Modular office partition

Abstract

The present invention is a partition system having improved vibration dampening characteristics. The partition system includes a frame having elongated support posts and a plurality of tiles being mounted to the posts via a plurality of mounting elements. Each tile has opposite first and second sides, opposite top and bottom edges, and opposite side edges. The mounting elements each have a body portion and a finger portion. The body portion is adapted and configured to releasbly mount to the post and the finger portion is configured to extend away from the post when the body portion is mounted to the post. The tiles have a pair of hook members mounted to the first side of the tile. The hook members are adapted and configured to hook onto the finger portion of the mounting elements. The tiles also have a pair of resilient clip members which are adapted and configured to releasably attach to the finger portion of the mounting elements.

Therefore, what is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wall partition system comprising: 
 (a) a frame having support posts,    (b) a plurality of tiles each having opposite first and second sides, opposite top and bottom edges, and opposite side edges,    (c) a plurality of mounting elements releasably mounted to the posts,    (d) a plurality of attachment elements mounted to the first side of the tiles, said attachment elements and said mounting elements being adapted and configured to releasably attach to each other.    
     
     
         2 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the mounting elements each comprise a member having a body portion and a finger portion, the body portion being adapted and configured to releasably attach to the frame post, the finger portion being configured to extend away from the post when the body portion is attached to the post, the attachment elements being adapted and configured to releasably attach to the finger portion of the mounting elements.  
     
     
         3 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the attachment elements comprise a pair of hook members adapted to hook onto the finger portions of the mounting elements, the pair of hook members mounted to the first surface of the tile adjacent one of the top and bottom edges.  
     
     
         4 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 3  wherein the attachment elements further comprise a pair of resilient members adapted and configured to engage the fingers of the connector elements, said pair of resilient members being mounted to the first side of the tile adjacent the edge opposite the hook members.  
     
     
         5 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 2  wherein the body portion of the mounting elements have a projecting portion and wherein the posts have a plurality of apertures dimensioned to receive and retain the projecting portion of the mounting elements.  
     
     
         6 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 5  wherein the attachment elements comprise a pair of hook members adapted to hook onto the finger portions of the mounting elements, the pair of hook members mounted to the first surface of the tile adjacent one of the top and bottom edges.  
     
     
         7 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 6  wherein the attachment elements further comprise a pair of resilient members adapted and configured to engage the fingers of the mounting elements, said pair of resilient members being mounted to the first side of the tile adjacent the edge opposite the hook members.  
     
     
         8 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 1  wherein the mounting elements are made of a vibration dampening material.  
     
     
         9 . A wall partition system as defined in  claim 7  wherein the hook members are mounted adjacent the bottom edge of the tile and the resilient members are mounted adjacent the top edge of the tile.  
     
     
         10 . A wall partition system comprising a frame having elongated support posts, a plurality of tiles being mounted to the posts, each tile having opposite first and second sides, opposite top and bottom edges, and opposite side edges, a plurality of mounting elements releasably mounted to the posts, said mounting elements each having a body portion adapted and configured to mount to the post, said mounting elements also having a finger configured to extend away from the post when the body portion is mounted to the post, a pair of hook members mounted to the first side of the tile, said hook members configured to hook onto the fingers of the mounting elements, and a pair of resilient members mounted to the fist side of the tile, said resilient members adapted and configured to releasably attach to the fingers of the mounting elements.