Customizable Protective Case

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and method are provided for a protective case for use with a mobile device. The protective case may include one or more components, such as an outer shell, a pre-formed shock absorbing insert, and a customizable artistic insert. According to some aspects, the outer shell may be a substantially rigid outer shell having a recessed main compartment. The pre-formed shock absorbing insert and the artistic insert may be placed in the recessed main compartment. The pre-formed shock absorbing insert may be used to dissipate shock or vibration away the mobile device and may be coupled to the back of the outer shell. The artistic insert may be adjacently coupled the outer shell and the shock absorbing insert. The mobile device may be received in the main compartment of the outer shell and placed adjacent to the shock absorbing insert.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective kit for a mobile device comprising:
 a substantially rigid outer shell comprising front, side, and back face portions, the substantially rigid outer shell having a recessed main compartment formed by the portions;   a removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert configured to be received in the main compartment, the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert having a first side configured to be coupled to the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell, the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert being configured to dissipate shock or vibration away the mobile device; and   a removable first artistic insert configured to be received in the main compartment, the first artistic insert being configured to be adjacently coupled to the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell and the first side of the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert,   wherein:
 the main compartment of the substantially rigid outer shell is configured to receive the mobile device with a first side of the mobile device being configured to be adjacently coupled to a second side of the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert after being received in the main compartment of the substantially rigid outer shell, and 
 the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell comprises multiple sections, at least one of the multiple sections being semi-transparent or transparent and configured to display through an outward facing side of the back face portion at least a portion of the first artistic insert. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substantially rigid outer shell further comprises at least one of a plurality of channels and a plurality of projections formed adjacent to an inward facing side of the side portion of the substantially rigid outer shell,   the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert further comprises at least one of a plurality of tabs and a plurality of slots formed on an outer perimeter of the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert, and   the channels and projections being configured to substantially receive the tabs and slots, respectively, when the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert is anchored in the main compartment and coupled to the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein an arrangement of the tabs and channels form a non-symmetrical arrangement with respect to a common main axis of the substantially rigid outer shell and the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein an arrangement of the slots and projections form a non-symmetrical arrangement with respect to a common main axis of the substantially rigid outer shell and the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein a junction of the front portion and side portion of the substantially rigid outer shell forms a crevice configured to receive end portions of the tabs of the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert when the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert is anchored in the main compartment and coupled to the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the back face portion comprises non-movable opaque or semi-transparent elements configured to obstruct display of at least a portion of the first artistic insert. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the back face portion comprises movable opaque or semi-transparent elements configured to obstruct display of at least a portion of the first artistic insert. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first artistic insert is user definable and configured to display a user-defined pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein the user-defined pattern comprises a pattern customized using a computer program. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 9 , wherein the pattern customized using a computer program comprises a pattern derived from at least one of a template built into the computer program and a user-defined template. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first artistic insert comprises a prefabricated image or message. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a second artistic insert, the second artistic insert being smaller in size than the first artistic insert and configured to be received in the main compartment between and adjacently coupled to the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell and an outward facing side of the first artistic insert. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid outer shell comprises a semi-flexible material and configured to flex when receiving the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the back face portion of the substantially rigid outer shell comprises at least one aperture extending through the back face portion;   the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert comprises at least one aperture substantially corresponding to the at least one aperture of the back face portion and extending through the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert; and   the first artistic insert comprises at least one aperture substantially corresponding to the at least one aperture of the back face portion and extending through the first artistic insert.   
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid outer shell comprises a polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the back face portion comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane material. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first artistic insert comprises at least one of a print-out, cut-out, piece of paper, piece of plastic, piece of wood, piece of metal, social media related image or message, user-composed image or message, user-manipulated image or message, internet related image or message, physically or tangibly manipulated image or message, holographic image, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first artistic insert comprises a holographic image. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the removable pre-formed shock absorbing insert is configured to deform in response to coupling to the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . A pre-formed shock absorbing insert configured to dissipate shock or vibration and configured to be received in a main compartment of a protective shell comprising:
 a generally planar rectangular shaped gel having a first side and an outer perimeter, the first side of the gel configured to be coupled to a back face portion of the protective shell and being substantially flat;   at least one aperture formed in the gel and extending through the gel;   a plurality of tabs formed on the outer perimeter of the gel; and   a plurality of slots formed on the outer perimeter of the shock absorbing insert.