Panel system

In a partition system of the type having a plurality of rigid frames interconnected to partition open space into individual areas, and a plurality of cover members detachably mounted on said frames in an edge-to-edge relationship to define narrow gaps between adjacent marginal edges of said cover members, the improvement of a cover mounting arrangement, comprising:

• at least one set of frame connectors disposed on each of said frames, comprising:
• a first connector disposed on an associated one of said frames at a predetermined location;
• a second connector spaced vertically apart from said first connector;
• a third connector spaced horizontally apart from said first and second connectors;
• a fourth connector spaced vertically apart from said third connector and horizontally apart from said first and second connectors;
• at least one set of cover connectors disposed on each of said covers, comprising:
• a fifth connector engaging said first connector in a manner which generally prevents both horizontal and vertical movement of said fifth connector relative to said first connector;
• a sixth connector spaced vertically apart from said fifth connector, and engaging said second connector in a manner which generally prevents horizontal movement of said sixth connector relative to said second connector, yet permits predetermined vertical movement of said sixth connector relative to said second connector;
• a seventh connector spaced horizontally apart from said fifth and sixth connectors, and engaging said third connector in a manner which generally prevents vertical movement of said seventh connector relative to said third connector, yet permits predetermined horizontal movement of said seventh connector relative to said third connector;
• and
• an eighth connector spaced vertically apart from said seventh connector and horizontally apart from said fifth and sixth connectors, and engaging said fourth connector in a manner which permits both predetermined horizontal and vertical movement of said eighth connector relative to said fourth connector, whereby said narrow gaps between said adjacent marginal edges of said cover members maintain a substantially uniform width for improved aesthetics.

In a partition of the type having at least one rigid frame adapted to be supported in a generally vertical orientation along an associated floor surface to partition open space, and at least one cover detachably mounted on said frame to selectively cover at least a portion thereof, the improvement of a cover mounting arrangement, comprising:

• a first connector disposed on said frame at a predetermined location;
• a second connector disposed on said frame, and spaced vertically apart from said first connector;
• a third connector disposed on said frame, and spaced horizontally apart from said first and second connectors;
• a fourth connector disposed on said cover, and detachably engaging said first connector in a manner which generally prevents both horizontal and vertical movement of said fourth connector relative to said first connector;
• a fifth connector disposed on said cover, spaced vertically apart from said fifth connector, and detachably engaging said second connector in a manner which generally prevents horizontal movement of said fifth connector relative to said second connector, yet permits predetermined vertical movement of said fifth connector relative to said second connector;
• a sixth connector disposed on said cover, spaced horizontally apart from said fourth and fifth connectors, and detachably engaging said third connector in a manner which generally prevents vertical movement of said sixth connector relative to said third connector, yet permits predetermined horizontal movement of said sixth connector relative to said third connector.

In a reconfigurable partition system having a plurality of individual panels with opposite sides thereof detachably interconnected in a predetermined configuration to define at least one workstation, the improvement of a panel-to-panel connector, comprising:

• a generally T-shaped opening disposed in the side of a first one of said panels, and including an enlarged upper portion thereof having a predetermined width, and a narrower lower portion thereof communicating with said upper portion, and having a width less than the width of said upper portion;
• a bracket having a flange portion thereof connected with the side of a second one of said panels, and a generally T-shaped tongue portion thereof extending laterally outwardly from said flange portion, and including an enlarged head shaped for reception through the upper portion of said opening, and a narrower root shaped for close reception in the lower portion of said opening to selectively capture said head within the lower portion of said opening;
• said tongue portion being shaped to position said head a predetermined vertically spaced apart distance from said opening in said first panel when said first and second panels are disposed in a horizontally aligned, side-by-side position, such that said first and second panels must be mutually shifted to a non-aligned position to insert the head of said bracket into said opening, and having a predetermined length measured between said root and said flange, whereby shifting said first and second panels back to said horizontally aligned side-by-side position tenses said bracket and draws the sides of said first and second panels closely together.

A partition for open office spaces, comprising:

• a freestanding base panel adapted to be supported on an associated floor surface, and including an upper edge with at least one vertically extending mounting aperture therein, and an upwardly opening, horizontally extending utility channel configured to receive and retain lay-in utilities therein;
• a stacker panel adapted to be detachably supported on said upper edge of said base panel in a vertically stacked relationship to selectively increase the overall height of said partition, and including a lower edge with at least one vertically extending mounting aperture therein positioned in vertical alignment with said mounting aperture in said upper edge of said base panel;
• and
• at least one bayonet connector detachably interconnecting said base panel and said stacker panel in said vertically stacked relationship, and having a generally Y-shaped front elevational configuration defined by a lower shank portion thereof and a pair of upper extension portions thereof forming a U-shaped open area therebetween;
• said shank portion being telescopingly received in said vertically extending mounting aperture in said base panel, and said upper extension portions being telescopingly received in said vertically extending mounting aperture in said stacker panel, such that said U-shaped open area aligns with said utility channel in said upper edge of said base panel to permit utilities to be routed horizontally through said partition.