Super Skin Helmet- the new standard in safety?

[-jro-]

Found this article on Super Skin Helmets- anyone else heard of them?? If this helmet performs as they claim it does it will certainly take helmet safety standards to a whole new level.

"The new helmet, aptly named SuperSkin®, tackles this directly using a special new technology that mimics nature’s own simple design – skull and skin. Vastly superior in design compared to standard helmets, stringent tests show that the SuperSkin® product design reduces rotational impact by an unprecedented 50% and the subsequent possibility of brain damage by 67.5%*."

"The product development process brought together IDC’s engineers, model makers and designers to develop a skin-like membrane that would slide on the surface of the helmet without breaking on impact. CAD software provided a quick means to transforming the concept into a series of tangible designs. But central to the intensive research and development process was rapid prototyping. Precision CNC machining paved the way for multiple impact absorbing liners for the helmet to be scuplted from a polystyrene block with optimum absorbence performance, allowing the team to test each design change along the way. The membrane was also tested in the same way."

http://idc.uk.com/about/news/idc-new...ead-in-safety/

[scottieducati]

"Brought to market by major helmet manufacturer Lazer Helmets SA the Superskin® will hit the shelves this summer."

[OreoGaborio]

Weeeird. Interesting concept though.

I just may take to coating my helmets in KY Jelly.

[Woodsy]

why would i want a helmet that mimics what i am trying to protect? if that was a good design i would not need a helmet, no?

[R1]

why would i want a helmet that mimics what i am trying to protect? if that was a good design i would not need a helmet, no?

I agree 100%

in fact so much so that his has proven to me why i will no longer wear a helmet

I love nature

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

Weeeird. Interesting concept though.

I just may take to coating my helmets in KY Jelly.

Why not... You put it on everything else.

[Paul_E_D]

The design concept seems to make sense to me. Pete, coat her up with KY then slip an extra large trojan over the top. Let us know how it works!

[Pittenger5]

The design concept seems to make sense to me. Pete, coat her up with KY then slip an extra large trojan over the top. Let us know how it works!

Wait ... are we still talking about helmets?

[markbvt]

I've read about this before -- it's a great idea, the concept being that in an impact, the skin on the outside of the helmet will slide around, significantly reducing the amount that the helmet itself gets wrenched around, which in turn reduces the amount of movement getting transmitted to your head.

Same basic concept as putting moleskin or those gel bubbles on your heels when wearing new shoes that would otherwise cause nasty blisters.

--mark

[Chippertheripper]

i'd totally buy one of these if i had the money.

[Vulcan1500]

Wait ... are we still talking about helmets?

Of course. He said "extra large trojan."

[OreoGaborio]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)



Why not... You put it on everything else.

It's particularly good on sammichiz. Makes em slide down to my belly w/o any milk to wash em down.

[butcher bergs]

I like the thinking behind this design. Be interesting to see what the future holds for it.

[naked-daytrader]

I like the thinking behind this design. Be interesting to see what the future holds for it.

I wanna hump your avatar

[Mondo]

if i had the cash I'd totally buy one

[Chippertheripper]

if i had the cash I'd totally buy one

[DucDave]

I've read about this before -- it's a great idea, the concept being that in an impact, the skin on the outside of the helmet will slide around, significantly reducing the amount that the helmet itself gets wrenched around, which in turn reduces the amount of movement getting transmitted to your head.

Same basic concept as putting moleskin or those gel bubbles on your heels when wearing new shoes that would otherwise cause nasty blisters.

--mark

I find this a little counterintuitive. Don't helmets mostly slide when they hit the ground? Isn't this more likely to cause it to 'catch' and create the wrenching it is meant to avoid...

...or do I actually have to read the article to understand?

EDIT:Read the article. Stand by my question.

[Kurlon]

I suspect it's a stretch then rip membrane, or else it wouldn't have taken 14 years to bring to market. The initial 'hit' triggers the stretch, when it hits the magic 800% mark it tears to suck up some more energy. Before then it's got only enough elastic to return to shape if there's not external force, and needs it's lube to do so when against the helmet?

[butcher bergs]

I see how the helmet technology could work considering I move 6000 lb machinery using, what I believe is, a similar method of reducing friction. The way I understand the article, that's what the helmet membrane does, reduces the initial contact friction between two surfaces.

In the times where I've had to move machinery at work we've used grease-filled bags under the feet in order to align the equipment. The grease lets the bags essentially "roll" across the floor so I'd say the helmet technology we're reading about here isn't too far off a similar train of thought.....or am I high?

[fromario]

i guess the real question here is whether or not these helmets are Noel Ball Approved

i know Sharks are!! sonofa....

[Paul_E_D]

i guess the real question here is whether or not these helmets are Noel Ball Approved

i know Sharks are!! sonofa....

You kiddin me? With this helmet them balls be gellin'!

[markbvt]

In the times where I've had to move machinery at work we've used grease-filled bags under the feet in order to align the equipment. The grease lets the bags essentially "roll" across the floor so I'd say the helmet technology we're reading about here isn't too far off a similar train of thought.....or am I high?

I think that's exactly right.

I find this a little counterintuitive. Don't helmets mostly slide when they hit the ground? Isn't this more likely to cause it to 'catch' and create the wrenching it is meant to avoid...

When a normal helmet first hits the ground, the pavement will tend to grab onto the shell, then as your head pulls the helmet away, it will begin to slide after overcoming the initial friction. Same concept as a saw blade or sandpaper on wood -- there's a good amount of resistance to movement between the two at first, but once that's overcome and the blade/sandpaper is moving over the wood, it moves more easily.

What this membrane does is allow the helmet to move inside the skin to more or less eliminate that initial friction and reduce the forces being transmitted through the helmet to your head. And I would assume that the skin rips fairly easily to avoid catching on something. (My question there would be how you keep it from tearing and leaking in regular normal use, like if you get struck by a pebble or even a large insect.)

Obviously this doesn't help in a straight-on impact, but we all know that's rarely how crashes actually work. They essentially always involve sliding.

--mark

[oVTo]

It's the impact that causes brain damage, not the slide. The brain is damaged when there is a rapid deceleration of the skull causing the jello inside to move about, compress, and tear. More Gs = more damage.

A slide doesn't cause that rapid deceleration, an impact does. When we slide down the track we almost always get back up, even when our helmets are totally rashed. When we slam our heads on a curb or a car, we too frequently don't.

The claim that this lid reduces the "possibility of brain damage by 67.5%*" is marketing bs. Notice they even have a little * after the claim, but no reference for that *.

[Paul_E_D]

But you have to admit that with a round helmet there are no direct impacts. They are all glancing blows. If you eliminate that intitial "bite" when the helmet touches the pavement, deceleration of the head is reduced and energy can move forward.

I know all my crashed helmets do have bite marks where the pavement clearly grabbed the shell.

[DucDave]

But you have to admit that with a round helmet there are no direct impacts. They are all glancing blows. If you eliminate that intitial "bite" when the helmet touches the pavement, deceleration of the head is reduced and energy can move forward.

I know all my crashed helmets do have bite marks where the pavement clearly grabbed the shell.

Mine too...but it seems to me that the 'grab' is a non-contributing factor compared to the 'impact' which is where the real g-forces occur. The 'grab' can cause a minor 'twist' which I think is what this company is claiming to mitigate.

When I jump in the ocean my body displaces water and the sea level rises. But with all the other factors it's not measurable or important.

The Impact is like dropping a brick in a gallon pail of water. Measurable and significant. The slide is like me jumping in the ocean. OK...maybe more like me jumping in a swimming pool....

and it's fugly too