Protective Concepts
Ski Helmet Concepts | Bike Helmets Concepts | Bike & Ski Body Armor Concepts | Optical Concepts | Eyewear concepts |
POC SKI HELMET CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGIES - SNOW
We never compromise in choosing materials or construction, and we never compromise safety, quality or performance. 5 Different helmet concepts & technologies for several different needs.
An in-mold helmet construction is very lightweight, but lacks penetration resistance due to the thin shell. By molding a sheet of aramid to the core, the low weight is maintained and the protection is radically improved. This is called Aramid Penetration Barrier. |
ARAMID BRIDGES
By molding aramid bridges to the core of the helmet, the impact forces are spread over a larger surface, and at the same time the helmet gains structural stability through the bonding of the unbreakable aramid weave and the EPS liner. It allows for a very lightweight and very well ventilated helmet. |
|
|
|
VDSAP (VENTILATED DOUBLE SHELL ANTI-PENETRATION)
POC’s patented VDSAP system (Ventilated Double Shell Anti-Penetration) is made up of two ventilated shells that are placed offset for maximum protection against penetration from sharp objects, while maintaining good air flow and ventilation. The safety performance of this construction is amazing and represents a unique take on helmet design. |
MIPS (MULTI-DIRECTIONAL IMPACT PROTECTION SYSTEM)
MIPS is a system used to reduce the rotational force to the brain in case of oblique impacts. Accident statistics show that the most common accident occurs in an oblique impact to the head, resulting in a rotation of the head and brain. The brain is more sensitive to oblique impacts than radial impacts. In a helmet equipped with MIPS technology, a low friction layer separates the shell and the inside of the helmet. When subjected to an oblique impact, the low friction layer allows a small controlled rotation of the shell relative to the lining. |
SUPER VENTILATED HELMETS
By studying the air flow inside the helmets, POC has been able to create super ventilated helmets with adjustable air flow to adapt it to the conditions. The combination of goggle vents, chimney vents, VDSAP and adjustable vents makes the helmets very ventilated, with a maintained low weight and a high level protection. |
MULTI-IMPACT PERFORMANCE
Most helmets today have liners made of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), a great shock absorbing material, but it will be permanently compressed when absorbing an impact, even a minor one. Using multi-impact EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) as core material creates a helmet that will protect your head over and over again. |
Through examining helmets used by World Cup alpine racers, we identified that they were worn out in the front caused by repeated impacts from the gates. The violence was more severe than we had ever imagined and the discovery led us to developing the Multi-Impact Deflector Panels, featured in the new line of Skull Orbic helmets. Our deflector panels decrease the transmitted force of the impact, and increase the shock absorbing capacity of the helmets. This ensures that the helmet performance remains at the highest level when it’s really needed: in a real crash. |
POC BIKE HELMET CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGIES - WHEELS
PROGRESSIVE CORE
POC’s new progressive core (Pro Core) combines two densities. With a stiffer outer part of the liner and a softer portion on the inside, the helmet becomes exceptionally durable on the outside and well suited to deal with higher energy impacts, while the softer inner layer provides protection for lower energy impacts. The two layers also work together to give a progressive stop of the head in case of an impact. |
MULTI-IMPACT PERFORMANCE
To date, both traditional hard shell and in-mold helmets have relied on Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for shock absorption. EPS absorbs energy by plastic deformation on impact and results in permanent deformation. As a consequence, a helmet liner made of EPS will not be as good absorbing repetitive impacts. Most of POC’s bike helmets use a liner of Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) instead of the traditional EPS. The difference between the materials is that EPP does not deform permanently, which means it’s suitable for absorbing repetitive impacts. |
MIPS (MULTI-IMPACT PROTECTION SYSTEM)
MIPS is a system used to reduce the rotational force to the brain in case of oblique impacts. Accident statistics show that the most common accident occurs in an oblique impact to the head, resulting in a rotation of the head and brain. The brain is more sensitive to oblique impacts than radial impacts. In a helmet equipped with MIPS technology, a low friction layer separates the shell and the inside of the helmet. When subjected to an oblique impact, the low friction layer allows a small controlled rotation of the shell relative to the lining. |
EPS VS. IN-MOLD HELMETS
Traditionally, there have been two types of bike helmets on the market. First, there is the thick hard shell helmet with a shock absorbing liner of EPS. A hard shell helmet provides good protection against penetration and is durable. The second type of traditional bike helmet is the in-mold type. These helmets have a thin shell of polycarbonate molded together with an EPS liner. With this construction any energy on impact is well absorbed, as the thin shell allows the helmet to deconstruct on impact, transferring less stress to the brain and head, which results in minimal rebound. Traditionally, in-mold helmets have disadvantages when it comes to resistance to penetration and durability. |
ARAMID BRIDGE
When looking for low weight in combination with a tough and durable structure, we added aramid in strategic locations just under the outer shell and molded it together with the foam liner material to ensure durability and protection. The unbreakable aramid weave bonds with the foam liner, adding a totally new structural stability. The concept was first launched in our trail mountainbike helmet Trabec. |
VDSAP (VENTILATED DOUBLE SHELL ANTI-PENETRATION)
The safety requirements for ski and bike helmets are similar, but bike helmets call for some additional features to enhance ventilation and comfort. Good ventilation, however, also poses problems as open vents decreases the helmet’s protection against penetration. This is a serious risk, especially for downhill riders, since they are most likely to be exposed to hazardous objects at high speed. To be able to come up with a helmet thatis penetration resistant, performs well upon impact and still is well ventilated, we developed our patented VDSAP with double overlapping shells. VDSAP has two ventilated shells that are offset for maximum penetration resistance and management of heat, perspiration or water. The inner shell is an extremely thin layer of polycarbonate and the outer shell is made of carbon fiber or injected plastic, depending on model. These helmets represent a unique way of thinking in helmet design. |
SKI & BIKE BODY ARMOR CONCEPTS
VPD (VISCO-ELASTIC POLYMER DOUGH
Our work together with specialists on spinal injuries, riders of all kinds and experts in material and construction have resulted in body armor that will give you both a high level of comfort and safety. The VPD (Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough) range offers extreme impact absorption, which has given us a completely new approach to developing body armor. VPD is highly impact absorbent, comfortable and adapts to create an individual fit and due to its high level of protection and the ability to transition from soft to hard during impact, we don’t have to choose between safety and flexibility. Many back protectors are lightweight, but may not be optimal for shock absorption. Some can take one impact with good shock absorption, but a second impact to the protector will transfer a much higher amount of energy to the user, the third an even greater amount and so on. VPD material retains the same high absorption level, and that is an important property for us since we believe that a protector will have several impacts during one fall, and during its lifetime. We do everything we can to make sure we give you the highest level of protection, but we also want our armor to be comfortable. Anatomically and ergonomically it should follow the shape of your body, be supple and give you complete freedom of movement. Another major advantage of the POC body armor is the highly efficient ventilation technology. Looking at the range we hope that you will find a product that suits your personal needs. |
POC’s goggles are developed to enhance vision and protection, fulfilling the needs depending on activity and conditions. The goggles will protect your eyes from snow, ice, rain, slipstream, UV-rays, branches etc as well as assist your vision in different light conditions. For better peripheral perception, POC’s goggles are designed to optimize the field of view, giving faster reaction and ultimately promoting safety. CARL ZEISS LENSES In POC’s Zeiss range you will find a full range of lens choices for all conditions with everything from a dedicated lens for extremely sunny conditions to the highly innovative Sonar lens for flat light conditions. Zeiss patent pending technology Sonar lens is available in a POC exclusive VLT level for the best contrast perception, high brilliance of colors and contours, especially at high speed and in changing light conditions. All technical research and practical field-testing has resulted in a lens, which improves visual acuity in all light conditions. VLT – VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMISSION COMP LENSES COLORS VS. LIGHT CONDITIONS However, there are some basic rules within the color spectrum that can enhance contrast. A lens with a yellow, orange, pink or red color will block out more of the blue end of the color spectrum. This will enhance contrast, enabling you to more clearly make out shapes, objects and bumps in the terrain. These lenses are suitable in low light, fog and flat light, but also in moderate light. In bright light, dark tints will keep your eyes more comfortable. A green or grey lens dampens the color spectrum evenly. This leads to a natural feel where the color spectrum will be experienced as normal. NXT LENSES All POC’s NXT lenses are equipped with a color vision-boosting filter called HCD (High Chromatic Definition). HCD has an extreme contrast enhancing effect and takes goggle lens clarity to a new level. To keep your lens clean and clear, you will also find an excellent Oleophobic/Hydrophobic treatment as well as an anti- scratch and anti-fog treatment. In addition to these unique features, NXT lenses also are equipped with a Photochromatic filter, which enables the lens to change the tint color depending on current light conditions. The 3P lens (POC Partially Polarized) has a polarized effect that takes away excessive glare while letting in enough reflection to distinguish snow from ice
|
With the experience gained in goggle optics we felt it was necessary to utilise our knowledge and innovation to develop the best performance sunglasses we could. POC’s sunglasses are developed to optimize vision and protection for all conditions. |