Patent ID: 7264082

Claim:
A convertible ladder comprising: an adjustable hinge mechanism and a non-adjustable, U-shaped static hinge mechanism, the adjustable hinge mechanism comprising: a first plate and a second plate that are pivotally mounted with respect to each other and the non-adjustable static hinge mechanism having first and second plates and a substantially inelastic intermediate plate generally parallel to the first and second plates and disposed between the first and second plates, the first and second plates defining a terminal first leg and a terminal second leg that are in a stationary relationship with respect to each other and having a gap between the first and second plates; a first ladder portion having; a first section; a second section; and a first locking mechanism proximate a first end thereof, wherein the first section is slidably attachable to the second section; and a second ladder portion having; a first section; a second section; and a second locking mechanism proximate a first end thereof, wherein the first section is slidably attached to the second section, wherein first sections of the first and second ladder portions are attachable to the adjustable hinge mechanism, and wherein the second section of the first and second ladder portions are selectively slidably attachable with both the adjustable hinge mechanism and with the non-adjustable static hinge mechanism, the second section of the first and second ladder portions being coupled in a non-abutting, non-linear relationship by the static hinge.