Bottle-pack for light bulb

Abstract

A package ( 10 ) for a bulb ( 12 ) having a bulbous, light-emitting end ( 14 ) and a socket end ( 16 ), has a first thin-walled plastic body ( 18 a ) arrayed along a longitudinal axis ( 20 ) and having a closed end ( 22 ) and an open end ( 24 ), the open end ( 24 ) having a diameter D transverse to the longitudinal axis sufficient to admit insertion of the bulbous, light emitting end ( 14 ) of the bulb ( 12 ), the closed end ( 22 ) of the first thin-walled plastic body ( 18 a ) formed with at least one internal surface support ( 26 ) extending away from the longitudinal axis ( 20 ) in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis and substantially contiguous with a curve of the bulbous light emitting end ( 14 ), the open end ( 24 ) providing a circumferential coupling area ( 28 ); and a second thin-walled plastic body ( 18 b ) formed with a socket receiving end ( 32 ) and a mating coupling area ( 34 ) formed to conform to the circumferential coupling area ( 28 ) and coupled thereto. The package is preferably made by a method of packaging a light bulb as described above wherein the method comprises the steps of: forming a hollow body ( 18 ) to receive the light bulb; separating the body ( 18 ) into a bottom portion ( 18 a ) and a top portion ( 18 b ); inserting a light bulb ( 12 ) into the bottom portion ( 18 a ); inverting the top portion ( 18 b ) and placing the top portion 918 b ) within the lower portion ( 18 a ) in a manner to grasp the socket end ( 16 ) of the light bulb ( 12 ); and sealing the top portion ( 18 b _ to the bottom portion ( 18 a ) to form the package ( 10 ).

1 . A package for a bulb having a bulbous, light-emitting end and a socket end, said package comprising: 
 a first thin-walled plastic body arrayed along a longitudinal axis and having a closed end and an open end, said open end having a diameter transverse to said longitudinal axis sufficient to admit insertion of said bulbous, light-emitting end of said bulb, said closed end of said first thin-walled plastic body formed with at least one internal surface support extending away from said longitudinal axis in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis and substantially contiguous with a curve of said bulbous light-emitting end, said open end providing a circumferential coupling; and    a second thin-walled plastic body formed with a socket receiving end and a mating coupling end formed to conform to said circumferential coupling and coupled thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said package is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said closed end of said first thin-walled plastic body has an external surface formed to allow said package to stand upright.  
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said package includes an extension formed with a mounting passage.  
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least said first thin-walled plastic body is formed with indentations positioned to maintain the bulb offset from the convex envelope of the package.  
   
   
       6 . A method of packaging a light bulb comprising the steps of: 
 forming a hollow body to receive the light bulb;    separating said body into a bottom portion and a top portion;    inserting a light bulb into said bottom portion;    inverting said top portion and placing said top portion within said lower portion in a manner to grasp an end of said light bulb; and    sealing said top portion to said bottom portion.    
   
   
       7 . A method of packaging a light bulb having a bulbous light-emitting end and a socket end, said method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a first hollow body to receive said bulbous light-emitting end of said light bulb;    forming a second hollow body to receive said socket end  16  of said light bulb;    placing said bulbous light-emitting end of said light bulb into said first hollow body;    placing said second hollow body over said socket end  16  of said light bulb; and    sealing said first hollow body  18   c  to said second hollow body  18   d  to form a package area.