Patent ID: 8225906
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: E06C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An extendable/retractable ladder assembly, comprising: a first stile, a second stile, and a plurality of rungs extending between the first stile and the second stile, the first stile including a first column, a second column, and a third column disposed in a nested arrangement for relative axial movement in a telescopic fashion, the third column nesting in the second column, the second column nesting in the first column; a first rung of the plurality of rungs coupled to and extending from the first column; and a latch assembly for selectively locking relative axial movement between the first and second columns, the latch assembly including a spring-biased locking pin assembly extendable into apertures in the first and second adjacent columns to lock relative axial movement therebetween and retractable from at least the aperture in the second column to permit axial movement therebetween, the locking pin assembly including a central post and an outer tube, the central post extending through the outer tube and terminating at a distal end positioned just past an end of the outer tube, the outer tube extendable into the apertures in the first and second adjacent columns to provide support against the apertures for locking the relative axial movement between the first and second columns, the distal end of the central post providing a non-galling surface for slidable engagement with the second and third columns.