Retractable packaging

Abstract

An elongated retractable packaging that can be compressed and elongated axially and encloses an elongated member is disclosed. The retractable packaging comprises of an elongated hollow tube housing with a flexible bellow section between the two ends of the elongated hollow tube housing. Both ends of the elongated hollow tube housing may be sealed with an opening means such as a weakened section in the form of a score line provided near one sealed end or one end of the elongated hollow tube housing may be sealed and the other end may be opened. The elongated hollow tube housing encloses an elongated member. The elongated member may have an applicator at one of its ends. When the elongated hollow tube housing is retracted, the applicator at the end of the elongated member is exposed for application. After application, the elongated hollow tube housing may be stretched back to its original length to enclose the applicator end.

1 . A retractable packaging comprising: 
 an elongated hollow tube housing with a flexible bellow section that can be compressed and elongated axially between the two ends of the elongated hollow tube housing; and    an elongated member disposed within said elongated hollow tube housing;    wherein said elongated hollow tube housing encloses the elongated member and when the elongated hollow tube housing is retracted by compressing the flexible bellow section, one end of the elongated member is exposed.    
   
   
       2 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a sealed end and an open end and wherein one end of said elongated member is affixed to the sealed end of the elongated hollow tube housing.  
   
   
       3 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated member has an applicator at one end.  
   
   
       4 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 2 , wherein said elongated member has an applicator at its free end.  
   
   
       5 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second sealed end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and the second end of said elongated member.  
   
   
       6 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second sealed end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and a second end of said elongated member.  
   
   
       7 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second sealed end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and a swab is affixed to a second end of said elongated member and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and the second end of said elongated member with the swab.  
   
   
       8 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second sealed end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and the second end of said elongated member.  
   
   
       9 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second sealed end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and the second end of said elongated member with a swab enclosing the second sealed end.  
   
   
       10 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 1 , wherein said elongated hollow tube housing has a first sealed end and a second open end wherein a first end of said elongated member is affixed to said first sealed end and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the elongated hollow tube housing with a first substance disposed between said second open end and the second end of said elongated member and a viscous substance acting as a stopper between the first substance and the second open end with a swab enclosing the second open end.  
   
   
       11 . A retractable packaging comprising: 
 a first elongated hollow tube housing with two ends wherein one end has a smaller diameter than the remainder of the first elongated hollow tube housing;    a second elongated hollow tube housing with two ends wherein one end has a larger diameter than the remainder of the second elongated hollow tube housing and larger than the diameter of the end of the first elongated hollow tube housing with the smaller diameter and wherein the second elongated hollow tube housing is slidably engaged to the first elongated hollow tube housing; and    an elongated member disposed within said first and second elongated hollow tube housings;    wherein said first and second elongated hollow tube housings enclose the elongated member and when the second elongated hollow tube housing is retracted into the first hollow tube housing, one end of the elongated member is exposed.    
   
   
       12 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 11 , wherein the end opposite the end with a smaller diameter of said first elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and wherein one end of said elongated member is affixed to said sealed end of the first elongated hollow tube housing.  
   
   
       13 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 11 , wherein said elongated member has an applicator at one end.  
   
   
       14 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 12 , wherein said elongated member has an applicator at its free end.  
   
   
       15 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 12 , wherein the end opposite the end with the larger diameter of said second elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the second elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said sealed end in the second elongated hollow tube housing with a substance disposed between said sealed end of the second elongated hollow tube and the second end of said elongated member.  
   
   
       16 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 12 , wherein the end opposite the end with the larger diameter of said second elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and a swab is affixed to a second end of said elongated member and an opening means is provided near said second sealed end with a substance disposed between said second sealed end and the second end of said elongated member with the swab.  
   
   
       17 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 12 , wherein the end opposite the end with the larger diameter of said second elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and an opening means is provided near said sealed end in the second elongated hollow tube housing with a substance disposed between said sealed end of the second elongated hollow tube housing and the second end of said elongated member.  
   
   
       18 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 11 , wherein the end opposite the end with the larger diameter of said second elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the second elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said sealed end in the second elongated hollow tube housing with a substance disposed between said sealed end of the second elongated hollow tube housing and the second end of said elongated member with a swab enclosing the second sealed end.  
   
   
       19 . A retractable packaging as in  claim 11 , wherein the end opposite the end with the larger diameter of said second elongated hollow tube housing is sealed and a second end of said elongated member has a diameter approximately that of the inside diameter of the second elongated hollow tube housing and an opening means is provided near said sealed end in the second elongated hollow tube housing with a substance disposed between said sealed end of the second elongated hollow tube housing and the second end of said elongated member and a viscous substance acting as a stopper between the first substance and the second open end with a swab enclosing the second open end.