Monday, August 11, 2008

Temasek Poly's Dry Umbrella is a copycat?

umbrella

Students at Temasek Polytechnic have made an umbrella that folds upwards, trapping water within. They called their invention the Dry Umbrella. See another pic of it here. It keeps drivers and their car interiors dry. When I first watched this on Channel NewsAsia (clip here), I thought to myself, hey didn't someone already invented this before? True enough. In season one of American Inventor, a reality television series based on a search for America's best inventor, Sheryl McDonald debuted her invention now known as In-Brella. That was back in 2006. The Dry Umbrella by Temasek Poly looks awfully similar to the In-Brella. The only notable difference is the In-Brella uses a central bar that houses the umbrella when unfolded but the concept for both products is the same. See video below.



So how can Temasek Poly call their Dry Umbrella an invention when something similar has been done years ago?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

Anonymous said...

I think I came across a patent filed for a reverse umbrella before.

Anonymous said...

Two words: Rip Off!

:oP

Anonymous said...

temasek poly students must have done their research on the internet...sad thing is the lecturer approved the design? it should have been checked if the patent for their so called "invention" is done by other people before they are allowed to do their prototype.. it would saved any unnecessary embrassment much like the NDP music video.

Anonymous said...

Copy cat liao.

Anonymous said...

Looks like those students have been watching American Inventor.

Anonymous said...

u shld email both the inventors to get their opinions.

I.Z. Reloaded said...

>Anonymous said...

u shld email both the inventors to get their opinions.

Done that. Will update if they respond.

Anonymous said...

"So how can Temasek Poly call their Dry Umbrella an invention when something similar has been done years ago?"

... because maybe they haven't watched an American reality show that I haven't even heard of, ever.

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