AU2019100721A4

AU2019100721A4 - Bee hive assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2019100721A4
Application number: AU2019100721A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Philip Cornell
Original assignee: Cornell Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Cornell Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-07-02
Filing date: 2019-07-02
Publication date: 2019-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-02

Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for constructing a bee hive box comprising reversibly connectable front panel, rear panel, side panels and internal support members. The internal support members configured to be affixed to 5 an inner side of front and rear panels or the opposing side panels, and connectable to adjoining panels at sides thereof the thereby form vertical side of the bee hive. Figure 8

Description

BEE HIVE ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to bee hives and in particular to kit for building a bee hive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Beekeeping or apiculture has been practiced for thousands of years ago. As far back as 2600-2160 BCE, Egyptian beekeepers stacked clay pipes or straw baskets called skeps to house the bee colony. A disadvantage with these types of hive was that the combs had to be removed to harvest the honey.

During the 1700's there were a number of advancements made in apiculture. This included the building of a hive with removable encased or closed-end honey or brood frames consisting of a top bar, bottom bar and side bars around the comb.

During the mid 1800's a number of patents were granted to L.L. Langstroth including U.S. Patent No. 1,484, issued October 5, 1852.

Langstroth developed a bee hive containing ten removable frames together with a shallow super on top. The configuration was based on the brood area needed by the bee colony and bee’s preference to store their food supply above the brood nest. Furthermore, a hive will expand upwardly and therefore additional supers could be stacked on top of the brood chamber.

The Langstroth type hive is the most popular configuration used in modern beekeeping and comprises a bottom board, a plurality of deep and shallow boxes and frames that are supported within the boxes. The hive is typically supported on a stand that provides a landing/launch board for the bees. The boxes are typically constructed from wooden panels.

These bee hive boxes are often constructed using tongue and groove joints or by screwing the sides of the box together. Therefore, it is typically necessary for the person building a bee hive to have at least some wooden working skills.

It should be appreciated that any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification is included solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention and should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art was widely known or formed part of the common general knowledge in the field as it existed before the priority date of the application. The reader will appreciate that the phrases honey frame, brood frame or frame used throughout the description and claims are interchangeable and relate to the element of the hive that supports the comb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easy to assembly bee hive. It is another object of the present invention to overcomes at least some of the aforementioned problems or provide the public with a useful alternative.

In one aspect of the invention, but not necessarily the broadest or only aspect, there is proposed a bee hive box, comprising: a front panel;

a rear panel;

opposing side panels; and first and second internal support members configured to be affixed to an inner side of either the opposing front and rear panels or the opposing side panels, wherein the internal support members are connectable to adjoining panels at sides thereof, the front, rear and side panels include predrilled holes extending therethrough for alignment with holes in the internal support members, such that reversibly connectable fixing members can be used to assembly at least a part of the bee hive box.

Preferably the first and second internal support members each include inwardly extending projections for support of honey frames or brood frames thereon. In one form the projections are positioned at upper edges of the respective internal support members.

The first and second internal support members in one form are constructed from a generally rectangular portion of steel plate that is folded to create a main body, two inwardly extending vertical flanges and an inwardly extending horizontal projection.

Holes are drilled or provided through the main body, and opposing inwardly extending vertical flanges, such that they can be aligned with holes through the front, rear or side panels, whereby fixing means can be inserted through the coaxially aligned hole and secured in position.

Preferably, the fixing means are bolts and cooperating nuts. The nut may include a nylon collar to inhibit loosening from the bolt.

In one form honey or brood frame/s are hung off the opposing inwardly extending projections. In another form the internal support members are positioned in opposite vertical orientations, wherein the honey or brood frame/s hung off a first inwardly extending projection and supported on a second opposing inwardly extending projection. In this way the honey or brood frame/s may be positioned at a slight angle from the horizontal or the same support can be used for different sized honey or brood frame/s.

In one form the front, rear and side panels are preferably generally planar and form a generally rectangular shaped polygon having an open top and bottom.

The bee hive box may be supported on a bottom board including or delineating a lower opening for passageway of been therethrough.

In another form the bee hive box includes a base member that can be supported on a ground surface. The base member includes the lower opening and may include a cover for shading the opening. The base member may further include a horizontal platform for bees to land thereon.

A removable lid is engageable with, or supportable on, the bee hive box. The removable lid may include an outer metal cover and an inner cover that controls access and ventilation.

Preferably a plurality of bee hive boxes can be support in a stacked arrangement.

The base may include rails on an underside thereof for supporting a beetle tray. The tray is preferably constructed from metal and is configured to retain a quantity of oil that is used to kill the beetles or mites when they drop into it.

The base may include slots or a screen member through the bottom of the box to permit passage of beetles or mites therethrough.

The front, rear and/or side panels may include handle or apertures that can be used as handles for movement of the bee hive box. One of the panels, or a part thereof, may be constructed from clear acrylic material, for allowing viewing of the hive with minimal disturbance. A cover may be configured for placement over the clear acrylic material.

An excluder may be positioned between vertically adjacent bee boxes to exclude a queen bee from accessing the upper supers.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for constructing a bee hive box, comprising, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, first and second internal support members and fixing means for connecting the front, rear and side panels to said first or second internal support member, wherein the first and second internal support members each include inwardly extending projections for support of a honey or brood frame/s thereon.

In another aspect of the invention there is proposed a method of constructing a bee hive box, including the steps of: providing a kit for constructing a bee hive box, comprising, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, first and second internal support members and fixing means, the panels and support members including a plurality of holes for engaging the fixing means;

connecting the front panel to the first internal support member by aligning at least two holes in the front panel with corresponding shaped holes in the first internal support member;

connecting the rear panel to the second internal support member by aligning at least two holes in the rear panel with corresponding shaped holes in the second internal support member;

connecting one of the side panels to respective first vertical edges of the first and second internal support members by aligning at least two holes in each side panel with corresponding shaped holes in the first and second internal support members; and connecting the other side panel to respective second vertical edges of the first and second internal support members by aligning at least two holes in each side panel with corresponding shaped holes in the first and second internal support members, to thereby forms the vertical sides of the bee hive box.

The above method wherein the fixing means are screws, bolts/nuts or clips.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an implementation of the invention and, together with the description and claims, serve to explain the advantages and principles of the invention. In the drawings,

Figure 1	is a perspective view of one embodiment of the bee hive box;
Figure 2	is the bee hive box of Figure 1 with one side panel removed;
Figure 3	is the bee hive box of Figure 1 with one side panel removed and internal support members removed;
Figure 4	is a rear view of the front panel of the bee hive box of Figure 1, illustrating one embodiment of the internal support member;
Figure 5	is a perspective view of the front panel of the bee hive box of Figure 5;
Figure 6	is another embodiment of the bee hive box including a removable front panel;
Figure 7	is the bee hive box of Figure 6 illustrating the use of the present invention with Flow® brand frames, illustrating another embodiment of the internal support member;
Figure 8	is a rear perspective view of the bee hive box of the present invention comprising a brood chamber including an entrance and slots in the bottom of the box;
Figure 9	is a front perspective view of a hive comprising the bee hive box of Figure 1 stacked on the top of the brood chamber of Figure 8;
Figure 10	is a partially exploded view of the hive of Figure 9;
Figure 11	is an underside perspective view of the hive of Figure 9, illustrating a beetle tray; and
Figure 12	is a perspective view of a plurality of hives of Figure 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED AND EXEMPLIFIED EMBODIMENTS

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description, there is illustrated a bee hive box 10, demonstrating by way of an example, an arrangement in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

Turning to Figures 1 to 5, there is illustrated one embodiment of the bee hive box 10 including, a front panel 12, a rear panel 14, opposing side panels 16, 18, a first internal support member 20 and a second internal support member 22. The bee hive box 10 is held together using fixing means comprising bolts 24 and nuts 26, which are configured to engage through corresponding holes 30 in the panels 12, 14, 16, 18 and holes 32 in the first and second internal support members 20, 22.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the front and rear panels 12, 14, include slots 34 therein for use as handles.

The reader should appreciate that the front panel 12 and rear panel 14 may be substantially identical in dimensions and configuration. Similarly, the side panels 16, 18 may be substantially identical in dimensions and configuration. Furthermore, the first and second internal support members 20, 22 may be substantially identical in dimensions and configuration. This means that each bee hive box 10 may be constructed from three components, plus fixing means, which reduces the cost of manufacture.

The configuration of the bee hive box 10 means that it can be provided in flat pack kit form and then assembly using commonly available tools such as a screw driver and spanner or socket set.

The components of the bee hive box 10 come predrilled, which means that the user can simply align the holes 30 with a corresponding hole 32 and insert the bolt 24 therethrough. The nut 26 can then be used to fix the panels 12, 14, 16, 18 to the first and second internal support members 20, 22.

A nameplate 36 may be attached to the front panel 12 using screw 38.

As best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the internal support members 20, 22 comprise a generally planar main portion 40 which is configured to abut an inner side of the front or rear panel 12, 14. Generally vertically aligned flanges 42, 44 extend outwardly from opposite sides of the planar main portion 40 and a lip 46 extends outwardly from a top of the planar main portion 40. As the reader will appreciate each support member 20, 22 can be constructed from a single piece of metal sheeting that is cut and bent into shape. The holes 32 through the main portion 40 and flanges 42, 44 are predrilled such that they align with the predrilled holes through the panels, 12, 14, 16, 18. The opposing lips 46 of the internal support members 20, 22 are configured to support conventional frames 48 thereon.

In another embodiment as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the front panel 12 is configured to be removable. The enables use of the bee hive box 10 with Flow® brand type frames 50. The front panel of the present embodiment is held in place by wingnuts 52 to permit simplified removal. Figure 7 illustrates an alternate configuration of the support member 20 which includes a main portion 54 including voids that permit access to the trough 56 into which a honey tube in inserted.

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of the bee box 58 comprising a brood chamber including an entrance 60, a base plate 62 having slots 64 for permitting the passage of hive beetles and other pests out from within the hive.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrates a hive 70 comprising the bee hive box 10 of Figure 1 stacked on the top of the brood chamber 58 of Figure 8. The entrance 60 comprises a landing platform 72, openings 74, a vent 76, and weather cover 78. A lid 80 is placed on top of the bee hive box 10. The reader will appreciate that multiple bee hive boxes may be stacked to form a multistorey hive 70. Furthermore, a queen bee excluder mesh (not shown) is placed on the top of the brood chamber 58, to selectively exclude the queen or drones from the upper level or levels of the hive 70.

Figure 11 illustrates the underside of the hive wherein a H-shaped plate 82 if attached adjacent or forms part of the base plate 62. H-shaped plate 82 is configured to hold a beetle tray 84 below the slots 64, as is known in the prior art.

A number of hives can be placed together as is usual practice, wherein they can be of the same configuration, as illustrated in Figure 12, or they may be of different configurations and heights.

2019100721 02 Jul 2019

The reader will appreciate that the components are generally of a planar configuration which means that the whole hive 70 can be provided to the user in a flat pack configuration and then assembled using readily available tools by a user without specific wood working skills. The hive 70 can also be simply disassembled if no longer required. The configuration of the support members 20, 22 means that either conventional frames and Flow® brand frames can be used.

The skilled addressee will now appreciate the advantages of the illustrated invention over the prior art. In one form the illustrated invention provides a simplified apparatus and method for constructing a bee hive without requiring woodworking skills or specialised tools.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the exemplified embodiments of the invention, however it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate the invention and it is not limited thereto. Accordingly, the invention can include various modifications, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bee hive box, comprising:

a front panel;

a rear panel;

2. The bee hive box in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second internal support members each include a main body and inwardly extending generally horizontal projections for support of honey frames or brood frames thereon.

3. The bee hive box in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first and second internal support members each include inwardly extending vertical flanges on opposite sides thereof.

4. The bee hive box in accordance with claim 3, wherein holes are pre-drilled or provided through the main body and through the opposing inwardly extending vertical flanges, such that they can be aligned with pre-holes through the front, rear or side panels, whereby said fixing means can be inserted through the coaxially aligned hole and secured in position.

5. A method of constructing a bee hive box, including the steps of: providing a kit for constructing a bee hive box, comprising, a front panel, a rear panel, two side panels, first and second internal support members and fixing means, the panels and support members including a plurality of holes for engaging the fixing means;

connecting the rear panel to the second internal support member by aligning

2019100721 02 Jul 2019 at least two holes in the rear panel with corresponding shaped holes in the second internal support member;

connecting one of the side panels to respective first vertical edges of the first and second internal support members by aligning at least two holes in each

5 side panel with corresponding shaped holes in the first and second internal support members; and connecting the other side panel to respective second vertical edges of the first and second internal support members by aligning at least two holes in each side panel with corresponding shaped holes in the first and second internal 10 support members, to thereby forms the vertical sides of the bee hive box.