Connecting means for partition systems

Claim 2

A partition system including: a plurality of panels each having top and bottom channels and opposite edge channels, said panel edge channels including a slot adjacent said top channels, a plurality of tabs projecting outwardly from said edge channels, a connecting tube having a top and a bottom for joining said panels by engagement with said edge channels, a top wall on said connecting tube and having a passageway therethrough, said connecting tube having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive said tabs, an alignment assembly attached adjacent the top of said panels and overlying said top of said tube, said alignment assembly including a top plate carrying releasable lock means operable to apply a vertical biasing force in one direction against said tube while concurrently applying a vertical biasing force in an opposite direction against said panels to forcefully retain said panel tabs within said tube apertures, said top plate having opposite ends respectively inserted within opposed ones of said edge channel slots of adjacent pairs of said panels, and said releasable lock means including a threaded fastener having a shank provided with alternate portions selectively engageable with said tube top wall, whereby manipulation of said threaded fastener in opposite directions alternately displaces said tube away from and toward said top plate.

Claim 3

A partition assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said connecting tube is rectangular in cross section.

Claim 4

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls on said tube, and said apertures formed in said side walls.

Claim 5

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, support means extending from said panel bottom channel adapted to engage an underlying floor, whereby said connecting tube bottom is clear of engagement with an underlying floor.

Claim 6

A partition assembly according to claim 1 wherein, said connecting tube includes a plurality of slots adjacent said apertures, and bracket means mounted within at least one said tube slots adapted to support a shelf or the like.

Claim 7

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, a plurality of said connecting tubes and adjacent ones of said panels, and said panels disposed in a straight line.

Claim 8

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, a plurality of said connecting tubes and adjacent ones of said panels, and said panels disposed in a right angular configuration.

Claim 9

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, a plurality of said connecting tubes and adjacent ones of said panels, and said panels disposed in a T configuration.

Claim 10

A partition assembly according to claim 1 including, a plurality of said connecting tubes and adjacent ones of said panels, and said panels disposed in an X configuration.

Claim 11

A partition system including; a plurality of panels each having top and bottom channels and opposite edge channels, a plurality of tabs projecting outwardly from said edge channels, a connecting tube having a top and a bottom for joining said panels by engagement with said edge channels, a top wall on said connecting tube and having a passageway therethrough, said passageway comprising a keyhole having adjacent large and small diameter openings, said connecting tube having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive said tabs, an alignment assembly attached adjacent the top of said panels and overlying said top of said tube, said alignment assembly including a top plate carrying releasable lock means operable to apply a vertical biasing force in one direction against said tube while concurrently applying a vertical biasing force in an opposite direction against said panels to forcefully retain said panel tabs within said tube apertures, said releasable lock means including a threaded fastener having a shank provided with alternate portions selectively engageable with said tube top wall, said threaded fastener shank including an intermediate reduced diameter portion and said shank alternate portions including larger diameter portions bounding said reduced diameter portions, whereby said larger diameter portions are freely insertable through said keyhole large diameter opening while only said reduced diameter portion is insertable through said keyhole small diameter opening with manipulation of said threaded fastener in opposite directions while said reduced diameter portion is within said keyhole small diameter portion alternately displacing said tube away from and toward said top plate.

Claim 12

A partition system including; a plurality of panels each having top and bottom channels and opposite edge channels, a plurality of tabs projecting outwardly from said edge channels, a connecting tube having a top and a bottom for joining said panels by engagement with said edge channels, a top wall on said connecting tube and having a passageway therethrough, said passageway comprising a keyhole having adjacent large and small diameter openings, said connecting tube having a plurality of apertures adapted to receive said tabs, an alignment assembly attached adjacent the top of said panels and overlying said top of said tube, said alignment assembly including a top plate carrying releasable lock means operable to apply a vertical biasing force in one direction against said tube while concurrently applying a vertical biasing force in an opposite direction against said panels to forcefully retain said panel tabs within said tube apertures, said releasable lock means including a threaded fastener having a shank provided with alternate portions selectively engageable with said tube top wall, said threaded fastener shank including an intermediate reduced diameter portion and said shank alternate portions including larger diameter portions bounding said reduced diameter portions, whereby said larger diameter portions are freely insertable through said keyhole large diameter opening while only said reduced diameter portion is insertable through said keyhole small diameter opening with manipulation of said threaded fastener in opposite directions while said reduced diameter portion is within said keyhole small diameter portion alternately displacing said tube away from and toward said top plate.