I have another business trip coming up, and I’m fairly certain that I’ll forget one or another of my rechargers. So here’s an interesting device that could come in handy. The Datexx SuperBattery USB AC/Crank Generator provides a manual way to generate power to recharge cell phones, MP3 players, handheld games, PDAs or, no doubt, other USB-powered devices I’ve never even heard of.

Here are the particulars. It’s about a pound in weight and 2.5-inches x 1.5-inches x 4-inches in size. It has a crank on the side that you wind to convert kinetic energy (your wrist action) into electrical energy, which is stored in internal batteries. Or if your wrists are feeling particularly overworked, you can simply plug in the AC adapter and recharge the internal power supply that way.

The generator comes with four cell phone tips that you plug into the unit then into your cell phone. Sellers say the tips fit Motorola, Samsung, LG and Nokia phones. It generates USB output of 5 volts.

It includes a built-in LED flashlight too, in case your phone is so dead, you can’t find it in the dark.

Now, the product isn’t perfect. One reviewer on Amazon reports that it’s “very fickle about taking a charge, particularly from European plugs,” and that it has a “weak USB current; devices take forever to take a charge from it.”

Of course, the biggest obstacle to a device like this is that its form factor is so portable, it could be left behind as well when I travel — right next to the rechargers I meant to pack.