Versatile and compact portable lighting device

1. A portable lighting device, comprising:

a power supply housing;

a lighting head having at least one light source;

a linking arm of elongate shape, said arm having a first end connected to said supply housing and a second end connected to said lighting head so as to mechanically link said supply housing and said lighting head;

wherein said lighting head is movable relative to said supply housing between a first position in which said lighting head is adjacent to said supply housing and at least one second position in which said lighting head is remote from said supply housing;

wherein said arm has a length less than or equal to the largest dimension of said supply housing;

wherein said housing has a generally parallelepipedal shape that defines a stable base for placement on a surface;

wherein the weight distribution between (a) said housing, and (b) said lighting head and said arm, and the size of said arm, are such that the position of the center of gravity of said lighting device remains close to the center of gravity of said housing regardless of the position of said lighting head;

wherein said housing has a transverse cross section that has an oblong shape with a central narrow portion;

wherein said housing further comprises an external groove in an external surface of said housing that extends along a longitudinal axis in a median plane of said housing, said groove accommodating at least part of said arm when said lighting head is in said first position, and said groove being located at said central narrow portion.

2. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said first end of said arm is articulated relative to said housing on a first axis of rotation.

3. The portable lighting device of claim 2 , wherein said second end of said arm is articulated relative to said lighting head on a second axis of rotation.

4. The portable lighting device of claim 3 , wherein said second axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said first axis of rotation.

5. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said ends of said arm is articulated solely for rotation about an axis of rotation.

6. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said arm is rigid.

7. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said arm is flexible such that said arm can be manually manipulated and can retain a given shape indefinitely.

8. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said housing comprises a recess that accommodates at least part of said lighting head when said lighting head is in said first position.

9. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said housing has a recess that permits rotation of said first end of said arm about said first axis of rotation.

10. The portable lighting device of claim 1 , wherein said lighting head comprises a protective cover, a body, an optical element, said optical element being mounted in said lighting head spaced from said light source and in abutment with a support that is integral with said body, and resilient members integral with said cover and in abutment with and supporting said optical element.

11. A portable lighting device, comprising:

a power supply housing;

a lighting head having at least one light source;

a linking arm of elongate shape, said arm having a first end connected to said supply housing and a second end connected to said lighting head so as to mechanically link said supply housing and said lighting head;

wherein said lighting head is movable relative to said supply housing between a first position in which said lighting head is adjacent to said supply housing and at least one second position in which said lighting head is remote from said supply housing;

wherein said arm has a length less than or equal to the largest dimension of said supply housing;

wherein said housing has a generally parallelepipedal shape that defines a stable base for placement on a surface;

wherein the weight distribution between (a) said housing, and (b) said lighting head and said arm, and the size of said arm, are such that the position of the center of gravity of said lighting device remains close to the center of gravity of said housing regardless of the position of said lighting head;

wherein said housing has an elongated shape that defines a length of said housing and a transverse cross section that has an oblong shape with a central narrow portion that extends substantially throughout said length of said housing.

12. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said first end of said arm is articulated relative to said housing on a first axis of rotation.

13. The portable lighting device of claim 12 , wherein said second end of said arm is articulated relative to said lighting head on a second axis of rotation.

14. The portable lighting device of claim 13 , wherein said second axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to said first axis of rotation.

15. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of said ends of said arm is articulated solely for rotation about an axis of rotation.

16. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said arm is rigid.

17. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said arm is flexible such that said arm can be manually manipulated and can retain a given shape indefinitely.

18. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said housing comprises a recess that accommodates at least part of said lighting head when said lighting head is in said first position.

19. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said housing has a recess that permits rotation of said first end of said arm about said first axis of rotation.

20. The portable lighting device of claim 11 , wherein said lighting head comprises a protective cover, a body, an optical element, said optical element being mounted in said lighting head spaced from said light source and in abutment with a support that is integral with said body, and resilient members integral with said cover and in abutment with and supporting said optical element.