# US 2021/0274846 A1 · Vapor provision device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0274846 A1 - Document ID: US20210274846A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/250,297 - Filed: 2019-06-27 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-29 - Assignees: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Inventors: Mark POTTER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274846A1 ## CPC - A24F 40/485: Valves; Apertures - A24F 40/51: Arrangement of sensors - 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 A vapor provision device includes a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein air is drawn from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation. The device further includes a vaporizer for providing vapor into the primary airflow path, wherein the vaporizer is located within or adjacent to the primary airflow path, and a trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit the flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap by retaining liquid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vapor provision device comprising: a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein air is drawn from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation; a vaporizer for providing vapor into the primary airflow path, wherein the vaporizer is located within or adjacent to the primary airflow path; and a trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap by retaining liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap comprises a convoluted portion of the primary airflow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vapor provision device of claim 2, wherein the convoluted portion comprises at least a first bend and a second bend, wherein each of the first bend and the second bend turns an angle of at least approximately ninety degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vapor provision device of claim 3, wherein one or both of the first bend and the second bend turns an angle greater than ninety degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vapor provision device of claim 3, wherein one or both of the first bend and the second bend turns an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The vapor provision device of claim 3, further comprising an airflow sensor located on or adjacent to the primary airflow path, and wherein the primary airflow path has a first direction between the airflow sensor and the first bend, a second direction between the first bend and the second bend, and a third direction between the second bend and the vaporizer, wherein the first direction and the third direction are substantially parallel but offset with respect to each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vapor provision device of claim 6, wherein the second direction is at least partly in opposition to the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The vapor provision device of claim 2, wherein the convoluted portion provides a gravitational barrier against the flow of liquid in an upstream direction when the vapor provision device is held in a normal orientation for user inhalation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vapor provision device of claim 8, wherein the convoluted portion comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is upstream of the second section, and further wherein the first section is higher than the second section when the vapor provision device is held in a normal orientation for user inhalation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The vapor provision device of claim 2, wherein the convoluted portion includes a valve configuration to inhibit liquid flow upstream though the convoluted portion compared with liquid flow downstream through the convoluted portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vapor provision device of claim 10, wherein the valve configuration comprises a tube, such that air flowing in a downstream direction travels firstly along an inside of the tube and then back along and around an outside of the tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap comprises an absorbent material for retaining liquid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vapor provision device of claim 12, wherein the absorbent material is located within a depression or sump, according to a normal orientation of the vapor provision device for user inhalation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vapor provision device of claim 12, wherein the primary airflow path is substantially a straight line from the vaporizer to the absorbent material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vapor provision device of claim 12, wherein the absorbent material facilitates evaporation of liquid from within the vapor provision device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap comprises a sump or depression forming a gravitational barrier to inhibit the flow of liquid in an upstream direction when the vapor provision device is held in a normal orientation for user inhalation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap comprises a gravitational barrier to inhibit the flow of liquid in an upstream direction when the vapor provision device is held in a normal orientation for user inhalation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap comprises a valve configuration to inhibit liquid flow upstream compared with liquid flow downstream. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the vapor provision device is configured to contain or receive a reservoir of liquid to be vaporized, and wherein the trap has a capacity to retain between 2% and 30% of a volume of the reservoir. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, further comprising an airflow sensor for detecting a user inhalation on the vapor provision device, wherein the trap is located downstream of the airflow sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the vapor provision device comprises a cartomizer for connection to a reusable component for supplying power to the vapor provision device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap has substantially no effect on a downstream flow of air resulting from user inhalation. ### Claim 23 A vapor provision device comprising: a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein air is drawn from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation; a vaporizer for providing vapor into the primary airflow path, wherein the vaporizer is located within or adjacent to the primary airflow path; and a multi-component trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap by retaining liquid, wherein the multi-component trap comprises: a gravitational barrier to inhibit the flow of liquid in an upstream direction when the vapor provision device is held in a normal orientation for user inhalation; and an absorbent material for retaining liquid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The vapor provision device of claim 23, further comprising a valve configuration to inhibit liquid flow upstream compared with liquid flow downstream. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The vapor provision device of claim 1, wherein the trap is located upstream of the vaporizer on the primary airflow path. ### Claim 26 A vapor provision device comprising: a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet, wherein air is drawn from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation; and a trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit the flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap by retaining liquid. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A vapor provision system comprising the vapor provision device of claim 1 in combination with a power supply and control circuitry. ### Claim 28 A non-therapeutic method of operating a vapor provision device comprising: providing a primary airflow path, internal to the vapor provision device, from an air inlet to an air outlet; drawing air from the air inlet in a downstream direction through the primary airflow path to the air outlet by user inhalation; providing vapor into the primary airflow path; and retaining liquid in a trap located in the primary airflow path to inhibit flow of liquid along the primary airflow path in an upstream direction from the trap.