US 12,250,928 B2
Anti-predator device for beehive
Kyle Blair Wayne Atkinson, Warkworth (NZ)
Assigned to Bee-IQ Solutions Limited, Warkworth (NZ)
Appl. No. 17/416,777
Filed by Bee-IQ Solutions Limited, Warkworth (NZ)
PCT Filed Dec. 20, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/086673
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 21, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/127966, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 25, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 749552 (NZ), filed on Dec. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071178 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A01K 47/06 (2006.01); A01K 51/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 47/06 (2013.01) [A01K 51/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A beehive entrance apparatus for fitment to a base of a beehive, the beehive entrance apparatus being an elongated structure having a first end and an opposite second end, the beehive entrance apparatus comprising:
an upper tunnel portion including a ceiling surface, and a lower tunnel portion including a floor surface, the lower tunnel portion opposite the upper tunnel portion, p1 a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the second side wall opposite the first sidewall, wherein the first and second sidewalls space apart the upper tunnel portion and the lower tunnel portion,
an entrance aperture at the first end of the beehive entrance apparatus configured to allow bees to enter the beehive entrance apparatus, the entrance aperture comprising an opening, the opening having a width defined by the ceiling and floor surfaces and a height defined by the first and second sidewalls, wherein the width of the opening of the entrance aperture is 40 mm or greater and the height of the opening of the entrance aperture provides for no more vertical space than is required by one bee,
a single upwardly-opening exit aperture at the second end of the beehive entrance apparatus and located in the upper tunnel portion, wherein the exit aperture is configured to be positioned within the beehive and to allow the bees to exit the beehive entrance apparatus into the beehive and has an opening which is equal in area to or larger than the opening of the entrance aperture, and
an enclosed tunnel communicating between the entrance aperture and the exit aperture, the tunnel comprising an interior, the interior having an interior width defined by the ceiling and floor surfaces, an interior height defined by the first and second sidewalls, and an interior length defined by the upper and lower tunnel portions, wherein the interior width of the tunnel is 40 mm or greater, the interior height of the tunnel provides for no more vertical space than is required by one bee, and the interior length of the tunnel is 100 mm or greater, the interior length measured from the entrance aperture to a first point at which the bees can exit the tunnel from the exit aperture located in the upper tunnel portion at the second end opposite the entrance aperture at the first end, the exit aperture being spaced from the floor surface of the lower tunnel portion by the first and second sidewalls.