Labyrinth Bee Feeder Passages That Deter Wasps and Hornets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bee feeding apparatuses are vulnerable to intrusion by wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets, which compromise the feeding supplements intended for bees, and there is a need for an apparatus that effectively dispenses food and treatments to both domesticated and wild bees while deterring these insects.

Innovation Solution

A labyrinthine bee feeding apparatus (LBF) with circuitous passages and bends that inhibit wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets from accessing the feeding supplements while allowing bees to enter and exit freely, featuring a base unit with a receptacle, labyrinthine passages, and a cover member that includes feeding medium dispensaries and vessels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a simple open feeding apparatus is used, then bees can easily access feeding supplements, but wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets can also easily access and contaminate the supplements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for beesVSAvoidintrusion by unwanted insects

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The feeding apparatus is segmented into multiple distinct zones: an outer region with landing pads, a middle region with labyrinthine passages containing obstacles, and an inner region with feeding supplements. This segmentation creates progressive barriers that bees can navigate while preventing unwanted insects from reaching the food source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The labyrinthine passages with obstacles serve as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the feeding supplements. These passages require complex navigation that bees can perform but that deters or prevents wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets from accessing the food.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If labyrinthine passages with multiple bends are added to deter unwanted insects, then access for wasps and hornets is inhibited, but the apparatus complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeterrence of unwanted insectsVSAvoidstructural complexity of passages

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The labyrinthine passages incorporate multiple bends and curved paths rather than straight lines. This curvature creates a complex navigation challenge that deterres unwanted insects while still allowing bees to access the feeding supplements. The bent passages increase the path length and difficulty without requiring completely complex three-dimensional structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple obstacles are placed in passages, then unwanted insects cannot navigate through, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockage of passage by unwanted insectsVSAvoidmanufacturing of labyrinthine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The apparatus utilizes a landing pad with multiple openings or pores that serve as entry points to the labyrinthine passages. This porous structure allows bees to access the passages from multiple points while the passages themselves contain obstacles that block unwanted insects. The porous design simplifies manufacturing compared to creating completely enclosed complex structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS12557793B2Bee feeder having labyrinthine passages

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 TURTLE BEAR HLDG LLC

AI summary

A bee feeding apparatus having labyrinthine passages. The apparatus is useful for dispensing water, bee feeding supplements, or treatments to wild or domesticated bees. The circuitous entryway hinders or inhibits other insects such as wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets from entering the innermost regions of the feeder and accessing the bee feeding supplements.