HOW AIRBAGS PROTECT
INVENTION BLUEPRINT
The blueprint, that John W. Hetrick submitted in 5th of August 1952 called “SAFETY CUSHION ASSEMBLY FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES”
In 1919, the two dentists, Arthur Parrott & Harold Round from Birmingham have invented the foundation of the modern airbag system, which in 1952 was further advanced by John W. Hetrick to be the first fast inflating system in cars as we know it and as it is in use today in millions of cars all around the world. This groundbreaking invention, initially used for reducing damage on the outside of aeroplanes and any other vehicles, has then proven itself over the following decades by protecting hundreds of thousands of people in accidents.
Airbags use a special method to absorb high-energy impact forces that would otherwise be too much to withstand by the human body. Read more below!
HOW DOES AN AIRBAG SYSTEM REALLY PROTECT ME?
At the moment of impact during a fall, your body's momentum or inertial energy in form of velocity is going to be rapidly dispersed in some form or way. Without protection gear designed for the discipline you are pursuing, that high level of energy usually spreads in the form of near-instant deceleration—our bones and vital organs are not made for these forces, so the weakest points usually give way and break or shear apart, causing joints to fully fracture as well as tissue inside organs to rip on vital spots such as large veins or arteries.
Airbag technology provides superior protection because long tubes that work like a compression cage around the body are highly effective at spreading this energy of these impact forces completely away through the entire airbag's air channels.
IMPACT
DISPERSION
PROTECTION
PROTECTION SEQUENCE & EFFECTIVENESS
1
RIDER IMPACT
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Rider impacts ground or object
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Impact energy acts on one small point or a large surface of the airbag jacket
- With Turtle Technology, impact area initially spreads energy within the protector (Front, Back)
2
DISPERSION OF ENERGY
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Affected area of impact gets pressed inward
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Air in that area gets compressed on that spot—to equalize pressure differential inside the airbag channels, the compressed air on that spot pushes into all the air around inside the channels
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This leads to high inertial energy dispersion through gas pressure equalization within air channels
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The Large air volume of Helite airbags gives the gas inside much more volume to distribute impact forces evenly for much better cushioning-effect and protection
3
TORSO STABILISATION
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Area of impact further applies large forces on surrounding body parts, particularly the spine and the neck vertebrae
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This can lead to hyperextension—vertebrae in the neck, spine and any other joints are being forced way beyond their designed range of motion, which can damage them beyond healing
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Helite's airbag channels compress the entire body and vital bones and joints, highly increasing stiffness and resistance against hyperextension of spine and neck and other vital joints
AREAS OF PROTECTION
Cervical Vertebrae
During accidents, riders sometimes fall on their heads—all their body weight then concentrates on the small, fragile C1 to C7 cervical vertebrae, which are stabilized with an airbag to lower the risk of hyperextension and very serious injury.¹
Pancreas & Liver
These vital organs are enclosed by the airbag, greatly reducing risk of injury to them in any kind of falls.¹
Kidneys
The Kidney are sensitive organs and are well covered by the side of the airbag, greatly reducing risk of injury¹
Thorax
The Thorax extends from just below the neck to just above the abdomen and contains vital organs such as the lungs, heart, trachea, bronchi, “Aorta” (major artery), major veins, and the diaphragm at the bottom for breathing. While the rib cage offers some natural impact protection, high speeds and great heights can exceed its limits. Helite airbags surround the thorax with large, strong but flexible inflated tubes, helping stiffen the upper body and reduce excessive movement while providing an air-cushioning effect that absorbs impact forces far beyond what a conventional back or chest protector alone can provide. ¹
Neck & Atlas
Abdomen
The Abdomen contains important digestive organs and is well protected from any impact through the airbag tubes that extend over the chest and abdomen area.¹
Back & Spine
One of the most dangerous accidents can happen when falling onto the back or spine-These are the core parts of the entire structural integrity of the human skeleton-the structure that maintains all organs and tissue at the correct place while providing limited, natural protection. Helite's Airbag system minimizes exposure and impact forces of high speed falls on the spine and back area while compressing the entire spine, greatly reducing the risk of twisting and flexing the spine beyond its range of motion.¹
Hips
A different, major risk area for accidents are the hips. They support the entire torso and arms weight while transfering the weight onto the ground through connecting to the legs. very important nerves and vital organs are connected to the hips, and some of Helite's airbags provide extra protection that compresses just above the hips to greatly reduce impact forces and injury.¹
¹ The risk of injury can only be reduced, not completely prevented. Effectiveness of protection may vary depending on type of fall.
HOW HELITE TURTLE TECHNOLOGY TAKES THIS LEVEL OF PROTECTION FURTHER
A new innovation on the market has been Helite's Turtle Airbag Technology - It uses the same successful, reliable and effective airbag system that has proven itself over a decade through real experiences, and adds a special hard shell on ontop of the air channels on designated areas of the airbag jacket or vest to spread the kinetic impact energy much more efficiently between the different parts of the airbag bladder, greatly reducing the actual forces affecting the human body.
The outer hard shell exists in form of a large, flexible back protector made from xx, a special type of foam that will slowly move when gentle, slow forces are applied - but will rapidly become highly impact and twist resistant as soon as a strong, instant force is applied on that turtle area.
