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A stack-on panel assembly is supported on a base panel having tubular uprights disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof with open tops and a fastener end extending into an interior of the uprights. A stacker panel has a bottom portion abuttingly supported on a top portion of the base panel, a vertic

A stack-on panel assembly is supported on a base panel having tubular uprights disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof with open tops and a fastener end extending into an interior of the uprights. A stacker panel has a bottom portion abuttingly supported on a top portion of the base panel, a vertically extending slot along one side thereof, and a first latch member adjacent to the slot. A connector bracket has a lower portion received in the interior portion of the frame upright, and an aperture shaped to receive the fastener end to vertically locate the connector bracket relative to the base panel. The connector bracket is received in the slot to horizontally locate the stacker panel relative to the base panel, and has a second latch member selectively engaging the first latch member on the stacker panel.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A stack-on panel assembly for panel-based partition systems of the type including at least one base panel having a rigid rectangular interior frame with tubular frame uprights disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof with open tops and at least one fastener end extendin

The invention claimed is: 1. A stack-on panel assembly for panel-based partition systems of the type including at least one base panel having a rigid rectangular interior frame with tubular frame uprights disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof with open tops and at least one fastener end extending into an interior portion of one of the frame uprights, comprising: a stacker panel having a rigid rectangular configuration with a bottom portion thereof abuttingly supported on a top portion of the base panel, and including at least one vertically extending slot disposed along one side thereof, and a first spring latch member disposed adjacent to said slot; at least one connector bracket having: a lower portion thereof received in the interior portion of the one frame upright, and including a horizontally extending aperture receiving the fastener end therein vertically locating said connector bracket relative to the base panel; an upper portion thereof received in said slot in said stacker panel horizontally locating said stacker panel relative to the base panel; and a second spring latch member located adjacent to said upper portion of said connector bracket and configured for selectively engaging said first latch member on said stacker panel, whereby in an installed position, said first spring latch member and second spring latch member engage and define a snap lock that positively, yet detachably, connects said stacker panel on the base panel in a vertically stacked relationship. 2. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is fork-shaped with two spaced apart prongs disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof. 3. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said prongs define therebetween a space shaped to route utilities therethrough. 4. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said prongs have a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration to vertically align said connector bracket within the one frame upright. 5. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is configured for insertion into the one frame upright in an angled orientation, and subsequently shifted to a generally vertical orientation to position said aperture over the fastener end. 6. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said first spring latch member comprises a first spring clip connected with said bottom portion of said stacker panel. 7. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said second spring latch member comprises a second spring clip connected with said connector bracket, and shaped to abut and releasably engage said first spring clip. 8. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said aperture extends through said lower portion of said connector bracket. 9. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said aperture extends through a medial portion of one of said prongs. 10. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said aperture is shaped for close reception on the fastener end. 11. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein: said upper portion of said connector bracket is blade-shaped, and configured for close reception in said slot in said stacker panel. 12. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said first spring clip has a generally V-shaped configuration which opens laterally outwardly with a laterally outwardly extending first catch end. 13. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said second spring clip has a generally U-shaped configuration which opens upwardly with a laterally inwardly extending second catch end that releasably engages said first catch end on said first spring clip. 14. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 13, including: a trim strip connected with one side of said stacker panel for change-of-height panel configurations. 15. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket includes a space shaped to route utilities therethrough. 16. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket has a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration to vertically align said connector bracket within the one frame upright. 17. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is configured for insertion into the one frame upright in an angled orientation, and subsequently shifted to a generally vertical orientation to position said aperture over the fastener end. 18. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first spring latch member comprises a first spring clip connected with said bottom portion of said stacker panel; and said second spring latch member comprises a second spring clip connected with said connector bracket, and shaped to abut and releasably engage said first spring clip. 19. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said aperture is shaped for close reception on the fastener end. 20. A stack-on panel assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said upper portion of said connector bracket is blade-shaped, and configured for close reception in said slot in said stacker panel. 21. A panel-based partition system, comprising: at least one base panel having a rigid rectangular interior frame with tubular frame uprights disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof with open tops and at least one fastener end extending into an interior portion of one of said frame uprights; and a stack-on panel assembly, including: a stacker panel having a rigid rectangular configuration with a bottom portion thereof abuttingly supported on a top portion of said base panel, at least one vertically extending slot disposed along one side thereof, and a first spring latch member disposed adjacent to said slot; at least one connector bracket having: a lower portion thereof received in the interior portion of said one frame upright, and including a horizontally extending aperture receiving said fastener end therein vertically locating said connector bracket relative to said base panel; an upper portion thereof received in said slot in said stacker panel horizontally locating said stacker panel relative to said base panel; and a second spring latch member located adjacent to said upper portion of said connector bracket and configured for selectively engaging said first spring latch member on said stacker panel, whereby in an installed position, said first spring latch member and said second spring latch member engage and define a snap lock that positively, yet detachably, connects said stacker panel on said base panel in a vertically stacked relationship. 22. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is fork-shaped with two spaced apart prongs disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof. 23. A partition system as set forth in claim 22, wherein: said prongs define therebetween a space shaped to route utilities therethrough. 24. A partition system as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said prongs have a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration to vertically align said connector bracket within said one frame upright. 25. A partition system as set forth in claim 24, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is configured for insertion into said one frame upright in an angled orientation, and subsequently shifted to a generally vertical orientation to position said aperture over said fastener end. 26. A partition system as set forth in claim 25, wherein: said first spring latch member comprises a first spring clip connected with said bottom portion of said stacker panel. 27. A partition system as set forth in claim 26, wherein: said second spring latch member comprises a second spring clip connected with said connector bracket, and shaped to abut and releasably engage said first spring clip. 28. A partition system as set forth in claim 27, wherein: said aperture extends through said lower portion of said connector bracket. 29. A partition system as set forth in claim 28, wherein: said aperture extends through a medial portion of one of said prongs. 30. A partition system as set forth in claim 29, wherein: said aperture is shaped for close reception on said fastener end. 31. A partition system as set forth in claim 30, wherein: said upper portion of said connector bracket is blade-shaped, and configured for close reception in said slot in said stacker panel. 32. A partition system as set forth in claim 31, wherein: said base panel includes a pair of said fastener ends extending into said interior portion of both of said frame uprights. 33. A partition system as set forth in claim 32, wherein: said stack-on panel assembly includes a pair of said connector brackets positioned adjacent said opposite sides of said base panel; and said stacker panel includes a pair of said slots adjacent opposite sides thereof in which said upper portions of said connector brackets are closely received. 34. A partition system as set forth in claim 33, wherein: said connector bracket includes one of said apertures in each of said prongs. 35. A partition system as set forth in claim 34, wherein: said first spring clip has a generally V-shaped configuration which opens laterally outwardly with a laterally outwardly extending first catch end. 36. A partition system as set forth in claim 35, wherein: said second spring clip has a generally U-shaped configuration which opens upwardly with a laterally inwardly extending second catch end that releasably engages said first catch end on said first spring clip. 37. A partition system as set forth in claim 36, wherein: said stacker panel has a thickness which is generally commensurate with the thickness of said base panel. 38. A partition system as set forth in claim 37, wherein: said stacker panel has a width which is generally commensurate with the width of said base panel. 39. A partition system as set forth in claim 38, wherein: said base panel includes a removable top trim cap; and said stacker panel has a top configured to receive and detachably retain said top trim cap thereon. 40. A partition system as set forth in claim 39, including: a trim strip connected with one side of said stacker panel for change-of-height panel configurations. 41. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said stacker panel includes a marginal frame with a light-transmitting panel mounted therein. 42. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket includes a space shaped to route utilities therethrough. 43. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket has a generally L-shaped side elevational configuration to vertically align said connector bracket within said one frame upright. 44. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said lower portion of said connector bracket is configured for insertion into said one frame upright in an angled orientation, and subsequently shifted to a generally vertical orientation to position said aperture over said fastener end. 45. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said aperture extends through said lower portion of said connector bracket; and said upper portion of said connector bracket is blade-shaped. 46. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said first spring latch member comprises a first spring clip connected with said bottom portion of said stacker panel and having a generally V-shaped configuration which opens laterally outwardly with a laterally outwardly extending first catch end; and said second spring latch member comprises a second spring clip having a generally U-shaped configuration which opens upwardly with a laterally inwardly extending second catch end that releasably engages said first catch end on said first spring clip. 47. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said stacker panel has a thickness which is generally commensurate with the thickness of said base panel; and said stacker panel has a width which is generally commensurate with the width of said base panel. 48. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, wherein: said base panel includes a removable top trim cap; and said stacker panel has a top configured to receive and detachably retain said top trim cap thereon. 49. A partition system as set forth in claim 21, including: a trim strip connected with one side of said stacker panel for change-of-height panel configurations.