The twenty first century has brought advancements to all walks of life. New technology has been springing up every year taking human capabilities further and further into the future. Refinement of a product is a continuous process of change and modification to get the best results at the end. As with everything else in the world, umbrellas have also been subjected to this process of refinement and change and the twenty first century has brought some innovative redesigns to the classical umbrella. One aspect of this redesign is the creation of automatic open and close umbrellas.
Gone are the days when you had to fight with latches and locks and hooks to get your umbrella open. Now, you can be prepared for that flash of rain with just the push of a button. Automatic umbrellas offer a new convenience to users with their innovative approach to how we use umbrellas in everyday life.
Read on to learn some interesting things about automatic umbrellas and why they’re the new craze around the world.
Table of Contents
What Are Automatic Umbrellas?
Fun Fact: The word umbrella comes from Latin “umbros” which means “shade”.
Automatic umbrellas are a convenient type of small foldable umbrellas that can open the canopy with just the push of a button. The button may be connected to a spring or the system may be run by a small electronic switch, the purpose remains the same. With the press of a button, the shaft of the foldable umbrella unfolds to its full length and the automatic spring of the canopy unfurls the canopy in a single swift motion. Modern foldable umbrellas may also have an automatic closing option that allows the user to close the canopy of the umbrella as well as open it with just the push of a button.
Why Are Automatic Umbrellas Better?
Fun Fact: The Chinese city of Shangyu has more than a thousand umbrella factories.
Automatic umbrellas offer an additional layer of convenience by removing the hassle of manually opening and closing the shaft and canopy of foldable umbrellas. The automatic button connects to a spring that quickly releases the shaft of the foldable umbrella and unrolls the canopy in a swift quick motion. This removes the long process of unhooking, unfolding and unrolling the umbrella by hand and allows the user a bit more convenience in their busy daily life.
It is also better for children who might not be comfortable with the operation of manual umbrellas. Children often cannot handle complex tasks and thus automatic umbrellas are a better choice for young children. Automatic umbrellas are beneficial for the elderly as well who may not be able to unfold and unroll the canopy by themselves due to difficulty in the movement that comes with age.
For normal daily use, automatic umbrellas provide convenience to the user in a different situation. For example, the user might have lots of things in their hand and may not be able to move their hands too much. In such cases, the automatic umbrella offers the convenience of opening the whole umbrella with just the push of a small button.
Tips for Choosing an Automatic Umbrella
Fun fact: the first Steel ribbed umbrellas were invented by Samuel Fox in 1852 in England.
When looking for an automatic umbrella, we should keep in mind their quality, their material and their durability. Here are a few points to keep an eye on to find the best buy when buying an automatic foldable umbrella:
1. Speed of Release
The automatic mechanism of the umbrella should be fast and smooth and shouldn’t get stuck or lag in some spots. The overall process of unfolding of the shaft and the canopy should take place in one motion with smoothness.
2. Quality of Construction
It’s always better to but a good quality product rather than a cheap one. Always look closely at the build quality of the umbrella to find the best ones. If you find the quality to be inferior, then it’s sure to break quickly.
3. Flimsiness or Instability
If you find the release mechanism to be flimsy, unstable or loose, then that’s the sign of a low quality product that won’t last a month. Choose the sturdiest umbrellas you can find for longer lasting product life.
4. Quality of the Shaft
Take a good feel for the fit between the different parts of the shaft to see whether the locks that keep the pieces of the shaft in place are secure and sturdy enough to bear repeated folding and unfolding.
5. The Release Button
A good quality automatic umbrella should have a responsive button that doesn’t require too much pressure to operate. If the button works easily with a small push of the finger, then that is the sign of a good quality product. Make sure that the button isn’t too sensitive either, or you’ll end up accidentally opening the umbrella again and again.
Great for Promotional Purposes
Fun fact: The first ever folding umbrella was created by Bradford Philips in 1969.
Foldable automatic umbrellas are easy to carry around in a bag or a purse and can be easily taken out and used whenever necessary against the bright sun or pouring rain. For this reason, automatic umbrellas are also a great promotional product to give your clients. Not only are they a great gift to impress your customers and clients, but they are also a great platform for your business promotion and advertisement.
Branded automatic umbrellas can be taken by your client everywhere they go and can serve as free advertising method for your company. The automatic umbrellas can also be designed with catchy words and pictures to make your company visible to a greater audience in just a fraction of the cost of classical advertisement types.
What’s the Verdict?
Fun Fact: Foldable parasols have existed since around 1000 BC to 400 AD in Ancient Greece and Rome where they were used as a status symbol and fashion accessory for wealthy women.
Good quality automatic umbrellas are a great addition to your inventory as they are the perfect item to carry with you at all times. In rain or shine, the automatic umbrella is a great convenience for everyday life, suitable for all ages from children to the elderly. What’s more, the foldable automatic umbrellas are also an excellent choice for promotional purposes, as they can be branded and used for advertisement and customer engagement as they make a great gift for customers and clients and can boost your company to the masses.
