Dual-lid cigarette container and method of packaging cigarettes

A package or container for holding two or more types or brands of smoking articles, such as cigarettes, having a generally rectangular shape with two openings on opposite sides of the container and a method of making the same is disclosed. The container has two lids, a body, and a separation member that divides the container into two or more compartments, each filled with smoking articles. The lids are made of metal and are hinged to the body on opposite ends of the container using strap hinges made of a paper or foil laminate, and contain printed information such as text and logos. The separation member includes raised portions to hold the smoking articles securely within the compartments and each compartment is sealed with a layer of film that may be pulled up and off of the container compartment using a tab attached to the sealing layer. The freshness and diffusion of aromas from the different types or brands of smoking articles is prevented from migrating between the separate compartments by use of low permeability materials including various plastics and metals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of packages and containers for cigarettes and methods for packaging cigarettes. More particularly, the invention relates to special-purpose, multiple-compartment containers made of a durable material that can be separately sealed to preserve the freshness of the cigarette contents of each compartment and specific methods of packaging cigarettes in those containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multiple-compartment cigarette packages and containers that accommodate more than one brand or type of cigarette are known in the prior art. Typically, such prior art packages and containers are box-shaped, made of a paper, cardstock or metallic material and contain a hinge associated with each of one or more lids. The compartments are typically sealed as a single package or are individually sealed to preserve freshness and to minimize the transfer of tobacco materials and aromas from one compartment to the next.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,283,856 to Hoenig; U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,424 to Glass; U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,010 to Rogers; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,903 to Focke et al. disclose exemplary multi-compartment, individually sealed packages for containing more than one group, brand or type of cigarette. Typically, no more than two individual compartments are included in such prior art packages due primarily to consumer preference. That is, a cigarette consumer may prefer a package for carrying a favorite brand or flavor of cigarette and a secondary brand or flavor of cigarette that is less frequently smoked.

Many different types and arrangements of lids, flaps and hinges associated with multi-compartment packages are disclosed in the prior art. Often, the compartments of the multi-compartment packages are aligned such that the individual openings associated with each compartment are on the same side of the package. Accordingly, the lids or flaps covering the openings, and the hinges associated with the lids or flaps, are on the same side of the package. There may be one lid or flap for each opening or a single lid or flap for both openings. Two separate lids or flaps are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,424 to Glass and U.S. Pat. No. 3,226,010 to Rogers. These patents exemplify two-compartment, dual-lid cigarette packages with the separate lids and hinges on the same side of the package. U.S. Pat. No. 2,163,828 to Chalmers and U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,126 to Barnard disclose two-compartment cigarette packages with a single hinged lid covering both openings on the same side of the package.

In other cigarette package designs, the compartments of the multi-compartment packages are aligned such that their openings are on opposite sides of the package. Accordingly, the lids or flaps covering the openings associated with each compartment on these side-by-side compartments, and the hinges associated with the lids or flaps, are on the opposite side of the package. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,412 to White and U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,903, for example, illustrate a rectangular, two-compartment cigarette package with hinged lids on opposite sides of the package.

Several prior art cigarette packages are capable of retaining a measure of freshness by sealing the individual compartments in multi-compartment packages or by sealing the entire package, including both compartments. Paper or cardstock materials alone are not well suited to preserving the freshness of the contents of a cigarette container because the web materials used generally do not provide a sufficiently airtight or air-impermeable barrier. Typically, soft pack and hard pack cigarette packages employ inner or outer wraps of metal foil/paper laminates, metallized paper or plastic wrappers, or low permeability transparent polymeric sheet overwraps to protect the freshness and aroma of packaged cigarettes and other smoking article products. However, the use of a plastic container molded from a polymeric material having a relatively high impermeability would eliminate the need to use such wrappers and overwraps or, alternatively, in conjunction with such wrappers and overwraps, the air impermeability of molded plastic containers could be further enhanced. Similarly, the use of a metal container would eliminate the need to use such wrappers and overwraps or, alternatively, in conjunction with such material, the air impermeability of metal containers could be further enhanced.

Similarly, some structures of multi-compartment packages are designed to help preserve the integrity of the contents and offer some protection against crushing. Cardstock materials, for example, are typically used because they have a higher resistance to shear and compression forces than paper packages. However, cardstock packages are vulnerable to damage and crushing under even moderate loads. An example of a hard pack package is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,444 to Bray et al., which discloses a typical hinged-lid, box-shaped container that is made from a “rigid card material.” Further examples of cigarette or tobacco packages made of a paper or cardstock material are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,496,474; 2,960,264; 5,044,550; and 5,097,948.

Still other materials, such as metals, woods and plastic, have also been suggested for use in multi-compartment containers for making crushproof and freshness-preserving cigarette containers. U.S. Pat. No. 2,867,369 to Cernera and U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,275 to Rice, Jr. disclose cigarette containers that may be made of various materials, such as plastic, wood, metal and cardboard.

Prior art cigarette package designs that have included an internal brace member for structural support and for separating the individual package compartments have also included a scalloped or grooved cross-section for holding individual cigarette articles in place. U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,903 to Focke et al. discloses “trough-like recesses” for reducing movement of individual cigarettes and providing structural support. Thermally molded plastic is preferred for structural brace components where the components are shaped to hold individual cigarettes in place because the manufacturing processes for making such plastic components are relatively simple.

Although many features of multiple-compartment cigarette containers are disclosed in the prior art, none of the prior art patents are directed to a rectangularly-shaped, decorative, durable and multi-compartment cigarette package and method of packaging cigarettes like that of the present invention. There remains, therefore, the need for such a package and packaging method to accommodate smokers who prefer to carry two or more different cigarette brands or flavors in a single package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is often the case where cigarette consumers prefer to smoke different flavors or brands of cigarettes. For example, a cigarette consumer may prefer to smoke a certain tobacco blend most of the time but then switch and smoke a flavored cigarette, such as a menthol tobacco blend, on certain occasions. It is generally inconvenient to carry two separate packs of cigarettes to accommodate these consumer preferences, especially when the cigarette consumer smokes the secondary or alternative flavor or brand infrequently. Not only must a separate pack be carried, the freshness of all of the cigarettes in the separate package may be reduced if the package contents are consumed over a long period of time, thereby exposing the unsmoked cigarettes to ambient air conditions for that period of time.

One solution to the problem of carrying two separate packages has been for a consumer to carry one conventional cigarette package and manually insert one or more different flavors or brands of cigarettes in the package. This has the advantage of reducing the number of packages that must be carried, but introduces the problem of mixing tobacco flavors. For example, the aromas given off by tobacco materials due to the volatilization of gases and vapors from the tobacco or additives thereto, such as menthol, vanillin or the like, may transfer to other cigarettes in the package by conventional diffusion and mass transfer mechanisms. Thus, over time, the unique flavors of the individual tobacco blends may be diluted or contaminated by the flavors or additives from other tobaccos in the package.

Thus, there are practical benefits to carrying a single package that contains at least two different cigarettes in separately sealed, substantially impermeable compartments. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a decorative, durable and multi-compartment package for carrying at least two types or brands of cigarettes in separately sealed, substantially impermeable compartments.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rectangularly-shaped, decorative, durable and multi-compartment package for carrying between three and four different types of cigarettes in separately sealed, substantially impermeable compartments.

Another object of the invention to provide a cigarette package with a separator or divider that bisects the package into multiple compartments, provides structural support for the package and also includes rows of raised portions that hold individual cigarettes in place within the package.

Yet another object of the invention to provide a multi-compartment cigarette package with two lids, one on each side of the package, that are made from aluminum, tin, other metal, or plastic materials, or a combination of these materials, that are characterized by having a low permeability for certain gases and vapors.

Another object of the invention to provide a multi-compartment cigarette package with two lids that are hingedly attached to the package body by straps made from single or laminated or co-extruded layers of metal and/or plastic polymers.

It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-compartment cigarette package with substantially air-impermeable seals between the various compartments containing the different types or brands of cigarettes to minimize the transfer of flavors between the different brands or types of cigarettes in the compartments.

Still another object of the invention to provide a rectangularly-shaped, decorative, durable and multi-compartment cigarette package with peelable, preferably metal foil seals for the compartments.

These and other objects and features of the present invention are accomplished, as embodied and fully described herein according to its apparatus aspects, by a six-sided, rectangularly-shaped container having an internal space for containing smoking articles such as cigarettes, the container including two lids, a body, and a central divider inside the body, and preferably integrally formed with the body, for dividing the container body into multiple compartments and for strengthening the package. The lids are attached to, and on opposite sides of, the body using hinges that allow the lids to be movable between an open position exposing the compartments, and a closed position covering the compartments. The hinges are preferably formed by straps of a flexible, adhesive-backed sheet material adhered to the lids and body of the container.

The central divider has a horizontal part that may be bisected or further divided by one or more vertical parts to further divide the compartments on either or both sides of the horizontal part into two or more additional compartments. The horizontal part of the central divider includes raised portions extending above the top and bottom surfaces of the horizontal part for engaging the cigarettes in the container so as to hold them in place. The lids, the body and the divider are made of at least one material that is characterized as having a low permeability for atmospheric gases and tobacco aromas.

The cigarettes in each of the compartments are preferably different than the cigarettes in any other of the compartments in terms of brand, type, aroma or the like. The container body has an opening for each compartment on opposite sides of the central divider and a perimetrical edge or lip surrounding the opening. A layer of sheet material, such as a plastic or foil laminate, is sealingly attached to the edge of each compartment and covers the opening to preserve the freshness of the cigarettes. The sealing layers preferably have a low permeability and may seal the compartments at a pressure less than atmospheric, i.e., vacuum-packed. Preferably, the sealing layers are adhered to the edges using a conventional hot-melt adhesive.

The raised portions on the horizontal part of the central divider form rows of equally spaced, parallel ridges spanning the full length of the horizontal part. Alternatively, the raised portions form rows of equally spaced, parallel ridges, each ridge having at least two sections that are separated by a gap. Or, the raised portions may be formed by rows of equally spaced bell-shaped protrusions or bumps, each protrusion being spaced from the others protrusions. Or, the raised portions may be formed by semi-circular grooves or troughs in the surface of the horizontal part, each having a curvature approximately equal to the curvature of a conventional cigarette.

The outermost peripheral surface of the wall of the container body is stepped with a pair of peripheral shoulders that accommodate the lids. Thus, when the lids are closed, the edges of the lids abut the shoulders and are flush with the remainder of the wall of the container body to provide a relatively smooth junction between the lids and the body. The lids may also include structures on one or both of the confronting surfaces of the lids or container body to hold the lids in the closed position. Such structures include an interference fit, cooperating detents and other detent structures that will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

The package may be divided into two compartments of approximately equal volume, each compartment being capable of holding up to ten cigarettes. The package may also be divided into three compartments, one of which holds ten cigarettes and the other two compartments being of approximately equal volume each holding five cigarettes. The package may also be divided into four compartments of approximately equal volume, each compartment holding up to five cigarettes. Other arrangements and number of compartments and number of cigarettes in a compartment are also possible and are contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

The low permeability material used to manufacture the package is preferably an injection-moldable polymeric material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene vinyl alcohol. The low permeability material may also be metallic. The material used for the lids may be different than the material used for the body and the internal divider or dividers. Further, the body may include an outer layer of metallic material attached to the body that is the same low permeability metallic material as used for the lids. Further still, the low permeability material of the body may be coated with a layer of epoxy to further reduce the permeability of the material.

The two side walls or body panels of the body to which the hinges are attached each include a depression or cutout in the shoulder where it is abutted by the edge of the lid so that when the lids are in their closed positions, a bottom edge of each lid is exposed in the depression. The lids may be opened by engaging the bottom edge of a lid with a finger or fingernail and raising the lid to its open position. The adhesive-backed sheet material hinges connecting the lids to the body may be made of a layer of fibrous web laminated to a layer of metallic foil or polymeric material. Since the cigarette package of the invention is intended to have a relatively short useful life after it is first opened, the hinge material may be made of relatively inexpensive materials.

The objects and features of the present invention may also be accomplished, as embodied and fully described herein, by a method for assembling a package containing smoking articles. The first step of the process includes providing a six-sided, generally rectangularly-shaped container that has two lids, a body and one or more dividers inside the body for dividing the body into several compartments, and including rows of raised portions extending above the top and bottom surface of a central divider for separating the cigarettes contained within the package. The method also includes inserting two different types or brands of cigarettes into the two or more compartments, sealing the cigarettes inside the compartments, and placing the lids over the compartment openings, such that when the lids are closed they are flush with the remainder of the body to provide a smooth transition between the lids and the body. Finally, the method also includes the step of hingedly attaching the lids to the body by adhesively affixing flexible strap hinges to the lids and the body.

The cigarettes may be sealed in their compartments in a vacuum, thereby creating a pressure inside the compartments that is less than atmospheric pressure. In addition, the outer surfaces of the container may be printed with information about the product and the contents of the package or with logos and trademarks to distinguish the cigarette product from the cigarette products of other manufacturers, thereby increasing product identification with consumers. Moreover, the package may be overwrapped with transparent or opaque polymeric overwraps for additional freshness and security of the product.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become evident to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail,FIG. 1is a front perspective view of a two-compartment container100made according to the present invention shown in a closed position. Although the container100may be used to hold or package a variety of items, the preferred embodiment of the invention is a container for packaging two or more brands or types of cigarettes.

The container100is a generally rectangular box having slightly rounded corners with a top110and a bottom120, and front112, back114, left and right sides116,118. The front, back, left and right sides are preferably manufactured as a single integrally molded container body115; however, it is also contemplated that the body115may be made of individual pieces attached together. The container100may contain printed indicia130on one or more surfaces of the container, such as text, logos, brand names, etc. The printed indicia130may also be conveniently printed on an overwrap made of a foil/paper laminate, a metallized paper or plastic, or a low permeability transparent or metallized polymeric sheet applied to the container100to further maintain the freshness of the cigarettes.

FIG. 2shows a front perspective view of the cigarette container ofFIG. 1with the lids210and220shown in an open position revealing openings202and204(only202shown). The container100comprises four main components, as shown, including the lids210,220, the body115, and a central divider or separation member410(FIG. 4a).

The lids210and220are preferably formed of a lightweight metal, such as aluminum, tin or an inexpensive metal alloy, that protects the contents of the container from being crushed. The metal may be coated, laminated or covered with other materials, such as transparent plastic film or paper labels. Alternatively, the lids210and220may be made from a heavy cardstock or a laminated or extruded single or multi-layer polymeric materials. The lids210and220preferably contain printed indicia130(FIG. 1).

As also shown inFIG. 2, the lids210and220are provided with flanges212and222disposed around the entire circumference of the lids210and220, respectively, that extend perpendicular to the lids210and220as best seen inFIG. 4a. The flanges212and222may have rounded corners corresponding to the shape of the lids. Each flange212and222, may also have slightly rounded or rolled edges211and221, respectively, to help secure the lids in a closed position by friction contact with the container body115and to eliminate any sharp edges on the lids. Although the preferred embodiment of the invention includes the flanges212,222and rolled edges211,221as shown inFIG. 2other lid configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

The body115of the container100consists of the front112, the back114, the left side116, and right side118body panels and central divider430and is preferably molded of a low permeability plastic material that protects the contents of the container from being crushed, supports the lids210and220, and preserves the freshness and aroma of the cigarettes. Although the preferred material is a moldable polymeric material, such as an injection-moldable polypropylene, it is contemplated that the body230may be made of other materials, including paperboard, wood, tin, aluminum or other metals without departing from the scope of the invention.

On the front112and back114panels of the body115are two recessed cutouts232(only one shown inFIG. 2). The cutouts232are positioned essentially mid-point on the front and back panels, and form an area for the consumer to grasp an edge of the flange212or222, and open the lid210or220. The cutouts facilitate opening of the lids210and220by the consumer by exposing a central portion of the rolled edges211and221of the flanges212and222when the lids210and220are in the closed position (FIG. 1). The consumer may, for example, use a finger or fingernail to engage the exposed edge and lift the lids upwardly from the closed position shown inFIG. 1to the open position shown inFIG. 2.

Also shown inFIG. 2is sealing layer214with a lifting tab216associated with one of the compartments of the container. A similar seal layer224(FIG. 4a) and lifting tab are associated with the other compartment of the container. The seal layers214,224are semi-opaque thin films made of a polymeric material, including but not limited to polyester, or the films may be made of a metallic foil or metallic foil/paper laminate, or other sheet material, and are adhesively affixed to the edges404,406(FIGS. 4aand4b) and of the four panels of the body115to close and seal the openings202,204over the cigarette contents C (FIG. 3) and provide a substantially impermeable barrier over the openings to maintain the freshness and aroma of the cigarette contents C.

The lifting tabs216are preferably formed integrally as part of the seal layers214,224on one corner thereof as shown inFIG. 2, but may be made of a fibrous or polymeric material adhesively affixed to the top of the seal layers214,224. The seal layers214,224are removed from the openings202,204of the container100by engaging the lifting tabs216and pulling upwardly and diagonally across the openings202,204thereby pulling the sealing layers214,224free from the edges404,406and revealing the contents C of the compartments.

Referring still toFIGS. 2 and 4a, the lids210,220are pivotably or hingedly attached to the body115by a pair of so-called “living” or strap hinges218,228, respectively, which are adhered to the body115and the lids210,220preferably by an adhesive applied to one surface of the strap hinges. The hinges218,228are narrow flexible flat straps, as best seen inFIGS. 2 and 4b, which bend back-and-forth as the lids are pivoted between their open and closed positions. They are preferably made of a fibrous, metal, or polymeric material that resists shearing along the hinge axis. The thickness and specific properties of the strap hinges will be appreciated by those skilled in the art when the life cycle of the container100(from one to a few days) and the frequency of use by a consumer (several times up to about 20 times a day) is considered.

Referring now toFIG. 3, there is shown another front perspective view of the container100ofFIG. 1with the lid210in an open position, showing the contents C of the container packaged therein. The container is preferably constructed to hold twenty cigarettes in a 10—10 configuration; that is, two rows often cigarettes, instead of three rows of seven, six, seven (7-6-7) in the most widely used conventional cigarette package.

FIG. 4ais a cross-sectional view taken along line4a—4aofFIG. 2with the lid210in an open position revealing the opening202. The container100has a central divider or separation member410that divides the container into two compartments. The divider410also reinforces the container body115by connecting the front112, the back114, the left side116and the right side118body panels and further prevents the container100from being crushed with consequent damage to the contents C contained therein. The divider410, which is an integral part of the panels and thus forms an integral part of the body115, divides the interior of the container into two equally sized compartments, with each compartment holding two rows of up to ten cigarettes (i.e., 10—10). Alternatively, divider410may be a separate piece that is affixed to the body115.

Parallel grooves430on opposite sides of the divider410are formed by raised ridges420that may run the length of the divider410, preferably parallel to the hinge axes of the lids210,220, as best seen inFIG. 5a.

Referring now toFIG. 4b, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the container100taken along line4a—4aofFIG. 2with the lid210in an open position is shown. The lid210with the flange212and the strap hinge218is pivoted to the open position; the seal layers214,224are affixed to the edges404,406thereby covering the openings202,204; and the divider410is shown with the raised ridges420forming the grooves430.

FIG. 5ais a top view of the container100made according to the present invention with one of the lids removed to show the internal structure of the container100. This figure illustrates the construction of the separation member or divider410which comprises a flat, preferably plastic, support with a perimeter that corresponds to the inside perimeter of the body115below the shoulder404. The divider410is preferably an integral part of the body115as shown inFIGS. 4aand4b, but it may be a separate extruded plastic piece affixed to the body115. As shown inFIG. 5a, the raised ridges420are evenly spaced and run the length of the divider410extending almost to the inside wall of the body115and providing a gap500between the ends of the ridges420and the body115.

Referring now toFIGS. 5b,5cand5d, alternative structural arrangements of the divider410with raised protrusions510(FIG. 5b),520(FIG. 5c), and530(FIG. 5c) are shown. The protrusions510are identical in shape to the ridges420, except that they do not run the entire length of the separation member410but are broken up by gaps512. The protrusions520are “bell” shaped protrusions or projections aligned in parallel rows across the surface of the divider410separated by gaps522. The protrusions530form semi-cylindrically shaped grooves along the length of the divider410with each groove having a curvature similar to the curvature of a conventional cigarette to hold the individual cigarette articles in place. As indicated inFIGS. 5b,5cand5d, the protrusions are identically formed on opposite sides of the separation member410.

The two-compartment container100is assembled by first forming the body115and the divider410as a single piece by a thermoplastic-forming method commonly used in the art, such as injection molding. The plastic material from which the body115and divider410are molded is preferably an injection moldable polypropylene. Polypropylene is relatively gas impermeable as compared to other moldable polymeric materials; however, other polymeric materials may be used. The material should be substantially impermeable to atmospheric gases, including oxygen, nitrogen as well as moisture vapor, and tobacco aromas.

To improve the impermeability of the body115and separation member410, the molded polypropylene may be treated with a low permeability coating, such as an epoxy amid. Alternatively, the polymeric resin may be a crystallized plastic molding which is a stronger plastic and a better gas barrier then a non-crystallized plastic. Typically, for example, when polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is injection molded, it is left in the amorphous state because it is transparent in that state. However, if the PET is crystallized, it is an opaque white material and its strength and effectiveness as a gas barrier is increased. To crystallize the plastic, the PET is heated to approximately 120 degrees Celsius for about 30 seconds in its desired shape. Alternatively, rather than using PET or other polymeric resin that requires a crystallization step, a more expensive, but inherently highly crystalline resin, such as polyethylene vinyl alcohol (PVA), can be used as the gas impermeable injection molded plastic for the container.

In the packaging process, the cigarette contents C are loaded into the container compartment by way of openings202,204(FIGS. 3 and 4a) and arranged in rows such that the ridges420separate individual cigarettes. Sealing layers216,224with an adhesive, such as a heat-activated EVA, pressure-sensitive adhesive, on one side thereof are then placed over the openings202,204and adhesively affixed to the edges404,406of the openings using heat and pressure to bond the sealing layers216,224the edges404,406. Preferably, the contents C comprise at least two types or brands of cigarettes. If desired or preferred, for example, to keep the different types or brands of cigarettes separate from one another, the compartments of the container100may be loaded in separate operations, that is, one compartment may be loaded and sealed on a first production line and the package transferred to another production line where the second compartment is loaded and sealed.

It is also contemplated that the cigarette contents C may be packaged in the compartment without vacuum sealing, however, vacuum sealing advantageously helps to maintain the freshness and shelf life of the cigarettes as well as the perception of freshness. That is, when the vacuum-sealed container of the invention is first opened, an audible “whooshing” sound of air rushing into the container may be produced indicating to the consumer the vacuum packaging of the container and the freshness associated with vacuum packaging.

If, in the alternative, the body115is made from a metallic material, it may be die cut from a flat sheet of material as a single piece, then formed about a plastic divider410into the shape of the container100and the ends welded together. It is also contemplated that the body115and divider410are made as a single piece using the thermoplastic-forming method noted above, then the outer surfaces of the body115may be covered with an adhesive-backed metallic foil layer.

After the cigarettes are loaded and sealed in the container body115, the lids210,220are then affixed to the body115using the strap hinges218,228. The strap hinges are adhesively affixed to the lids and body using an adhesive coated on one side of the strap hinges or formed on one side of the strap hinges by a co-extruding process then heat activated when the hinges are applied to the body115. It is contemplated that the strap hinges218and228may be printed with decorative and/or informative indicia (including FDA-required labeling information). Also, the lids210,220may be printed with indicia130before or after being fabricated or after the container100is assembled. Alternatively, as noted previously, a transparent or opaque polymeric film may be printed with indicia and then wrapped about the finished container100in a later stage of the manufacturing process.

Referring now toFIG. 6, a front perspective view of a four-compartment container600made according to the present invention with one lid in an open position is shown. The four-compartment container is preferably constructed to hold twenty cigarettes in a 5-5-5-5 configuration as shown; that is, two rows with two compartments per row containing five cigarettes in each compartment. Other arrangements are also contemplated without deviating from the scope of the invention, including a 10-5-5 configuration, whereby one compartment has ten cigarettes and two compartments each are filled with five cigarettes. A 10-6-4 configuration may also be used. Except as noted below, the structural elements shown inFIG. 6have been described above in connection withFIGS. 1 through 5dand have the same preferred and alternative functions, dimensions and materials of construction as noted previously.

FIG. 6shows sealing layers610,620with lifting tabs612,622associated with each sealing layer, respectively. Although not shown, the same arrangement of seal layers on the bottom of the container is also contemplated. Sealing layers610,620may be made from a single sheet of material with a line of perforations (holes) or a score line along the centerline614that allows one of the sealing layers to be removed while leaving the other affixed to the container600. This configuration of sealing layers allows each of the four compartments to be individually sealed to preserve the freshness and aroma of the cigarettes in each compartment. It will be appreciated that the seal layers610,620may also be made from separate sheets of material that are affixed to the container600by abutting the two pieces together along the centerline614as shown and then affixing them to the container100with adhesive.

FIG. 7, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line7—7ofFIG. 6, shows the configuration of a horizontal separation member or divider702and a vertical separation member or divider704connected to body605forming four compartments in the container600. As with the previous configurations described above, the protrusions706, which are an integral part of the horizontal separation member702, may be constructed in one of several different shapes, including those shown inFIGS. 5a,5b,5cand5d, without deviating from the scope of the invention. Also shown inFIG. 7are edges720,722,724,726,728and730with individual sealing layers610,620,630and640affixed thereto.

The method of packaging cigarettes C in container600is essentially the same as previously described in connection with manufacturing and packaging the two-compartment container100.

The above-described containers100and600provide a combination of advantages for a cigarette package not found in prior art packages. In particular, the cigarette containers of the present invention provide an improved package for containing two or more brands or types of cigarettes in a sealed, low permeability package; an improved reclosable and resealable lid with a novel hinge arrangement and structure; a vacuum-sealed package with an audible “freshness” sound when the compartments are opened; an improved structural strength to prevent crushing of the cigarette contents; and reduced consumer waste upon opening.