A handheld device, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, palmtop computer, or the like, can be protected from physical shock by being suspended within a multiple layer enclosure forming a protective case. The protective case includes an outer shell and an inner cushioning layer comprising one or more cushions. The cushions can be interlocked with opposing ends of the outer shell via an interlocking connection, so that the pieces of the cushion layer can be secured within the protective case. The cushions can cooperate to suspend the handheld device within the enclosure of the protective case and isolate the handheld device from the outer shell to protect the handheld device from physical shocks imparted to the outer shell.