Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp employs multiple tubes frictionally fitted into apertures in a base plate to form an assembly. The assembly is fitted and positioned within an hermetically sealed envelope by means of snubbers formed on the base plate which cooperate with detent means formed on the inside surface of the envelope.

Abstract: Compact fluorescent lamps employ inner assemblies of fluorescent tubes mounted in an arc tight manner. Associated with the assemblies are thermally actuable means which operate to open communication with the tubes during exhaust. After exhaust and sealing of an outer envelope which holds the assembly, the thermally actuable means closes the tubes to form an arc tight seal.

Abstract: Compact fluorescent lamps employ metal arc directors formed from suitable material, such as steel. The steel parts are vacuum fired to degas same prior to assembly in the lamps.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp employs an inner exhaust tubulation formed from glass. The exhaust tubulation is non-invasively sealed after an outer lamp envelope is sealed by directing upon the exhaust tubulation an amount of focused, coherent radiation sufficient to heat the tubulation to its softening point. The outer envelope is transparent to the given radiation.

Abstract: Glass encapsulated, metal arc directors for compact fluorescent lamps. The metal parts are coated with an aqueous suspension of glass frit and fired to form the glass coating. Such parts reduce discharge contamination by reducing the outgassing of the metal parts.

Abstract: A compact fluorescent lamp comprises multiple, individual tubes mechanically formed into an assembly and inserted into an outer envelope. Only the outer envelope is hermetically sealed and includes an atmosphere of mercury and argon. Novel arc directing means connect the tubes to form a continuous arc path.

Abstract: Compact fluorescent lamps employ metal arc directors formed from suitable material, such as steel. The steel parts are vacuum fired to degas same prior to assembly in the lamps.

Abstract: Light output of compact fluorescent lamps is increased by providing metal base members within the lamp with a diffuse light reflecting coating such as, e.g., zirconium dioxide.

Abstract: A photoflash device which includes a plastic substrate, lamp-firing circuitry located on a first surface of the substrate, a disconnect switch also secured to the first surface of the substrate and electrically joined to the lamp-firing circuitry, at least one electrically activated photoflash lamp located above the switch for activating said switch upon ignition thereof, and a solid, light-transmitting polymer located about and encapsulating the glass envelope of the lamp. A thin, light-transmitting polyester member is located over the switch to protect the switch during formation of the device. The polyester member serves to prevent contact between the resin which forms the polymer and switch during thisformation, thus assuring close placement of the lamp's envelope and switch, said placement thereby assuring proper activation (e.g., severance) of the switch.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective coating on a glass envelope of a photoflash lamp. The method comprises the steps of orienting the lamp within a mold member such that the external surfaces of the lamp's glass envelope do not contact the internal surfaces of the mold, depositing a quantity of powdered thermoplastic or thermosetting resin within the mold such that the resin surrounds the entirety of the glass envelope's external surfaces, simultaneously applying pressure and heat to the powdered material to cause it to liquify, and thereafter cooling the liquified material to form a light-transmitting, solid polymer member having the glass envelope located therein. Pressures within the range of about 500 to 8000 pounds per square inch were possible without fracturing the glass envelopes or adversely effecting the components therein. The finished product is ideally suited as one component of a multilamp photoflash device for use with many of today's cameras.

Abstract: A method of making a photoflash article including a substrate member, a plurality (e.g., ten) of electrically-activated photoflash lamps, and a light-transmitting polymer covering which encapsulates each of the photoflash lamps and is also secured to the substrate member to define a unitary component. The substrate is produced by injection molding with each of the lamps subsequently positioned therein. This assembled component is then either placed within an injection mold apparatus and a predetermined quantity of thermoplastic or thermosetting resin injected therein to define the polymer member, or the polymer is added in liquid form to completely fill each of the substrate member's individual lamp-receiving compartments. The finished article is especially suited for forming part of a completed photoflash device further including circuitry and other items, such as described in the present art.

Abstract: An electrically-activated photoflash lamp which includes a lead glass envelope, a quantity of shredded zirconium or hafnium combustible material within the envelope, a combustion-supporting gas (e.g., oxygen) also within the envelope, and an ignition structure disposed within the envelope for igniting the combustible material upon application of a high voltage, low energy pulse thereto. The ignition structure includes a pair of metallic lead wires secured within one end of the envelope and having terminations which lie substantially flush with the interior surface of this end. A quantity of primer material bridges the terminations and is ignited upon application of the above pulse. The lead wires are secured and hermetically sealed within the envelope's end without the need for a press sealing operation. A method of making this lamp is also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a photoflash lamp wherein an elongated piece of glass tubing is sealed at a first end thereof to secure a pair of lead-in wires therein. Thereafter, a quantity of primer material is positioned within the tubing through the second, open end thereof and deposited on an internal bottom surface of the tubing. A quantity of shredded combustible material (e.g. zirconium) is then air blown within the tubing member, and thereafter a thin member (mica disk) is frictionally inserted through the open end. The tubing member is then restricted, a combustion-supporting atmosphere (e.g., oxygen) introduced therein, and the second open end of the tubing member is sealed (tipped) to define the finished envelope. Use of the disk substantially eliminates the possibility of shred migration into the second open end region during sealing thereof, thus assuring a positive seal at the envelope's tip portion.

Abstract: An improved quick-disconnect switch for use in a multilamp photoflash unit containing a plurality of flashlamps and circuit means for sequentially igniting the flashlamps, in which the switch is adapted to automatically by-pass a flashlamp having an improper atmosphere therein, referred to herein as an "air" or "vacuum" lamp. The disconnect switch comprises a length of polymeric material which is rendered electrically conductive by a deposit of conductive material (e.g., aluminum) on at least a portion of the surface thereof. The conductive material has a gap disposed therein extending substantially transverse to the length thereof. The disconnect switch is severed directly by ignition of the primer from the high voltage pulse that ignites the lamp rather than by previously required direct optical energy coupling from the lamp. In an alternate embodiment, the switch may be constructed of a thin, low melting alloy member.

Abstract: An electrically-activated, subminiature photoflash lamp including a glass envelope, a quantity of combustible shred material (e.g., zirconium or hafnium) for providing high intensity light output upon ignition thereof, and an ignition means for igniting the combustible upon application of a suitable pulse such as typically provided by a piezoelectric element utilized in many of today's pocket-type cameras. The ignition means includes a first quantity of primer material located within a buttom of the lamp's envelope, a pair of lead-in wires secured within the bottom end of the envelope and in electrical contact with the primer, and a thin member located at an opposite end of the envelope from the first primer and having thereon a second quantity of primer material. The first primer, when ignited, thus serves to ignite a first end portion of the combustible shred material while substantially simultaneously igniting the spaced, second primer.

Abstract: An electrically-activated, miniature photoflash unit which includes a plurality (e.g., ten) of subminiature high voltage flash lamps arranged in a planar array. A singular mounting tab protrudes from the unit's housing and serves to connect the entire array when the tab is electrically connected to a power source (e.g., piezoelectric crystal) typically associated with many of today's cameras. Each of the lamps is inverted with respect to the tab and also serve to provide a low resistance circuit path therethrough subsequent to activation thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a photoflash lamp wherein an elongated piece of glass tubing is sealed at a first end thereof to secure a pair of lead-in wires therein. Thereafter, a first quantity of primer material is positioned within the glass tubing through a second, open end thereof and deposited on an internal bottom surface of the tubing. A quantity of combustible material (e.g., zirconium) is then air blown within the tubing member, and thereafter a thin member (mica disk) is inserted through the open end, said disk having a second quantity of primer material thereon. The tubing member is then restricted, a combustion-supporting atmosphere (e.g., oxygen) introduced therein, and the second open end of the tubing member is sealed (tipped) to define the finished envelope.

Abstract: A method of making a photoflash device wherein the device includes a plastic substrate, lamp-firing circuitry located on a first surface of the substrate, a Mylar disconnect switch also secured to the first surface of the substrate and electrically joined to the lamp-firing circuitry, at least one electrically activated photoflash lamp located above the Mylar switch for activating said switch upon ignition thereof, and a solid, light-transmitting polymer located about and encapsulating the glass envelope of the lamp. A thin, light-transmitting polyester member is located over the Mylar switch prior to pouring of the liquid casting resin which eventually forms the solid polymer protective encapsulant. The polyester member serves to prevent contact between the resin and switch and thus enables close placement of the lamp's envelope and switch, said placement thereby assuring proper activation (e.g., severance) of the switch.