US243674A - Sectional honey-frame - Google Patents

Description

J. FORNOROOK. Sectional Honey Frame.

No. 243,674. Patented Jane 28,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES FORNOROOK, OF WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN.

SECTIONAL HON EY-FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,674, dated June 28, 188 1.

Application filed May 13, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jams FORNCROOK, of WVatertown, in the county of J efi'erson and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Honey- Frames and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in sectional honey-frames, the object being to so construct them that they shall be stronger and in a more portable form than the frames now used for such purposes; and the invention consists, essentially, in forming theframe from a single blank or piece of material having all the necessary grooves and recesses required to form a complete frame cut in it, the ends of the blank being notched or dentated and angular grooves cut across it at those points which are to form the corners. These blanks,afterbeingthusprepared,maybepacked solidly in boxes or otherwise for transportation, and when required for use are bent into the square form and their ends united at one of the corners by means of the interlocking notches or teeth, thus forming a complete frame ready for use.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of one of the blanks, showing the various recesses and grooves with which it is supplied. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the blank, and shows the form and depth of the angular grooves which form the corners of the frame. Fig. 3 shows the blank bent into a square form with the ends united, making a complete frame ready for use. Fig. 4 shows a modification of the groove or miter 0, Fig. 2.

The blanks for these frames are preferably formed from some light, tasteless, and comparatively tough wood, which will bend at the corners without steaming or boiling, such as bass-wood or whitewood, the material being produced,by cutting itfrom the log in the form of a thick veneer, or by sawing into thin stuff and then planing both surfaces. The blanks A are then cut from this material, of the proper width and length, the ends dentated, as shown at a a, by means of a series of circular saws placed close together upon an arbor or other suitable tool, so that they will interlock when brought together. The recesses b b are then formed in its edges at such points in its length as will bring them at the top and bottom of the frames when set up in the hive. These recesses form openings, which allow space for the passage of the bees between the frames and for the ventilation of this part of the hive. Three triangular grooves, c c c, are then cut across the blank at such points in its length as will divide it into four nearly equal parts,

each of which forms one side of the frame after the blank is bent into a quadrangular shape. Thesetriangulargroovesarecutnearlythrough the blank, sufficient wood only being left to hold the parts firmly together.

As the sides of the grooves c are inclined toward each other at a rightangle it follows that when the blank is bent into the form of a frame these grooves make perfectly-fitting miter-joints at three of its corners, the fourth corner being .that at which the ends of the blank are united to each other by means of the interlocking teeth formed thereon.

In one of the spaces between two of the grooves c, and preferably that which will form the top of the frame when placed in the hive, is formed a longitudinal groove, d, for the guide-strip, which makes a secure point of attachment for the comb when the bees begin to build in the frames set side by side in the hive with the parts of the frame containing the recesses b b at top.

These frames meet a want long felt by beekeepers, as those in common use are'eitherdovetailed or nailed together at the corners, and if set up at the manufactory form a large bulk for transportation, and are very liable to breakage in handling; but'if sold to the user in pieces to be put together by him the numerous joints to be made causeloss of time and 5 produce a very fragile article when finished, which loses its rectangular shape with the slightest rough usage, as the joints at the cor- 11ers lack the necessary strength and rigidity to hold them in shape.

IOO

honey-frames formed of a single piece of WOOd having transverse angular grooves c, longitudinal groove d, and recesses b, all arranged in the manner shown and described. 15

In testimony thatIclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of May, 1879.

JAMES FORNOROOK. [L. s.']

Witnesses:

J. H. BOLLES, M. WILLIs P. KEYES.

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