fig1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the protective lock box cover 10 disposed about a standard modem lock box 12 . the lock box 12 is shaped substantially as a six - sided rectangular box having top , bottom , front , back , left side and right side panels . a substantially u - shaped shackle 14 projects upwardly from the top panel . posts 16 of the shackle 14 are received in mating ports ( not shown ) that project into the lock box 12 through the top panel . the u - shaped shackle 14 is adapted to be placed around , for example , a door knob in order to secure the lock box 12 to a property that is for sale . an interior key compartment 18 ( fig3 ) holds a key that is used to access the property . for example , the key compartment 18 may hold a key for the front door from which the box 12 hangs . the front panel of the lock box 12 includes a combination keypad 20 . when the proper combination is entered into the keypad 20 , the key compartment 18 ejects from the lower panel , allowing access to the key . those of skill in the art will appreciate that the lock box 12 need not include a keypad 20 . the lock box may instead include an alternative means for accessing the interior of the lock box , such as the examples discussed above . for such lock boxes , the cover 10 can be modified as appropriate to provide openings for leaving the access means exposed . the cover 10 comprises rear 22 ( fig2 a - 2 c ), a left - side panel 24 and right side panel 26 ( fig2 a ), each adapted to rest against the rear , left side and right side panels , respectively , of the lock box 12 . each of these panels 22 , 24 , 26 preferably comprises a resilient material , such as neoprene or foam , for example . preferably , the resilient material is sandwiched between two layers of fabric , such as nylon , for example . in the pictured embodiment , the inner and outer layers of fabric of the three panels 22 , 24 , 26 each comprise one continuous sheet . a separate piece of fabric 28 wraps around the edges of the fabric comprising the panels 22 , 24 , 26 . stitching 30 secures this separate piece 28 to the two fabric layers and secures the two fabric layers to one another , thereby forming a fabric envelope containing the resilient layer . the envelope is divided into three separate compartments by two rows of stitching ( not shown ). a first row of stitching traces a border between the rear panel 22 and the left - side panel 24 , and a second row of stitching traces a border between the rear panel 22 and the left - side panel 26 . each compartment preferably contains a separate piece of resilient material , such that the fabric envelope is easily foldable along the rows of stitching . one of skill in the art will appreciate that these three panels 22 , 24 , 26 could also be constructed in a variety of alternative ways . for example , each panel could be constructed separately , and the separate panels sewn together , rather than using two continuous sheets of fabric . alternatively , each panel could comprise a resilient layer with a single layer of fabric sewn or otherwise attached to one surface . in such a configuration , the fabric layer , which is more durable than the resilient layer , preferably comprises the outer layer of the cover 10 . alternatively , the cover 10 may comprise only a single resilient layer , without any protective fabric layer . a top / front edge panel 32 ( fig1 a and 2 b ) is secured to the top edges 34 and front edges 36 ( fig2 a ) of the left - side panel 24 and right side panel 26 . a width of the panel 32 is substantially equal to a width of the rear panel 22 . a substantially rectangular gap 38 ( fig2 b ) separates the top / front edge panel 32 from the rear panel 22 . the u - shaped shackle 14 of the lock box 12 protrudes through this gap 38 when the cover 10 is disposed about the lock box 12 . the top / front edge panel 32 adjoins the top edge 34 of the left - side panel 24 and right side panel 26 forward to a top / front corner 40 ( fig1 ) of each . the top / front edge panel 32 continues along the front edge 36 of each side panel 24 , 26 for a short distance . this front facing portion 42 ( fig1 and 2a ) of the top / front edge panel 32 covers an upper portion of a front face of the lock box 12 when the cover 10 is disposed about the lock box 12 . one of skill in the art will appreciate that the top / front edge panel 32 may adopt a number of other configurations . for example , the top facing portion 44 of the panel 32 and the front facing portion 42 of the panel 32 may comprise separate panels . alternatively , the panel 32 may comprise only a top facing portion , or only a forward facing portion . further , the panel 32 in the illustrated embodiment is attached to the side panels 24 , 26 with stitching . alternative methods of attaching the panel 32 to the side panels could also be used . for example , the panel 32 could be attached to the side panels 24 , 26 with glue , buttons , snaps or hook and loop fastener . the configuration of the pictured embodiment should in no way be interpreted as limiting . a pair of lower front straps connect lower front corners 46 ( fig2 a and 2c ) of the left side panel 24 and right side panel 26 . a front - facing strap 48 ( fig1 and 2a ) is connected just above the corner 46 of each panel 24 , 26 and adjoins a short length of the front edge 36 of each panel 24 , 26 . a bottom - facing strap 50 ( fig2 c ) is connected just below the corner 46 of each panel 24 , 26 and adjoins a short length of the bottom edge 52 of each panel 24 , 26 . a width of each strap 48 , 50 is substantially equal to the width of the rear panel 22 . the straps 48 , 50 are preferably constructed of a fabric that stretches , but returns back to a pre - stretched length when the stretching force is removed . a preferred material is elasticized nylon . the illustrated configuration of the straps 48 , 50 is merely exemplary . the straps 48 , 50 could , for example , be joined to one another to comprise one continuous piece , rather than two separate pieces . alternatively , one of the straps could be eliminated . further , although the straps 48 , 50 in the illustrated embodiment are both sewn to the side panels 24 , 26 , the straps could be joined to the side panels 24 , 26 using other methods of attachment . for example , the straps could be glued to the side panels 24 , 26 , or they could be attached using removable fasteners such as buttons , snaps or hook and loop fastener . a bottom end of the cover 10 comprises a rectangular opening 54 ( fig2 c ) bordered by lower edges 52 of the rear panel 22 , left - side panel 24 and right - side panel 26 and a rear edge 56 of the bottom - facing strap 50 . when the elastic straps 48 , 50 are stretched , the cover 10 thus slides easily over the top of the box 12 and fits snugly about the outside of the box 12 . the left - side panel 24 , rear panel 22 , and right - side panel 26 rest against their respective panels of the lock box 12 . the top facing portion 44 of the top / front panel 32 rests against the top panel of the lock box 12 , while the front facing portion 42 of this panel 32 rests against the front panel of the lock box 12 . the shackle 14 protrudes through the gap 38 between the rear panel 22 and the top / front panel 32 . the cover 10 thus provides a protective buffer around all edges and corners of the lock box 12 . the cover 10 protects both the lock box 12 and objects that contact the lock box 12 from damage . because the bottom of the cover 10 includes a large opening 54 , the key compartment 18 of the lock box 12 is unobstructed . as shown in fig3 when a real estate agent enters the proper code on the key pad 20 , the key compartment 18 ejects downward from the lock box 12 . by removing the key from the key compartment 18 , the real estate agent is able to access the property for sale . as shown in fig1 and 2d , the cover 10 preferably includes a sleeve 58 on at least one panel . the sleeve 58 advantageously holds business cards displaying the real estate agent &# 39 ; s name and contact information . thus , when a potential buyer visits a property on his or her own , if he or she is interested in talking to the agent who is handling the sale of that property , he or she can take the agent &# 39 ; s business card from the sleeve 58 . alternatively , the sleeve 58 may hold a card or cards displaying information about the property for sale , advertisements , etc . in the illustrated embodiment , the sleeve 58 is located on the left - side panel 26 . those of skill in the art will appreciate , however , that the sleeve 58 could be located on any of the panels of the cover 10 . preferably , the sleeve 58 is substantially rectangular and sized to be a little larger than a standard business card . three edges 60 , 62 , 64 ( fig2 d ) of the sleeve 58 are secured to the left - side panel 26 . the edges 60 , 62 , 64 may be secured by stitching 66 , by an adhesive , or by any other suitable means . an interior space between the sleeve 58 and the left - side panel 26 is accessible beneath the fourth , unattached , edge 68 . the fourth edge 68 preferably includes at least one indentation 70 to facilitate grasping the contents of the sleeve 58 . the sleeve 58 preferably is made from a transparent material , such as plastic , so that the contents of the sleeve 58 are visible to prospective buyers . the above presents a description of the best mode contemplated for the present protective lock box cover , and of the manner and process of making and using it , in such full , clear , concise , and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this protective lock box cover . this protective lock box cover is , however , susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent . consequently , it is not the intention to limit this protective lock box cover to the particular embodiments disclosed . on the contrary , the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the protective lock box cover as generally expressed by the following claims , which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the protective lock box cover .