Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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auto-brolly

battery powered unbrella
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Powered by 4 x 9v batteries, the auto brolly would be mechanically opened at the touch of a button. Easy to use for old ladies or one handed people, fitted with lights for the dark, also a hands free mobile phone built into the stem. The battery could also power a quick rotating action for wizzing of the water when you need to close the umbrella (or just for fun).
gizmo, Nov 21 2001

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       Lots of brollies already open at the touch of a button, based on springs. One that *closes* at the touch of a button would be something beautiful to behold.   

       I like the idea of a brolly that could shake itself like a dog to dry off, though.
pottedstu, Nov 21 2001
  

       mental image of the brolly cocking a spine at the bottom of a tree and relieving itself
po, Nov 21 2001
  

       My idea was to spin to get rid of excess water then retract and continue to swirling motion to (furl away) the secured as is the norm.
gizmo, Nov 21 2001
  

       The handle could also incorporate a digital clock and a hand warming device.
arora, Nov 21 2001
  

       And how about Gene Kelly actually carrying it and you riding on his back. Do-do do do do do, do-do do do, just singing in the rain..................   

       Dap tancing hexpert
maggie, Nov 22 2001
  

       I have a mental image of PeterSealy accidentally closing his umbrella while still walking along. Now *that* would be something beautiful to behold... in a way.
lewisgirl, Nov 22 2001
  

       My umbrella opens and closes at the touch of a button, without batteries. The kind is very common here - you can buy these cheaply in drug stores. The "closed" shape isn't fully retracted; the owner still needs to push the folded-up canopy towards the handle in a symbolic gesture of umbrella-seppuku, and I guess that's what recharges the spring mechanism. Hitting "close" with the wet umbrella still above your head is a fun way of getting completely soaked at the end of a walk through the rain, just when you thought you'd made it.
jutta, Feb 24 2008
  

       I have several of the automatically opening umbrellae, but haven't seen one that closes at the push of a button, under spring power!
csea, Feb 24 2008
  
      
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