Abstract:
A joint includes a plurality of plates each including a first portion and a second portion for overlapping the first portion of the next one of the plates. Each of the plates may define a plurality of apertures each for receiving a fastener. Each of the plates may include a tab formed thereon for connection with an article.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a joint. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Taiwanese Patent Publication No. 507844 discloses a joint  1  for use in a table set. Referring to  FIG. 6 , this table set includes a base  3  and a table  4  mounted on the base  3 . The base  3  includes four feet (not numbered) and four legs  32 . Each of the feet includes a toe  33  and a high heel  31 . The heels  31  are joined with one another by means of the joint  1 . Each of the legs  32  includes a lower end connected with one of the heels  31  and an upper end connected with the table  4 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the joint  1  includes a body  10  consisting of an upper disc  11  and a lower disc  12 . The upper disc  11  includes a central hole  112  defined therein and a cruciform recess  111  defined in a lower face of the upper disc  11 . The lower disc  12  includes a central hole  122  defined therein and a cruciform recess  121  defined in an upper face of the lower disc  12 . A hole  125  is defined in the bottom of each of the prongs of the cruciform recess  121 . A cruciform element  13  includes a central hole  132  defined therein, a hole  133  defined in each of the prongs thereof, an upper groove  131  defined in an upper face of two aligned prongs thereof and a lower groove  131  defined in a lower face of the other prongs thereof. In assembly, an upper bar  14  is put in the upper groove  131 , and a lower bar  14 ′ in the lower groove  131 . The upper disc  11  and the lower disc  12  are combined so that the cruciform recesses  111  and  121  make a cruciform space. Referring to  FIG. 5 , a bolt  2  is driven into the central holes  112  and  122 , a central hole  142  defined in the upper bar  14  and a central hole  142 ′ defined in the lower bar  14 ′. Each of the toes  31  is inserted in one of the prongs of the cruciform space so as to receive one of the prongs of the cruciform element  13  and one of the ends of the bar  14  or  14 ′. A bolt is driven into a hole  311  defined in each of the toes  31 , one of the holes  141 ′ or  141  of the bar  14 ′ or  14  and the hole  133  defined in each of the prongs of the cruciform element  13 . This conventional joint  1  provides however a complicated structure, involves a difficult process of assembly and requires a lot of time to assemble. 
   The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a joint with a simple structure. 
   According to the present invention, a joint includes a plurality of plates each including a first portion and a second portion for overlapping the first portion of the next one of the plates. 
   Each of the plates may define a plurality of apertures each for receiving a fastener. 
   Each of the plates may include a tab formed thereon with for connection with an article. 
   Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the joint shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of a joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clothes tree using the joint of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partially exploded view of a joint according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a table set using the joint of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a joint according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the joint of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a chair using the joint of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to a first embodiment of the present invention, a joint  1  includes two plates  10 . Each of the plates  10  includes a first lip  11  and a second lip  12  not in a same plane with the first lip  11  so that the first lip  11  is separated from the second lip  12  by means of a slit (not numbered). Each of the plates  10  defines an aperture  13  in the first lip  11 , an aperture  15  in the second lip  12  and an aperture  14  so that an angle between the apertures  13  and  14  is equal to an angle between the apertures  14  and  15 . In use, the first lip  11  of one of the plates  10  overlaps the second lip  12  of the other of the plates  10 . The hole  13  of one of the plates  10  aligns with the hole  15  of the other of the plates  10 . A fastener (not shown) may be inserted in the hole  13  of one of the plates  10  and the hole  15  of the other of the plates  10  for joining the plates  10 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , according to a second embodiment of the present invention, a joint  3  includes a plurality of plates  30 . Each of the plates  30  includes a first portion, a second portion not in a same plane with the first portion and a tab  31  formed on the second portion. Each of the plates  30  defines an aperture in the first portion and an aperture in the second portion. In use, the first portion of one of the plates  30  overlaps the second portion of the next one of the plates  30 . Thus, the plates  30  make a ring. The hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  30  aligns with the hole defined in the second portion of the next one of the plates  30 . A fastener (not numbered) is inserted in the hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  30  and the hole defined in the second portion of the next one of the plates  30  for joining the plates  30 .  FIG. 4  shows a clothes tree  40  including a lower joint  3 , an upper joint  3 , a plurality of legs  42  secured to the lower joint  3 , a stem  43  connected between the lower and upper joints  3 , a plurality of hangers  41  secured to the upper joint  3 . Each of the legs  42  is secured to the tab  31  of one of the plates  30  of the lower joint  3 . Each of the hangers  41  is secured to the tab  31  of one of the plates  30  of the upper joint  3 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , according to a third embodiment of the present invention, a joint  5  includes a plurality of plates  50 . Each of the plates  50  includes a first portion and a second portion not in a same plane with the first portion. Each of the plates  50  defines an aperture in the first portion and an aperture in the second portion. In use, the first portion of one of the plates  50  overlaps the second portion of the next one of the plates  50 . Thus, the plates  50  make a square. The hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  50  aligns with the hole defined in the second portion of the next one of the plates  50 . A fastener (not shown) may be inserted in the hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  50  and the hole defined in the second portion of the next one of the plates  50  for joining the plates  50 .  FIG. 6  shows a table set  60  including a joint  5 , a plurality of legs  62  secured to the joint  5  and a table  61  mounted on the joint  5 . Each of the legs  62  is secured to one of the plates  50 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7˜9 , according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a joint  7  includes two plates  70 . Each of the plates  70  includes a first portion and a second portion not in a same plane with the first portion. The first portion makes substantially a half of a circle, and the second portion substantially a quarter of a circle. Each of the plates  70  defines an aperture in the first portion and an aperture in the second portion. In use, the first portion of one of the plates  70  overlaps the second portion of the other of the plates  70 . Thus, the plates  70  make a circle. The hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  70  aligns with the hole defined in the second portion of the other of the plates  70 . A fastener (not shown) may be inserted in the hole defined in the first portion of one of the plates  70  and the hole defined in the second portion of the other of the plates  70  for joining the plates  70 .  FIG. 9  shows a chair  80  including a joint  7 , four legs  82  secured to the joint  7  and a seat  81  mounted on the joint  7 . Two of the legs  62  are secured to each of the plates  70 . 
   The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of some embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.