Abstract: A double envelope electric lamp having an outer envelope, support frame, inner capsule, threaded base, center contact, is disclosed. The support frame is formed with hooked ends that lie in shall grooves formed through the threads formed on the lamp neck. The exterior arms abut the metal base when the metal base is threaded onto the outer envelope. By making the exterior arms with a heavy wire, the positioning accuracy may be increased, and surprisingly, the threading torque may be reduced.

Abstract: A basing cement composition is disclosed. The basing cement composition of the invention includes an insulating binder, an inert filler material, a solvent, and silicone ether. The silicone ether is included in the basing cement composition in an amount greater than 0, up to about 5 weight percent. Preferably, the silicone ether is added to the basing cement composition in solution form.

Abstract: A mercury capsule for dispensing mercury into an arc discharge lamp comprises a tubular metal member having a main body portion, a sealed end portion immediately adjacent the main body portion and means for sealing the end portion. The sealing means includes a substantially undulating configuration containing a predetermined number of undulations to enable rupture of the mercury capsule at an elevated temperature in accordance with the number of undulations. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mercury capsule is formed from a metal cup having a larger diameter skirted portion and a smaller diameter portion.

Abstract: A rapid-start fluorescent lamp includes a circuit breaker therein having a sealed glass bottle, a thermally sensitive bimetal switch within the glass bottle, a pair of electrical conductors sealed into and passing through the sealed bottle with one electrical conductor attached to the bimetal and the other electrical conductor contacting the bimetal with each of the pair of electrical conductors formed of Dumet wire plated with an electrically conductive metal whereby formation of insulative oxides on the electrical conductors is inhibited.

Abstract: A glow discharge starter having an hermetically sealed, thin-walled envelope of vitreous material, a press seal located at one end thereof and containing an ionizable medium. A pair of non-segmented electrical conductors extend through the press seal and terminate in a spaced relationship to form a pair of electrodes within the envelope. The electrodes are held in the spaced relationship substantially by the press seal. At least one of the electrodes has a bimetallic element secured thereto. The bimetallic element is deformable by heat into engagement with the other electrode. Preferably, the envelope has a wall thickness in the range of from about 0.015 inch to less than about 0.025 inch.

Abstract: This invention provides a tungsten-halogen lamp having a thin-wire filament and a hydrogen-impervious envelope. Containment of hydrogen within the lamp envelope suppresses tungsten corrosion of the filament and prevents early termination of the lamp. In the preferred embodiment, an aluminosilicate glass is employed as the hydrogen-impervious envelope material. This invention overcomes a substantial impediment in the development of a feasible tungsten-halogen lamp as a replacement for the standard Edison-type lamp for general lighting purposes.

Abstract: A projection unit for use within a slide or film projector or a microfilm viewer. The unit comprises a U-shaped metallic holder, a socket attached to or forming part of the holder's rear upstanding segment, a glass reflector secured to the holder's front segment such that its forward opening aligns with an aperture in the front segment, a tungsten-halogen lamp removably located within the socket and not engaging any of the interior surfaces of the reflector, and an ejector (metal arm member) for engaging the sealed end of the lamp and ejecting it out through the glass reflector's forward opening. Replacement of the lamp is thus possible without replacing the glass reflector.

Abstract: A multilamp photoflash unit has a housing formed to provide a multiplicity of cavities, each having a reflective surface and formed to receive a flashlamp. Each of the cavities has a reflective surface width opening to flashlamp diameter ratio of less than about 1.2, and the cavity configuration includes a planar rear wall section and a pair of bi-planar sidewall sections.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array having a plurality of 2n flashlamps, a common terminal connected to one lead-in wire of each of the lamps, and a plurality of n selective terminal means, each associated with a respective pair of the lamps and directly connected to the non-common lead-in wire of one lamp of each pair. A respective normally open switch is coupled between the non-common lead-in wires of each of the pairs of lamps associated with a selective terminal. Each of the switches is responsive to the flashing of the directly connected lamp of an associated pair so as to electrically connect the other lamp of the pair to the associated selective terminal. In one specific example, ten lamps are selectively paired to be operated sequentially by firing pulses successively applied to five selective terminals together with a common terminal.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a horizontal linear array of flashlamps enclosed within a one-piece housing member having a light-transmitting front portion folded over a back portion containing a plurality of lamp-receiving cavities in which respective lamps are disposed. The housing is a formed sheet of plastic film having a linear fold disposed horizontally along the top of the array of cavities, which are selectively aluminized to provide a reflective coating on the cavity surfaces. A pair of lead-in wires from each of the lamps are connected to conductive circuit patterns on one side of a printed circuit board sandwiched between a set of tabs which run along the bottom of the front and back portions of the housing and are secured together.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit board disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member having an enclosing cover panel of light-transmitting material. The lamp-firing circuitry includes a common circuit conductor run connected to one lead-in wire of each of the lamps. The housing member includes reflector cavities adjacent to the lamps, and a continuous coating of electrically conductive reflective material covers the surfaces of the channel and reflector cavities for providing both reflective surfaces for flashing lamps and, by virtue of a connection between the common run and conductive coating, a shield to reduce the likelihood of accidental flashing of lamps by electrostatic charges.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit strip disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member. A light-transmitting cover panel is attached to the housing member for enclosing the flashlamps, and the circuit strip extends beyond the cover panel to expose connecting terminals. The lamps have tubular envelopes and are positioned with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel to the printed circuit strip and arranged in substantially coaxial alignment. The housing member includes ledges within the channel for spacing the printed circuit strip from the rear wall, and the sidewalls of the channel have guide ribs for engaging notches in the circuit strip for facilitating assembly and location and avoiding longitudinal shifting of the strip.

Abstract: A photoflash unit which includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of electrically-activated flashlamps. Each lamp includes a pair of lead-in wires each of which includes a looped portion for being frictionally inserted within an opening in the board to secure the lamp thereto. The looped portions may also be utilized to effect contact with the board's lamp-firing circuitry or separate portions of the wires may be crimped, bent, etc. to provide said contact.

Abstract: A photoflash unit comprising a linear array of flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit strip disposed within the longitudinal channel of an elongated housing member. A light-transmitting cover panel is attached to the housing member for enclosing the flashlamps. To prevent sympathetic ignition of adjacent lamps, the one-piece cover is molded to have integrally projecting transverse webs which function as light-attenuating partitions between respective pairs of lamps. In addition, the webs bridge the housing channel to provide structural rigidity.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array comprising a plurality of high-voltage type flashlamps mounted on a printed circuit board containing circuitry for sequentially igniting the flashlamps in response to successive high-voltage firing pulses applied thereto. Each of the flashlamps has a pair of lead-in wires connected to the circuit board by eyelets which project through to the opposite side of the board, one lead of each lamp being connected via its respective eyelet to a common circuit conductor. Electrostatic protection is provided by a conductive shield of planar configuration disposed parallel to the circuit board and spaced therefrom on the side opposite that on which the lamps are disposed. Selected ones of the common circuit connected eyelets project from the back of the circuit board in a manner which maintains the spacing between the shield and circuit board, to prevent short circuiting of leads, and facilitates electrical connection of the planar shield to the common circuit conductor.