Suzuki Motor Corp has equipped its new Wagon R with an umbrella stand capable of draining water.
This is the first time that such a function has been added to a light car. An umbrella can be inserted into a space in the door pocket of the right or left rear seat. Rainwater flowing down an umbrella passes through a pipe inside the door and drips onto the ground.
For the drainage of rainwater, the existing drainage pipe of the power window is used. A newly-made hole in the bottom of the door pocket is connected to the existing pipe. Suzuki minimized the numbers of additional parts and processes to reduce costs.
The drainage hole is closer to the outside of the car than the gasket that improves airtightness around the door. As a result, even when the door is closed, rainwater in the umbrella stand does not drip onto the floor. Actually, when I dripped water into the stand, it flew down a side sill and drained out of the car. It is likely that the stand will solve the discontent caused by a floor mat wet by rainwater.
© Japan Today
6 Comments
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BertieWooster
Wow! Whatever will they think of next?
Disillusioned
Wow! That makes me want to trade in my luxury car and run out and buy a crappy little buzz-box with an umbrella stand. NOT!
Nessie
Proof that even engineers can use some resume-padding.
ebisen
I think this is innovative and that is solves a real problem in Japan. Puzzled by the comments before mine, wrote by people who people who obviously have never invented anything and have never been to Japan during the rainy season.
SenseNotSoCommon
The real target is probably India, where Maruti Suzuki dominates the market, and monsoons drench everyone.
Skoda, which also has assembly in India, has had Rolls Royce-style in-door umbrellas for quite some time already in its Superb model.
Poor English Speaker
This is... This is what I wanted to utilize!! Floors and seats always get wet when raining outside, so I've been thinking of doing something to solve the problem but I haven't come up with any ideas. This function is simple idea but hugely prectical.