Protective cover for electronic device

1. A protective cover for an electronic device, the electronic device having a camera feature, an electrical port, a front surface including a touch screen display, a back surface, and a plurality of sides, at least one of the plurality of sides of the electronic device having one or more control buttons, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell adapted to removably retain the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective cover, the protective shell having a back and a plurality of side members that define a perimeter of the protective shell, the protective shell adapted to at least partially cover the back surface and the sides of the installed electronic device, the protective shell including a cushioning member affixed to at least an inner surface of the protective shell, wherein the cushioning member is adapted to receive at least a portion of the back surface of the installed electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is a separate unit from the protective cover;

a first opening in the protective cover, the first opening adapted to expose at least a portion of the touch screen display of the installed electronic device;

a second opening in the protective cover, the second opening adapted to provide optical access to the camera feature of the installed electronic device; and

a third opening in the protective cover, the third opening adapted to provide access to the electrical port of the installed electronic device.

2. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising an access region in one of the plurality of the side members of the protective shell, the access region adapted to provide access to at least one of the one or more control buttons of the installed electronic device.

3. The protective cover of claim 2 further comprising a pliable molded surface covering at least a portion of the access region, wherein the pliable molded surface covering the portion of the access region is adapted to transmit a mechanical pressure applied at an exterior surface of the pliable molded surface to the control button of the installed electronic device for actuation of the control button.

4. The protective cover of claim 3 wherein the cushioning member includes the pliable molded surface covering the access region.

5. The protective cover of claim 2 wherein the protective shell includes an access hole for accessing the access region.

6. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising an optically clear insert affixed to the protective shell and overlaying at least a portion of the second opening.

7. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the optically clear insert comprises an optical lens.

8. The protective cover of claim 6 wherein the optically clear insert is molded into the protective shell.

9. The protective cover of claim 1 further comprising a movable door adapted to cover the third opening.

10. A protective cover for use with an electronic device, the electronic device having an interactive touch screen display, at least one control button, a camera feature, and an electrical interface, the protective cover comprising:

a protective shell base having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective shell base, the side members of the protective shell base at least partially covering sides of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover, the electronic device being a separate unit from the protective shell base;

a cushioning member coupled with the inner surface of the protective shell base, the cushioning member configured for cushioning the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover;

a first opening in the protective shell base, the first opening configured to align with and expose at least a portion of the interactive touch screen display of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover;

a second opening in the protective shell base, the second opening configured to align with the camera feature of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover; and

a pliable molded surface covering the at least one control button of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover, wherein the pliable molded surface is configured to transmit a mechanical pressure applied at an exterior surface of the pliable molded surface to the control button of the electronic device for actuation of the control button while disposed in the protective cover.

11. The protective cover of claim 10 wherein the cushioning member includes the pliable molded surface covering the control button.

12. The protective cover of claim 10 further comprising an access port in at least one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the access port configured to be proximate the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover.

13. The protective cover of claim 12 further comprising a second access port in at least one of the plurality of side members of the protective shell base, the second access port configured to be proximate and provide access to a headphone jack of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover.

14. The protective cover of claim 10 further comprising an opening in the cushioning member for accessing the electrical interface of the electronic device when the electronic device is disposed in the protective cover.

15. The protective cover of claim 10 further comprising a sealing member, the sealing member configured to seal at least one of the first opening and the second opening to a surface of the installed electronic device.

16. The protective cover of claim 15 wherein the cushioning member comprises the sealing member.

17. An apparatus for use with an electronic device, the electronic device having a housing, an interactive touchscreen display, a control button, a camera, and an electrical interface, the apparatus comprising:

a protective cover having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of side members defining a perimeter of the protective cover, the protective cover configured to receive at least a portion of the electronic device and cover at least a portion of the housing of the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective cover, the protective cover having a rigid shell and a cushioning member configured for cushioning at least a portion of the installed electronic device in the protective cover, wherein the cushioning member is configured to contact at least a portion of a back surface of the housing of the installed electronic device;

a first opening in the protective cover, the first opening configured to align with and provide access to at least a portion of the interactive touchscreen display of the installed electronic device;

a second opening in the protective cover, the second opening configured to align with the camera of the installed electronic device and provide optical access to the camera of the installed electronic device; and

a third opening in at least one of the plurality of the side members of the protective cover, the third opening positioned to be proximate the electrical interface of the installed electronic device and configured to provide access to the electrical interface of the installed electronic device from an area outside the protective cover.

18. The protective cover of claim 17 further comprising a door for covering the third opening, the door movable between a closed position and an opened position for accessing the electrical interface of the installed electronic device from an area outside of the protective cover.

19. The protective cover of claim 17 wherein the control button is on a side of the electronic device and the cushioning member is configured to extend over the control button of the installed electronic.

20. The protective cover of claim 17 further comprising a fourth opening in at least one of the plurality of the side members, the fourth opening positioned to be proximate a second electrical interface of the installed electronic device and configured to provide access to the second electrical interface of the installed electronic device from the area outside the protective cover.