Patent Publication Number: US-2009227180-A1

Title: Process for making a quick installation foundation frame

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/033,468, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not Applicable. 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a beehive system for the manufacture of bee products, and more particularly to a new and improved process for making a frame which allows a quick foundation installation. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
     To this point, beeswax foundations have been secured in a frame by grooves situated on both the interior of the top and bottom bars of the frame. The Langstroth frame as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,300 demonstrates that the foundation has previously been fastened to the side bars of the frame with support pins or wires to provide the requisite support for withstanding the weight of honey comb, but which causes damage to the foundation. A second variation also exists which is a one-piece plastic frame/foundation that does not require pins or nails, as demonstrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,819. Though the &#39;819 patent provides for a durable frame, the prior art does not allow installation of the beeswax foundation and is not as desirable to the honey bees as the wood and wax variation. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to allow for more efficient collection of bee products. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a natural beeswax foundation to assist honey bees with their production of honeycomb. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a frame for the foundation which does not cause damage or disfigurement to the foundation upon its installation into the frame. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to allow for quick and easy removal and installation of the foundation for cleaning and reuse of the frame. 
     These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, lie in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a front view of the frame. 
         FIG. 2A  shows the exterior view of the top slotted bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 2B  shows a front view of the top slotted bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 2C  shows the interior view of the top slotted bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 3A  shows the interior view of an end bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 3B  shows the exterior view of an end bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 3C  shows a left-side view of an end bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 4A  shows the interior view of the bottom bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 4B  shows the side view of the bottom bar of the frame. 
         FIG. 4C  shows the bottom view of the bottom bar of the frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The four-sided frame (D) as shown in  FIG. 1  is comprised of four bars by which  a top bar (A) as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2A-2C , two end bars (B) as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 3A-3C  and a bottom bar (C) as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4A-4C  adjoin to form comers and are attached by staples, nails and/or adhesive. Each bar (A)(B)(C) is interconnected by precisely-spaced linking cut-away ruts ( 4 )( 5 )( 6 )( 9 )( 15 ) and extensions from the main body of the bars which create notches ( 3 )( 7 )( 12 )( 16 ). These ruts ( 4 )( 5 )( 6 )( 9 )( 15 ) and notches ( 3 )( 7 )( 12 )( 16 ) are located on the end of each bar (A)(B)(C). Each identical end bar (B) is situated parallel to the other with its interior facing the opposing side bar (B). The top bar (A) and bottom bar (C) are situated parallel to one another with their interiors facing the opposing bar and are situated perpendicular to the side bars (B). 
     While the end bars (B) are identical to one another, the top bar (A) and bottom bar (B) differ in that the wedged outer extensions ( 3 ) of the top bar (A) protrude laterally past the end bars (B) as shown in  FIG. 1 . These extensions ( 3 ) allow the frame (D), to be situated in a fixed position within the provided space in a beehive cabinet, such as a Langstroth cabinet. The bottom bar (C) as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4A-4C  contains an interior longitudinal groove ( 14 ) as a means for supporting the bottom of the foundation (D). Each end bar (B) also contains an interior longitudinal groove ( 8 ) as shown in  FIG. 3A  to add support to the sides of the foundation. By the implementation of the supporting slot ( 2 ) within the center of the top bar&#39;s (A) outer edges ( 1 ), the end groove ( 8 ) in the center of each end bar&#39;s (B) outer edges ( 10 ) and the bottom groove ( 14 ) the in the center of the bottom bar&#39;s (C) outer edges ( 13 ), the new and improved frame (D) no longer requires support pins or wire to brace the foundation. Thus, the beeswax foundation can be more easily installed. This construction saves the bee keeper a significant amount of time as well as making it more economically viable to provide the bees with their preferred substrate on which to build. The frame can be made of various substances, though the preferred embodiment is constructed of wood.