Rectangularly shaped gas-filled lamp for photocopying machines

Claim 1

A gas-filled lamp for a photocopying machine comprising a pair of tubular side sections; a tubular main member having a substantially constant crosssectional area therealong, said main member having bent ends forming a continuous attachment to a respective side section, each side section extending at 90* to said main member, said main member being coated with fluorescent material, and said coating being applied to both said bent ends and terminating at said attachment to said side sections; a pair of tubular end members, each equal in length and forming a continuous attachment with a respective one of said side sections and extending at 90* to said side section toward each other and having end portions terminating in substantially close proximity with electrical connectIons attached to said respective terminating end portions; said main member, side sections and end members forming a substantially rectangularly shaped lamp, the length of each said side section being substantially shorter than the length of either of said end members so that said main and end members are located in close parallel proximity to each other; each said bent end of said main member having an outer curved surface and an inner curved surface defining an end cross section area therebetween, the radius of said outer curved surface being greater than the radius of said inner curved surface; and said end cross-sectional area adjacent said inner curved surface having a reduced portion so that said end cross-sectional area is less than said substantially constant cross-sectional area along said main member.