Deliberately adding effort. The ultimate functional beauty hidden in the "pokipoki umbrella."
Umbrellas you see in town, and umbrellas used by pros
When I hand out folding umbrellas to visitors at exhibitions, they sometimes struggle with how to open and close them. This is because they are "pokipoki type (hook-type)" umbrellas, where each rib is manually folded and extended.
Currently, the "easy-open/close type," which can be opened and closed simply by sliding the runner, is dominant in the market. However, this "pokipoki type" still enjoys strong support from designers and professionals who are well-versed in umbrella structures. While it may seem like a hassle at first glance, why do professionals deliberately choose this type of umbrella?
Functionality created by a streamlined structure
The answer lies in the overwhelming simplicity of the mechanism. By eliminating complex joints and parts linked to opening and closing, it brings out the essential strengths of the tool.
First, it offers overwhelming lightness and slimness. With fewer parts, the weight is reduced, and it folds up neatly when rolled. It's not a burden to carry in your bag and can be transported with ease.
Second, there's a hidden convenience: "it can be closed while remaining long." When you quickly enter a shop in the rain, you can temporarily collapse just the shaft (central rod) without folding the ribs, making it like a long umbrella. This allows for convenient use, such as putting it into a long umbrella bag or temporarily placing it aside.
Third is its flexibility in deflecting wind. When subjected to strong winds, the ribs bend flexibly, absorbing the impact and acting as a cushion to prevent damage to the entire frame.
Cultivating attachment to a tool
When manually securing the main ribs, you feel a slight "pokipoki" sensation and sound in your hand. While the convenience of a single action is appealing, each movement has a structural reason, and the functional beauty, stripped down to its limits, has a unique charm.
Carrying a lightweight and durable umbrella in your bag, you can move lightly on both rainy and sunny days. This simple way of choosing a tool reduces small daily stresses and increases pleasant moments. If you have the chance to pick up a folding umbrella next, please experience the movement of its ribs and its design philosophy.
