Protective cover and apparatus including the same

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for protecting an information recording device.

1 . A cover for use with an information recording device, the cover comprising: 
 a substantially transparent top panel;    a bottom panel; and    first and second side panels and an end panel between the top and bottom panels;    the top, bottom and side panels together defining an end opening and an internal storage region;    the side and end panels being movable between a collapsed orientation where the top panel is adjacent to the bottom panel and an expanded orientation where the distance between the top and bottom panels is such that the information recording device and a user's hand may be placed within the internal storage region.    
   
   
       2 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel is substantially opaque.  
   
   
       3 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom panel is colored.  
   
   
       4 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side and rear panels is textured.  
   
   
       5 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side and rear panels is semi-opaque.  
   
   
       6 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side panels and the rear panel are sufficiently rigid to maintain the cover in the expanded orientation.  
   
   
       7 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the side panels and the rear panel include respective creases about which the side panels and the rear panel fold when the side panels and the rear panel move from the expanded orientation to the collapsed orientation.  
   
   
       8 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a flap extending from the top panel.    
   
   
       9 . A cover as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a closure mechanism adapted to releasably secure a portion of the flap to a portion of the bottom panel.    
   
   
       10 . A cover as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an end stop associated with bottom panel and positioned adjacent to the end opening.    
   
   
       11 . A cover as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the end stop is substantially rigid.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 an information recording device; and    a cover including a substantially transparent top panel, a bottom panel, and first and second side panels and an end panel between the top and bottom panels;    the top, bottom and side panels together defining an end opening and an internal storage region;    the side and end panels being movable between a collapsed orientation where the top panel is adjacent to the bottom panel and an expanded orientation where the distance between the top and bottom panels is such that the information recording device and a user's hand may be placed within the internal storage region.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel is substantially opaque.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel is colored.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the side and rear panels is textured.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the side and rear panels is semi-opaque.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the side panels and the rear panel are sufficiently rigid to maintain the cover in the expanded orientation.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the side panels and the rear panel include respective creases about which the side panels and the rear panel fold when the side panels and the rear panel move from the expanded orientation to the collapsed orientation.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a flap extending from the top panel.    
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a closure mechanism adapted to releasably secure a portion of the flap to a portion of the bottom panel.    
   
   
       21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 an end stop associated with bottom panel and positioned adjacent to the end opening.    
   
   
       22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the end stop is substantially rigid.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the information recording device comprises a clipboard.  
   
   
       24 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 expanding a cover including a substantially transparent top panel, a bottom panel, and first and second side panels and an end panel between the top and bottom panels; and    positioning a information recording device within the cover.    
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , the expanding step is performed prior to the positioning step.  
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of: 
 collapsing the cover with the information recording device positioned within the cover.    
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the cover defines an opening, the method further comprising the step of: 
 closing the opening with a flap.