Controllable fluid gripping devices
US5970581A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S16/19
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.