# US 4,392,262 A · Apparatus for breeding queen honeybees > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,392,262 A - Document ID: US4392262A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/312,715 - Filed: 1981-10-19 - Granted: 1983-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 1980-10-17 - Inventors: Johann R. Stickler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392262A ## CPC - A01K 49/00: Rearing-boxes; Queen transporting or introducing cages - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS ## Abstract A breeding apparatus for queen honeybees comprises a breeding frame, a honeycomb cell plate affixed thereto and defining a multiplicity of open cells, a like multiplicity of sockets projecting from the rear face of the plate, the cells passing through the sockets, and cup-shaped elements detachably mounted on the sockets for closing the rear of the cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for breeding queen honeybees in cells, which comprises a breeding frame, a honeycomb cell plate having a front face and a rear face, the honeycomb cell plate being affixed to the breeding frame, a multiplicity of tubular sockets projecting from the rear face of the honeycomb cell plate, the plate defining a like multiplicity of open cells extending from the front face through the cell plate, with each cell aligned with a socket such that an opening is formed extending completely through the cell plate and socket, and cup-shaped elements displaceably mounted on the sockets for closing the cells at the rear face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the honeycomb cell plate is of synthetic resin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The breeding apparatus of claim 2, wherein the synthetic resin is polystyrene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2, 3) The breeding apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the synthetic resin has admixed thereto a minor amount of bee's wax. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The breeding apparatus of claim 4, wherein up to 2% by weight, of bee's wax is admixed to the synthetic resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2) The breeding apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cup-shaped closing elements are of synthetic resin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The breeding apparatus of claim 6, wherein the synthetic resin is polyethylene. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the cup-shaped closing elements comprises a handle projecting from a rear side thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The breeding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the handle of the cup-shaped closing elements defines an axial capillary bore. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rim surrounding each open cell and projecting from the front face of the honeycomb cell plate to define an inlet opening for each cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the honeycomb cell plate comprises a stamping on the front face thereof, the stamping corresponding to a hexagonally structured stamping of an intermediate wall wax plate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wax plate mounted directly on the front face of the honeycomb cell plate, the wax plate defining openings in registry with the open cells in the honeycomb cell plate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The breeding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the openings in the wax plate are hexagonal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bee's wax layer sprayed on the front face of the honeycomb cell plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cells in the honeycomb cell plate are hexagonal in cross section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cells in the honeycomb cell plate are circular in cross section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cells in the honeycomb cell plate are elliptical in cross section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the honeycomb cell plate extends in a substantially vertical plane and the cells have longitudinal axes inclined downwardly from the front to the rear face of the plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The breeding apparatus of claim 18, wherein the angle of inclination of the longitudinal cell axes is about 5.degree. to 10.degree. from the horizontal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The breeding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the angle of inclination is from 6.degree. to 7.degree.. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sockets have conically rounded beveled rear ends conforming to an inner bottom wall portion of the cup-shaped closing elements for providing a smooth closure of the cells whereby a substantially smooth transition is formed between the inner wall of the cells along the sockets and the inner wall of the cup-shaped elements mounted thereon. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary frame carrying the honeycomb cell plate, the auxiliary frame being affixed to the breeding frame. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The breeding apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a screen spaced from the front face of the honeycomb cell plate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1, 23) The breeding apparatus of claim 1 or 23, further comprising a protective plate associated with the honeycomb cell plate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The breeding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detachable closure for the cup-shaped closing elements.