Stackable office panels

Abstract

An upper stackable panel is provided for use with lower panels having a structural panel to panel connector mount located at least at each upper corner of said lower panel, to which a panel to panel connector can be secured by at least one fastener. The upper panels have a structural panel mounting member located at least at each bottom corner, at a location adjacent an upper corner panel to panel connector mount when the upper panel is positioned on top of the lower panel. Each lower corner panel mounting member has a fastener configuration which is compatible with that of the adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount on the lower panel. At least one fastener secures each said bottom corner panel mounting member to its adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount, to create a structural connection between the upper and lower panels at each of their respective lower and upper corners.

1 . A stackable upper panel for use in a panel system comprising:
 a lower panel having a structural panel to panel connector mount located at least at each upper corner of said lower panel, to which a panel to panel connector can be secured by at least one fastener;   said upper panel having a structural panel mounting member located at least at each bottom corner of said upper panel, at a location adjacent an upper corner panel to panel connector mount when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, each said lower corner panel mounting member having a fastener configuration which is compatible with that of said adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount on said lower panel;   at least one fastener securing each said bottom corner panel mounting member of said upper panel to its adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount, to create a structural connection between said upper and lower panels at each of their respective lower and upper corners.   
     
     
         2 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 1 , in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel are located on said panel such that there is a space between each said lower corner mounting member and said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel them when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, for receiving within said space either the end of a panel to panel connector, or a spacer which does not project beyond the ends of the upper and lower panels. 
     
     
         3 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 2  in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel has substantially the same configuration of said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel. 
     
     
         4 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 3  in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel is secured to said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel by two spaced fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 4 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         6 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 2 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         7 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 1 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         8 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 1  which includes a slotted spline on each end of the panel, having spaced slotted flanges projecting out above said panel mounting member; said slotted flanges terminating a distance above said mounting member which is sufficient to allow an installer to insert and manipulate said fastener in said mounting member. 
     
     
         9 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 8 , in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel are located on said panel such that there is a space between each said lower corner mounting member and said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel them when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, for receiving within said space either the end of a panel to panel connector, or a spacer which does not project beyond the ends of the upper and lower panels. 
     
     
         10 . The stackable upper panel of  claim 9 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         11 . A stackable panel system comprising:
 a lower panel having a structural panel to panel connector mount located at least at each upper corner of said lower panel, to which a panel to panel connector can be secured by at least one fastener;   said upper panel having a structural panel mounting member located at least at each bottom corner of said upper panel, at a location adjacent an upper corner panel to panel connector mount when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, each said lower corner panel mounting member having a fastener configuration which is compatible with that of said adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount on said lower panel;   at least one fastener securing each said bottom corner panel mounting member of said upper panel to its adjacent upper corner panel to panel connector mount, to create a structural connection between said upper and lower panels at each of their respective lower and upper corners.   
     
     
         12 . The stackable panel system of  claim 11 , in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel are located on said panel such that there is a space between each said lower corner mounting member and said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel them when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, for receiving within said space either the end of a panel to panel connector, or a spacer which does not project beyond the ends of the upper and lower panels. 
     
     
         13 . The stackable panel system of  claim 12  in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel has substantially the same configuration of said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel. 
     
     
         14 . The stackable panel system of  claim 13  in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel is secured to said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel by two spaced fasteners. 
     
     
         15 . The stackable panel system of  claim 14 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         16 . The stackable panel system of  claim 12 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         17 . The stackable panel system of  claim 11 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel. 
     
     
         18 . The stackable panel system of  claim 11  which includes a slotted spline on each end of the panel, having spaced slotted flanges projecting out above said panel mounting member; said slotted flanges terminating a distance above said mounting member which is sufficient to allow an installer to insert and manipulate said fastener in said mounting member. 
     
     
         19 . The stackable panel system of  claim 18 , in which said lower corner panel mounting members of said upper panel are located on said panel such that there is a space between each said lower corner mounting member and said upper corner panel to panel connector mounts of said lower panel them when said upper panel is positioned on top of said lower panel, for receiving within said space either the end of a panel to panel connector, or a spacer which does not project beyond the ends of the upper and lower panels. 
     
     
         20 . The stackable panel system of  claim 19 , for which a decorative spacer is provided, for positioning between said upper stackable panel and said lower panel.