
The
Sassy Hats Project is a NESTA supported feasibility study which enables
us to work with a professional clothing designer to create prototypes
for a new generation of soft, stylish protective headwear. We envisage
these hats being used for medium risk activities such as winter hill
walking, recreational skiing and energetic child play, where the risk of
severe head injury is always present but where wearing a hard hat
is currently unacceptable.
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This photograph shows the type of SALi padding used in the hats. The
capsules are expanded polystyrene beads and the liquid is water with
some anti-freeze and a thickening agent added. The beads can be quite
stiff, similar to the foam used in hard shelled helmets, but the fit is
far more comfortable, because the pads mould to
the shape of the wearers head. We can mix the liquid with polymeric
microspheres, to reduce the liquid weight. We also envisage adding phase
change waxes to aid hat temperature control during vigorous activities.
Could
Sassy hats offer a comfortable alternative, to conventional, rigid
cycling helmets?
The risk of brain damage to cyclists involved in traffic accidents is
high. The risk is reduced, but not eliminated by wearing a helmet. Sassy
Hats may be superior to conventional hard helmets for some types of
accidents, but research must be done, to verify this.
We are waiting for the PedSALi and CrashSALi projects to deliver
research results on the impact energy absorbing performance of different
SALi filled bag designs, before applying for further research funding,
to look at the potential benefits of Sassy Hat type cycling helmets.
If you have a professional interest in
this project please contact us.
Other Current SALi projects:
CrashSALi, PedSALi