Controllable fluid gripping devices

摘要

The present invention relates to a gripping device for a hand held article. The gripping device has an encasement assembly for fitting on a hand grip portion of the article. The encasement assembly contains a controllable fluid, such as magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids. The gripping device also has an activating assembly for selectively applying a field to the controllable fluid to change its Theological behavior, e.g., increasing its viscosity. Thus, the controllable fluid can maintain the shape of the encasement assembly until the activating assembly withdraws the applied field therefrom. The present invention further relates to a manual implement that has the above gripping device fitted thereon and a method for using a manual implement having the above gripping device.