Protective enclosure for electronic device

Abstract

A protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel and one or more electrical contacts includes a protective shell having first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case member to at least partially cover the electronic device. An aperture defined by the protective shell is aligned with the interactive control panel when the electronic device is at least partially enclosed by the protective shell. A securing mechanism secures the first member with the second member. An electrical connection attached to the protective shell is configured to connect an electrical source to at least one of the electrical contacts of the electronic device to provide an electrical connection to the electrical source when the electronic device is received by the first member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective cover for an electronic device having a capacitive-sensing interactive control panel, an electrical interface, and at least one control button, the protective cover comprising:
 a protective shell base that has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell base, the perimeter at least partially covering a peripheral side of the electronic device and having one or more compliant portions formed to flexibly engage a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;   an opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base, the opening being aligned to expose at least the capacitive-sensing interactive control panel when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;   a cushioning member coupled with the inner surface of the protective shell base;   at least one hole in at least one of the plurality of side members, the at least one hole being positioned proximate the at least one control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;   a sealing member in the at least one hole, the sealing member being formed to engage the at least one control button of the electronic device; and   an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members, the access port being positioned proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member comprises the sealing member. 
     
     
         3 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member is fixed to the inner surface of the protective shell base and surrounds the opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         4 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein flexible engagement by the one or more compliant portions comprises the one or more compliant portions moving out from the protective shell base and springing back during insertion or removal of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more compliant portions extends from one of the plurality of side members. 
     
     
         6 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a cushioning bumper positioned at a corner of the protective shell base, the corner being defined by a gap between two of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member is molded on to the inner surface of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         8 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member is a thermoplastic polymerized rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the thermoplastic polymerized rubber is overmolded onto the inner surface of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         10 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an image capture opening in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         11 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a sound transmission vent in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         12 . A protective cover for an electronic device having a capacitive-sensing interactive control panel, the protective cover comprising:
 a protective shell base that has an inner surface, an outer surface, and one or more side members to at least partially cover a peripheral side of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the protective shell base having one or more compliant portions formed to flexibly engage a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;   an opening defined by the protective shell, the opening being aligned to expose at least the capacitive-sensing interactive control panel when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base; and   a cushioning member coupled with the inner surface of the protective shell base, the cushioning member cushioning the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the cushioning member being molded on to the inner surface of the protective shell base.   
     
     
         13 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising at least one hole in one of the one or more side members, the at least one hole being positioned proximate a control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         14 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising a sealing member in the at least one hole, the sealing member being formed to engage the control button of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising an access port in one of the one or more side members, the access port being positioned proximate an electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         16 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising an image capture opening in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         17 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising a sound transmission vent in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         18 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning member is fixed to the inner surface of the protective shell base and surrounds the opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         19 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein flexible engagement by the one or more compliant portions comprises the one or more compliant portions moving out from the protective shell base and springing back during insertion or removal of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         20 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein each of the one or more compliant portions extends from one of the one or more side members. 
     
     
         21 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a cushioning bumper positioned at a corner of the protective shell base, the corner being defined by a gap in the one or more side members of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         22 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning member is a thermoplastic polymerized rubber. 
     
     
         23 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the thermoplastic polymerized rubber is overmolded onto the inner surface of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         24 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein the capacitive-sensing interactive control panel is a touch screen. 
     
     
         25 . A protective cover for an electronic device having a capacitive-sensing interactive control panel, an electrical interface, and at least one control button, the protective cover comprising:
 a protective shell base that has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell base, the plurality of side members at least partially covering a peripheral side of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the protective shell base having one or more compliant portions formed to flexibly engage a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;   an opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base, the opening being aligned to expose at least the capacitive-sensing interactive control panel when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;   a cushioning member molded on the inner surface of the protective shell base and surrounding the opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base;   at least one hole in at least one of the plurality of side members, the at least one hole being positioned proximate the at least one control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base; and   an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members, the access port being positioned proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.   
     
     
         26 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the cushioning member comprises a cushioning bumper positioned at a corner of the protective shell base, the corner being defined by a gap in the one or more side members of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         27 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein each of the one or more compliant portions extends from one of the plurality of side members. 
     
     
         28 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein flexible engagement by the one or more compliant portions comprises the one or more compliant portions moving out from the protective shell base and springing back during insertion or removal of the protective shell base. 
     
     
         29 . The protective cover in accordance with  claim 25 , wherein the electronic device further includes a camera, and wherein the protective cover further comprises an image capture opening in the protective shell base, the image capture opening being positioned proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base. 
     
     
         30 . A protective cover for an electronic device having a capacitive-sensing interactive control panel, an electrical interface, a camera, and at least one control button, the protective cover comprising:
 a protective shell base that has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell base, the plurality of side members at least partially covering a peripheral side of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the protective shell base having one or more compliant portions formed to flexibly engage a portion of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;   an opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base, the opening being aligned to expose at least the capacitive-sensing interactive control panel when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;   a cushioning member molded on the inner surface of the protective shell base and surrounding the opening defined by the perimeter of the protective shell base;   at least one hole in at least one of the plurality of side members, the at least one hole being positioned proximate the at least one control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base;   a sealing member in the at least one hole, the sealing member being formed to engage the at least one control button of the electronic device;   an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members, the access port being positioned proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base; and   an image capture opening in the protective shell base, the image capture opening being positioned proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective shell base.