Electronic vapor provision device

• US 9,943,108 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2013
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: Nicoventures Holdings Limited (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Yarry, Eric
• Application Number:
  US14/415,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20150208728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 392394
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/42 Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/44 Wicks
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/46 Shape or structure of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 7/00 Mouthpieces for pipes; Mouthpieces for cigar or cigarette holders

Abstract

An electronic vapor provision device comprising a power cell, a vaporizer and a liquid store, wherein the vaporizer comprises a heater and a heater support, wherein the liquid store comprises a porous material.

Claims

1. An electronic vapor provision device comprising a power cell, a vaporizer and a liquid store, the vaporizer including a heater and a cylindrical heater support of porous ceramic material configured to support the heater without a separate support for the heater, the heater being internally supported from its inside by the heater support, and the heater and the heater support arranged so that a longitudinal axis of the heater is perpendicular to a direction of air movement over the heater, the liquid store comprising a porous material, and the heater support being, or forming part of, the liquid store, the device further comprising a mouthpiece section, and the vaporizer being part of the mouthpiece.

2. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the electronic vapor provision device is an electronic cigarette.

3. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material is rigid porous material.

4. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material is a porous ceramic material.

5. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material is configured for liquid retention and wicking.

6. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material comprises pores of substantially equal size.

7. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material comprises pores distributed substantially evenly throughout the porous material.

8. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material is configured such that a majority of a volume of the porous material comprises open pores configured for liquid storage.

9. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the liquid store is sealed on at least part of an outer surface region, thereby inhibiting a porosity of that region.

10. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material comprises smaller pores in a region substantially adjacent to the heater, and larger pores in a region further from the heater.

11. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the porous material comprises a gradient of pore sizes ranging from smaller pores proximal to the heater to larger pores distal to the heater.

12. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the liquid store is configured, in use, to wick liquid onto the heater.

13. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein one or more gaps are defined between the heater and the heater support.

14. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the heater is a heating coil.

15. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 14, wherein the heating coil is a wire coil.

16. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 14, wherein the heating coil is coiled so as to be supported along its length by the heater support.

17. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 14, wherein turns of the heating coil are in contact with the heater support and are thereby supported by the heater support.

18. The electronic vapor provision device claim 14, wherein one or more gaps are defined between the heating coil and the heater support.

19. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 18, wherein the one or more gaps are between the coil turns and the heater support.

20. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the vaporizer defines a vaporization cavity such that, in use, the vaporization cavity is a negative pressure cavity.

21. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 20, wherein at least part of the heater is inside the vaporization cavity.

22. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the liquid store forms part of the mouthpiece section.

23. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 22, wherein the liquid store substantially fills the mouthpiece section.

24. The electronic vapor provision device of claim 1, further comprising an outlet for vaporized liquid from the heater.

25. A mouthpiece section for an electronic vapor provision device having a power cell, the mouthpiece section comprising:

a vaporizer including a heater and a cylindrical heater support of porous ceramic material configured to support the heater without a separate support for the heater, the heater being internally supported from its inside by the heater support, and the heater and the heater support arranged so that a longitudinal axis of the heater is perpendicular to a direction of air movement over the heater; and

a liquid store comprising a porous material, the heater support being at least part of the liquid store.