Partition panel system and method

In a partition having at least first and second panels, each including a frame defined by rigidly interconnected top, bottom and opposite side members, with a plurality of horizontal slots extending along said top member, a plurality of vertical slots extending along said opposite side members, at least one mounting surface disposed adjacent said top member at an end thereof, and a skin covering at least a portion of said frame, while leaving said horizontal slots and said vertical slots exposed, the improvement of an off-module connector detachably connecting said first panel with said second panel in a non-parallel, angular relationship at a location on said first panel between said opposite side members thereof, comprising:

• a top connector bracket having a hook portion of said top connector bracket detachably engaged in one of said horizontal slots on said first panel, and a plate portion of said top connector bracket detachably connected with said mounting surface on said second panel;
• a bottom connector bracket having a hook portion of said bottom connector bracket detachably engaged in one of said vertical slots on said second panel, and a plate portion of said bottom connector bracket including at least one horizontally oriented fastener aperture positioned overlying said skin of said first panel at a vertical location aligned with said bottom member of said first panel;
• and
• a fastener inserted into said fastener aperture in said bottom connector bracket, extending through said skin of said first panel and anchored in said bottom member of said first panel to securely, yet removably, mount said second panel on said first panel in an off-modular relationship.

A method for detachably interconnecting partition panels in a non-parallel, off-modular relationship, comprising:

• providing first and second partition panels, each including a frame defined by rigidly interconnected top, bottom and opposite side members, with a plurality of horizontal slots extending along the top member, a plurality of vertical slots extending along the opposite side members, at least two mounting surfaces disposed adjacent opposite ends of the top member, and a skin covering at least a portion of the frame, while leaving the horizontal slots and the vertical slots exposed;
• providing a top connector bracket having a hook portion of the top connector bracket shaped for detachable engagement in one of the horizontal slots on the first partition panel, and a plate portion of the top connector bracket positioned generally opposite the hook portion of the top connector bracket;
• inserting the hook portion of the top connector bracket into a selected one of the horizontal slots on the first partition panel to detachably retain the same therein;
• detachably connecting the plate portion of the top connector bracket with one of the mounting surfaces on the second partition panel;
• providing a bottom connector bracket having a hook portion of the bottom connector bracket shaped for detachable engagement in one of the vertical slots on the second partition panel, and a plate portion of the bottom connector bracket positioned generally opposite the hook portion of the bottom connector bracket, and including at least one horizontally oriented fastener aperture positioned for overlying the skin on the first partition panel at a vertical location aligned with the bottom member of the first partition panel;
• inserting the hook portion of the bottom connector bracket into a selected one of the vertical slots on the second partition panel to detachably retain the same therein;
• and
• inserting a fastener into the fastener aperture in the bottom connector bracket, driving the fastener through the skin of the first partition panel, and anchoring the fastener in the bottom member of the first partition panel to securely, yet removably, mount the first partition panel on the second partition panel in an off-modular relationship.