Abstract:
A lighting device comprising a lighting unit, a housing supporting the lighting unit, an activation unit for activating the lighting unit and a strap for securing the housing to a respective support structure. Alternatively, a sleeve may be used to secure a housing to a respective support structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a lighting device securable to a support structure, such as a handlebar of a bicycle.  
         [0002]     It is known to use a rigid lighting unit for a support structure where power circuitry is included in the support structure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It is an advantage of the invention that a lighting device is provided with a variable fitting device for securing a housing of a lighting device to a support structure.  
         [0004]     It is another advantage of the invention that power circuitry is external to any support structure, such as a bicycle handlebar.  
         [0005]     It is another advantage of the invention that a power source may be included in the housing of the lighting device.  
         [0006]     It is yet another advantage of the present invention that finishing surfaces and protective grips of support structures need not be altered in conjunction with a lighting device according to the present invention.  
         [0007]     It is another advantage of the invention that an activation unit is available external to the housing.  
         [0008]     It is still another advantage that an activation unit is remote to the housing.  
         [0009]     It is yet still another advantage that a housing of a lighting device according to the present invention rests on a respective securing device for securing to a respective support structure.  
         [0010]     It is another advantage of the present invention that the lighting device may be activated without removing a hand from a respective support structure when a user is gripping the support structure, such as a handlebar.  
         [0011]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a housing of the lighting device may be contoured to complement a respective support structure.  
         [0012]     It is another advantage of the present invention that a housing of the lighting device may include a grip or cushion for contact with a support structure.  
         [0013]     It is an advantage of an embodiment of the present invention that the lighting unit is securable at any point along an entire support structure as opposed to only a distal end of a support structure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2   a  shows a partial side view of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2   b  shows a top view of a housing extension with braces; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a second embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The best mode of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows a lighting device  1  for securing to a support structure such as a handlebar of bike, or a bar or a pole. The lighting device includes a lighting unit and activation unit. The lighting device includes light emission source  2  with power circuitry  3 . Light emission source  2  may be replaceable. Power circuitry  3  may include a replaceable or rechargeable power supply. Activation unit  4  activates light emission source  2  through communication path  5 . Path  5  may be either a hard wired communication path or a wireless communication path with light emission source  2  and power circuitry  3  and is insulated as necessary and desired. Activation unit  4  may, either alone or in combination, activate constant light emission, blinking light emission, or no light emission.  
         [0019]     Lighting device  1  includes housing base  6  and housing extension  7 . Housing extension  7  may be integral with housing base  6  or removably secure to housing base  6 . Housing base  6  and/or housing extension  7  may compliment the shape and or size of a respective support structure. Housing base  6  includes a transparent region for allowing light emission to pass there through. At least light emission source  2  is internal to housing base  6 . Light source  2  may be integral with housing base  6 . Housing base  6  and/or housing extension  7  include respective access areas for replacing light emission source  2  and a respective power source of power circuitry  3 . Housing base  6  and housing extension  7  are designed to protect light emission source  2 , power circuitry  3  and communication path  5  against elements as desired and necessary.  
         [0020]     Extension  7  is designed to include a region for receiving strap  8 . Strap  8  secures to a respective support structure, by tying, by having elasticity, or with a closure device, for example. Strap  8  may include closure  9 . Closure  9  may include any of a velcro® hook and fastener closure, a snap closure, a tie closure, a brace closure, a bracket closure, a rubber closure and a clasp closure alone or in combination. Strap  8  may be wrapped around variable sizes and shapes.  
         [0021]     Housing extension  7  may be contoured. Such a contour could complement a shape of a respective support structure. A concave contour could be use for a cylindrical support structure. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2   a , a grip and/or cushion  11  may be secured on housing extension  7  for gripping and/or cushioning against a respective support structure. Housing extension  7  may also include braces  12  for further complementing a respective support structure. Braces  12  may be contoured as necessary and desired and may include grips as necessary and desired.  
         [0022]     Activation unit  4  activates constant light emission, blinking light emission or no light emission, independently or in sequence. Activation unit  4  may include a switch, such as a push-on activator  4   a  or a toggle switch  4   a . Activation unit  4  is designed to protect against elements as necessary and desired. It is possible to include power circuitry in the activation source. Activation unit  4  may be accompanied by securing element  10  to secure activation unit  4  to a respective support structure such as a handle bar, bar or pole. Securing element  10  may secure to a support structure by tying, by having elasticity, or with a closure device, for example. Activation unit  4  may be strapped on a user&#39;s body or wrist. Of course, there may be the occasion where a user wishes to carry or hold the activation unit without securing the activation unit to a support structure.  
         [0023]     Embodiment 2 indicates like elements with the same reference numerals. In embodiment 2, lighting device  1  is secured to a respective support structure with a sleeve  13 , see  FIG. 3 . Sleeve  13  may be secured to variable sizes and shapes of housings and support structures and may be designed to compliment a support structure. Sleeve  13  may be a rigid sleeve or a flexible sleeve, such as rubber or cloth sleeve. Sleeve  13  may be designed to include securing elements  13   a  and  13   b  to secure a housing and support structure. Additional securing elements  14   a  and  14   b , such as a strap and closure device may be used to reinforce securing elements  13   a  and  13   b  or replace elements  13   a  and  13   b.    
         [0024]     Of course, a plurality of lighting units, housings and straps or sleeves may be used with a single activation unit.  
         [0025]     Although the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the detail of the apparatus as illustrated, as well as uses thereof, may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Many variations of the invention within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.