# US 12,213,525 B2 · Aerosol source for a vapor provision system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,525 B2 - Document ID: US12213525B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/299,163 - Filed: 2023-04-12 - Published: 2023-09-14 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-24 - Assignees: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Inventors: Alexander Simpson; Terry Lee Angell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213525B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/44: Wicks - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract An aerosol source for an electronic vapor provision system includes a heating element; an atomizing chamber; a reservoir for holding free-flowing source liquid; and a porous wick extending from the atomizing chamber to the reservoir and comprising a heater portion in cooperation with the heating element within the atomizing chamber and at least one liquid collecting portion within the reservoir, the liquid collecting portion having a maximum cross-sectional parameter that is greater than an equivalent cross-sectional parameter of the heater portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aerosol source for an electronic vapor provision system comprising: a heating element; an atomizing chamber; a reservoir for holding free-flowing source liquid; a porous wick extending from the atomizing chamber to the reservoir and comprising a heater portion in cooperation with the heating element within the atomizing chamber such that the heating element is external to the heater portion or disposed within the heater portion, and at least one liquid collecting portion within the reservoir, the at least one liquid collecting portion having a maximum perimeter that is greater than a perimeter of the heater portion; wherein the porous wick is formed from a porous non-fiber-based material with integral interstitial pores. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is formed as a wire. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is formed from a conductive layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the porous wick is formed from a porous ceramic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the maximum perimeter of the at least one liquid collecting portion to the perimeter of the heater portion is at least 1.25, or at least 1.5, or at least 2, or at least 3, or at least 4, or at least 5. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the at least one liquid collecting portion has a linear increase over at least part of a longitudinal extent of the at least one liquid collecting portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the at least one liquid collecting portion has a non-linear increase over at least part of a longitudinal extent of the at least one liquid collecting portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the porous wick has a density which is substantially the same in the at least one liquid collecting portion and in the heater portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the porous wick has a porosity which varies across the porous wick. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The aerosol source according to claim 9, wherein the porous wick has a porosity which is higher in the at least one liquid collecting portion than in the heater portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the wick has a generally circular cross-section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the wick has a generally square cross-section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the heater portion has a different cross-sectional shape from the at least one liquid collecting portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid collecting portion comprises two liquid collecting portions, and the wick is symmetric, the two liquid collecting portions having the same size and shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The aerosol source according to claim 1, wherein the at least one liquid collecting portion comprises two liquid collecting portions, and the wick is asymmetric, the two liquid collecting portions have a different shape and/or size. ### Claim 16 An atomizer for an electronic vapour provision system comprising: a heating element; and a porous wick comprising a heater portion in cooperation with the heating element such that the heating element is external to the heater portion or disposed within the heater portion, and at least one liquid collecting portion contiguous with the heater portion for placement in a reservoir of source liquid, the at least one liquid collecting portion having a maximum perimeter that is greater than a perimeter of the heater portion; wherein the porous wick is formed from a porous non-fiber-based material with integral interstitial pores. ### Claim 17 A wick for an atomizer of an electronic vapor provision system, made from porous non-fiber-based material with integral interstitial pores and comprising: a heater portion for cooperation with a heating element formed as a wire such that the heating element is external to the heater portion or disposed within the heater portion; and at least one liquid collecting portion contiguous with the heater portion for placement in a reservoir of source liquid, the at least one liquid collecting portion having a maximum perimeter that is greater than a perimeter of the heater portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A cartomizer for an electronic vapor provision system comprising an aerosol source according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A cartomizer for an electronic vapor provision system comprising an atomizer according to claim 16. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A cartomizer for an electronic vapor provision system comprising a wick according to claim 17.