Package for Christmas tree light bulbs
United States Patent 1 [111 3,878,941 Kelner 1 Apr. 22, 1975 PACKAGE FOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT BULBS lnventor: Gerald Kelner, 17880 NE. 9 Pl.  
 North Miami Beach, Fla. 33162 Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 Appl. No.: 390,077  
 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1923 Moore 206/422 3/1957 Omer. Jr 206/419 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2.006.304 12/1969 France 206/419 Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Douglas 1B. Farrow [57] ABSTRACT A multi-compartment package: for display and storage of Christmas tree light bulbs which includes an outer shell of sleeve form and a gridwork within the sleeve defining a plurality of cells arranged in rows and columns with each cell being adapted to nest and receive a light bulb in parallel alignment and there being room in said sleeve for containing the electrical cord. whereby the light bulbs may be tested within the package.  
 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MED APR 2 2 $5 FATE PACKAGE FOR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHT BULBS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Christmas tree light bulbs are difficult to store as has been recognized in the prior art. Attention has been given to this problem, as evidenced by US. Pat. Nos. 2,984,347 and 2,823,797. This invention provides an improved structure wherein the bulbs of a Christmas tree light strand may be arranged in parallel closely adjacent alignment in separate individual nests or cells and which may be tested when in situ, in a structure differing from that of the prior art relating to the difficult problem of storing such Christmas tree light bulb strands. Other prior art of interest is that for packaging eggs, such as that shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,478,867, 3,510,049, 3,392,902, and that relating to the storage of relatively delicately fruit or bulbs, such as US. Pat.  
 Nos. 2,623,682 and 3,162,308.  
  This invention differs in the structure of the prior art in that it provides an outer casing of sleeve form in which there is provided a network of cells each sized to receive a bulb in parallel axial alignment while each are interconnected by an electrical cord with a male plug at one end, the cord being housed within the sleeve and captivated therein together with the bulbs so that the bulbs are adapted to be inspected by viewing one end of the sleeve when the male plug is removed from the other end of the sleeve and connected to an energy source.  
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide an improved multi-compartment package for the display and storage of a plurality of Christmas tree light bulbs threadably engaged in their associated electrical sockets with the bulbs being protectively arranged and housed in cells parallel to one another and with common points in common planes and in which the bulbs may be tested while in situ and conveniently stored or repackaged after use.  
  It is another object of this invention to provide a simple to construct, easy to assemble, inexpensive package for Christmas tree light bulbs which are assembled to fixtures interconnected by an electrical conductor.  
  It is an overall object of this invention to provide an improved package with multi-compartments for Christmas tree light bulbs which is adapted for use in display form and which provides a customer with an opportunity to check the light bulbs of a set without disturbing the light bulbs by removing them from the package, causing them to be tangled, and otherwise making the selling of light bulbs a difficult and burdensome task; and which can also be used by a purchaser for restoring the light bulbs for future use.  
  In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a display package constructed in accordance with this invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the display package constructed in accordance with this invention; and  
  FIG. 3 is a view in cross section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 12 generally designates a multi-compartment package for display and storage of Christmas tree light bulbs such as 14 threadably engaged in sockets 16 arranged in spaced relation along and electrically connected to a conductor 18 having a male plug 20 at one end. The package it is seen comprises a sleeve 22 and an insert 24 which is sized for snug receipt within. the sleeve. Referring to the sleeve 22 it has a first end 26 and a second end 28 and defines opposing side walls 30 and 32 and a top and bottom wall 34 and 36. The sleeve is characterized by an axial dimension between the first and second end which is greater than the axial length of the light bulbs and sockets when in threaded engagement with one another and greater than the axial dimension of the insert now to be described.  
  The insert it is seen includes a leading and trailing face 40 and 42 and is arranged in said sleeve. The insert includes a plurality of substantially equi-spaced lateral wall portions such as that designated by the numeral 50 extending between the sides walls and a plurality of substantially equi-spaced wall portions 52 extending vertically between the top and. bottom walls defining a plurality of cells or receptacles 62 which are axially opening, the pattern of cells being within the sleeve between the wall portions and each cell or receptacle being of a cross sectional area sized to nest one of said bulbs between the confronting adjacent wall portions. The insert is of an axial length between the leading and trailing face which is less than the axial length of the sleeve and, when the leading face is within the sleeve and the leading face is parallel to the first end of the sleeve, the trailing edge comprises and defines a septum means defining a main compartment 72 between the trailing face and the plane of the second end.  
  The main compartment 72 is sized to contain the cord or electrical conductor for the light strand which interconnects the fixtures on the strand. Means are provided to contain the conductor 18 in the main chamber, which in the preferred embodiment comprise flaps 74 on the sleeve foldable into the plane of the second end to substantially constrict it or entirely close it. Preferably the package contains an opening through which the plug is accessible and may be withdrawn for testing of the bulbs in situ within thepackage, these means may be in the form of a tab 76 covering a port 78 or opening, the tab being hingedly connected to one of the flaps as illustrated.  
  Stop means are provided on the package of the illustrated embodiment to limit axial movement of the insert in one direction, the stop means comprising the flanges 80 at the first end of the sleeve. The first end also is preferably provided with a window 82 of transparent plastic or other suitable material so that the light bulbs may be protectively housed within the sleeve yet visible for the testing operation.  
 It is thus seen that there has been provided a simple and inexpensivve package which is adapted to hold a plurality of light bulbs which are assembled to fixtures on a strand with the entire strand, fixtures and bulbs being adapted to be contained within the package and tested in situ, which package: may be constructed of suitable paperboard material, plastic, or foam material providing a protective housing for the bulbs in storage or at a store for sale.  
 What is claimed is:  
 1. In combination,  
 A. a multi-compartment package for display and storage of a plurality of Christmas tree light bulbs and B. a string of Christmas tree light bulbs in said package,  
 C. said string of Christmas tree light bulbs including a. a plurality of similarly sized and shaped bulbs, b. a plurality of electrical threaded sockets, and c. conductor means,  
 d. said sockets being arranged in spaced relation along and electrically connected to said conductor means, and  
 e. said conductor means including a male plug at one end adapted to be connected to a source, and  
 f, one of said light bulbs being threadably engaged in each of the sockets of said string;  
 D. said package comprising,  
 a. a sleeve having a first end and a second end and defining opposing side walls and a top and bottom wall, said sleeve being characterized by an axial dimension between said ends greater than the axial length of the light bulbs and sockets,  
 b. an insert having a leading face and a trailing face sized for snug slidable insertion and in said sleeve, and said insert including a plurality of substantially equi-spaced wall portions extending between said top and bottom walls and between said side walls and defining a plurality of rows and columns of axially opening bulb receptacles in said sleeve between said wall portions, each receptacle being ofa cross sectional area sized to nest one of said bulbs between confronting adjacent wall portions in parallel axial alignment, one of said bulbs being nested in each of said receptacles and all of said bulbs being in parallel alignment with their respective sockets facing in a common direction;  
 c. said inserts being of an axial length between said faces less than the axial length of said sleeve and, when said leading face is within said sleeve and parallel to the plane of said first end of said sleeve, said trailing face comprises septum means defining a main compartment between said trailing face and said second end, said sockets facing said main compartment,  
 d. said main compartment being sized to receive and contain said conductor means electrically connecting said bulbs, and  
 e. means to contain the conductor means in said main chamber, and said insert in said sleeve, whereby the plurality of bulbs are visible through the first end of said sleeve and said male plug is accessible through the second end of said sleeve for connection to an electrical source to test the bulbs in situ.  
  2. The package as set forth in claim 1 including stop means to limit axial movement of said insert in said sleeve on movement of said leading face toward said first end of said sleeve at a predetermined axial position.  
  3. The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first end of said sleeve is provided with a transparent panel defining a window.  
  4. The package as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stop means comprise means carried on said sleeve and effective to limit axial movement of said insert in said sleeve.  
  5. The package as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stop means comprises inwardly extending flanges on the first end of said sleeve.  
  6. The package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises said means to contain and said means to contain includes flap means on said second end of said sleeve to close said main chamber.  
  7. The package as set forth in claim 3 wherein said sleeve comprises said means to contain and said means to contain includes flap means on said second end of said sleeve to close said main chamber.  
  8. The package as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sleeve comprises said means to contain and said means to contain includes flap means on said second end of said sleeve to close said main chamber.  
  9. The package as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sleeve includes port means for the conductor adjacent said plug for testing of said bulbs in situ in said package.