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

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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