Universal protective cap for camera lenses and other tubular-shaped objects

A method of protecting a camera lens from damage, said method comprising:

• providing a protective cap;
• installing the protective cap onto the camera lens by stretching the protective cap to fit over an end of the camera lens;
• wherein the protective cap comprises a base member and a sidewall, the sidewall extending rearwardly from the base member;
• wherein the protective cap further comprises an outer surface having at least one bumper and at least one stretch channel formed thereon, wherein a thickness of the at least one stretch channel is less than a thickness of the at least one bumper;
• and
• further comprising installing a second protective cap on top of the protective cap already installed onto the camera lens.

A protective cap for tubular-shaped objects, said protective cap comprising:

• a base member having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• a sidewall extending rearwardly from the base member, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• wherein the inner surface of the sidewall and the inner surface of the base member define a cavity for receiving an end of a tubular-shaped object;
• wherein the outer surface of the base member and the outer surface of the sidewall define a contiguous outer surface;
• wherein the contiguous outer surface has at least one bumper and at least one stretch channel;
• wherein the at least one stretch channel has a first thickness;
• wherein the at least one bumper has a second thickness;
• wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness;
• wherein the first thickness is between 1.0 and 3.0 millimeters.

A protective cap for tubular-shaped objects, said protective cap comprising:

• a base member having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• a sidewall extending rearwardly from the base member, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface;
• wherein the inner surface of the sidewall and the inner surface of the base member define a cavity for receiving an end of a tubular-shaped object;
• wherein the outer surface of the base member and the outer surface of the sidewall define a contiguous outer surface;
• wherein the contiguous outer surface has at least one bumper and at least one stretch channel;
• wherein the at least one stretch channel has a first thickness;
• wherein the at least one bumper has a second thickness;
• wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness;
• wherein the first thickness is about 1.5 millimeters and the second thickness is about 2.0 millimeters.