Panel connection arrangement for a partition system

In a multi-panel system including at least a pair of panels each having a frame structure with top and bottom edges and opposite side edges, a panel connection apparatus comprising:

• a panel top connector assembly including
• (i) a pair of panel bracket members attached on adjacent portions of the top edges of the panels, and
• (ii) a panel connector member adapted for interference interengagement within and rigid attachment to said panel bracket members so as to span therebetween and rigidly interconnect and accurately align the panels with one another;
• a panel top cap assembly including
• (i) at least one elongated decorative cap member adapted to extend along and overlie adjacent portions of the top edges of the panels,
• (ii) at least one top cap retainer member attached to an underside of said decorative cap member and having a pair of spaced downwardly projecting flanges extending longitudinally of said cap retainer member, and
• (iii) an attachment member mounted to said connector member of said top connector assembly, one of said attachment and top cap retainer members being capable of resiliently yieldably flexing away from the other for frictional interfitting together upon installation of said decorative cap member along the top edges of the panels in overlying relation to the panel top edges and said connector member thereon;
• a panel bottom connector assembly including
• (i) a pair of panel bracket members attached on adjacent portions of the bottom edges of the panels,
• (ii) a panel connector member adapted for frictional interengagement within and rigid attachment to said panel bracket members so as to span therebetween and rigidly interconnect and accurately align the panels with one another, and
• (iii) a pedestal coupled to said connector member and extending downwardly therefrom for engaging a support surface, said pedestal being adjustable relative to said connector member for leveling the panels relative to the support surface;
• a panel interlock assembly including
• (i) a pair of vertical channel members each being connected to one of the respective adjacent panel side edges and having interconnected walls defining respective first and second diagonally opposite corner portions, said first and second corner portions of one channel member being interfittable with said second and first corner portions of the other channel member by merely moving the side edge of one panel toward the adjacent side edge of the other panel,
• (ii) said respective interconnected walls when said channel member corner portions are interfitted together defining a first pair of spaced opposite walls of said respective channel members at which said respective channel members are connected to the panel side edges and a second pair of spaced opposite walls of said respective channel members which extend between the panel side edges, said first and second pairs of walls defining a channel therebetween being open at its top and bottom ends, and
• (iii) a pair of clamp means, one being attached to a bottom side of said connector member of said top connector assembly and projecting downwardly therefrom and the other being attached to a top side of said connector member of said bottom connector assembly and projecting upwardly therefrom, said clamp means being interfittable within said respective open top and bottom ends of said channel defined in said vertical channel members and engaged with at least one pair of the opposite corner portions thereof for clamping and retaining said respective corner portions of said channel members at their respective interfitted relation with one another.

In a panel connection apparatus for use in a multi-panel system including at least a pair of panels each having a frame structure with top and bottom edges and opposite side edges, a panel top cap assembly of said panel connection apparatus comprising:

• at least one elongated decorative cap member adapted to extend along and overlie adjacent portions of the top edges of the panels;
• at least one top cap retainer member attached to an underside of said decorative cap member;
• a connector member adapted for attachment to the pair of panels at the adjacent portions of their top edges so as to span between the panels and rigidly interconnect the panels;
• said connector member including an attachment member, one of said attachment and top cap retainer members including means whereby it is capable of resiliently yieldably flexing away from the other of said attachment and top can retainer members for frictional interfitting of said attachment and retainer members upon installation of said decorative cap member along the top edges of the panels in overlying relation to the panel top edges and said connector member thereon, said attachment member including a pair of upwardly projecting flanges extending longitudinally of said attachment member;
• and
• lower edges of said retainer member flanges being generally in-turned and upper edges of said attachment member flanges being generally out-turned such that said respective edges define cam surface which engage and cause yieldable flexing of the flanges of the resiliently flexible one of said retainer and attachment members for achieving said frictional interfitting of said flanges with one another.

In a panel connection apparatus for use in a multi-panel system including at least a pair of panels each having a frame structure with top and bottom edges and opposite side edges, a pair of panel connector assemblies respectively located at the top and bottom edges of the panels for spanning between said panels and interconnecting and aligning said panels at the top and bottom edges thereof, each of said panel connector assemblies comprising:

• a pair of panel bracket members attached to adjacent portions of respective top or bottom edges of the panels;
• and
• a panel connector means rigidly connected to adjacent said panel bracket members of the pair and spanning between said bracket members to rigidly interconnect and accurately align the panels with one another, said panel connector means having an interference fit with the respective panel bracket members;
• said panel connector assembly at the bottom edges of the panels including a pair of wiring raceway hanger members being loosely connected to the bottom edge connector means and including means for rigidly connecting said hanger members to said lower edge connector means only upon rigid attachment of said lower edge connector means to said bracket members of said bottom panel connector assembly.