EP1184301A2

EP1184301A2 - Packaging for lightbulbs

Info

Publication number: EP1184301A2
Application number: EP01306747A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Barry Chapman
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 2000-08-31
Filing date: 2001-08-07
Publication date: 2002-03-06
Also published as: EP1184301A3; GB2366276A; GB0021413D0

Abstract

A packaging for a light bulb (1) comprises a plastics sheath (3) shrunk onto the bulb so as to cover the major part of the glass.

Description

This invention relates to packaging for electric light bulbs.
Light bulbs are a commodity which is often packed in card or the like boxes which are, of necessity, larger than the light bulb or shrink wrapped onto a larger flat card base or a number of other similar methods.
The current packages suffer from a number of different disadvantages. Firstly, they create a relatively large amount of disposable packaging material which is not only costly to make but is wasteful of material and therefore ecologically undesirable. Secondly, they increase the weight and bulk for transportation and thirdly some forms of packaging used cause difficulties in display.
The present invention seeks to provide a packaging for a light bulb which reduces or obviates some or all of the above disadvantages.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a packaging for a light bulb comprises a plastics sheath shrunk onto the bulb so as to cover the major part of the glass.
The packaging may also comprise a second sheath shrunk on to the metal end cap.
This second sheath may extend beyond the end of the end cap, the extended portion having a perforation allowing the bulb to be displayed on a rail and the extended portion may encloses a card on to which it is shrunk. The perforation in the extended portion may be aligned with an aperture in the card.
The plastics sheath may be pre-printed prior to its being shrunk on to the bulb.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of packaging a light bulb comprises placing the light bulb in a plastics sheath which extends over the major part of the glass thereof and heat shrinking it to the bulb.
The end cap of the light bulb may be placed in a second plastics sheath so that the sheath extends beyond the end cap and perforating the extended portion to allow the bulb to be displayed on a rail.
The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side view of a lamp bulb packaged in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 but showing a second embodiment of the invention.
Referring firstly to figure 1, there is shown a light bulb 1 on which packaging 3 in accordance with the invention has been placed. The bulb show is of conventional bayonet type having a glass portion 5 carrying the filament (not shown) and a metallic end cap 7 having the protruding spigots 9 extending transversely therefrom.
The packaging 3 comprises a plastics sheath 5 which is placed around the glass of the bulb around its mid portion. Heat is then applied to the sheath 5 until it shrinks onto the glass surface. The sheath 3 suitably comprises PVC.
As can be seen by the indication 11, the sheath is suitably printed with information or advertising matter, preferably before placing it on the glass of the bulb. The sheath 3 covers the major part of the glass of the glass bulb and extends from 13 to 15.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the first sheath 3, a second sheath 17 is placed over the metal end cap. This second sheath 17 is also shrunk onto the bulb 1 but is longer than the end cap and thus extends therefrom. The other end 18 of the sheath extends to the inner edge of the end cap 7. In the embodiment shown, the second sheath is also placed around a card 19 positioned in the proximity of the end cap 7 so as to be joined thereto. This card may again have information or advertising thereon.
A perforation 21 is formed through the sheath 17 and card 21 so that the perforations are aligned, allowing the bulb and packaging to be placed on a rail for display and sale purposes.
It will be understood that various modifications of an additions to the above described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, any suitable type of bulb may be wrapped in this way whether it be bayonet or Edison screw, large or miniature, or ordinary and reflector type.
Also, the shrink wrap material can be of any suitable material which can be pulled off the glass without difficulty.

Claims

A packaging for a light bulb comprising a plastics sheath shrunk onto the bulb so as to cover the major part of the glass.
A packaging as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a second sheath shrunk on to the metal end cap.
A packaging as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sheath extends beyond the end of the end cap, the extended portion having a perforation allowing the bulb to be displayed on a rail.
A packaging as claimed in claim 3 wherein the extended portion encloses a card on to which it is shrunk.
A packaging as claimed in claim 4, wherein the perforation in the extended portion is aligned with an aperture in the card.
A packaging as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plastics sheath is pre-printed prior to its being shrunk on to the bulb.
A method of packaging a light bulb comprising placing the light bulb in a plastics sheath which extends over the major part of the glass thereof and heat shrinking it to the bulb.
A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the end cap of the light bulb is placed in a second plastics sheath so that the sheath extends beyond the end cap and perforating the extended portion to allow the bulb to be displayed on a rail.
A packaging for a light bulb substantially as described therein with reference to the drawings.
A method of packaging a light bulb substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.