New Invention Responsible for Leap Forward in Biker Safety

Dr. Ken Phillips felt compelled to consider how his knowledge as a medic could contribute to making a difference to biker safety on the road after hearing about the horrors of rotational head injury from his son, then a journalist for a motorcycle magazine.

With over 80% of fatal motorcycle accidents due to head trauma, rotational head injury is currently seen as the greatest cause of brain damage or death for motorcyclists involved in road accidents.

"My 'eureka moment' came when I considered how valuable the scalp is as a simple but extremely effective protective layer for the human skull and brain," explains Phillips.

Although the thick bone of the skull provides direct protection, it is the outer skin that protects against rotation during impact to the head.

"If I could replicate nature's own design in the form of a helmet, I felt this was the answer to improving the terrible statistics surrounding rotational head injury."

Having struck on the concept, Dr Phillips set about researching it thoroughly, using initial investment wisely to help establish estimated market penetration through to competitor distinctions.

The results indicated that the concept had an impressive commercial potential of £67 - £150 million. It also showed that conventional helmets only addressed the first half of the problem, making Phillips' own head protection concept unique. Reassured by the research findings, the next step was to secure further investment and patent the concept.

A confidentiality agreement was signed by anyone who became involved in discussions around the development and Dr. Phillips approached an agent to devise a detailed patent. Although the patent was costly, it has stood the test of time and protected the concept of a membrane covering a helmet more than adequately.

£100,000 of capital was generated from a small group of private investors and various similar bodies over the years. The invention also won a Smart Award from the Department for Trade and Industry, as it was then known, which enabled much of the early development process to get under way and prompted Dr. Phillips to set up the limited company Phillips Helmets. Major investment was only secured four years ago.

Dr. Phillips continues, "The patent has been extremely important, but protecting the know-how has been more precious. Business Link recommended working with IDC to finesse the engineering and design of the concept in line with a regular helmet. The process of honing and refining was critical to the way the product would look, feel and function and brought about numerous changes along the way."

The concept of a lubricated membrane was not straight forward to bring to life. The development process at IDC brought together in-house engineers, model-makers and designers to create something skin-like which would be much tougher and more flexible - and, most importantly, slide over the surface of the helmet without breaking on impact.

CAD software provided a quick means to transforming the concept into a series of tangible designs. But central to the intensive research and development process was rapid prototyping. Precision CNC machining paved the way for multiple impact absorbing liners for the helmet to be scuplted from a polystyrene block with optimum absorbence performance, allowing the team to test each design change along the way. The membrane was also tested in the same way.

The revolutionary product design required careful selection of materials. State-of-the-art vacuum casting was used to create prototypes and each material was tested for resistance and strength. The chosen synthetic stretches up to eight times its original length and sits on top of the gel-like lubricant to form a protective layer across the surface of the helmet.

Dr. Ken Phillips is now the widely praised inventor of the Phillips Head Protection System (PHPS). The invention has been applied to a next generation biker helmet following successful international licensing to Lazer Helmets Ltd. But the applications for the invention are endless. Dr. Phillips is currently busy tapping into the sports and equestrian markets, but is also targeting industrial safety wear and protective headwear for military, law enforcement and recreational use too.

Phillips offers a final word for fellow inventors, "Don't give up. You have to be obsessional about your idea. Love it, nurture it and don't even consider that you won't achieve what you set out to. In the end, it's about believing in your idea and knowing that it's worth it."