Patent ID: 7228597

Claim:
A partition system comprising: a panel having an edge portion, said panel at least partially defining a slot directed from said edge portion; a hinge element having hinge leaf mounted to pivot about a hinge axis of said hinge element, said hinge leaf having a peripheral edge with at least one opening extending inward from said peripheral edge toward said hinge axis, said hinge leaf mounted within said slot, and said at least one opening forming a T shape; and a second panel having a second edge portion, said second panel at least partially defining a second slot directed inward from said second edge portion, said hinge element having a second hinge leaf mounted to pivot about said hinge axis, said second hinge leaf having a second peripheral edge with at least one second opening extending inward from said second peripheral edge toward said hinge axis, and said second hinge leaf mounted within said second slot, a first side portion of said first hinge leaf and a second side portion of said second hinge leaf are adjacent each other and formed about a hinge pin that defines said hinge axis, and said first side portion forms a cam surface and said second side portion forms a follower surface that rides on said cam surface to position said panel at an acute angle with respect to said second panel when the partition apparatus is in an open condition.