Manual actuators for thermoelectric modules and related methods

A manual grasping element comprising:

• a housing contoured so that the housing is configured to be manually grasped by a user, the housing including an exterior surface and defining an interior compartment;
• a manual actuator moveably joined with the housing adjacent the exterior surface;
• a thermoelectric module disposed adjacent the exterior surface so that thermal energy from a user's body is transferred to the thermoelectric module when the housing is grasped by a user,
• wherein the thermoelectric module is configured to generate electricity sufficient to power a device remote from the housing as a result of thermal energy transferred from the user's body,
• wherein the manual actuator is operable in an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to the device, and an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to the device,
• wherein the manual actuator includes an actuator lever that is movably joined with the housing at a first end of the manual actuator,
• wherein the manual actuator includes a second end distal from the first end that is free and can move toward and away from the housing.

A manual grasping element comprising:

• a housing contoured so that the housing is configured to be manually grasped by a user, the housing including an exterior surface and defining an interior compartment;
• a manual actuator moveably joined with the housing adjacent the exterior surface;
• a thermoelectric module disposed adjacent the exterior surface so that thermal energy from a user's body is transferred to the thermoelectric module when the housing is grasped by a user,
• wherein the thermoelectric module is configured to generate electricity sufficient to power a device remote from the housing as a result of thermal energy transferred from the user's body,
• wherein the manual actuator is operable in an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to the device, and an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to the device,
• wherein the thermoelectric module is in electrical communication with a circuit comprising a voltage booster,
• wherein the circuit and voltage booster are disposed in the interior compartment of the housing,
• wherein the housing includes a rear grip and a front grip,
• wherein the front grip defines a slot configured to receive a portion of a projectile shooting device,
• wherein the rear grip includes a back strap adjacent which the thermoelectric module is disposed so that the thermoelectric module is configured to receive thermal energy from a portion of a palm of a user,
• wherein the rear grip includes a recessed portion above the back strap in which the manual actuator is disposed so that the manual actuator is configured to engage a web of a user's hand between a pointer finger and a thumb of the user.

A manual grasping element comprising:

• a housing contoured to form a hand grip for a projectile shooting device, the hand grip including a rear grip;
• a manual actuator movably joined with the rear grip on a rearward, hand facing region of the rear grip;
• a thermoelectric module disposed in the rear grip, in the hand facing region of the rear grip so that thermal energy from a user's hand is transferred to the thermoelectric module to generate electricity when the housing is grasped in the user's hand,
• wherein the manual actuator is operable in an on mode attained when the hand grip is grasped by the user's hand, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to a remote device, and an off mode attained a period after the hand grip is released from the user's hand, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to the remote device so that the generated electricity does not inadvertently drain.

A manual grasping element comprising:

• a housing contoured to form a hand grip for a projectile shooting device, the hand grip including a rear grip;
• a manual actuator movably joined with the rear grip on a rearward, hand facing region of the rear grip;
• a thermoelectric module disposed in the hand grip so that thermal energy from a user's hand is transferred to the thermoelectric module to generate electricity when the housing is grasped in the user's hand,
• a voltage booster disposed in the hand grip,
• a circuit disposed in the hand grip and in electrical communication with the thermoelectric module and the voltage booster,
• wherein the manual actuator is operable in an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to a remote device, and an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to the remote device,
• a power cable in electrical communication with the circuit, the power cable extending to a location distal from the hand grip to the remote device, which is mounted on the projectile shooting device.

A manual grasping element comprising:

• a housing contoured to form a hand grip for a projectile shooting device, the hand grip including a rear grip;
• a manual actuator movably joined with the rear grip on a rearward, hand facing region of the rear grip;
• a thermoelectric module disposed in the hand grip so that thermal energy from a user's hand is transferred to the thermoelectric module to generate electricity when the housing is grasped in the user's hand,
• a voltage booster disposed in the hand grip,
• a circuit disposed in the hand grip and in electrical communication with the thermoelectric module and the voltage booster,
• wherein the manual actuator is operable in an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to a remote device, and an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to the remote device,
• wherein the hand grip includes a back strap, adjacent which the thermoelectric module is disposed, so that the thermoelectric module can receive thermal energy from a palm of a user,
• wherein the hand grip includes a recessed portion above the back strap in which the manual actuator is disposed so that the manual actuator is configured to engage a web of a user's hand between a pointer finger and a thumb of the user,
• whereby the web can actuate the manual actuator to the on mode or the off mode.

A method of operating a grasping element, the method comprising:

• providing a grasping element in the form of a hand grip mountable to a projectile shooting device, the grasping element including therein a thermoelectric module positioned to experience a thermal gradient as a result of the transfer of thermal energy from an appendage of a user;
• generating electricity with the thermoelectric module due to the thermal gradient;
• and
• engaging a manual actuator with the appendage of the user to convert the manual actuator from an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to a remote device, to an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to the remote device to power the remote device,
• wherein the grip includes a protruding back strap below a recessed portion within which the manual actuator is located, the manual actuator being movable relative to the hand grip when engaged by the appendage.

A method of operating a grasping element, the method comprising:

• providing a grasping element in the form of a hand grip mountable to a projectile shooting device, the grasping element including therein a thermoelectric module positioned to experience a thermal gradient as a result of the transfer of thermal energy from an appendage of a user;
• generating electricity with the thermoelectric module due to the thermal gradient;
• and
• engaging a manual actuator with the appendage of the user to convert the manual actuator from an off mode, in which the manual actuator does not enable transfer of the generated electricity to a remote device, to an on mode, in which the manual actuator enables transfer of the generated electricity to the remote device to power the remote device,
• wherein the hand grip includes a back strap adjacent which the thermoelectric module is disposed so that the thermoelectric module can receive the thermal energy from the a palm of the appendage of the user,
• wherein the hand grip includes a recessed portion above the back strap in which the manual actuator is disposed,
• wherein during the engaging step, the manual actuator engages a web of the appendage of the user, the web being between a pointer finger and a thumb of the user, the manual actuator moving forwardly toward the hand grip during the engaging step.