Patent Abstract:
A protective cover for a portable electronic device that includes a main body portion that is adapted to at least partially surround and enclose a portable electronic device. The main body portion includes a rear section that has an accessory slot defined therein. The accessory slot removably receives an accessory assembly that includes a base having an accessory mounted thereto.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a protective cover for a portable electronic device and more particularly to a modular protective cover with an accessory slot for a portable electronic device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the past decade or so, mobile phones have become ubiquitous and are almost a necessity. Therefore, the protection of mobile phones from damage has become important. In particular, many people drop and break there phones, which causes them to have to spend money to buy a new phone. Accordingly, covers and the like for protecting mobile phones have become popular. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 7,933,122, issued on Apr. 26, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, mobile phones are often used for more than telephone calls. For example, mobile phones can be used for GPS navigation, viewing movies and playing video games, etc. Accessories that make such uses easier are desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective cover for a portable electronic device that includes a main body portion that is adapted to at least partially surround and enclose a portable electronic device. The main body portion includes a rear section that has an accessory slot defined therein. The accessory slot removably receives an accessory assembly that includes a base having an accessory mounted thereto. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the rear section includes a first set of two receiving openings defined therein that are positioned on opposite sides of the accessory slot that receive first and second tabs that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the base. Preferably, the receiving openings each include a first portion and a second portion. The first and second tabs on the base define a first width from the outer edge of the first tab to the outer edge of the second tab, the first portions define a second width from the outer edge of the first portion on one side of the accessory slot to the outer edge of the first portion on the opposite side of the accessory slot, and the second portions define a third width from the outer edge of the second portion on one side of the accessory slot to the outer edge of the second portion on the opposite side of the accessory slot. The second width is wider than the first width and the third width is narrower than the first width, such that the first and second tabs can be inserted into the first portions and slid into the second portions and under the rear section. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the accessory slot includes one of a ridge or a groove and the base includes the other of a ridge or a groove. The ridge is received in the groove to secure the base within the accessory slot. Preferably, the rear section includes a second set of two receiving openings defined therein that are positioned on opposite sides of the accessory slot. The second set of receiving openings are adapted to receive the first and second tabs that extend outwardly from opposite sides of the base, such that the accessory assembly is reversible. In a preferred embodiment, the accessory is selected from the group consisting of a kickstand, bicycle handlebar mounting assembly, tripod mounting assembly and windshield mounting assembly. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protective cover for a portable electronic device that includes an inner cushion enclosure adapted to at least partially surround and enclose a portable electronic device and a front shell that is received on and secured to the inner cushion enclosure. The inner cushion enclosure includes a back wall, two side walls, a top pouch and a bottom pouch that all cooperate to define an interior and a front screen opening. The top pouch and the bottom pouch include a groove defined in an outside surface thereof. The front shell includes a front section that has a front screen opening defined therein and rearwardly extending top and bottom members. The top member includes a hook portion that is removably received in the groove in the top pouch and the bottom member includes a hook portion that is removably received in the groove in the bottom pouch. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the protective cover further includes a back shell that includes a rear section and two forwardly extending side members that are removably secured to the front section of the front shell. Preferably, the front section of the front shell includes at least two grooves defined therein and the side members of the back shell each include at least one tab disposed thereon. The grooves of the front shell cooperate with the tabs of the back shell to secure the back shell to the front shell. In a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom members of the front shell include grooves defined therein that cooperate with tabs disposed on the rear section of the back shell to secure the back shell to the front shell. In a preferred embodiment, the rear section of the back shell has an accessory slot defined therein that removably receives a base having an accessory mounted thereto. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a protective cover for a portable electronic device. The method includes the steps of purchasing an inner cushion enclosure made of a relatively flexible material that includes a back wall, two side walls, a top pouch and a bottom pouch that all cooperate to define an interior and a front screen opening, covering the portable electronic device with the inner cushion enclosure, purchasing a front shell that is made of a relatively hard material, and securing the front shell to the inner cushion enclosure. In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes the steps of purchasing a back shell that is made of a relatively hard material, and securing the back shell to the front shell. 
     Preferably, the top pouch and the bottom pouch of the inner cushion enclosure each include a groove defined in an outside surface thereof and the front section of the front shell has a front screen opening defined therein and rearwardly extending top and bottom members that each include a hook portion. The method further includes inserting the hook section of the top member into the groove in the top pouch and inserting the hook section of the bottom member into the groove in the bottom pouch. In a preferred embodiment, the rear section of the back shell includes two forwardly extending side members that each include at least one tab disposed thereon, and the front section of the front shell includes at least two grooves defined therein. The method further includes inserting the tabs into the grooves to secure the back shell to the front shell. Preferably, the back shell includes a rear section that has an accessory slot defined therein, and the method further includes inserting an accessory assembly into the accessory slot. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. It is to be understood, however, that the detailed description of the various embodiments and specific examples, while indicating preferred and other embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular protective cover assembly for a portable electronic device disposed on a mobile phone in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the inner cushion enclosure of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the inner cushion enclosure of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the front shell of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the front shell of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the back shell of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the back shell of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1  with a kickstand assembly in the accessory slot; 
         FIG. 9B  is a cross-section of the kickstand assembly and accessory slot taken along line  9 B- 9 B of  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 10A  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1  with a bicycle handlebar mounting assembly in the accessory slot;  FIG. 10B  is a cross-section of the base and tabs mounted in the accessory slot taken along line  10 B- 10 B of  FIG. 10A ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1  with a tripod mounting assembly in the accessory slot; and 
         FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly of  FIG. 1  with a windshield mounting assembly in the accessory slot;  FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly with a windshield/flat surface mounting assembly in the accessory slot. 
     
    
    
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments. 
     Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the-disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. 
     The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks: The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same thing can be said in more than one way. 
     Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein. Nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and is not intended to further limit the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. 
     Without intent to further limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods and their related results according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles may be used in the examples for convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. 
     It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “side” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , the present invention is preferably directed to a modular protective cover assembly  10  for a hand-held electronic device or the like. In the figures, the hand-held electronic device is a mobile phone  100 . However, this is not a limitation on the present invention and the protective cover assembly  10  can be used with any type of portable electronic device, including personal digital assistants (PDAs), computers, tablets, notebooks, smartphones, mobile phones, satellite phones, cellular phones, pagers, music players, MP3 players, media players, digital cameras, video cameras, global positioning system devices (GPS), portable game consoles and the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  10  generally includes a front shell  12 , a back shell  14 , and an inner cushion enclosure  18 . Generally, the phone  100  is enclosed within the cushion enclosure  18  so that the screen  110  (and the keyboard, if present) of the phone are exposed through a screen opening  18   a  in the cushion enclosure  18 . The front and back shells  12  and  14  are secured over the cushion enclosure  18  to form the protective cover assembly  10 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 . When fully assembled, the protective cover assembly at least partially and substantially surrounds and provides protection for phone  100 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , in a preferred embodiment, the cushion enclosure  18  is made of a relatively flexible material such as a thermoplastic, rubber, silicon, urethane, or other material that is capable of stretching sufficiently to allow the phone  100  fit inside of the cushion enclosure  18 . The cushion enclosure  18  generally includes a back wall  20 , two side walls  22 , a top pouch  24  and a bottom pouch  26  that all cooperate to define an interior  28  that receives the phone  100  and provides cushioning in a drop situation and fits snugly over the phone  100 . As shown best in  FIG. 2 , the cushion enclosure  18  includes an accessory recess  34 , the purpose of which will be described below. It will be understood that the top and bottom pouches  24  and  26  can just be walls that cover the bottom and top of the phone. 
     It will be understood that the protective cover assembly  10  can be modified for different phone models and other portable electronic device models. Accordingly, the cushion enclosure  18  may include pads that are a part of or are connected to the cushion enclosure  18  to allow actuation of switches, buttons or the like that are on the phone  100 . The pads can then be depressed by a user to activate a tilt switch or push button switch, such as pads  30  that are positioned to allow a user to operate switches on the phone  100 . In another embodiment, the pads can be omitted and an opening can allow access to buttons or switches on the phone. Other pads or openings (such as speaker opening  32  and charger opening  39 ) can also be incorporated in the stretchable cushion layer that allow a user to interface with various controls on the phone  100 . 
     Preferably, the front and back shells  12  and  14  are made of a relatively hard material, such as an ABS material, propylene, a polycarbonate, thermoplastics, metals, composite materials, and other rigid materials used in injection molding and the like. It will be understood that assembly  10  can be used and designed differently for different types of phones or similar devices. Accordingly, front and back shells  12  and  14  can include different openings, slots, etc. for access to buttons, switches, cameras and the like on different phones. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the back shell  14  includes “soft components” that are made of a similar material to the cushion enclosure  18 . These components can be glued to the back shell  14  and used to plug, fill or cover openings in the back shell  14  to protect openings in the phone  100  (such as the charger opening or other mini or micro USB openings, or a multi-media opening, etc.). For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the back shell  14  can include slots  27  and adjacent openings  29  defined therein for gluing or otherwise adhering tabs  31  that allow soft covers  33  to be pivotal within openings  29 . In a preferred embodiment, the soft covers  33  are friction fit within openings  29 . For example, in a preferred embodiment, back shell  14  includes a charger opening  29 , which is covered by a pivotal cover  33 , in the side  22  thereof that allows a charger to be inserted into the charging/docking port of phone  100 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the cushion enclosure  18 , front shell  12  and back shell  14  are modular and sold separately. In other words, a user can purchase the cushion enclosure  18  by itself and use it to protect and enclose a phone. Then, if the user desires, he/she can purchase separately the front shell  12 , which is designed to fit on and be retained by the cushion enclosure  18 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Lastly, the user can purchase separately the back shell  14 , which is designed to connect with the front shell  12  to form the complete assembly  10 . In this embodiment, the steps for forming the assembly  10  include purchasing the cushion enclosure  18 , enclosing the phone in the cushion enclosure  18 , purchasing the front shell  12 , securing the front shell  12  on the cushion enclosure, purchasing the back shell  14 , and securing the back shell  14  to the front shell  12  and over the cushion enclosure  18 . It will be understood that in other embodiments the steps above can be rearranged. For example, the assembly  10  can be designed to allow the back shell  14  to fit on the cushion enclosure  18  first before securing the front shell  12  thereon. In another embodiment, the entire assembly  10  can be sold as a unit. In another embodiment, the user can purchase only the back shell  14  to cover a phone, or the front shell  12 , to cover a phone. 
     The method of connecting the front and back shells  12  and  14  to one another or to the cushion enclosure  18  is not a limitation on the present invention. It may be done via snap fit, tabs, or other known methods. The assembly of the front shell  12  and back shell  14  form an assembled hard shell housing  40 . It will be understood that housing  40  is preferably sized and shaped to form a rigid cover for the cushion enclosure  18 . 
     As is best shown in FIGS.  2  and  5 - 6 , in a preferred embodiment, the front shell  12  includes a front section  35  (that includes a front opening  42  defined therein) and rearwardly extending top and bottom members  36  and  38 , that cooperate to secure the front shell  12  onto the front of cushion enclosure  18 . In a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom members  36  and  38  each include a hook portion  36   a  and  38   a  that is received in a groove  44  on the back  20  of the cushion enclosure  18 . In another embodiment, there may be several separate hook portions that are received in a single groove  44  or separate grooves  44 . In another embodiment, the front section  35  can include tabs, grooves or snaps that cooperate with corresponding features on the cushion enclosure  18 , to help secure the front shell  12  to the cushion enclosure  18 . 
     As is best shown in FIGS.  2  and  7 - 8 , in a preferred embodiment, the back shell  14  includes a rear section  46  and two forwardly extending side members  48  and  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the side members  48  and  50  include a series of tabs  52  thereon that cooperate with grooves  54  in the front section  35  of the front shell  14  to secure the back shell  12  to the front shell  14 . In a preferred embodiment, the rear section  46  of the back shell  12  also include tabs  52  thereon that cooperate with grooves  54  in top and bottom members  36  and  38  of the front shell  14  to secure the back shell  12  to the front shell  14 . In another embodiment, the tabs and grooves can be reversed. 
     In another embodiment, the cushion enclosure  18  can be made of a hard material, such as plastic or the like and the front and back shells  12  and  14  can be made of a relatively flexible material, such as silicon or rubber. In an embodiment, the cushion enclosure  18  and the front and back shells  12  and  14  can be made of the same material. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-13 , in a preferred embodiment, the back shell  14  includes an accessory slot  56 . It will be understood that any number of accessories can be secured in the accessory slot  56  because the accessories are mounted on a base  57  that is received and secured in slot  56 . In a preferred embodiment, the accessory slot  56  includes at least one set of receiving openings  58 . In the embodiment shown in the figures, the slot  56  includes two sets of receiving openings  58  so that an accessory mounted in the slot  56  can be reversed as desired. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first and second (or top and bottom) receiving openings  58  include a first portion  58   a  and a second portion  58   b  and are designed to receive tabs  60  that extend outwardly from the base  57  and more preferably from a bottom surface  57   a  of the base  57 . It will be understood that with this arrangement, the first portion  58   a  is at a higher level than the second portion  58   b , as is shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the tabs  60  can be slid under the rear section when they are slid into the second portions  58   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10B , in a preferred embodiment, the tabs  60  on the base  57  define a first width W 1  from the outer edge of one tab  60  to the outer edge of the other tab  60 , the first portions  58   a  define a second width from the outer edge of the first portion  58   a  on one side of the accessory slot  56  to the outer edge of the first portion  58   a  on the opposite side of the accessory slot  56 , and the second portions  58   b  define a third width W 3  from the outer edge of the second portion  58   b  on one side of the accessory slot  56  to the outer edge of the second portion  58   b  on the opposite side of the accessory slot  56 . Preferably, the second width W 2  is wider than the first width W 1  and the third width W 3  is narrower than the first width W 1 . This allows the tabs  60  to be inserted into the first portions  58   a  and slid into the second portions  58   b  and under the rear section  46 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the accessory slot  56  includes a ridge  62  thereon that cooperates with a groove  64  in the bottom surface  57   a  of the base  57  to secure or lock the base  57  in place within accessory slot  56 . In another embodiment, slot  56  can include multiple ridges and bottom surface  57   a  can include multiple grooves. In another embodiment, the ridge can be on the bottom surface  57   a  and the groove can be on the accessory slot  56 . Other features for locking the base  57  in the accessory slot  56  are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that the accessory recess  34  in the cushion enclosure  18  receives the accessory slot  56  when the back shell  14  is secured on the cushion enclosure  18  and the accessory recess  34  allows the tabs  60  to slide along the second portion  58   b.    
       FIGS. 10A and 10B  show the accessory to be mounted in the accessory slot  56  as a kickstand  66  that is hingedly mounted on the base  57 .  FIG. 10B  is a cross-section of just the base  57  and tabs  60  mounted in the accessory slot  56 . To mount the kickstand  66  (the kickstand  66  together with the base  57  are referred to herein as a kickstand assembly), the tabs  60  are inserted into the first portions  58   a  in a first direction and are then slid or moved in a second direction (which is generally perpendicular to the first direction) until the ridge  62  is received in groove  64 , thereby locking the base  57  in place. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that with this arrangement, the kickstand  66  and base  57  are removable so that another accessory can be positioned in the accessory slot  56  as desired. 
       FIGS. 10A-13  include examples of other accessories that can be used in the accessory slot  56 . It will be understood that each of these accessories include base  57  that allows the accessory to be docked with the accessory slot  56 .  FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly  10  with a bicycle handlebar mounting assembly  70  in the accessory slot  56 . Bicycle handlebar mounting assembly  70  can be used to secure a phone  100  and the protective cover assembly  10  to a handle bar or other tubular object so that a user can read maps, use GPS, when desired. The bicycle handlebar mounting assembly  70  generally includes base  57 , a rotary dial  72 , clamp  74 , hinge  76 , threaded fastener  78  and elastomeric gasket  80 . The rotary dial  72  fastens the assembly  70  against back shell  14  and allows rotational adjustability. To secure the assembly  70  to a handlebar, threaded fastener  78  is unscrewed so that the two halves of clamp  74  can be hinged apart. The clamp  74  is then placed over a tube and the threaded fastener  78  is reinserted into a threaded opening (not shown) and the clamp  74  is tightened down to secure the assembly  70  (and phone and cover assembly  10 ) in place. The gasket  80  provides grip on the tube. 
       FIG. 12  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly  10  with a tripod mounting assembly  82  in the accessory slot  56 . Tripod mounting assembly  82  generally includes base  57 , a handle  84  with a threaded female tripod connection receiving opening  85  therein. In a preferred embodiment, the handle  84  is knurled and includes a indentation where a user&#39;s fingers can be placed while taking a picture. Opening  85  can be used to mount the phone  100  and assembly  10  to a tripod or other object that includes a threaded male fastener. 
       FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the modular protective cover assembly  10  with a windshield/flat surface mounting assembly  86  in the accessory slot  56 . The windshield/flat surface mounting assembly  86  generally includes base  57 , a socket member  88 , ball  90 , latch  92  and suction cup  94 . As is known in the art, ball  90  is received in socket member  88  and latch  92  is used to hingedly latch suction cup  94  to a windshield or the like. The arrangement of ball  90  and socket member  88  allows for pivotal adjustment of phone  100  and assembly  10 . 
     The accessories described herein are not limitations on the present invention. Other accessories can be used in combination with base  57  and accessory slot  56 . Other accessories, for example, may be a light, a magnet, a container, a cup holder, etc. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the back shell  14  and at least one accessory are sold as a kit. For example, the back shell  14  can be sold with the kickstand assembly. In another embodiment, the back shell  14  can be sold with more than one accessory. In another embodiment, assembly  10  can be sold with one or more assemblies. 
     In another embodiment, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , the assembly  10  can include a front cover portion  16  that covers and protects the screen  110  and any keys. The front cover portion  16  can be loose or secured to the inner surface of the front shell  12  such that it covers a screen opening  42  defined in the front shell  12  or secured in the inner cushion enclosure  18 . However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. The front cover portion  16  can be made from a soft, plastic layer such as a soft, thin Lexan (polycarbonate), PVC, urethane, or silicon material that can be molded, such as by thermoforming, casting, stretching, heating, or injection molding, or otherwise shaped to fit to screen  110  of the phone  100  and/or other surfaces of the phone  100 . The front cover portion  16  may be made from a single material or multiple materials that are welded, glued or formed together into a single sheet or membrane. For example, for the portion of the front cover portion  16  that is disposed over the display screen  110 , it may be desirable to use a clear, thin, hard layer of glass or plastic to provide a clear, transparent material over the display screen that protects the display screen from scratches. The other part of the front cover portion  16  may be made of a thin layer of Lexan (polycarbonate), PVC or a silicon material that is flexible so that a keyboard and other buttons may be pressed through the screen protective portion  16 . 
     In another embodiment for a phone with a keyboard, the front cover portion  16  may be made so that it is open to allow direct access to the keyboard, while the screen  110  is covered. In addition, various portions of the front cover portion  16  can be made clear, translucent, opaque or any desired color, or any combination of these alternatives. The front cover portion  16  is shown as covering a front portion of the phone  100 , but can also be made to wrap around a portion of, or all of, the backside of the phone  100  and be at least partially sealed together, especially if a self-adhering material is used for the front cover portion  16 . For example, if a camera is included on the backside of the phone  100 , a clear portion of the front cover portion  16  can be used to cover a camera lens (not shown). The front cover portion  16  can also have some elasticity so that it fits tightly to the phone  100 . The front cover portion  16  can be thermoformed or otherwise molded to fit the specific shape of all, or a portion of, the surfaces of the phone  100 , to provide a tight, form fit to the phone  100 . The molding or thermoforming process can be quickly and easily performed by simply generating a mold of the surfaces of the phone  100  to be covered and using that mold to generate a thermoforming mold or other mold. In this manner, a precisely formed membrane that fits tightly to the surfaces of the phone  100  can be simply and easily formed. Overlapping flaps (not shown) can also help to seal the membrane to the electronic device. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the molded, snug fit of the front cover portion  16  to the phone  100 , as well as the tight fit of the cushion enclosure  18 , front shell  12  and back shell  14  to the phone  100  and/or to each other, helps to seal the phone  100  within the protective cover assembly  10 . Further, the tight fit of the stretchable cushion enclosure  18  also helps to keep water, dirt and dust out. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The above-detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of and examples for the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed in parallel, or may be performed, at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. 
     The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     Any patents and applications and other references noted above, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Aspects of the disclosure can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the disclosure. 
     These and other changes can be made to the disclosure in light of the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. While the above description describes certain embodiments of the disclosure, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the teachings can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the subject matter disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosure should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features or aspects of the disclosure with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosures to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification unless the above Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the disclosure encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosure under the claims. 
     While certain aspects of the disclosure are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the disclosure in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the disclosure is recited as a means-plus-function claim under 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a means-plus-function claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a computer-readable medium. (Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6 will begin with the words “means for”). Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the disclosure. 
     Accordingly, although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that all the terms used herein are descriptive rather than limiting, and that many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0