Genesis
During the year 2002-03, Orissa was reeling under acute heat waves and many who lived in open blazing sun had died.The news of human casualty stirred young mind of Supriya. She conceived of an umbrella which could provide relief from heat. Lowering the temperature under the umbrella can do this, she thought.And she solved this problem by putting a layer of sponge under the upper canopy of the umbrella. Then she pondered over ways to get this sponge wet.Looking around, she noticed water sprayers. These were small plastic bottles fitted with a spraying handle used by barbers in hair cutting saloon. She took one of those and fitted it to the handle of umbrella, so that it could spray the water on to the sponge.She chose white cotton cloth on the uppermost layer of umbrella to reflect the heat. Now she faced another problem of measuring the threshold ambient temperature so that water could be sprinkled at indication. To solve this problem, she consulted her science teacher Kulamani Khandayi who suggested fitting a siren to the handle of umbrella and a thermometer to measure the temperature.
Innovation
Working around various ideas, it took her about ten months to develop this novel umbrella. Integrating all the inputs, Supriya produced the unique umbrella with water sprayer, thermometer and siren attached to the handle of the umbrella. Umbrella is made of different layers, upper made of white cloth and middle of sponge. Below this layer of sponge, is a layer of black cloth. A water sprayer is attached to the handle of the umbrella, which also houses a thermometer. When the ambient temperature rises over 35?C, the rising mercury column in the thermometer triggers a circuit. It then blows the siren indicating the threshold temperature. The user can then spray the water from the attached canister. The spray jet hits the inner most layer. The sponge absorbs the water and maintains coolness. As the temperature drops down to 35? or less, the siren turns off.Consisting of simple commonly available components, this low cost umbrella is of great use for travelers, old people, children with low heat tolerance and for those sitting and selling goods on the road.
Background
Normally the mention of an umbrella makes most of us think of rain or shade but to Supriya Chotrey (13 years) it was the heat and sun that were more bothersome. She modified an umbrella in a way that during intense heat one can sprinkle water on it and remain cool. Supriya, daughter of a retired army man, is studying in the eighth standard in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,Bolgarh, Orissa. Supriya has been a very good student. She secured more than 80 percent marks so as to get admission in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,. Inspired by her parents and her idol, President APJ Abdul Kalam, her young mind is always buzzing with new ideas. Having an interest in gardening, she has also developed concepts on grafting and tissue culture of plants on her own.While helping her mother in leisure hours, Supriya dabbles with innovations. In these projects, her aunt prompted her to develop new concepts and ideas and guided her in these endeavors.Supriya developed the novel umbrella when she was just ten years old and studied in class fifth. She dreams of becoming a doctor and develop some socially useful innovations related to human health.
Awarded by NIF
patent filled No:441/KOL/2011
