Abstract: To eliminate the necessity for a saturated or air gap inductance to provide feedback circuit for a self-exciting oscillator including two active electronic switches (T1, T2) , for example MOSFETs, an auxiliary winding (HW1, HW2, . . . HW11) is inductively coupled to the resonance inductance (L2) present in the circuit for the discharge lamp (LP) anyway; and a pulse shaping - phase shifting network (R3, C3; R4, C4 . . . ) , devoid of inherent resonance, coupling the auxiliary winding to the active switching elements. The pulse shaping - phase shifting network is formed of a one or multiple-stage RC low-pass circuit, connected serially between the auxiliary winding and the control input, for example the gate, of the active switching element. The RC network can be constructed with variable elements, for example including PTC resistors, a varistor or the like, and may include a current source, protective circuits to protect against voltage peaks including Zener diodes.

Abstract: To permit use of a compact fluorescent lamp having a base with projecting rminal pins (9) in an ordinary standard Edison lightbulb socket, an adapter has a lightbulb thread (2) and the housing body includes a reception well (5) to receive a locating plate or plug (6) from the lamp. To relieve stresses and strains on reception terminals (11) which are electrically connected to a printed circuit board (3) within the adapter body, the reception terminals, and preferably the connecting lugs thereof, are formed with openings which are engaged by matching projections formed on the housing body, and preferably by projections extending from the wall defining the well (5) which receives the locating plate or lug (6) of the lamp. This avoids bending, and hence damage to the printed circuit board upon insertion of the lamp pins (9) in the spring contact portions (11a) of the reception terminals since assembly stresses are accepted by the housing body and not by the printed circuit board.

Abstract: To permit reuse of shipping boxes and shipping holders for elongated artis having a transverse flange, particularly automotive-type halogen lamps, a stackable carrier plate (1) is formed with article receptors (2) which each include an engagement surface (4) which is tilted by an acuate angle (.alpha.) of, for example, about 13.degree. with respect to the major plane of the plate. The engagement surface is apertured so that the articles can hang at the receptors, with the flange engaging the engagement surface, the angle being selected to place the elongated portion (3b, 3e) of the articles below the plate between the elongated portion (3d) of the article which is above the engagement surface of a lower plate (1') in the stack.

Abstract: To reliably secure a sealed light source bulb element (1a), for example a logen incandescent lamp, to a standard screw-in base, for example an Edison E14 base, while surrounding the sealed bulb element (1a) with an outer bulb, a support carrier (8, 8'), for example of nickel-plated steel wire, is bent into essentially ring shape and seated on a ring seating surface (9) formed on a base sleeve which carries the Edison thread. The outer bulb (2) is formed with an extending neck (2a) cemented into a cylindrical extension from the base, leaving a small gap from the seating surface to define a groove within which the ring-shaped portion of the support carrier is located. The support carrier ends in a bent-away portion, bent out of the major plane of the ring-shaped portion of the support carrier, into engaging position with one (5) of two current supply leads (4, 5) which extend from the sealed light source bulb element, and is spot-welded to that lead.