Combination golf emblem and tee dispenser

Claim 2

In a golf tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a generally rectangular housing having inwardly facing first and second convex portions spaced apart to define a first cavity of bi-concave cross-section extending through said housing for receiving golf tees in side-by-side relation, and provided with a loadinG end through which golf tees are introduced into said first cavity and a dispensing end through which golf tees are dispensed from said first cavity; and one of said first and second convex portions is provided adjacent said loading end with a shoulder having a surface inclined toward said dispensing end, and the other of said first and second convex portions is provided with a projection extending towards said shoulder, said projection being positioned closer to said loading end than said shoulder and cooperating therewith to define a passageway for tees into said first cavity, said projection having an inner surface substantially normal to said one portion to prevent tees from falling out of said first cavity when said dispenser is oriented with said loading end below said dispensing end, and said projection further having an outer surface inclined toward said dispensing end and coacting with said shoulder surface to facilitate introduction of tees through said passageway into said first cavity in a substantially horizontal position.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 wherein said projection partially overlaps said shoulder surface, and is spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the stem of a golf tee.

Claim 4

In a golf tee dispensing unit, the combination comprising: a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls in which oppositely disposed first and second of said side walls have inwardly facing, spaced apart, first and second surfaces respectively, and oppositely disposed third and fourth of said side walls have inwardly facing, spaced apart, third and fourth surfaces respectively connected to said first and second surfaces to define a first cavity of bi-concave cross section extending through said housing and enclosed on four sides for receiving golf tees in side-by-side relation, said housing further being provided with a loading end through which golf tees are introduced into said first cavity and a dispensing end through which golf tees are dispensed from said first cavity; blocking means on one of said first and second side walls and movable between a normal golf tee blocking position and an unblocking position, said blocking means in its normal blocking position being engageable by the lowermost of said golf tees for preventing said golf tees from falling out of said first cavity through said dispensing end; and resilient means on the other of said first and second side walls having an end portion movable from a normal retracted position to a dispensing position in which said end portion extends between said lowermost golf tee and the succeeding golf tee and engages and moves said blocking means to its unblocking position for releasing and dispensing said lowermost golf tee.

Claim 5

In a golf tee dispensing unit, the combination comprising: a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls in which oppositely disposed first and second of said side walls have inwardly facing, spaced apart, first and second surfaces respectively, and oppositely disposed third and fourth of said side walls have inwardly facing, spaced apart, third and fourth surfaces respectively connected to said first and second surfaces to define a first cavity of bi-concave cross section extending through said housing and enclosed on four sides for receiving golf tees in side-by-side relation, said housing further being provided with a loading end through which golf tees are introduced into said first cavity and a dispensing end through which golf tees are dispensed from said first cavity; blocking means on one of said first and second side walls and movable between a normal golf tee blocking position and an unblocking position, said blocking means in its normal blocking position being engageable by the lowermost of said golf tees for preventing said golf tees from falling out of said first cavity through said dispensing end; and resilient means on the other of said first and second side walls having an end portion movable from a normal retracted position to a dispensing position in which said end portion extends between said lowermost golf tee and the succeeding golf tee and engages and moves said blocking means to its unblocking position for releasing and dispensing said lowermost golf tee.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said blocking means comprises a movable spring stop member extending into said first cavity from said one of said first and second walls and biased into the path of said golf tees to prevent passage of said golf tees from said first cavity through said dispensing end, and said end portion of said resilient means comprises a shoe extending through an opening in said other of said first and second walls biased to said normal retracted position clear of said golf tees, and manually movable to said dispensing position in which said shoe passes between the stems of said lowermost and succeeding golf tees and urges said stop member out of the path of said golf tees whereby said lowermost tee drops by gravity from the dispenser.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a substantially L-shaped spring member, one end of which forms said shoe, and the other end of which is secured to said other of said first and second walls.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 5 wherein said other end of said spring member is arranged closer to said dispensing end of the dispenser than said shoe, and said spring member forms an inclined surface extending frOm said dispensing end toward said loading end to facilitate manual movement of said spring member and shoe to its dispensing position.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 3 wherein said one of said first and second walls has a shoulder at the end of its inwardly facing surface adjacent said loading end, and said other of said first and second walls has a projection extending from its inwardly facing surface toward said shoulder.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 7 wherein the inner surface of said projection closest to said dispensing end is substantially normal to said first and second walls to prevent tees from falling out of said dispenser when it is oriented with said loading end below said dispensing end.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 7 wherein said shoulder has a surface inclined toward said dispensing end, and said projection is positioned closer to said loading end than said shoulder, and has an upper surface inclined toward said dispensing end.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 9 wherein said projection partially overlaps said shoulder, and is spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the stem of a golf tee.

Claim 13

In a golf tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls defining an enclosed first cavity of bi-concave cross section having side surfaces and extending through said housing for receiving golf tees in side-by-side relation, said housing further being provided with a loading end through which golf tees are introduced into said first cavity and a dispensing end through which golf tees are dispensed from said first cavity; and one of said side walls is provided adjacent said loading end with a shoulder, and the opposite side wall is provided with a projection extending toward said shoulder and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a stem of a golf tee to allow tees to enter said first cavity, and to prevent tees from falling out of said loading end of said dispenser when it is oriented with said loading end below said dispensing end.

Claim 14

In a golf tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a generally rectangular housing having four continuous side walls defining an enclosed first cavity of bi-concave cross section having side surfaces and extending through said housing for receiving golf tees in side-by-side relation, said housing further being provided with a loading end through which golf tees are introduced into said first cavity and a dispensing end through which golf tees are dispensed from said first cavity; and one of said side walls is provided adjacent said loading end with a shoulder, and the opposite side wall is provided with a projection extending toward said shoulder and spaced therefrom a distance slightly greater than the diameter of a stem of a golf tee to allow tees to enter said first cavity, and to prevent tees from falling out of said loading end of said dispenser when it is oriented with said loading end below said dispensing end.

Claim 15

The invention according to claim 11 wherein the inner surface of said projection closest to said dispensing end is substantially normal to said one wall.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 11, and further comprising plate-like inserts insertable along said side surfaces of said cavity to adapt said cavity to receive golf tees having heads of a size smaller than said one size.

Claim 17

In a golf emblem and tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a front member having a front surface defining a golf emblem, and a rear surface having a first laterally extending convex portion; a rear member of a generally U-shaped cross section secured to said front member and having a second laterally extending convex portion facing said first portion and spaced therefrom to receive a plurality of golf tees therebetween; and means on said rear member for sequentially dispensing said golf tees from said rear member.

Claim 18

In a golf emblem and tee dispenser, the combination comprising: a front member having a front surface defining a golf emblem, and a rear surface having a first laterally extending convex portion; a rear member of a generally U-shaped cross section secured to said front member and having a second laterally extending convex portion facing said first portion and spaced therefrom to receive a plurality of golf tees therebetween; and means on said rear member for sequentially dispensing said golf tees from said rear member.