Patent Publication Number: US-7210558-B2

Title: Scaffold having detachable ladder assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a scaffold, and more particularly not by way of limitation, to a scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly. 
   2. Brief Description of Prior Art 
   Masonry and carpentry are two of many jobs that require the use of scaffolds. Scaffolds assist workers by allowing them to work at elevated positions. Conventional scaffolds ordinarily comprise a plurality of vertical posts which are connected by cross-braces and which may be stacked on top of each other to permit workmen to work walls, ceilings and the like. 
   One major disadvantage of the prior art scaffolds is that such scaffolds do not provide a convenient means for permitting a workman access to the support platform of the scaffold. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly which permits a workman to have ready access to the support platform of the scaffold without causing possible injury to the workman or tipping of the scaffold as the workman climbs the scaffold to gain access to the support platform. Further, the scaffold with the detachable ladder assembly of the present invention permits the scaffold to be readily rolled along the supporting surface without interference by the ladder assembly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention, the ladder assembly being disposed adjacent one end of the scaffold. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly of  FIG. 1  wherein the ladder assembly is disposed adjacent a side portion of the support platform of the scaffold. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the detachable ladder assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a hook connectable to an end ladder of the scaffold for securing the detachable ladder assembly in a raised position for movement of the scaffold along a supporting surface. 
       FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a connector assembly of the scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly of the present invention for permitting selective movement of the ladder assembly from a position substantially adjacent an end ladder of the scaffold as shown in  FIG. 1  to a position wherein the ladder assembly is disposed adjacent the support platform of the scaffold as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of another connector assembly of the scaffold having a detachable ladder assembly of the present invention for permitting selective movement of the ladder assembly from a position substantially adjacent an end ladder of the scaffold as shown in  FIG. 1  to a position wherein the ladder assembly is disposed adjacent the support platform of the scaffold as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a scaffold having another embodiment of a detachable ladder assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention connected thereto. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , shown therein is a scaffold  20  having a ladder assembly  22  detachably connected thereto. The scaffold  20  is provided with a first end ladder  24 , a spatially disposed second end ladder  26 , a support frame  28 , a support platform  30  supported by the support frame  28  and a plurality of angle braces  32  for connecting the support frame  28  to the first and second end ladders  24  and  26  substantially as shown. The first end ladder  24  is provided with two spatially disposed ladder legs  34  and  36 , and a plurality of rungs  38  extending horizontally between the ladder legs  34  and  36 . The lengths of the rungs  38  depend on the particular design of the scaffold  20 . Similarly, the second end ladder  26  is provided with two spatially disposed ladder legs  40  and  42 , and a plurality of rungs  44  extending horizontally between the ladder legs  40  and  42 . 
   The ladder leg  34  of the first end ladder  24  has an upper end  46  and lower end  48 , and the ladder leg  36  of the first end ladder  24  has an upper end  50  and a lower end  52 . Similarly, the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  has an upper end  54  and a lower end  56 , and the ladder leg  42  of the second end ladder  26  has an upper end  58  and a lower end  60 . 
   The ladder legs  34 ,  36  and  40 ,  42  of the first and second end ladders  24  and  26 , respectively, may have any suitable cross-sectional configuration. However, the preferred cross-sectional configuration of each of the ladder legs is square. 
   To permit the stacking of scaffolds, such as the scaffold  20 , the upper end  46  of the ladder leg  34  and the upper end  50  of the ladder leg  36  of the first end ladder  24  are provided with extension pegs  62  and  64 , respectively; and, the upper end  54  of the ladder leg  40  and the upper end  58  of the ladder leg  42  of the second end ladder  26  are provided with extension pegs  66  and  68 , respectively. 
   A caster wheel assembly  70  is connected to the lower end  48  of the ladder leg  34  of the first end ladder  24 , and a caster wheel assembly  72  is connected to the lower end  52  of the ladder leg  36  of the first end ladder  24 . Similarly, a caster wheel assembly  74  is connected to the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26 , and a caster assembly  76  is connected to the lower end  60  of the ladder leg  42  of the second end ladder  26 . Desirably, each of the caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  includes a locking mechanism which permits the caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  to be secured in a locked, non-rolling condition. 
   Scaffolds, such as the scaffold  20 , and a caster wheel assembly, such as the caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 , are well known in the art. Thus, a detailed description or discussion of the scaffold  20  and caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  is not believed necessary to enable one skilled in the art to fully understand the inventive concept of the scaffold  20  having the detachable ladder assembly  22  of the present invention. 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ladder assembly  22  is detachably connected to the scaffold  20  via a third end ladder  80  such that the ladder assembly  22  can be selectively positioned adjacent one of the end ladders of the scaffold  20 , such as the second end ladder  26  substantially as shown in  FIG. 1 ; or the ladder assembly  22  can be selectively moved so that the ladder assembly  22  is disposed substantially adjacent a side  82  of the support platform  30  for permitting easy access to the support platform  30  substantially as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   The third end ladder  80  is similar in construction to the first and second end ladders  24  and  26 , respectively, except that the distance between ladder legs  84  and  86  of the third end ladder  80  is less than the distance between the ladder legs  40  and  42  of the adjacently disposed second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . Thus, when the third end ladder  80  is connected to the scaffold  20 , the third end ladder  80  can be positioned substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  so as to permit movement of the scaffold  20  through doorways and the like without interference from the ladder assembly  22 . 
   The third end ladder  80  is further provided with a plurality of rungs  87  extending horizontally between the two spatially disposed ladder legs  84  and  86 . The ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  has an upper end  88  and a lower end  90 , and the ladder leg  86  of the third end ladder  80  has an upper end  92  and a lower end  94 . The upper end  88  of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  is provided with an extension peg  96 . If desired, the upper end  92  of the ladder leg  86  of the third end ladder  80  can also be provided with an extension peg, such as extension peg  98 . 
   To assist in the movement of the third end ladder  80 , and thus the ladder assembly  20  between the positions shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , when the third end ladder  80  is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, a caster wheel assembly  99  is connected to the lower end  94  of the ladder leg  86  of the third end ladder  80 . The caster wheel assembly  99  is similar in construction to the caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 . Thus, the caster wheel assembly  99  desirably includes a locking mechanism which permits the caster wheel assembly  99  to be secured in a locked, non-rolling condition. 
   As previously stated, the distance between the ladder legs  84  and  86  of the third end ladder  80  is less than the distance between the ladder legs  40  and  42  of the second end ladder  26 . Thus, the caster wheel assembly  99  can be disposed inwardly from the caster wheel assembly  76  of the second end ladder  26  when the third end ladder  80  is disposed substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . 
   To connect the third end ladder  80  to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 , a first connector assembly  100  ( FIG. 4B ) is disposed on the extension peg  66  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  and on the extension peg  96  of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80 . A second connector assembly  102  ( FIG. 4C ) connects the caster wheel assembly  74  to the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  and to the lower end  90  of the ladder leg  84  and the third end ladder  80 . The pivotal connection of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  to the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  via the first and second connector assemblies  100  and  102 , enables the third end ladder  80  to be selectively moved between the position shown in  FIG. 1  and the position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   As more clearly shown in  FIG. 4B , the first connector assembly  100  includes a plate  104  having a pair of spatially disposed openings  106  and  108  formed therein and a substantially L-shaped housing  110  disposed about the opening  108 . The L-shaped housing  110  is provided with a configuration similar to that of substantially L-shaped housing  112  of the second connector assembly  102  shown in  FIG. 4C . The openings  106  and  108  are spaced a sufficient difference apart and sized so that extension peg  66  on the upper end  54  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder can be disposed through the opening  108  in the plate  104 , and the extension peg  96  formed on the upper end  88  of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  can be disposed through the opening  106  formed in the plate  104 . The substantially L-shaped housing  110  of the first connector assembly  100  stabilizes the first connector assembly  100  on the upper end  54  of the ladder leg  46  of the second end ladder  26 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4C , in combination with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second connector assembly  102 , which connects the lower end  90  of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  to the caster wheel assembly  74  and to the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26 , cooperates with the first connector assembly  100  for permitting movement of the third end ladder  80 , and thus the ladder assembly  22 , relative to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . The second connector assembly  102  is provided with a plate  113  having an opening  114  and an extension peg  116  disposed on an end portion of the plate  113  such that the extension peg  116  is aligned with and spatially disposed from the opening  114  in the plate  113 . The connector assembly  102  is further provided with the substantially L-shaped housing member  112  disposed about a portion of the opening  114  for stabilizing the second connector assembly  102  on the bottom end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  when a spindle (not shown) of the caster wheel assembly  74  is disposed through the opening  114  in the plate  113  and into the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26 . The extension peg  116  of the second connector assembly  102  is sized and configured so that the extension peg  116  of the second connector assembly  102  is disposed in the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80  via the lower end  90  thereof. Thus, the second connector assembly  102  is disposed between the caster wheel assembly  74  at the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  and the lower end  90  of the ladder leg  84  of the third end ladder  80 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1–3 , the ladder assembly  22 , which is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  includes, in addition to the third end ladder  80 , a step assembly  122 , a platform  124  and a ladder connector assembly  126 . As will be described in more detail hereinafter, the step assembly  122  is pivotally connected to the platform  124 , and the platform  124  is pivotally connected to the ladder connector assembly  126  so that the step assembly  122  can be selectively moved and secured in a raised position when the ladder assembly  22  is disposed substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  and the scaffold  20  having the ladder assembly  22  connected thereto is moved from one location to another. Any suitable mechanism can be employed for pivotally connecting the step assembly  122  to the platform  124  at the platform  124  to the ladder connector assembly  126 . 
   The step assembly  122  includes a first leg member  128  and a spatially disposed second leg member  130 . The first leg member  128  is provided with an upper end  132  and a lower end  134  and the second leg member  130  provided with an upper end  136  and a lower end  138 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rungs  140  extend between the first and second leg member  128  and  130  so that a person can travel up and down the step assembly  122  when the ladder assembly  22  is connected to the third end ladder  80 , and the third end ladder  80  is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . To stabilize the horizontally disposed rungs  140 , as well as to provide strength to the rungs  140 , a plurality of stabilizing members  142  are disposed between each of the rungs  140  and the adjacently disposed first and second leg members  128  and  130  of the step assembly  122  substantially as shown. 
   The platform  124  includes a frame  144  and a support member  146  connected to the frame  144 . The frame member  144 , which is disposed about and under a portion of the support member  146 , is pivotally connected to the first and second leg member  128  and  130  of the step assembly  122  via their respective upper ends  132  and  136 , and the frame member  144  is also pivotally connected to the ladder connector assembly  126 . 
   The ladder connector assembly  126  includes substantially vertically, disposed leg members  148  and  150  and a plurality of substantially horizontal, spatially disposed cross-braces  152  and  154 . The substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  has a first end  156  and a second end  158 , and the substantially vertical disposed leg member  150  has a first end  160  and a second end  162 . The first end  156  of the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  is pivotally connected to one side  164  of the frame  144  of the platform  124  substantially adjacent one end  166  of the platform  124 , and the first end  160  of the substantially vertically disposed leg member  150  is pivotally connected to an opposite side  168  of the frame  144  substantially adjacent the end  166  of the frame  134  substantially as shown in  FIGS. 1–3 . The substantially vertically disposed leg members  148  and  150  of the ladder connector assembly  126  are connected to the frame  144  of the platform  124  such that the vertically disposed leg member  148  is spatially disposed from and aligned with the first leg member  128  of the step assembly  122  and the substantially vertically disposed leg member  150  is spatially disposed from and aligned with the second leg member  130  on the step assembly  122 . 
   The cross-brace  152  is disposed between and connected to the substantially vertically disposed leg members  148  and  150  of the ladder connector assembly  126 , a distance from the first ends  156  and  160  of the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  and  150 , respectively, and the cross-brace  154  extends between and is connected to the second ends  158  and  162  of the vertically disposed leg member  148  and  150 , respectively. 
   The ladder connector assembly  126  further includes a plurality of hook members  170 ,  172 ,  174  and  176  secured to the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  and  150 . The hook members  170  and  174  are spatially disposed on the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  and the hook members  172  and  176  are spatially disposed on the substantially vertically disposed leg member  150  such that the hook member  170  is aligned with the hook member  172  and the hook member  174  is aligned with the hook member  176  substantially as shown. The distance between the hook members  170  and  174  on the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148 , and thus the distance between the hook members  172  and  176  on the substantially vertically disposed leg member  150 , enable the ladder connector assembly  126  to be connected to and supported by two of the rungs  87  of the third end ladder  80 . 
   To maintain the first and second leg members  128  and  130  of the step assembly  122  in an extended position relative to the connector assembly  126 , the ladder assembly  22  also includes a plurality of chains  178  and  180 . One end  182  of the chain  178  is connected to the substantially vertically disposed leg member  148  of the ladder connector assembly  126  and an opposed second end  184  or the chain  178  is connected to the first leg member  128  of the step assembly  122  of the ladder assembly  22 . Similarly, the chain  180  is connected at one end  186  to the substantially vertically disposed leg member  150  of the ladder connector assembly  126  and an opposed second end  188  of the chain  180  is connected to the second leg member  130  of the step assembly  122  of the ladder assembly  22 . Thus, when the step assembly  122  of the ladder assembly  22  is moved to an extended position as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the chains  178  and  180  prevent further outward movement of the first and second leg member  128  and  130  of the step assembly  122  when weight is positioned thereon. 
   To stabilize the step assembly  122  of the ladder assembly  22  in the extended position, the ladder assembly  22  further includes a foot or shoe  190  connected to the lower end  134  of the first leg member  128  of the step assembly  122  and a foot or shoe  192  connected to the lower end  138  of the second leg member  130  of the step assembly  122 . The shoes  190  and  192  are each provided with a substantially planar lower surface so that when the step assembly  122  is in the extended operative position and the shoes  190  and  192  engage a supporting surface, the shoes  190  and  192  provide stability to the step assembly  122  of the ladder assembly  22 . 
   The ladder assembly  22  further includes a connector member  194  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 A) and a stop member  195  ( FIG. 3 ). The connector member  194  is connected to one of the rungs  87  of the third end ladder  80  so that the ladder assembly  22  can be secured in a raised position for movement of the ladder assembly  22  between various positions relative to the scaffold  20 . That is, a distal end  196  of the connector member  194  is provided with a hook configuration which is adapted to engage the side  166  of the frame  144  of the platform  124  of the ladder assembly  22  when the platform  124 , and thus the first and second leg members  128  and  130  of the step assembly  122 , are moved to a raised position for securing the platform  124  and the step assembly  122  in a raised position so that the shoes  190  and  192  of the ladder assembly  22  do not engage the supporting surface. 
   The stop member  195  is connected to the first leg member  128  of the ladder connector assembly  126  substantially adjacent the hook member  176  of the ladder connector assembly  126 . The stop member  195  is configured to abuttingly engage the rung  44  of the end ladder  26  supporting the ladder assembly  22  via the hook members  174  and  176  of the ladder connector assembly  126 . The stop member  195  can be of any configuration as long as the stop member  195  is adapted to engage the rung  44  of the second end ladder  26  when the hook members  174  and  176  are disposed substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of a ladder assembly  200  is shown. The ladder assembly  200  is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  via the first and second connector assemblies  100  and  102 , as herein before described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 B and  4 C. The ladder assembly  200  includes an end ladder  202  which is similar in construction to the end ladder  80  herein before described with reference to the ladder assembly  22  except the end ladder  202  is pivotally connected to a platform  204  of the ladder assembly  200 , and the end ladder  202  desirably has a width substantially corresponding to the width of the platform  204  which is less than the width of the end ladder  202  is less than the width of the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  to which the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200  is connected. 
   The end ladder  202  includes spatially disposed ladder legs  206  and  208  and a plurality of rungs  210  extending horizontally between the ladder legs  206  and  208  as shown. The ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  has an upper end  212  and a lower end  214 , and the ladder leg  208  of the end ladder  202  has an upper end  216  and a lower end  218 . The upper end  202  of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200  is provided with an extension peg  220 . If desired, the upper end  216  of the ladder leg  208  of the end ladder  80  of the ladder assembly  200 , can also be provided with an extension peg, such as extension peg  222 . 
   To assist in the movement of the ladder assembly  200  between positions similar to those shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  when the ladder assembly  200  is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  as will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, a castor wheel assembly  224  is connected to the lower end  218  of the ladder leg  208  of the end ladder  202 . The caster wheel assembly  224  is similar in construction to the caster wheel assemblies  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  of the scaffold  20 . Thus, the caster wheel assembly  224  desirably includes a locking mechanism which permits the caster wheel assembly  224  to be secured in a locked, non-rolling condition. 
   As previously stated, the distance between the ladder legs  206  and  208  of the third end ladder  202  is less than the distance between the ladder legs  40  and  42  of the second end ladder  26 . Thus, the wheel caster assembly  224  can be disposed inwardly from the wheel caster assembly  76  of the second end ladder  26  when the third end ladder  202  is disposed substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . 
   To connect the ladder assembly  200  to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 , the first connector assembly  100  ( FIG. 4B ) is disposed on the extension peg  66  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  and on the extension peg  220  of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202 . The second connector assembly  102  ( FIG. 4C ) connects the caster wheel assembly  74  to the lower end  214  of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  and to the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  in the same manner as herein before described with reference to the connection of the third end ladder  80  to the second end ladder  26 . Thus, the pivotal connection of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200  to the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  via the first and second connector assemblies  100  and  102  enables the ladder assembly  200  to be selectively moved between positions similar to those shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
   As previously described with reference to  FIG. 4B , the openings  106  and  108  in the plate  104  of the first connector assembly  100  are spaced a sufficient difference apart and sized so that the extension peg  66  on the upper end  54  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  can be disposed through the opening  108  in the plate  104 , and the extension peg  220  formed on the upper end  212  of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200  can be disposed through the opening  106  formed in the plate  104 . The substantially L-shaped housing  110  of the first connector assembly  100  stabilizes the first connector assembly  100  on the upper end  54  of the ladder leg  46  of the second end ladder  26 . 
   As previously described with reference to  FIG. 4C , the second connector assembly  102 , which connects the lower end  214  of the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200  and the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  to the caster wheel assembly  74 , and which cooperates with the first connector assembly  100  for permitting movement of the ladder assembly  200  relative to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 , includes the plate  113  having the opening  114  and the extension peg  116  disposed on the end portion of the plate  113  such that the extension peg  116  is aligned with and spatially disposed from the opening  114  in the plate  113 . The connector assembly  102  is further provided with the substantially L-shaped housing member  112  disposed about a portion of the opening  114  for stabilizing the second connector assembly  102  on the bottom end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  when a spindle (not shown) of the caster wheel assembly  74  is disposed through the opening  114  in the plate  113  and into the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26 . The extension peg  116  of the second connector assembly  102  is disposed into the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  20  via the lower end  90  thereof. Thus, the second connector assembly  102  connects the caster wheel assembly  74  to the lower end  56  of the ladder leg  40  of the second end ladder  26  and the lower end  214  of the ladder leg  206  of the third end ladder  202 . 
   The ladder assembly  200  further includes a step assembly  226  and the platform  204 . The step assembly  226  is pivotally connected to the platform  204 , and the platform  204  is pivotally connected to the end ladder  202  so that the step assembly  226  can be selectively moved and secured in a raised position when the ladder assembly  200  is disposed substantially adjacent the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20  and the scaffold  20  having the ladder assembly  200  connected thereto is moved from one location to another. Any suitable mechanism can be employed to pivotally connect the step assembly  226  to the platform  204  and the platform  204  to the end ladder  202 . 
   The step assembly  226  includes a first leg member  230  and a spatially disposed second leg member  232 . The first leg member  230  is provided with an upper end  234  and a lower end  236 , and the second leg member  232  provided with an upper end  238  and a lower end  240 . A plurality of horizontally disposed rungs  242  extend between the first and second leg member  230  and  232  so that a person can travel up and down the step assembly  226  when the ladder assembly  200  is connected to the second end ladder  26  of the scaffold  20 . To stabilize the horizontally disposed rungs  242 , as well as to provide strength to the rungs  242 , a plurality of stabilizing members  244  are disposed between each of the rungs  242  and the adjacently disposed first and second leg members  230  and  232  of the ladder assembly  200  substantially as shown. 
   The platform  204  is pivotally connected to the first and second leg member  230  and  232  via their respective upper ends  234  and  238 , and to the ladder legs  206  and  208  of the end ladder  202  of the ladder assembly  200 . 
   To maintain the first and second leg members  230  and  232  of the step assembly  226  in an extended position relative to the end ladder  202 , the ladder assembly  200  also includes a plurality of chains  246  and  248 . One end  250  of the chain  246  is connected to the ladder leg  206  of the end ladder  202 , and an opposed second end  252  or the chain  246  is connected to the first leg member  230  of the step assembly  226  of the ladder assembly  200 . Similarly, the chain  248  is connected at one end  254  to the ladder leg  208  and an opposed second end  256  of the chain  248  is connected to the second leg member  232  of the step assembly  226  of the ladder assembly  200 . Thus, when the step assembly  226  of the ladder assembly  200  is moved to an extended position as shown in  FIG. 5 , the chains  246  and  248  prevent further outward movement of the first and second leg member  230  and  232  of the step assembly  226  when weight is positioned thereon. 
   To stabilize the step assembly  226  of the ladder assembly  200  in the extended position, the ladder assembly  200  further includes a foot or shoe  258  connected to the lower end  236  of the first leg member  230  of the step assembly  226  and a foot or shoe  260  connected to the lower end  240  of the second leg member  232  of the step assembly  226 . The shoes  258  and  260  are each provided with a substantially planar lower surface so that when the step assembly  226  is in the extended operative position and the shoes  258  and  260  engage a supporting surface, the shoes  258  and  260  provide stability to the step assembly  226  of the ladder assembly  200 . 
   The ladder assembly  200  further includes the connector member  194  shown in  FIG. 4A  and hereinbefore described. The connector member  194  is connected to one of the rungs  210  of the end ladder  202 , such as the top rung  210  so that when the platform  204  is pivotally moved in an upward direction and connected to the connector member  194 , the step assembly  226  is also moved to a raised position so that the shoes  258  and  260  do not engage the supporting surface. That is, the distal end  196  of the connector member  194  is provided with a hook configuration which is adapted to engage a side  262  of the platform  204  of the ladder assembly  200  when the platform  204 , and thus the first and second leg members  230  and  232  of the step assembly  226  are moved to a raised position for securing the platform  204  and the step assembly  226  in a raised position so that the shoes  258  and  260  of the ladder assembly  200  do not engage the supporting surface. 
   It can readily be appreciated that the unique construction and design of the ladder assemblies  22  and  200 , as well as their connection to the scaffold  20 , facilitates access to the support platform of the scaffold by a workman while eliminating the possibility of the scaffold tipping as the workman climbs either off the ladder assemblies  22  and  200  when same are attached to the scaffold  20 . Further, the construction and design of the ladder assemblies  22  and  220 , together with the design of the first and second connector assemblies  100  and  102  and thus the connection of the ladder assemblies  22  and  200 , to the scaffold  20  permit the scaffold  20  to be readily rolled along a supporting surface.