A helmet is basically a sort of protective head gear worn to safeguard the head from injury. In other words, a helmet protects the skull from damage by any outside source, in keeping with the original idea behind head protection. Symbolic or ceremonial helmets without specific protective function can be worn by soldiers too.
The earliest helmets used during military campaigns were simple in design. They were made of leather and had very poor Ventilation systems, as they were held up by the cheek pads. This meant that riders could suffer heat exhaustion after long rides. To remedy this, a full-face helmet was designed with vents in strategic areas of the helmet.
In the 1990s, significant changes were brought about in the design of motorcycle helmets. A new material called Trivex was introduced which was able to absorb impacts by reducing the strength of the helmet. This meant that more force would be absorbed by the rider’s head and this in turn would reduce the likelihood of head injuries. New technologies were brought into play too. For instance, GPS based mapping and onboard navigation systems were added to bikes and motorbikes and the use of cellular phones became common on two-wheelers.
The open face motorcycle helmet was another innovation. Unlike its predecessor, it had only one large ventilation hole in the front, rather than two small ones. This meant that all the air flowing into the helmet would escape through this single point and would leave the head no exposed areas. An easy way to secure the helmet was the installation of a chin bar, which fits neatly over the forehead and protects the neck. Another added benefit is the fact that helmets with this type of chin bar are able to meet certain Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements. You can know more about A new motorcycle.
With newer technologies are developing at a rapid pace, manufacturers have managed to incorporate these new concepts into modern motorcycle helmets. One of the most noticeable improvements is the development of full face helmets with visors. These helmets have visors which cover the entire sides of the head and face. The visor has an outer shell that extends from the brow over the cranium to a specific part of the back of the helmet. In some models the visor is hinged at the top, allowing it to pivot open and securely against the helmet’s exterior shell.
Other helmet designs have taken advantage of newer developments. Some motorcycle helmets now feature what is known as “mold memory” technology. This concept is an advance upon the snap-on chin bar design. Molded foam chips are used to add shape to helmets once they have been approved for use. The new technology allows for the memory to be changed as the individual biker rides the bike, much like a car’s windows can be reprogrammed during driving. This helps prevent the rider from dealing with the disadvantages inherent in traditional chin bars.