Home Smart 100 2010 cone-head™ (SMART 100)

cone-head™ (SMART 100)

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

This innovation initially came to life when…

This innovation initially came to life when, in 1992, I picked up my daughter’s helmet. I pressed my thumb into the foam liner of the helmet and I realised I couldn’t leave an impression in the foam. The foam liner was as hard as a brick.

This incident reminded me of what I had learned as a researcher of helmets during the 1980s, that the foam liners in helmets were too hard and stiff and didn’t effectively absorb an impact force. It was in 1993 I thought of embedding low-density cones within the thickness of the hard foam liner.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

The purpose of this innovation is to incorporate low-density foam cones within the thickness of the high density foam liner to improve the ability of the shock-absorbing foam liners in helmets to absorb an impact force more effectively.

It does this by…

It does this by allowing the new cone-head™ liner to act like a crumple zone around the head. On impact the cones will initially crush or compress allowing the liner to absorb an impact force more effectively when compared with single-density hard foam liners in helmets. The initial crushing helps to reduce the deceleration of the head.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

The cone-head™ liner improves on all existing helmets because the majority of liners in helmets are made of single-density hard foam and they do not effectively absorb an impact force. The forces are readily translated across its hard thickness. Also, a single-density liner is limited in its ability to accommodate the variation in strength of the human skull.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

The various benefits of cone-head™ to the customer of helmets include a foam liner which:

  • absorbs an impact force effectively
  • reduces the deceleration of the head
  • takes into account the different strengths of the skull
  • produces a lighter/more comfortable helmet

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

In the past, if helmet manufacturers softened the liners in helmets to absorb an impact force more effectively then the helmets would not have passed the standards. Therefore, by embedding low-density cones within the thickness of the high-density foam allows the licensed manufacturer to soften the liners in helmets to produce a safer helmet and also meet standards.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Its competitors include all other helmet manufacturers. The cone-head™ technology has been licensed by a major overseas helmet manufacturer –- Strategic Sports Limited based in Hong Kong. The cone-head™ helmet will set new benchmarks for other helmet manufacturers to achieve.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

The cone-head™ is made for all types of helmets. The target market is bicycle, motorbike, motocross and dirt bike riders and others who wear protective helmets. The market will be worldwide.

The cone-head™ liner can also be utilised in:

  • all protective head gear
  • the lining in baby capsules
  • the protective padding in children safety seats
  • the interior compartments of all vehicles
  • the playground surfaces for children
  • all applications where absorption of an impact force is required

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

The award-winning lightweight motocross and dirt-bike helmet is currently marketed in the US and Europe by KALI PROTECTIVES as the PRANA composite fusion plus helmet. Other helmets will be available in retail motorcycle and bicycle stores within the year.

Our marketing strategy is to…

The licensed helmet manufacturer’s marketing strategy will be to show case all lightweight cone-head™ helmets at dealer/trade shows. Kali Protectives, the buyer/distributor of the first cone-head™ helmet, will promote the helmet as the most advanced lightweight helmet in the world. Other promotions include sponsoring top riders wearing the Prana helmet. The helmet has already won two major overseas awards.

SUPPORTING IMAGES AND/OR VIDEO

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To check out the Anthill SMART 100 Readers’ Choice winner for 2010, click here.