Patent ID: 8066541

Claim:
A method for producing a contact pin for use as an electric contact element of a fluorescent tube, wherein the contact pin has a recess extending along the longitudinal axis thereof, wherein a connection wire of the fluorescent tube can be inserted into said recess and can be electrically connected to the contact pin, wherein the outer wall of the contact pin has a cylindrical contact region having a diameter and which can be engaged in a base bracket of the fluorescent tube in order to establish an electrical contact between the base bracket and the fluorescent tube, and wherein the outer wall of the contact pin has an annular collar with which the contact pin rests against a wall of an end cap when inserted into a recess of the end cap which is provided on the axial end of the fluorescent tube, said method comprising: a) cutting to length a semi-finished metal product composed of an aluminum alloy and which has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrical contact region; b) deforming the cut-to-length semi-finished metal product to form the collar protruding beyond the diameter of the cylindrical contact region; and c) machining the deformed semi-finished metal product to form the recess.