December 17, 2013 – You have to love how crowdfunding is inspiring and funding new inventions. One of these is Morpher, a folding bike helmet that makes it easy for cycling enthusiasts to have a helmet handy at all times that isn’t cumbersome. The U.K. inventor, Jeff Woolf, is an avid cyclist who has experienced just how effective helmets are when you get into a cycling accident. His research into bicycle-for-hire programs in cities around the world (we have the Bixi program here in Toronto) showed that 92% of those hiring a bike didn’t wear a helmet, that 84% of them felt they were putting their lives at risk as a result, and 83% weren’t carrying a helmet with them because of the lack of portability.
Hence Morpher, a helmet that weighs about 225 grams (8 ounces), folds to a width of 5 centimeters (2 inches) and is made from polycarbonate and composite materials that meet bicycle collision safety standards. The Indiegogo campaign which ends December 30, 2013, has already raised almost $54,000 U.S., well over the initial $35,000 goal. The money will be used to finish final tooling for production, materials and manufacturing.
Morpher has already won innovation awards at design and invention shows in the U.K. and Europe. Right now it is available in prototype but should be on the market by next June. The inventor has chosen Strategic Sports Ltd., to manufacture and distribute the helmet. Strategic has a long history in designing and producing sports gear. Right now it looks like Morpher will sell for around $100 U.S. which is a bit pricey but you can get in on the ground floor by pledging $149 U.S. to get two helmets (shipping is $10 to the U.S.) $300 gets you a 5-pack (shipping is $25 to the U.S.) If you are a retailer a $6,000 U.S. pledge will get you 100 helmets for resale (estimated retail value is $11,000 U.S.)
Not a stocking stuffer for this Christmas, it may very well be a choice of bicycle road warriors by Christmas 2014.
Related articles across the web
Related Posts
Emissions Gap of 23 Billion Tons of CO2 Equivalent by 2030 States Climate Report
Once Again Global Action To Mitigate Climate Change Is At Risk
The Evolution of Hybrid Cooling Towers That Balance Water Efficiency and Energy Conservation
A New Theory About How Life Originated on Earth and Elsewhere
Space News Bites – Part 1
Life On Mars – Present Today Or Only In The Past
Sustainable Shelters: Pioneering the Future of Urban Living and Disaster Relief
Chinese EVs Are A Climate Change Solution So Why Are The U.S., Canada And Europe Blocking Their Sale?
