Mumbai Monsoons: Monsoon Is a Boon for Our City As the Water Collected in the Lakes Provides

The problem:

 Mumbai Monsoons: Monsoon is a boon for our city as the water collected in the lakes provides us with water to last the whole year round. But the incessant rain is accompanied by powerful winds. People shield themselves under the big black umbrella. In the gusts of high velocity winds, umbrellas upturn. Also the biggest problem I watched is people struggling to open their umbrellas while being squashed in the crowd, then get poked in the eyes from flailing umbrella ribs in the windy conditions. I thought to myself, surely with the new technology and new materials available there must be a better solution than this!

 Swine Flu: Eighty per cent of all diseases are passed on through human contact, yet majority of Indian population don't wash their hands after coughing or sneezing. Generally the greatest risk areas are crowded trains and buses where people sneeze and then touch the railings or the seats. Surely there has to be an easier way for people to disinfect their hands so as to avoid spread of the virus.

 Indoor plants in the congested city: Everyone in my city of concrete jungle likes to have a patch of green around them. They grow potted plants in their tiny houses, which invariably die because of lack of water as my fellow citizens forget to water them in their tight and busy schedule of more than 12 hours of work.

 Early morning tooth brushing by small children: Tooth brushing for little children is a major chore, which they rather avoid. They generally go into the bathroom pretend to this boring job by wetting their toothbrush, sing in the bathroom and slyly come out. Can some interest be infused in this daily ceremony?

 Little tots are bored with books The little geniuses find it very hard to imbibe interest in the normal books that is their foremost medium of instruction in a kindergarten school. This leads to shutting of their brains and lack of interest to learn. Creating visual aids as an aid to learning can create interest in the young children.

I will shortlist three of the above problems and will dwell on them more:

1. Umbrella: Let me list some of the problems people in Mumbai face with their umbrellas:

a. Heavy gusts of heavy winds invariably tear of the umbrellas.

b. In a few days the cloth comes out of the ribs of the umbrella. c. When people try to open the umbrella in the monsoons, it turns upwards making the user helpless and drenched in rain.

d. When people reach their offices they bring with them puddles made by dripping rain –water from their umbrellas.

2. Toothbrush:

a. The only exciting thing about them is their coloured handles which do not seem to excite the children.

b. The companies put some variants in the bristle structure but that does not please the children.

c. Early morning children are too lazy to do a drab job like brushing.

d. Some battery operated toothbrushes are there but they are outside the reach of most of the Indian families

e. A brush thus should be made like a toy to spark interest in the the otherwise boring early morning job.

3. Indoor potted plant:

a. Pots are generally made of clay that leave a stain on the floor on which they are kept, thus dirtying the room.

b. The plants invariably wilt in the indoor pots as the owners forget to water them regularly.

c. Some over enthusiastic owners water them too well leading to drowning of the peer plants d. Clay pots after sometime look anaesthetic and clash with the modern decor of the room.

The Chosen problem:

After examining various aspects of the different problems I would like to evaluate the making of an umbrella the object most needed by a Mumbai citizen.

Drawbacks of Umbrellas in the market:

Have you ever been swayed by something beautiful, only to find out that when it really came down to it, your precious new find is nothing more than a pretty face? I have owned many umbrellas over the years, but it has taken a lot of trial and error to find the right umbrella for me.

Oh sure, there are a lot of adorable patterns out there. You can easily find a cheap umbrella in a pinch when spontaneous showers start. But that can be hit or miss since the available cheapie might just fall apart under the deluge of monsoons.  Sturdy Handle. Even if your hair stays dry, it’s likely that a few drops of rain will find their way onto your umbrella handle. You need something easy to grip and hang onto in case the weather turns windy.

 Long Sides. That horrible horizontal rain? Pelting your face while a wide, flat circle of fabric is supposed to be protecting you? By picking an umbrella that is shaped to do more than just cover the top of your head, you’ll be better equipped for more than just a light sprinkle.

 Compact vs. Large. I prefer to keep my umbrella tucked in my purse (otherwise I will forget it) but it’s also a good idea to have a larger umbrella handy in case the monsoon is too violent. This is also a better choice when the ladies purse is extra pretty and not so resilient against inclement weather.

 Strong Fabric. Designer brand umbrella looks sleek and costs a small fortune. What one requires is a strong, sturdy fabric that doesn’t look like it would rip easily. As far as sturdiness goes, the rest of the umbrella should feel strong as well of course.

 Bright Color. Naturally you don’t want your black umbrella to get lost in a sea of black umbrellas if you have to leave it at the front door of a store, now do you? Of course, this is also where the savvy gal will pick a florescent one to add some colour in the dark grey monsoons.  Strong Ribs.The first thing that breaks is the ribs that the cloth is tied to. Extra strong ribs can provide the much needed skeleton to the umbrella.

 Umbrella Sleeve. It is a must to keep your own clothes dry as well as to prevent unwanted puddles on the floor.

Design Brief:

All of us need an umbrella at some point of the year. Especially the ones who live in Mumbai. We need to protect ourselves from the scorching sun in summers and the incessant rain in the monsoons. Thus I will like to design an all weather umbrella which will meet the need of every Mumbaikar.

 Design Goal

 The functional requirements of my umbrella will include a sturdy fabric to hold wind water and sunshine.

 I can add some interesting patterns to make it more unique

 The main aesthetics of my light source could include a bright sleeve to hold the umbrella, which can be collapsible.

 My umbrella handle could be made from wood or plastic as it will be easy to hold it without slipping it in rain water.

 Target market

 My target market can be anyone, a child, youth or adult who walks to work or school.

 The aesthetics of my umbrella could be such that they would be proud to put my creation in their hand.

 Constraints

 My umbrella should be sturdy so as to avoid any breaking during the monsoons.

 I would also make sure that it doesn’t have any sharp edges to avoid any potential injury.

 It should work reliably in all weathers.

 It should be cost effective.

 Criteria

 My main criteria to make the umbrella are to protect all citizens of Mumbai from getting wet in monsoons.

 The design of my umbrella should be such so as to avoid the upturning of the same in windy weather.

 The overall look of the umbrella should be like a normal one but with added features.

 The umbrella also should be economical so that it is affordable to all rich poor alike.

 The perfect umbrella should meet all my above given criteria Initial Product Specification:

Aesthetics:

 It should be made with a tough cloth

 Its top can can be square or round.

 The colour of the cloth can be the classical black or muticoloured.

 It should be aesthetically simple.

Function:

 The umbrella can be used as a sun umbrella as well as the one for rain.

 It should be sturdy enough to hold the monsoon gusts of wind.

 It can have have a sturdy support rod and can be used as a walking stick.

Performance:

 Its main performance criteria should be to withstand rain and wind.

Target Market:

 Its target market should all the citizens across the world.

 However the lamp should also would particularly appeal to the old and unsteady as it will provide them cover and shelter from rain and sunshine.

 The lamp being designed for the general masses should have a reasonable budget and should not exceed Rs. 500.

Weight:

 Its weight should be less than 500 g.

Safety:

 It should have well-rounded edges on its ribs so as to avoid any injury by accident.

 Its handle should be wall rounded for ease of grip and safety.

Quality:

 Since it is to be used by all it should meet top quality standards. Plan of action:

Primary Research

1. I would first take interviews of my teachers, peers, children and neighbours: that is helpful prospective customers will be interviewed. Their interests and their tastes about their requirements for an umbrella will be evaluated. It could provide me with different ideas and improvements for my umbrella.

2. How to construct an umbrella: I will use internet to research the basic construction of an umbrella. I will try to understand the different types of umbrellas made and which type will be best suited for my design specifications.

3. Designs of few existing Umbrellas: I will then evaluate the designs of some umbrellas available in the local market

. They will be evaluated on the aspects of: a) Costs b) Materials used c) Sizes d) Functionality

This will help me to shape up my thoughts, brainstorm and clear up what I expect from my project along with actual costs and groundwork required.

Secondary Research

1. I could make a:

a. Umbrella which is aesthetically beautiful with say silk cloth

b. Umbrella with tough material which will be more funtional and reasonably aesthetic

2. Basic requirements to make an umbrella:

I would gather what I need to make an umbrella:

a. Shaft: wood, metal or fibreglass

b. Ribs: Steel or other metals and their plastic cover c. Stretchers: Plastic or metal

d. Canopy: Nylon Tafeta,silk with scotch guard on the top

e. Tip of the umbrella: Matal, wood or plastic

f. Springs : 2 metal springs

g. Joiners and runners: to attach ribs to stretchers

3. The umbrella opening device:

a. Can be manually operated

b. Can be automatic

Research Survey Research

Background:

The umbrella as we know it today is primarily a device to keep people dry in rain or snow. Its original purpose was to shade a person from the sun (umbra is Latin for "shade"), a function that is still reflected in the word "parasol," (derived from the French parare, " to shield" and sol, "sun") a smaller-sized umbrella used primarily by women. There is an abundance of references to the usage of parasols and umbrellas in art and literature from ancient Africa, Asia, and Europe. For example, the Egyptian goddess Nut shielded the earth like a giant umbrella—only her toes and fingertips touched the ground—thus protecting humanity from the unsafe elements of the heavens. Although the Egyptians, like the Mesopotamians, used palm fronds and feathers in their umbrellas, they also introduced stretched papyrus as a material for the canopy, thereby creating a device that is recognizably an umbrella by modern standards. About 2,000 years ago, the sun-umbrella was a common accessory for wealthy Greek and Roman women. It had become so identified as a "woman's object" that men who used it were subjected to ridicule. In the first century A.D., Roman women took to oiling their paper sunshades, intentionally creating umbrellas for use in the rain. There is even a recorded lawsuit dating from the first century over whether women should be allowed to open umbrellas during events held in amphitheaters. Although umbrellas blocked the vision of those behind them, the women won their case.

It was not until 1750 that the Englishman Jonas Hanway set out to popularize the umbrella. Enduring laughter and scorn, Hanway carried an umbrella wherever he went; not only was the umbrella unusual, it was a threat to the coachmen of England, who derived a good portion of their income from gentlemen who took cabs in order to keep dry on rainy days. (In the late 1700s and early 1800s, another name for an umbrella was a "Hanway.") Braving similar ridicule in 1778, John MacDonald, a well-known English gentlemen, carried an umbrella wherever he went.

Due to the efforts of Hanway, MacDonald, and other enterprising individuals, the umbrella became a common accessory. In nineteenth- century England, specially designed handles that concealed flasks for liquors, daggers and knives, small pads and pencils, or other items were in high demand by wealthy gentlemen. The umbrella became so popular that by the mid-twentieth century, if not earlier, etiquette demanded that the uniform of the English gentleman include hat, gloves, and umbrella. Among the qualities one might look for in an umbrella is the comfort of the handle, the ease with which the umbrella is opened and closed, and the closeness with which the canopy segments are connected to the ribs.

Raw Materials

Materials used to manufacture umbrellas have, of course, improved through the years. One of the most important innovations came in the early 1850s, when Samuel Fox conceived the idea of using "U" shaped steel rods for the ribs and stretchers to make a lighter, stronger frame. Previously, English umbrellas had been made from either cane or whalebone; especially whalebone umbrellas. Modern umbrellas are made by a hand-assembly process, except for a few critical areas, can be done by semi-skilled workers.

 First, the shaft—whether wood, metal, or fiberglass—is made, and then the

 ribs and stretchers are assembled. Next,

 the nylon canopy is hand-sewn in sections (a typical umbrella has 8 sections).

 Rounded ribs and stretchers are frequently seen today only on parasols and patio umbrellas. Advancements in metal-producing technology have made rounded metal ribs and stretchers more feasible, however, and some manufacturers produce umbrellas with these components.  Modern rain umbrellas are made with fabrics (nylon, most commonly) that can withstand a drenching rain, dry quickly, fold easily, and are available in a variety of colors and designs. The Manufacturing Process

Choices of materials and quality control occur throughout the manufacturing process. Although a well-made umbrella need not be expensive, almost every purchasing decision impacts directly upon the quality of the final product.

Collapsible rain umbrellas that telescope into a length of about a foot are the most recent innovations in umbrellas. Though mechanically more complicated than stick umbrellas, they share the same basic technology. Among the differences between a stick umbrella and a collapsible umbrella is that the collapsible one uses a two piece shaft that telescopes into itself, and an extra set of runners along the top of the umbrella. This section will focus on the manufacture of a stick umbrella.

1. The shaft

The stick umbrella will usually begin its life as a shaft of wood, steel, or aluminum, approximately 3/8 inch (.95 centimeter) thick. Fiberglass and other plastics are occasionally used, and in fact they are common in the larger golf umbrella. From various types of ash trees, including Rowan wood from Asia, is among the popular choices for a sturdy wood shaft. While wood shafts are made using standard wood-shaping machines such as turning machines and lathes, metal and plastic shafts can be drawn or extruded to the proper shape. 2. The fabric for the canopy

It is usually nylon taffeta with an acrylic coating on the underside and a scotch-guard type finish on the top. The fabric supplier usually applies the coating and finish. Other fabrics besides nylon might be used according to need or taste; a patio umbrella attached to an outdoor table does not have to be lightweight and waterproof as much as a customer might want it to be large, durable, and attractive.

3. Ribs and stretchers

The ribs and stretchers are assembled first, usually from "U" shaped or channeled steel or other metal. Ribs run underneath the top or canopy of the umbrella; stretchers connect the ribs with the shaft of the umbrella. The ribs are attached to the shaft of the umbrella by fitting into a top notch—a thin, round nylon or plastic piece with teeth around the edges, and then held with thin wire. The stretchers are connected to the shaft of the umbrella with a plastic or metal runner, the piece that moves along the shaft of the umbrella when it is opened or closed.

Next, the ribs and stretchers are connected to each other with a joiner, which is usually a small jointed metal hinge; as the umbrella is opened or closed, the joiner opens or closes through an angle of more than 90 degrees.

There are two catch springs in the shaft of each umbrella; these are small pieces of metal that need to be pressed when the umbrella is slid up the shaft to open, and again when the umbrella is slid down the shaft for closing. Metal shafts are usually hollow, and the catch spring can be inserted, while a wood shaft requires that a space for the catch spring be hollowed out. A pin or other blocking device is usually placed into the shaft a few inches above the upper catch spring to prevent the canopy from sliding past the top of umbrella, when the runner goes beyond the upper catch spring.

4. Canopy

The cover or canopy of the umbrella is hand sewn in individual panels to the ribs. Because each panel has to be shaped to the curve of the canopy, the cover cannot be cut in one piece. Panels are sewn at the outer edges of the ribs, and there are also connections between the ribs and the panels about one-third of the way down from the outer edge of the canopy. Each panel is cut separately from piles of materials called gores; machine cutting of several layers at once is possible, although hand-cutting is more typical. The typical rain umbrella has eight panels, although some umbrellas with six panels (children's umbrellas and parasols usually have six panels) and as many as twelve can occasionally be found. At one point, the number of panels in an umbrella may have been an indication of quality (or at least of the amount of attention the umbrella maker paid to his product). Today, because of the quality of the material available to the umbrella maker, the number of panels is usually a matter of style and taste rather than quality.

The fabric used in a good-quality umbrella canopy is usually a nylon taffeta rated at 190T (190 threads per inch), with an acrylic coating on the underside and a scotch-guard type finish on the top. The fabric supplier usually applies the coating and finish. The manufacturer can choose fabric patterns and designs, or the manufacturer might add his own patterns and designs using a rotary or silk screening process, especially for a special order of a limited number of umbrellas. Similarly, other fabrics besides nylon might be used according to need or taste; a patio umbrella attached to an outdoor table does not have to be lightweight and waterproof as much as a customer might want it to be large, durable, and attractive. 5. Tip of the umbrella

It passes through the canopy and can be covered with metal (a ferrule) that has been forced over and perhaps glued to the tip, or left bare, depending on the desire of the manufacturer.

6. Handle

The handle is connected to the shaft at the end of the process, and can be wood, plastic, metal, or any combination of desired ingredients. Though handles can be screwed on, better-quality umbrellas use glue to secure the handle more tightly.

7. End tips of Umbrella

The end tips of the umbrella, where the ribs reach past the canopy, can be left bare or covered with small plastic or wood end caps that are either pushed or screwed on, or glued, and then sewn to the ends of the ribs through small holes in the end caps.

8. Cover

Finally, the umbrella is packaged accordingly and sent to customers. Analysis of existing umbrellas and designs

1. The Umbuster: It is an umbrella with the brass handle. Nobody will mess with you on the rainy city streets when you are armed with this umbrella. The brass knuckle handle will intimidate even the roughest street urchins trying to swipe your wallet.

2. Nubrella:

Hands free umbrella- Nubrella is no ordinary umbrella. It protects you against rain, wind, sleet, snow and extreme cold. It is an umbrella for all inclement weather conditions not just rain. 3. Leaf Umbrella: Keep the rain off in style with this beautiful leaf-shaped umbrella. Asymmetric shape makes for better coverage and sleeker silhouette when moving through crowds.These cute leaf shape umbrellas come in 3 various shades, light green, grass green and brown forest green.

4. Pylones Rain Parade Umbrellas:

These adorable umbrellas are compact enough to fit into your purse, and feature the most unique designs. Choose the character that best suits your personality. 5. Blue tooth Umbrella:

This seems a bit silly at first glance, but it actually makes a lot of sense. The umbrella handle can be linked to your cellphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to simply speak into the umbrella’s stem. Not only does this free up one of your hands, but it also makes a great conversation starter. Looking for an icebreaker for that cute girl on your morning commuter rail? Ask her if she wants to see your umbrella stem. On second thought, you might want to rephrase that…Trying to juggle a mobile phone, a briefcase, and an umbrella while steaming ahead can’t be easy. The Bluetooth Umbrella eliminates one of the three by allowing your phone to live in your pocket while you talk to the handle.

6. Mini Indoor Garden Drip Umbrella: Featuring a steel frame mounted to a wood drip tray into which you can plant flowers or, to follow the designers’ lead, what appears to be grass, any drips falling from a hung umbrella will serve to water your mini indoor garden rather than occasion puddles on the floor.

7. Tandem Umbrella Its unique design is very fetching. Its perfect for two people walking together in rain. One does not have to get wet in a friendly chat and walk. While it’s just a concept for now, the Tandem Umbrella could be sold in a store near you someday. Tandem bikes are complicated enough…I can’t even imagine using this tandem umbrella. And what happens if the two people using it are not the same height? Is the handle adjustable? This concept has a lot of kinks that still need to be worked out.

8. UFO Car umbrella It is a rain cap and an umbrella too, kind of multifunction gadget. Kind of very unique in design and perhaps brings laugh to people who see you wear this on the street. Well, since your hands free, you can say something to that person who laugh at you.

It has some advantages, UFO Cap doesn’t have handle. So you can keep it in a bag. It can be use for others outdoor activities, such as fishing, climbing, or working in the rain. And it is easy to carried and fold.

9. The Air Umbrella

Rather than deploying a cloth canopy, the Air Umbrella keeps you dry by shooting out a steady, yet strong, stream of air. Incredibly, the size of the canopy can also be adjusted, making it perfect for users of all sizes. The length of the stem is also adjustable. Designed by Je Sung Park and Woo Jung Kwon, the Air Umbrella is likely the only umbrella you will ever see without a canopy.

10. The Light Umbrella This umbrella is perfect for walking home at night in the rain. Changing the batteries could be complicated, though. Hopefully it isn’t wired like cheap Christmas tree lights…it would be infuriating if one bulb blew out and rendered all the other lights inoperable!

11. The Full Body Umbrella They ought to give these to those poor reporters sent out to cover tornadoes and hurricanes to keep them completely dry. This does look a little cumbersome to get in, though…and I’d imagine the air inside could get stale after a while. Still, if you need to stay dry from head to nearly- toe, this might be the umbrella for you.

12. Dog Umbrella For the most pampered of pooches, getting wet simply isn’t an option. This leash/umbrella combo can help keep your dog dry, although it’s unclear if it comes in different sizes…finding one to fit a Great Dane could be quite difficult! Of course, if you’re using one hand to hold the dog umbrella, and your other hand to hold your own umbrella, you might have a hard time working a pooper-scooper during Fido’s morning walk.

13. Shoe Brellas Perfect for the woman who loves nothing more than her favorite pair of Jimmy Choos or Manolo Blahniks. Although if you have the money to buy really nice shoes, chances are you can afford cab fare to keep your feet dry. These seem a little too cumbersome to be worth the effort.

14. Wine Umbrella Granted, the alcohol content of this bottle of wine hovers around zero percent, but the design is pretty cool. Although I’d be hard pressed to name a time in my life when I’ve ever needed to hide the fact that I was carrying an umbrella.

Attribute Analysis of the Researched Umbrellas

Graph Table

Attributes Aesthetics Function Cost Material Maintenance Durability Safety Total

Umbster 7 8 6 7 7 8 9 52

Nubrella 8 7 5 5 6 6 7 44

Leaf 7 7 6 6 6 6 7 45

Pylones 8 7 6 7 7 6 7 48

Blue Tooth 8 8 4 5 6 6 6 43

Indoor 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 49

Tandem 6 7 5 7 6 6 7 44

UFO 7 6 6 8 8 8 8 51

Air 6 6 5 7 6 7 8 45

Light 7 7 5 5 5 5 7 41 Full Body 6 8 7 8 6 6 6 47

Dog 7 7 7 7 6 7 8 49

Shoe 6 8 8 5 7 8 6 48

Wine 7 6 5 8 8 8 7 49

Biblography http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Umbrella.html http://www.crazyjunkyard.com/?s=unique+umbrella+design mr-gizmo.com crazyjunkyard.com

http://www.whooknoo.com/outdoor/21-craziest-umbrella-designs/