Flat type of fluorescent lamp

Claim 1

A flat fluorescent lamp comprising first and second elongated shells, each shell having peripheral joint portions adapted to be sealed together, each of said first and second shells having depths substantially less than the distance between opposing joint portions; means for sealing said peripheral joint portions of said elongated shells together so that said elongated shells form a sealed elongated hollow body; at least two rigid plate-like surfaces projecting outwardly from respective opposite ends of said sealed elongated hollow body, said plate-like surfaces extending from one of said elongated shells; at least two pairs of conductors, each pair extending from a respective one of said plate-like surfaces at said respective opposite ends of said elongated sealed hollow body to within said sealed hollow body; a discharge electrode supported by and electrically connected between the conductors of each pair of said conductors and being located within said sealed elongated hollow body and defining a substantially linear discharge path therebetween; and at least two pairs of flat metallic strips, each pair of flat metallic strips being adhesively mounted on a respective one of said plate-like surfaces at respective ends of said sealed elongated hollow body and electrically connected to the respective conductors of the corresponding pair of said wires.