The "air umbrella," a contraption that uses air to force rain away from the user, has surpassed its $10,000
fundraising goal by tenfold on Kickstarter.
As of Wednesday, the air umbrella had raised about $100,000 in pledges from almost 800 people on its Kickstarter page.
The device was developed by a team of inventors from China. It resembles a wand, which is topped with enclosed motorized fan blades that blow rain away.
One benefit to the air umbrella is that the size of the air canopy can be increased by
twisting the handle, The Independent reported.
The design has three limitations: The battery lasts only 30 minutes; the device is bulky; and it may force
rain onto people nearby, The Mirror reported. The device also is noisy and expensive, costing between $100 and $150, according to the report.
According to the Kickstarter page, the product will remain in development, and the first umbrellas will be produced in September 2015, with Kickstarter supporters receiving their umbrellas by the following December.
Twitter users seemed curious and amused.
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