Final Year Design Practice at Loughborough University.
BA Industrial Design and Technology
September 2015- May 2016
Head Case.
“Foldable motorbike helmet for backpackers in South East Asia”
A helmet that provides a more effective form of protection to the user’s head than other motorcycle helmets that are available in South East Asia. The product would cater specifically for the needs of the backpacking tourist such as style, comfort and portability.
Traffic in Vietnam
The Problem.
Vietnam is home to 37 million motorbikes. However it averages one of the worst death tolls in the world. Even with the introduction of the compulsory helmet legislation in 2007 Vietnam still today averages just over 10,000 deaths a year due to traffic incidents.
Research showed that the safety of motorcyclists in the region is being compromised by non-regulation, leading to no user licensing system, as well as a lack of safely standards and poor quality in manufacture. Moreover, helmets that are available are generally too bulky to allow more than one to be carried on one bike and offer users no relief from the very hot conditions.
Existing Helmets.
Development.
The shape of the helmet was designed to allow it to fold inwards. CAD models and cardboard prototypes were used to develop the shape. Research showed that a boa dial would be most effective to facilitate the folding mechanism as it can tighten and hold wires to the necessary tension and then loosen them to allow the sides of the helmet to fold to the required position.
Cardboard mock-up of size and function
The Final Design.
A helmet that uniquely folds away for easy storage.
Using a boa dial tightening system, Head Case can be folded, allowing it to compact by up to 20% for easy storage. Users can therefore buy it in their home country, pack it and carry it with them wherever they travel. It also has an air ventilation system to provide relief in hot and humid conditions.
Stage 1 - Structural beam unclips
Stage 2 - Boa Dial released. The back then folds in.
Stage 3 - Two sides of the helmet folds inwards.
Stage 4 - The folding of the helmet is complete
The Final Model.
A fully functional prototype was created to test how the user would interact with the helmet.
Prototype of helmet in folded state.
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