IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,317,871
Granted Patent B1
US 12,317,871 · App. 18/214,944 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Bee vacuum

Inventor: Michael Stanton (Poway, CA)
A01K57/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,317,871
App. No.
18/214,944
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

The bee vacuum may comprise a first bucket, a second bucket, a lid, an intake hose, a vacuum pump, and a battery pack. The bee vacuum may be adapted to collect a plurality of bees from a swarm so that the swarm may be relocated. The vacuum pump located in the bottom of the first bucket be energized by the battery pack to drawn air and the plurality of bees into the second bucket via the intake hose. The second bucket may be smaller than the first bucket and may be nested within the top of the first bucket. The air may pass through a plurality of air apertures in the second bucket to reach the vacuum pump, leaving the plurality of bees in the second bucket.

Claims (12)

1. A bee vacuum consisting of:

a first bucket having a circular footprint, a bottom portion housing a vacuum pump and a battery pack, an annular seal disposed at an upper end of interior side walls of the first bucket, the first bucket further having a battery bay formed in a bottom side wall thereof, the battery bay configured to house and electrically couple the battery pack;

a second bucket removably nested within and supported by the first bucket, the second bucket having a smaller diameter and volume than the first bucket, and consisting of:

an open top adapted to be covered by a lid; and,

a plurality of apertures disposed exclusively through a bottom and lower one-third of side walls of the second bucket, wherein the apertures are smaller in diameter than bees to prevent passage therethrough;

a lid removably coupled solely to the open top of the second bucket, said lid consisting of:

a single bee intake aperture; and,

a hose coupler surrounding said single bee intake aperture, adapted for attachment of an intake hose;

an intake hose having a first end detachably coupled to said hose coupler on the lid and a second free end adapted to be placed adjacent bees for collection;

a vacuum pump disposed entirely within a bottom portion of the first bucket beneath the second bucket, and operable to draw air through the intake hose and into the second bucket, thereby confining bees in the second bucket; and

the battery pack located within said battery bay, said battery pack energizing said vacuum pump; and,

wherein air drawn through the intake hose passes through apertures of the second bucket and exits the bee vacuum via the vacuum pump, thereby trapping bees within the second bucket.

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