Lamp housing

Claim 1

A portable, elongated fluorescent work light for use in hazardous environments comprising: a. a nylon exterior guard having an upper surface ad comprising: i. six flared spokes adjacent one to another and traversing at least a portion of the length of the light, each spoke comprising: A. a first end having a first width at least partially defining an aperture and describing with the first end of each adjacent spoke an angle of approximately 60° in a plane tangent to the upper surface; B. a second end having a second width greater than the first width for forming a flange; and C. a segment intermediate the first and second ends of the spoke; ii. a band integrally formed with and connecting the segments of the plurality of spokes; and iii. a substantially ring-shaped base integrally formed with the second ends of the plurality of spokes and having a threaded interior surface; b. a handle having a nylon exterior surface and abutting the exterior guard during operation of the light; c. means, connected to the handle and exterior guard, for securing an electric lamp within the light and insulating the electric lamp from the environment surrounding the light during normal operation, and including an electrical cable comprising: i. a retainer, connected to the handle and exterior guard, comprising: A. a threaded exterior surface engaging the threaded interior surface of the base and thereby forming a first helical joint, which joint functions as a portion of a relief path for permitting passage of sufficiently pressurized gas from within the light to the environment surrounding the light while permitting the gas to cool; B. an interior ledge; and C. a threaded interior surface integrally formed with and normal to the ledge; ii. a socket, attached within the retainer, for receiving the electric lamp; iii. a globe having a flanged base abutting the interior ledge of the retainer for surrounding the electric lamp; iv. a threaded retaining ring for securing the flanged base of the globe within the retainer and insulating the electric lamp from the environment surrounding the retainer during normal operation of the light, which threaded retaining ring engages the threaded interior surface of the retainer and thereby forms a second helical joint, which joint functions as another portion of a relief path; and v. a gasket positioned intermediate the threaded retaining ring and the flanged base of the globe; d. a foam cap placed within the globe for wedging between the globe and the electric lamp; e. a nylon hook having a neck for receipt by the aperture of the exterior guard; f. a nylon clip placed about the neck for securing the neck within the exterior guard; and g. means for relieving stresses on the electrical cable, comprising: i. a base portion connected to the handle assembly and having two ends defining openings for receiving a portion of the electrical cable; ii. a grommet positioned in one end of the base portion; and iii. a collar attached to the base portion for surrounding at least a portion of the grommet.