Ah, the umbrella – it’s been around for over 3,000 years and it has barely changed in style or design.
However, a Chinese inventor is about to change all that.
You see, Chuan Wang from Nanjing, China, along with colleagues from the Aeronautics and Astronautics departments at both Nanjing and Beijing universities, have invented what’s called the Invisible Umbrella, which is also coined the Air Umbrella.
New technology means you will stay dry: Photo credit: Kickstarter
The invention is like a ray of sunshine in its own right.
The device looks just like a wand with a main power switch at the bottom and it runs on a lithium battery.
At the top there are rotating jets which draws in air at a fast speed and then ejects it at a high force. This is what forms an ‘invisible’ shielding layer. That’s right the air jets sucking air in and out create an air dome, protecting the user from getting wet.
“Air is everywhere on the earth,” writes the team on their Kickstarter page. “The flowing air can change the moving path of the object. The faster the air moves, the greater the energy is. The jet airflow can isolate some objects. So when we make use of the airflow, we can protect ourselves from the rain drops. Then the airflow forms an umbrella without a visible cover.”
Like a magic wand, the Air Umbrella will keep you dry.
Their new umbrella invention is brilliant on every level and comes in three sizes.
Version A is 30 centimeters in length and it is perfect to fit into handbags; Version B is 50 centimeters in length; and, Version C is 80 centimeters. The battery life for Version A and Version B is 15 minutes and 30 minutes for Version C. Version will cost you $88.00 (USD), and the two larger versions range from $128.00 to $148.00 in rice.
While the price is right, the Invisible Umbrella is an ideal choice for urban dwellers who don’t have that far to commute.
“Our products are only suitable for users who are not demanding,” writes the team. “Generally speaking, the products are more suitable for the urban citizens or people who have a car.”
Wang and his team recently unveiled their invention on Kickstarter and have raised over $100,000.00 in crowdfunding.
So, will the Invisible Umbrella be a hit on the market?
There’s no doubt about it – urban commuters are always seeking new ways of staying dry while commuting to work or running errands.
The Invisible Umbrella is an invention that marks a unique chapter in the style and design of the umbrella.
This is history in the making, indeed.
And the Invisible Umbrella goes on sale this December 2015.
