James Meiners: USC Engineering Student Invents the EasyBreathe Motorcycle Helmet

November 7, 2008

James was born to Dennis and Marianne Meiners in Overland Park, KS on October 30, 1988. He now lives in Kansas City, MO, which is simply on the other side of State Line Road. He has an older sister, Katherine, and an older brother named Matthew, who encouraged James to apply to USC. Following Matthew’s advice, James attend USC and is currently in Viterbi’s aerospace engineering program. Growing up in a very homogeneous neighborhood, USC’s diverse student population caught his attention and set it apart from the other schools he was considering.

We asked James to update us on his life and his invention:

Help us understand what you are up to:
I am trying to research patents to find out the feasibility of the EasyBreathe Motorcycle Helmet. In terms of school, I am getting used to college and trying to find my way through my first year.

What drives you to continue pursuing this area of study?
I feel like I have always been mechanically inclined and, while I considered mechanical engineering, I decided aerospace engineering sounded like a more interesting field of study.

Describe how your work might impact people’s lives, now and in the future.
I feel like it can improve the comfort of riding in a motorcycle. I also think it will make motorcycle riding attractive to a larger group of people.

How did you come up with the idea?
I was driving on the highway with my window down in my car and had to roll it up because I thought the air was disgusting and began to wonder what people on motorcycles must feel like since they don't have windows to roll up.

Has anyone ever doubted that your idea could work? (Please elaborate.)
Nobody has ever really doubted that the idea could work, but usually people feel like the idea is so obvious that somebody must have come up with it before. This is why researching patents is so important for me.

What is the next step in the innovation process for you (and how might people help)?
Like I previously stated, I am working on the whole patent search to get ideas and to make sure that my idea is original. Once that step is competed, I will be able to work on concept designs and actually make headway with it all.

What is the one innovation you can’t live without?
I would have to say the cell phone. I didn't have one until right after my sophomore year, but they are so handy and do so much that if it was taken away, I would be completely lost. I would know like 4 phone numbers and lose a bunch of pictures. I would also feel a disconnect with society.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
People would be surprised to learn that when I was in third grade, I listened to Puff Daddy and Backstreet Boys. To this day, my allegiances to the Backstreet Boys will not allow me to like any of 'N Sync's songs.

What do you wish you would have invented?
A flat screen TV that acts as a mirror when it is turned off. When I was a sophomore in high school, I thought of that idea only to find out that somebody had already taken it.

Any tips for aspiring innovators?
Always ask questions. When you look at something, ask what it does, what certain features do, and how it could be improved.

What is the most fun you’ve ever had?
My trip to Marco Island, FL. We got down there and found out the island had mainly been evacuated in anticipation of Hurricane Charlie. Although we definitely missed the brunt of the hurricane, we still caught some of the effects and it made for a crazy and fun week.

Three favorite things about LA:
1. the diversity of the geography/culture
2. the diversity of the people
3. the weather