Batting tee and transport thereof

Abstract

A tee-equipped bucket is designed for storing equipment and performing a tee ball activity. In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tee-equipped bucket having a bucket body with a floor that includes a central aperture. The tee-equipped bucket also include a tee support, a telescoping tee attached to the tee support, and a fastening system configured to connect the bucket body to the tee support. When the bucket body is connected to the tee support, the telescoping tee is positioned through the central aperture of the bucket body.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tee-equipped bucket comprising:
 a bucket body comprising a floor with a central aperture;   a tee support;   a telescoping tee attached to the tee support; and   a fastening system configured to connect the bucket body to the tee support, wherein the telescoping tee is positioned through the central aperture when the bucket body is connected to the tee support.   
     
     
         2 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket body further comprises a foot recess that exposes a portion of the tee support when the bucket body is connected to the tee support. 
     
     
         3 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the bucket body further comprises a central tube that corresponds to the central aperture, wherein an annular space is provided between the central tube and an inner wall of the bucket body. 
     
     
         4 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the tee support has a thickness between about 1 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the telescoping tee comprises:
 a first telescoping portion;   a second telescoping portion configured for receipt within the first telescoping portion;   a third telescoping portion configured for receipt within the second telescoping portion; and   a fourth telescoping portion configured for receipt within the third telescoping portion.   
     
     
         6 . The telescoping tee of  claim 5 , wherein the telescoping tee further comprises:
 a lower recess in each of the second telescoping portion, the third telescoping portion, and the fourth telescoping portion;   an upper recess in each of the first telescoping portion, the second telescoping portion, and the third telescoping portion; and   a plurality of friction elements, wherein each friction element is disposed in one of the lower recesses or one of the upper recesses.   
     
     
         7 . The telescoping tee of  claim 6 , wherein the friction element in the lower recess of the second telescoping portion is configured to contact the friction element in the upper recess of the first telescoping portion when the second telescoping portion is raised to its maximum height. 
     
     
         8 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 1 , wherein the tee support comprises a magnetic material and the fastening system comprises a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is attached to the bucket body. 
     
     
         10 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of magnets is disposed in a magnet compartment within the bucket body. 
     
     
         11 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of magnets is attached to a bucket insert that is configured for placement within the bucket body. 
     
     
         12 . The tee-equipped bucket of  claim 11 , wherein the bucket insert further comprises an insert tube having a lower aperture that corresponds to the central aperture, wherein an annular space is provided between the insert tube and an inner wall of the bucket body. 
     
     
         13 . A method for performing a batting activity, comprising the steps of:
 assembling a tee-equipped bucket that comprises a bucket body, a tee support, a telescoping tee attached to the tee support, and a fastening system configured to connect the bucket body to the tee support, wherein the telescoping tee is positioned through a central aperture in a floor of the bucket body when the bucket body and the tee support are connected;   extending the telescoping tee to a batting height;   hitting a ball from the telescoping tee;   lowering the telescoping tee to a storage height; and   transporting the tee-equipped bucket to another location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of assembling the tee-equipped bucket comprises engaging a magnetic material of the tee support with the fastening system, wherein the fastening system comprises a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of separating the bucket body and the tee support before the step of hitting the ball from the telescoping tee. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of separating the bucket body and the tee support comprises the steps of:
 placing a foot on the tee support; and   lifting the bucket body away from the tee support to disengage the fastening system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of re-connecting the bucket body and the tee support after the step of hitting the ball from the telescoping tee. 
     
     
         18 . A telescoping tee comprising:
 a first telescoping portion;   a second telescoping portion configured for receipt within the first telescoping portion;   a third telescoping portion configured for receipt within the second telescoping portion; and   a fourth telescoping portion configured for receipt within the third telescoping portion.   
     
     
         19 . The telescoping tee of  claim 18 , wherein the telescoping tee further comprises a plurality of friction elements that restrict movement of the second telescoping portion, the third telescoping portion, and the fourth telescoping portion. 
     
     
         20 . The telescoping tee of claim, wherein the telescoping tee further comprises:
 a lower recess in each of the second telescoping portion, the third telescoping portion, and the fourth telescoping portion; and   an upper recess in each of the first telescoping portion, the second telescoping portion, and the third telescoping portion,   wherein each friction element is disposed in one of the lower recesses or one of the upper recesses.