A light source capsule ( 16 ) having a capsule envelope ( 18 ) with a wall ( 20 ) defining an enclosed volume ( 22 ), and having a sealed portion ( 24 ). A light source ( 26 ) is positioned in the enclosed volume ( 22 ) and has deformable electrical leads-ins ( 28, 30 ) extending through the sealed portion ( 24 ) of the capsule envelope ( 18 ). Stiff lead-in engagers ( 32 ) are aligned with the sealed portion ( 24 ) of the capsule envelope ( 18 ) and are electrically coupled to the electrical leads ( 28, 30 ), the lead-in engagers being electrically conductive. The lead-in engagers are fitted through apertures in the base ( 14 ) of a lamp envelope ( 12 ) to complete a lamp ( 10 ).
1. A light source capsule ( 16 ) having a capsule envelope ( 18 ) with a wall ( 20 ) defining an enclosed volume ( 22 ), and having a sealed portion ( 24 ), said sealed portion ( 24 ) having an end face ( 51 ) and opposing lateral faces ( 50 , 52 );
a light source ( 26 ) positioned in the enclosed volume ( 22 ) having electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ) extending from said end face ( 51 ); and
lead-in engagers ( 32 ) overlying said sealed portion ( 24 ) of the capsule envelope ( 18 ) and electrically coupled to the electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ), each said lead-in engager ( 32 ) being formed, as seen in cross-section, of a solid rod,
said solid rod comprising a straight rod portion, said straight solid rod portion having, in a region proximate said sealed portion ( 24 ), a uniform cross-sectional shape along a longitudinal extent of said lead-in engagers ( 32 ) whereby each said straight solid rod portion overlies only a single face ( 50 , 51 , 52 ) of said sealed portion ( 24 ).
2. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said sealed portion ( 24 ) of said light source capsule ( 16 ) contains molybdenum foils ( 42 , 44 ) connecting inner ends ( 46 , 48 ) of said electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ).
3. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said light source ( 26 ) is an incandescent light source.
4. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said light source ( 26 ) is an arc discharge light source.
5. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ) are encapsulated in said sealed portion ( 24 ), exit through said end ( 51 ) and are bent at substantially 90 degrees.
6. A lamp ( 10 ) containing the light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 , said lamp ( 10 ) further comprising:
a lamp envelope ( 12 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 13 ), a base ( 14 ) substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis ( 13 ) and a neck ( 36 ) that includes said base ( 14 ), said base ( 14 ) having receptacles ( 38 , 40 ) therein; one each of said lead-in engagers ( 32 ) being positioned, respectively, in one of said receptacles ( 38 , 40 ).
7. The lamp ( 10 ) of claim 6 wherein said light source ( 26 ) is an incandescent light source.
8. The lamp ( 10 ) of claim 6 wherein said light source ( 26 ) is an arc discharge light source.
9. The lamp ( 10 ) of claim 6 wherein said electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ) are encapsulated in said sealed portion ( 24 ), exit through said end ( 51 ), and are bent at substantially 90 degrees.
10. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein each lead-in engager contacts only one side of the capsule, the lead-in engagers contacting opposite sides of the capsule, whereby the lead-in engagers supportingly sandwich the capsule ( 16 ).
11. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said lead-in engagers ( 32 ) consist essentially of rods, said rods having the uniform cross-sectional shape across an entirety of their said longitudinal extent.
12. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein said lead-in engagers ( 32 , 32 ), as seen in a projection perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the lead-in engagers ( 32 , 32 ), are located entirely within a lateral area bounded by a projection of the sealed portion ( 24 ) in a direction parallel the longitudinal extent of the lead-in engagers ( 32 , 32 ).
13. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 1 wherein each said lead-in engager further comprises a compressible spring lock adapted to position said light source capsule ( 16 ).
14. A light source capsule ( 16 ) having a capsule envelope ( 18 ) with a wall ( 20 ) defining an enclosed volume ( 22 ), and having a sealed portion ( 24 ), said sealed portion ( 24 ) having an end ( 51 );
a light source ( 26 ) positioned in the enclosed volume ( 22 ) having electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ) extending from said end ( 51 ); and
lead-in engagers ( 32 ) overlying said sealed portion ( 24 ) of the capsule envelope ( 18 ) and electrically coupled to the electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ),
wherein each said lead-in engager ( 32 ) comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel arms ( 54 , 56 ), said arms ( 54 , 56 ) comprising proximal portions ( 54 a , 56 a ), intermediate portions ( 54 b , 56 b ), and terminal portions ( 54 c , 56 c ), said proximal portions ( 54 a , 56 a ) of each said lead-in engager ( 32 ) overlying said sealed portion ( 24 ), each said pair of intermediate portions ( 54 b , 56 b ) of a respective said lead-in engager ( 32 ) being in electrical contact with a respective one of said electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ), and said terminal portions ( 54 c , 56 c ) being formed to engage apertures ( 58 . 59 ) formed in a base ( 14 ) of a lamp envelope ( 12 ).
15. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 14 wherein said parallel arms ( 54 , 56 ) of said respective lead-in engagers ( 32 ) are connected at said intermediate portions ( 54 b , 56 b ) by a web ( 60 ).
16. A lamp ( 10 ) containing the light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 14 , said lamp ( 10 ) further comprising:
a lamp envelope ( 12 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 13 ), a base ( 14 ) substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis ( 13 ) and a neck ( 36 ) that includes said base ( 14 ), said base ( 14 ) having receptacles ( 38 , 40 ) therein; one each of said lead-in engagers ( 32 ) being positioned, respectively, in one of said receptacles ( 38 , 40 ).
17. The lamp ( 10 ) of claim 16 wherein said parallel arms ( 54 , 56 ) of said respective lead-in engagers ( 32 ) are connected at said intermediate portions ( 54 b , 56 b ) by a web ( 60 ).
18. The light source capsule ( 16 ) of claim 14 , wherein said proximal portions ( 54 a , 56 a ) of each said lead-in engager ( 32 ) are overlying two opposed outwardly directed surfaces of said sealed portion ( 24 ).
19. A light source capsule ( 16 ) having a capsule envelope ( 18 ) with a wall ( 20 ) defining an enclosed volume ( 22 ), and having a sealed portion ( 24 ), said sealed portion ( 24 ) having an end face ( 51 ) and opposing lateral faces ( 50 , 52 );
a light source ( 26 ) positioned in the enclosed volume ( 22 ) having electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ) extending from said end face ( 51 ); and
lead-in engagers ( 32 ) overlying said sealed portion ( 24 ) of the capsule envelope ( 18 ) and electrically coupled to the electrical lead-ins ( 28 , 30 ),
wherein said lead-in engagers ( 32 ) comprise rods, and
each lead-in engager ( 32 ) contacts only one said face of the capsule, the lead-in engager ( 32 ) collectively contacting said opposing lateral faces of the capsule, whereby the led-in engagers supportingly sandwich the capsule ( 16 ).