Filament support for tubular lamp

In an electric incandescent lamp of the double-ended type including a tubular envelope sealed at each end thereof, a helically coiled filament extending longitudinally through the interior of said envelope, and lead-in conductors connected at respective ends of said filament and hermetically sealed in said respective end seals of said envelope and extending exteriorly thereof, the improvement comprising:

• a filament support in the form of a wire including a midportion and a pair of opposing end portions, said filament support extending longitudinally along a portion of the inner wall of said envelope, each of said end portions of said support wire terminating in a loop which is circumferentially engageable with the inner wall of said envelope around at least one-half of the circumference thereof, said midportion of said support wire extending laterally in the form of a single, substantially closed loop enclosing and embracing a localized point on a turn of said coiled filament so that said turn extends through said midportion loop and is supported therefrom, each of said end loop portions of said support wire being compressed prior to insertion within said envelope such that when said end loop portions are positioned within said envelope, a slight pressure is applied thereto by said internal wall of said envelope, said end loop portions in turn assisting to maintain said single loop of said midportion in said substantially closed form to assure a firm grip by said single loop on said filament.