Container for fluorescent light tubes

Abstract

A container for transporting fragile elongated objects, such as fluorescent light tubes has a tubular body made of rigid non-deformable material. A plurality of tube-receiving sleeves is fitted in the tubular body, each of the sleeves being sized to receive and retain one fluorescent tube. A bottom cap is secured to the bottom of the container body; the bottom cap being fitted with a resilient lining and a soft deformable foam rest fitted over the lining. A top cap, similarly is provided with a resilient lining and a soft deformable rest fitted over the lining. When the fluorescent tubes are positioned in the container body, the electrical connector prongs engage with the deformable rests preventing damage to the connector prongs. A handle is engaged with a rigid retainer rod, which extends through the container body and the opposing caps. The ends of the handle engage the outwardly extending ends of the rod and are secured thereto by nuts. The container can be used for storing and/or transporting a plurality of fragile tubes.

1 . A container device for storing or transporting fragile elongated objects, comprising: 
 a tubular body having an inner cavity formed therein; and    a plurality of tubular sleeves fitted within the cavity, each of said sleeves being sized and configured for receiving a fragile elongated object.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom cap secured to a bottom end of the tubular body and a detachable top cap securable to a top end of the tubular body.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein each of said bottom cap and top cap has an inner surface and a flexible lining is fitted to cover said inner surface.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said inner lining forms a watertight seal with a respective wall of each of said top cap and the bottom cap.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein a soft deformable rest is fitted in each of said top cap and said bottom cap at least partially covering said inner lining.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein a central opening is formed in each of said top cap and bottom cap.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a rigid retaining rod extending through the tubular body and partially extending through the openings in the top cap and the bottom cap when the top cap and the bottom cap are engaged with the tubular body.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a handle means for carrying said container, said handle means being engageable with opposing ends of the retainer rod.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sleeves is formed of a rigid material.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said sleeves has a longitudinal dimension at least slightly smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the elongated object retained therein.  
   
   
       11 . A container device for storing or transporting fluorescent light bulbs, comprising: 
 a tubular body having an inner cavity formed therein;    a plurality of rigid tubular sleeves fitted within the cavity, each of said sleeves being sized and configured for receiving a fluorescent light bulb;    a top cap detachably secured to a top end of the tubular body; and    a bottom cap carried by a bottom end of the tubular body.    
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein each of said bottom cap and said top cap has an inner surface and a flexible lining is fitted to cover said inner surface; and wherein a soft deformable rest is fitted in each of said top cap and said bottom cap at least partially covering said inner lining, said rest being adapted for engaging with connector prongs of the fluorescent light tubes positioned in the tubular body.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a central opening is formed in each of said top cap and said bottom cap.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising a rigid retaining rod extending through the tubular body and partially extending through the openings in the top cap and the bottom cap when the top cap and the bottom cap are engaged with the tubular body.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a handle means for carrying said container, said handle means being engageable with opposing ends of the retainer rod.  
   
   
       16 . A method of storing and transporting fluorescent light tubes, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a tubular body having an inner cavity formed therein;    providing a plurality of rigid tubular sleeves, each of said sleeves having interior diameter at least slightly greater than a diameter of a fluorescent light tube;    providing a bottom cap fitted with a soft deformable rest and engaging said bottom cap to a first end of the tubular body;    positioning one fluorescent light tube in a respective sleeve, such that connector prongs of the fluorescent light tube are engaged with the deformable rest;    providing a top cap fitted with a soft deformable rest; and    engaging said top cap to a second end of the tubular body such that opposite connector prongs of the fluorescent light tube are engaged with the deformable rest.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a handle means and engaging opposing ends of the handle means with the top cap and the bottom cap.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing an inner lining fitted in each of said top cap and said bottom cap between an inner surface of the top cap and the bottom cap and the deformable rest.