Protective covers for electronic devices

Abstract

A system for protecting a surface of an electronic device includes a protective film and a liner. The protective film includes an adhesive-coated surface. The liner, which covers the adhesive-coated surface until the protective film is secured to the surface of an electronic device, covers a periphery of the adhesive-coated surface. The liner may also include one or more tabs for facilitating removal of the liner from the adhesive-coated surface of the protective film. Methods for using the system to apply a protective film to a surface, such as a surface of a display screen, of an electronic device are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for protecting a surface of an electronic device, comprising:
 removing at least a portion of a liner from a portion of a back side of a protective cover to expose adhesive on the portion of the back side of the protective cover;   securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover the surface of the electronic device with the adhesive on the portion of the back side of the protective cover; and   with the peripheral portion of the back side of the protective cover secured to the surface of the electronic device, securing other portions of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the electronic device is visible through the protective cover. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device comprises securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to a display screen of the electronic device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device comprises securing the portion of the back side to an edge of the surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 removing the portion of the back side of the protective cover from the surface of the electronic device; and   repositioning the portion of the back side of the protective cover on the surface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein removing and repositioning occur without an individual touching the adhesive on the back side of the protective cover. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing at least the portion of the liner comprises:
 grasping a tab protruding from an edge of the liner; and   while holding the tab, peeling at least the portion of the liner from the portion of the back side of the protective cover.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein grasping the tab comprises grasping a tab protruding beyond a periphery of the protective cover. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein grasping the tab enables an individual to remove at least the portion of the liner from the portion of the back side of the protective cover without touching the adhesive of the portion of the back side of the protective cover. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein removing at least the portion of the liner comprises removing at least the portion of the liner with at least the portion of the liner being detached from a main element of the liner and a majority of the back side of the protective cover remaining covered by the main element of the liner. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover occurs while the main element of the liner prevents a portion of the protective cover superimposed with the main element from being secured in place relative to the surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 with the portion of the back side of the protective cover secured to the corresponding location on the surface of the electronic device, grasping the main element of the liner to remove the main element of the liner from the majority of the back side of the protective cover to enable a remainder of the adhesive on the majority of the back side of the protective cover to secure the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device comprises securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to a corresponding location on the surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein securing the portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device comprises securing a peripheral portion of the back side of the protective cover to a peripheral portion of the surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein securing the other portions of the of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device comprises securing the other portions of the back side of the protective cover to corresponding locations on the surface of the electronic device. 
     
     
         16 . A method for protecting a surface of an electronic device, comprising:
 removing at least a portion of a liner from a back side of a protective cover to expose adhesive on the back side of the protective cover;   securing a portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device without securing another portion of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device; and   with the portion of the back side of the protective cover secured to the surface of the electronic device, securing a remainder of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein removing at least the portion comprises leaving a portion of the liner on the back side of the protective cover. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein securing the remainder of the back side of the protective cover to the surface of the electronic device occurs while removing the portio of the liner from the back side of the protective cover. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein removing at least the portion of the liner comprises removing a minor portion of the liner from the back side of the protective cover. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein removing the minor portion of the liner comprises removing a peripheral portion of the liner from the back side of the protective cover.