The Foldable, Cardboard Bike Helmet Wins James Dyson Award
It is cycler’s wish to have a helmet that can protect him or her from head injuries in case of a crash as well as stand the test of time. Isis Shiffer, a 28-year-old designer and cycler who lives in New York won the James Dyson Award and £30,000 prize for inventing a foldable, cardboard bike helmet. She says worry of cycling without a helmet when using the city bike-hire schemes triggered her to design and make the helmet dubbed “EcoHelmet”.
She realized that virtually all bike-hire schemes require clients to bring their own helmet or purchase one from the stores. Her new folding helmet design has garnered massive attention from all across the globe and won her the James Dyson national prize award in the United States. The event is held across 22 countries and the prizes are awarded to engineers and university-level designers who make innovative solutions.
One of the main aspects of the EcoHelmet is that users can easily flatten and fold it after cycling. The designer also incorporated a honeycomb structure that gives it immense strength and the ability to withstand external forces and harsh outdoor weather conditions. The stalls are arranged to protect a cycler from head injuries irrespective of the direction of a blow.
Shiffer has also revealed that she plans to reinforce the top part of the helmet with a biodegradable or recyclable waterproof material to enhance its ability to withstand rainy weather conditions. In addition, an indicator that will notify a user when it is time to be replaced with a new one will be added to the design. It is this kind of innovation that will help resolve waste management problems, such as pollution and promote environmental wellness.