Innovation in Helmet Technology

[Stegerman]

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...et-technology/

Motorcycle crash helmets have essentially been the same old thing since they were invented 60+ years ago — an energy absorbing chunk of styrofoam glued into a hard outer shell. Sure, some have better graphics or neato vents or whatever, but that’s the basic technology. Now, a tiny company in California is bringing actual technical innovation to that formula, all in the name of reducing concussions that result from low-speed impacts.

[pretbek]

That thing looks like a WWII sea mine!

I understand and like the concept though, of separating high energy and low energy impact protection. ...But they do need to get rid of those mine fuses sticking out.

[Epoch of Entropy]

Originally Posted by pretbek

That thing looks like a WWII sea mine!

I understand and like the concept though, of separating high energy and low energy impact protection. ...But they do need to get rid of those mine fuses sticking out.

This response could be used to illustrate someone who clearly did not read the article before commenting.

For your own personal benefit, you may actually want to read the text and check out more than the first picture.

[PhilB]

That looks useful. Another good idea that was being worked on by a British company was a helmet that had a "scalp", a movable outer skin that would reduce rotational injuries. I think it did make it to the market in Britain, but not over here.

PhilB

[bomber1965]

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- Limited to inventory availability.
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- Estimated suggested retail will be $745.
- Graphics and sizes will be limited to inventory.
- Orders will be processed in the order they are received.
-

[BGil]

Originally Posted by PhilB

That looks useful. Another good idea that was being worked on by a British company was a helmet that had a "scalp", a movable outer skin that would reduce rotational injuries. I think it did make it to the market in Britain, but not over here.

PhilB

Here.

Invented and developped by Philipps Helmets Ltd. Licensed and produced by Lazer Helmets.
However, I've never seen those helmets for sale, even here in Belgium (Lazer is a Belgian company).

[foxtrapper]

Interesting.

I've long thought too much attention is paid to the notion of a high speed impact with a helmet, and not enough to abrasion. Not trying to discount head banging into trees, but a whole lot of the time, the impact is from simply falling to the ground. Then bouncing along on the ground, with grinding action.

I'll be curious where this goes. Hopefully it won't be a massively oversized unit, which would create its own problems.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

Interesting.

I've long thought too much attention is paid to the notion of a high speed impact with a helmet, and not enough to abrasion. Not trying to discount head banging into trees, but a whole lot of the time, the impact is from simply falling to the ground. Then bouncing along on the ground, with grinding action.

I'll be curious where this goes. Hopefully it won't be a massively oversized unit, which would create its own problems.

Not by the people in the know. That was part of the point in the old Motorcyclist article - Snell standards were for high impact at the price of the average kind of impact. The fact that the "plastic" helmets performed so well was that the shell itself absorbed some of the impact when it would flex a bit.

By the way, the "simply falling to the ground" is the vital impact since it is the major issue - Gravity. The impact when the head hits the ground in a fall is greatest in the downward direction. It is all about the distance of the drop. Without any stopping action like outstretched arms, the worst would be from a horse, then a bicycle, then a dual sport bike, then a sport/standard bike, then a cruiser. Each has one's head closer to the ground. A simple fall from a bicycle impacting the ground without a helmet is enough to cause brain damage.

The forward motion will most often be the scraping action. If any object is encountered, that will change the story and will likely be the highest impact. But a majority of impacts are the drop and scrape type when one falls off in a crash.

Regardless, more could be done with helmets, but as evidenced by the $750 price, most will play the odds with the $100-300 helmet and trying to ride with some safety cushion (as I do), not drinking/drug impaired while riding, and good motorcycle familarity with their motorcycle when riding. The latter two were major factors in the old Hurt study, 50% riding under the influence and about the same number with less than 6 months riding the motorcycle they crashed (actual years riding irrelevant).

I look forward to when the lower average priced helmets can become better both in safety AND IN VENTING. Being cool and comfortable when riding makes one less distraction. But I guess that part is more personal opinion than fact.

[dwoodward]

Originally Posted by markk53

Without any stopping action like outstretched arms, the worst would be from a horse, then a bicycle, then a dual sport bike, then a sport/standard bike, then a cruiser.

So, it's a good thing wobblers ride cruisers...

One comment- and this is becoming a theme with me: FMVSS 218, which defines the DOT helmet standard, calls for the antiquated hard shell / Styrofoam liner. You can't build a DOT approved helmet without including those two elements, because that's the definition of 'DOT approved helmet'.

See also LED turn signals, which can be smaller and yet brighter and more visible than incandescent... but not legal, because FMVSS 108 specifies a minimum amount of "equivalent lens area" of 3.5 square inches, written into law to accomodate crap-tastic motocycle electrical systems.

The rules are clearly not keeping up with technology; I pray for the day they stop legislating to the current technology and instead legislate the desired effect. Not holding my breath, though.

[Fajita Dave]

After watching Zach Bell land from 20ft in the air and slamming his head into packed clay in supercross I'm sold on these helmets. He passed all of the concussion tests they ran on him afterward. Of course that was high impact but its shown it can handle both.

[rdwalker]

Originally Posted by Stegerman

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/20...et-technology/

Of course, when I crash, I will do it on a nice flat surface that cantacts those "suction cups". No curbs where I ride, right?

Why do I smell a solution in search of a problem here? SBIR grant, perhaps?

[bomber1965]

Originally Posted by rdwalker

Of course, when I crash, I will do it on a nice flat surface that cantacts those "suction cups". No curbs where I ride, right?

Why do I smell a solution in search of a problem here? SBIR grant, perhaps?

ummm.....you do realize the suction cups are hidden inside the outer shell, right?

[SgtDuster]

Originally Posted by rdwalker

Of course, when I crash, I will do it on a nice flat surface that cantacts those "suction cups". No curbs where I ride, right?

Why do I smell a solution in search of a problem here? SBIR grant, perhaps?

[kraven]

Originally Posted by SgtDuster

Yep.

This is why we can't have nice discussions. Aliterate people opining.

[SgtDuster]

Originally Posted by kraven

Yep.

This is why we can't have nice discussions. Aliterate people opining.

I can discuss opinions based on a minimum of comprehension, no problem.






Gross misconception ain't an opinion.