This is an inflatable umbrella. The umbrella has two key components. The pumping chamber, which can best be described as a fat bicycle pump, which has a chamber attached to its end. This chamber holds the umbrella and trunk when they are deflated. The umbrella and trunk are made of a light air impermeable fabric (such as a urethane coated fabric, not PVC). To inflate the pumping chamber is rotated to set the inflation valve into the holding chamber. The operator then pumps up the umbrella structure for shelter. Twisting the pump chamber a qurter turn allows the pump to suck air out of the umbrella structure deflating it back into the holding chamber. The umbrella is shown here as a simple polygon, but could take a number of traditional and not so tradition shapes, or cmprise beams with fabric webs between them. The umbrella is attached to the pump by a circular fastener ( e.g. O-ring) that holds the bottom of the trunk to the top of the holding chamber. This allows for easy disposal of the inflatable component when it is beyond repair. Holes in the inflatable umbrella can be fixed with sellotape, and could easily be provided free as promotional material by marketers. The custtmer retains the pump mechanism for reuse with other inflatable components. The other benefit of this type of umbrella is that it won't hurt others if it hits them, unlike the spokes of conventional umbrellas.

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