[DESCRIPTION]

[Invention Title]

MULTIFUNCTIONAL PORTABLE BEEHIVE

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a portable beehive which has a

function for preventing a bee from escaping from the beehive when opening and

closing a lid to catch a bee to be used for conducting bee-venom therapy, and

makes it easy to hold one bee at a time, using a tool such as tweezers, in a

correct position so that the bee-venom therapy can be conveniently conducted.

In the conventional arts, various portable beehives for storing bees

have been proposed, but the conventional portable beehives have many problems

due to the basic structure and function thereof. For example, there is a

problem in that, when drawing out only one bee for conducting bee-venom

therapy after opening a beehive, several bees, rather than a single bee, come

out from the beehive, and some of the bees may escape. Furthermore, when

trying to hold a bee using tweezers, because the bee flaps its wings, it is

very difficult to hold the bee in a correct position appropriate for

conducting the bee-venom therapy, and the working time is increased. In

addition, in the case where each of the upper and lower surfaces of the

beehive has a single layer structure, there is the possibility of an event in

which a user is stung by a bee through vent holes, which are formed through

the upper and lower surfaces of the beehive. As well, there are problems in

that bees may freeze to death due to their insufficient thermal insulation

ability, and candy (or sugar) used as feed for bees is easily melted and bees

are thus stuck thereto, so that the lifetime of the bees is reduced.

Moreover, there is a structural problem in that it is difficult to remove

only dead bees from the beehive.

In an effort to overcome the above problems, the present invention

provides a multifunctional portable beehive in which double upper lids are

provided on an upper body and a lower lid is provided under a lower body, so

that a user is prevented from being stung by a bee, and which may have a

ventilation adjusting film to prevent bees from freezing to death due to

their insufficient thermal insulation ability and may have a film having a

position-selective bee exit for removing bees that have died in the beehive

for various reasons, for example, poor ventilation or an event in which candy

(or sugar) used as feed for bees melts and a bee is stuck thereto.

Therefore, the multifunctional portable beehive of the present

invention ensures convenience and safety of use. Furthermore, in the

conventional portable beehive, in the case where a water reservoir for

supplying water is provided in the beehive, there is a problem in that bees

may drown in the water. However, in the present invention, a protrusion-

based water reservoir is provided in the lower body, such that bees can drink

water on the protrusions and are thus prevented from drowning in the water.

[Background Art]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the

above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present

invention is to provide a multifunctional portable beehive which includes a

lower body, an upper body, a first upper lid and a second upper lid, which

are manufactured through separate processes using synthetic resin or other

material and are assembled together into a single body, thus preventing a bee

from escaping from the beehive when opening or closing the lids to catch a

bee, and making it easy for a user to hold one bee at one time, using either

tweezers or his/her hand, in a correct position such that bee-venom therapy

can be conveniently conducted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multifunctional

portable beehive in which double upper lids are provided on the upper body

and a lower lid is provided under the lower body so that the user is

prevented from being stung by a bee, and which may include a ventilation

adjusting film to prevent bees from freezing to death due to their

insufficient thermal insulation ability, and may include a film having a

position-selective bee exit for removing bees that have died in the beehive

for various reasons, for example, poor ventilation or an event in which candy

(or sugar) used as a feed for bees melts and a bee is stuck thereto.

[Disclosure]

The multifunctional portable beehive according to the present invention

includes a lower body, an upper body, a first upper lid, a second upper lid

and a lower lid, which are manufactured through separate processes using

synthetic resin or other material and are assembled together into a single

body.

Furthermore, the multifunctional portable beehive of the present

invention may further include a ventilation adjusting film for preventing

bees from freezing to death due to insufficient thermal insulation ability,

and a film having a position-selective bee exit to remove bees that have died

in the beehive for to various reasons, for example, poor ventilation or an

event in which candy (or sugar) used as feed for bees melts and a bee is

stuck thereto.

Although various embodiments may be proposed to implement the technical

sprit of the present invention, the construction and operation of the present

invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed

description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the parts of a portable

beehive according to the present invention.

The portable beehive of the present invention includes a lower body 1,

an upper body 7, a first upper lid 16, a second upper lid 20, a lower lid 22,

an upper film 14, and a lower film 14a. The above-mentioned parts are

separately provided and are assembled together into a single product, thus

providing the multifunctional portable beehive.

In detail, the lower body 1 has on the bottom thereof feeders 3 and 3a

and a protrusion-based water reservoir 4. A plurality of vent holes 5 is

formed through the bottom of the lower body 1. Furthermore, rectangular

locking slots 2 for coupling between the lower body 1 and the upper body 7

are formed at respective opposite edges through the bottom of the lower body

1. In addition, bottom support protrusions 6, into which the lower lid 22 is

inserted, are provided under the bottom of the lower body 1, and locking

stops 12, each of which has a film insert slot 26, are also provided.

The upper body 7 has an opening 9 in the upper surface thereof. First

support protrusions 10, into which the first upper lid 16 is inserted, and

second support protrusions 11, into which the second upper lid 20 is

inserted, are provided on upper ends of opposite sidewalls of the upper body

7 above the upper surface thereof. The upper body 7 is open at the lower end

thereof. In addition, elastic locking pieces 8 are provided in the

respective lower ends of the opposite sidewalls of the upper body 7, so that,

when the upper body 7 is inserted into the lower body 1, the elastic locking

pieces 8 are locked to the respective rectangular locking slots 2 of the

lower body, thus maintaining the assembled state of the upper body and the

lower body.

The first upper lid 16 has bee exit holes 19 and 19a, a plurality of

vent holes 5a and a water supply hole 13a therein. Furthermore, locking

hooks 17 and 17a, which lock the first upper lid 16 to the upper body 7 when

it is inserted into the first and second support protrusions 10 and 11, are

provided in the four corners of the first upper lid 16. The second upper lid

20 has the same structure as that of the first upper lid 16, excluding the

bee exit holes. The lower lid 22 prevents a user from being stung by a bee.

Furthermore, the lower lid 22 serves to receive the excrement of bees below

the lower body such that the excrement can be easily removed, and functions

to support and press the lower film so as to increase the thermal insulation

ability. As well, the lower lid 22 also has locking hooks 23 for locking the

lower lid 22 to the lower body when it is inserted between the bottom support

protrusions 6.

Although the embodiment of Fig. 1 has been illustrated as being

constructed such that two bee exit holes 19 and 19a are formed in the

opposite ends of the first upper lid 16 and the second upper lid 20 has no

bee exit hole, it may be constructed such that each of the first upper lid

16, the second upper lid 20 and the lower lid 22 has only one of the bee exit

holes 19 and 19a. In this case, because the lids commonly have the same

structure, if a lid malfunctions, it can be replaced with a new one more

easily.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the state in which the upper body, the

lower body, the first upper lid, the second upper lid and the lower lid are

assembled together into a single product. Fig. 3 is a perspective view

showing the first step of an assembly process according to the present

invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing the film insert slot, which is

formed in a guide support part of a corner of the beehive, and into which the

film is inserted.

A method of preventing bees from escaping from the beehive when the

lids are opened or closed, and methods of drawing out only a single bee at

one time and of safely holding the bee using tweezers or the hand in a

correct position for easily conducting bee-venom therapy will be explained

herein below. In the multifunctional portable beehive according to the

embodiment of the present invention, the bee exit hole 19, having a size

appropriate for passing one bee therethrough, is formed in the first upper

lid 16. Therefore, in the state in which the second upper lid 20 is closed,

when the first upper lid 16 is pushed in one direction, the bee exit hole 19

is opened. In this state, after one bee comes over the first upper lid

through the bee exit hole 19, the first upper lid 16 is returned to its

original position. Here, because a gap having a size appropriate for

preventing the bee from flapping its wings and for slightly compressing the

bee is defined between the first upper lid 16 and the second upper lid 20,

the bee is maintained in the state of being slightly compressed therebetween.

In this state, the second upper lid 20 is pushed in one direction such that

about 2/3 of the body of the bee is exposed outside. Then, the user can hold

the bee using the tweezers or the hand in the correct position such that the

bee-venom therapy can be conveniently conducted.

In the multifunctional portable beehive, the first upper lid, the

second upper lid and the lower lid, which are inserted into the upper body 7

and the lower body 1, have locking hooks on the corners thereof, such that

they can be inserted into the upper body and the lower body in reverse

directions, that is, the front ends and the rear ends thereof can be

exchanged with each other. Furthermore, preferably, the first upper lid, the

second upper lid and the lower lid may replace each other.

In addition, in the present invention, each lid has on the four corners

thereof protrusions, which are used as handles. Therefore, when a rubber

band is wound between the protrusions of the lids around the upper and lower

bodies, which are assembled with the lids, the upper and lower bodies and the

lids are prevented from being undesirably separated from each other.

Furthermore, in the portable beehive of the present invention, as

necessary, the upper film 14 and the lower film 14a can be selectively used.

In detail, in this embodiment, several longitudinal slits and a single

lateral slit are formed in the upper film 14, which is made of shape-memory

material. Therefore, under normal conditions, the upper film 14 maintains a

planar shape, and, when it is desired to remove a specified bee, for example,

an ill bee which does not move or a dead bee, from the beehive, the user can

easily remove the specified bee using the tweezers through a position-

selective bee exit 15 defined by the slits of the upper film. The lower film

14a is used when it is necessary to control the ventilation rate to prevent

the bees from freezing to death in the winter due to their insufficient

thermal insulation ability. As well, the lower film 14a may also serve to

receive the excrement of the bees. In the present invention, the upper film

14 and the lower film 14a are parts that are selectively used, as necessary,

rather than being essential parts of the beehive.

As such, the present invention has an advantage in that safety in

preventing the user from being stung by a bee is ensured. Furthermore, the

present invention makes it possible for the user to easily catch only one bee

using the tweezers, thus reducing working time.

As described above, in the multifunctional portable beehive of the

present invention, the double upper lids are provided on the upper body and

the lower lid is provided under the lower body, and thus the user is

prevented from being stung by a bee. Furthermore, the separate film for

controlling a ventilation rate may be provided to prevent bees from freezing

to death due to insufficient thermal insulation ability. In addition, the

present invention may be provided with the separate film having the position-

selective bee exit for removing bees that have died in the beehive for

various reasons, for example, poor ventilation or an event in which candy (or

sugar) used as feed for bees melts and a bee is stuck thereto. Therefore,

the present invention can meet the needs of users and ensure convenience of

use.

[Description of Drawings]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention;

Fig.2 is an assembled perspective view of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a first step of an assembly

process according to the present invention," and

Fig.4 is a detailed view of the portion A of Fig. 1.

description of the elements in the drawings>

1; lower body 2,2a; rectangular locking slot 3,3a; feeder

4; protrusion-based water reservoir 5,5a,5b; vent hole

6; bottom support protrusion 7; upper body

8; elastic locking piece 9; opening

10; first support protrusions 11,11a; second support protrusion

12; locking stop 13, 13a,13b; water supply hole

14;upper film 14a; lower film 15;position-selective bee exit

16; first upper lid 17,17a; first locking hook

18; bee escape prevention protrusion 19,19a;bee exit hole

20; second upper lid 21,21a; second locking hook

22; lower lid 23,23a; bottom locking hook

24; excrement receiving surface 25; single-bee exit

26; film insert slot

[Industrial Applicability]

The present invention provides a multifunctional portable beehive which

has a function for preventing a bee from escaping from the beehive when

opening and closing a lid to catch a bee to be used for conducting bee-venom

therapy, and makes it easy to hold one bee at one time using a tool such as

tweezers in a correct position such that the bee-venom therapy can be

conveniently conducted. Therefore, the present invention must be regarded as

being very useful .