Abstract:
A beehive for honeybees having a configuration that allows a beekeeper to inspect the hive at regular intervals with minimal disturbance to the honeybees. The bees work comb frames contained within an array of master frames. The master frames are pivotably attached to a support pole with connectors fixed to the master frames. The connectors are arranged so that the array of master frames containing the comb frames are side by side and in a rectangular cross section when the beehive is closed. The master frames can be rotated around the support pole either individually or in groups allowing inspection of the comb frames without damaging the comb frames.

Description:
CROSS RELATION TO OTHER US APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Provisional Application No. 61/996,520 filed May 9, 2014. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Currently, a typical beehive is comprised of a stack of boxes with internal hanging frames. This common beehive has a configuration similar to an office file cabinet with hanging files. The combs are arranged as the files in a file cabinet. The stacked boxes usually have between eight and ten comb frames in each box, and are stacked one on top of another. Each stacked box can weigh up to ninety pounds and contain as many as 25,000 bees. Handling or carrying the boxes can become a problem due to their weight and bulk. Further, the bees tend to glue both the individual boxes together, and the tops and bottoms of the comb frames within the boxes together with “bee glue” or propolis (which is a reddish substance collected by the bees from tree buds and used to stop up crevices in the hives) and with beeswax comb. Inspections are necessary of the beehive from at early as March through July on a weekly basis, requiring un-stacking the boxes and removing each comb frame for viewing. The inspection of this conventional beehive can damage or destroy the vertical highways that the bees have built and use for ingress and egress to the comb frames. The comb connecting the tops of the frame in the lower boxes to the bottoms of the frames in the box above can be disrupted or destroyed. Any comb destruction sets the progress of the beehive back as the bees will immediately begin to repair and refurbish the disrupted comb. The present disclosure presents a beehive which increases accessibility of the beehive to the beekeeper while also increasing efficiency in managing the bees. Disruption and destruction of combs during beehive inspection by the beekeeper is minimized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The apparatus disclosed herein is a beehive for cultivating honeybees which has a spline pole aligned vertically. The spline pole can be set on a base or set into a spline pole holder which has been fixed into the ground by cement or the like. Master frames are provided which hold inner comb frames. The inner comb frames are areas in which the honeybees build wax comb and store nectar, pollen, brood, and honey. A master frame is pivotally connected to the spline pole using pivotal connectors having a straight portion and a circular portion. The straight portion of the connector is attached to the edge of the master frame by a suitable fastener. The circular portion of the connector has an aperture adapted to receive the spline pole. This connection described allows the master frame to rotate easily around the pole. Preferably, each master frame would use two pivotal connectors to connect with the spline pole. As multiple master frames are added to the beehive, the master frames align with each other similar in manner to the pages of a book. In other words, they are configured flat to each other and can be rotated either singularly or in groups around the pole without sliding over each other. The lack of strafmg or sliding of one master frame over another as the master frames are rotated, prevents damage to the inner comb frames where the honeybees do their work. The inner comb frames are fit within the master frames by tabs resting on indentations or slots along the inside edges of each master frame. A beehive will typically start with inner comb frames on the lower end of the master frame and as the honeybees build out the comb, new inner comb frames can be added above the lower inner comb frames until the capacity of the master frame is reached. A further feature of this beehive herein disclosed includes a top cover over the top of the last inner comb frame to prevent the honeybees from building ‘wild comb” in the void above the existing inner comb frames. An observation board is provided with the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The observation board is slidably engaged in the master frame and allows visual inspection of any debris fallen from the inner comb frames. The observation board can be used in conjunction with an optional screened bottom board which fits beneath the bottom inner comb frame and above the observation board, allowing the honeybees quick access to the bottom row of inner comb frames, but permitting debris such as damaging mites to fall through the screen to the observation board. 
         [0004]    The beehive of the present disclosure is also provided with doors, namely, a front and back door, which are pivotably attached to the spline pole in a manner similar to the master frames and are flat relative to the master frames when the beehive is in normal operation and not being inspected. The front door of the beehive has an entry slot where the bees will do most of their entering into and exiting from the beehive. The backdoor limits the entry and exit routes of the bees to the beehive. Preferably, a roof over the entire beehive is provided to add additional shelter to the beehive from the effects of the weather. When the beehive is in operation, and not being inspected, the master frames and doors will be configured in a rectangular shape in cross section with no space between adjacent master frames and doors, but without the inner comb frames of adjacent master frames rubbing against each other, since a “bee space” will be maintained for bee movement within the hive. 
         [0005]    In a preferred embodiment, two pivotal connectors are attached to the master frame at a predetermined spacing which is the same for each master frame. The distance between the pivotal connectors connecting the master frame to the spline pole is, therefore, the same for each master frame, although the point of attachment of these connectors on each of the master frames relative to the height of the master frame will vary. The straight portions of the pivotal connectors are attached to an edge of each master frame. Also, preferably, the length of the straight portion of the pivotal connectors will vary in length to allow the master frames aligned on the spline pole to be configured adjacent to each other when the beehive is in a closed position. The configuration of master frames, doors, and pivotal connectors described above allows the cross section of the beehive to be rectangular, as previously mentioned, when the beehive is closed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of the beehive of the present invention with the front door open. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is pictorial view of the beehive of the present invention showing the doors and frame closed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3A  shows a detailed elevation view of a master frame and pole with a section line  3 B- 3 B. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3B  is a view through sectional line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A .  FIG. 4A  is a top view of the master frame of the present invention showing the frames in a closed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  is a top view of the master frame of the present invention showing the frames partially open. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the master frame and pole of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a one master frame and pole of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway pictorial view of comb frames suspended in a master frame of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a pictorial view of a rack fitted within the master frame and holding inner comb frames. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Referring to the Figures, a beehive in accordance with the present disclosure can be described. A beehive, generally designated as  10 , is shown. Beehive  10  is supported by a spline pole  12 . The pole  12  can be made from a strong material such as aluminum and still be can be made from a strong material such as aluminum and still be relatively light in weight. Typically, the pole  12  will be approximately 3 inches in diameter for an average sized beehive. Pole  12  supports the pivotal connectors, designated as  14 , which are also made of a durable, strong material such as aluminum. Pivotal connectors  14  have a straight portion  16  and a circular portion  18  which are connected integrally. The circular portion  18  of the pivotal connector  14  has an aperture  20  which receives pole  12  as best seen in  FIG. 3B . The circular portions  18  of the pivotal connectors  14  are sized slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of pole  12  , and can rotate around the pole  12 . The circular portion  18  of pivotal connectors  14  are stacked on the pole  12  with a spacing washer  22  separating the individual circular portions  18  from each other. The entire stack of circular portions  18  of the pivotal connectors  14  rests on a collar  24  at the bottom of the stack. Additional collars  24  may be placed between various circular portions of the pivotal connectors  14  to distribute the weight load of the stack. Each straight portion  16  of the pivotal connectors  14  is connected to a master frame  26 . The connection point between the straight portion  16  of the pivotal connector  14  and the master frame  26  occurs at the edge  28  of the individual master frame  26 . The number of the pivotal connectors  14  and master frames  26  can vary. In a typical beehive, eight to ten master frames  26  are used, along with a front door  30  and a back door (not shown). It should be noted that typically, each master frame  26  will have two pivotal connectors  14  connected to its edge  28 , and the two pivotal connectors  14  would be spaced the same vertical distance for each master frame  26 . To allow movement of each master frame  26  without effecting the adjacent master frame, the pair of straight portions  16  of pivotal connectors  14  used for the master frame  26  varies in length (See  FIG. 5 ). In this configuration, two of each of the master frames  26  have the same length of the straight portion  16  of the pivotal connectors  14  connected to their edges. In this way,, the array of master frames  26  will be paired such that two master frames  26  will have the same length of straight portion  16  of pivotal connector  14  throughout the array with the length of the straight portions  16  of the pivotal connectors  14  varying for each pair. Further, the two straight portions  16  of the pivotal connectors  14  are connected to the edges  28  of each master frame  26  at a given or predetermined distance from the top of the master frame  26 , and at a given distance from the bottom of the master frame  26 . The two given distances from the top and bottom of the master frames  26  varies for each master frame  26  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . This configuration allows the beehive  10  to have a rectangular cross section when at rest, and no movement or strafing of adjacent master frames  26  as one or more master frames  26  are rotated for inspection as best seen in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The front door  30  and the back door would also be connected to the pole  12  in a manner similar to that described above for the master frames  26 , and any movement of the front door  30  or back door would not disturb the adjacent master frame  26 . In fact, referring to  FIG. 5 , the outside two master frames, designated as  26   a  and  26   b  in that Figure, could represent a front door and a back door, respectively. In other words, both the front and back door are mounted in a manner consistent with the mounting of the array of master frames  26 . 
         [0016]    Each of the master frames  26  carry a number of inner comb frames, designated as  32 . The number of comb frames  32  in a given master frame  26  can vary depending on the respective sizes of the comb frame  32  and master frame  26 . A typical number would be four comb frames  32  for each master frame  26  as shown in the drawings. The inner comb frames  32  have a tab portion  34  at each top end of the comb frame  32  which fits in an indentation or slot  36  on each side of the master frame  26  as best shown in  FIG. 7 . In addition to the inner comb frame  32 , the master frames  26  are provided with a top cover  38 , and, optionally, a screened bottom board  40  and below the screened bottom board  40 , an observation board  42 . The top cover  38  prevents the bees from building “wild comb” in the void above the existing top inner comb frame. The screened bottom board  40  which is optionally provided gives the bees a bottom runway and quick access to all the comb frames  32 . The screened board  40  allows debris (such as harmful mites) from the comb frames  32  to fall through its screen to an observation board  42  below. The beekeeper can monitor the observation board for possible harmful activity with the beehive. 
         [0017]    In operation of the beehive  10 , the process is started with an inner comb frame  32  hung at the bottom of each master frame  26 . The bees will begin to build out wax comb on both sides of the comb frames  32 . As the bees build out comb on the comb frames  32 , an additional layer of comb frames  32  can be positioned above the lowest comb frames  32 . Additional layers of comb frames  32  are positioned above the existing comb frames  32  as the bees continue to build, until the top level of comb frames  32  is reached. As mentioned previously, a top cover  38  would be fit over the top set of comb frames  32  to prevent further comb building in the space above the comb frames  32 . 
         [0018]    A base  44  can be used to hold pole  12 , or alternatively, the pole  12  can be fixed directly into the ground. Front door  30  has a slotted entry  46  which serves as the main entry and exit of the bees to the hive. The back door functions as a barrier to prevent exit or entry of the bees to the hive in a way other than through the slotted entry  46  of the front door  30 . When in the hive, the bees have access to all of the inner comb frames  32  suspended therein. Further provided is a roof  48  which shelters the beehive. 
         [0019]    When inspection of the comb frames  32  is required, the master frames  26  can be opened due to the common pivot point of each master frame  26  around pole  12 . The front door  30 , master frames  26 , and the back door can be opened individually or in groups. In any case, movement or sliding of one master frame against another is avoided. Inspection can be made of both sides of the comb frame  32  contained within the master frame  26  without destroying or disrupting the comb built by the bees and without removing the comb frame  32  from the master frame  26 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment for suspending the comb frames  32  within the master frames  26 . In this embodiment, a rack  48  is provided, preferably made of aluminum which is fastened within the master frame  26 . The inner comb frames  32  have a set of tabs  50  at the top and bottom corners of each comb frame  32 . The tabs  50  are fit within appropriate slots  52  in the rack  48 , resulting in the comb frames being supported at each corner within master frames  26 .