Terrifying bike helmet filters bad air, increases fear
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted Jul 12th 2007 10:41AM
posted Jul 12th 2007 10:41AM
If you've been worrying that small children weren't frightened enough when you pedaled your bike down the street, 22-year-old Luke Pannell, a Brunel University industrial design student, is here to help. The young inventor has created a biking helmet that he's dubbed "Breathe Air," which in addition to looking like a cross between Michael Myers, a Storm Trooper and The Predator, also features a filtering "shield" over the mouth and nose, which cuts particles and dust, then expels them through a plastic tube when the user exhales. The helmet isn't currently in production, but the designer hopes to find a manufacturer, then market the device for around £100. Now all it needs is an attached Bluetooth headset so you can communicate back to the Death Star without taking your eyes off the road.[Via Boing Boing]
Nothing brings on the intimidation like a bicycle helmet.
Yeah now imagine that intimidation during holloween. Nothing like having clean air while you scare the death out of some little 6 year olds and then steal their candy. But then again theres no way to eat the candy..lol.
I don't even ride bikes but I would buy this for driving so I can flip people off in style..lol.
~Eric
Robots in disguise!
Cool looking... How does one have any peripheral with this????
Real bikes don't need peripheral vision! But apparently they do need filtered air. And how does one drink when wearing that thing?
I know that all the holes are for ventilation. But, unless you're playing paintball with it, there's no need for it to be so scary. It'd be great for Halloween though. Maybe in black or dark green.
But, like Piz mentioned, what about your peripheral vision. This thing has to increase your blind spots.
That helmet would be seriously awesome for paintball. In addition to the looks, for which players would buy it alone, the dust filter would be a real boon, as many fields are very dusty, leaving one hacking up one's lungs at the end of a hot day.
Seconded. Market these for paintball and you'd make a mint.
If you wore something like this on the field you'd be laughed off. People catch enough flak for wearing that JT headshield monstrosity.
It only filters dust? I have asthma, but the biggest problem for cycling is... CAR EXHAUST!
I actually have a rating system for worse exhaust.
1) Trash Truck
2) Fire Truck
3) Bus
4) Cars
The other issue is that unless there's some sort of valve, your very wet breath will make this thing soaking wet inside. I had a filtered bandana, and after 20 minutes it was sopping.
-Pie
I don't even ride a bike but I want one.
Awesome, nothing like a windshield to shave more wind resistance to my ride. I'd like mine with the Rolling Stones "tongue" affixed to it please.
Well if it means I don't ever have to get a bug in my lung again it's worth considering...
As for it being scary...yeah a little, in a somwhat animalistic/primordial way. I say make the mouthshield transparent and give it maybe 3x magnification biased horizontally (a la a fun house mirror). Then the eyes and crown won't just look alien and evil, the mouth will also look grotesque and perverted (like 'Venom').
THAT will keep the kids out'the way...
They will be available in yellow, green, blue, red, pink and limited editions white and black...
Go Go Power Rangers!
can anyone say holloween? not only will you be the scariest person, but you will have nice and clean lungs too :P
2 questions:
1. Does it have infrared vision?
2. When will the shoulder-mounted laser be available?
1. Plans are in the works
2. February 2049
The helmet is worthless for paintball. It has too many narrow radii and hard surfaces. A paintball mask/helmet has a secondary function of deflection of paintballs in order to reduce the chance of a ball break. Also, I can't imagine how hard it would be to clean this thing after getting tagged.
In terms of cycling... Yeah I can see how menacing this would look riding a 10-speed and Speedo shorts. Perhaps it's design could be adopted to motorcross. I'm starting to think it is intended more for BMX the more I look at it.
Notice the nice area at the front to paint a joker smile, moo ha ha
I was thinking that this looked like the illegitimate love child of the Joker and a Stormtrooper...
Wow... it's a Lego Bionicle mask!
Noice! haha... I would insert some lame Bionicle joke in here to play off that, but I honestly can't stand those sets. Some of the worst stuff Lego ever came out with. 'Cept for those Belleville girl's sets. Those were pretty lame, too.
Im almost positive this is the back side of the helmet everyone....looking at the way the helmet is designed, it doesent look like the front of one,
I am pretty sure you are correct.
Perfect. This is just what I was looking for to complete my superhero outfit.
Bio-Booster Armor Guyver !!!!
Lame, you will cook in this. Might be fine for winter cyclists.
I hike and a mere headnet for bugs makes me sweat crazy amounts as it traps a bit of air. This will work like a furnace and cook you. Entirely moronic.
"in addition to looking like a cross between Michael Myers, a Storm Trooper and The Predator"
I don't think anyone can possibly come up with a better description.
"communicate back to the Death Star"
You have a great sense of humor! I laughed good at that one.
"communicate back to the Death Star"
'You have a great sense of humor! I laughed good at that one'
Oh snap!(Is this term still hip?), you and I must have laughing at the same time. I can hear it now, 'Commander Rider...report immediately to StarDock 11'
Look out! It's Shredder!
"which in addition to looking like a cross between Michael Myers, a Storm Trooper and The Predator"
I was more thinking Transformers?
Clean airs good and all, but how do i get my cigarette through it?
Pfft.
Is it a joke?
Im pretty shure you all missed the point. I think the picture is missleading. There is no way the helmet and the filter are connected as the appear. My best guess is tha the filter straps on silmiar to a painters mask around the back of the head and a chin strap from the helmet loops through to keep the two components situated. Thus leaving your eyes free and clear to view whatever, where ever. Not sure those of us with glasses (or riders who wear sunglasses) would be able to use them very well with that setup though. But with the two front vents looking like eye wholes I can see where the image could be very missleading. There is no way those are eye wholes though cause as thick as the helmet is you wouldn't be able to see anything eles it was right in front of you, or if you happen to have the neck of an owl.
It's amazing how people are easily fooled by a picture.
Those "eye holes" must be air vents above forehead.
Could the mouth piece may actually be located in front of the helmet like a visor?
Actually, since the roads in my neighborhood have been taken over by huge pelletons of bike-riding yuppies, I'd love to find a way to add tear gas to my car exhaust. Too bad this helmet would negate those ideas.
WTF? That is not right. As Nick said, that looks like the back of the helmet. In fat it looks very much like the back of MY helmet! Why they would provide a photo of the mask apparently attached the the back of a helmet, I do not know. But that is not a wearable or usable helmet as pictured.
If that really is the front, then as a cyclist I assure you that thing is useless. You would be almost blind, you wouldn't be able to drink, and the thing looks extremely uncomfortable!
I tried googling it for the original source but came up empty. I think this is a hoax that a lot of bloggers have been suckered by.
It's not aero and looks like it would add quite a few grams to the weight one would have to lug up a 18% grade, so no real cyclists will touch it. Probably a few, ahhh..., "gravitationally challenged" star wars geeks will buy one, though, just to put on a shelf or something. It also looks like the cooling from the vents will be almost non-existent.
I think this is a great idea; however, why not go out and purchase a respirator from the nearest Lowes or Home Depot for ~$30-40 depending on how much filtering you want? If I was that concerned about the air quality when I bike, this is what I would do now.
I want one to DJ in. Talk about a gimmick! DJ Death Star.
IMO, car exhausts are the "real scary".
Cities and suburbs choked with noxious air, 365 days a year, not that any government not pushed to the wall by their citizens cares; the revenue they make from fuel is far too high for them to bother.
Wow, Awesome...
I think this would sell in a variety of markets, given a fe design changes.
It looks kind of heavy due to the size of it. 2nd, it needs to reveal more of the face, as others have said it looks scary... or worse yet, could be used fr more sinister means.
G8 protestors would like this. One could also paint to make one look like a Transformers fan.
Paintball usage makes sense for the filter, not the helmet desig (which IS backwards). If anyone is making fun of somebody wearing a protective mask should take a few rounds in the face. The few I've played in required them to be worn, in lieu of safety and not desiring any possible lawsuits.
If you're on a pilgrimage to become the laughingstock or to get whipped, be sure to buy this.
If you desire to significantly reduce your chances of ever knowing a woman, be sure to buy this.
If you're working hard to lose every last ounce of respect from your friends, family, and fellow riders, be sure to buy this.
Class dismissed.
Now I think that the eye holes should have sunglass inserts in differant colors. then it would be perfect.