Claims
- 1. A method of shatterproofing a fluorescent lamp having a glass envelope comprising the steps of extruding a hot, polymeric coating over the exterior surface of said envelope, and drawing said coating into intimately embracing conforming contact with said envelope to increase the hoop strength thereof.
- 2. A method of shatterproofing a fluorescent lamp according to claim 1 wherein a vacuum is applied to draw said hot polymeric coating into intimately conforming contact with the contour of said envelope.
- 3. A method of shatterproofing according to claim 2 wherein said lamp includes a ferrule at each end and wherein said coating is vacuum drawn into intimately conforming contact with said ferrule.
- 4. A method of shatterproofing a fluorescent lamp having a glass envelope and a ferrule at each end, comprising:
a) introducing said fluorescent lamp into the central bore of an extruder crosshead which produces a substantially cylindrical extrudate; b) applying a vacuum to the extruder bore to draw said extrudate radially inward toward the axis of said bore and into intimately conforming contact with the exterior surfaces of said glass envelope and ferrules.
- 5. A method according to claim 4 wherein a succession of fluorescent lamps are introduced into said crosshead, said succession of lamps being continouslly encapsulated by said extrudate.
- 6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said succession of lamps is introduced into said crosshead through an air lock.
- 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said airlock includes a pair of sealing rings.
- 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein said airlock is dimensioned to accommodate the ends of two fluorescent lamps between said sealing rings.
- 9. A method according to claim 6 wherein said crosshead includes a friction reducing sleeve in its lumen to facilitate passage therethough of said succession of lamps.
- 10. A method according to claim 5 wherein said extrudate is cut through between successive ones of said lamps after said lamps exit said extruder.
- 11. A method according to claim 8 wherein a protective end cap is affixed to each of said fluorescent lamps in said succession prior to introduction into said airlock.
- 12. A method according to claim 8 wherein said extrudate is cut through between successive ones of said lamps after said lamps exit said extruder and wherein said extrudate is thereafter heat sealed to said protective end cap.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/644,163 filed Aug. 22, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/621835, filed Jul. 24, 2000.
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09644163 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
10208593 |
Jul 2002 |
US |
Parent |
09621835 |
Jul 2000 |
US |
Child |
09644163 |
Aug 2000 |
US |