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The philosophy of the Shark technology distinguishes itself with an
avant-gardist conception of the protection through the experience of its
researchers, in collaboration with the team of the scientists of the CEESAR
( European Research Centre for Safety and Risk Analysis) and the feedback of
high-level competitors in every sport.
A philosophy through three points:
Research - The Shark Research Department Shark has developed
technical and human means for the design of its models. The Shark Research
and Development, is made of a passionate researchers’ team working with
computer advanced tools to imagine and create every mechanical and design
component of a new model. The Proteus project with the CEESAR and the
university of Strasbourg.
For Shark, research as regards road safety is an endless project. By
committing in the Proteus project, the French brand still improves its
safety science. The leader brand in Europe is quite often awarded by the
international press for the technical qualities of its products. That’s why
the company committed in this project led by the CEESAR (European Research
Centre for Safety and Risk Analysis - Paris) and the University of
Strasbourg (France) that aims to gather and to deepen the current knowledge
about the accidents of the two-wheeled vehicles.
Shark Racing Experience
The team Shark racers are the best people to share these important
information. Because of the extreme conditions that they meet when they
race, the Grand Prix racers are real sources of learning for the Research
and Development Shark teams.
The development of the Shark models
Shock absorption: The main principle of the Shark technology is
optimising the absorption of the energy resulted from an impact. For Shark,
it’s up to the helmet to make the absorption. The use of the
top-of-the-range and perfectly fitted materials, as well as the applying of
the proven techniques, are the best illustrations of this behaviour.
The car industry has developed structures that integrated bending areas. It
is in the same spirit that Shark is looking for the best combining of
external and internal structures of its helmets and that the company creates
products that are better elaborated than the classical constructions, which
had a less important performance because of their excessive rigidity.
Sure shapes and dynamical reactions: In terms of accidents, there is no
doubt about the fact that, in case of shock, the shock absorber structures
by bending and partial destruction, are safer than the old concept – often
still in force – of the really rigid protection shell. Researches in brain
traumatology showed it : in an accident, the first impact is the one who
needs more absorption. This absorption prevents from serious injuries or
death in case of another shock. This report refers to numerous fieds and in
particular in some sports. Today, in every sports in which players are in
real contact (Boxing, US Football, Rugby, ice hockey, etc.), the player who
suffered from a violent shock to his head has to leave the game immediately.
A second impact to the head could indeed lead to serious lesions.
Shark Tec Shell : In order to reduce the damage caused to the brain during
an impact, Shark is developing helmets that are able to absorb a great
energy in a very few time. The intensive use of the Carbon-Kevlar fibres
(even if it is reserved to the top-of-the-range products) has a lot of
advantages :
1. The Carbon brings a good rigidity at the right place in case of shock.
The helmet has zones in which the rigidity can change (visual field and the
head passing) in particular areas, it is important to design the shell with
a specific rigidity. He creates thus a first absorption.
2. The Kevlar is almost tear-proof, but it enables a bending of the
structure in the sense of the absorption. It is thus shock resistant,
absorbing all its energy. The Kevlar will enable the shell to bend enough
without tearing.
3. Shark knew how to combine these materials by mixing them in a special
weaving in order to get a maximum safety level that fits to the helmet.
4. This feature, combined with the research about the shock absorber
materials, enables an optimal absorption of the energy during the shock.
5. The lightness of the Carbon-Kevlar mix is such than the
safety/weight/comfort ratio is optimal.
For the most current fibre helmets, a particular and precise meshing of long
and multi-axial fibres insures an optimal distribution and absorption of the
energy resulting from the impact. The overall of the available surface helps
indeed to better spread the energy of the shock.
Shark uses noble materials with a sole purpose : totally secure your head.
The research work made on the shock absorber materials completes thus the
work made on the shells.
"Shark Fin Shocks" : As the helmet is not homogeneous in its structure,
given its shape and its opening area, it is necessary to use differentiated
density according to the various zone. Moreover, Shark established an
ingenious bending area system (“Shark fin-Shocks”) The shell of the helmet
doesn’t react in the same way ( because of a difference in the shape
rigidity) if the shock is head-on or at the top of the head, or in the side
zones. That’s why Shark has developed the structure with differentiated
density and progressive bending zones. The Shark helmets fits every
situation for your safety.
Vision and optical quality Safety is an integral part of comfort, Shark
consequently develops mechanisms and features as complete as easy. For
example, SHARK equips its top-of-the-range products with an anti-scratch and
anti-fog 3mm visor (as in F1), held by 4 fastening points. In addition to
its reliability in case of accident, it’s also easy to use.
Production
Every helmet, every innovation has to reflect faithfully the research
work. That’s why the Shark factories regularly make quality controls all
along the production in order to sell on the market optimal products
provided with all the safety features only.
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