In order to abate the complications of carrying your standard umbrella (being mistaken for being English for example) the TurboBrella has no furled canopy, it's a simpl(ish) looking metal walking stick; but flick the switch in the handle and interesting things start to happen...
At the tip a small upwards-facing jet engine ignites, spools up to 40K rpm and through an adjustable tip shoots hot air outwards and downwards in a conical shape thus protecting the bearer from inclement weather. Providing more fuel to the engine can extend coverage up to a metre radius, while varying the tip geometry changes the angle of the protective air canopy.
Further adjustments can also allow the operator to use the Turbobrella as a leaf-blower or with the optional afterburner attachment, a rather impressive flamethrower.
Electronics in the handle and fuel in the shaft of course.-- FlyingToaster, Apr 04 2009 Vehicular version. Rain_20Blaster [2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 05 2009] "Barbarella" you chronologically-challenged person, you.-- FlyingToaster, Apr 04 2009 The intake air is taken from underneath the air-canopy so Mary Poppins would have to walk.-- FlyingToaster, Apr 04 2009 air canopy-- FlyingToaster, Apr 04 2009 With vector thrust, this would also make stick fighting much more powerful, and give laser-sword sound effects. Greatness.-- loonquawl, Apr 05 2009 I would imagine that overheating, size and weight are major issues.-- salyers5, Apr 05 2009 Just don't sell any to the North Koreans please. Sounds potentially dangerous.-- blissmiss, Apr 05 2009 If this thing is capable of vaporising a thunderstorm's worth of rain as fast as it's falling, I hate to think what it could do to an innocent bystander if you accidentally flail it. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to poke you in the eye' becomes 'Oops... ahh well, the decapitated look is all the rage these days'.
Also, - on the fuel usage front. The concept I do like though.-- Skrewloose, Apr 05 2009 //If this thing is capable of vaporising// what? nonono, it doesn't vapourize the rain it just deflects it.-- FlyingToaster, Apr 05 2009 random, halfbakery