HONEYCOMB FOUNDATION HAVING MULTIPLE CELL SIZES

Abstract

The present invention provides an artificial honeycomb foundation for beehives wherein a single foundation sheet includes cells of more than one size to accommodate both worker bees and drone bees. An array of hexagonally-shaped cells may be provided on either or both sides of a dividing film wall. Within the array of cells on each side of the dividing film wall there are provided an array of worker bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 4.6 mm and 5.5 mm, and an array of drone bee sized cells, typically in the range of between about 6.4 mm and 6.6 mm. The hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the front surface of the dividing film wall are offset from the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the rear surface of the dividing film wall.

Claims

1. An artificial honeycomb foundation for beehives comprising: an array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells, wherein a first group of said array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells include cells of a first dimension sized to accommodate worker bees, and a second group of said array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells include cells of a second, larger dimension sized to accommodate drone bees.

2. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1, further comprising a dividing film wall which acts as a base for the artificial honeycomb foundation, said array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from a front surface of said dividing film wall.

3. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 2 further comprising a second array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from a rear surface of said dividing film wall, wherein a first group of said second array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells include cells of a first dimension sized to accommodate worker bees, and a second group of said second array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells include cells of a second, larger dimension sized to accommodate drone bees.

4. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 3, wherein the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the front surface of the dividing film wall are offset from the hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells projecting from the rear surface of the dividing film wall.

5. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the worker bee cells are between about 4.6 mm and 5.5 mm in width and the drone been cells are between about 6.4 mm and 6.6 mm in width.

6. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the worker bee cells are between about 4.57 mm and 5.59 mm in width, and the drone bee cells are between about 5.72 mm and 6.99 mm in width

7. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 5 wherein the worker bee cells are 5.08 mm in width and the drone bee cells are 6.35 mm in width.

8. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the worker bee cells are between about 4.29 mm and 5.24 mm in width, and the drone bee cells are between about 5.36 mm and 6.55 mm in width.

9. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 7 wherein the worker bee cells are 4.76 mm in width, and the drone bee cells are 5.95 mm in width.

10. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the worker bee cells are between about 4.50 mm and 5.50 mm in width, and the drone bee cells are between about 5.63 mm and 6.88 mm in width.

11. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 9 wherein the worker bee cells are 5.00 mm in width, and the drone bee cells are 6.25 mm in width.

12. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the drone bee cells account for less than fifteen percent of the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells.

13. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 12 wherein the drone bee cells account for approximately two percent of the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells.

14. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein each cell in the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells consists of a shallow three-dimensional lattice of substantially equal length struts defining a regular array of substantially equal closely packed rhombic lattice openings such that each rhombic opening shares each of its four peripheral struts with a respective adjacent rhombic opening.

15. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cell is formed from a plastic material.

16. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 15 wherein the plastic material is styrene.

17. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells is formed from wax.

18. The artificial honeycomb foundation of claim 1 wherein the array of hexagonally-shaped honeycomb cells is formed from metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a honeycomb foundation sheet according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the honeycomb foundation sheet shown in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the area bound by the circle “A” shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the area bound by the circle “B” shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] For purposes of promoting and understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention that would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0029] As best shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a honeycomb foundation sheet 10 for beehives which comprises a first complex of hexagonal worker bee cells 20 sized to accommodate worker bees and a second complex of hexagonal drone bee cells 30 sized to accommodate drone bees. The hexagonal cells 20, 30 are preferably located on either side of a dividing film wall 12 which acts as the base for the hexagonal cells 20, 30. The hexagonal cells 20, 30 on one side of the dividing wall 12 are off-set with respect to those on the opposite side (see FIG. 2), which permits greater consistency and strength of the honeycomb structure.

[0030] As best shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of depressions are defined on each side of the dividing wall 12, and are framed by a plurality of struts 22, 32 (see FIGS. 3, 4), each depression having a substantially hexagonal peripheral rim when viewed normal to the sheet and whose struts 22, 32 define three substantially equal rhombic openings 24, 34 corresponding to the three facets of natural honeycomb cell bases. The upper and lower edges of the dividing wall 12 do not carry cells thereon, but exhibit flanges 13a, 13b which assist in insertion of the foundation sheet 10 into a frame (not shown), and ultimately into a hive. The dividing wall 12 can be of any thickness that serves the required functions, and preferably is approximately 1.524 mm thick. Similarly, the thickness of the entire foundation sheet can vary greatly depending upon the needs of the particular hive, but in the present preferred embodiment is approximately 6.350 mm thick. The length of the flanges 13a, 13b may also vary as required, and according to a presently preferred embodiment are in the range of 4.568 mm to 8.056 mm.

[0031] As best shown in FIG. 3, each worker cell 20 consists of a shallow three-dimensional lattice of substantially equal length struts 22 defining a regular array of substantially equal closely packed rhombic lattice openings 24 such that each rhombic opening shares each of its four peripheral struts 22 with a respective adjacent rhombic opening 24. The cells 20 are dimensioned to accommodate worker bees, which are generally between 12 mm and 15 mm in length. The thickness “A” of struts 22 can be of any dimension that accommodates the worker bees, but is preferably approximately 0.533 mm thick. Similarly, the width “B” of a worker cell 20 can be any dimension that accommodates a typical worker be, with a preferred width being approximately 4.750 mm. Similarly, the distance from center to center “C” of adjacent worker cells 20 can be any dimension that accommodates a typical worker bee, with a preferred distance being approximately 5.283 mm. Standard worker cells are typically between 5.4 mm and 5.5 mm wide, although other widths are contemplated. Examples of further preferred dimensions for the widths “B” of worker cell 20 are as follows:

TABLE-US-00001 Min Avg Max 4.57 5.08 5.59 4.29 4.76 5.24 4.50 5.00 5.50

[0032] Similarly, and as best shown in FIG. 4, each drone cell 30 consists of a shallow three-dimensional lattice of substantially equal length struts 32 defining a regular array of substantially equal closely packed rhombic lattice openings 34 such that each rhombic opening shares each of its four peripheral struts 32 with a respective adjacent rhombic opening 34. The cells 30 are dimensioned to accommodate drone bees, which are generally larger than worker bees. The thickness “A” of struts 32 can be of any dimension that accommodates the drone bees, but is preferably approximately 0.533 mm thick. Similarly, the width “B” of a drone cell 30 is greater than the width of the worker cell 20, and can be any dimension that accommodates a typical drone bee, with a preferred width being approximately 5.867 mm. Similarly, the distance from center to center “C” of adjacent worker cells 30 can be any dimension that accommodates a typical drone bee, with a preferred distance being approximately 6.401 mm. Standard drone cells are typically between 6.4 mm and 6.6 mm wide, although other widths are contemplated. Examples of further preferred dimensions for the widths “B” of drone cell 30 are as follows:

TABLE-US-00002 Min Avg Max 5.72 6.35 6.99 5.36 5.95 6.55 5.63 6.25 6.88

[0033] This detailed description, and particularly the specific details of the exemplary embodiment disclosed, is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, for modifications will become evident to those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention.