Method for packaging a light bulb

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 ).