It seems to have escaped the notice of the entire world for however many centuries umbrellas have been in production, but the basic design doesn't actually work in the real world. The sort of rain you have a genuine need to shelter from tends to be accompanied by chaotic, howling winds, huge dark clouds and occasional lightning. To combat this we have a damp metal stick supporting a small, opaque canopy that needs both arms to control, generally needs to be positioned over your field of vision, functions as an excellent wind catcher and sail, and will be savagely torn apart into a pathetic skeletal tangle of sodden, flapping rags if you lose concentration for a moment.

What is needed is an almost completely spherical umbrella made of a transparent material in a structure engineered to take a few knocks, which offers genuine protection. I would like to suggest, as an experimental prototype, an inflatable clear plastic geodesic dome with a pump-action handle, although if anyone knows of a collapsable, snap-open dome structure.. ?
-- Mharr, Aug 07 2001

Something more like this, then? http://www.zorb.com/
The umpteenth link to this thing from the halfbakery, I know, but still... [jutta, Oct 04 2004]

I'd be blown over by the wind and have to roll to work. *grin*
-- jetgrrl, Aug 07 2001


If the umbrella could be redesigned to be hemispherical when deployed (which I'm sure it can), there could be an attachment for the bottom of it, the size and shape of a hula-hoop, which expands in the manner of a Chinese lantern to envelop the body down to the ankles.
-- angel, Aug 07 2001


Or just a sphere, slightly taller than the wearer, who would inflate the sphere once inside, and would then walk to work. (Could have positive side-effects, such as crime prevention, if only openable from inside. This idea may need development though.)
-- Pallex, Aug 07 2001


Had a bad day, Mharr?
-- DrBob, Aug 07 2001



random, halfbakery