Discharge lamp with offset or tilted arc tube

Claim 1

An arc lamp comprising: an arc lamp envelope having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends generally along the longitudinal axis; a connection generally at the second end of the envelope allowing mounting of the arc lamp in a fixture; an arc tube enclosed in the envelope and having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, the longitudinal axis of the arc tube tilted with respect to the long axis of the arc lamp; at least one mounting rail extending generally between the first and second ends of the arc lamp envelope, end portions of the rail extending generally parallel to the long axis of the arc lamp envelope, an intermediate portion extending generally along and parallel to the long axis of the arc tube, and first and second connecting portions between each end portion and opposite ends of the intermediate portion; the connecting portions including resilient members to allow a resilient range of flexure of the rail to facilitate insertion of the arc tube into the arc lamp envelope and to dampen shock to the arc tube once inserted.

Claim 14

A method of maintaining an arc tube at a substantial angle to the long axis of an envelope of an arc lamp comprising: shaping a generally rigid rail member to have opposite end portions align along a first axis, and an arc tube supporting portion align along a second axis angled to the first axis at a selected angle of tilt with the arc tube; resiliently connecting the arc tube supporting portion to the opposite end members; connecting the arc tube to the arc tube supporting portion of the rail member; inserting an opposite end portion of the rail member into an opening in a neck of a lamp envelope; flexing the resilient connection between said opposite end portion and the arc tube supporting portion of the rail member, if needed, to pass at least an initial portion of the arc tube through the neck; flexing the resilient connection between the other opposite end portion and the arc tube, if needed, to pass any remaining portion of the arc tube and a portion of the other opposite end portion into the arc tube; allowing the resilient connections to return to original form to orient the arc tube in a desired tilted position to the long axis of the envelope.

Claim 15

A method of maintaining an arc tube at a substantial angle to the long axis of an envelope of an arc lamp comprising: shaping a generally rigid rail member to have opposite end portions align along a first axis, and an arc tube supporting portion align along a second axis angled to the first axis at a selected angle of tilt with the arc tube; resiliently connecting the arc tube supporting portion to the opposite end members; connecting the arc tube to the arc tube supporting portion of the rail member; inserting an opposite end portion of the rail member into an opening in a neck of a lamp envelope; flexing the resilient connection between said opposite end portion and the arc tube supporting portion of the rail member, if needed, to pass at least an initial portion of the arc tube through the neck; flexing the resilient connection between the other opposite end portion and the arc tube, if needed, to pass any remaining portion of the arc tube and a portion of the other opposite end portion into the arc tube; allowing the resilient connections to return to original form to orient the arc tube in a desired tilted position to the long axis of the envelope.