Dual-lid cigarette container and method of packaging cigarettes

A container for packaging two or more brands or types of cigarettes comprising:

• a generally rectangularly shaped container body having an internal space for containing the cigarettes, the container body comprising a front body panel, a back body panel, a first side body panel, and a second side body panel and a separation member connected to the body panels and dividing the container body into first and second compartments, each compartment having a perimetrical edge defining first and second openings on opposite sides of the container body;
• a plurality of cigarettes of a first brand or type disposed in the first compartment;
• a plurality of cigarettes of a second brand or type, different from the first brand or type, disposed in the second compartment;
• first and second sealing layers adhesively affixed to a respective perimetrical edge of the first and second compartments to seal the cigarettes in their respective compartments, and wherein the internal space of the container is at a pressure less than atmospheric;
• a first lid hingedly attached to the first side body panel of the container body for covering and accessing the first compartment;
• and
• a second lid hingedly attached to the second side body panel of the container body such that the first and second lids are hingedly attached to the container at substantially diametrically opposed attachment points for covering and accessing the second compartment.

A method of making a cigarette package comprising the steps of:

• providing a container body with an internal space comprising first and second side body panels and a separation member disposed between the body panels for dividing the internal space of the container body into first and second compartments, the first compartment having a first opening defined by a first edge of the container body, the second compartment having a second opening defined by a second edge of the container body;
• inserting a first plurality of cigarettes into the first compartment;
• affixing a sealing layer over the first compartment to seal the first plurality of cigarettes therein, wherein the first and second compartments are at a pressure less than atmospheric;
• inserting a second plurality of cigarettes into the second compartment;
• affixing a sealing layer over the second compartment to seal the second plurality of cigarettes therein;
• placing first and second lids over the first and second compartments;
• attaching a hinge between the first lid and the first side panel of the container body;
• and
• attaching a hinge between the second lid and the second side panel of the container body such that the first and second lids are attached to the container at diametrically opposed attachment points.

A package for articles comprising a container having an internal space for containing the articles, the container comprising:

• a container body comprising a first side body panel, a second side body panel opposite the first side body panel and a separation member disposed between the first and the second side body panels for dividing the internal space of the container body into first and second compartments, the first compartment having a first opening defined by a first edge of the container body, the second compartment having a second opening defined by a second edge of the container body;
• first and second sealing layers removably affixed to the first and second edges of the container body for sealing the articles in the first and second compartments, wherein the internal space of the container is at a pressure less than atmospheric;
• and
• a first lid hingedly attached to the first side body panel and a second lid hingedly attached to the second side body panel such that the first and second lids are attached to the container at substantially diametrically opposed attachment points, and wherein the first and second lids cover the first and second openings of the first and second compartments,
• wherein the separation member comprises a planar member formed integrally with the body panels, the planar member having opposite surfaces each forming a bottom surface of a respective compartment and including a plurality of parallel protrusions formed on the bottom surface of each compartment.