Patent ID: 7268494

Claim:
A compact fluorescent lamp, comprising: a fluorescent tube having a helical portion on at least a part of the fluorescent tube and turned down in the middle of the fluorescent tube, a pair of tube ends of the fluorescent tube, each end provided with a discharge electrode, the pair of tube ends juxtaposing with each other in the same direction; a holder configured to hold the tube ends so as that the fluorescent tube is supported at one side of the holder; a lighting device configured to supply a high-frequency power to the fluorescent tube, the lighting device comprising a circuit board facing the other side of the holder and circuit elements mounted on the circuit board; a cover configured to accommodate the lighting device, the cover having an opening at both ends of the cover and holding the holder at one opened end; a cap fixed to the other opened end of the cover configured to supply commercial frequency power to the lighting device by being mounted to a socket of luminaire; and a thin tube that communicates with the fluorescent tube and protrudes by 25-70 mm from at least one of the tube ends of the fluorescent tube in the cover and extends to a vicinity of the cap.