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Anirudha Surabhi's cardboard bicycle helmet

By Rain Noe - October 8, 2010

in Materials | Object Culture

Recent RCA grad and industrial designer Anirudha Surabhi's final school project was the Kranium, a sturdy and recyclable bike helmet made from cardboard. The concept was good enough to win a 20,000 pound grant from The James Dyson Fellowship, and Surabhi's now seeking production partners.

While cardboard might not seem like an obvious choice for a helmet, Surabhi's creation is lighter than a polystyrene helmet but reportedly offers four times the amount of impact protection. The Kranium features a sturdy cardboard grid is encased in a plastic outer, but even if water gets inside, the cardboard's been impregnated with an acrylic waterproofing agent.

The following video of the Kranium at the London Cycle Show isn't very informative, but it does give you a good look at the helmet (and an example of the cardboard sheet from which they're cut):

via bike biz

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Ani

14 years ago

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Its a waterbased water proofing agent, thus can be recycled. there are several ways to make cardboard waterproof but a most of them damage the recyclable properties of card board. The solution used is water based and doesnt do the same.
At the same time, the helmet is about safety first and Recyclability later.

As far as cardboard on the head is concerned, at present there are foam pads present which clip onto the inner surface of the ribs. Currently a more suitable inner liner is being developed as well. Its a small issue which can be easily solved.
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dongzo

14 years ago

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everyone's worrying about the sweat and rain when the bloody article says he's soaking the cardboard in plastic....
Also carlton is right... if the cardboard edges weren't normal to the shell, then by shifting and buckling the shockwave would be slowed down... think ><><>< instead of ||||||
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HC

14 years ago

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Think about when it start to rain and you are wearing such a piece of cardboard helmet. You can't make sure you keeping out the corrugated cardboard from the water perfectly can you? Once the water soak into the cardboard it's gonna be as soft as waffles.It reminds me some sophomore stage works.
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cas

14 years ago

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one word: sweat
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Akira Akira

14 years ago

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I want one NOW!
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Chris Place

14 years ago

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A friend of mine at Brunel University undertook a similar final year project.

Photos on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joesnowdon/sets/72157623923261726/with/4548958466/
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dongzo

14 years ago

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but the moment you 'impregnate the cardboard grid with an acrylic waterproofing agent,' it ceases to be recyclable by conventional means.
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jj

14 years ago

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has he tested its safety properly?
it looks massively dangerous. how the cardboard would absorb the power from outside?
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t

14 years ago

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wont work. using the edge of cardboard is like wood. it'll just direct all pressure to your head. it has no absorption like foam. whats needed is dampening. I'm not saying you cant use cardboard, but just the current design will not do much for you if not make it worse
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Carlton Reid

14 years ago

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You're right, my video isn't very informative. It was a two minute quickie sent from my iPhone, but I then backed it up with the BikeBiz story.

The guy is getting a lot of stick for the helmet (it'll go soggy in the rain; the cardboard will hurt my head etc etc) but I think it's a fabulous concept. Those fixie riders into helmets will like these lids.
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