Patent ID: 6422340
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B63B,E06C

Abstract:
In an adjustable height marine ladder which includes a moveable ladder portion slidably engaged with an anchored support frame having a pair of spaced apart support rods, the improvement comprising a catch mechanism operable to engage and retain a substantially u-shaped rung on the moveable ladder portion to adjustably fix the height of the ladder for use, said catch mechanism comprising:an elongated transverse bar having longitudinally-opposite ends and a length defined between said opposite ends, said transverse bar being secured at said opposite ends to the spaced apart support rods of the anchored support frame for bearing weight of persons climbing and supported on the ladder; and a catch tyne having a channel and securely affixed directly to the transverse bar only at an abutment interface between the catch tyne and transverse bar, said catch tyne extending along the length of the transverse bar and terminating interior to said securement of the ends of the transverse bar to the spaced apart support rods of the support frame so that the catch tyne, in its affixation to the transverse bar, is independent of the spaced apart support rods of the anchored support frame, along a predeterminately sufficient portion of said transverse bar length so as to accommodate engagement of said catch tyne with a user-selected rung of the ladder portion for effecting user adjustment of the height of the ladder and support of the weight of persons climbing and supported on the ladder, wherein the catch tyne is configured for operative receipt, in the channel of the catch tyne, of a leg of the user-selected ladder rung in seated relation in said channel when the ladder portion is slidably adjusted to bring the user-selected ladder rung leg into seated engagement in said channel of the catch tyne to thereby support and retain the ladder portion at a user-selected elevation on and along the anchored support frame.