US 5,628,671 A · Observation hive

Abstract

An observation hive includes a main frame including bottom and side frame members and glass front and rear walls which cooperate to define an open-top chamber in which two honeycomb frames are removably mounted. Front and rear top frame members interconnect the upper ends of the side frame members and respectively seat against the outer surfaces of the glass walls. A cover overlies the top and side frame members to close the chamber and has a depending insert portion which substantially completely occupies the portion of the chamber extending above the bottom edges of the top frame members so that bees cannot enter this space and be unobserved. Ventilation holes are formed vertically through the cover and the bottom frame member to allow vertical flow of air through the chamber, each ventilation opening being screened at its upper and lower ends. The bottom frame member is seated on pedestals to provide a clearance space therebeneath. The honeycomb frames are suspended on spacer blocks which are slidably received in dovetail-shaped grooves in the side frame members, each spacer block having a laterally extending spacer pin to laterally position the honeycomb frames. In an alternative embodiment, the ventilation openings in the bottom frame member are formed in a removable section, which facilitates access to the bottom of the chamber.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An observation hive for honey bees and the like comprising:

a main frame including a bottom frame member and two opposed side frame members spaced apart a predetermined lateral distance and spaced-apart front and rear top frame members, spaced-apart front and rear walls disposed within said main frame respectively against said front and rear top frame members and cooperating with said bottom and side frame members to define an open-top chamber, at least one of said walls being transparent, a removable cover overlying said side and top frame members for closing Said chamber, a honeycomb frame removably mounted in said chamber and spaced from said bottom frame member and from said cover and from said walls, each of said bottom frame member and said cover having at least one ventilation opening formed vertically therethrough and communicating with said chamber to accommodate air flow vertically through the entire vertical extent of said chamber, each of the openings having a lateral dimension substantially less than the predetermined lateral distance and being spaced from said side frame members and from said front and rear walls, support pedestals connected to said bottom frame member for establishing a clearance space therebeneath, and screens respectively covering said ventilation openings to permit passage of air and prevent passage of bees, said openings being dimensioned to afford adequate air flow to remove moisture from said chamber.

An observation hive for honey bees and the like comprising:

a main frame including a bottom frame member and two opposed side frame members and spaced-apart front and rear top frame members, spaced-apart front and rear walls disposed within said main frame respectively against said front and rear top frame members and cooperating with said bottom and side frame members to define an open-top chamber, at least one of said walls being transparent, a removable cover overlying said side and top frame members for closing said chamber, a honeycomb frame removably mounted in said chamber and spaced from said bottom frame member and from said cover and from said walls, and spacing structure coupled to each of said side frame members and including lateral spacers extending laterally inwardly to engage said honeycomb frame at a surface thereof which is non-parallel to the direction of extent of said spacers for maintaining a predetermined minimum spacing between said honeycomb frame and said side frame members.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Observation hive

Life of this patent

Observation hive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19