Apparatus for transporting lamp bulbs

A fluorescent tube transport apparatus for retaining a fluorescent tube, said fluorescent tube having first and second opposed ends and a portion therebetween having an outer tube dimension, comprising:

• a central housing assembly having an inner dimension, wherein said inner dimension is greater than the outer tube dimension of said fluorescent tube, and wherein said central housing assembly includes a first end and a second end,
• said first end of said central housing assembly including an access port for permitting access to inside said central housing assembly from outside thereof,
• tube holding means on an interior surface of said central housing assembly for holding said florescent tube when said fluorescent tube is received within said central housing assembly,
• wherein a fluorescent tube may be released from said tube holding means by the action of force applying means inserted through said access port to engage one of said first or second ends of said fluorescent tube therein to cause it to move through said second end of said central housing assembly;
• including a filter coextensive with said access port between said access port and said tube holding means, and
• a resilient member between said access port and said filter.