Umbrellas are discarded because they break often and at inopportune moments. I looked into providing a type of holder that the entire umbrella could collapse into so that it would be protected every time it was not in use. It seems that umbrellas get the most damage when stored carelessly. When users are in a hurry, they collapse the umbrella and quickly put it aside. Velcro straps become more of a nuisance than a way to minimize wasted space. The mechanism shown employs a peg that operates as a lever to draw the umbrella out of the casing and open the structure out for protection.

Material usage is in keeping with the philosophies of Cradle to Cradle. For the covering, wheat straw woven to provide protection is suggested. It can be covered with oil to repel water or left bare to provide shade from the sun. Wheat straw is a waste product from the production of grain. Farmers use it to prevent erosion, leave it in the fields to rot, or, in most cases, burn it, releasing huge amounts of harmful emissions into the air. The energy released through burning can be harnessed to replace other energy sources that are harmful to the environment, but farmers do not have the technology to utilize this energy source. The structure and support of the umbrella can be made from compressed pecan shells, another waste product waiting for utilization. The shells can be compressed and glued with a biodegradable glue to act like medium density fiberboard. The umbrella is designed so that all components can be dismantled. The materials can be left in the backyard to biodegrade naturally.

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