Although it's entirely possible that a bicycle helmet could save your life one day, that still doesn't change the fact that the things take up a lot of space when carried in a bag. The Morpher helmet, however, folds completely flat when not in use.
British cyclist Jeff Woolf was inspired to invent the Morpher after commissioning a survey of London bicycle-rental users. According to that survey, 92 percent of those people didn't wear a helmet, due mainly to a lack of portability, even though 84 percent of them did believe that they were putting their lives in danger by not using one.
Woolf decided to create a helmet that would be easier for them to stuff into a bag or briefcase while off their bike, and that could be more efficiently dispensed from vending machines at bike rental stations.
The Morpher was the result, and it's by no means the first folding bicycle helmet we've seen. Others have included models that squeeze inward like an accordion, fold in the middle like an armadillo, or that have panels on the side that tuck into the center.
What sets the Morpher apart from those helmets is the fact that it folds flat. This may understandably cause some people to question its safety when being worn, although according to Woolf, the prototypes have already passed most European testing standards. He's now working on passing the standards required in the US and Australia.
Along with the costs of obtaining that certification, Jeff and his team are also raising funds to cover the commercial production of the Morpher. They've just begun an Indiegogo project, where you can get a helmet of your own for a pledge of US$59 – when and if they're available. The estimated retail price is approximately $110.
More information is available in the pitch video below.
Source: Indiegogo
