Patent ID: 6913113
Filing Date: 2005-07-05
Classification: E06C

Abstract:
1. An adjustable stepladder comprising: (a) an upper-front frame having two elongate upper-front rails, each having an elongate front slide track running substantially parallel thereto, and each having a top end and a bottom end; and a plurality of upper steps spanning between the upper-front rails; (b) a lower-front frame positioned rearward of the upper-front frame and having two elongate lower-front rails, each lower-front rail having a front slide mechanism slidingly engageable with the front slide track of a corresponding upper-front rail, each front slide mechanism comprising: (c) front locking means, for disengageably locking the lower-front frame in a desired position relative to the upper-front frame; (d) an upper-rear frame having two elongate upper-rear rails, each having an elongate rear slide track running substantially parallel thereto, and each having a top end and a bottom end; and one or more upper struts spanning between the upper-rear rails; (e) a lower-rear frame positioned forward of the upper-rear frame and having two elongate lower-rear rails, each lower-rear rail having a rear slide mechanism slidingly engageable with the rear slide track of a corresponding upper-rear rail, each rear slide mechanism comprising: (f) rear locking means, for disengageably locking the lower-rear frame in a desired position relative to the upper-rear frame; and (g) a top member interconnecting the top ends of the of the upper-front rails and the top ends of the upper-rear rails; wherein: (h) the upper-front frame, the lower-front frame, the upper-rear frame, and the lower-rear frame are substantially symmetrical about a common centerline; (i) the lower-front frame may be selectively positioned relative to the upper-front frame by moving the front slide mechanisms within their corresponding front slide tracks; (j) the lower-rear frame may be selectively positioned relative to the upper-rear frame by moving the rear slide mechanisms within their corresponding rear slide tracks; (k) in all configurations of the stepladder, and as measured in any plane perpendicular to said centerline and intersecting both the upper-front frame and the lower-front frame, the upper-front frame is narrower than the lower-front frame; and (l) in all configurations of the stepladder, and as measured in any plane perpendicular to said centerline and intersecting both the upper-rear frame and the lower-rear frame, the upper-rear frame is narrower than the lower-rear frame.