First introduced in 1999 as the "Eggparka", Mugen Denko's "Hit Air" motorcycle jacket comes with built-in airbags. Here's a picture of the inflatable cushioning sytem:
 |
In the event of an accident and a rider is thrown from the motorcycle, the air cushion instantly inflates (within 1/2 second) to protect the rider's body. Activation is simple and automatic. A coiled wire is attached to both the motorcycle and the jacket. Once the rider and the motorcycle are separated, the coiled wire pulls a "key" out of a gas release system and inert gas inflates the air cushion. The inflated jacket provides the necessary impact protection.You can see some videos of it inflating here. It doesn't look like it would provide complete protecion in a crash, but every little bit helps.
5 comments:
There's only one problem with this idea. I saw a video online once of a guy getting off his cycle and forgetting to remove the clip from the bike. This was followed immediately by a second clip of a guy walking into a restroom and snagging the dragging cord on a person squeezing by him.
In both cases, the airbags went off. Let's just leave it at: oops.
Posted by Brian
Bet it doens't protect men's valuables and wouldn't have prevented my broken arm years ago, but hee, it was fun flying through the air and thinking, "Oh my god, I'm dead!" Then, "well, I can have it either way" and survived just fine.
Like you said in your more recent post - they're trying to make us live in a padded cell. What's the point of living if there's no randomity. Those who face death ten times a day, are really alive! :)
Posted by BR
"They're" not forcing you to wear the airbag jacket. It's a matter of personal choice.
Posted by GaijinBiker
GB, of course. It's not the manufacturers of safety devices like this one, or seatbelts, or helmets, or car airbags, or measles vaccinations, etc. who are the problem. If these things remained optional, that's fine. It's when individuals in positions of power over others enforce its use through legislation, that my free choice goes out the window.
Anyway, this is too serious for a thread on such a cute gadget. I just happened to read your "Safety Dance" post before reading this - your "padded room" image bled over to the "padded jacket".
Posted by BR
This is so shades of Hiro Protagonist.
Posted by Justin
Post a Comment