Air Conditioned Helmet

[screamday]

I'm guessing you could hear the fan motor running......that might bother me. Might get use to it though.

[Moto]

The guy claims to have been the inventor of the seat coolers used luxury cars like Mercedes with leather seats

Here's a patent in his name for such technology, dated 1994:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US6085369A/en

That patent included a Stirling cycle cooler, but the newer motorcycle patent indicates "For cooling the air, the heat pump is preferably a thermoelectric device (e.g., Peltier) or, alternatively, a Stirling cycle device." 

If you listen and read carefully, he doesn't claim to have invented the "thermoelectric" cooling device (probably Peltier), but only the systems for cooling car seats, and now motorcycle helmets, that rely on air-channeling fabric layers. He holds exactly such patents, which I have read.

He seems to be the real deal.

Moto

[Wayne Orwig]

Having your name on a patent or two does not mean the idea has any merit.

[Moto]

Having your name on a patent or two does not mean the idea has any merit.

True that. But he does claim his patented idea for auto seats was used by several manufacturers, presumably under license. That, supposing it is true, does mean the old idea had merit. Maybe the new one does too.

Meanwhile, anyone who wants to roll their own air conditioned helmet might be shocked at the low price of the modules on Amazon. Search for "12V Peltier module".

Having found out those low prices, and also recalling finding out about contract OEM manufacturers of DOT/ECE helmets back in my SPARX days, I can well imagine that the $550 price is compatible with a very good profit. I personally hope this product works.

If it does, and his patent is defensible, he stands to make some real money.

[twowings]

Fitting the first prototype reveals some space problems: 

[PJPR01]

Speaking of ideas and patents:  Have been waiting more than 2 or 3 years for this idea below to come to fruition...still waiting for the Prototype to be produced en masse.  Several folks kicked in a few dollars to help crowdfund this are are waiting for our prototypes to be shipped, so far no real progress other than more and more prototypes...so the A/C cooled helmet is far ahead as it's already moved to production and sales to the public. 

https://www.rainpal.net/

[PJPR01]

All true...but for $100 bucks I was willing to fund an innovation at the time.   Although it happens rarely, having a clear visor was worth it for $100.

But yet here I am still waiting...

[oldbike54]

 They laughed at Percy Spencer also .

 Dusty

[Dibble]

Fitting the first prototype reveals some space problems: 

I mounted mine on my fuel tank and ran the pipe up inside my jacket.

I built it for going across London in this years 30 degree Centigrade(don't laugh) heatwave.

I'm going to make some sort of reservoir so it dosent pump whilst the bike is moving but you can do a cold blast at lights.

[kirkemon]

The idea sounds great.
But I'm concerned about the quality of the helmet. DOT doesn't mean quality. I was really hot on getting the Sena helmet with noise cancellation until I found out the technology works, but the helmet is crap.
If there was an Arai with AC, I'm in!

[Kev m]

The idea sounds great.
But I'm concerned about the quality of the helmet. DOT doesn't mean quality.

It doesn't "mean" lack of quality either.

[TimmyTheHog]

beside the DOT, Snell, ECE certification, the most of these gadget helmet does not do for me is usually the weight.

I have a HUGE head and I am currently rocking an XL Shoei Qwest...oh it's heavy...1.4 KG

Just slightly lighter than the AC helmet here...which is listed at 1450G +/-

So unless they can down the weight a bit, I will pass...

On top of that, I tend to sweat around my armpits more than the head 

[rider33]

looking at the site (thanks for the link) it appears that to make it work the vents were eliminated which means the fan would have to be on all the time, either with or w/o the cooling function activated.  'Not sure if I'd like that or the idea of being teahered to the bikes electrical system.  This seems like it will play better among Gold Wing riders who are use to all sorts of gizmos (airbags, satellite radio, warning chimes on the saddle bag lids etc) as apposed to just-the-basics Guzzi riders.  Still, I'd like to see it, maybe he'll make the show circuit this year.  I hope so,  this is the kind of thing you need to try first I think.