Easily-assembled compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp

• US 20040218385A1
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tomiyoshi, Yasushige, Itaya, Kenji, Nakanishi, Akiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,064,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/216
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/58 Means for fastening the separate part to the vessel, e.g. by cement
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/327 "Compact"-lamps, i.e. lamps having a folded discharge path
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/34 Joining base to vessel

Abstract

A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes an arc tube formed by a glass tube double-spirally wound from its middle to both ends around a spiral axis, and a cylindrical holding member having a closed bottom and holding the arc tube, a case fit to cover a circumferential wall of the holding member, and the like. End-vicinity parts of the glass tube are formed to have a larger gap with glass tube parts adjacent in the direction of the spiral axis. The arc tube is held in a state where the distance L1 between a first point that is on an outer surface of a glass tube part adjacent to one of the ends of the glass tube in the direction of the spiral axis and a second point on a surface of the end wall facing the first point is about 1.5 mm.

Claims

1. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp, comprising:

an arc tube formed by a glass tube double-spirally wound from a middle to both ends thereof around a predetermined axis; and

a cylindrical holding member having an end wall where a pair of insertion openings are formed, and holding the arc tube in a state where both end parts of the glass tube are inserted in the insertion openings,

wherein a pitch of (a) each end part and (b) an adjacent spiral part in a direction of the axis is larger than a pitch of other adjacent spiral parts, to widen a gap between each end part and the adjacent spiral part, and

a minimum distance between (a) a first area that is on an outer surface of a spiral part adjacent to one of the ends in the direction of the axis and (b) a second area that is on a surface of the end wall and that faces the first area, is in a range of 1.5 to 4.0 mm inclusive.

2. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

a winding pitch of the glass tube is changed to enlarge at such a position back from each end by 60 to 120°

inclusive with respect to the axis, as viewed in the direction of the axis.

3. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

a gap between the other adjacent spiral parts is in a range of 1 to 3 mm inclusive, and

a distance between (a) a first point that is on each end and (b) a second point that faces the first point and that is on an outer surface of an adjacent spiral part in the direction of the axis, is in a range of 3 to 6 mm inclusive.

4. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, further comprising:

a globe covering the arc tube; and

a case that is fit to cover a circumferential wall of the holding member,

wherein a gap is formed between the circumferential wall of the holding member and the case, and the globe is fixed in a state where an opening end thereof is fit in the gap.

5. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 4, wherein

wherein the arc tube is thermally connected to the globe via a heat conductive medium, at a coolest position of the arc tube during lighting, or a position in a vicinity of the coolest position.

6. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

an inner diameter of the glass tube is in a range of 5 to 9 mm inclusive.

7. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 1, wherein

an annular outer diameter of the double-spiral arc tube is in a range of 30 to 40 mm inclusive.

8. A compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp, comprising:

an arc tube formed by a glass tube double-spirally wound from a middle to both ends thereof around a predetermined axis; and

a cylindrical holding member having an end wall on which a pair of tube-holding structures are provided for holding the arc tube in a state where both end parts of the glass tube are inserted in and held by the tube-holding structures,

wherein a pitch of (a) each end part and (b) an adjacent spiral part in a direction of the axis is larger than a pitch of other adjacent spiral parts, to widen a gap between each end part and the adjacent spiral part, and

a distance between (a) a first point that is at a middle of an area sandwiched between the pair of tube-holding structures in a circumferential direction of the end wall as viewed in the direction of the axis and (b) a second point that is on an outer surface of a spiral part positioned outward with respect to the holding member and facing the first point, is in a range of 1.5 to 4.0 mm inclusive.

9. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, wherein

a winding pitch of the glass tube is changed to enlarge at such a position back from each end by 60 to 120°

inclusive with respect to the axis, as viewed in the direction of the axis.

10. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, wherein

a gap between the other adjacent spiral parts is in a range of 1 to 3 mm inclusive, and

a distance between (a) a first point that is on each end and (b) a second point that faces the first point and that is on an outer surface of an adjacent spiral part in the direction of the axis, is in a range of 3 to 6 mm inclusive.

11. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, further comprising

a case that is fit to cover a circumferential wall of the holding member,

wherein the holding member has, at the circumferential wall, an engagement part that is engaged at an inner surface of the case, the engagement part being at such a position corresponding to the middle of the area sandwiched between the pair of tube-holding structures.

12. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, further comprising

a globe covering the arc tube;

and

a case that is fit to cover a circumferential wall of the holding member,

wherein a gap is formed between the circumferential wall of the holding member and the case, and the globe is fixed in a state where an opening end thereof is fit in the gap.

13. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 12, wherein

the arc tube is thermally connected to the globe via a heat conductive medium, at a coolest position of the arc tube during lighting, or a position in a vicinity of the coolest position.

14. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, wherein

an inner diameter of the glass tube is in a range of 5 to 9 mm inclusive.

15. The compact self-ballasted fluorescent lamp of claim 8, wherein

an annular outer diameter of the double-spiral arc tube is in a range of 30 to 40 mm inclusive.