Vaping case and systems and methods involving the same

Abstract

A vaping cessation device and systems and methods involving the same is disclosed. The vaping cessation device includes a case for receiving an e-cigarette device, a lid that is moveable relative to the case, a locking mechanism having a locked state and an unlocked state, and a controller, such that the controller may toggle the locking mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state so as to control access of a user to the e-cigarette device contained therein according to a predetermined schedule, user preferences, and the like. The device may further comprise a retention mechanism that is toggleable between a blocking state and an open state, such that, in the blocking state, the retention mechanism retains the e-cigarette device within the case independently of the lid and/or the locking mechanism.

1 . A vaping cessation device, comprising:
 a case configured to at least partially contain an e-cigarette device;   a lid movable relative to the case, the lid configured to at least partially restrict access to a mouthpiece of the e-cigarette device;   a locking mechanism that is toggleable between a locked state and an unlocked state; and   a controller configured to operate the locking mechanism,   wherein, in the locked state, the locking mechanism restricts the lid from moving relative to the case.   
     
     
         2 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retention mechanism that is toggleable between a blocking state and an open state,
 wherein the controller is further configured to operate the retention mechanism such that, in the blocking state, the retention mechanism is configured to restrict the e-cigarette device from being removed from the case independent of the locking mechanism and/or the lid.   
     
     
         3 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface and a display. 
     
     
         4 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor for monitoring opening and closing of the lid. 
     
     
         5 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one charge port, and
 wherein the at least one charge port is configured to charge both a battery of the vaping cessation device and the e-cigarette device contained therein.   
     
     
         6 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the locking mechanism according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined schedule defines a minimum amount of time between usages of the e-cigarette device. 
     
     
         8 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined schedule defines a predetermined number of usages per time period. 
     
     
         9 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit availability information to a mobile device of a user. 
     
     
         10 . The vaping cessation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive scheduling information from a mobile device of a user. 
     
     
         11 . A vaping cessation system comprising:
 a vaping cessation device; and   at least one of a mobile device and a server,   wherein the vaping cessation device comprises:
 a case configured to at least partially contain an e-cigarette device, 
 a lid movable relative to the case, the lid configured to at least partially restrict access to a mouthpiece of the e-cigarette device, 
 a locking mechanism that is toggleable between a locked state and an unlocked state, and 
 a controller configured to operate the locking mechanism; 
   wherein, in the locked state, the locking mechanism restricts the lid from moving relative to the case; and   wherein the vaping cessation device is communicatively coupled to the at least one of the mobile device and the server.   
     
     
         12 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the vaping cessation device further comprises a retention mechanism that is toggleable between a blocking state and an open state; and
 wherein the controller is further configured to operate the retention mechanism such that, in the blocking state, the retention mechanism is configured to restrict the e-cigarette device from being removed from the case independent of the locking mechanism and/or the lid.   
     
     
         13 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit availability information to the at least one of the mobile device and the server. 
     
     
         14 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive scheduling information from the at least one of the mobile device and the server. 
     
     
         15 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the locking mechanism according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         16 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined schedule defines a minimum amount of time between usages of the e-cigarette device. 
     
     
         17 . The vaping cessation system according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined schedule defines a predetermined number of usages per time period. 
     
     
         18 . A method for vaping cessation, comprising:
 receiving an e-cigarette device within a case of a vaping cessation device, the vaping cessation device further comprising a lid movable relative to the case, a locking mechanism that is toggleable between a locked state and an unlocked state, and a controller configured to operate the locking mechanism, wherein, in the locked state, the locking mechanism restricts the lid from moving relative to the case; and   toggling the locking mechanism between the locked state and the unlocked state according to a predetermined schedule,   wherein the predetermined schedule defines at least one of a minimum amount of time between usages of the e-cigarette device and a predetermined number of usages of the e-cigarette device per time period.   
     
     
         19 . The method for vaping cessation according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 toggling a retention mechanism between a blocking state and an open state according to a second predetermined schedule,   wherein the vaping cessation device further comprises the retention mechanism, the retention mechanism is toggleable between the blocking state and the open state, and in the blocking state, the retention mechanism is configured to restrict the e-cigarette device from being removed from the case independent of the locking mechanism and/or the lid.   
     
     
         20 . The method for vaping cessation according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a mobile device, information setting the predetermined schedule.