Pinch-sealed high pressure discharge lamp, and method of its manufacture

High-pressure discharge lamp having

• an elongated bulb element defining a central bulb region (3) forming a discharge space, and two end regions (5, 28) opposite said central bulb region;
• each of said end regions including a pinch or press seal,
• wherein each of said pinch or press seals defines two flattened, essentially parallel broad face surfaces (13) and two essentially parallel narrow side surfaces (15) which are narrower than said broad face surfaces;
• a pair of electrodes (6) extending into the discharge space from said pinch or press seals;
• current supply leads (9) electrically connected to said electrodes and passing through the respective pinch or press seals and extending externally of the bulb element;
• connecting foils (8) located within said pinch or press seals, each of said foils being electrically connected to a respective electrode and a current supply lead;
• and
• an ionizable fill in the discharge space,
• and wherein
• the width of the broad face surfaces (13) of the pinch or press seals adjacent the central bulb region are constricted or indented so that the lateral regions of the broad face surfaces are formed with constrictions or indentations (16), said constrictions defining respective transition regions at the respective broad face surface of the respective pinch seal toward the central bulb region of the bulb element;
• and
• wherein the thickness (d) of the respective pinch or press seal including a region comprising said constrictions or indentations remains essentially constant throughout the extent of the respective pinch or press seal.