Lighting device utilizing a light emitting diode disposed within a tubular lens

1. A lighting device comprising:

a lighting device body containing a battery compartment, said lighting device body having an edge;

a lighting housing having a rear face and a forward cover, said light housing enclosing a plurality of light source assemblies, the rear face is opaque;

wherein each light source assembly includes at least one light emitting diode, which is disposed in a hollow tubular lens of the light source assemblies; and

wherein the light housing is rotatably attached to the edge of the lighting device body.

2. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device body comprises a removable cover to give access to the battery compartment.

3. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein a surface of the rear face is textured to provide a diffuse reflection.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the lighting device body is of a rectangular prismatic shape.

5. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising a slot coupled to the body.

6. The lighting device of claim 5 , wherein the slot is attachable to a rope.

7. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising a hanging mechanism coupled to the body.

8. The lighting device of claim 1 , further comprising a foot coupled to the body.

9. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable attachment of the light housing to the body is provided with a degree of resistance.

10. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable attachment of the light housing to the body provides a clamping force between the light housing and the body.

11. The lighting device of claim 10 , wherein the clamping force holds the device in place on a pocket.

12. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein the forward face of the light housing can be selectively repositioned between 180° and 225° relative to a retracted position.

13. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising at least one raised projection on along the edge to provide a locking bias to releasably hold the light housing in a retracted position.

14. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein one or more interior surfaces of the rear face are coated with a reflective material.

15. The lighting device of claim 1 , wherein each light source assembly further includes a reflective spigot located on an end of the tubular lens.

16. A lighting device comprising:

a lighting device body containing a battery compartment, said lighting device body having an edge;

a lighting housing having a rear face and a light transmissive forward cover, wherein the lighting housing is attached to the edge, the rear face being opaque;

a tubular, light transmissive lens disposed in the lighting housing, wherein the lens includes first and second opposing sides respectively with openings into the lens; and

first and second light emitting diodes respectively disposed in the openings of the lens.

17. The lighting device of claim 16 , wherein the device is hung from an article of clothing to allow reading.

18. The lighting device of claim 13 , wherein the lighting housing is movable to a first, retracted position in which the forward cover faces the lighting device body and to a second, open position in which the forward cover is located at an angle between 180° and 225° relative to the first position.

19. A lighting device, comprising:

a body, including: an edge; and a battery compartment that receives a battery;

a light source assembly, including: a light emitting diode and a hollow tubular lens, wherein the light emitting diode is partially disposed in the hollow tubular lens; and

a lighting housing, including: a rear face; and a forward cover, wherein the lighting housing encloses the light source assembly and rests against the body in a retracted position and the rear face is opaque.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the lighting housing is pivotably attached to the edge so as to selectively pivot relative to the retracted position.