wherein the stem includes a material that is different than a material of the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The golf tee of  claim 13 , wherein the stem includes a central elongated shaft and at least one column extending from the elongated shaft and configured to engage a ground. 
     
     
         15 . The golf tee of  claim 14 , wherein an end of the at least one column includes a concave notch. 
     
     
         16 . The golf tee of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom end of the shaft includes a flat surface, the flat surface being parallel to an axis defined by the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The golf tee of  claim 16 , wherein a central portion of the shaft has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . A method for forming a golf tee, the method comprising:
 forming a shaft having a top end and a bottom end;   forming a cup located at the top end of the shaft, the cup having a concave surface, and the cup having a rim configured to contact a ball when the golf tee supports the ball; and   forming at least one protrusion extending from the concave surface of the cup, the protrusion having a surface configured to contact the ball when the golf tee supports the ball.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming a stem and locating the stem at the bottom end of the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein locating the stem at the bottom end of the shaft includes inserting the stem in a mold before or during an injection molding process, wherein the injection molding process forms the shaft.