Specialty Fabrics Review May 2019 - 12

BRIEFINGS

SWATCHES

Safety for the slopes

ne of the quickest ways to get hurt downhill skiing is to skip the helmet. In fact, 88
percent of all snow sport-related deaths are due to head injuries, yet many people just
won't wear a helmet on the slopes. Australian bioengineer Rob Joseph learned this lesson
the hard way. Frustrated with his helmet while snowboarding, he took it off and then
sustained a brain injury. He and his friend, Brodie Robinson, a product engineer, wanted
to find a wearable solution, started the company ANTI Ordinary and developed a soft cap
with unique properties that protects against injuries.
Naturally flexible, the ANTI Ordinary A1 beanie feels like any knit cap. But upon
impact, it instantly hardens into a protective helmet. The cap features a durable acrylic
outer layer, with an inner layer made of moisture-wicking Merino wool. The protection
resides in a blend of non-Newtonian fluids that start soft and rubbery, but stiffen instantly
upon impact. After the hit, the liquid goes back to its soft state.
This material has been used in body padding for other action sports but had not been
sufficient to absorb enough force to be classified as a helmet. ANTI Ordinary's patented
layering system does enable the material to absorb sufficient force: It converts the overall
system from one that disperses force to one that is better at absorbing impacts, especially
complex impacts that can cause head trauma. The beanie is expected to be certified with the
EN1077 and ASTM F2040 safety standards. For more details, visit www.antiordinary.co.

Available in multiple styles, the
revolutionary cap-helmet means
snow skiers don't have to sacrifice
comfort and style for safety on the
slopes. Photo: ANTI Ordinary.

There's a Hedgehog for that

Built to last, the Hedgehog Carbon features
a rib suspension system that adjusts to wind
conditions. Photos: Hedgehog Products.

12 REVIEW MAY 2019

mbrellas come in different shapes and sizes, but often the chief problem is
that they don't hold up to wind. Consider estimates that more than one
billion umbrellas are broken every year: That's enough polyester waste to cover
New York City. Enter Hedgehog Carbon, an umbrella that is wind-tested to
70 miles per hour.
The Hedgehog is the brainchild of Cahay Ho and Kevin Truong, two
automotive engineers from rainy Vancouver, British Columbia, who were
tired of replacing broken umbrellas one after the other. They took the
principles and design philosophy used to build cars and applied them to
building a better umbrella.
Ho and Truong started by reinventing the frame. It begins with a stainless
steel shaft, but instead of a traditional rib structure frame, they
used dual carbon fiber members fused by ballistic grade polycarbonate
joints for a super-strong strength-to-weight ratio structure.
Wind resistance is achieved through their patented umbrella rib suspension
system, which enables each rib within the Hedgehog Carbon's architecture
to pivot independently, adjusting to intense winds. The increased flexibility
to the canopy structure maintains a constant overall shape and prevents the
umbrella from flipping inside out.
The interchangeable canopy can be swapped out for a different color or pattern
in less than three minutes. A 19-point connection system secures it to the frame.
The Hedgehog Carbon weighs just 15 ounces. When not in use, it
folds down to 13 inches for easy storage. For more information,
visit www.hedgehogumbrella.com.

http://www.antiordinary.co http://www.hedgehogumbrella.com

Specialty Fabrics Review May 2019

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