US3602759A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric lamp with protective enclosure having shrunk plastic retaining means
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1966-10-12
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1986-10-12
Abstract
Abstract The fragile glass envelope of a fluorescent lamp or similar device is enclosed in a tight-fitting sleeve of shrunk lighttransmitting plastic to provide a shatter-proof and explosionproof lamp. Various fluorescent lamp embodiments wherein the shrunk plastic sleeve is also utilized as a filter, a lightpolarizing component, a radiation-converting medium, and as a means for encasing an exterior starting aid or reflector are also disclosed. In another embodiment the enclosure comprises a loosefitting plastic jacket having shrunk ends, or a separate lighttransmitting plastic jacket that is held in place on the lamp by a pair of overlapping shrunk plastic sleeves, so that the jacket serves both as a protective member and as a thermal insulating enclosure that permits the lamp to be used in outdoor lighting applications.
Inventors
- 👤 George S Evans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:57
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J61/00; H01J61/02; H01J61/30; H01J61/35; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S174/00; Y10S174/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An electric lamp comprising, in combination; a sealed vitreous envelope containing means for generating visible radiation when the lamp is energized, a hollow light-transmitting member that is of substantially the same configuration as said envelope and is disposed in protectively enclosing relationship therewith, and means holding said member in envelope-enclosing position on said lamp comprising a sleeve of oriented plastic material that is attached to said light-transmitting member and encircles a part of said lamp, said sleeve of oriented plastic material being constricted and in shrink-fitted engagement with the underlying encircled part of said lamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
An electric lamp comprising, in combination; a sealed vitreous envelope containing means for generating visible radiation when the lamp is energized, a hollow light-transmitting member that is of substantially the same configuration as said envelope and is disposed in protectively enclosing relationship therewith, and means holding said member in envelope-enclosing position on said lamp comprising a sleeve of oriented plastic material that is attached to said light-transmitting member and encircles a part of said lamp, said sleeve of oriented plastic material being constricted and in shrink-fitted engagement with the underlying encircled part of said lamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
118 words
The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 wherein: said lamp comprises a tubular fluorescent lamp which contains a pair of spaced electrodes and an ionizable medium, a base member is attached to one end of said envelope, said envelope-enclosing member is of tubular configuration and is composed of light-transmitting oriented plastic material, said sleeve of oriented plastic material comprises an integral part of said envelope-enclosing plastic member and constitutes therewith a continuous tubular sheath of oriented plastic material, and said plastic sheath is constricted throughout its entire length and thus comprises a smooth enclosure that conforms to the shape of said envelope and is in shrink-fitted engagement therewith and with the adjacent portion of said base member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein; said base carries a plurality of terminals, said electrodes are located at the ends of said envelope, the electrode at the based end of said envelope is connected to preselected ones of said terminals by lead wires that extend through the end of said envelope and into said base, the electrode at the other end of said envelope is connected to preselected and different ones of said terminals by spaced lead wires that extend through the said other end of said envelope and along the outer surface of the envelope into said base, and the portions of said lead wires that extend along the outer surface of said envelope are interposed between said envelope and the constricted plastic enclosure and are thereby held in spaced-apart insulated relationship by said enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein; an elongated electrically conductive member is disposed on the outer surface of said envelope and extends therealong from a region proximate to one of said electrodes to a region proximate the other of said electrodes, and said plastic enclosure is in tight-fitting engagement with the portion of said envelope traversed by said electrically conductive member and thus seals said member in place on said envelope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
108 words
The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 wherein; said lamp comprises a double-ended fluorescent lamp, said envelope-enclosing member comprises a substantially rigid tube of oriented plastic material that has a diameter larger than that of said envelope and is held in position on said lamp by a pair of constricted plastic sleeves, said pair of plastic sleeves are integral parts of and constitute the ends of said plastic tube and are thus in tight-fitting engagement with the underlying parts of said lamp, and the bulbous intermediate body portion of said plastic tube is spaced from said envelope and thereby also provides an insulating jacket for said lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 wherein; said lamp comprises a double-ended fluorescent lamp that has a base member at each end, said oriented plastic sleeve is located at and encircles one end of said lamp, a second sleeve of oriented plastic is located at and disposed around the other end of said lamp, said hollow light-transmitting member comprises a rigid tubular insulating jacket that is larger in cross section than said envelope and is supported in spaced-apart enclosing relationship with said envelope by spacer means attached to the respective base members, and said oriented plastic sleeves overlap and are in shrink-fitted engagement with the respective ends of said jacket and the adjacent portions of said base members and thus hold said jacket in assembled relationship with said lamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein said oriented plastic sheath is composed of a resin which polarizes the transmitted light rays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein said oriented plastic sheath contains a material which absorbs radiation of a preselected wavelength generated by said lamp.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 8 wherein the material in said plastic sheath absorbs ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 8 wherein said plastic sheath contains dispersed material which absorbs radiation in a preselected portion of the visible spectrum and said sheath thus constitutes a filter that modifies the color of the light emitted by said lamp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein said oriented plastic sheath contains fluorescent material that is excited by radiation generated by said lamp and emits visible radiation which modifies the color of the light produced by said lamp.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
The fluorescent lamp set forth in claim 2 wherein; said constricted plastic sheath is covered by a second sheath of oriented plastic that is in shrink-fitted overlying relationship therewith, and means for longitudinally severing said second plastic sheath is sealed therebeneath so that said second sheath can be stripped from the lamp without disturbing or damaging the underlying sheath.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The electric lamp set forth in claim 1 wherein; said envelope-enclosing member is composed of oriented plastic material and together with said oriented plastic sleeve comprises an integral plastic sheath that is constricted and in shrink-fitted engagement with said envelope throughout its length, and light-reflecting means is interposed between said plastic sheath and said envelope, said light-reflecting means extending around only a portion of the envelope circumference and being held on and in reflective relationship with said lamp solely by said plastic sheath.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-modifying component for an electric lamp or the like comprising a sleeve of shrinkable plastic that contains a dispersed fluorescent material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-modifying component for an electric lamp or the like comprising a sleeve of shrinkable plastic that contains a dispersed fluorescent material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-modifying component for an electric lamp or the like comprising a sleeve of shrinkable light-polarizing plastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-modifying component for an electric lamp or the like comprising a sleeve of shrinkable light-polarizing plastic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-transmitting filter for an electric lamp or the like consisting of a sleeve of shrinkable colored plastic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
As a new article of manufacture, a light-transmitting filter for an electric lamp or the like consisting of a sleeve of shrinkable colored plastic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |