Protective folio case with splitter

Abstract

A protective case for use with an electronic device includes a case back, a case front, a folio cover, and a splitter. The case back is configured for receiving and at least partially covering the electronic device. The case front is configured to attach to the case back to retain the installed electronic in the protective case. The folio cover has folio panels pivotably attached to the case back, wherein the folio cover is configured to cover the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device in a closed position and permit access to the interactive touchscreen in an opened position. The electrical splitter includes three or more electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector is configured to interface to the electrical connector of the installed electronic device and route at least a portion of the electrical signals to each of second and third electrical connectors of the splitter.

1 . A protective case for use with an electronic device, the electronic device having a front surface, a back surface, side surfaces, an interactive touchscreen, and an electrical connector, the protective case comprising:
 a case back configured for receiving and at least partially covering the electronic device when the electronic device is installed in the protective case, wherein the case back is configured to at least partially cover the back surface and at least partially cover respective side surfaces of the installed electronic device;   a case front configured to attach to the case back to retain the installed electronic in the protective case while still permitting access to the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device;   a folio cover having a plurality of folio panels pivotably attached to the case back, wherein the folio cover is configured to cover the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device when the folio cover is in a closed position and permit access to the interactive touchscreen of the installed electronic device when the front panel is in an opened position, wherein the folio panels of the folio cover are configured to fold into a stand for the protective case when the folio cover is in the opened position; and   an electrical splitter having three or more electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector of the three or more electrical connectors of the splitter is configured to interface to the electrical connector of the installed electronic device and route at least a portion of the electrical signals from the electrical connector of the installed electronic device to each of second and third electrical connectors of the three or more electrical connectors of the splitter, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The protective case of  claim 1  wherein the electrical splitter is attached to the case back. 
     
     
         3 . The protective case of  claim 1  wherein the electrical splitter is removably attached to the case back. 
     
     
         4 . The protective case of  claim 3  further comprising a second electrical splitter having three or more electrical connectors, wherein at least one of the three or more electrical connectors of the second electrical splitter differs from all of the three or more electrical connectors of the electrical splitter, and wherein the second electrical splitter is removably attachable to the case back as an alternative to the electrical splitter. 
     
     
         5 . The protective case of  claim 1  wherein the splitter includes four electrical connectors each of the four electrical connectors being different from the other three of the four electrical connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The protective case of  claim 1  further including a soft cover configured to removably cover at least a portion of the case back and the case front. 
     
     
         7 . The protective case of  claim 1  wherein the folio cover includes three folio panels and a further includes a first folio tab attached to a first edge of the folio cover. 
     
     
         8 . The protective case of  claim 7  wherein the first folio tab pivotably attaches the folio cover to the case back. 
     
     
         9 . The protective case of  claim 8  wherein the folio cover further includes a second folio tab attached to a second edge of the folio cover, wherein the second edge of the follow cover is on an opposite side from the first edge. 
     
     
         10 . The protective case of  claim 9  wherein the second folio tab removably affixes to at least one of the case back and the case front to temporarily hold the folio cover in the closed position on the protective case. 
     
     
         11 . The protective case of  claim 10  wherein the second folio tab is further configured to hold a stylus. 
     
     
         12 . A protective cover for use with a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device having at least a front surface, a back surface, side surfaces, an interactive touchscreen, and an electrical receptacle, the protective cover comprising:
 a case adapted for receiving and at least partially covering the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is removably installed in the protective cover, the case adapted to at least partially cover the back surface and at least partially cover one or more of the side surfaces of the installed portable electronic device;   a folio cover having a plurality of folio panels and first and second folio tabs, wherein the plurality of folio panels are hingedly attached to each other, wherein the first folio tab is attached to a first edge of the plurality of folio panels, wherein the first folio tab also attaches the folio cover to the case, wherein the folio cover is adapted to cover the interactive touchscreen of the installed portable electronic device when the folio cover is in a closed position and permit access to the interactive touchscreen of the installed portable electronic device when the folio cover is in an opened position, wherein the second folio tab is attached to a second edge of the folio panels opposite the first edge and adapted to temporarily hold the folio cover in the closed position, and wherein the folio panels of the folio cover are adapted to fold into a stand for the protective cover when the folio cover is in the opened position; and   an electrical splitter having three or more electrical connectors, wherein a first electrical connector of the three or more electrical connectors of the splitter is adapted to interface to the electrical receptacle of the installed portable electronic device and route at least a portion of the electrical signals between the electrical receptacle of the installed portable electronic device and the second and third electrical connectors of the three or more electrical connectors of the splitter, respectively.   
     
     
         13 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the electrical splitter is removably attached to the case. 
     
     
         14 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the second folio tab is further adapted to extend over a stylus positioned adjacent to a side of the installed portable electronic device. 
     
     
         15 . The protective cover of  claim 12  further including a cushioning cover adapted to removably cover at least a portion of the case. 
     
     
         16 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the case includes a substantially transparent screen protector adapted to extend over the interactive touchscreen of the installed portable electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the portable electronic device is a tablet computer. 
     
     
         18 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the folio cover includes three folio panels attached to each other with two living hinges. 
     
     
         19 . The protective cover of  claim 18  wherein the three folio panels fold into a stand having a triangular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         20 . The protective cover of  claim 12  wherein the case includes a case front that attaches to a case back to form the case.