Not satisfied with Apple’s Bumper solution for the antenna signal issues and still looking for a way to protect your iPhone 4 from shocking drops? Lucky for you we discovered a secondary use for a craze that’s been sweeping the United States. That’s right, I m talking about Silly Bandz. No, they’re not just glorified rubber bands any more. You can now use Silly Bandz as functional and fashionable iPhone 4 Bumper replacements.

Originally, Silly Bandz were created in Japan to reduce waste in the office, replacing traditional rubber bands (they weren’t called Silly Bandz yet). Lucky for us, an American businessman saw the potential to expand these rubber bands into the the toy industry. So instead of reducing waste in the workplace in Japan, they have become another disposable children’s toy in the U.S.

What makes these super rubber bands so special? They have a remarkable ability to hold their form allowing them to take the shape of different objects. Please see the duck, turtle, car and star:

Now, these rubber bands have become quite the collector’s item in the United States, particularly the east coast… At least this craze has not hit Seattle yet (until today). People wear the rubber bands as bracelets and will trade them with one another to improve their collection. They do not have particular values like trading cards, or support a particular cause like the various forms of the LiveStrong bracelets. What they do do is break easily and pick up bacteria!

We recommend the fantasy pack (Please note: by “recommend” we do not mean that we actually recommend using rubber bands to protect your iPhone 4… but you knew that. The Unicorn might work though). Simply wrap your Silly Bandz of choice around your iPhone as seen below.

For added security and trading ability load up your iPhone 4 with as many Silly Bandz as you can, it’s really hard.