The problem with circular umbrellas is that it is equally sturdy and weak in all directions. This will make it vulnerable to wind, which is always in one direction. If you use an oval umbrella shaped like a half zeppelin or a boat, it automatically aligns itself in a direction to streamline the wind flow around it. All to do is to let it change the angle. You can even use the oval umbrella to protect yourself from splashes from vehicles. The oval umbrellas will protect you top-to-bottom-- concept, Jun 10 2003 Real wind-proof umbrella http://www.modernor...asp?reference=48365Automatic even. [DrCurry, Oct 04 2004] Oval Umbrellas http://www.anglingl.../nashovaprofile.htm...turn out to be a hunting, shooting, fishing thing. [DrCurry, Oct 04 2004] Wind proof Umbrella from Senz http://www.firebox....nz-Stealth-Umbrella [kamathln, Nov 26 2008] + Does it have fins like a Zeppelin?-- AO, Jun 10 2003 Might help to prevent pokey-eye problems too.-- silverstormer, Jun 10 2003 "Wind-proof" umbrellas are all the rage over here: they have two layers of cloth, allowing the wind to vent when it catches the underside. And oval-shaped umbrellas are really, truly and utterly Baked (even if I can't find any decent pictures).-- DrCurry, Jun 10 2003 Dr, the “oval umbrella” in you link is quite different from concept’s concept. In order to work as described in this idea, the handle would need to be off-center, so that it would align itself with the wind wind-sock-style.-- AO, Jun 10 2003 Um, yes, I think that's what I said (that it's something else entirely).-- DrCurry, Jun 10 2003 [Ah - the cunning fiends used a redirector - link fixed.]-- DrCurry, Jun 10 2003 Hmm, funny about those shapes and their relative strengths. I would have thought the circular shape would hold up better.
I have an old Gretsch twin speaker guitar amp that originally came with oval shaped speakers (long gone when I took possession). Apparently oval speaker design is bad because some parts of the cone are subject to more stress than other parts and the thing falls apart really quickly.-- snarfyguy, Jun 10 2003 If you had a teardrop shaped umbrella with a big dorsal fin sticking out of the tail (pointy end), it would swivel like a weathervane because of the tail. Plus you could paint an eye and teeth on the round end so it would look like a fierce umbrella fish.-- bungston, Jun 10 2003 Yeah, I'm not buying the concept here (pun not intended). Giving the umbrella the ability to turn so it can always present the slimmest profile to the wind is irrelevant if the slimmest profile still catches the wind. And I'm guessing the slimmest profile will be more or less the same as a traditional (circular) umbrella.
Having the umbrella take an inverted airfoil shape and keeping the leading edge pointed into the wind might help, though.-- phoenix, Jun 10 2003 [half zeppelin shaped umbrella manages to invert with a very strong burst of wind]
"Oh the humanity!"-- luecke, Nov 19 2003 Zeppelens aren't very aerodynamic though, and are very hard to control in windy conditions.-- quantum_flux, Nov 26 2008 random, halfbakery