Patent ID: 6367947
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: F21S,F21V,F21Y,H01J

Abstract:
A fluorescent lamp comprising:an arc tube formed from a plurality of bulbs that are each formed in an inverted U-shape with two substantially straight stems and a curved top and that are joined together into one connected bulb to include one discharge path, an inner surface of each U-shaped bulb being coated with a fluorescent material; a holder having a mounting surface in which the two stems of each U-shaped bulb are planted at positions that lie on an imaginary circle with a roughly same distance between neighboring U-shaped bulbs; and a reflector is positioned in a space enclosed by the holder and the plurality of U-shaped bulbs, and radiates light through each clearance between the two stems and each clearance between neighboring U-shaped bulbs by reflecting light from the arc tube, wherein a bottom end of the reflector is fixed to the holder at a center of the imaginary circle, wherein the reflector has a pillar part and a tapered top end, a height of the pillar part measured from the mounting surface being greater than a height of the clearance between the two stems of each U-shaped bulb and smaller than a height of each U-shaped bulb measured from the mounting surface; and wherein, within at least the height of the clearance between the two stems of each U-shaped bulb, a diameter of the reflector is greater than a width of the clearance between the two stems and greater than a width of the clearance between neighboring U-shaped bulbs.