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http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130115-woodpecker-inspires-bike-helmet
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Helmets are mostly designed to pass the standards tests and look good. Those are the main criteria.. Cost to mfg is considered as well. What 6D is looking to do is actually build a helmet that works well in real world impacts yet can still pass the standards tests.
Let me explain a few things: Traditional helmets have a EPS foam liner. To get the helmets to pass the tests the designer/MFG increases the density of the EPS foam so it can handle the drop tests. Increasing foam density effectively makes the helmet liners “hard”. The liner really doesn’t move much unless it’s a big impact. So, smaller impacts where a more cushy liner would have helped absorb the blow just get transferred to the riders head due to the hard EPS liner. The 6D product looks like it’s targeting this issue: The “shock absorbers” they have move fairly easily compared to the liner material. Thus, the shock absorbers help soften those smaller real world impacts that can cause concussions. And, when the shock absorbers bottom out on a bigger hit the harder liner is there to help. Thus, it’s a bit of a dual stage liner. It’s a smart idea. When we made bike helmets we were up in the 8-9 pound density area to pass tests. They were pretty darn hard. I had some 5 pound density samples that were really light but they wouldn't pass the tests.
Now, if the product gets wide market adoption there will be products that have this “dual stage liner” concept incorporated in them. I would need to look at the filings 6d made with the patent office, but I assume 6D will own the patent for the shock absorbers they designed used in combination with EPS liner. I don’t think they could patent the “dual stage” concept as it’s been done before in football helmets etc. However, it’s possible they could get something like that issues but it would be hard to protect. In other words, there is enough old patents in this area that anyone using that concept should be able to do so based on the past stuff (“Pryor art” in patent language).
So, it’s good there will be competition. You may think they are ripping off 6D but if you look at the patents in this area you'll find there are a ton of ideas done before. And, the competition will help bring down prices and introduce alternative designs that target this area (real world impacts vs. the tests). Certainly 6D has helped push the move to safer helmets. And if they play their cards right from a business perspective they should be able to capitalize on it.
Joking aside, if you did really try one, I would like to know which shop, so I can give them a call.
Interesting perspective on the testing protocol for helmets, sounds like it's time for a more dynamic test.
Shoei manufactures their own helmets and have since 1958. They are located in Tokyo, Japan.
http://www.btosports.com/p/6d-atr-1-stealth-helmet
Pit Row
The old Bell Helmet joke was "have a ten dollar head, then wear a ten dollar helmet"
I believe in that, but im not sure my melon is worth $745.00 right now, there's just a bunch of worthless crap in there anyway.
The 6D sure sounds logical, but are there any independent tests results for it yet? Is it really better than a traditional lid?
Shoei for me for the time being....
The Japanese build quality stuff. Same cant be said for Chinese.
I have 3 TLD helmets. All three had little issues here and there...kinda fell apart. I never paid attention to where they were built but makes since there built in China.
I have also owned Shoei's...just bought a brand new one. And Ive owned Arai's. Both Japanese built and not even in the same league as the TLD's or any other Chinese helmet Ive ever seen.
TLD and I think a few others already have dual density liners to address lower speed and higher speed impacts and in certain parts of the head liner. Go check out a Shoei or a TLD and you can visually see the dual density liners incorporated.
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