Patent ID: 7012373

Claim:
A fluorescent lamp comprising: a base; a plurality of luminous tubes, each of the luminous tubes having: (a) a first curvature forming a bend defining a U-shape; (b) a plurality of ends adjacent to one another; (c) a middle region positioned between the bend and the ends; and (d) a second curvature which offsets the middle region from the bend and the ends; a bridge connection connecting each of the luminous tubes to at least one of the other luminous tubes; an electronic ballast electrically connected to the luminous tubes; and a mounting member connected to the base, the mounting member holding the luminous tubes in such a position so that: (a) the ends of each of the luminous tubes are adjacent to the ends of another one of the U-shaped luminous tubes; and (b) the bend of each of the luminous tubes is adjacent to the bend of another one of the U-shaped luminous tubes.