Patent ID: 7048410

Claim:
A support and enclosure structure for fluorescent light bulbs comprising; an elongated, hollow tube having opposite ends, an outer wall and an inner volume; at least one ventilation opening extending through said outer wall and permitting air flow between said inner volume of said tube and the surrounding environment for cooling of a fluorescent light bulb held therewithin, said at least one ventilation opening being formed over at least part of the light-emitting tube of the fluorescent light bulb; end cap means mounted on said opposite ends of said tube, said end cap means adapted to engage opposite ends of the fluorescent light bulb and support the fluorescent light bulb within said inner volume of said tube free of contact with said outer wall of said tube; and said tube constructed of generally rigid, at least partially translucent material such that light emitted by the fluorescent light bulb held within said tube generally radiates through said outer wall of said tube into the surrounding environment.