20140290707 | UMBRELLA CUSTOMIZATION KIT AND METHODS FOSTERING UMBRELLA CUSTOMIZATION - A customization kit for a hand-held umbrella and methods fostering customization of such an umbrella are provided. In one disclosed embodiment, the method allows arranging in a baseline umbrella configuration one or more removable components for the umbrella. The removable component may be a component which is unblocked relative to a view of an external observer when the umbrella is in a closed condition. The method further allows configuring a customizing kit including an assortment of customizing components at least some of which are in a pre-finished condition, removing the removable component, and performing a customizing action in connection with the removable component resulting in a transformed umbrella look perceivable by the external observer when the umbrella is in the closed condition. In another embodiment, the customizing action may be accomplished with a replacement component manufactured by way of additive manufacturing. | 10-02-2014 |