Patent ID: 6457559
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: E06C

Abstract:
A foldable ladder comprising:a first rail having a length and a second rail having a length, each of said rails being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other along their lengths; said first rail and said second rail each having a plurality of rail extensions fixed to the rails and facing generally perpendicular to the rails, each rail extension on the first rail facing towards a rail extension of the second rail; a plurality of rungs consisting of separate rungs extending between said first rail and said second rail, each of said separate rungs having two ends, each of the rail extensions of said first rail having a first pivot joint and an opposite rail extension on the second rail having a second pivot joint, said first pivot joint being connected to one of the two ends of the each of the separate rungs, said second pivot point being connected to a separate rung at an end of the rung opposite said first pivot joint, said first rail and said second rail being foldable from a first opened position to a second closed position, said first rail and said second rail remaining in the same plane and generally parallel when in the first opened position and in the second closed position, two brackets slidably mounted on two separate rungs between the first rail and the second rail, said brackets having a rail extension engaging member to retain the bracket to the rail extension when slid into position to thereby prevent the rung from pivoting on the pivot points, each of said slidably mounted brackets having a collar with a biased extension that extends from the collar, said biased extension having a free end for releasably engaging a rail extension to retain the bracket to the rail extension, and said rail extensions having a hole to receive said free end of the biased extension to retain the collar to the rail extension.