Tube lamp packaging assembly

A tube lamp packaging assembly designed for holding tube lamps, having end packing trays, middle packing trays and a carton box is disclosed. End packing trays and the middle packing trays have two recesses formed on upper and lower portions thereof, respectively, which are shaped in trough, matchingly aligned, and staggeredly disposed along parallel direction to axial direction of tube lamp. End packing trays and middle packing trays are stackingly arranged, with two recesses thereof being substantially symmetrical and forming a cavity therebetween for fittingly accommodating tube lamp residing therebetween. The end packing tray has metal pin slots and a limiting protruding portion disposed at one end of a first recess for fittingly carry the lamp tube, in which the metal pin slots are formed between the limiting protruding portion, and are sized so that metal pins of lamp tubes do not directly contact thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging assembly, and more particularly to a tube lamp packaging assembly configured for holding a plurality of tube lamps.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

During transportation, warehousing or storage of packaged tube lamps during normal operations, the tube lamps are often subjected to potential dangers such as accidental breakages or damages caused by inadvertent shock or exerted force thereupon (i.e. dropping of the entire carton box or pallet containing the tube lamps onto the floor, or sudden shake of the entire carton box or pallet by an outside object or being hit by an outside object or person). In addition, due to fragile nature of glass tube lamps, chances for breakages and damages for the tube lamps to occur are sometimes quite significant. The tube lamps can include, for example, LED tube lamps and fluorescent tube lamps. Conventionally, OEM shipping boxes have been particularly-sized for packaging tube lamps therein, regardless of whether the tube lamps are fluorescent tube lamps or LED tube lamps, so as to improve upon the integrity and security of the packaged tube lamps therein, and such shipping boxes are typically constructed of corrugated paper cardboard. Nevertheless, packaged tube lamps are still found to suffer from occasionally accidental breakages. Thus there is still room for improvement in the designing and provisioning of a tube lamp packaging assembly for tube lamps, wherein adapted and configured for more securely housing a plurality of tube lamps therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve at least one of the above problems, the present invention provides a tube lamp packaging assembly according to at least one embodiment for securely holding tube lamps inside a carton box and allowing the tube lamps to efficiently filling the carton box without having excessive wasted empty spaces therein during storage or shipping. In addition, the tube lamp packaging assembly of the embodiments of present invention can prevent the tube lamps to be securely residing therein so as to be free from generating excessive motion, twisting or rotating.

According to one embodiment, the present invention provides a tube lamp packaging assembly which includes a plurality of end packing trays and a carton box. The tube lamp packaging assembly is specifically designed, sized and configured for holding tube lamps of a specified size dimension. A plurality of first recesses are configured and formed on an upper surface of each of the end packing trays, and a plurality of second recesses are configured and formed on a lower surface of each of the end packing trays, in which the first recesses and the second recesses are matchingly aligned, respectively, which means that the first recesses (being disposed on upper surface of the end packing tray) are facing in opposite directions (away from each other) from the second recesses (being disposed on the lower surface of the end packing tray) on different sides of the end packing tray. Meanwhile, the first recesses and the second recesses, being matchingly aligned, are substantially parallel with respect to each other and are disposed along a perpendicular direction to an axial direction of the tube lamps, respectively, in staggeredly-arranged configuration. For each end packing tray, quantity or number of the first recesses is more than the quantity or number of the second recesses. In addition, at least one metal pin slot is formed at one end of the first recess located at a far end of the end packing tray, in which each end packing tray contains a plurality of metal pin slots disposed substantially parallel along a perpendicular direction to the axial direction of the tube lamps. The end packing trays are disposed inside the carton box.

According to the one embodiment, the tube lamps do not touch one another while being stored inside the carton box of the tube lamp packaging assembly.

According to the one embodiment, the first recesses and the second recesses of the end packing tray are of trough or semi-circular trough in shape, respectively.

According to the one embodiment, a limiting protruding portion is disposed at an end of the first recess located at a far end of each of the end packing trays, and an abutting end portion is disposed at an end of the second recess located at a far end of each of the end packing trays.

According to the one embodiment, more than one end packing trays can be stackingly arranged inside the carton box, in which corners and edges (or sides) thereof are substantially aligned, respectively. The first recess of one end packing tray and the second recess of an another end packing tray, that is adjacent to the one end packing tray, are stackingly aligned vertically and directly-fitted together, with the shape and profile of the first recesses and the shape and profile of the second recesses of the end packing trays being substantially the same to each other thereby forming a cavity therebetween for fittingly accommodating the (cylindrically-shaped) tube lamp residing therebetween.

According to the one embodiment, the one end packing tray can be directly contacting the other end packing tray so that lesser amount of free space are available for the packaged tube lamps to be inadvertently moving around inside the carton box.

According to the one embodiment, the first recesses of the end packing tray are arranged to be aligned in a width direction, the second recesses are also arranged to be aligned in the (same) width direction, while the first recesses are spatially arranged from the second recesses in a staggered manner in the width direction in each end packing tray, in which the width direction is perpendicular to an axial direction of the tube lamp. The first recesses and the second recesses are facing in opposite directions vertically thereof.

According to the one embodiment, the tube lamp packaging assembly further includes a plurality of middle packing trays. Each of the middle packing trays can be placed in between two end packing trays inside the carton box. A plurality of third recesses are formed on one surface/side of each of the middle packing trays, a plurality of fourth recesses are formed on an another surface/side of each of the middle packing trays. In other words, the third recesses are formed on an upper surface of the middle packing tray, and a plurality of fourth recesses are formed on a lower surface of the middle packing tray, in which the third recesses and the fourth recesses are matchingly aligned, respectively, which means that the third recesses (being on upper surface of the middle packing tray) are facing in opposite directions (away) from the fourth recesses (being on the lower surface of the middle packing tray) on different sides/surfaces of the middle packing tray. Meanwhile, the third recesses and the fourth recesses, being matchingly aligned, are substantially parallel and are disposed along perpendicularly to an axial direction of the tube lamps, respectively, in staggeredly-arranged configuration. For each middle packing tray, quantity or number of the third recesses is more than the quantity or number of the fourth recesses. The middle packing trays are disposed inside the carton box.

According to the one embodiment, more than one middle packing trays can be stackingly arranged and disposed inside the carton box, in which corners and edges and sides thereof are substantially aligned, respectively. The third recess of one middle packing tray and the fourth recess of an another middle packing tray, that is adjacent to the one middle packing tray, are directly stackingly aligned vertically and fitted together, with the shape of the third recess and the shape of the fourth recess of the (one and the another) middle packing trays being symmetrical or substantially symmetrical to each other thereby forming a cavity therebetween for fittingly accommodating cylindrical tube lamp disposed or resided therebetween. The one middle packing tray can be directly contacting the other middle packing tray so that lesser amount of free space are available for the packaged tube lamps to be inadvertently moving around inside the carton box.

According to the one embodiment, the third recesses of the middle packing tray are arranged to be aligned in a width direction, the fourth recesses are also arranged to be aligned in the same width direction, while the third recesses are spatially arranged in a staggered manner in the width direction from the fourth recesses in each middle packing tray, the width direction is perpendicular to an axial direction of the tube lamp. The third recesses and the fourth recesses are facing in opposite directions vertically thereof.

According to the one embodiment, the third recesses and the fourth recesses of the middle packing trays are of trough in shape, respectively.

According to above embodiment, the tube lamp packaging assembly includes a plurality of cavities spatially arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamps in each of the end packing trays and in each of middle packing trays, respectively, upon stacking of multiple number of end packing trays and middle packing trays, respectively. The cavity formed by the first recess and the second recess of the end packing trays and the cavity formed by the third recess and the fourth recess of the middle packing trays are collectively configured for fittingly accommodating a tube lamp having a cylindrical shape residing therebetween.

According to the above embodiment, the first recess is formed between a plurality of first supporting portions; for examples, a pair of first supporting portions are formed surrounding the first recess. A tube lamp is fittingly-disposed on the pair of the first supporting portions, so that the first supporting portions are configured for securing and carrying the tube lamp. The first supporting portions are spatially arranged substantially along the axial direction of the tube lamp. The second recess is formed between a plurality of second supporting portions; for examples, a pair of second supporting portions are formed surrounding the second recess. The tube lamp is fittingly disposed below the pair of the second supporting portions, so that the second supporting portions are configured to be fittingly-abutting the tube lamp, the second supporting portions are also spatially arranged substantially along the axial direction of the tube lamp.

The first supporting portions and the second supporting portions of the one end packing tray, respectively, along the width direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cavity are staggeredly-arranged along the parallel direction to the axial direction of the tube lamps. Two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses, that are (horizontally) spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters (cm) to 6 centimeters (cm) between center lines thereof. Two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses, that are (horizontally) spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters (cm) to 6 centimeters (cm) between center lines thereof.

Selectively, the middle packing trays can be omitted, so that the tube lamp packaging assembly includes just the end packing trays and the carton box.

Selectively, two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses, that are spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters between center lines thereof. In addition, two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses, that are spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters between center lines thereof.

Selectively, two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses, that are spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3.5 centimeters between center lines thereof. In addition, two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses, that are spatially-arranged in the width direction, are at an axial distance of 3.5 centimeters between center lines thereof.

Alternatively, the first recesses and the second recesses of the end packing trays can be of rectangular trough in shape, respectively, and the third recesses and the fourth recesses of the middle packing trays can be of rectangular trough in shape, respectively.

According to the above embodiment, a plurality of metal pin slots are formed between the limiting protruding portion of the first recess of the end packing tray.

According to the one embodiment, a pair of end packing trays are disposed at two sides of each middle packing tray, respectively. In other words, one end packing tray is disposed at one side of the middle packing tray.

According to the above embodiment, the third recess is formed between a plurality of third supporting portions of the middle packing tray; for examples, a pair of third supporting portions are formed surrounding the third recess. A tube lamp can be fittingly-disposed on the pair of the third supporting portions, so that the third supporting portions are configured for securing and carrying the tube lamp. The third supporting portions are spatially-arranged substantially along the axial direction of the tube lamp, the fourth recess is formed between a plurality of fourth supporting portions of the middle packing tray; for examples, a pair of fourth supporting portions are formed surrounding the fourth recess. The tube lamp is fittingly disposed below the pair of the fourth supporting portions, so that the fourth supporting portions are configured to be fittingly abutting the tube lamp, the fourth supporting portions are also spatially arranged substantially along the axial direction of the tube lamp. In other words, the fourth supporting portions are disposed above each of the tube lamps. The third supporting portions and the fourth supporting portions of the one middle packing tray, respectively, along the width direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the cavity are staggeredly-arranged along the parallel direction of the tube lamp.

According to the above embodiment, width of the first recess, the second recess, the third recess, and the fourth recess, respectively, are larger than or equal to 100% of width of the tube lamp and lesser than or equal to 105% of width of the tube lamp.

According to the above embodiment, the limiting protruding portions are configured to be disposed abutting and directly contacting both ends of the tube lamps, and edge of each of the end packing trays is configured to be abutting and directly contacting a sidewall of the carton box, the metal pin slots are sized so that metal pins of the tube lamps do not directly contact the metal pin slots formed at the one end of the first recess of the end packing tray.

According to the above embodiment, the end packing trays and the middle packing trays can be made of paper, cardboard, paperboard, recycled paper, rigid plastic, polystyrene foam, biodegradable plastic, foam plastic, or recycled plastic. The carton box can be made of paper, cardboard, paperboard, recycled paper, biodegradable plastic or recycled plastic.

According to the one embodiment, each of the end packing trays disposed at two sides of each of the middle packing trays does not directly contact the middle packing tray.

By having the tube lamps fittingly-accommodated and securely-disposed in the cavities between the first recesses and the second recesses of the end packing trays, and fittingly-accommodated and securely-disposed in the cavities between the third recesses and the fourth recesses of the middle packing trays, together with having the limiting protruding portions of the end packing trays securely and firmly abutting both ends of the tube lamp while the metal pin slots do not directly contact the metal pins of the tube lamp and having the abutting end portion of same end packing trays securely and firmly abutting both ends of another tube lamp, one or ore tube lamps can be securely contained inside the carton box during transport or storage and protected against damages caused by outside shock or vibrations. As a result, the present invention provides a tube lamp packaging assembly that can prevent the tube lamps from excessive motion, twisting or rotating.

Meanwhile, the designed structure of the end packing trays and the middle packing trays also allows for efficient filling of more tube lamps inside the carton box without creating excessive wasted empty spaces therebetween during storage/warehousing or shipping. In other words, the packing density of tube lamps inside the carton box is relatively high using the tube lamp packaging assembly of the above embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in perspective views ofFIGS. 1-2, a tube lamp packaging assembly according to one embodiment of present invention is disclosed. The tube lamp packaging assembly100of the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of end packing trays20and a carton box10. The physical size and dimensions of the carton box10can be specifically configured for holding a desired number of tube lamps1. A particular specified dimension, i.e. a carton size (W*H*L) for one carton box10can be made of dimensions (W*H*L) of 210 mm*210 mm*1910 mm for holding a plurality of tube lamps1of size with pins (diameter *L) of Ø28*1200 mm. The end packing trays20ofFIG. 2are configured and positioned same as the end packing tray20ofFIG. 3. Meanwhile the end packing trays20ofFIG. 1are configured and positioned same as the end packing tray20ofFIG. 4But different box carton sizes can be provided for different configurations according to customer needs and requirements, such as different number of tube lamps, different types of tube lamp, i.e. T8, T6, or different carton box shape, such as triangular box.

As shown inFIGS. 3-4under different perspective views of the end packing tray20taken from opposite surfaces thereof, in whichFIG. 3shows an upper surface of the end packing tray20, andFIG. 4shows a lower surface of the end packing tray20, respectively. Each end packing tray20includes a plurality of first recesses22configured and formed on the upper surface thereof, and a plurality of second recesses24configured and formed on the lower surface thereof. The first recesses22and the second recesses24are matchingly aligned, respectively, on opposite surfaces of the end packing tray20. In other words, the first recesses22(being disposed on the upper surface of the end packing tray20) are facing in opposite directions (away from each other) from the second recesses24(being disposed on the lower surface of the end packing tray20) on different sides/surfaces of the end packing tray20. The first recesses22and the second recesses24are substantially parallel with respect to each other in an y-axis direction (in a same axial direction of the tube lamp) on opposite sides of the end packing tray20, respectively, and the first recesses22and the second recesses24are also aligned in a x-axis direction on opposite sides of the end packing tray20(substantially along a perpendicular direction to an axial direction of the tube lamps1), respectively In other words, the spatial arrangement of the first recesses22(in a same row) arranged along the x-axis direction is not a mirror-image of the spatial arrangement of the second recesses24(in a same row) arranged along the x-axis direction (on opposite surfaces of the end packing tray20), but are staggered instead along the y-axis direction parallel to the axial direction of the tube lamp, even though the arrangement of the first recesses22are substantially parallel to the arrangement of the second recesses24along the axial direction of the tube lamps. For each end packing tray20, a quantity or number of the first recesses22is more than a quantity or number of the second recesses24. For example, the total number of the first recesses22for the end packing tray20of the illustrated embodiment inFIG. 3is 15, while the total number of the second recesses24for the (same) end packing tray20of the illustrated embodiment inFIG. 4is 10. In an alternative embodiment, the total number of the first recesses can be equal to the total number of the second recesses.

In the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 3, the end packing tray20further includes a pair of first supporting portions50, and the first recess22is formed between the pair of first supporting portions50surrounding the first recess22. A tube lamp1can be fittingly-disposed between and above the pair of the first supporting portions50, so that the first supporting portions50are configured for securing and carrying the tube lamp1. The first supporting portions50are spatially arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamp1. In addition, the end packing tray20further includes a pair of second supporting portions60, and the second recess24is formed between the pair of second supporting portions60surrounding the second recess24. Another tube lamp1can be fittingly disposed below the pair of the second supporting portions60, so that the second supporting portions60are configured to be fittingly-abutting the another tube lamp1, the second supporting portions60are also spatially arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamp1. At least one metal pin slot70is formed at one end of the first recess22that is disposed at a far end of the end packing tray20as shown inFIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the end packing tray20has two metal pin slots70disposed substantially parallel to one another along a perpendicular direction to the axial direction of the tube lamps1(which is the y-axis) at the first recess22for placement of each tube lamp1, since each tube lamp1possesses two metal pins at each end thereof to be fittingly disposed within the two metal pin slots70of the end packing tray20, respectively. (metal pins of the tube lamp is as shown inFIGS. 7B and 12) The metal pin slots70are sized so that the metal pins (not labeled, but show inFIGS. 7B and 12of the tube lamps1do not directly contact the metal pin slots70formed at the one end of the first recess22located at a far end of the end packing tray20. The end packing trays20are disposed inside the carton box10, with the tube lamps1to be not touching one another while being stored inside the carton box10of the tube lamp packaging assembly100. In the illustrated embodiment, the first recesses22and the second recesses24of the end packing tray20are of trough, or semi-circular trough in shape, respectively. In addition, a limiting protruding portion27is disposed at an end of the first recess22located at a far end of each of the end packing trays20, and an abutting end portion29is disposed at an end of the second recess24of each of the end packing trays20. The limiting protruding portion27is configured to be disposed abutting and directly contacting an end of the tube lamp1, and an edge of the end packing trays20is configured to be abutting and directly contacting a sidewall of the carton box10. The limiting protruding portion27is formed in between the metal pin slots70of the first recess22of the end packing tray20, (semi-circular trough is one embodiment, but is not limited to that shape or structure)

According to the one embodiment, the tube lamp packaging assembly100further includes a plurality of middle packing trays30as shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 7A, 8, 9, 10, 11A, 11B, and 12A. Each of the middle packing trays30are placed in between two end packing trays20inside the carton box10in the illustrated embodiment. As shown inFIG. 5, the middle packing trays30includes a plurality of third recesses32formed on one surface/side of each of the middle packing trays30in a right-side-up orientation, and as shown inFIG. 6, a plurality of fourth recesses34are formed on an another surface/side of each of the middle packing trays30as viewed in an up-side-down orientation thereof. In other words, the third recesses32are formed on an upper surface of the middle packing tray30, and a plurality of fourth recesses34are formed on a lower surface of the middle packing tray30, in which the third recesses32and the fourth recesses34are matchingly aligned respectively, which means that the third recesses32(being on upper surface of the middle packing tray30) are facing in opposite directions (away) from the fourth recesses34(being on the lower surface of the middle packing tray30) on different sides/surfaces of the middle packing tray30. Meanwhile, the third recesses32and the fourth recesses34, being matchingly aligned, are substantially parallel with respect to each other in an x-axis direction, respectively, and are disposed along perpendicularly to an axial direction of the tube lamps1, respectively, (in a y-axis direction shown inFIGS. 5 and 6) in staggeredly-arranged configuration on opposite sides of the middle packing tray30along the x-axis direction. For each middle packing tray30, quantity or number of the third recesses32is less than the quantity or number of the fourth recesses34. In the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 5, the total number of the third recesses32of the middle packing tray30is 10. Meanwhile, in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 6, the total number of the fourth recesses34is 15 for the middle packing tray30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the total number of the first recesses and the fourth recesses are the same, the total number of the first recesses is more than the total number of the third recesses, In an alternative embodiment, the total number of the first recesses and the fourth recesses can be different. Meanwhile, the total number of the first recesses can be the same as the total number of the third recesses in another embodiment. The middle packing trays30are disposed inside the carton box10as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2upon packaging of the tube lamps1inside the tube lamp packaging assembly100. As shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 7A, 8-10, 11A, and 11B, a pair of end packing trays20are disposed at two sides of each middle packing tray30, respectively. In other words, one end packing tray20is disposed at each side of the middle packing tray30. Referring toFIG. 12, the tube lamps1can be directly fittingly placed onto the end packing tray20and the middle packing tray30, so that the tube lamps1are fitting matched with the corresponding recesses20,22,32,34of the end packing trays20and the middle packing trays30respectively. The middle packing trays30and the end packing trays20can be stackingly installed inside the carton box10with the first recesses22and the third recesses32facing upward and with the tube lamps1fittingly configured therein shown inFIG. 1; meanwhile, alternatively, the middle packing trays30and the end packing trays20can also be stackingly installed inside the carton box10with the second recesses24and the fourth recesses34facing upward and with the tube lamps1fittingly configured therein shown inFIG. 2. (or only the uppermost packing tray is up-side-down)

In the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 5, the middle packing tray30further includes a pair of third supporting portions80, and the third recess32is formed between the pair of third supporting portions80of the middle packing tray30surrounding the third recess32. A tube lamp can be fittingly-disposed in between the pair of the third supporting portions80, so that the third supporting portions80are configured for securing and carrying the tube lamp1. The third supporting portions80are spatially-arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamp1. In addition, as shown inFIG. 6, the middle packing tray30further includes a pair of fourth supporting portions90, the fourth recess34is formed between the pair of fourth supporting portions90surrounding the fourth recess34. Another tube lamp is fittingly disposed below the pair of the fourth supporting portions90, so that the fourth supporting portions90are configured to be fittingly abutting the another tube lamp, the fourth supporting portions90are also spatially arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamp. In other words, the fourth supporting portions90are disposed above each of the tube lamps1. The third supporting portions80and the fourth supporting portions90of the one middle packing tray30, respectively, are staggeredly-arranged along the x-axis direction ofFIGS. 5 and 6, which is parallel or substantially parallel to the axial direction of the cavity, which can be for example, cylindrical cavity.

As shown inFIGS. 7A, 7B, 8, 9 and 10, 11A, and 11B, more than one end packing trays20can be stackingly arranged inside the carton box10, in which corners and edges (or sides) thereof are substantially vertically aligned, respectively. The first recess22of one end packing tray20(i.e. first end packing tray) and the second recess24of an another (adjacently stacked) end packing tray20(i.e. second end packing tray), are stackingly aligned vertically and directly-fitted together, with the shape and profile of the first recesses22and the shape and profile of the second recesses24of the (stacked) end packing trays20(i.e. first end packing tray and second end packing tray) being substantially the same to each other thereby forming a cavity such as for example, a cavity (having a substantially circular cross-section) therebetween for fittingly accommodating the (cylindrically-shaped) tube lamp1residing therebetween. The one end packing tray20(first end packing tray) can be directly contacting the other end packing tray20(second end packing tray) so as to limit the amount of free space available for the packaged tube lamps to be inadvertently moving around inside the carton box10. In addition, the first recesses22of the end packing tray20are arranged to be aligned in a width direction or x-axis direction (please refer toFIGS. 3 and 4for the Cartesian coordinate system showing the x-axis direction), the second recesses24are also arranged to be aligned in the (same) width direction or y-axis direction, while the first recesses22are spatially arranged from the second recesses24in the width direction in each end packing tray20in a staggered manner, in which the width direction (x-axis) is perpendicular to an axial direction (y-axis) of the tube lamp1. The first recesses22and the second recesses24are facing in opposite directions vertically thereof. The first supporting portions50and the second supporting portions60of one end packing tray20, respectively, arranged along the width direction (x-axis) are staggeredly-arranged substantially parallel or parallel to the axial direction of the cavity. Two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses22, that are (horizontally) spatially-arranged in the width direction (x-axis), are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters (cm) to 6 centimeters (cm) between center lines thereof. Two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses24, that are (horizontally) spatially-arranged in the width direction (x-axis), are at an axial distance of 3 centimeters (cm) to 6 centimeters (cm) between center lines thereof. For example, two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses22can be at an axial distance of 3 centimeters between center lines thereof, and two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses24, can be an axial distance of 3 centimeters between center lines thereof. For example, alternatively, two adjacent cavities formed by the first recesses22can be at an axial distance of 3.5 centimeters between center lines thereof, and two adjacent cavities formed by the second recesses24can be at an axial distance of 3.5 centimeters between center lines thereof. Different lamp tubes can have different diameters, for example, the lamp tube diameter for T12is 38.1 mm, the lamp tube diameter for T10is 31.8 mm, the lamp tube diameter for T8is 25.4 mm, the lamp tube diameter for T5is 16 mm, the lamp tube diameter for T4is 12.7 mm, and the lamp tube diameter for T2is 6.4 mm, Furthermore, as shown inFIGS. 7A, 9, and10,11A-11B more than one middle packing trays30can also be stackingly arranged and disposed inside the carton box10, in which corners and edges and sides thereof are substantially vertically aligned, respectively. The third recess32of one middle packing tray30and the fourth recess34of an another (adjacently stacked) middle packing tray30, are directly stackingly aligned vertically and fitted together, with the shape and profile of the third recess32and the shape and profile of the fourth recess34of the (stacked) middle packing trays30being symmetrical or substantially symmetrical to each other, thereby forming a cavity such as, for example, a cavity, such as, for example, a cylindrical cavity. therebetween for fittingly accommodating cylindrical-shaped tube lamp1disposed or resided therebetween. The one middle packing tray30can be directly contacting the other middle packing tray30so that lesser amount of free space would be available for the packaged tube lamps to be inadvertently moving around inside the carton box10. The third recesses32of the middle packing tray30are arranged to be aligned in a width direction or y-axis direction, the fourth recesses34are also arranged to be aligned in the same width direction or y-axis direction, while the third recesses32are spatially arranged from the fourth recesses34in a staggered manner in the x-axis direction in each of the middle packing trays30, which is parallel or substantially parallel to an axial direction of the tube lamp1. The third recesses32and the fourth recesses34are facing in opposite directions vertically thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the middle packing trays30can be stackingly arranged in an offset manner (i.e. not substantially aligned vertically; a different stacking arrangement of the middle packing trays30is shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, in which the middle packing trays30are stacking arranged substantially linearly in a vertical direction) as shown in a side elevation view in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 11A. Meanwhile, as shown inFIG. 11B, yet another alternative embodiment has the middle packing trays30stackingly arranged in a back-and-forth z-letter configuration vertically.

In the illustrated embodiment, the third recesses32and the fourth recesses34of the middle packing trays30are of trough or semi-circular trough in shape, respectively. Apart from the trough shape according to the one embodiment, alternatively, the first recesses and the second recesses of the end packing trays can be of rectangular trough in shape, respectively, and the third recesses and the fourth recesses of the middle packing trays can be of rectangular trough in shape, respectively.

According to the one embodiment, the tube lamp packaging assembly100includes a plurality of cavities, such as for example, cylindrical cavities, spatially arranged along the axial direction of the tube lamps in each of the end packing trays20and in each of the middle packing trays30, respectively, upon stacking of multiple number of the end packing trays20and the middle packing trays30, respectively. The cavity formed by the first recess22and the second recess24of the end packing trays20and the cavity formed by the third recess32and the fourth recess34of the middle packing trays30are collectively configured for fittingly accommodating a tube lamp having a cylindrical shape residing therebetween, The cavities of the end packing tray20and the middle packing trays30are matchingly aligned.

According to the one embodiment, width of the first recess22, the second recess24, the third recess32, and the fourth recess34, respectively, are larger than or equal to 100% of width of the tube lamp and lesser than or equal to 105% of width of the tube lamp. More preferably, width of the first recess22, the second recess24, the third recess32, and the fourth recess34, respectively, are equal to 103% of width of the tube lamp. Different physical dimensions in width×length×height can be provided for the end packing trays and the middle packing trays. Different physical dimensions in width×length×height can also be provided for the first, second, third, and fourth supporting portions according to customer needs or requirements.

According to the one embodiment, the end packing trays20and the middle packing trays30can be made of paper, cardboard, paperboard, recycled paper, rigid plastic, polystyrene foam, biodegradable plastic, foam plastic, or recycled plastic. The carton box10can be made of paper, cardboard, paperboard, recycled paper, biodegradable plastic or recycled plastic.

According to the one embodiment, each of the end packing trays20disposed at two sides of each of the middle packing trays30does not directly contact the middle packing tray30.

Referring toFIG. 12B, the placement of one tube lamp1is shown, with the tube lamp1being directly fittingly and firmly abutting one end packing tray20, in which the limiting protruding portion27of the one end packing tray20securely and firmly abutting one end of the tube lamp1while the metal pin slots70may or may not directly contact the metal pins of the tube lamp1and having the abutting end portion (not shown) of the (same) end packing tray20securely and firmly abutting one end of another tube lamp1, so that one or more tube lamps can be securely contained inside the carton box10during transport or storage and protected against damages caused by outside shock or vibrations. In the illustrated embodiment, portions of the end packing tray20are omitted for clarity.

Several simulation testing were performed on the tube lamp packaging assembly100according to the embodiment of present invention including, for example, standard test method for impact testing for shipping containers and standard test method for simulated drop of loaded containers, and ASTM tests, and the test results indicated superb package integrity and product protection by the the tube lamp packaging assembly100.