US 5,722,549 A · Closed-loop tubular lamp envelope and method of manufacture

Abstract

A closed-loop, tubular lamp envelope and methods of manufacturing closed-loop, tubular lamp envelopes are disclosed. A dome is formed at one end of a light-transmissive tube. A blister is molded on the dome, and a hole is formed in the molded blister. Next, a dome is formed at the other end of the light-transmissive tube. A blister is formed on the dome, and a second hole is formed in the molded blister. Each of the molded blisters includes a rim which defines the respective hole. A second tube is processed in the same way. The respective rims at the ends of the first and second tubes are fused together to form a sealed, closed-loop lamp envelope. Each tube may be bent to provide a desired shape of the lamp envelope. The molding of the rims insures that the sealing surfaces match.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for fabricating a closed-loop, tubular lamp envelope, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a first dome at one end of a first tube;
b) molding a first blister on said first dome, said first molded blister having a first rim;
c) forming a first hole in said first molded blister, said first hole being defined by said first rim;
d) forming a second dome at the other end of said first tube;
e) molding a second blister on said second dome, said second molded blister having a second rim;
f) forming a second hole in said second molded blister, said second hole being defined by said second rim;
g) processing a second tube by performing steps a)-f) with the second tube;
and
h) joining said first and second tubes at said first rims and at said second rims to form a sealed, closed-loop lamp envelope.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Closed-loop tubular lamp envelope and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Closed-loop tubular lamp envelope and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18