Crash helmet voted best invention

Don Morgan of Brisbane has won The New Inventors Grand Final prize with his Cone-Head motorcycle helmet.

An emotional Morgan was barely able to thank host James O’Loughlin for the honour. He wins a business advice package worth thousands of dollars from IP Australia.

Morgan spent over 20 years researching and designing the unique helmet which has distinctive cone shaped structures that allow the helmet lining to absorb the impact of an accident.

It has has the potential to massively reduce fatalities and brain contusions. Congrats, Don!

Press Release:

An Australian invention with the potential for massive global impact was named the ‘2007 Invention of The Year’ last night on ABC TV’s The New Inventors.

Brisbane’s Don Morgan picked up the prestigious 2007 award for his revolutionary motorcycle helmet – Cone-Head.

Don spent over 20 years researching and designing the unique helmet which has distinctive cone shaped structures that allow the helmet lining to absorb the impact of an accident.

One quarter of motorcyclists and bicyclists involved in accidents are killed or seriously injured – and they were wearing standard helmets at the time. So whether you are champion World MotoGP motorcycle rider Casey Stoner, or riding a Vespa to work, Don’s Cone-Head helmet has the potential to massively reduce fatalities and brain contusions following an accident.

The Brisbane physicist (from Yeronga) was overwhelmed when he was presented with his award by the ‘2006 Inventor of the Year’ Chris Boshua. Don has won a comprehensive package of tailored business advice and assistance worth tens of thousands of dollars from IP Australia, CSIRO, AusIndustry and Austrade, to help him take his Cone-Head to the next level, here, and overseas.

The Cone-Head beat the final five Grand Finalists – Petrol AllSaw (Perth); Personal Health Monitor (Sydney); Waterfresh (Sydney); and The Thompson Coupling (Orange), to pick up The New Inventors top prize in 2007.

The New Inventors People’s Choice Award – for the invention which received the most votes from the viewing public throughout the year – went to Rockhampton (Qld) emergency nurse Glen Riverstone for his Snapit Ampoule Opener. Glen’s prize includes a trip to Hong Kong’s Innovation Design and Technology Expo.

And in memory of former New Inventors’ judging panellist, Les Miller, ‘The Les Is More – Big Heart Award’ for an inventor who has been motivated by the desire to help others or the environment went to father and son, Barry (snr and jnr) Hildebrand, from Townsville, for their Ezy As Compression Stocking Applicator.

And finally, Queensland scored the quadrella when young Nicholas Dale from Robina won the inaugural New Inventors ‘Bright Spark Award’ for an inventor aged 18 years or under for his One Handed Potato Processor.