Patent #9300
On October 5, 1852 Lorenzo L. Langstroth was granted U.S. Patent #9300, forever changing the way people raise honey bees.
Bee Space
Through observation and experimentation (aka, the scientific method) Langstroth unraveled the bees heretofore best kept “secret”- the amount of empty space the bees will allow in their hive, about 3/8 inch. Any larger space the bees will fill with honey comb.
Langstroth's Frame as included in Patent #9300
Any smaller space they will plug up with a substance called propolis. He didn’t actually name it in the patent, but its understanding and use are what makes his hive design work, as none had before.
Movable-frames
The use of a series of specially designed wooden frames on which the bees build wax honeycomb to raise their brood and store honey inside wooden hive boxes allows the beekeeper to “perform all necessary operations without injuring a single bee.” The use of Langstroth design hives quickly became widespread and they are still the predominant method of beekeeping, today.
Patent #9300 can be viewed on the USPTO Web site.
A good design begins with careful observations. Lorenzo Langstroth’s keen interest in bugs caused him to observe their behaviors, extensively. His careful observations were the foundation for his design. All too often, poor designs (of anything) are based upon assumptions that are false. Then, instead of “back to the drawing board”, it should be “back to make beter observations” and the drawing board after that.