Controllable fluid gripping devices

A manual implement having a gripping device fit thereon comprising:

• a body portion having a hand grip portion;
• an encasement assembly disposed on the hand grip portion and containing a controllable fluid;
• and
• an activating assembly for selectively applying a field to the controllable fluid to change its rheological behavior.

A method for using a manual implement having a gripping device containing a controllable fluid changeable between fluid and substantially rigid states comprising the steps of:

• (a) holding the manual implement to imprint a personal grip on the gripping device, in which the controllable fluid is in a fluid state;
• (b) impressing a field on the controllable fluid to change its state to a substantially rigid state and to fix the personal grip;
• and
• (c) maintaining the controllable fluid in the substantially rigid state and the personal grip.