Fluorescent lamp with thermal heat shield between lamp tube and ballast circuitry

A fluorescent lamp, comprising:

• (a) a lamp tube having first and second ends, and containing fill materials for causing light generation when provided with electrical power;
• said lamp tube having a plurality of convolutions;
• (b) first and second power-transferring means at said first and second ends of said lamp tube, respectively, for providing said fill materials in said lamp tube with said electrical power;
• (c) a support member for supporting said first and second ends of said lamp tube;
• (d) a housing for ballast circuitry;
• said housing being attached to said support member and being substantially free of ventilating apertures;
• and
• (e) a thermal heat shield separating said first power-transferring means from ballast circuitry which is contained within said housing, which supplies power to said first power-transferring means, and which has a lifetime that becomes substantially less as its operating temperature increases;
• (f) said thermal heat shield being generally flat except for at least one cover for accommodating an end of said lamp tube;
• (g) said thermal heat shield being substantially the sole thermal convective heat shield between said first power-transferring means and said ballast circuitry;
• (h) said thermal heat shield being constructed so that it reflects back to said first and second power-transferring means and any adjacent portions of said lamp tube sufficient radiant energy to reduce the operating temperature of said ballast circuitry by more than about one degree Celsius compared with the absence of said heat shield.