Panel system

An office panel partition includes a panel frame having at least two uprights and a horizontal structural member rigidly interconnecting the uprights. The panel frame has a first side and a second opposite side, and the panel frame defines at least four apertures on the first side thereof. The partition also includes a cover member having a major planar surface defining an exterior surface of the partition. The cover member includes at least four projections that are removably insertable into the at least four apertures to removably secure the cover member to the frame. The apertures are arranged in at least two vertically spaced horizontal rows and at least two horizontally spaced vertical columns. The apertures in a first one of the columns have different horizontal dimensions than those of the apertures located in the other of the columns. Each of the projections has a range of lateral positions when inserted into a respective one of the apertures. The range of lateral positions provided by the apertures in the first one of the columns is less than the range of lateral positions provided by the apertures in the other row of the columns. The apertures located in a first one of the rows has vertical dimensions that are different than those located in the other of the rows. The range of vertical positions provided by the apertures in the first one of the rows is less than the range of vertical positions provided by the apertures in the other of the rows.

 

The invention claimed is:

1. An office panel partition, comprising:

a panel frame having at least two generally vertical uprights and a horizontal structural member rigidly interconnecting said vertical uprights, said panel frame having a first side and a second opposite side, said panel frame defining on said first side thereof at least four apertures;

a cover member having a major planar surface defining an exterior surface of said partition, said cover member including at least four projections extending therefrom wherein each of said four projections has a common projecting configuration; and said at least four projections are removably insertable into said at least four apertures, insertion of said projections in said apertures removably securing said cover member to said frame;

wherein said apertures are arranged in at least two vertically spaced horizontal rows and at least two horizontally spaced vertical columns;

said apertures in a first one of said columns having horizontal dimensions which differ from horizontal dimensions of said apertures located in the other of said columns;

each of said projections having said common projecting configuration having a range of lateral positions when inserted into a respective one of said apertures, said range of lateral positions provided by said apertures in said first one of said columns being less than said range of lateral positions provided by said apertures in the other of said columns;

said apertures located in a first one of said rows having vertical dimensions which differ from vertical dimensions of said aperture located in the other of said rows; and

each of said projections having said common projecting configuration having a range of vertical positions when inserted into a respective one of said apertures, said range of vertical positions provided by said apertures in said first one of said rows being less than said range of vertical positions provided by said apertures in the other of said rows.

2. The panel partition of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one attachment projection, said attachment projection having a second projecting configuration which differs from said common projecting configuration and wherein said panel frame defines an opening in said first side thereof and said attachment projection extends from said cover member and is removably insertable into said opening.

3. The panel partition of claim 1, wherein:

said at least four projections each have a base section connecting said projections to said cover member and said base sections of said at least four projections have at least two different configurations.

4. The panel partition of claim 1, wherein:

said at least four apertures define a first set of apertures arranged in a first spatial pattern and said panel frame includes a second set of at least four apertures wherein said second set of apertures are arranged in said first spatial pattern and each of said apertures in said first and second set of apertures has a predefined location within said pattern and said apertures from said first and second sets of apertures having a common predefined location within said pattern have substantially equivalent dimensions and said first set of apertures is vertically spaced from said second set of apertures.

5. The panel partition of claim 4, further comprising:

a second cover member removably attachable to said second set of apertures.

6. The panel partition of claim 5, wherein:

said panel frame includes a repositionable horizontal beam attached to said frame at a vertical height positioned between said first and second sets of apertures.

7. The panel partition of claim 6, wherein:

at least one of said cover members includes at least one attachment projection, said attachment projection having a second projecting configuration which differs from said common projecting configuration and wherein said repositionable horizontal beam defines an opening and said attachment projection extends from said at least one of said cover members and is removably insertable into said opening.

8. The panel partition of claim 4, wherein:

said cover member has a height which covers each of said first and second sets of apertures and said cover member includes at least six projections having said common projecting configuration, said at least six projections being insertable into each of said apertures of said first set of apertures and at least two of said apertures of said second set of apertures, said cover member being unattached to said panel frame at a row of said apertures in said second set of apertures having a lesser range of vertical positions.

9. A partition panel for dividing floor space, comprising:

a frame having a pair of horizontally spaced apart vertical frame members and a pair of vertically spaced apart horizontal frame members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said vertical frame members to form a rigid frame having generally vertical opposed side faces;

an intermediate horizontal beam releasably connected to said vertical frame members and positioned between said horizontal frame members at a selected one of a plurality of vertical positions and extending between said vertical frame members, said intermediate beam defining a side face having a plurality of apertures therethrough forming a horizontal row; and

a cover panel secured to said frame and covering at least a portion of a selected one of said side faces.

10. The partition of claim 9, wherein:

said vertical frame members each include a plurality of vertically spaced connectors; and

said horizontal beam connects to selected ones of said connectors to adjust the vertical position of said horizontal beam.

11. The partition of claim 10, wherein:

said connectors comprise apertures.

12. The partition of claim 11, wherein:

said horizontal beam includes a hook at opposite ends thereof, received in said apertures and secures said horizontal beam to said vertical frame members.

13. The partition of claim 9, wherein:

said horizontal beam includes attachment openings for securing said cover panel; and

said cover panel includes connectors that are releasably received in said attachment openings to secure said cover panel to said frame.

14. The partition of claim 9, wherein:

said cover panel comprises an upper cover panel having a horizontally extending lower edge; and including:

a lower cover panel having a horizontally extending upper edge spaced apart from said lower edge to define a horizontally elongate gap providing access to said apertures in said intermediate horizontal beam.

15. The partition panel defined in claim 9, including at least one hang-on furniture unit having at least one connector extending into a selected one of said apertures to support said hang-on furniture unit.

16. The partition panel defined in claim 9, wherein the plurality of apertures in the side face are regularly spaced.

17. A partition panel, comprising:

a rigid partition frame defining generally vertical opposed side faces, said partition frame including at least four apertures, each defining a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension;

a first one of said apertures having a first vertical dimension and a first horizontal dimension;

a second one of said apertures having a vertical dimension that is approximately the same as said first vertical dimension, and a horizontal dimension that is greater than said first horizontal dimension;

a third one of said apertures having a vertical dimension that is greater than said first vertical dimension, and a horizontal dimension that is approximately the same as said first horizontal dimension;

a fourth one of said apertures having a vertical dimension greater than said first vertical dimension, and a horizontal dimension greater than said first horizontal dimension; and

a cover panel having connectors received in each said aperture to support and position said cover panel on said partition frame.

18. The partition panel of claim 17, wherein:

said partition frame includes a pair of vertical side frame members, and a pair of horizontal frame members that are rigidly interconnected to form a generally rectangular perimeter, and including:

an intermediate horizontal beam extending between and interconnecting said vertical side frame members, said beam including a horizontal row of connectors for supporting hang-on furniture units.

19. The partition panel of claim 18, said horizontal row of connectors comprises openings in said beam.

20. The partition panel of claim 17, wherein:

said first and third apertures have T-shapes, and said second and fourth apertures have a U-shape;

said cover panel including spring clips releasably received in each said aperture.

21. The partition panel of claim 20, wherein:

said partition frame includes an intermediate horizontal beam having apertures for supporting said cover panel;

said cover panel including connectors received in said apertures of said beam.

22. The partition panel of claim 21, wherein:

said horizontal beam can be vertically repositioned within said partition frame.

23. The partition panel of claim 22, wherein:

said horizontal beam has a horizontal row of apertures for supporting hang-on furniture units.

24. A partition panel, comprising:

a pair of horizontally spaced apart upright frame members, and vertically spaced apart upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between said upright frame members and rigidly interconnecting said upright frame members to form a rigid partition frame adapted to be abuttingly supported in an upright position freestanding on a floor surface, said partition frame defining an open interior space;

a pair of side-by-side horizontal beams extending between said upright frame members at a location between said upper and lower horizontal frame members, each horizontal beam having opposite ends releasably connected to said upright frame members at a selected vertical position and including a horizontal row of apertures and first connectors; and

a cover panel secured to said partition frame and closing off at least a portion of said open interior space, said cover panel including second connectors engaging said first connectors to secure said cover panel to a selected one of said horizontal beams.

25. The partition panel of claim 24, wherein:

said upright frame members include a plurality of side-by-side openings; and

said horizontal beams each include hooks on opposite ends thereof removably received in selected ones of said openings.

26. A partition panel, comprising:

a pair of horizontally spaced apart upright frame members, and vertically spaced apart upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between said upright frame members and rigidly interconnecting said upright frame members to form a rigid partition frame adapted to be abuttingly supported in an upright position freestanding on a floor surface, each upright frame member having a side surface with a plurality of vertically spaced openings between said upper and lower horizontal frame members, said partition frame defining an open interior space; a pair of side-by-side horizontal beams extending between said upright frame members at a location between said upper and lower horizontal frame members, each horizontal beam having hooks on opposite ends received in selected ones of said openings of said upright frame members to permit vertical repositioning of said horizontal beams relative to said upright frame members, said horizontal beams including first connectors; and

a cover panel secured to said partition frame and closing off at least a portion of said open interior space, said cover panel including second connectors engaging said first connectors to secure said cover panel to a selected one of said horizontal beams.

27. The partition panel of claim 26, wherein:

said horizontal beams include a horizontal row of apertures, and including:

a hang-on furniture unit having connectors received in selected ones of said apertures and supporting said hang-on furniture unit on said partition frame.

28. The partition panel of claim 26, wherein:

said horizontal beams include a flexible tab adjacent each said hook that engages said openings to prevent inadvertent disengagement of said hooks.

29. A freestanding partition system, comprising:

a spine wall having a plurality of rigid freestanding partition frames, each partition frame including vertical side frame members and upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said vertical side frame members to define a perimeter, said vertical side frame members and said lower horizontal frame members each having rows of slots extending adjacent said perimeter, said vertical side frame members of adjacent partition frames being rigidly interconnected to form said spine wall; at least one of said partition frames having an intermediate beam having a horizontal row of slots, said intermediate beam releasably connected to said vertical side frame members at a position between said upper and lower horizontal frame members;

a rigid off module partition frame having a perimeter including a vertical side edge, and an upper bracket engaging selected ones of said horizontal row of slots in said intermediate beam, said off-module partition frame including a lower bracket having hooks engaging selected ones of said horizontal row of slots in said lower horizontal frame member to connect said off module partition at a selected horizontal position along said spine wall.

30. The partition system of claim 29, wherein:

said upper and lower brackets include a flexible extension adjacent said hooks configured to engage said slots to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of said brackets.

31. The partition system of claim 29, wherein: said vertical side frame members include n outwardly opening channel adapted to permit vertical routing of utility lines therein along said vertical side frame members; and

each upper horizontal frame members has an upwardly opening channel to permit horizontal routing of utility lines therein along said upper horizontal frame member.

32. A freestanding partition system, comprising:

at least first and second rigid freestanding partition frames, each partition frame including vertical side frame members defining side edges and vertical side wall portions, and upper and lower horizontal frame members extending between and rigidly interconnecting said vertical side frame members to define a generally quadrilateral perimeter;

said partition frames having an upper surface with a first opening therein adjacent each side edge, first openings on adjacent frames defining a first distance therebetween, said vertical side frame members of said first and second partition frames interconnected by an upper bracket with adjacent side edges of said partition frames abutting one another, said vertical side wall portions of at least a first vertical side frame member of each partition frame having an opening therethrough, each upper bracket comprising a plate member with a pair of second openings therethrough spaced apart a second distance that is less than said first distance, and including a threaded fastener received in said first and second openings, said threaded fastener having a generally conical head, such that adjacent vertical side frame members of said first and second partition frames are brought into a tight abutting engagement with one another as said threaded fasteners are tightened.

33. The partition system of claims wherein:

said side frame members have a vertical side wall portion with opposed inner and outer surfaces, said vertical side wall portions of at least a first vertical side frame member of each partition frame having an opening therethrough, and including:

a lower bracket interconnecting adjacent vertical side frame members of said first and second partition frames, said lower bracket having a base portion secured to a selected vertical side frame member, and a flexible portion extending vertically from said base portion, and a tongue portion extending horizontally from said flexible portion, said tongue portion having an enlarged end portion received in said opening in said vertical side wall portion and engaging said inner surface such that tightening of said threaded fasteners of said upper brackets forces said first and second partition frames into horizontal alignment with one another and places said tongue portion in tension and flexes said flexible portion to thereby force said partition frames into contact with one another along a lower portion of said side edges.

34. The partition system of claim 33, wherein:

said upper horizontal frame members have an upwardly opening channel, said plate member received in said channels to align said partition frames.

35. The partition system of claim 34, wherein:

said tongue portion of