Patent Publication Number: US-2022211012-A1

Title: Vertical Displacement Access Beehive

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional App. No. 63/133,641, filed Jan. 4, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to beehives and more particularly to beehive structures which can be supported in an elevated configuration. 
     Honeybees provide an essential pollination service for many crops. Yet these complex communities of insects are subject to many environmental hazards, including competition from rodents, other insects, and agricultural chemicals. In nature, bee colonies will form their hives in trees or other elevated locations, where pressure from ground dwelling creatures can be minimized. Moreover hives too close to the ground are exposed to condensation and moisture which can cause problems for bees. Artificial culturing of bees has been practiced for thousands of years, and typically involves constructed hive bodies which are supported on frames or supports placed at ground level. Vertical arrangements of hive bodies are also known which can be pivoted from a horizontal configuration for access and harvesting of honey, and an upright configuration for optimal flourishing of the hive. Yet other arrangements which preserve the integrity of the hive column and which are readily transposed between access and operation configurations are needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A beehive assembly has a column of hive bodies which are releasably connected to a vertical metal spine. Upper and lower metal pivot members extend between the spine and a post mounted to the ground. The upper pivot members extend away from the post and have a handle mounted thereto. Depressing the handle causes the column of hive bodies to ascend into an operating position where the bee colony within the hive bodies is elevated above the ground. Raising the handle brings the hive column to a lowered position for access by a beekeeper. Latches are disposed to secure the pivot members with respect to the post at desired elevations, or a ratchet mechanism allows any desired position. By elevating the hive column the bees are given a more sustainable environment, elevated above main ground dwelling pests, and more readily defended by the bees. In addition, the adjustable height of the hive column improves accessibility to the hive bodies. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a modular beehive which can be readily displaced from a lowered position where it is accessible by a beekeeper, to an elevated operating position. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a beehive which offers the beekeeper mechanical advantage in raising and lowering hive bodies. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a height adjustable beehive arrangement for resiliently lowering of the hive bodies. 
     Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded isometric view of a beehive assembly of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the beehive assembly of  FIG. 1  in an elevated position, with a removable handle shown exploded away from its operating configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the beehive assembly of  FIG. 2  shown in a midpoint position with handle engaged. 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the beehive assembly of  FIG. 3  shown in a lowered position with handle engaged. 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view of the beehive assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along section line  4 A- 4 A. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an alternative beehive assembly of this invention having a ratchet and handle release arrangement allowing the hive bodies to be positioned at multiple desired elevations. 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary isometric view of post hardware for the beehive assembly of  FIG. 5   
         FIG. 7  is a fragmentary side elevational view of the beehive assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 1-7 , wherein like numbers refer to similar parts, a beehive assembly  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the beehive assembly  20  has a hive column  22  with a spine  52  mounted by a parallel linkage of pivot members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  to an upright post  32  to permit the hive column to be adjusted from an elevated operating position to a lowered access position. The upper pivot members  24 ,  26 , are connected by a bolt  70  to the spine, and by a bolt  77  to the post. The lower pivot members  28 ,  30  are connected by a bolt  31  to the spine, and by a bolt  33  to the post. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the hive column  22  is made up of a plurality of vertically stacked hive bodies or boxes  34 . The boxes  34  are generally polygonal and may be rectangular as shown and formed of wood panels in a conventional manner, for example Langstroth hive bodies of standard dimensions. The boxes  34  include a first box  36  which rests on a base assembly  39  which has a horizontal bottom wall  43  which has two main access openings  40  for the entrance of bees into the hive column. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each main access opening  40  has an associated cover  47  pivotably mounted, for example by a bolt, to the bottom wall  43  of the base assembly  39 . The beekeeper may adjust the positions of the covers  47  to give greater or lesser area of access to the hive column and thereby adjust the ventilation of the hive column. A second box  38  and subsequent boxes are similar to the first box, and each has a smaller access opening  41 , and all communicate with the neighboring boxes. Each box  34  is configured to receive portions of a beehive colony therein, and may be provided with conventional frames supporting the honeycomb which the bees will produce. Each box is preferably provided with a protruding lip along its top perimeter which nests within a suitable relief on the superposed box, to allow secure engagement between the boxes which can restrict inflow of air and which the bees can seal in their usual course. The overlying boxes within the hive column communicate with one another to allow the passage of bees between boxes. 
     The first box  36  is closed on its lower side by a bottom wall  43  which is supported by a base bracket  42 . The base bracket  42  has a top wall  44  with fasteners  46  extending therethrough into the base assembly  39 . The base bracket  42  has rear flanges  48  which are fastened such as by bolts  50 ,  31  to the upwardly extending spine  52 , to thereby fix the base bracket to the spine. The box on the top of the hive column is closed with a cover  53 . 
     The spine  52  is preferably a formed metal sheet and has an upwardly extending central panel  54  which extends adjacent a vertical panel  35  of the first box  36 . The spine  52  has two stiffening side webs  56  which are parallel to one another and which extend from the central panel towards the post  32 . As shown in  FIG. 4A . portions of the spine central panel  54  define a vertically extending slot  58  positioned between the two webs. The slot  58  has an enlarged nut passthrough segment  59 . A bracket  61  is disposed on a side of the spine  52  opposite the post and has a vertical segment  55  which overlies the spine central panel  54  and a horizontal segment  57  which extends over the hive column. A fastener  60  extends from the bracket vertical segment through the spine slot and is adjustable to releasably secure the bracket  61  to the spine to clamp the hive column in position with respect to the spine. A nut  62  is threaded on the fastener  60  and may be extended through the nut passthrough segment  59  of the slot  48 . The fastener  60  may be a slotted pan-head screw which can be loosened and tightened by a conventional hive tool allowing the beekeeper to conveniently release the bracket and allow the removal of hive bodies. When the boxes  34  are fastened to the spine  52  an effectively rigid column assembly is created which allows the hive column  22  to be securely raised and lowered while retaining its structural integrity. 
     Bumpers  68  may be fastened to the post  32  to retain a clearance between the hive column and the post when the hive column is at its extreme upper and lower positions, and to cushion any engagement between the hive column  22  and the post  32 . Each bumper  68  has a wooden dowel or block  64  which is connected by a central screw  69  to the post facing the spine. A rubber or vinyl plastic tube  66  surrounds the block  64  and extends beyond the block, allowing the tube  66  to engage and resiliently compress to absorb a shock when it engages the spine. 
     The hive column  22  is connected by a parallel linkage to the post  32  the four metal pivot members. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first upper pivot member  24  and the second upper pivot member  26  are pivotably connected to the opposite side webs  56  of the spine  52  at about the vertical midpoint of the hive column by the bolt  70 . The first lower pivot member  28  and the second lower pivot member  30  are pivotably connected to the opposite side webs  56  of the spine  52  at the base of the hive column, near the base bracket  42  by the bolt  33 . 
     The post  32  may be a 4 by 6 treated timber member (actual dimensions 3.5 by 5.5 inches) which may be 10 or 12 feet tall, with three or four feet of the post being submerged within a post hole in the ground  71  depending on conditions. At least 6 or 7 feet needs to be exposed above ground. In situations where the user does not want to plant a post in the ground, alternatively the post may be mounted in a freestanding post frame. The distances between the pivot points of the upper mounting arms and the lower mounting arms are the same on the post  32  as they are on the spine  52 . 
     The lower pivot members  28 ,  30  do not extend beyond the post on the side away from the hive column, but a handle  72  is removably connected to the upper pivot members  24 ,  26  to provide an extension beyond the post a distance greater than the distance between the spine and the mounting bracket to define lever arms which gives the beekeeper mechanical advantage in adjusting the position of the hive column. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  72  has two parallel rails  74  which are connected by two bolts which extend between cylindrical cross members  82 . Each parallel rail  74  is a steel U-channel having a central member  76  with two flanges  78  spaced apart to receive one of the upper pivot members. Each central member  76  of a rail  74  has a circular clearance opening  80  to allow the bolt  70  to extend without engaging the central members. The ends of the rails  74  of the handle  72  opposite the cross members can be extended alongside the upper pivot members in a telescoping fashion so the rails overlie the two upper pivot members, such that they are received within the rail U-channels and the ends of the bolt  70  protrude through the clearance openings  80 . To retain the handle  72  in place, two U-channel mounting segments  84  are provided. Each mounting segment  84  is pivotally mounted to a rail central member at a point between the clearance openings and the post side ends of the rails  74 . With the parallel rails of the handle extending alongside and outwardly of the upper pivot members, the U-channel segments  84  are pivoted into an attached position in which the U-channel segments overlie the rails and secure the rails to the upper pivot members, as shown in  FIG. 3 . When it is desired to remove the handle, the mounting segments  84  are pivoted away from the upper pivot members, and the handle is drawn away. The cylindrical cross members  82  provide a place for the beekeeper to grip the handle. The cross members  82  are fixed between the handle rails. The distance from the pivot point on the bracket to the attachment point of the handle may be over three times as long as the distance between the pivot point on the bracket and the pivot point on the spine, giving the beekeeper significant mechanical advantage of 3:1. 
     Two latch mechanisms are mounted to the post  32  which allow the hive column  22  to be secured at one of three discrete elevations. A latch plate  86 , shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , cooperates with either an upper deadbolt  88  or a lower slam latch element  90 . The latch plate  86  is fixed to the spine and extends from the spine alongside the post  32 . The latch has a first opening  92  for engagement by the deadbolt, and a second opening  94  spaced away from the spine and the first opening, and positioned to engage the slam latch element  90 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , to retain the hive column  22  in its most elevated position, the handle  72  is depressed, raising the base bracket  42  and the hive bodies supported thereon, and causing the latch plate  86  to approach and pass alongside the post  32 . When the first opening  92  aligns with the deadbolt  88 , the movable projecting member of the deadbolt is actuated by the user to selectively protrude through the first opening of the latch plate, to thereby retain the spine in a first elevated position. 
     When a beekeeper seeks to bring the hive body into its lowest position, shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the deadbolt  88  projecting member is withdrawn, thereby freeing the spine for vertical travel. The latch plate moves downwardly, and then passes alongside the post to bring the second opening  94  into position to be engaged by the slam latch element  90 . The slam latch protruding member is spring biased into a protruding position, and has a wedge shape which causes it to extend into the second opening  94  without being directly operated by the user. When this member is extended into the second opening  94  the spine is retained in a second elevated position which is below the first elevated position. 
     The beekeeper may secure the hive column  22  at a position intermediate between its most elevated and most lowered position, as shown in  FIG. 3 . This position may be desirable, for example, when the beekeeper wishes to access hive bodies without bending down. To enable this position, a support member  96  is pivotably mounted to the spine above the upper pivot member. The support member  96  may be formed of a metal bar similar to the upper and lower pivot members, although it will be longer than those members. The free end of the support member  96  has a mounting hole  98  which is dimensioned to receive the protruding member of the deadbolt  88  and is positioned so as to retain the upper pivot members  24 ,  26  approximately horizontal and the hive column at an intermediate position. When the support member  96  is not engaged by the deadbolt, it hangs downwardly on the spine, as shown in  FIG. 4 . To avoid interference between the support member and the bolt  70  which mounts the upper pivot members to the spine, the support member may be provided with a clearance opening  102  where it engages the bolt  70 . 
     To reduce any pinching hazard, the pivot members  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are spaced away from the post  32  by metals sleeves  100  which are fitted on the bolts  70 ,  77 ,  31  and  33  which mount the pivot members to the post and the spine. The sleeves  100  space the upper pivot members and the lower pivot members from the post a distance greater than the thickness of an adult finger. 
     To assist in raising and lowering the hive column, and to cushion the extension of the hive column into the lower position, biasing members such as springs  104  may be inserted to extend between the post upper fastener  77  and the spine lower fastener  31  by engaging the spring hooks around the sleeves  100  on the two fasteners. The biasing members urge the spine lower fastener towards the post upper fastener. The biasing members  104  may be extension springs, but could be other biasing members such as continuous force springs, torsion springs, hydraulic or air cylinders. 
     When a beekeeper wants to access the hive body to care for the bees or to remove honey, the handle  72  is attached to the upper pivot members, and the deadbolt is released. The biasing members  104  are pulling upwards, and thus reduce the load of the hive column as the beekeeper allows it to descend to its lowered position. After the hive has been attended to, the beekeeper can raise the hive column to its elevated position. Again the biasing members  104  serve to assist in this raising. Once the hive column is in its elevated operating position, the beekeeper may release the handle  72  and carry it to the next hive or storage. 
     An alternative embodiment beehive assembly  120  is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the beehive assembly  120  has a hive column  122  mounted by a parallel linkage of pivot members  124 ,  126 ,  128 ,  130  to an upright post  132  to permit the hive column to be adjusted from an elevated operating position to a lowered access position and any point in between. 
     The hive column  122  multiple vertically stacked hive bodies or boxes  134 . The boxes  134  are generally polygonal and may be rectangular or, as shown, may be made up of six vertically extending wood panels  135 . Alternatively, the boxes may be circular or polygonal in plan or greater than six sides. The boxes  134  include a first box  136  which has a main access opening (not shown) for the entrance of bees into the hive column. A second box  138  and subsequent boxes are similar, having a smaller access opening (not shown), and all communicate with the neighboring boxes. 
     The first box  136  is closed on its lower side by a bottom wall which is supported by a base bracket  142  similar to the bracket  42  described above and similarly connected to a spine  152 . 
     The spine  152  is similar to the spine  52  described above and has an upwardly extending central panel  154  which extends adjacent a vertical panel  135  of the first box  136 . The spine  152  has two side webs  156  which extend from the central panel towards the post  132 . Portions of the spine central panel  154  define vertically spaced mounting openings  158  positioned between the two webs. Each mounting opening  158  is configured to receive a fastener  160  which extends outwardly from a box  134 , for example a fastener with a wood screw on the box side, and a threaded shank on the spine side, with a nut  162  on the spine side. Each mounting opening  158  has a first segment  164  which is wide enough to permit the nut  162  to pass through, and a second narrower segment  166  positioned beneath the first segment which is wide enough to receive the threaded shank of the fastener. The fastener  160  including the nut  162  allows each box to be releasably fastened to the spine  152 . The openings  158  are evenly spaced along the spine, to allow all the boxes  134  which make up the hive column  122  to be individually secured to the spine. When the boxes  134  are fastened to the spine  152  an effectively rigid column assembly is created which allows the hive column  122  to be securely raised and lowered while retaining its structural integrity. 
     Wooden or rubber bumper blocks  168  which are deeper than the projection of the spine side webs  156  may be fastened to the spine  152  to retain a clearance between the hive column and the post when the hive column is at its extreme upper and lower positions, and to cushion any engagement between the hive column  122  and the post  132 . 
     The hive column  122  is connected by a parallel linkage to the post  132  by four metal C-channel members. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a first upper pivot member  124  and a second upper pivot member  126  are pivotably connected to the opposite side webs  156  of the spine  152  at about the vertical midpoint of the hive column by a bolt  170 . A first lower pivot member  128  and a second lower pivot member  130  are pivotably connected to the opposite side webs  156  of the spine  152  at the base of the hive column, near the base bracket  142  by a bolt  170 . 
     The post  132  may be a 4 inch by 6 inch treated timber member which is about 12 feet tall, with four feet of the post being submerged within a post hole in the ground, and about 8 feet extending above ground. 
     The pivot members are mounted to the post  132  by two mounting brackets  172  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Each mounting bracket  172  has two parallel ears  174  which are positioned along two opposite sides of the post  132  and which have two holes to allow wood screws to secure the ears at a desired elevation. Each ear  174  has a tab  176  which extends towards the spine, and which has a central opening which receives a bolt  178  to pivotably mount a pivot member. Two front straps  180  connect the ears  174  and thus cause the opposed ears to be both at the same elevation. The lower pivot members  128 ,  130  are mounted in a similar way to a mounting bracket  172  fixed to the post beneath the upper pivot members. This distances between the pivot points of the upper mounting arms and the lower mounting arms are about the same on the post  132  as they are on the spine  152 . 
     The lower pivot members  128 ,  130  do not extend beyond the post on the side away from the hive column, but the upper pivot members  124 ,  126  extend beyond the post a distance greater than the distance between the spine and the mounting bracket to form lever arms by which a beekeeper can adjust the position of the hive column. The remote ends of the upper pivot members  124 ,  126  are connected by a cylindrical handle cross member  182  shown in  FIG. 4 . The handle cross member  182  is fixed between the upper pivot members. The distance from the pivot point on the bracket to the attachment point of the handle may be over three times as long as the distance between the pivot point on the bracket and the pivot point on the spine. 
     A latch  184  is disposed between the first upper pivot member  124  and the post which allows a beekeeper to position the hive column at a desired elevation with respect to the post. The latch  184  may take the form of any mechanism operable to selectively secure and release the pivot arms, for example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a ratchet gear  186  is fixed to a tab  176  of the upper mounting bracket  172 , with the center of the ratchet gear being coincident with the pivot axis of the first upper pivot member. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a pawl  188  is pivotably mounted to the first upper pivot member  124 . The pawl  188  has a tooth  190  extending from a pawl body  192  where it is mounted to the first upper pivot arm. When the pawl tooth  190  is engaged with the ratchet gear  186 , the entire assembly is fixed in place. When the pawl tooth  190  is released from the ratchet gear  186 , the assembly may be adjusted. 
     Inwardly extending eyelets  194  are mounted to the first and second upper pivot members  124 ,  126 , and a U-shaped latch release member  196  is positioned between the upper pivot members closely spaced from the handle  182 . The legs  198  of the latch release member travel within the eyelets  194 . One of the legs  198  is mechanically linked by a cable  200  to the pawl  192 . A tension spring  202  extends between the pawl body and the first upper pivot member  124 . The spring  202  urges the pawl tooth  190  into the ratchet gear  186 . When a beekeeper pulls the latch release member  196  towards the handle  182 , the cable retracts the pawl so the pawl tooth  190  is disengaged from the ratchet gear  186  and the position of the upper pivot members  124 ,  126 , and hence the elevation of the entire hive column can be adjusted. It should be noted that alternatively, the leg  198  may extend directed to the pawl and be pivotably pinned thereto in place of use of the cable  200 . 
     When a beekeeper wants to access the hive body to care for the bees or to remove honey, it is only necessary to engage the handle, and retract the latch release member, thereby making the upper pivot members free so that the handle may be raised to cause the hive column with all the boxes to descend and be brought in close vicinity to the ground where work may be conveniently carried out. Once the beekeeper&#39;s work is complete, the handle may be depressed to cause the hive column to ascend and assume an elevated operating position. 
     It should be noted that the hive column secured to the stiffening spine may be adjusted in elevation on the post by alternative mechanisms: for example, pneumatic or hydraulic actuators, an operable lead screw, or a winch with a cable and pulley assembly. In these other arrangements the spine could cooperate with tracks on the post. The winch or lead screw arrangement may be provided with a motor. The fasteners which connect the boxes to the spine may be fasteners that do not require tools to operate, for example bolts with wingnuts. The latch could alternatively be a ratchet with only a single tooth, or could be a pin which is retractable by the release handle to alternatively insert within a pin hole. The brackets and other non-wooden parts should be outdoor approved materials such as stainless steel, aluminum and plastic. 
     It is understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come within the scope of the following claims.