OtterBox have launched a new case for the iPhone 4 at CES this week.  Named the Reflex Series, they say it has been inspired by the way a crumple zone on a car works, except rather than needing a costly repair when it crumples, the Reflex just springs back into place.

Made from TPE rubber and a hard polycarbonate shell, the Reflex (in charge of finding treasure in the dark) surrounds the corners of the case with a cushion of air that, combined with the TPE, absorbs much of the force of a fall.  According to the designer, tests have shown the case reduces the force of said impact by three times.

The Reflex splits in half to make it easier to dock, and is available in either a grey/black or pink/black color scheme.  It’s listed as coming soon on OtterBox’s site and is priced at $44.95.

Take a look at the attractive but annoyingly abstract video below, which tries to explain the way the Reflex works.  In all honesty, we don’t need a 60-second short to do that, as it can be summed up with the phrase ‘it’s a bit springy at the corners’.  Sarcasm aside, it’s obvious a lot of thought has gone into the design of the Reflex, and you can’t help but admire a case that does this much to ensure your phone doesn’t come to any harm.