Bee installation funnel and associated assembly and method for using the same

Abstract

A bee installation funnel apparatus, including: (1) a unitary blank having (a) a back panel, wherein the back panel includes a top side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom side, and at least one aperture, (b) at least one side panel, wherein the at least one side panel emanates contiguously from the back panel; and (c) a bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel comprises a top side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom side, and at least one tab, and (2) a security strap member, wherein the security strap member is positionable around an associated bee hive.

Claims

1. A bee installation funnel apparatus, for transferring bees from a bee cage to a bee hive, said bee installation funnel apparatus being articulable from a substantially flat, collapsed configuration of foldable material to a substantially rigid, upright three-dimensional articulated configuration with minimal fabrication effort, while enabling storage and shipment of said bee installation funnel apparatus in a minimum profile orientation while in said collapsed configuration, and further while enabling safe and efficient transfer of bees from the bee cage to the bee hive while in said articulated configuration, said bee installation funnel apparatus, consisting of: a unitary blank consisting of: a back panel, wherein the back panel consists of a top side, a left side, a right side, and a bottom side, and two apertures, wherein the top side of the back panel is a top of the unitary blank; a left side panel, wherein the left side panel emanates contiguously from the back panel; a right side panel, wherein the right side panel emanates contiguously from the back panel; a bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel is positioned below the back panel and consists of a top side, a left side, a right side, a bottom side, a left tab and a right tab; a first score line positioned between the left side panel and the back panel; a second score line positioned between the right side panel and the back panel; a third score line positioned between the bottom panel and the back panel; a fourth score line positioned between the left tab and the left side of the bottom panel; a fifth score line positioned between the right tab and the right side of the bottom panel; and a security strap member, wherein the security strap member is positionable around the bee hive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 of the drawings is a plan view of an unarticulated blank of a bee installation funnel apparatus embodying the present invention and showing a back panel, a bottom panel having a plurality of tabs, and side panels in their unarticulated orientation;

(3) FIG. 2 of the drawings is an isometric view of the bee installation funnel apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a security strap associated therewith;

(4) FIG. 3 of the drawings is an isometric view of the bee installation funnel apparatus of FIG. 1 showing articulated tabs of the bottom panel inserted into a front slot of a bee hive;

(5) FIG. 4 of the drawings is an isometric view of the bee installation funnel apparatus of FIG. 1 showing articulated tabs of the bottom panel inserted into a front slot of a bee hive and articulated side panels secured to a bee hive with a security strap; and

(6) FIG. 5 of the drawings is an isometric view of a bee installation assembly comprising a bee installation funnel apparatus, a bee cage, and a bee hive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail, one or more specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

(8) It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of one or more embodiments of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.

(9) In accordance with the present invention, the bee installation funnel apparatus disclosed herein facilitates, among other things, safe and efficient transfer of bees from a bee cage to a bee hive. Preferably, the bee installation funnel apparatus is articulable from a substantially flat, collapsed configuration of foldable material to a substantially rigid, upright three-dimensional articulated configuration with minimal fabrication effort, while enabling storage and shipment of the bee installation funnel apparatus in a minimum profile orientation while in a collapsed configuration. As will be discussed in greater detail infra, the bee installation funnel apparatus enables the safe and efficient transfer of bees from a bee cage to a bee hive while in the articulated configuration.

(10) Referring now to the drawings, and to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, bee installation funnel apparatus 10 is shown which generally comprises blank 12 (e.g., unitary blank fabricated from corrugated plastic and/or corrugated paperboard, etcetera) and security strap member 14.

(11) As is best shown in FIG. 1, blank 12 preferably includes back panel 16 having top side 18, left side 20, right side 22, and a bottom side/interface 24. In one embodiment of the present invention, back panel 16 is preferably generally rectangular. Apertures 26 are also provided for accommodating security strap member 14 during operation and use.

(12) As is further shown in FIG. 1, blank 10 also includes left side panel 28 and right side panel 30both of which preferably emanate contiguously from the left and right sides 20 and 22, respectively of back panel 16.

(13) In addition, blank 10 includes bottom panel 32 having top side/interface 34, left side 36, right side 38, and bottom side 40. Left tab 42 emanates contiguously from left side 36 of bottom panel 32, and right tab 44 emanates contiguously from right side 38 of bottom panel 32.

(14) As is best shown in FIG. 1, score line 46 is positioned between and/or forms an interface with left side 20 of back panel 16 and left side panel 28. Moreover, score line 48 is positioned between and/or forms an interface with right side 22 of back panel 16 and right side panel 30. Furthermore, score line 50 is positioned between and/or forms an interface with bottom side 24 of back panel 16 and top side 34 of bottom panel 32.

(15) Referring once again to FIG. 1, score line 52 is positioned between and/or forms an interface with left side 36 of bottom panel 32 and left tab 42. Score line 54 is positioned between and/or forms an interface with right side 38 of bottom panel 32 and right tab 44.

(16) It will be understood that score lines 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 enable articulation of blank 10 from a substantially flat, collapsed, and/or storage configuration to a substantially upright, three-dimensional articulated and/or use configuration. It will be further understood that the score lines of the present invention may optionally comprise gusseted folds, indents, depressions, one-way hinges, two-way hinges, living hinges, and/or other means to enable predetermined articulation along the intended interface.

(17) Referring now to FIG. 5, the present invention is also directed to a bee installation assembly comprising bee installation funnel apparatus 10, bee cage 60, and bee hive 70 (e.g., a Langstroth hive).

(18) Bee cage 60 preferably includes a left wall, a right wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, and a back wall, wherein these walls are spaced apart from one another to form a chamber for containing bees therein. It will be understood that the term wall includes mesh screens and the like.

(19) Bee hive 70 preferably includes a left wall, a right wall, a bottom wall, a top wall, a front wall, and a back wall, wherein the walls are spaced apart from one another to form a chamber for containing bees therein. The front wall of bee hive 70 preferably further includes an access aperture for the ingress and egress of bees therethrough.

(20) As is shown collectively in FIGS. 1-5, and in operation, security strap member 14 is positioned through apertures 26 of blank 10. Second, tabs 42 and 44 are folded along their respective score lines and inserted into the access aperture of the bee hive, thereby occupying a portion of the aperture while leaving the substantial remainder for the ingress and egress of bees therethrough. Third, side panels 28 and 30, as well as bottom panel 32 are folded along their respective score. Fourth, security strap member 14 is secured around bee hive 70 as is shown in FIG. 4. Lastly, bee cage 60, preferably having a queen bee and a plurality of worker bees is positioned on the articulated blank 10 (i.e., now bee installation funnel apparatus 10). In this configuration, bees are now able to safely and efficiently relocate from bee cage 60 to bee hive 70.

(21) The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.