NU6 - Umbrella and Raincoat Built-In Dryer

Angelbert M. Orseno

ENTREP - AGSB, Clark

Background

For a tropical country like Philippines it is no doubt that umbrellas and raincoats are definitely part of our everyday lives especially during wet season. How joyful indeed one can become when during an unexpected rain pour he/she finds himself/herself carrying umbrella or raincoat to get him/her by and, how frustrating it is otherwise.

This paper will describe how a simple umbrella and raincoat can undergo innovation to address improvement or specific limitation on their conventional usage.

Product

Umbrella / Raincoat with Built-In Dryer

Challenge

Filipinos have a balanced work and life stage where people travel using both privately-owned vehicles and utilized public transport mediums. And, in everyday routine one ends or can be found on establishments, offices, schools, hospitals, etc.

It is truly uncomfortable and awkward having a wet umbrella and/or raincoat carried in these transport devices and establishments and although there are available plastic umbrella covers or some establishments offer these bags they are not yet fully available or accessible – and as these covers are made of plastic, they contribute to hazardous wastes.

Generally, it is uncomfortable carrying wet umbrellas / raincoats in:

1.       Cars, jeeps, buses

2.       Schools, Churches, Offices, Hospitals

Innovation

An electronic dryer can be attached onto the umbrella or raincoat for quick drying. For umbrella the dryer can be installed on the handle and have 0.01mm diameter wires that runs through the runner and into the ribs. A special type of canopy fabric which absorbs heat for fast drying.

For raincoat, the dryer main controller can be sewn into the fabric – shoulder area. The thin wires run through the linings and strategically sewn into the fabric. 4