Air umbrella inventors seek crowdfunding for device offering invisible protection from rain
Developers of a torch-like device that shields users from the elements seek outside investors
It looks like a microphone or a torch but the mainland science geeks who created it say it's an "invisible umbrella" that can shield the user from rain, wind, snow and even pepper spray.
Nanjing native Wang Chuan , 27, and his friends have been working on the patented technology for about two years and are now looking online for international funding to fine-tune the features and look. They've launched a 30-day Kickstarter appeal to raise US$10,000 by October 24.
Long before the umbrella became a symbol of a protest movement, Wang, a construction materials marketing specialist, hit on his idea to revolutionise the device by noticing the way wind could change the direction of rain falling on the top of a building.
"The airflow forms an umbrella without a visible cover," he said.
Watch: The Air Umbrella
Wang then approached a few doctoral students specialising in thermal engineering at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics who came up with two viable models that allowed Wang to proceed.
The result is the lithium battery-powered Air Umbrella, a device that comes in three sizes and can blast falling water away from the holder for anywhere up to half an hour. It takes just an hour to charge and is virtually free of vibrations and noise.
Unaware of the details of the Occupy Central movement, Wang said the umbrella worked best in heavy rain but "it can most certainly [shield against] pepper spray because it is much less dense than pouring rain and does not drop with as much force".
"It is an innovative technological toy and can't be treated as a weapon for defence," he added.
They are looking at ways to add smart features, such as anti-theft and bluetooth technology.
So far, they've raised about 40 per cent of their target from 41 backers across the world.
"It's a great platform allowing us to raise funds and test the product's market potential. It's like standing on a giant's shoulder," Wang said. "But we are quite worried that we might not be able to hit the required goal … [within] the initial promotion period offered by the site."
Wang has already put 200,000 yuan (HK$252,000) of his personal savings into the project and aims to have a product to market by the end of next year.
The initial production plan is to manufacture 500 of the umbrellas and price them at between 800 yuan and 1,000 yuan each.
For more information on the Air Umbrella, see the Kickstarter here.
